Dancing Masters There are few records of the activities of the Dancing Masters, however the best known is by Arthur Young, an English geographer, who travelled throughout Ireland in the late 1770s making the following observation. "Dancing - is very general among the poor people, almost universal in every cabin. Dancing-masters of their own rank travel through the country from cabbin to cabbin, with a piper or blind fiddler; and the pay is sixpence a quarter. It is an absolute system of education." (October 1777) Arthur Young, Arthur Young's Tour in Ireland (1776-1779) , p.446. The Ordnance Survey Memoirs , written around 1838, record several references to Dancing Masters. Records of the Parish of Mallusk (County Antrim) state; "Dancing is a very favourite amusement..... There are still several annual dances in this and the neighbouring districts. Those in the library at the hamlet of Roughfort in the parish of Templepatrick are among the most fashionable and are nicely got up. Among the better description of farmers the assistance and services of a dancing master are indispensable, while among the lower class a few steps accidentally picked up are quite sufficient, with their naturally good taste and ears, to ensure their excelling in this lively accomplishment." Records for the Parish of Kilwaughter (County Antrim) state; "dancing is the only amusement. There are occasional dances in the farmhouses of the parish, and at present a dancing school has just commenced. It consists of about six pupils, each pay 5s per quarter, chiefly females attend." An earlier reference to the Dancing Masters is an agreement between Charles Staunton dancing master and William Bailey of Ballincollig, West Cork dated October 1718, where Staunton was to be paid two guineas to teach the children jig minnets, hornpipes and country dances perfectly. Dr John P. Cullinane, Further Aspects of the History of Irish Dancing, Part 2 , 1990, p. 27. Records of the activities of the general populace are scarce and articles in newspapers generally only recorded activities of the gentry in the period up to WWII. However early newspapers of 18th C include a number advertisements placed by Dancing Masters to attract business from the gentry and nobility. John Dumont It is thought that the Dumont family performed for many years in Europe prior to returning to the the north of Ireland in the spring of 1767. Upon his return John Dumont opened his dancing school in the Market-House, Downpatrick on Wednesday 28th April 1767. From 1767 John and his son Peter taught dance and acted as masters of ceremonies for balls in Ulster. For the following thirty years John Dumont taught dancing and hosted balls throughout County Down, namely in Downpatrick, Comber, Moira and Newry, as well as in Lisburn, Belfast, Armagh and Dundalk. John Greene, Theatre in Belfast 1736-1800 , 1946, p. 134. Belfast Newsletter 25th September 1778 16th April 1767 Belfast Newsletter 3rd - 7th March 1780 John Lawler John Lawler was a dancing Master who held his dancing school in Antrim Market-House in February 1767, culminating in a ball in the same venue. He also held classes in Dromore and Coleraine. Belfast Newsletter 24th April 1767 John Rocks John Rocks lived in Pound Hill, Armagh where he was described as an old dancing master. Armagh Census 1770 carried out by Rev. William Lodge. Richard Lee Richard Lee was a dancing master who held a dancing s chool in Lisburn Market House as advertised in 1767 and 1773. He was in partnership with John Harte, another dancing master, which was dissolved on 22nd March 1774 when Mr Lee moved to Belfast and started a dancing school in the Belfast Market House. Prior to this they held their final ball in the Market-House, Belfast "for the benefit of Lee and Hart" on 20th January 1774. Belfast Newsletter 22nd March 1774 John Hart John Hart, a dancing master , formerly having been in partnership with Richard Lee, opened his dancing school in Lisburn Market-House on Monday 8th May 1775, and in Lurgan Market House the following Thursday 11th May. His rates were half a guinea a quarter, and half a guinea entrance as advertised in the Belfast Newsletter 2 – 5 May 1775. He was recorded as having held a Ball in Dromore in October 1776. Belfast Newsletter 2nd - 5th May 1775 Thomas William Betterton Thomas William Betterton was a dancing master from Newry. He opened his dancing school in Belfast on 15th March 1780. His rates were half a guinea entrance, and a guinea a quarter as advertised in the Belfast Newsletter . Belfast Newsletter 7th - 10th March 1780 Mr Bleake Mr Bleake was a music and dancing master in Lisburn, who opened a music and dancing school in Belfast in 1781. His terms for dancing were one guinea entrance, and a guinea a quarter as advertised. All enquiries were to been left with Mr Cunningham at the White Cross Inn, High Street, Belfast. 23rd August 1781 Mr Hull Thomas Hull taught dancing in the late 1700s and early 1800s. He taught in Portaferry, Strangford, Downpatrick, Dromore and Hillsborough in 1789. By 1808 he was recorded as a dancing master & master of ceremonies of the Belfast Assembly, 11 & 12 Ann Street. (1808 Belfast Street Directories) Belfast Newsletter 8th April 1789 James May James May taught for a time i n Armagh, then opened a dancing school in the Market-House, Belfast in January 1780. His terms were half a guinea entrance, and a guinea a quarter as advertised in the Belfast Newsletter 22nd November 1779 . By 1791 he rented a "commodious house in the lower end of High Street, next to Mr Kingsmill's, Belfast" where he taught the latest dances popular in London and Paris. Belfast Newsletter 4th March 1791 Mr Simpson Mr Simpson was a dancing master from Belfast who advertised tuition on the mornings of Friday and Saturday, from seven to nine o'Clock at his Long-Room in North Street, Belfast. Also his evening classes between the hours of nine and eleven on said days - and his usual twelve and five o'Clock classes. (Northern Star 12th May1791 ) Around this period he also resided in Larne where he advertised tuition and was regarded as a Professor of Dancing by a considerable number of the principal in habitants of the North of Ireland ( Northern Star 1st February 1792 ). Northern Star 12th May 1791 Mr McGrath Mr McGrath was a dancing master who taught dancing in the vicinity around Lisburn and Belfast. His terms were one guinea entrance, and one guinea and a half per quarter or for private tuition, two guineas per month, and two guineas entrance as advertised in the Belfast Newsletter 16th April 1792 . By 1794 he was residing at the Donegall Arms, Belfast. At this time he practiced with a Mrs Parker who travelled around London and Dublin, performing at the theatre in Dublin and residing in Belfast for two months in the year Belfast Newsletter 24th April 1794 . In 1795 he held balls in Lisburn and the Exchange-Rooms, Belfast. Belfast Newsletter 10th November 1794 Mr W Kelly Mr W Kelly taught dancing for many years in Counties Armagh and Tyrone, and at two of the principal schools in Armagh and Dungannon. In 1792 he introduced the Quadrilles to the College of Armagh which had been originally danced in France ( Northern Star 1st February 1792 ). When fashionable dancing circles changed their focus, from the French Court (during the French Revolution), to Edinburgh Mr Kelly travelled to Edinburgh to learn various Reels and Strathspeys as reported in Belfast Newsletter. Belfast Newsletter 23rd July 1795 Thomas Moorehead Thomas Moorehead lived in New Street, Armagh where he was described in 1770 as a Dancing Master (Armagh Census 1770 carried out by Rev William Lodge). He opened his Dancing School in Armagh in 1767 (Belfast Newsletter 24th April 1767 ) and advertised tuition in Lisburn and its surrounding area in 1796 . Belfast Newsletter 17th March 1796 Mrs Parker Mrs Parker travelled around London and Dublin, performing at the theatre in Dublin. In 1794 she practiced with Mr McGrath performing and teaching the current fashionable Strathspey and Scots Reel (Belfast Newsletter 24t h April 1794 ). In 1801 she resided in Belfast for two months staying at No.17 High Street. At this time she taught Scotch dances, particularly the Strathspey Minuet . Belfast Newsletter 11th September 1801 Alexander Faulkner Alexander Faulkner was a dancing master living in 7 Forest Street, Saintfield in 1819. (Belfast & Lisburn Directory 1819 - Lennon Wylie website). John Reid John Reid was a musician and dancing master living in Seapatrick, Banbridge in 1819. (Banbridge Trade Directory 1819 , also Ros Davies' Co. Down, Northern Ireland Family History Research Site) Mr Reynolds Mr Reynolds taught dancing in Belfast in the early 1800s. He had his own Academy at 1, Castle Street where he held a class at 5pm on Friday 31st August - he also taught at the Belfast Academical Institution on Monday 27th August. The fashionable dances included the Quadrille Country Dances as noted below. Belfast Newsletter 20th August 1827 Mr Fielding Mr Fielding was a dancing master from Comber where he held a dancing class in Lowry's Inn near the Square, Comber. The following is an extract from the diary of Guy Stone (18 08 - 1862), who was a prosperous farmer from Stone's Planting, better known as Barnhill on the Belfast Road just outside of Comber. 13th June 1838 J. Ritchie drove Annie with Guy and Ann into Belfast for her to buy things for them, but were home in time for me to take them in the car into Comber to the Dancing School, the dancing master Mr Fielding having called on me last week to see if I would send them. There were ten girls and five boys. I sat some time in the dancing room and then walked about the Square with Mr Reid. He came into Lowry's Inn, where the school was held, with me and we drank some punch. Mr Fielding joined us when his lesson was over. (Diary of Guy Stone , Comber Historical Society)

Jim Moore Part 2 Jim Moore (1921 - 2018) lived in Dromara. He 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 used his collection for reference. In the years following his death Jim's daughter, Linda, contacted me and gave his collection in 2020. 1 Reel - Miss Monaghan (HD ref RQ205) 2 Jig - Jackson's Favourite generally known as Jackson's Morning Brush (HD ref JW292) Reel - The Duke of Perth (HD ref JD161) 3 Reel - The Merry Blacksmith also known locally as The Peeler's Cap (HD ref WMcC99) 4 Reel - The Wind that shakes the Barley (HD ref JW328) Polka - The Knocknabower Polka 5 Barndance - Untitled Barndance from Davy Gray (HD ref DG370) 6 Barndance - Untitled locally titled Kitty's Barndance (HD ref JW284) Jig - The Tenpenny Bit 7 Schottische - Untitled Highland Schottische (HD ref JM364) 8 Schottische - Untitled Highland Schottische 9 Jig - The Road to Dublin (HD ref JW298) Jig - Miss Munroe's Jig (HD ref JM361) 10 Jig - The Dublin Jig also known as The Ship in Full Sail 11 Jig - The Queenstown Jig (HD ref JW297) Jig - The Girls of Banbridge known in East Down as The Lilies of France (HD ref WMcC83) 12 Jig - McCann's Jig 13 Jig - Old Man Dillon 14 Jig - Tell Her I am Jig - Pat McCann 15 Jig - Tatter Jack Walsh Figure Dance - The Haymaker's Jig 16 Jig - Jerry's Beaver Hat Jig - Shandon Bells 17 Jig - A Visit to Ireland 18 Jig - The Mouse in the Cupboard (HD ref JM362) Jig - The Connacht Man's Rambles (HD ref WMcC95) 19 Jig - The Rambling Pitchfork Jig - Hartigan's Fancy 20 Jig - Saddle the Pony (HD ref WMcC95) Jig - The Lilting Fisherman 21 Jig - The Maid on the Green (HD ref WMcC95) 22 Jig - Tobin's Favourite 23 Jig - The Trip to the Cottage (HD ref RQ202) Jig - Dan the Cobbler 24 Jig - The Lark in the Morning 25 Jig - The Black Rogue (HD ref JM362) 26 Jig - The Rose in the Heather 27 Jig - The Frost is all over 28 Reel - Untitled generally known as The Boys of the Lough 29 March - Sweet Killaloe (HD ref JM363) Hornpipe - McElligott's Fancy (HD ref JM371) 30 Jig - Fasten the Leggin Ji g - Donnybrook Fair 31 Jig - Welcome to Cork 32 Jig - Katie's Fancy (HD ref JM361) Jig - Paddy Whack (HD ref DG373)

Davy Gray (1917 - 1990) at home in his cottage at the Burren, between Ballynahinch & Dromore, 1986 Sammy Thompson & Joe Jess John Rooney, Robbie & Davy Gray, Stanley Carson c.1982 Jimmy Gregg, 1991 Sammy Thompson & Joe Jess 1/16 Two Ulster fiddle players c.1900 Willie Wallace c.1890 Willie Wallace c.1920 Jim Cargin, 1965 Willie Wallace c.1890 1/12 Eugene McConville playing a tune in his flax mill, 1994

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

Formation of Comber Session Jackie Donnan - see Fiddlers/East Down 2 Geordie McAdam Ernie Swain Sam McCaughey Dianna Skillen Davie Wylde Brian Sutherland Davy Calhoun (The Major)

James O'Neill (1862 - 1949) Jim Creaney c.1963 Joe McKinley, 1960 Jim Creaney c.1994 Jim Creaney c.1963 1/5 Marie Lavery (1925 - 1996) Geordie Lavery (1927 - 2001)

James Ward - Part 2 Part 2 of the manuscripts were handed down from Jimmy Ward to Sammy Thompson, to Jim Moore finally to myself in 2000. 1 Reel - Untitled Reel known in Central Down as The Edentrillick Reel after the district that Jimmy Ward was from. (HD ref JW323) Reel - My Lofty Hills (HD ref JW320) a two-part version of Over the moor to Maggie . 2 Reel - The Lowlands of Scotland generally titled The Hare's Paw (HD ref JW325) Reel - The Bowl of Coffee (HD ref JW321) generally titled The Teetotaller 3 Hornpipe - The Victoria Hornpipe (HD ref JW290) Hornpipe - The Sweep's Hornpipe (HD ref JW289) 4 Polka - Untitled Polka (8 bars only) Jig - The Heart of my Kitty (HD ref JW294) Hornpipe - The Austrian Hornpipe (HD ref JW287) 5 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled tune for 1st figure of the Lancers, Jimmy Ward's No 6 (HD ref JW313) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Untitled tune for 2nd figure of the Lancers known locally as Burney's No 2 (HD ref WS119) 6 Jig - The Campbells are Coming (HD ref JW294) Jig - Pop goes the Weasel Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Highland Whisky (HD ref WS122) generally known as Niel Gow's Farewell to Whisky 7 Reel - Scotch Mary (HD ref JW321) Barndance - Untitled Barndance locally known as Kitty's Barndance (HD ref JW284) 8 Reel - Untitled Reel generally known as Miss McLeod's (HD ref JW319) Polka - The Kitchen Polka (HD ref JW303) 9 Schottische - Sally round the Gooseberry Bush (HD ref JW331) Reel - The Soldier's Joy (HD ref JD161) Jig - The Rocky Road to Dublin (HD ref JW298) 10 Hornpipe - The Londonderry Hornpipe Hornpipe - The Dublin Hornpipe (HD ref JW288) 11 Polka - Untitled Polka (HD ref JW305) Waltz - The Dewdrop Waltz (HD ref RQ207) 12 Hornpipe - The Liverpool Hornpipe Irish Dance - The Bag of Praties Mazurka - Untitled Polka Mazurka (HD ref JW301) 13 Schottische - The German Schottische different version (HD ref WS130) Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Quadrilles No 1 locally titled Yankee Doodle (HD ref JW316) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Quadrilles No2, The Rose Tree known as Auld Moylan Gibberland in East Down (HD ref WS11701) 14 Jig - The Siege of Carrick better known as Haste to the Wedding Jig - The Tenpenny Bit Round Dance - Molly Walker Circle 15 Hornpipe - The Butchers of Bristol (HD ref JW322) Hornpipe - The 1st May (HD ref JD148) 16 Polka - Untitled Polka (HD ref JW305) Waltz - Untitled Waltz but Jimmy Ward usually called it Woodland Whispers (HD ref JW341) 17 Hornpipe - The Sailor's Hornpipe (HD ref JW298) Reel - Miss Johnston's Reel (HD ref JW319) 18 Barndance - The Bottom of the Punchbowl (HD ref JD146) Hornpipe - The Cuckoo's Nest (HD ref JD147) 19 Jig - Blue Bonnets o'er the Border (HD ref WMcC94) March - The Boyne Water (HD ref JW 309) Polka - The Drumlough Polka (HD ref JW303) 20 Hornpipe - Bonaparte's Hornpipe (HD ref JW286) Hornpipe - The Londonderry Hornpipe 21 Polka - Untitled Polka different four part version (HD ref JD155) Jig - The Hills of Glenorchy (HD ref JW295) Jig - Untitled Jig 22 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled Quadrilles No1 (HD ref JW311) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Untitled Quadrilles No2 (HD ref JW312) Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled Quadrilles No3 (HD ref JW312) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Untitled Quadrilles No4 (HD ref JW313) Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled Quadrilles No5 (HD ref JW313) 23 Hornpipe - The Newcastle Hornpipe Reel - The Flowers of Edinburgh (HD ref JW323) 24 Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Untitled generally known as The Girl I left behind Me (HD ref WS125) Highland Fling - Untitled locally known as Jimmy Ward's Fling (HD ref JW286) March - The Lily 25 Schottische - Untitled Schottische

Brian Sutherland Jigs - The Whistler at the Wake, The Old Flail & The Rafters over the Waves Brian Sutherland, Finbar McLaughlin (pipes) & Cyril Maguire (flute) playing the jigs The Whistler at the Wake , The Old Flail and The Rafters over the Waves, accompanied by John Robertson (bodhran). The first two tunes were composed by flute player Vincent Broderick. Recorded c.2007. Strathspey - The Laird of Drumblair Brian Sutherland playing The Laird of Drumblair , a strathspey played regularly by Brian's uncle Jackie Donnan. Recorded c.2010. Reel - The Moving Bog Brian Sutherland playing The Moving Bogs of Allen , a well-known reel in the Comber session where it was usually titled simply The Moving Bog . Recorded c.2010. Jig - Tatter Jack Walsh Brian Sutherland playing Tatter Jack Walsh , a well-known jig in the Comber session. Recorded c.2010. Mazurkas - Jackie Donnan's Mazurkas Brian Sutherland playing two mazurkas that he learned from his uncle Jackie Donnan. Jackie usually called them Jimmy McElroy's (from whom he learned it) and The Spanish Mazurka. Recorded c.2010.

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

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

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." [View Philip Heath Coleman's highly detailed review below] Daniel Neely, Irish Echo, New York 14th August 2013 Philip Heath Coleman, Mustrad (Musical Traditions) 24th June 2014

John Macpherson Mulhollan John Macpherson Mulhollan was born in 1781 and was raised in Donaghadee on the north-east coast of County Down. He published A Selection of Irish and Scots Tunes in Edinburgh in 1804. John Mulhollan's collection consisted of some 130 tunes including Airs, Marches, Strathspeys, Country Dances as well as Reels and Jigs. He included two of his own compositions - Mr James Lemon's Reel and Craigbuy House , and a composition of a close family member - The Donaghdee Hunt. Mr James Lemon's Reel [James Lemon was the Harbour Master in Donaghadee. Although the Crown forces had doubts over his loyalty, as he was reputed to be a United Irishman, he was left in charge of the Harbour during the period of the 1798 Rebellion. [T he Antient and Present State of the County of Down by Walter Harris] Craigbuy House [Craigbuy House, (current spelling Craigboy) was situated in the townland of Craigboy, a couple of miles south of the town of Donaghadee.] The Donaghadee Hunt