Memories of the Christmas Rhymers in Lissummon Long Ago

Memories
of the Christmas Rhymers
Minnie
long ago
Savage
I sometimes
hear children of today talking about
and it's usually all about what Santa
Christmas
them
Claus
is bringing
tractors, cars,
mostly
of
hundreds
and
other
bicycles
things costing
of
with
Christmas
lots
associate
pounds. They
pantomimes.
was the arrival
Our great entertainment
a week or so before
of the 'Christmas Rhymers'
was
common
in
Christmas.
Rhyming
quite
areas
over
at
all
For
Ireland
time.
that
country
some weeks beforehand
some young fellows of
the district got together in a bam or suchlike. An
as
older man who
knew
the rhymes
acted
school
concerts,
hotels,
parties,
so
on.
It's
Christmas
all year
and
pantomimes
a youngster,
more
I was
than
round! When
was
different.
it
years
ago,
very
eighty
presents,
and producer
and
into
them
licked
was
Then
there
the
business
of
shape.
procuring
suitable costumes.
This often proved difficult.
etc. were, many-a-time
Old curtains, bedspreads
from
under
their
mothers'
noses! An
smuggled
once had a nice green
aunt of my mother's
that went missing.
She was later
poplin petticoat
amazed to see it turning up, in her own kitchen,
as a cloak for no less a person than Saint Patrick
teacher
Christmas
only began to be talked about from
of November
Santa
and certainly
the middle
an
a
or
came
red
it.
We
into
got
rarely
apple
a bar of chocolate.
orange or maybe
two
I remember
my mother
making
me.
cut
the
for
She
sister
Sara
and
my
golliwogs
of her own. She
feet off two black stockings
some old woollen
the old feet with
stuffed
a red
material, made two arms and embroidered
to each she sewed two
mouth on each. Finally
in
buttons
for eyes. When
they were dressed
gay we got a great thrill and for
something
a day we took them to bed with us.
many's
she later knit two new feet to add
(Incidentally
to the half legs of the stockings
There were no school concerts
in Lissummon
himself!
The local rhymers that I remember did
the rounds with their show, visiting
in
houses
in turn. We
each
townland
had Tommy
on our farm at the time. He
working
McGailey
was one of the rhymers and he let our mother
to our
know when
the local group was coming
she had cut!)
and certainly no
townland
St. Joseph's Primary School Children
58
of Cullentragh.
as the Christmas
Rhymers
When
they arrived
at
_POYNTZPASS
our house, at first I was afraid of them and took
refuge in the hall but, when I saw that Tommy
was in the troupe, I felt it mightn't
be too bad
to return to the kitchen.
and was brave enough
horns
shoulders
is the 'script' as far as I remember
And
Call
it.
a couple
Captain:
(Hitting
with his stick.)
Open the door and let us in
We hope your favour we will win.
in tattered
(Entering. He is dressed
hat and carries a stick.)
and arms)
Straw: Here comes I Sergeant
Sergeant
Such a man you never saw!
I am covered from head to toe
For to keep out the winter snow.
comes.../'
the door
a club and a frying
Beelzebub:
Here comes I Beelzebub
And over my shoulder I carry my club;
And in my hand a frying pan,
a funny wee man.
And I think myself
And if you don't believe what I say,
Call in Sergeant Straw and he'll clear the way!
Straw wears a
(Enter Sergeant Straw. Sergeant
are
His
in
cap.
policeman's
legs
wrapped
straw
straw
Also
ropes.
ropes round his
plaited
in
had been prepared
kitchen,
incidentally,
advance and cleared with the chairs against the
walls
leaving a good space for the performance.
The
with
the
performance
began
called
'Room!
(also
Room!'),
'Captain',
knocking
loudly on the door and then springing
a big
into the room brandishing
stick and
"
Room!
Room, my gallant boys and
shouting,
us
room
to
give
rhyme!" As each character
entered and performed
he then stepped back out
"
of the way to leave room for the next
Here
following
and a tail and carries
pan.)
The
The
AND DISTRICTLOCALHISTORYSOCIETY
if you don't believe what I say,
in Prince George
and he'll clear
Straw,
the wayl
of clouts
clothes
and
Stir up the fire and give us light
For in this house there'll be a fight!
Room! Room! My gallant boys
us room
to rhyme
show you some activity
time.
Upon this Christmas
Active
and
active
age,
youth
The like was never acted on any stage:
If you don't believe what I say,
Call in Oliver Cromwell
and he'll clear
Give
We'll
m **
m^m^^^^^^^^^m^^mm m^KKKm^m^m^mm
the way.
Oliver
Cromwell:
(Very stiff and straight.
has a big nose and carries a sword.)
Here comes I Oliver Cromwell,
As you may well suppose,
I've conquered many nations
With my long and copper nose.
He
I've caused the earth to tremble
to quake
And my enemies
a gander
And I 'massacreed'
On the night of Paddy's wake!
If you don't believe what I say
Call in Beelzebub
and he'll clear
He
is dressed
(Enter Beelzebub.
the way!
in black
with
Philip McClory
59
as "The Turk"
POYNTZPASSAND DISTRICTLOCALHISTORYSOCIETY_
If there's nine devils
I can knock ten out.
Prince
George:
comes I Prince George,
have I sprung.
From Denmark
And many a noble deed of honour have I done.
For seven long years I was in prison bound,
Here
From
Where
there into a cave of stone,
a sad
I received many
and
three score and ten,
Bring me an old woman,
And if she's bendy, I'll straighten her again.
to the air of
Ttirk:
(Jumping up and singing,'Master McGrath)
Once I was dead but now I'm alive!
Dear bless the wee doctor that made me survive
all shake hands and fight no more,
(Says) We'll
And be as big brothers as we were before.
grievous
moan.
Where
is the man who dares before me stand?
I'll cut him down with my courageous
hand!
in bright colours and wearing
TYirk: (Dressed
turban.)
I'm the man who dares before you stand!
in,
a
(The above
the basis of several
script formed
featuring children from St Joseph's
productions
P.S. Poyntzpass)
Prince George:
Who are you but a poor silly boy, sir,
Who
fed my father's horses for seven years
And then you ran away, sir!
T\irk:
It's a lie, sir! I'm the Turkey champion,
land I came
From Turkey
To fight with you, Prince George,
by name.
Prince George:
I'll ram my dagger
And make
side,
through your
your puddins fly sir!
(Theyfight a duel and the Turk falls dead.)
Turk's Mother:
in.)
(Rushing
Oh Geordie! Geordie! What have you done?
kilt and slain my only
only son, my only heir
You've
My
son.
To see him lying bleeding there!
A doctor! A doctor!
Ten pounds for a doctor!
Brown. He
(Enter Doctor
carries
Doctor
a
wears
a top hat and
case.)
Brown:
Brown,
The best wee
Here
doctor
Doctor
in the town.
can you cure, doctor?
Mother:
What
Doctor:
I can cure the plague
without;
The palsy
I, wee
comes
within,
Conor Magill
the plague
or the gout.
60
in The Christmas
Rhymers