Men Of Straw, an intro to the Fermanagh Mummers

an introduction to the tradition of mummers plays, folk drama and fertility ritual through play with the Augha Killy Maude Men Of Straw beside Knockninny and Lough Erne in Co. Fermanagh, Ireland

[@billymagfhloinn]

I'd also like to say that Joe, I admire your dedication to keeping the way you do it a true representation of the old style. You feel strongly about this. I also admire Jim's style, who borrows and mixes ideas together into something new. In a way, this is true to the tradition as well, as people always innovated and adopted new motifs and ideas. there's a place for us all.

[@JohnWillmott]

not just Derrylin as I know mummers, straw boys, wren boys and other folk drama troupes in Mayo, Kerry, several in Co. Sligo, Tipperary, Wexford, Antrim, Derry, and that's just Ireland. The tradition goes back a long, long time.

[@JohnWillmott]

@duncaolog What impresses me most there at Aughakillymaude is the passing on of strawcraft traditions which is getting too scarce.

[@JohnWillmott]

Jim Ledwith is very community spirited with "Men Of Straw" and local folk love being part of this when they can. The last thing Jim does is promote this as being exclusive Fermanagh tradition hence why he is constantly promoting Mummers and folk drama groups from all over Ireland, Europe and the world. Yes, The Men Of Straw provide a Fermanagh interpretation. I would hope every mummers and folk drama group would do of their community.

[@JohnWillmott]

@FeenishProductions This is great news !! There was not an over 5 minutes facility on KZbin when this edited version went up. I feel this version is still ok for a quick view, but the 24 minutes is better if you have the time. Thanks for this :-)

[@billymagfhloinn]

I'm going t weigh in on this, as I know several of the figures involved, including Joe and Jim. Perhaps Joe is right in saying that this is not the pure mumming tradition as such, but at all times the tradition is evolving and being influenced by outside forces. Joe, you yourself linked to a video on youtube of a Co. Clare performance, which is clearly a hybrid of wrenboys and mummers, and yet is perfectly traditional. It's important that the customs stay alive, and are part of current tradition

[@ribandit]

Anyone know who does the music at the beginning of the video?

[@clairerochemusic]

Kila. I forget the title and album

[@ribandit]

@@clairerochemusic , thanks so much, Merry Christmas!

[@elephantcastle5110]

Feach 👌

[@JohnWillmott]

@duncaolog I reckon Straw Boys and Mummers both came from other traditions, just as the USA Trick Or Treat, now exported all over Europe is an extremely watered down tradition from the Scottish Guisers which was something else before that. Traditions are never stable, always evolving, changing, merging, splitting up. Wrote down is a moment of time and not a tradition itself. To me tradition is like whispering a message around a bus, the last person hears something very different to the first

[@terencedoonan7598]

This is the ederney mummers in action

[@JohnWillmott]

@duncaolog I've always had the impression that Jim's idea was to present shows based on folk drama traditions. Though, I think he started with an orally passed down mumming script that probably came in with the planters. I tend to view traditions on a sean nos level so I get quite confused seeing distinct and tradition in the same sentence. Someone at some time came up with the Mummer, Strawboys and Wrenboy names, but I'm sure it was never the actual players that invented those names.

[@FeenishProductions]

Just to let you all know the full 24 minute version of this documentary can be found at kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqm0ZnWZjp2Zm6s

[@tootscarlson]

Not available in the U.S. :(