Hope this is of help- note the lyrics within! It can all be found here with a whole load of other Irish Christmas stuff!

http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/~bj333/HomePage.season.html#stephen

Conrad Bladey
cbladey@mail.bcpl.net

Saint Stephen's Day

All because of a little wren who betrayed the presence of the hiding St. Stephen who was caught and executed!

(A. k. a. "day for hunting the wren")

1. Account of 1840 describes boys stalking and killing a "tiny wren" prior to Christmas.

2. The fight is loud with all sorts of things thrown at the small bird.

3. A great "hubbub" is created.

4. On St. Stephen's day December 26 the bodies of several wrens are borne on a huge holly bush raised up on a pole. The greater the number of the birds the better.

5. The bush is carried by a number of young boys including a few older ones.

6. The boys take the bush and birds house to house where they sing the Wren song. Between houses the boys roar and shout.

7. It is noted that the song varies and is a reflection of the skill of the leader of the party.

8. One example:

The wran, the wran, the king of all birds,
St. Stephen's day was cot in the furze
Although he is little his family's grate,
Put yer hand in yer pocket and give us a trate.
Sing holly, sing ivy-sing ivy, sing holly,
A drop ust to drink it would drown melancholy
And if you dhraw it ov the best,
I hope in heven yer sowl will rest,
But if you dhraw it ov the small
It won't agree wid de wran boys at all

9. Money was collected by the boys and used for drinking the entire evening away.

10. Patrick Kennedy wrote that the wren boys ranked many degrees under the Mayboys and mummers.

11. Irish Gaelic for Wren= dhruleen.

12. Sometimes a live wren was used and was fastened to a twig or branch and carried around accompanied by dance and fife.

13. After the wren son it was customary to dance around the "bouchal na dhruleen"(the wren boy) who carried the bush shaking it.

14. It is noted that colored ribbons are also attached to the holly branch

15. Another Wren Song:

The wren, the wren, the king of all birds,
On St. Stephen's day was caught in the furze;
Though is body is small, his family is great,
So, if you please, your honour, give us a treat.
On Christmas Day I turned a spit;
I burned my finger; I feel it yet,
Up with the kettle, and down with the pan:
Give us some money to bury the wren.

16. In some instances the boys carry toy-birds around on a decorated bier. They themselves wearing ribbons and coloured pieces of cloth pinned to their clothes.

17. If the wren boys are not treated well they might bury their wren outside the house door. That will bring you bad luck for a year.

18. At the end of the day each wren is buried with a penny.

19. You only need reward the first group of boys for good luck.

20. More recent accounts note that sometimes the birds are absent from the decorated bushes and that both girls and boys take part.

21. Fancy dresses for men imitating women and masked faces are noted.

22. Instruments played include the melodeon or mouth organ. Modern dances were also noted.

23. Another wren song:

The wran, the wran the king of all birds
On St. Stephen's day, was caught in the furze
And though he is little his family is great
So rise up landlady, and give us a treat
Up with the kettle and on with the pan;
Mr. So-and-so is a gentleman
We hoosed her up, we hoosed her down,
We hoosed her into so-and so town
We dipped her wing in a barrel of beer
Then rise up landlady and give us good cheer,
Up with the kettle, on with the pan
Give us an answer and let us be gone.
Give us something new, give us something old.
Be it only silver or copper or gold
It's money we want; it's money we crave;
If you don't give us money we'll bring you to the grave.
So up with the kettle and on with the pan
For Mr. So-and-so is a gentleman

24. The custom is not known in the northern part of Ulster, from Donegal to Antrim.

25. In Munster the boys are headed by a Captain who dresses in military style and carries a sword. A jester or amad/an who carries a bladder on a stick or a female jester the /oinseach (a boy dressed as a woman) also accompany the procession.

26. Two of the boys in a procession at Dingle dress decorating their heads and shoulders with straw. Their masks have single eye holes and they carry bladders on sticks which they use to clear the way. Others carry flags others play drums.

27. Also the Dingle ceremony includes a mock battle between sir Sop and Sean Scott one team with bladders the other with swords.

28. Sometimes the boys ride a l/air bh/ain (white mare) a hobby horse. Made with wooden frame and covered with a white sheet and including a carved head and legs.

29. The wren boys are often related to mummers.

30. The custom is one associated with the rabble and lower classes. The hunt of birds was forbidden in cork in 1845.

31. As it is currently practiced it is usually done so with dignity and decorum. The wren parties are hosted by the boys and feed many.

32. Often St. Stephens's day is viewed as a fast day to balance the eating of the Christmas feasting. It is also observed as a day for games.