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The Simpson Manuscripts John Simpson (1836 - 1921) from Drumreagh, a few miles south of Comber in East Down, taught numerous fiddle players, the best-known being Willie McCloy, Davy Carse, Geordie Montgomery, Jimmy Quigley, Alec Johnston, Sammy Coey, Andy Morrow, Willie Glover, William James Gibson and Rosaleen Duffy. The manuscripts below have been handed down from John Simpson to Willie McCloy to Jackie Donnan to myself. 1 Jig - Jackson's Rum Punch (HD ref JS82) Jig - Jackson's Maids (HD ref JS82) 2 Jig - Jackson's Trip (HD ref JS82) Jig - The Heart of my Kitty (HD ref JS82) 3 Jig - Mary Morrison (HD ref JS83) Jig - Hurrah for the Bonnets o' Blue (HD ref JS81) 4 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - The King of the Cannibal Islands (HD ref JS83) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - The Pretty Maid (HD ref JS84)

Nigel Boullier Jig/Quadrille Tune - Burney's No.1 Nigel Boullier & Dianna Skillen play Burney's No 1 - a Jig or 6/8 Quadrille Tune. I learned Burney's No1 from Jackie Donnan and we regularly played it for 1st figure of the Quadrilles. Jackie learned it from his mentor Toye William Savage and they regularly played it at the dances for 1st figure of the Quadrilles in the early/mid 1950s. See Manuscripts/Davy Carse Part 2 & 5. Burney's No1 Nigel Boullier & Dianna Skillen 00:00 / 01:10 Jig/Quadrille Tune - Burney's No.3 Nigel Boullier & Dianna Skillen play Burney's No 3 - a Jig or 6/8 Quadrille Tune. I learned Burney's No3 from Jackie Donnan and we regularly played it years for 3rd figure of the Quadrilles. Jackie learned it from his mentor Toye William Savage and they regularly played it at the dances for 3rd figure of the Quadrilles in the early/mid 1950s. See Manuscripts/Davy Carse Part 2, 5 &7. Burney's No3 Nigel Boullier & Dianna Skillen 00:00 / 01:52 Polka/Quadrille Tune - The Pretty Maid Nigel Boullier & Dianna Skillen play The Pretty Maid - a 2/4 Quadrille Tune. I learned The Pretty Maid from Jackie Donnan and we regularly played it years for 4th figure of the Quadrilles. Jackie learned it from his mentors Toye William Savage and Willie McCloy in the early/mid 1950s. McCloy learned it from his mentor John Simpson and played it at the in the late 1890s. See Manuscripts/John Simpson Part1. The Pretty Maid Nigel Boullier & Dianna Skillen 00:00 / 01:16 Jig/Quadrille Tune - The Greba Galop Nigel Boullier & Dianna Skillen play The Greba Galop - a single jig or 6/8 Quadrille Tune. I learned The Greba Galop from Jackie Donnan and we regularly played it years for 5th figure of the Quadrilles. The dancers nicknamed 5th figure of the Quadrille ring, swing, chain and galop as a memory aid. The galop steps necessitate the jaunty single jig rhythm. The Greba Galop Nigel Boullier & Dianna Skillen 00:00 / 01:30 Jig/Quadrille Tune - Maggie McGeag let go O' Ma Leg Nigel Boullier & Dianna Skillen play Maggie McGeag let go O' Ma Leg or I'll proddle ya with ma horney O! - a jig or 6/8 Quadrille Tune. I learned this tune from Jackie Donnan and we regularly played it years for 6th (last) figure of the Quadrilles. Jackie learned it from his mentor Toye William Savage and they regularly played it at the dances for the last figure of the Quadrilles in the early/mid 1950s. Both Jackie and Toye William used what they described as a "draggy" style of bowing for this type of tune. Maggie McGeag let go O' Ma leg Nigel Boullier & Dianna Skillen 00:00 / 01:37

Nigel Boullier Jigs/Quadrille tunes - Annie Laurie & Brian O'Neill Josie Nugent & Nigel Boullier (fiddles) and Brian Stafford ( uilleann pipes) play two Jigs or 6/8 Quadrille Tunes, Annie Laurie & Brian O'Neill that come from the playing of Jackie Donnan and Willie McCloy. Recorded Bangor 2022. Jigs - Jackson's Trip & the Boy in his Pants Nigel Boullier and Dianna Skillen play two Jigs - Jackson's Trip & The Boy in his Pants . Nigel learnt Jackson's Trip from fiddle player Jackie Donnan, which he in turn learnt from Willie McCloy, and he learned T he Boy in his Pants from Lisburn fiddler Liam Donnelly . Recorded in 1994.

Sammy Thompson - Part 1 Part 1 of Sammy Thompson's manuscripts were handed down from Sammy to Jim Moore, and following Jim's death from Jim's daughter Linda to me in 2021. Jim had previously given me photocopies c. 2002. 1 Reel - The Edentrillick Reel (HD ref RQ205) 2 Reel - My Lofty Hills (HD ref RQ205) Reel - Lord Roden's Reel (HD ref RQ205) 3 Reel - Miss Johnston's Reel (HD ref RQ205) 4 Reel - Untitled Reel generally titled Jimmy Ward's Reel (HD ref RQ205) 5 Reel - Untitled Reel generally known as The Donegal Reel 6 Hornpipe - The New Invention Hornpipe (HD ref JW288) Reel - Scotch Mary (HD ref JW321) 7 Song - No Luck about the House Schottische - The Keelrow Song - Let him go, let him go tarry 8 Hornpipe - The Stack of Barley. Parts 3 & 4 are generally known as Bantry Bay 9 Reel - The Lowlands of Scotland (HD ref JW325) Reel - The Bowl of Coffee (HD ref JW321) 10 Reel - Untitled Reel locally called Lord Roden's Reel (HD ref JW317) 11 Hornpipe - The Harvest Home Reel - Queen's Wedding (HD ref ST354) 12 Jig - The Widow's Rant (HD ref JW299) Schottische - Sally round the Gooseberry Bush (HD ref JW331) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Duncan Davidson (HD ref JW306) 13 Waltz - Untitled Waltz, locally called Jimmy Ward's Waltz (HD ref ST357) Jig - Lannigan's Ball (HD ref RQ203) 14 Round Dance - Bravo locally called Mary Ann Magee (HD ref WS129) Polka - Untitled Polka (HD ref JW305) Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled Quadrille from Sammy Thompson (HD ref ST353) 15 Polka - Untitled Polka (Jimmy Ward's No 2 HD ref JW 305) 16 Jig - The Rollicking Irishman (HD ref JW298) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - La Russe (HD ref WS121) 17 Hornpipe - Boney over the Rhine Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled Quadrille Tune generally known as The muckin o' Geordie's Byre 18 Schottische - Untitled Schottische 19 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled locally called Yankee Doodle (HD ref JW316) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - The Rose Tree also locally called Auld Moylan Gibberland (HD ref WS117) 20 Waltz - Ballykeel Waltz (HD ref ST357) Waltz - The Alpine Waltz (HD ref JW338) 21 March - The Centenary March 22 Jig - The Miners of Wicklow (HD ref JW296) 23 Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Untitled 2/4 Quadrille Tune (Sammy Thompson's No 3 HD ref ST354) 24 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled Quadrille from Jimmy Ward No 8 (HD ref JW314) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Untitled generally titled I wish I were where the Gaddy Rins (HD ref JW307) 25 Jig - Untitled Jig from Sammy Thompson (HD ref ST351) 26 Highland Fling - Untitled Fling from Jimmy Ward (HD ref JW286) 27 March - Shane O'Neill's March 28 March - The Belfast March 29 Figure Dance - The Sweets of May 30 Hornpipe - The Stack of Wheat 31 Jig - The Red Rose (HD ref ST 351) 32 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - I'm a Young Man (HD ref ST 353) Jig - The Drunken Parson (HD ref PJJS174) 33 Waltz - The Starry Night (HD ref JW340) 34 Waltz - Johnny Bryson's Waltz (HD ref JB384) 35 Polka - The Dargon Polka (HD ref ST352) 36 Hornpipe - The Boys of Blue Hill 37 Round Dance - Molly Walker Circle 38 Round Dance - Coming through the Rye (HD ref JD162)

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

Step Dancing Step dancing was still danced for exhibitions at parties and socials well into the 1950s, however it rapidly died out in the following years to the extent that by the turn of the millennium step dancing in County Down has completely died out. Throughout Great Britain and Ireland the most popular dances for step-dancing were reels, jigs and hornpipes. In County Down reels, particularly single reels and hornpipes were the favoured form of tunes for step dancing to. Many of the “crushed bowing” reels played by John Simpson and his fiddlers were phrased specifically for step-dancing single reels. Tunes like the Killyleagh Lasses , that have a bowed treble in the 2nd half of each 4th bar, were phrased this way to match the dancer’s steps. The dancers usually danced a series of doubles near the end of their performance to let the fiddle player know they were about to stop. A favourite tune for dancing hornpipes was the Greencastle Hornpipe . There are few memories of step-dancers left these days as it died out so long ago; however some recollections still exist. Hans Stevenson Donnan Towards the end of the 1800s, Hans Stevenson Donnan was well-known around East Down as a champion dancer. Hans was born in Raffrey on 22nd April 1859, his parents being Robert and Margaret Donnan (nee Lowry). His father Robert was a tailor. Hans followed in his footsteps being a tailor; he lived at Ballywillin, between Killyleagh and Crossgar, and he travelled locally carrying out exhibitions of step-dancing. On 11th September 1885 he married Annie Killops at Inch. Annie was from Dunanally, Inch; her father William was a coachman at the Finnebrogue Estate, north of Downpatrick. Willie McCloy regularly travelled to the Donnan’s to play for Hans to practice. Through these visits Hans’s daughter Lizzie was introduced to fiddle music and she later became a fine player. Two of Hans’s favourite reels to dance to were Box (or fight ) among the Coals , and Fire on the Mountain . Hans Donnan passed away in July 1900. Champion step-dancer Hans Stevenson Donnan with his wife Annie, c. 1900. Frank Bishop and Robbie Johnston In the early-1900s, Frank Bishop and Robbie Johnston were well-known step-dancers, who often danced together. Frank, who was born in 1883, was from Ballymacarron and was a carpenter by trade. Robbie, who was born in 1886, was from Mahee Island. They would have started dancing with single batters, then doubles and trebles, dancing side by side, then forward, back, and sideways together. Then at a certain point they would spread apart, dancing against each other, which would get the crowd going. Interestingly Robbie liked the tempo of the music moderate and steady, while Frank preferred it faster – this resulted in each of the dancers occasionally giving simultaneous conflicting hand signals to the fiddle player. Like most step-dancers they performed at house parties, socials and at concerts in local halls and church halls. William James Sprott and Alec Dorrian At a later period William James Sprott (born around 1905) was renowned as a dancer. He was a farmer from Balloo, and was very supple – he was well-known for his fancy footwork. He occasionally placed two crossed sticks on the floor and danced around them in a fashion similar to a sword dance. There was great rivalry between the dancers as this yarn from Jackie Donnan about William James Sprott illustrates; "On the day that William James buried his wife he landed into Morrow’s pub in Killyleagh in the afternoon, after her funeral. He was seated with his head bowed, the tears were tripping him, dripping onto the flagged floor. A rival of William James’s, a dancer called Alec Dorrian came into the pub and ignoring William James he asked Morrow to put on the gramophone and play a hornpipe. Morrow duly put on a recording of the Harvest Home and Alec Dorrian got on the floor and stepped a hornpipe. By the time another hornpipe was played, Dorrian was still up dancing, and William James couldn’t take it any longer. He shouted at Dorrian, “sit down, sure you’re only limpin’”, and jumping up he danced the hornpipe out." Alec Dorrian was from Tullyveery, Killyleagh and was born around 1893. He worked as a farm labourer and flax dresser. The following references to step dancing were made in the Dromore Leader over a number of years; George Wright & Mr Stewart “A very successful social and dance took place in the Town Hall, Hillsborough, on Friday evg., (4th October)…. An excellent step-dance display was given by Mr George Wright. (Dromore Leader 12th October 1918) At the social and dance in Ballykeel Orange Hall on 11th October; “A Irish jig by Messrs Stewart and Wright was much appreciated.” (Dromore Leader October 19th 1918) Miss M Brown On Easter Monday 1920 at Ballaney Orange Hall – Ballaney Temperance Bagpipe Band social & dance; “A feature of the evening was a number of step-dances given by Miss M Brown, which were highly appreciated.” (Dromore Leader 10th April 1920) Sister A. Owens and Br. J. Smyth Sister A. Owens and Br. J. Smyth were recorded as step dancing for Gransha LOL social and dance on 2nd January 1925. The social opened at 9.00pm and ended at 6.00am. The dance music was supplied by fiddle players William and John Wallace. (Dromore Leader 10th January 1925) James McCormick On 25th January 1929 at Waringsford annual soiree & ball; “James McCormick, the latter in songs, hornpipes and step dances in long boots…” (Dromore Leader 2nd February 1929) M iss Freda & Chrissie Blaney On 1st March 1928, at the Town Hall, Ballynahinch; “at breathing-spells between the dances…. were very much enjoyed, as was also a step dance by the Misses Freda & Chrissie Blaney.” Miss Lottie & Chrissie Blaney, Miss Lowry & Miss Casement On 1st March 1929, at a concert in Gransha Orange Hall; “Miss Lottie & Crissie Blaney’s step dance and Miss Lowry & Miss Casement’s step dance with Mr T Gourley playing the bagpipes was a splendid item.” (Dromore Leader 10th February 1929) Misses B & P Carlisle On 1st February1934 the Misses B & P Carlisle gave some step dances which were greatly appreciated at the Saintfield Parish Social in the Saintfield Courthouse. (Dromore Leader 3rd March 1934) Miss V Ferguson Skeagh Flute Band Concert and Half Night Dance 21st February 1934. Miss V Ferguson step danced a “Highland Fling”. Miss Nance McQuillan On 30th October 1936 in Dromore Orange Hall for the Dromore Branch of the Amalgamated Transport Workers Union dance; “Step dancing by Miss Nance McQuillan, music by Premier Dance Band, Lurgan.” (Dromore Leader 7th November 1936) George Clydesdale & Robert McCullough On Christmas Night 1940 Brs George Clydesdale & Robert McCullough gave a step dancing display in Skeagh Orange Hall for the annual social & dance (“an Orange Social”). (Dromore Leader 4th January 1941)

The Thompson Manuscripts Sammy Thompson (1909 - 1988) was a fiddle player from the Leapoges, about four miles east of Dromore. He initially learned from James Ward who lived a couple of miles north. He taught various fiddle players in the surrounding neighbourhood, namely Tommy Ervine and Jim Moore, playing regularly with Davy and Robbie Gray and Jim Moore. Sammy Thompson (fiddle) & Joe Jess (button accordion) lived next door to each other at the Leapoges. Joe also played fiddle - they played as the Leapoges Dance Band Sammy Thompson Part 1 Sammy Thompson Part 2 Sammy Thompson Part 3

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

David Carse - Part 2 1 Reel - Lucy Campbell Reel - Donegal Reel 2 Waltz - Untitled Waltz Jig - Irish Jig generally titled The Ship in full sail 3 Hornpipe - Untitled Hornpipe Reel - Dublin Reel generally titled Within a Mile of Dublin 4 Reel - Untitled Reel Schottische - Up in a Balloon (HD ref WMcC101) 5 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Bonny Dundee (HD ref WS118) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Kelvin Grove (HD ref WS120) 6 g Reel - Miss Ramsey Jig - The Maids of the Green (HD ref WMcC95) Jig - The Trip to the Cottage (5 bars) g 7 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Off She goes (HD ref WS122) Reel - The Devil among the Tailors 8 Hornpipe - The Rights of Man Reel - Captain Bounce (HD ref WMcC85 & JE181) 9 Strathspey - Rother A Murchy's Strathspey 10 Reel - Through the Broom (HD ref RQ206) Reel - The Carrickmannon Lasses (HD ref WS128) 11 Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Untitled but generally titled The March to the Battlefield (HD ref WS126) Jig - Untitled Jig generally known as Lannigan's Ball (HD ref RQ203) 12 Reel - The Long Hills of Mourne (HD ref JW325) Hornpipe - Miss Dick's Hornpipe 13 Quadrille Tune 2/4 - The Girl I left behind me (HD WS125) Reel - Go no more to yon town Reel - Lowlands of Scotland (HD ref JW325) 14 Reel - The New Jorum Polka - The Dragon Polka (HD ref JD154 & JW352) 15 Jig - Tatter Jack Walsh Schottische - Lowden's bonny woods and braes (HD ref WS129) Quadrille Tune 6/8 - The Muses (HD ref JS84) 16 Hornpipe - Untitled Reel - Untitled 17 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - The King of the Cannibal Islands (HD ref JS83) Reel - The Arkansas Traveller 18 Q uadrille Tune 2/4 - Duncan Davidson (HD ref JW306) Reel - Kitty got her Clinkin generally titled The High Road to Linton (HD ref ID161) Reel - Fire on they Mountains (HD ref RQ204) 19 Jig - Cut and Dry Jig - The Divinity Reel - Brandy Bottle (HD ref RQ206) 20 Hornpipe - Wellington's Hornpipe Hornpipe - Untitled Hornpipe 21 Two Hand Dance - Coming through the Rye (HD ref JD162) Schottische - Dainty Davy Hornpipe - Queen's Wedding (HD ref WMcC94) 22 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled generally titled Burney's No 3 (HD ref WS119) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Untitled generally titled La Russe (HD ref WS121 ) 23 Schottische - Untitled generally titled The Keel Row Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Quadrille generally titled Burney's No1 (HD ref WS119 ) 24 Schottische - Untitled Highland Schottische Jig - Aprons On (HD ref RQ203 ) 25 Polka - Ladies Polka Jig - The Trip to the Cottage 26 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled generally titled Patience Lancers figure 3 (HD ref WS123) Quadrille Tune 6/8 - 1st Lancers generally titled Patience Lancers figure 1 (HD ref WS123) 27 Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Untitled generally titled Patience Lancers figure 2 (HD ref WS123) Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled generally titled Patience Lancers figure 4 (HD ref WS124) 28 Schottische - Hop Light Loo (HD ref WMcC101) Quadrille Tune 6/8 - 3rd Lancers generally titled Patience Lancers figure 3 (HD ref WS123) 29 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled locally titled Yankee Doodle (HD ref WMcC101) Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled generally titled The Muckin O' Geordie's Byre 30 Round Dance - Mary Ann Magee (HD ref WS129) Hornpipe - Untitled generally titled The Auld Steamboat (HD ref RQ202) 31 Waltz - Jenny Joe Hornpipe - The Ould Steamboat (HD ref RQ202) 32 Polka - Captain with his Whiskers Country Dance - Pat Murphy Country Dance - John of Paris

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)

Map of Central Down (Dromara) James Ward of Drumaknockan, Mussen, Ward & Lunn The McConvilles of Ballyvicknakelly Sammy Thompson & Tommy Ervine Jim Moore of Dromara Davy & Robbie Gray, Jimmy Gregg of Edentrillick The Wallaces of Waringsford Johnny Bryson, William Gill, John Ferris, John Magowan, James Alexander & Sandy Young Joe Gamble & the Jess Brothers of the Leapoges The McClurgs & Robbie Chambers Jimmie Campbell & Jimmy Doyle of Dromara Jimmy Cargin, Andy Crookshanks, Sam Agnew of Dromore

Sammy Thompson - Part 3 Part 3 of Sammy Thompson's manuscripts contain various tunes that Sammy did not learn locally, they were transcribed from the playing of fiddle masters, Michael Coleman and Sean Maguire. They were handed down from Sammy to Jim Moore, and following Jim's death from Jim's daughter Linda to me in 2021. Jim had previously given me photocopies c. 2002. 1 Reel - Bonny Kate 2 Reel - Bonny Kate additional variations to 1 above Reel - Jackie Coleman's Hornpipe - The High Level Hornpipe part 1 3 Hornpipe - The High Level Hornpipe continued 4 Reel - The Mason's Apron