Hunting the Wren on St Stephen's Day is a tradition of the Isle of Man as well. The version as sung by Steeleye Span on their Live At Last album is, in fact, the Isle of Man set of words (or at least some of them) for the wren hunting. As you probably know, it's only the morning of St Stephen's Day that you should hunt the wren. Even into the late 19th century, there are reports of bands of lads going out and actually killing a wren on St Stephen's Day. These days, we have to admit to using either accidentals picked up and kept in deep freeze or something entirely bogus (shame, shame). But anyway, it's good sport going round, singing and dancing to the puddled, befuddled wrecks of folk coming round after the modern excesses of Christmas Day.

And if you're in the Isle of Man this Christmas, we'll be out on St Stephen's Day morning starting at the Woodbourne in Douglas about 10.00 am, finishing at noon, then out to St John's for the Christmas cammag match.

For those not into blood sports (which cammag - a Manx version of camogie/shinty/hurling sometimes becomes) there'll be a music/singing session in an adjacent hostelry.

Ta failt mooar erriu ooilley.

Bobby Bob