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Step Dancing to fiddle music below Spence's Mountain, east Mourne Mountains, 1874 Hans & Annie Donnan c.1900 Champion step dancer Hans Stephenson Donnan (1859 - 1900) Dancing on Bangor Boat, 1906 Square Dancing, Bangor, 1963 Hans & Annie Donnan c.1900 Champion step dancer Hans Stephenson Donnan (1859 - 1900) 1/13 Dancing Half Sets at Lambeg on the River Lagan, c.1930 Dancers are thought to include; Dorothy Beattie, Patricia Mulholland, Roy Lillie & Joe Stewart (gentleman in the top hat). Fiddlers thought to be Paddy O'Rafferty and his daughter McElroy's Ceili, 1949 Clea Ball, 1900 Waringsford Orange Hall, 1920 McElroy's Ceili, 1949 1/12 Greyabbey Village Hall, 2006. American students visit the weekly dancing class Back row - US student, Philip Robinson, Andy Brown, US student, John Bailie, Phyllis Goodall, US student, Hammy Lawther, Betty Schofield, Betty Woods, Margaret Gibson, John Davidson, Jim Cuthbertson Middle row - Rachel McAvoy, US students Front row - two US students, Nigel Boullier (fiddle), Jackie Donnan (fiddle), Bob Traite

Dianna Skillen Reels - Untitled Reel, The Fair Haired Lass, The Piper on Horseback Dianna Skillen playing three reels - the first is untitled, the second The Fair Haired Lass , followed by The Piper on Horseback . Recorded 1992. The Piper on Horseback Dianna Skillen 00:00 / 03:26 Reels - Love at the Endings Dianna playing the reel Love at the Endings , which is a composition of fiddle player Ed Reavy who was originally from County Cavan before he emigrated to Philadelphia when he was aged 15. Recorded at a session in the Smuggler's Table, Killyleagh 1993. Love at the Endings Dianna Skillen 00:00 / 01:14 Reels - The Exile of Erin Dianna playing the reel The Exile of Erin a composition of banjo player Tony Sullivan, who stated, "The Exile of Erin is the name of a pub which used to exist in Collyhurst, Manchester before the town planners decided to make some "improvements" by demolishing one of the best music pubs in the world. Small and cosy, unlimited licensing hours and unlimited music. It became a regular port of call for visiting musicians and was the scene of the greatest of sessions - just ask Joe Burke about it. The Exile of Erin was knocked down in 1975." Recorded at a session in the Smuggler's Table, Killyleagh 1993. The Exile of Erin Dianna Skillen 00:00 / 01:57 Highland Schottische - The Smith's a Gallant Fireman & Lowden's Bonny Woods and Braes Dianna Skillen & Nigel Boullier (banjo) play two Highland Schottisches - The Smith's a Gallant Fireman , followed by Lowden's Bonnie Woods and Braes . Recorded 1992. The Smith's a Gallant Fireman (Highland Schottische) Dianna Skillen, Nigel Boullier 00:00 / 03:36 Reels - Toss the Feathers Dianna Skillen and Bernie Stocks (fiddles), accompanied by Hazlett Keers (bouzouki), play three reels each with the same title - Toss the Feathers . Recorded Bangor 2020. Toss the Feathers Dianna Skillen, Bernie Stocks & Hazlett Keers 00:00 / 04:31 Reels - Tommy Peoples Reel & The Bashful Bachelor Dianna Skillen and Steven Ebbinghaus (fiddles) play two reels; the first is generally titled Tommy People's , the second The Bashful Batchelor. Recorded Bangor 2020. Tommy Peoples & The Bashful Bachelor Dianna Skillen, Steven Ebbinghaus 00:00 / 02:08 Reels - Batt Henry's, Handsome Molly & I have no Money Dianna Skillen and David Thompson (fiddle & flute respectively) play three reels; Batt Henry's, Handsome Molly and I Have no Money. Recorded Bangor 2020. Batt Henrys Dianna Skillen & David Thompson 00:00 / 03:40 Jigs - The Hungry Rock & I buried my Wife and danced on top of her Grave Dianna Skillen and Trevor Stewart (fiddle & pipes respectively) play two jigs - The Hungry Rock and I buried my wife and danced on top of her grave. Recorded Bangor 2020. The Hungry Rock, I Buried my Wife Dianna Skillen & Trevor Stewart 00:00 / 03:15 Reels - Untitled Dianna Skillen and Trevor Stewart (fiddle & pipes respectively) play two reels. Recorded Bangor 2020. Two Reels Dianna Skillen & Trevor Stewart 00:00 / 03:13

David Carse - Part 7 1 Reel - Drowsie Maggie Reel - Glasgow Gates 2 Jig - Captain White (HD ref JM360) Fling - Green grow the Rashers O' (HD ref JW283) Polka - Ladies Polka 3 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled locally titled Burneys No 3 (2nd part only) (HD ref WS119) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Untitled locally titled La Russe (HD ref WS121) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Untitled locally known as The March to the Battlefield (HD ref WS126) Schottische - The Keel Row 4 Hornpipe - Bonaparte's Hornpipe 5 Jig - Untitled locally known as The Widow's Rant (HD ref JW299) 6 Reel - Back to Dromore Hornpipe - The Butchers of Bristol (HD ref JW322) 7 Polka - Untitled Polka Reel - The Bowl of Coffee (HD ref JW321) Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled locally known as Robbie Gray's (HD ref JW311) 8 Hornpipe - The Queen's Hornpipe (HD ref JW289) Jig - The Bridal Jig Hornpipe - Untitled generally known as The Trumpet Hornpipe 9 Reel - Purty Kate generally titled Bonnie Kate Hornpipe - Saint Patrick's Hornpipe 10 Reel - The Wind that shakes the Barley (HD ref JW328) Hornpipe - Untitled Hornpipe 11 Reel - Untitled locally titled Over the Hill Reel - Untitled generally titled The Scholar 12 Hornpipe - Untitled Hornpipe 13 Quadrille Tune 2/4 - The Boys of Belfast (HD ref WS125) 14 Schottische - Maggie Picking 15 Hornpipe - Millicen's Favourite generally titled The Belfast Hornpipe

Jim Moore Part 1 Jim Moore learned most of his fiddle music from initially Sammy Thompson, then Davy and Robbie Gray. He was also influenced by Robbie Chambers. He had a large collection of tunes in manuscript, many written by Jimmy Ward, Sammy Thompson and Davy Gray, including many written out by himself. He did not play from music, neither did his compatriots, but he used his collection for reference. In the years following his death his daughter, Linda Poole, contacted me and gave his collection in 2020. 1 Hornpipe - The Tinware Lass (HD ref JM360) 2 Hornpipe - Tim the Turncoat 3 Hornpipe - The Leitrim Fancy Hornpipe 4 Hornpipe - The Kildare Fancy 5 Hornpipe - The Plains of Boyle 6 Hornpipe - The Fairies 7 Hornpipe - The Sherwood Rangers 8 Hornpipe - Down the Glen 9 Hornpipe - Tomorrow Morning 10 Hornpipe - Pretty Maggie Morrissey 11 Hornpipe - Off to California 12 Schottische - The Danish Polka (HD ref WS130) Hornpipe - The Honeysuckle Hornpipe 13 Polka - The Wearied Soldier (HD ref JW304) Hornpipe - The Star Hornpipe (HD ref DG372) 14 Hornpipe - The Greencastle Hornpipe (HD ref JD148) 15 Hornpipe - The Galway Hornpipe 16 Figure Dance - The Siege of Ennis Hornpipe - The Stack of Barley 17 Hornpipe - The Man from Newry (HD ref DG371) Jig - Kitty's Ramble 18 Hornpipe - Chief O'Neill's Favourite 19 Mazurka - Untitled Mazurka (HD ref JD152) 20 Mazurka - Polka Mazurka locally titled The Spanish Mazurka (HD ref WS115) 21 March - Tyrone's Ditches (HD ref JM363) 22 March - Shane O'Neill's March 23 March - The Bonnie Lass of Bon-Accord (HD ref WS115) 24 Waltz - Mrs Elder (HD ref JM364) 25 Waltz - Sweet Sixteen (HD ref ST356) 26 Waltz - The Fairyland Waltz (HD ref JW338) 27 Quadrille Tune 2/4 - 2nd of the Lancers generally titled I Wish I were where Gadie Rins or The Hessian's March (HD ref JW307) 28 Figure Dance - The Sweets of May (HD ref WMcC94) different version 29 Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Highland Whiskey (HD ref WS122) generally titled Niel Gow's Farewell to Whisky Jig - My Darling is Asleep

James & Gus McElroy These two recordings of James McElroy and his son Gus were kindly given to me by Jim Walsh of the McElroy family. Reels - The Maids of Castlebar and Drowsy Maggie James McElroy (1892 - 1982) playing the well-known reels the Maids of Castlebar and Drowsie Maggie. Recorded c. 1960. Maids of Castlebar & Drowsy Maggie - Reels James McElroy 00:00 / 02:19 Reels - Cooley's Reel and The Mason's Apron James and his son Gus McElroy playing the well-known reels Cooley's and the Mason's Apron. Recorded c. 1960. James and Gus McElroy - Cooley's Reel & the Mason's Apron James McElroy 00:00 / 02:56 Eddie McMullan Jigs - Untitled, Gerry's Beaver Hat, Biddy the Bold Wife Eddie McMullan plays three jigs, the first one is untitled followed by Gerry's Beaver Hat & Biddy the Bold Wife . Untitled, Gerry's Beaver Hat, Biddy the Bold Wife Eddie McMullan 00:00 / 02:13

Andy Dickson 2 The following audio tracks were recorded at the Tivoli Bar Folk Club, Donaghadee on 17th April 1978 by Denis Reynolds which he later digitised. Reel - The Man from Bundoran & The Glass of Beer Andy Dickson (fiddle), Dermy Diamond (banjo), Tara Bingham (flute) accompanied b y Eugene "Spooly" Kelly (guitar) and Sammy Weir (bodhran) play two reels - The Man from Bundoran and The Glass of Beer. The Man from Bundoran, The Glass of Beer Andy Dickson 00:00 / 02:37 Reels - McDonagh's & Charlie Lennon's No.4 Andy Dickson (fiddle), Dermy Diamond (banjo), Tara Bingham (flute) accompanied b y Eugene "Spooly" Kelly (guitar) play two reels - McDonagh's and Charlie Lennon's No 4 McDonaghs, Charlie Lennons No 4 Andy Dickson 00:00 / 03:08 Reels - The Crosses of Annagh, Crowley's & Fergal O'Gara Andy Dickson (fiddle), Dermy Diamond (banjo), Tara Bingham (flute) accompanied by Eugene "Spooly" Kelly (guitar) and Sammy Weir (bodhran) play three reels - The Crosses of Annagh, Crowley's and Fergal O'Gara. Crosses of Annagh, Crowleys, Fergal OGara Andy Dickson 00:00 / 03:58 Reels - Farewell to Ireland & The Tarbolton Andy Dickson (fiddle), Dermy Diamond (banjo), Tara Bingham (flute) accompanied by Eugene "Spooly" Kelly (guitar) and Sammy Weir (bodhran) play two reels - Farewell to Ireland and The Tarbolton. Farewell to Ireland, The Tarbolton Andy Dickson 00:00 / 05:29 Jigs - The Black Rogue & Richard Dwyer's Andy Dickson (fiddle), Dermy Diamond (banjo), Tara Bingham (flute) accompanied by Eugene "Spooly" Kelly (guitar) and Sammy Weir (bodhran) play two jigs - The Black Rogue and Richard Dwyer's. The Black Rogue, Richard Dwyer's Andy Dickson 00:00 / 03:12

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

The Ward Manuscripts James Ward (1865 - 1944) was a farm labourer and thatcher from Drumaknockan, just below Edentrillick Hill, a few miles east of the town of Dromore in Central Down. He was highly influential in the area as a fiddle teacher and for playing at dances, parties, house dances and various soirees. He left a legacy of manuscripts covering a wide array of differing traditional tune types. Above Jimmy Ward used standard classical notation for teaching the fiddle, similar to John Simpson and Willie McCloy. James Ward Part 1 James Ward Part 2 James Ward Part 3 James Ward Part 4 Above Jimmy Ward left a vast legacy of manuscripts covering a wide array of differing traditional tune types.

Index of Fiddle Players The following data relates solely to fiddle players researched in the book Handed Down: Country Fiddling and Dancing in East and Central Down , which includes some 335 practitioners who were active in the period up to the 1950s. Information was gathered from the National Archives of Ireland - 1901 and 1911 census records, General Register Office - births, marriages, deaths, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. Distribution of Fiddle Players Demographics - Gender Demographics - Kinship Demographics - Religion Demographics - Cultural Identity Demographics - Occupation Repertoire Instruments

Davy Gray Davy Gray tragically died in 1990 following being robbed at home, a farmhouse at the Burren midway between Ballynahinch and Dromore, when his house was ransacked. The manuscripts went to Davy's close friend John McAdam, who offered them to me in 1997. 1 Reel - Kitty Robertson (HD ref DG378) 2 Reel - The Carrick Boys generally known as The Wise Maid 3 Hornpipe - Untitled Hornpipe 4 Reel - The Pure Drop 5 Jig - Untitled Jig 6 Reel - The Twelve Locks (HD ref DG380) Reel - Drowsy Maggie 7 Reel - The Milliner's Daughter Reel - The Grain of Tea (HD ref DG380) Reel - Over the Waves (HD ref DG379) Reel - Curran's Fancy (HD ref DG379) 8 Hornpipe - The Sherwood Rangers (HD ref DG372) 9 Mazurka - Untitled Mazurka locally known as James McElroy's Mazurka (HD ref JMcE249) 10 Mazurka - Untitled Polka Mazurka locally known as Davy Gray's Mazurka No 1 (HD ref DG 376) 11 Mazurka - Untitled Polka Mazurka (Jackie Donnan No 1 HD ref WS115) 12 Barndance - Untitled Barndance locally known as Davy Gray's Barndance No 1 (HD ref DG370) 13 Barndance - Untitled Barndance known locally as Davy Gray's Barndance No 2 Mazurka - Untitled Mazurka locally known as Davy Gray's Mazurka No 2 (HD ref DG 376) 14 Jig - The White Pony (HD ref DG374) 15 Jig - Untitled Jig Jig - Burke's Jig 16 Hornpipe - McElligott's Hornpipe (HD ref DG371) 17 Reel - Clancy's Fancy (HD ref DG 378) Reel - Colonel Rodney Reel - Lady Forbes (HD ref DG379) 18 Reel - The Dairy Maid Reel - Jackson's No Nine generally titled Dowd's Number Nine Reel - Master McDermott's 19 Jig - The Gold Ring Jig - The Maid on the Bridge (HD ref DG 374) 20 Slip Jig - The Sport of the Chase Slip Jig - The Fox Hunter Slip Jig - The Hunt Planxty - Madam Maxwell 21 Jig - I'm a Young Man (HD ref ST353) Jig - The Drunken Parson (HD ref PJJS174)

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

James Ward - Part 4 Part 4 of the manuscripts were handed down from Jimmy Ward to Willie Hook, to Jim Moore finally to myself in 2000. 1 Reel - The Tinker's Reel (HD ref JW327) Reel - Lord Roden's Reel (HD ref JW317) 2 Strathspey - Fanny Farquharson (HD ref JW333) Jig - The Boys of the Lough or titled locally The Lisnagade Jig (HD ref JW295) Hornpipe - Queen's Hornpipe (HD ref JW289) 3 Quadrille Tune 2/4 - The Lass o Gowrie (HD ref WS126) Jig - Jackson's Trip (HD ref JS82) Reel - The Bush in Blossom (HD ref JW322) 4 Reel - Untitled Reel locally titled (Jimmy Ward's Reel HD ref JW329) March - The Boyne Water (HD ref JW309) Hornpipe - Bony over the Alps (HD ref JW287) 5 Polka - The Weary Soldier (HD ref JW304) Reel - Roll Her down the Hill often titled Roll Her down the Mountain (HD ref JW320) Jig - The Heart of My Kitty (HD ref JW294) 6 Jig - The Miners of Wicklow (HD ref JW296) Polka - The Drumlough Polka (HD ref JW303) Mazurka - Untitled Polka Mazurka (HD ref RG376) 7 Jig - The Royal Arch Mason (HD ref JW298) Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled (HD ref JW315) a jig version of O'Carolan's Fanny Power Jig - Jackson's dear Whisky (HD ref JW292) 8 Varsovienna Tune - Untitled Varsovienna Tune Schottische - The Danish Polka (HD ref WS130) 9 Schottische - Old Chum Schottische (HD ref JW331) 10 |Polka - Untitled (Jimmy Ward's No 6 HD ref JW306) 11 Jig - Jackson's Morning Brush (HD ref JW292) Jig - Lannigan's Ball (HD ref RQ203) 12 Jig - The Queenstown Jig (HD ref JW297) Jig - Untitled Jig elsewhere titled by Jimmy Ward as Dan's wee Pot (HD ref JW291 ) 13 Waltz - Woodland Whispers (HD ref JW341) Waltz - The Starry Night (HD ref JW340) 14 Waltz - Untitled (HD ref ST357) locally known as Jimmy Ward's Waltz Reel - Queen's Wedding (HD ref ST354) 15 Jig - Pibrock of Donald Dhu (HD ref JW293) Quadrille Tune 6/8 - A Hundred Pipers (HD ref WS117) Jig - Blue Bonnets o'er the Border (HD ref WMcC94) 16 Hornpipe - Jack's the Lad (HD ref JE179) Jig - Johnny McGill (HD ref JW293) 17 Strathspey - Untitled Strathspey generally known as Miss Ramsey (HD ref JW335) Strathspey - The Lad that wears the Plaidie (HD ref JD131) 18 Figure Dance - Untitled generally known as The Princess Royal (HD ref WMcC93) 19 Jig - Jack's Alive (HD ref JW292) Fling - Captain Kelly's Fling (HD ref JW285) 20 Strathspey - The Braes aboon Bonaw (HD ref JW334) Jig - Rattle the Cash Jig - The Self Jig known locally in East Down as The Lilies of France and generally as The Girls of Banbridge (HD ref JW285) 21 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Lancers 1st figure (Jimmy Ward's No 8 HD ref JW314) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Lancers 2nd figure generally known as I wish I were where Gaddy Rins (HD ref JW307) [Ward and many of his fiddlers added a 3rd part to the tune - a part of The Rakes of Mallow in either the key of G or D] 22 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Lancers 3rd figure (jig version of O'Carolan's Fanny Power (HD ref JW315) Quadrille Tune 4/4 - Lancers 5th figure locally known as Jimmy McClurg's (HD ref JW396) Polka - Untitled Polka (HD ref JW306) 23 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Oh Lassie are thou sleeping yet generally known as The Muckin O' Geordie's Byre Jig - The Rocky Road to Dublin (HD ref JW298) Mazurka- Untitled Polka Mazurka (HD ref JW301) 24 Polka - Untitled Polka (Jimmy Ward's No 4 HD ref JW305) [Jimmy Ward played this polka in two variations; (1) by playing parts 1, 2 & 4 as a three part tune, or (2) by playing it as below as a four part tune. (Parts 1 & 3 are the same)] 25 Jig - Before I was Married Mazurka - Untitled Polka Mazurka (HD ref BG185) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - La Russe (HD ref WS121) 26 Waltz - The Fairyland Waltz (HD ref JW338) Waltz - Nicholson's Waltz (HD ref JW337) 27 Untitled Tune Waltz - Mousetrap Waltz (HD ref JW340) 28 Polka - Untitled Polka (Jimmy Ward No 6 HD ref JW306) Polka - The Sultan Polka (HD ref JW304) Polka - Jenny Lynd (HD ref JW302 ) 29 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Bonnie Dundee (HD ref WS118) 30 Waltz - Untitled Waltz Schottische - The Mounte Rank Schottische