Straw Boy Drummers

The Straw Boys are part of an ancient tradition in Ireland, and are closely related to Mummers and Wren Boys.
In Mayo, Galway, Sligo, they appear mostly at wedding celebrations. They were made up of people from the area, who were not invited to the wedding. These uninvited guests could organise themselves into Straw Boy groups, the idea being that, in disguise, they could "gatecrash" the wedding!
Although the wedding-goers would know that The Straw Boys were made up of men and women they didn't want at their wedding, they could not be refused entry! The Straw Boys would then have to provide raucaus entertainment and would play music, dance and generally fool around providing great excitement for all the guests. If they were entertaining they were then fed and "watered"!
By the end of the night, old scores are settled and the happy couple start off their life together with a clean slate.

Sligo's Straw Boy Drummers are a modern take on this idea, playing pulsating rhythms from around the world as well as traditional Irish music. They are groovy, loud, mobile and acoustic!

www.strawboysamba.com
info@itchyfeet.ie

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Straw Boy Drummers
• Itchy Feet
• Sligo
• Ireland
• samba
• drumming
• percussion
• wedding band
• group
• music
• Irish tradition
• Peter Crann
• Stephanie Pawula
• laura Karhunen
• Lynn McLoughlin
• Tony Travers

[duncaolog]

This information is incorrect. Strawboys are NOT closely related to Wrenboys and Mummers. They perform separate and distinct functions.

(2) They were NOT made up of uninvited guests but made welcome in that they brought good luck to the bride and groom.

(3) "could not be refused entry"? Nonsense!

(4) "if they were entertaining they were then fed and watered"? More nonsense

(5) 'old scores settled" and "clean slates" Lads! You look very pretty but you need to get your facts right!

[Oyotunji]

Sweet!!!!