Our name is an Irish phrase which roughly translates to English as "Wren's Nook". But like many Irish to English translations, this simple one does not capture the many connotations in each word.

Dreoilín means "wren" but is also "little druid", "druid's bird", and "soul of the oak".

We have translated cró to mean "nook", but it signifies many small places, such as a hollow, a small house or outbuilding, an eye (as of a needle or a tree), or a fold. It is closely related to the words for blood and heart.

There is a traditional idiom "Cró Conn" which means the whole of Ireland; it is literally translated as "Conn's Fold", referring to the ancient High King named Conn. In this sense, "Cró Dreoiliín" could also mean "The Kingdom of the Wren".

Wrens are known for building their nests in little crevices in walls or trees or under bushes. They are diminuitive little creatures, but they have an important place in the Celtic world.

The story goes that one day long ago, all the birds and flying creatures of the air got together to choose from amongst themselves a king. The choice was to be made by a contest of flight: The bird that could reach the greatest heights would be crowned the king.

So they all took flight, each after its own manner. The Eagle's strong wings made him a popular favorite to win the contest. He flew in wide, soaring arcs, climbing unceasingly into the sky.

But the Wren, who was a somewhat less likely candidate but no less enthusiastic for all that, took off like a shot straight up into the air. He outpaced many of the other birds, but quickly grew tired and had to find a place to land and rest his wings for a while.

Meanwhile, the Eagle continued to climb. With satisfaction he watched as, one by one, the other birds reached the limits of their endurance and glided back to Earth below him.

When at last he too could fly no higher, he looked around and saw that the sky was empty around him. Not a single flying creature could be seen. With a feeling of triumph, he prepared to dive impressively back down to Earth and assume his crown.

Just at that moment, the Wren, who had been perched under the feathers of the Eagle's back all this while, took wing once again. Being fully rested, he once again took off like a shot, straight up, and flew still higher than the greatest height the Eagle could reach.

That is why, to this day, the clever little Wren is the King of All Birds.