Kilmore, County Wexford
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Kilmore is a village in south county Wexford, Ireland, situated approximately 10 miles from Wexford town. Kilmore has a number of claims to distinction, including the tradition of carol singing in the village church at Christmas time, which has been taking place for over 200 years. The history of the Kilmore carols can be traced from the mid 18th century to the present day. They have been sung without a break since they were introduced to the Parish by Very Rev. Peter Devereux, who was Parish Priest circa 1751. Some of them were written by Very Rev. Wm. Devereux, P.P., Piercestown, a native of Tacumshane, where he is buried. The remainder were written by Bishop Luke Waddinge of Ferns.
In all there are thirteen carols and eight of them are usually sung during the Christmas period, the first at first Mass on Christmas Day and the last one on Sunday nearest Twelfth Day. The singers consist of six local men and have always included a member of the Devereux family, a tradition that is being continued to the present day. The singers divide into two groups of three and each group sings alternate stanzas. The carols are handwritten in a leather-bound book; the work of Mr. Richard Funeral Crosses in Kilmore.
