THESE carols were sung by a band of men who went about from house to house in the townland. The band selected a leader for their singing and for their actions throughout the night. This leader was called 'fear-duan,' song-man, and the others were p. 139 called 'fir-fuinn,' chorus-men. When they had sung their carols at a house, two or three bannocks were handed out to them through a window.
The song-man got half of every bannock so received, and the other half went to the chorus-men.
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HEIRE Bannag, hoire Bannag, Chaidh Muire mhin gheal air a glun, Taobh an t-sorcain, taobh an t-searcain, ’G innse duinn gun do rugadh Criosd, Chi mi tulach, chi mi traigh, Chi mi ainghlean air an luinn, |
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HEY the Gift, ho the Gift, The fair Mary went upon her knee, The side of the sack (?) the side of the sark (?) To tell to us that Christ is born, I see the hills, I see the strand, I see angels on clouds, [waves |
