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The Quinn Manuscripts Robert Quinn (1854 - 1930), from between the Glass Moss and Ballyrickard a couple of miles east of Comber in East Down, taught his sons Adam (1885 - 1971) and Robert (1887 - 1918), and his daughter Eva (b.1902) to play the fiddle. The Quinn manuscripts have been passed down through the family. Robert's great grandson Andy Cooper gave me access to them in 2012. 1 Reel - The Black Haired Lass (HD ref RQ205) Reel - Touch it if you Dare (HD ref RQ206) 2 Reel - Push about the Jaram generally known as Miss Monaghan (HD ref RQ205) Reel - Fire over the Mountains (HD ref RQ204) 3 Jig - The Trip to the Cottage (HD ref RQ202) Reel - The Green Fields of America (HD ref RQ206) 4 Hornpipe - The Liverpool Hornpipe Reel - Down the Banks (HD ref RQ204) 5 Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Duncan Davidson (HD ref JW306) Jig - Pop goes the Weasel 6 Polka - The Ballroom Polka Varsovienna Tune - Untitled Polka - Heel and Toe Polka (a song tune I'll tell my ma ) 7 Jig - The Protestant Boys (HD ref RQ203) Reel - The Brandy Bottle (HD ref RQ206) 8 Reel - The Wind that shakes the Barley (HD ref JW328) Quadrille 2/4 - The Girl I left behind me (HD ref WS125) 9 Reel - Through the Broom (HD ref RQ206) March - Prince Albert's March (HD ref RQ204) 10 Waltz - The Scotch Waltz Song - Auld Lang Syne 11 Reel - Miss McCloud's Reel (HD ref JW319) Song - What's at the Steer 12 Jig - The Rakes of Kildare 13 Jig - Apron's On (HD ref RQ203) Jig - Lannigan's Ball (HD ref RQ203) 14 Polka - Inver Folk in the Shaws Reel - The Soldier's Joy (HD ref JD161) 15 Hornpipe - The Steamboat (HD ref RQ202) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Rob Roy (HD ref WS124) 16 Song - There's nae gude luck about the House Quadrille Tune 6/8 - The Quaker's Wife (HD ref JD158) Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Royal Charlie (HD ref WS128 ) 17 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - The Laird of Cockpen (HD ref TO191) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - The Lass O'Gowrie (HD ref WS126 ) 18 Schottische - The Danish Polka (HD ref WS130) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - My Love is but a Lassie yet (HD ref WS121 ) 19 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Off She goes (HD ref WS122) Waltz - Untitled Waltz generally titled The Fairyland Waltz (HD ref JW338) 20 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - The Laird of Cockpen (HD ref TO191) Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled Quadrille locally titled The Maid of the Mill (HD ref SW216) 21 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Bonnie Dundee (HD ref WS118) Schottische - Untitled Schottische locally known as Hop Light Loo (HD ref WMcC101) 22 Reel - Green Garters (HD ref RQ205) 23 Hornpipe - The Showman's Fancy (HD ref RQ202) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - 5th Quadrille locally known as The March to the Battlefield and played for the 5th figure of the Quadrilles. 24 Quadrille Tune 2/4 - 4th Quadrille generally titled La Russe (HD ref RQ202) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Adam's 5th Quadrille 25 Yon Town Reel - Untitled Reel

Sam McCaughey Jigs - The Eavesdropper , Sackows and the Knights of St Patrick Sam McCaughey (fiddle), Trevor Stewart (pipes), John Hughes (flute) and Frank Cassidy (bouzouki), collectively known as Curlew play three jigs which they called; the Eavesdropper , Sackows and the Knights of St Patrick . 1986 The second jig is often known as Tripping up the Stairs , whilst the third tune is not usually associated with this title. The third jig was introduced into the Comber session, County Down in the 1970s, where Sam regularly played, by Bob Davey who got the tune from Donal Staunton a fine banjo player from Spiddal, County Galway. Reels - Dowd's No.9 and The Cabin Hunter Sam McCaughey, Dianna Skillen (fiddles), Nigel Boullier (banjo) and Davy Graham (mandola) play two reels; Dowd's No.9 and the Cabin Hunter , Killyleagh, 1992 Jigs - Willie Coleman's & The Teddy Boy's Picnic Sam McCaughey (fiddle), Trevor Stewart (pipes), John Hughes (flute) and Frank Cassidy (bouzouki), collectively known as Curlew play two jigs; Willie Coleman' s and the Teddy Boy's Picnic , better known as the Dusty Windowsill . 1985. Reels - Buck from the Mountain, Tuttle's & The Boys of Portaferry Sam McCaughey, Dianna Skillen (fiddles), Nigel Boullier (banjo) and Davy Graham (mandola) play three reels; Buck from the Mountain (a reel version of the hornpipe), Tuttle's (or Bobby Casey's ) and the Boys of Portaferry . Dufferin Arms, 1992 Reels - The Guns of the Magnificent Seven, Staten Island & The Five Mile Chase Sam McCaughey (fiddle), Trevor Stewart (pipes), John Hughes (flute) and Frank Cassidy (bouzouki), collectively known as Curlew play three reels; the Guns of the Magnificent Seven , a composition of County Fermanagh bouzouki player Fintan McManus, Staten Island and the Five Mile Chase .

Map of Central Down (South) The McElroys of Legananny & Drumnaquoile John Burns of Clanvaraghan Pat Murnin & the Drin Fiddle Club The Dornans of Drumnakelly & Drumaroad Kevin Casement, Sandy McNerlin, Johnny McKay, Willie McCartan & the Kanes of Clanawhillan Michael & Sean Rodgers The Herons of Herons Road, Joe Cinnamond, Arthur Annett, Thomas Henry Gibson & the McIlroys of Leitrim Pat Gorman of Islandmoyle John Searight & the Redmond brothers from Gransha, Hugh Greenan from Ballybrick & Pat Byrne of Levallyreagh

David Carse - Part 5 1 Reel - Back at Dromore Hornpipe - The Butchers of Bristol (HD ref JW322) 2 Schottische - Untitled generally known as Miss Stewart's Highland (HD ref WMcC101) 3 Reel - The Wind that shook the Barley (HD ref JW328) Reel - The Miners of Wicklow (HD ref WMcC99) 4 Jig - The Irish Washerwoman Jig - The Campbells are coming (HD ref JW294) 5 Hornpipe - The First of May (HD ref JD148) Reel - Through the Broom (HD ref RQ206) 6 Polka - The Dargan Polka also locally titled The Dragon Polka (HD ref JD154) Polka - The Belfast Polka (HD ref WS116) 7 The Buck Hunt Schottische - Highland generally titled Miss Stewart's Highland (HD ref WMcC101) 8 Jig- The Blackthorn Jig also locally titled Jimmy Savage's Quadrille Tune (HD ref JSav173) Reel - The Soldier's Joy (HD ref JD161) 9 Reel - The Green Fields of America (HD ref RQ206) 10 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Burney's No 1 (HD ref WS119) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Burney's No 2 (HD ref WS119) 11 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Burney's No 3 (HD ref WS119) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Burney's No 4 locally known as La Russe (HD ref WS121) 12 Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Burney's No 5 locally known as The March to the Battlefield (HD ref WS126) Quadrille Tune 6/8 - The Rakes of Kildare locally known as The De'il set sail with my Darlin' 13 Reel - The Flowers of Edinburgh (HD ref JW323) Fling - Green grow the Rashes O ' (HD ref JW285) 14 Hornpipe - Skatings Waltz known locally as Her Golden Hair hung down her Back (HD ref WS113) Schottische - The German Schottische (HD ref WS130) 15 Hornpipe - Bony Crossing the Alps Polka - The Ballroom Polka 16 Jig - Unknown (in part, only 5 bars) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Untitled , known locally as Old Molly Doodle will you not come out is the 5th figure of the Patience Lancers (HD ref WS124) Song - The Minstrel Boy 17 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - 1st Figure of the Quadrilles generally known as The Laird of Cockpen (HD ref TO191) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - 2nd Figure of the Quadrilles generally known as The Rakes of Mallow 18 Schottische - Louden's Bonnie Woods and Braes (HD ref WS129) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - The Lass O' Gowrie (HD ref WS126) 19 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - 1st Lancers also known locally as Jimmy Ward's No 6 (HD ref JW313) 20 Hornpipe - Sailor's Hornpipe (HD ref JW289) Jig - Nora Creana 21 Waltz - The Dewdrop Waltz (HD ref RQ207) Walrz - The Calcutta Waltz 22 Schottische - Highland Schottische Schottische - Money Musk 23 Hornpipe - Skating Waltz locally known as Her golden hair hung down her neck (HD ref WS113) Quadrille 2/4 - Rob Roy (HD ref WS124) 24 Jig - Tenpenny Bit Polka - Jenny Lynd Polka (HD ref JW302) 25 Jig - The Protestant Boys (HD ref JW297) March - The Boyne Water (HD ref JW309) 26 Jig - St Patrick's Day Jig - The Protestant Boys (HD ref RQ203) 27 Polka - Untitled Polka Jig - Untitled locally titled Hurrah for the Bonnets O' Blue in East Down (HD ref JS81) 28 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Kenmure's on an awa' locally known as Nane o' yer Winkin' at Me auld Man (HD ref WMcC233) 29 Reel - Soldier's Joy (HD ref JD161) Hornpipe - Untitled Hornpipe (Illegible) 30 Schottische - Brighton Schottische (HD ref JD130) Jig - Nelly Flaherty's Drake (1001 Gems No 44) Jig - Untitled first part only, generally known as Roaring Jelly (HD ref WS113)

Jim Moore (1921 - 2018) Jim and I played tunes (twin fiddles) for many years at his home in Dromara each Tuesday night. He always had a great fire built up in the grate. He recorded these tunes of us both playing for himself to play along with. The vast majority of the tunes were from his repertoire that he played with a number of local fiddle players, Robbie Chambers, Sammy Thompson, Davy and Robbie Gray and Jimmy Doyle. I didn't know the most of them so the balance in volume between the two fiddles is weighed heavily towards Jim's playing. Barndances - Jimmy Doyle's Barndances Jim learnt these barndances from the playing of Jimmy Doyle, a fiddler raised in Katesbridge who relocated in Dromara to work in the Jimmie Campbell's blacksmith shop. Jimmie also played the fiddle. Jackie Donnan got the barndances from me and we played the second one regularly for the two-hand dance the Scottish Barndance at the weekly Greyabbey Village Hall. Jimmy Doyle's Barndances Jim Moore 00:00 / 03:07 Jig - Royal Charlie Jim learnt Royal Charlie from Dree fiddler Robbie Chambers. There are several variations of this tune titled Wha'll be King but Charlie , one version played by Davy Gray around Ballynahinch and another by Willie Savage around Killyleagh. The tune is Scottish in origin, and known in the Irish tradition as Behind the Bush in the Garden. Royal Charlie - Jig/Quadrille Tune Jim Moore 00:00 / 01:47 Reel - The Peeler's Jacket The Peeler's Jacket - Reel Jim Moore 00:00 / 02:05 Reel - Queen's Wedding Jim learnt Queen's Wedding from fiddler Sammy Thompson, who in turn learnt it from Jimmy Ward. It is a simpler, and most likely an older, version of the Swallow's Tail . Queen's Wedding - Reel Jim Moore 00:00 / 01:27 Jig - The Widow's Rant This is another of the many tunes Jim learnt from Sammy Thompson that came from Jimmy Ward. The Widow’s Rant was published in James Aird’s - A Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs. Vols I-VI Glasgow, 1790-97. It was published under the title the Irish Newsman in T. Dibdin’s - The Irish Newsman Sung by Mr. Dighton at Sadlers Wells with unbounded applause . Written by T. Dibdin. London, 1795. The Widow's Rant - Jig Jim Moore 00:00 / 01:51 Jig - Castle Donovan Castle Donovan - Jig Jim Moore 00:00 / 01:53 Jig - The Highland Quickstep Another of the many tunes Jim learnt from Sammy Thompson. The Highland Quickstep - Jig Jim Moore 00:00 / 01:21 Hornpipe - The Honeysuckle Hornpipe The Honeysuckle Hornpipe Jim Moore 00:00 / 01:35 March - The Ballela March Jim learnt the Ballela March from its composer Jimmie Campbell. Jimmie named the tune after Ballela the neighbouring townland to where he was raised in Kilkinamurray. The Ballela March Jim Moore 00:00 / 01:58 Jig - Kissed Yestereen Jim learnt Kissed Yestereen from Sammy Thompson. Titled Kiss'd Yestereen this double jig was published in the Collection of Scotch Airs. Vol II and III . 1738-42, in James Oswald’s - The Caledonian Pocket Companion Book II . London, c. 1750. Books III - XII c. 1751 – 1760 titled O as I was Kiss'd th' streen and in James Johnson’s - The Scots Musical Museum . Edinburgh, 1787-1803 titled O as I was Kist Yestereen . Kissed Yestereen - Jig Jim Moore 00:00 / 01:20 Polka - Untitled Polka from Jimmy Ward No. 2 Jim learnt this polka from Sammy Thompson, who learnt it from Jimmy Ward. Ward was well-known for adding additional parts to tunes, often in different keys. This would appear to be one such case; Untitled Polka from Jimmy Ward No 2 Jim Moore 00:00 / 02:04 March - Charlie McClurg's March No. 2 Jim learnt this march from Charlie McClurg. Charlie McClurg's March No 2 Jim Moore 00:00 / 02:37 Waltz - Green Grows the Green Laurel Green Grows the Green Laurel - Waltz Jim Moore 00:00 / 01:41

The Old Time Fiddler c.1963 Tom Miskelly, Danny Cromie, Willie Savage (younger) & Alec Crawford Blackthorn Céilí Band c,1960 Peter Gallagher, Sean Quinn, Harry Magee, Gus McElroy & Maurice Rodgers Blackthorn Céilí Band c.1962 Sean Quinn (piano accordion) on the left, Gus McElroy (fiddle) & Dan McElroy (piano accordion) on the right Baile's Dance Band, 2003 Jackie Bailie (fiddle), John Bailie (banjo) & his wife Anne (keyboards) - Village Hall, Greyabbey. Blackthorn Céilí Band c,1960 Peter Gallagher, Sean Quinn, Harry Magee, Gus McElroy & Maurice Rodgers 1/5 The Dundrum Céilí Band c.1957 Joe Cardwell, Michael Rodgers, Kevin Cunningham, Harold Hurley, Billy Redmond, Johnny McKeating & Eddie Mason John Burns Dance Band, Irish Club, Bristol, 1962 Harry Grover (button accordion), Michael Cotter (drums), John Burns (fiddle), the names of the piano accordionist & pianist are not known Céilí Band, Ashley Hall, Belfast, 1993 Davy Graham (Bangor), Willie Coyle (Kircubbin), Nigel Boullier (Bangor), Dianna Skillen (Bangor) & Michael Herron (Coalisland)

Robbie Gray Robbie Gray's manuscripts were handed down to Davy Gray. The manuscripts were offered to me by Davy's close friend John McAdam in 1997. Robbie Gray initially went to Jimmy Ward to learn the fiddle. In 1930 he taught his brother Davy, who was 8 years younger, to play by learning the rudiments of written music. 1 Jig - Untitled Jig (HD ref JW311) Barndance - Kitty's Barndance (HD ref JW284) Song - When you gan away Jamie Mazurka - Untitled Mazurka (HD ref RG376) 2 Schottische - The Danish Polka (HD ref WS130) March - Jonnie Cope (HD ref RG375) March - John McKenzie's March (HD ref RG375) 3 Waltz - Ye Banks and Braes O bonny Down Waltz - Untitled Waltz generally titled Come O'er the stream Charlie (HD ref JD166) Waltz - Untitled Waltz generally titled Jimmy Ward's Waltz (HD ref JW357) Mazurka - Untitled Mazurka locally called Robbie Gray's Mazurka No2 (HD ref RG377) 4 Hornpipe - The Honeysuckle Hornpipe

Video Clips of Fiddle Players Jackie Donnan Geordie McAdam Sam McCaughey Brian Sutherland Ernie Swain Dianna Skillen Andy Dickson Nigel Boullier Sessions

Map of East Down John Simpson of Drumreagh Willie and May McCloy Lizzie Donnan, The Hayes brothers Davy and Jimmy Carse, Davy and Jim Bowman, David Boyd The Coey's of Ballydrain, Sammy Coey of Castle Espie, Danny Cromie Geordie Montgomery, Andy and Eddie Morrow, Alec Johnston Adam Haslett, William John and Samuel Crawford Jimmy Quigley, James O'Prey, Sammy Hare Willie Glover, Rosaleen Duffy

Map of the Ards Peninsula John Macpherson Mulhollan Ned & Tom McCarry Andy Hanlon of Portaferry Sam White, Joe & Mary Walker, John & Annie Eadie Jimmy Bailie, the Kearneys, Barney Smyth, Brigid McGrath Harry Coulter Jim McBride, Agnes White Francis Donnelly, Eddie Devine, James Tomelty James Bailie, Frank & Bob Caughey, James Reid & Johnnie Dunn Eddie McMullan, Stevie Egan

Jackie Donnan (1933 - 2007) The following film clips of Jackie are reproduced with the kind permission of Raymond and Kate Beattie. They were recorded in Killyleagh in 1977. The Iron Man - Strathspey Jackie Do nnan plays the Strathspey The Iron Man which he learnt from his mentor Willie Savage from the To ye, Killyle agh. The Blackbird - Hornpipe Jackie Donnan plays the hornpipe The Blackbird which he played regularly in his weekly session in Comber. Untitled Mazurka Jackie Donnan plays a mazurka which he played for the dance the polka mazurka. He also played it often regularly in his weekly session in Comber. Untitled Polka & Buffalo Gals - two Plain Polkas Jackie Donnan plays two plain polkas. He never had a name for the first polka whilst he got the second one, a version of Buffalo Gals , from his mentor Willie McCloy. Jimmy McClurg's - 2/4 Quadrille Tune Jackie plays Jimmy McClurg's, a 2/4 Quadrille Tune, that he learnt from Davy Gray. It came from Jimmy McClurg who came from Upper Crossgare, a few miles from Dromara. Jackie played it for the last figure of the Lancers. Jackie showing the simple introductory steps of the two-hand dance, the Polka Mazurka - he was always shy and wary of recording hence the short duration and abrupt ending.

Handed Down documents the traditional fiddle playing and dancing culture in County Down, in particular areas to the east and centre. Spanning over three decades in its development, this book presents a snapshot taken in 2012. The project is unique within traditional music and dance in Ireland due to the demographic nature of the county – the musicians, their music and dance, having been drawn from both unionist and nationalist communities. Much of the material, including some 500 pieces of music, 30 dances and profiles on 300 fiddle players, has to date gone unrecorded. This led to research into the development of traditional music and dance in County Down, including the origin of many of the popular dances, the extensive network of dancing masters in the 1700s and how fiddle players practiced their art in the late 1880s and into the twentieth century. Overall the project sheds fresh light on many of the commonly held perceptions regarding our culture. In contrast to much of the currently archived material, the musicians profiled here were, by and large, ordinary practicing fiddle players; likewise the dances were carried out by ordinary folk at a wide variety of social gatherings, making this an ideal window for looking at traditional music and dance as it was practiced over a century ago. Suffering serious decline as the twentieth century progressed and with most of the fiddle players and dancers having passed away, this previously rich culture continues to be practised by a diminishing number of musicians and dancers in, predominantly, rural areas of County Down. Buy Reviews Daniel Neely, Irish Echo, New York - 14th August 2013 "Occasionally, one comes across a publication that sheds significant new light on a subject matter and changes fundamentally its study and appreciation. Nigel Boullier's brilliantly researched and lavishly illustrated Handed Down: Country Fiddling and Dancing in East and Central County Down is one such study. " " Overall, Handed Down is an extraordinary publication." "Meticulous and carefully wrought, Handed Down : Country Fiddling and Dancing in East and Central County Down should revolutionize the way people think about the history of traditional music in that part of Ireland." [View Daniel Neely's highly detailed review below.] Philip Heath Coleman, Musical Traditions - 24th June 2014 "Nigel Boullier's inwardly fascinating, outwardly impressive and all in all quite extraordinary volume on the traditional music and dance of County Down." "At a stroke he has raised what was hitherto a totally-disregarded backwater of traditional music to being probably the best d ocumented area in that respect - the dust jacket refers to 500 [ sic] biographies, 300 [sic] tunes and 30 dances - not just in Ireland, but anywhere in the British Isles." (The review should have stated "300 biographies, 500 tunes") "To call Handed Down merely comprehensive would be absurd and to diminish the author's achievement." "a book which should be a prized possession of anyone who pretends to an interest in, knowledge of or affection for the traditional music of Ireland - or indeed of anywhere in the British Isles - and wherever it has travelled." To view Philip Heath Coleman's highly detailed review go to Musical Traditions Daniel Neely, Irish Echo, New York 14th August 2013