...1798, a largo pole was planted in the market-place at Maghera, and a procession of May-boys, leaded by a mock king and queen, paraded the neighbourhood,...ribbons of various colours. This practice was revived in 1813, and the Mayboys collected about £17 at the different places where they called : this defrayed...

...day of May, from time immemorial, until the year 1798, a large pole was planted in the market place at Maghera, and a procession of May-boys, headed by...various colours. This practice was revived last year." There was also, in many localities, a pole erected at midsummer, on St. John's Day, dressed with considerable...

...day of May, from time immemorial, until the year 1798, a large pole was planted in the market place at Maghera, and a procession of May-boys, headed by...various colours. This practice was revived last year." There was also, in many localities, a pole erected at midsummer, on St. John's Day, dressed with considerable...

...large pole was planted in the market place at Maghera, and a procession of May-boys, headed by a inock king and queen, paraded the neighbourhood, dressed...various colours. This practice was revived last year." There was also, in many localities, a pole erected at midsummer, on St. John's Day, dressed with considerable...

...lively ribbons tied in knots."105 Similar scenes took place in Derry, where the May boys paraded through the neighbourhood, "dressed in shirts over their clothes, and ornamented with ribbons of various colours."106 The ribbon, particularly the white ribbon, was also associated with St Brigid and had...