The Wexford Carol

The Wexford Carol (Irish: Carúl Loch Garman, Carúl Inis Córthaidh) is a traditional religious Irish Christmas carol originating from County Wexford and, specifically, Enniscorthy (whence its other name). The subject of the song is the nativity of Jesus Christ.

"The Wexford Carol", sometimes known by its first verse "Good people all this Christmas time", is of uncertain origins and while it is occasionally claimed to be from the early Middle Ages, it likely was composed in the 15th or 16th century based on its musical and lyrical style. The song achieved a renewed popularity due to the work of William Grattan Flood (1859–1928), who was organist and musical director at St. Aidan's Cathedral in Enniscorthy. He transcribed the carol from a local singer and had it published in The Oxford Book of Carols, putting Enniscorthy into most carol books around the world.

Traditions abound concerning the song – for example, that only men should sing it. However, many popular female artists, such as Julie Andrews in 1966 and Loreena McKennitt in 1987, have recorded versions of it, the former including an additional verse beginning "And buckets yore did rain that night." Yo Yo Ma and Alison Krauss recorded the song for Ma's 2008 holiday album, Songs of Joy and Peace. Michael McDonald covered it on his 2009 album This Christmas as a duet with his wife Amy Holland, using only the first three of the traditional verses. The carol featured as title track on the 2014 collection of traditional Irish Carols The Wexford Carols by the Irish early-music singer Caitríona O'Leary, with Tom Jones and Rosanne Cash. Irish folksinger Cara Dillon featured the song on her 2016 album Upon a Winter's Night. The Irish group Celtic Women included the Wexford Carol on their 2006 Christmas album. The English boy choir Libera performed an arrangement of the carol on their 2013 album, Angels Sing: Christmas in Ireland, recorded at Armagh Cathedral. Country artist Trace Adkins also recorded a version of the hymn on his 2013 Christmas album The King's Gift. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir performed an arrangement by conductor Mack Wilberg on its 2016 album Hallelujah!. On November 28, 2017, it was performed by the renowned flautist Ashley Snell in Leonard Auditorium at Wofford College. In the Fall of 2018, Daywind Records in Nashville, Tennessee, released "A Winter Carol" by the Gospel Music Association's legendary Hall of Fame family, The Nelons. It features The Wexford Carol as the second cut on the album.

Good people all, this Christmas time, Consider well and bear in mind What our good God for us has done In sending His beloved Son With Mary holy we should pray, To God with love this Christmas Day In Bethlehem upon that morn, There was a blessed Messiah born. The night before that happy tide, The noble virgin and her guide Were long time seeking up and down To find a lodging in the town. But mark how all things came to pass From every door repelled, alas, As was foretold, their refuge all Was but a humble ox's stall. Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep To whom God's angels did appear Which put the shepherds in great fear Prepare and go, the angels said To Bethlehem, be not afraid For there you'll find, this happy morn A princely Babe, sweet Jesus, born. With thankful heart and joyful mind The shepherds went the babe to find And as God's angel had foretold They did our Saviour Christ behold Within a manger He was laid And by his side the virgin maid Attending on the Lord of Life Who came on earth to end all strife. There were three wise men from afar Directed by a glorious star And on they wandered night and day Until they came where Jesus lay And when they came unto that place Where our beloved Messiah lay They humbly cast them at His feet With gifts of gold and incense sweet.