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John Simpson c.1909 Davy Carse 1956 Jimmy Bonar 1999 John Simpson c.1909 1/13 Willie Savage (the Younger), Toye William Savage, Jackie Donnan at Jackie's family home on the River Row in Shrigley, a mile west of Killyleagh, c.1953. Bobby Geddis 1994 Bobby Geddis, 1994 Toye Band, 2006 Bobby Geddis 1994 1/11 Tom Miskelly, Jackie Donnan, Alec Crawford playing at Billy Galbraith's farm, Craigantlet near Bangor c.1963. Jackie Donnan, Danny Cromie, Tom Miskelly, James McElroy c.1960 Jim Creaney, Davy Aitken, Danny Cromie, Alec Crawford, Jackie Donnan - All Ireland Fleadh, Thurles 1965 (standing) James Orr, Willie Garret & Ciaran Bingham (sitting) Nigel Boullier, Willie Lindsay, Jackie Donnan 2005 Jackie Donnan, Danny Cromie, Tom Miskelly, James McElroy c.1960 1/10 Nigel Boullier, Jackie Donnan, Willie Lindsay, Ciaran Bingham at Willie & Elaine Lindsay's home, Toye, Killyleagh 2005

Andy Dickson Reels - Charlie Lennon's Nos. 1 & 2 Andy Dickson (fiddle), Dermy Diamond (banjo), Tara Bingham (flute) and Gerry McCartney (banjo mandolin) play two reels composed by Charlie Lennon, accompanied by Eugene "Spooly" Kelly (guitar) and Sammy Weir (bodhran). Andy calls the reels Charlie Lennon's Nos 1 & 2 , however the second tune is usually referred to as Charlie Lennon's No 4 . I have heard Charlie and his brother Ben refer to it as Rose McKenna's as Charlie had forgotten it until Rose reminded him of it. The first is better known as McDonagh's , named after the fiddle and flute playing brothers from Riverstown, County Sligo. Recorded c. 1976. Jigs - The Black Rogue & Richard Dwyer's Andy Dickson (fiddle), Der my Diamond (banjo) and Tara Bingham (flute) play two jigs accompanied by Eugene "Spooly" Kelly (guitar) and Sammy Weir (bodhran). Recorded c. 1976. Reels - The Cup of Tea & The Woman of the House Andy Dickson (fiddle), Dermy Diamond (banjo), Gerry McCartney (banjo mandolin), John Parkinson (flute), Tara Bingham and Gerry Garvey (whistles) play two reels accompanied by Eugene "Spooly" Kelly (guitar) and Sammy Weir (bodhran). Recorded c. 1976. Reels - Danny Meehan's & Return to Miltown Andy Dickson and Deirdre Shannon play two reels - Danny Meehan's and Return to Miltown . Recorded c.1978 Reels - The Flax in Bloom & the Crosses of Annagh Andy Dickson and Ben Lennon (fiddles) accompanied by John Faulkner (bouzouki) play two reels - t he Flax in Bloom and the Crosses of Annagh . Recorded 1983. Reels - Jackson's Andy Dickson and Ben Lennon (fiddles) and Cathal Hayden (banjo), accompanied by John Faulkner (bouzouki) play two reels that they called Jackson's . Recorded 1983.

East Down Ards & Lecale Central Down South Central Down Central Down West Dancing Dance Bands Sessions (North/East) Sessions (Central) Bangor Musicians

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James Ward - Part 3 Part 3 of the manuscripts were handed down from Jimmy Ward to Sammy Thompson, to Jim Moore finally to myself in 2000. 1 Reel - Miss Gunning's Fancy Reel (HD ref JW318) 2 Strathspey - Stirling Castle (HD ref ST355) Strathspey - Lady Ann Hope (HD ref ST333 ) 3 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled Quadrille Tune for 1st figure of the Lancers (Jimmy Ward's No 6 HD ref ST313) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Untitled Quadrille Tune for 2nd figure of the Lancers ( Jimmy Ward's No 7 HD ref ST314) 4 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled is 4th figure of the Patience Lancers (HD ref WS124) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Untitled is 5th figure of the Patience Lancers locally known as Old Molly Doodle will you not come out (HD ref WS124) 5 Polka - Untitled Polka (Untitled Polka Jimmy Ward 3 HD ref JW305) Reel - Kattie got her Clinking (HD ref JW316 ) 6 Reel - The Green Fields of America (HD ref RQ206) Jig - The Connaught Man's Rambles (HD ref WMcC95 ) Irish Dance - The Bag of Praties 7 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - The Laird O' Cockpen (HD ref JW310 ) Jig - The Cameron Men (8 bars only) 8 Jig - The Blackthorn Stick (HD ref JW310 ) Jig - Dan's wee pot (HD ref JW291) Fling - Marquis of Huntley's (HD ref JW285) 9 Mazurka - Untitled Mazurka locally known as The Spanish Mazurka in East Down (HD ref WS115 ) 10 Schottische - The Love Letter Schottische (HD ref JW332 ) 11 Jig - Untitled Jig locally known as Nane o'yer Winkin at Me Auld Man (HD ref WcCCa233) Fling - Green Grows the Rashes (HD ref JW285) Jig - Bung your Eye (HD ref JW291 ) 12 Reel - Roll Her down the Hill (HD ref JW320) Polka - Untitled Polka titled elsewhere by Jimmy Ward as The Wearied Soldier (HD ref JW304) Waltz - The Alpine Waltz (HD ref JW338 ) 13 March - Untitled 6/8 Pipe March (HD ref JW300) 14 Air - Untitled Air generally known as St Patrick's Breastplate Schottische - Untitled Schottische 15 Reel - The Trip to Gilford (HD ref JW328) Reel - The Old Torn Petticoat (HD ref JW326) 16 Reel - The Pidgeon on the Gate (HD ref JW326) Strathspey - Miss Lyall (HD ref JD163) 17 Highland Fling - The Braes of Auchtertyre (HD ref JW286) Reel - The Lowlands of Scotland (HD ref JW325) 18 Reel - The Long Hills of Mourne (HD ref JW325) Reel - Untitled Reel (HD ref JW329) Reel - The Bush in Blossom (HD ref JW322) 19 Highland Schottische - Untitled locally known as Jimmy Ward's Schottische (HD ref JW330) Jig - Jackson's Morning Brush (HD ref JW292) 20 Strathspey - The Bog of Right composed by William Marshall and titled The Bog of Gight (HD ref JW335) Hornpipe - The Cork Hornpipe (HD ref JW287) 21 Fling - Captain Kelly's (HD ref JW285) Strathspey - The Braes aboon Bonaw (HD ref JW334) Strathspey - Sheriff Muir Strathspey (HD ref JW334) 22 Hornpipe - Loch Leven Castle (HD ref JD146) March - Bonaparte's Grand March (HD ref JW301) 23 Jig - Roaring Jelly (HD ref JD113) Reel - Untitled Reel titled elsewhere by Jimmy Ward as Queen's Wedding (HD ref ST354) Slip Jig - Andrew Kerry (HD ref JW333 ) 24 Hornpipe - Boney over the Alps (HD ref JW287) Polka - Paddy will you now (HD ref JW302) 25 Polka - The Bluebell Polka (HD ref JD154) Schottische - The Dew-drop Schottische (HD ref JW332) 26 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled Quadrille Tune for 3rd figure Lancers but titled elsewhere by Jimmy Ward as The Soldier's Cloak (HD ref JW310) Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled Tune for 4th figure Lancers (Jimmy Ward's No 9 HD ref JW314) Quadrille Tune C/T - The Tin Ware Lass for 5th f igure Lancers (HD ref JW311) 27 Jig - Untitled Irish Jig

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

Geordie McAdam The Happy Days of Youth - Jig Geordie McAdam, who was rarely see without a hat, is seen here in a session in Portaferry, in the Ards Peninsula, playing a popular reel in the area named McKenna's No 2 having been associated with the legendary County Leitrim flute player John McKenna. It is also known as the Happy Days of Youth . The fiddle players from the left are, sisters Marie and Deirdre Shannon, Dianna Skillen and Geordie. Garret Barry's and Tatter Jack Walsh - Jigs The Concertina Reel and the Foxhunter's - Reels In July 2016 Josie Nugent launched her CD Modal Citizen in Fealty's Back Bar, Bangor. She invited her husband Brian Stafford, Alan Burke, Seamus O'Kane, Geordie McAdam, Dianna Skillen, Nigel Boullier and Aoibheann Devlin to play a few tunes with her. Geordie, a fiddle player and maker, brought six of his latest creations - six matchstick fiddles. These were very popular with the crowd and were "baptised" by fiddle players Nigel, Geordie, Aoibheann, Josie and Dianna.

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

Jackie Donnan - 2 These dance tunes played by Jackie Donnan were recorded in the early 1970s. Hornpipe - Murphy's Hornpipe Murphy's Hornpipe was played regularly in the weekly Comber (Castle Inn) throughout the 1970's and into the early 1980's. It was usually started by Jackie and probably introduced by him. Murphy's Hornpipe Jackie Donnan 00:00 / 03:01 The following hornpipes - the Blackbird and the Homeruler , the Bunch of Ferns , and the Flowing Tide - were all also played regularly in the Comber session of the 1970s. Again usually initiated by Jackie with, depending on the tune, different musicians taking them up. The Peacock's Feather was usually played in the set following the Blackbird and the Homeruler. The Homeruler was composed by fiddler Frank McCollam of Ballycastle, County Antrim. Hornpipes - the Blackbird and the Homeruler The Blackbird & the Homeruler (Hornpipes) Jackie Donnan 00:00 / 03:16 Hornpipe - the Flowing Tide The Flowing Tide (Hornpipe) Jackie Donnan 00:00 / 01:33 Hornpipe - the Bunch of Ferns The Bunch of Ferns (Hornpipe) Jackie Donnan 00:00 / 01:33 The following three jig sets were all popular and played regularly in the Wednesday night Comber session - The Rafters over the Waves , the Whistler at the Wake , the Old Flail , and the Butcher's March The Old Favourite and the Rambling Pitchfork Molloy's The Whistler at the Wake and the Old Flail are compositions of flute player Vincent Broderick. Jigs - the Rafters over the Waves, the Whistler at the Wake, the Old Flail & the Butcher's March Rafters over the Waves (Jigs) Jackie Donnan 00:00 / 04:41 Jigs - the Old Favourite & the Rambling Pitchfork The Old Favourite & the Rambling Pitchfork (Jigs) Jackie Donnan 00:00 / 02:06 Jig - Molloy's Molloy's (Jigs) Jackie Donnan 00:00 / 01:35 Jackie never had a name for this polka. Polka - Untitled Polka from Jackie Donnan Untitled Polka Jackie Donnan 00:00 / 01:34 Jackie Donnan recorded the following dance tunes for his friend Willie Lindsay to learn the fiddle from. Jigs - I Lost my Love & the Devil set sail wi my Darlin' Jackie learned I Lost my Love and I Care nae for fiddler Tommy Orr from Butcher's Corner, Toye and the Devil set sail wi my Darlin' from Toye Willie Savage. The Devil set sail wi my Darlin' is generally known as the Rakes of Kildare . I Lost my Love, the Devil set Sail with my Darling (Jigs) Jackie Donnan 00:00 / 02:15 Jigs/Quadrilles tunes - the Moorhall Jig & the White House Lassie Jackie learned the Moorhall Jig from Jimmy Savage (1901 - 1978) from Balloo from Craigarusky, Killinchy who played the fiddle in the Craigarusky String Band. He learned The White House Lass from Willie McCloy from Derryboye who, in turn, learned it from his mentor John Simpson (1836 - 1921). Moorhall Jig & the White House Lass (Jigs) Jackie Donnan 00:00 / 02:15 Jigs/Quadrilles tune - Maggie McGeag let go o'ma Leg Jackie learned Maggie McGeag let go o'ma leg or I'll proddle ye ma horney O! from Toye Willie Savage (1880 - 1956) from Toye, Killinchy. They played it for the 6th and last figure of the Quadrilles. He learned the second tune Yankee Doodle from a long line of fiddlers from Central Down - initially from Davy Gray, from Sammy Thompson from Jimmy Ward (1865 - 1944). Ward played Yankee Doodle for the 1st figure of the Quadrilles, whereas over a century later Jackie occasionally played it for the last figure of the Quadrilles. Maggie McGeag (Jigs/Quadrille Tunes) Jackie Donnan 00:00 / 01:44 Polka/Quadrilles tune - the Wearied Soldier This is another tune that Jackie learned from a long line of fiddlers from Central Down; Davy & Robbie Gray from Sammy Thompson from Jimmy Ward (1865 - 1944). The polka The Wearied Soldier was played for the two-hand dance The Laughing Gauger , a hop/skip polka. The Wearied Soldier (hop/skip Polka) Jackie Donnan 00:00 / 01:44

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)

Handed Down | A unique collection of traditional Irish fiddle playing and dancing dedicated to County Down. Handed Down includes biographies & photographs of practitioners, audio and video recordings, and manuscripts hand written by fiddle players, the majority of whom were born in the 19th Century. HANDED DOWN Fiddle Playing and Dancing from East and Central County Down Welcome to Handed Down I hope you find something of interest in the following pages The Project Handed Down is a project that was initiated in 1976 to collect and archive fiddle music of East and Central County Down. It is ongoing and consists of two parts; (1) The book Handed Down: Country Fiddling and Dancing in East and Central Down published in 2013 (2) This website: handeddown.com Handed Down - book published in 2013 The aim of the book was to document the fiddle culture in East and Central County Down. Due to the large numbers of fiddlers playing for dancing , and the fact that their repertoir e was largely governed by the various dances in vogue, the dances and their evolution became increasingly relevant. Most cultures only record the well-known and famous musicians; however the strength of traditional music is in the playing at “grass roots” level, not purely the virtuoso players. For this reason the musicians included are by and large “ordinary” practicing fiddle players. Yes, several were legenda ry fiddle players of their generation and in their district; for example, John Simpson, Jimmy Edmond, Willie McCloy, and the Savages in East Down; Ned McCarry in the Low Country; Jimmy McClurg, Jimmy Ward, Willie Wallace and James McElroy in Central Down. However none of these are currently well-known outside the County, and in some cases not even within their own locality. The criteria on which fiddle players were selected is straightforward. Any fiddler that played up to and including the 1950s, the period when the County Down fiddle culture largely died out, is included. It is inevitable that many have been forgotten or have not come to my intention. Fiddle players practicing after this period are only recorded where they play a local repertoire or have played extensively with older County Down musicians. There are many fiddle players in County Down who play to a high standard technically but because they do not play a local repertoire or style we re not included. handeddow n.com - website published in 2024 The website is in reality an online repository where I store some of the material collected over the past 40+ years, also giving access to those interested in traditional fiddle playing. The aims and scope are similar to those of the book Handed Down . The overall number of fiddle players is reduced due to constraints on space. There are some 335 fiddlers in the book with around 190 of these, including a few additions, being detailed on the website. There are several additions to this including fiddle players that were not known to me in the period up to 2013. The website is also an opportunity to include the following; Audio and video items illustrating the fiddle music and dancing - u nfortunately there is little material of the older musicians or dancers. The wealth of locally written manuscripts by fiddlers who have long since passed on. Furthermore , it also gave me the opportunity to include some of my mentors and friends who did not meet the criteria of the book e.g. Ernie Swain (who introduced me to Irish Traditional Music and sold me my first tenor banjo), Geordie McAdam (we played music together for 46 years), Andy Dickson and Sam McCaughey. Sadly they all passed away in recent years - Ernie in 2018, Andy in 2020, Geordie and Sam in 2021. Personally, I have found this project most fulfilling and rewarding in so many areas. Initially I was playing the banjo in local sessions. In collecting fiddle lore I learned as much as I could about photography and made my own dark room for printing. In later learning the fiddle I studied violin making for four years. The close links between the music and dancing within County Down led me to dances and dancing classes, where I have played and danced extensively; these I have enjoyed immensely. However rewarding the se various facets have been, I have gained most from the company of countless musicians, dancers and their families, who come from different generations, backgrounds and walks of life. To them all I give my sincere thanks and gratitude. Nigel Boullier September 2024 A Personal Note I would like to thank e veryone that has assisted me in this project over the years - there have been so many. Manuscripts Jackie Donnan, Jim Moore, Linda Poole ( née Moore), Eugene McConville, Rosemary Cooper (née Quinn), Andy Cooper, John McAdam, Jim Bowman, Willie Lindsay, Jim Maguire (Chicago), Caoimhin Mac Aoidh. Audio Recordings Denis Calvert, Denis Reynolds, Bernie Stocks, Jim Moore, Dianna Skillen, Willie Lindsay, David Lowry, Jim Walsh , Davie Wylde, Davy Lennon, Seamus Sands. Video Recordings Roy Spence (Eclipse Promotions), Maurice McBride, Jim Lindsay, Willie Lindsay, Raymond and Kate Beattie, Denis Reynolds, Peter Lyons, Bernie Stocks, Angela Carroll. Photographs Jackie Donnan, Margaret (Sis) Cromie ( née Coey), Jim Moore, Tom McGonigle, Jim Creaney, Jim Blaney, Dianna Skillen, John Wallace, Alwyn Sinnamon, Andy Cooper, Philip Robinson, Sean Quinn, Mark Thompson, Bernie Graham, Bob Torrens, Jackie Burns, John Herron, Betty and John Jess, Gerry Curran, Bob Davey, Eugene McConville, Sammy Miskelly, Paul Egan, Donard McClean, Gordon Turnbull, Carol Wright, Stephen Boyd, Brian Stafford, Joanne Skehin , Alan Woods (ITMA), Stephen Boyd, Ben Healey, Bernie Brown. Maps Mark Thompson /Nigel Boullier Acknowledg ements I thank all those named above who gave me access to their photographs. If there is anyone who has been inadvertently omitted please contact me on the email below and I will acknowledge their ownership. The author, of the book Handed Down and the website handeddown.com, has carried out all work on a voluntary basis, specifically; The author has received no royalties nor received any payment for the collection of archive material, the compilation and writing of the book Handed Down: Country Fiddling and Dancing from East and Central Down . The author has received no proceeds from the sale of the book Handed Down . The author sought no funding, nor has received any payment for the website handeddown.com. Voluntary Status of the Project

Various Local Dances Dances were common throughout County Down through numerous generations. The type of venues varied in the extreme. At one end of the social spectrum the gentry and nobility were holding functions and balls in the "big houses", which included many of the European dance forms that may have in vogue at the time. Many of these dances were passed down to the commonality. At the other end of the social scale the common folk held a variety of dances, some regular and organised, most impromptu and held in cottages and farms. The following dances are a small number of dances showing the variety both geographically and type of venue, which range from farms, barn lofts to school houses. Much of information has been passed down through several generations of fiddle players or dancers. Other sources are gleaned from local newspapers of the period. Kearney Village School-House & Tara Ned McCarry, who was raised at Craigarodden Upper, ran a dancing class in the School-house in Kearney Village where he lived in later life. He also played for dancing at Tara. Both Kearney and Tara are on the south-eastern tip of the Ards Peninsula. Above; Kearney Village Left; Millen Bay, photo taken from Tara. Kearney where Ned McCarry lived, is on the horizon in the centre. The deserted clachan of Craigarodden Upper, where Ned was raised, is in the hinterland to the left. The Ballyclander Ball Surely one of the smallest (size-wise) regular dances in County Down must have been the “Ballyclander Ballroom”, as it was affectionately known locally. The “Ballroom” measured only 22 x 18 x 15 feet, and was reputed to have up to 30 people “bunged” in each Saturday night, and is thought to be Ballyclander Orange Hall. Ballyclander is a townland about a mile from Church Ballee, near Ardglass in Lecale. Above; The Ballyclander Ballroom in the past. Above; The Ballyclander Ballroom in 2012. The dance was at its peak in the late 1800s, and like many of the dances it has been immortalised in local poetry. “The Ballyclander Ball”, by Alec Millar of Ballyclander, notes some of the popular dances as; “an Irish reel”, “the Ironmonger’s Jig”, and the “cake walk”. The Ballyclander Ball by Alec Millar Och, so many purty faces I’m delighted for to see Of wee childer, wives and sweethearts That ornament Ballee So, if yiz pay attenetion An’ lissen wan an’ all, I’ll sing to you a ditty On the Ballyclander Ball. Chorus; There was Jack Dickson, from Australia That chap of high renown, And Professors Neill and Kelly From the Scadden and the Town, But the names of the nobility I cannot not recall That gathered on that famous night To patronise the Ball. 2. When the big wigs all assembled The tables they sat roun’; Sure they supped their porter up like ducks And with whiskey rinshed it down, There waz sassages and fill-me-quick, Fat puddins, pies, an’ all, And potted harns and pigsfeet fresh From Johnny Morgan’s stall. Chorus; There wuz the Thompsons from Ballyclander, And the Stewarts just o’er the way; Montgomery from Ballylig And Caven from Brimstone Brae. Och, such a grand assimbly You cudn’t find at all As came that night with all their might To patronise the Ball. 3. When the supper it was over The dancin’ did begin, And their heads and feet went reelin’ For they had the whiskey in; And such a bit of tum’lin’ Yez niver sa’, I’m sure, There wuz bits of eyes and noses found Nixt mornin’ on the flute. Chorus; There was John and Pat Fitzsimons, And our ould friend Daniel Carr – To find any better sportsman A man would travel far. Some big nights we’ve spent together And upon their knees they’d crawl, Out of their beds at midnight To patronise the Ball. 4. I thought I niver wud survive, For cud I move a peg When Fitzsimons sang “Still his Whuskers Grew” And “Maria’s Wooden Leg.” Then Professor Neill got on the boards And caused a loud whiroo With “Pat Miles the Irish Poet” And “Cock-a-doodle-do”. Chorus; There wuz Albert Conn, from Ardglass, And Charlie Martin too; Jack Lascelles from Downpatrick, Three Jolly boys and true, Now every man wuz dressed to death The regular fal de dol, ‘Twas a pity we’d no ladies axed To patronise the Ball. 5. Then Daniel Carr an Irish reel He dances both nate an’ trig, While Professor Kelly he did fut “The Ironmonger’s Jig”, Jack Lascelles danced the cake-walk And some cudn’t walk at all, When they tried to stan’ without a hoult It was tumble, rise and fall. Chorus; There wuz Millar from Ballygallum And Douglas Napier That gallant son of Erin Who’s respected far an’ near, With his artistic handicraft He adorned our clubroom wall With burnt-stick pictures ere he came To patronise the Ball. 6. The speeches that thim big bugs made Wuz illgant to hear, But they hadn’t the eddycation To converse with young Napier. He spoke on emigration To the lands across the say, Ould Ireland’s wrongs, the rights of man And the rents they has to pay. Chorus: There wuz McMechan for Ballybrannagh, George Martin from Lismore, Hugh Carson from Corbally, We had them all before. They’re the essence of good breedin’ And whatever might befall, Their prescence we relied upon To patronise the Ball. The Clea Ball In the late 1880s the Clea Ball was a dance regularly held at Moore’s of the Clea, in the half loft in the yard of Robert Moore’s farm on Clay Road a few miles north of Killyleagh. The Moore Family were regulars at the dance at the New Line Tennis Club. Above; The half loft to the rear Robert Moore's farm at the Clea, where the "Clea Ball" was held. Above; The derelict farmhouse of Robert Moore on the Clay Road, close to the Clea Lough. This poem, recalled by Mrs Lindsay (Willie Lindsay’s mother) was written, in memory of the Clea Ball, in the late 1890’s. A Few Lines in Memory of Clea Ball Snoring Bab and Walloping Jean, and baby beetle was on the scene And John the son did wink his best, to see that no one was oppressed Hans Stephenson with two in hand, did make a speech but not on land And old Jock Boyd with his game leg, Soapy Sammy minus Meg The ladies they were rather scarce, and some of them a little fierce The Miss McG’s they took the Ball, for style and appearance that was all But Tailor Moore he did not go, he thought it better not just so But Miss Delina she was there, quite a specimen that’s rare Murland Henderson who deals in chaff, and buttermilk he made them laugh J McConnell he did not like, to let the half crown out of sight But on the night that May was wed, John was numbered with the fed Two masons from the Board you know, the ones that built the byre O’ And D proposed to Miss McG, but oh how quick she ran away Of carpenters there was just a few, Drunken Hayes and the sober Jew The Dairyman’s wife with her grey head, counts loss and profit all night in bed But husband Tom could not be matched, so all that night he was on watch As for S Cochrane we cannot say much as he is considered a kind of lurch The Misses Marshall they thought it best, not to meddle with that nest As delph and china it went thither, it did not suit them altogether They had fiddler Edmonds on the drum, to cause vibration and give room He sighted long and took good aim, and then at last he got the range As D. Moore with lamp in hand, did early come at the command And later on came gentle Ann, with loving smiles she did him fawn Young Cursing Moore from Lisnaw Brae, had got tight somewhere on that day He was not pleasant to behold, just learned from father P I’m told Old Mrs Connolly was there also, the lies as usual they did flow And to these lines I draw a close, to the next month to see how goes. Ardkeen School-House The Ardkeen and Ards Grand Social Reunion was held in the Ardkeen School-House on Easter Monday night 1908. It commenced at 8.30 and lasted until 3 o'clock the following morning. Tea was served at 11.30. Many songs were sung, the main contributors being Mrs J H Dynes and Rev J Nolan P.P. The dance music was played by Francis Donnelly the fiddle player. Clanvaraghan School-House Clanvaraghan School had two classrooms which a dividing stud wall. This could be removed to provide more space. During the 1930/40s the school rooms were opened up for dancing. John Burns, who lived in close proximity played there with, on occasion, James and Gus McElroy. Right; The long disused Clanvaraghan National School was built in 1913. Photo in 2012. McElroy's Hall, Drumnaquoile McElroy's Hall was to the rear of McElroy's pub at Drumnaquoile. Wednesday night sessions as well as impromptu sessions were a regular occurrence for many years. The McElroy Céilí Band played there regularly - whilst members of the family regularly played in the sessions. Greyabbey Village Hall, Greyabbey In the early 1990s Philip Robinson and Will McAvoy started a weekly dancing class in Greyabbey Village Hall. Both Will and Philip were from Greyabbey (Will was raised on Mid-isle, an island in Strangford Lough, off Greyabbey connected to the peninsula at low water by a causeway). Will had regularly attended Mrs Jane Simmington’s house dances where Jackie Donnan played the music, so Jackie was approached to play the fiddle. The dances were taught initially by Mrs Jeannie Peake who brought her husband James and her sister Mrs Christina McBride along. Prior to the start of the class Jackie Donnan had assisted Mrs Peake and Mrs McBride in writing down the dances and refreshing any parts that they may have forgotten over the years. left to right; Nigel Boullier, Jeannie Peak, Jim Cuthbertson, Lydia McMullen, Jackie Donnan, Margaret Davidson, James Peak, Tina McBride Philip and Will’s intention was to keep the old local dances alive and they found a willing partner in Jackie Donnan. The old local dances were those defined as Country or Old-time Dancing including figure dances, square dances and round dances, as danced throughout the community in the 1800s, before being superseded in many areas in the 20th Century by céilí dancing, ballroom and sequence dancing. The dance continued for 24 years, ending in 2016 due to a fall off in numbers. 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 Map showing Locations of; (a) Crossroads Dancing & Outdoor Events (b) Various Local Dances