Despite the rain, wrenboys are out in force in Dingle this evening collecting for charity.
The west Kerry town is one of the last strongholds of the St Stephen's Day tradition believed to have pagan origins. Known locally as 'Wran’s Day’, the age-old tradition celebrates the king of the birds, the wren.
Since early afternoon wrenboys representing the various streets have been marching throughout the town.
The wrenboys dressed in straw dresses and hats, along with an assortment of other costumes play traditional wrenboy songs as they make their way around the town.
Dingle features four main wren groups: the Sráid Eoin Wren, the Green and Gold Wren, the Quay Wren and the Goat Street Wren.
Smaller wrenboy groups also travel from house to house in the rural parts of the peninsula.
Fergus O’Flaherty, the main organiser in the Green and Gold Wren, says Wren’s Day is part of an ancient mid-winter festival celebrating the solstice.
"We have white hobby horses leading out each Wran and the traditional dress is made of straw - skirts and hats. They are all symbols of fertility."
"We get our straw up in north Kerry and we spend many nights preparing the costumes for the big day."
Each individual group of wrenboys collects for charity. Gillian Ní Bhriain of the Quay Wren said it was an honour to be collecting for the RNLI this year.
"We have a very strong ‘Wran’ this year, good drummers and tin-whistlers. Everything we collect is going to the lifeboat this year, a vital service in a peninsula like ours. It’s great to give something back to the community."
Mícheál Ó Coileáin of the Green and Gold Wren says the wrenboy costumes have evolved over the years.
"The straw hat and skirt is the traditional costume but nowadays you’ll see all sorts of masks and disguise. Wran’s Day in Dingle is special. It’s a great opportunity to leave out some wild energy in the middle of winter."
Edel Lovett says ‘the Wran’ is the most important day of the year for many in the town, with emigrants making long journeys home to be part of the celebrations.
"It’s a really, really special day. It’s a big part of our heritage, our dúchas. If I was offered €1 million to spend Wran’s Day somewhere else I’d refuse it!"
There is tremendous rivalry between the various wren groups which adds to the wildness of the occasion.
"They talk about the Green and Gold Wren and Sráid Eoin, but take a good look at the crowd we have. There’s only one Wran in town and it’s the Goat Street Wran!" said Ronán Kennedy to the raucous roars of his fellow Wrenboys.
