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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

The Carse Manuscripts David Carse (1874 - 1964) was a farmer from Carse's Hill, Magherscouse a few miles north-east of Ballygowan in East Down. He learned to play the fiddle from John Simpson (1836 - 1921), where he also learnt to read and write standard musical notation. David Carse Part 1 David Carse Part 2 David Carse Part 3 David Carse Part 4 David Carse Part 5 David Carse Part 6 David Carse Part 7

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)

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.

Sammy Thompson - Part 2 Part 2 of Sammy Thompson's manuscripts were handed down to Davy Gray. Davy 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 were offered to me by Davy's close friend John McAdam in 1997. 1 Reel - My Lofty Hills (HD ref JW320) Reel - The Green Fields of America (HD ref RQ206 ) 2 Schottische - Untitled Highland Schottische Fling - The Marquis of Huntley's Fling (HD ref JW285 ) Reel - Scotch Mary (JW321) 3 Reel - Miss McLeod's Reel (HD ref JW319) Hornpipe - The Harvest Home 4 Jig - The Siege of Carrick generally known as Haste to the Wedding Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled Lancer Tune Jimmy Ward 6 (HD ref JW313) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Untitled Lancer Tune Jimmy Ward 7 (HD ref JW314 ) 5 Jig - Pibrock of Donald Dhu (HD ref JW293) Barndance - Untitled Barndance locally called Kitty's Barndance (HD ref JW284) Waltz - The Alpine Waltz (HD ref JW338 ) 6 Jig - The Rollicking Irishman (HD ref JW298) Schottische - The Road to the Isles (HD ref WS131) Hornpipe - The First of May (HD ref JD148 ) 7 Barndance - The Bottom of the Punchbowl (HD ref JD146) Hornpipe - The Londonderry Hornpipe 8 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled Quadrille Jimmy Ward 1 (HD ref JW311) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Untitled Quadrille Jimmy Ward 2 (HD ref JW312) Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled Quadrille Jimmy Ward 3 (HD ref JW312) Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled Quadrille Jimmy Ward 9 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled Quadrille Jimmy Ward 5 (HD ref JW313) 10 Waltz - McAdam & Co. (HD ref ST356) Mazurka - Untitled Mazurka locally titled The Spanish Mazurka (HD ref WS115) Quadrille Tune 6/8 - The New May Moon (HD ref JW308) Fling - Untitled Highland Fling from Jimmy Ward (HD ref JW286) Jig - The Miners of Wicklow (HD ref JW296) 11 Jig - Untitled Jig locally titled Dan's wee pot (HD ref JW291) 12 Schottische - Untitled Untitled Highland Schottische 13 Hornpipe - Bonaparte's Hornpipe (HD ref JW286) 14 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled tune for 3rd figure of the Lancers (3rd figure of the Patience Lancers HD ref WS123) locally called Whut wud Ye dae if yer Rump was Brok Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled tune for 4th figure of the Lancers (4th figure of the Patience Lancers HD ref WS124) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Untitled tune for 5th figure of the Lancers (5th figure of the Patience Lancers HD ref WS124 ) locally called Old Molly Doodle will you not come out Figure Dance - The Princess Royal (HD ref WMcC93) Jig - Untitled Jig 15 Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Untitled Quadrille Tune (Sammy Thompson No 1 HD ref ST353) Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled Quadrille Tune locally called The Soldier's Cloak (HD ref JW310) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Untitled tune for the 5th figure of the Lancers (Sammy Thompson No 3 HD ref ST354) Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Highland Whiskey generally titled Niel Gow's Farewell to Whisky (HD ref WS122) Waltz - Untitled Waltz locally called The Ballykeel Waltz (HD ref ST357) 16 Reel - Miss Montgomery (HD ref ST354) 17 Reel - The Traveller 18 Reel - The Yel Heifer (HD ref DG381) 19 Reel - The Lofty Hills of Mourne (HD ref JW320) Reel - The Mason's Apron (HD ref WMcC98) 20 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - I'm a Young Man (HD ref ST353) Jig - Teviot Bridge (HD ref ST350 ) Hornpipe - The Victoria Hornpipe (HD ref JW290) 21 Polka - Untitled Polka locally called Jimmy Ward's Polka 1 (HD ref JW304) Strathspey - Lady Ann Hope (HD ref JW333 ) 22 Waltz - Untitled Waltz generally titled Woodland Whispers (HD ref JW341) Hornpipe - The Tara Brooch 23 Strathspey - Within a Mile of Edinburgh Toon 24 Strathspey - Stirling Castle (HD ref ST355) 25 Schottische - Untitled Schottische 26 Schottische - The Lad with the Plaid (HD ref WS131) 27 Reel - The High Road to Linton (HD ref JD161) 28 Waltz - Sweet Sixteen (HD ref ST356) 29 Hornpipe - The Rights of Man 30 Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Untitled tune for 2nd figure of the Quadrilles locally called Burney's No 2 (HD ref WS119) 31 Mazurka - Untitled Mazurka locally called Jimmy Ward's Mazurka (HD ref JW301) 32 Jig - The Stool of Repentance (HD ref ST351) 33 Jig - Kissed Yestreen (HD ref ST349) 34 Polka - The Belfast Polka (HD ref WS116)

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

Videos of Quadrille Dancing F irst introduced into Ireland from France in the early 1790s the Quadrilles were naturalised and gradually evolved into Irish set dancing during the 1800s. However, it is accepted that the only style of dancing the Quadrilles close to the original form from around 1800, is that in County Down. "The only surviving sets in this style are those from County Down." "This set of quadrilles is probably the closest to the original First Set of Quadrilles that came to Ireland around 1816." [Pat Murphy, Toss the Feathers, Irish Set Dancing , 1995, p.47 & 107 respectively.] The original quadrilles consisted of The First Set of Quadrilles, The Quadrilles , and due to their popularity they were followed by many additional variations such as The Second Set of Quadrilles, more commonly known as The Lancers , and The Third Set of Quadrilles, more commonly known as The Caledonians . Generally in the Quadrilles, Lancers and Caledonians, which have 6, 5 and 5 figures respectively, the first figure is simple, and each figure thereafter increases in complexity. The videos of the following figures of the Quadrilles, Lancers and Caledonians are reproduced with the kind permission of Roy Spence of Eclipse Promotions, Comber. The Quadrilles Dancers from East Down John Davidson & Margaret Gibson, William McSeveney & Christina McBride, Samuel James Gibson and Margaret Gibson, James Peake & Jeannie Peake. Piano Accordion - Jim Martin. Quadrilles 1st figure Quadrilles 2nd figure Quadrilles 3rd figure Quadrilles 4th figure Quadrilles 5th figure Quadrilles 6th figure The Lancers Dancers from East Down John Davidson & Margaret Gibson, William McSeveney & Christina McBride, Samuel James Gibson and Margaret Gibson, James Peake & Jeannie Peake. Piano Accordion - Jim Martin. Lancers 1st figure Lancers 2nd figure Lancers 3rd figure Lancers 4th figure Lancers 5th figure The Caledonians Dancers from East Down John Davidson & Margaret Gibson, William McSeveney & Christina McBride, Samuel James Gibson and Margaret Gibson, James Peake & Jeannie Peake. Piano Accordion - Jim Martin. Caledonians 1st figure Caledonians 2nd figure Caledonians 3rd figure The 3rd figure of the Caledonians is identical to the 1st figure of the Lancers. (The title opening the above video should read Caledonian figure three.) Caledonians 5th figure A video of the 4th figure of the Caledonians is not available, however a written description of all figures can be found in Handed Down, Country Fiddling and Dancing in East and Central Down . Killinchy Dance The usual format for dances in East Down in the period 1990 - 2010 was to have one square dance in an evening - this would alternate weekly between the Quadrilles, the Lancers or the Caledonians. The remainder of the program comprised of sequence dancing and two-hand round dances. Of the square dances the Lancers was the most popular. The following film clips are reproduced with the kind permission of Maurice McBride. They were recorded in 1993 and are of Mrs Peake's weekly dance in Killinchy Church Hall - they are all various figures of the Lancers. Piano Accordion - Jim Martin. Lancers 1st figure Lancers 2nd figure Lancers 3rd figure Lancers 4th figure Lancers 5th figure (only half) The following clips are reproduced with the kind permission of Maurice McBride. The recordings are of a social outing of a some of Killinchy dancer's day out in 1993. Piano Accordion - Fiddle - Addy McVeigh Lancers 4th figure Lancers 5th figure (part only) Lancers 5th figure (part only) Quadrilles 4th Figure Bangor Set Dancers Mary McCaughey & Neal McFerran, Kathleen Davis & Ed Quiery, Pam Quiery & Tim Davis, Deborah Gadd & Davy Simpson having learned the Quadrilles from the dancers from Ardmillan. Dance Music - Maurice Bradley (fiddle) from Ballinascreen, County Derry and Ciaran Kelly (box) from County Fermanagh

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.

Crossroads Dancing & Outdoor Events Step Dancing to fiddle music, c.1874 This cottage is about a mile inland from Glassdrumman, near Annalong on the eastern coast of County Down. The mountain in the background is Spence's Mountain in the Mourne's. The dancer would appear to be stepping it out on the half-door (many cottages had the door in two halves so that the bottom half could remain closed, whilst the top half could be opened). On occasion the top half would be removed and laid on the ground allowing a flat surface for dancing on. Two-hand Dancing on the Bangor Boat, 1906 The Belfast to Bangor boat was a regular run bringing day-trippers from Belfast and back. Crossroads Dancing in the foothills of the Mourne Mountains, c. 1920 Walter Love, the well-known BBC presenter, interviewed Mick, Kitty and Bridie Matthews who live in the townland of Leitrim close to Hilltown, and among other stories of long ago they discussed crossroads dancing; “People came from far and near to the flax-pulling dances. They were held in barns and went on all night. Often the set dances were accompanied by a lilter, known as the “timer”, who kept his foot going all the time. And what were called American wakes were held for anyone emigrating to America. These were big dances held in the home of the person who was leaving or in a neighbour’s house. With no other entertainments, and certainly no public places to hold dances, the phenomenon of “crossroads dancing” was a particularly strong on in the locality. These were held on Sunday evenings in the summertime, and attracted hundreds from the surrounding parishes. A popular venue was Biddy Doyle’s corner in the townland of Ballyvally, and the musicians would probably have accompanied the dances with a mouth-organ, melodion or fiddle. In 1923 Canon Rooney, the parish priest at Clonduff, opened a parochial hall, and the dances continued indoors from then on. From that time, crossroads dancing gradually disappeared.” ( The Times of Our Lives – Recollections of Town and Country , Walter Love, 1990: Page 39). Crossroads Dancing at Ballyridley, near Portaferry, Ards Peninsula, c.1920. Crossroads dancing regularly took place at Ballyridley - the junction of the Portaferry Road , Lough Cowey Road and Dunevly Road - in the 1920s/30s. The Lough corner refers to Lough Cowey, whilst the "mountain", as it is still known locally, refers to the high ground roughly two miles due north of Portaferry village, which whilst only about 300 feet above sea level is significantly higher that neighbouring areas. After all the Ards Peninsula is generally known as the "Low Country". Celia Lee recounts; My aunt Kate Breen of Ballyridley was born in 1900. Aunt Kate could recall dancing at the crossroads at the lough corner, Ballyridley, in her young day. Her earliest recollections dated from the First World War years. Throughout the 20s and 30s a group of young people would assemble at the crossroads, among them Kate’s sister, Lizzie, my father, Jim, Annie Lynas, Hessie and Jenny Savage, Lily Bone, Hugh James McGrath, Jim McDonnell (of the mountain who married Hessy Savage, Hugh McManus and Jimmy Bone (Lily’s brother). Hugh McManus and Jim McDonnell played the melodeon and Jimmy Bone was a great singer. Hands joined they would all swing round in a circle laughing and singing to the music of the melodeon. Popular dances were “The Haymaker’s Jig” and the old time waltz……. Miss Mary Catherine Dorrian and Mrs Elsie Pucci of Deerpark Road, Ardkeen and Mr Harry Coulter of Ballybryan (who formerly lived at Ardminnan) went dancing on Saturday nights at the home of Tom Ennis and his half sister Susan Burns in Ballywallon. Mary Catherine, who as a young girl was in service to the Lyttle family, says so popular was dancing at Ballywallon that a crowd came to it from Portaferry. Popular dances included “The Military Two Step” to the tune of “Wee Dock An Dorris” and “Marching through Georgia”…….. There was dancing at the Park Corner under the elm tree (where Deerpark Road joins Abbacy Road). Kate McGrattan who was known affectionately as Kate Speed, lived in a little house, the side gate of which opened onto the corner…… The melodian players at these dances were Kate herself, Johnny Breen, Eddie McGrattan, Hugh McManus, and Eddy McKeating……. One evening Eddy McKeating was playing Kate’s new melodeon. Kate thought he was pulling it out too far and said in a loud voice: “You’re not going to pull my article outside in, Eddy McKeating”. There were gales of laughter from the dancers and Kate’s remarks became a great joke of the time…… At Priestown, William George Collins (Collie as he was known) played the melodeon at dances. Mary Catherine remembers parties being held outside and they all sat round on forms and drank tea….. There were great nights at Buttony where Collie and Dick Roddy obliged with the music. Mary Catherine remembers that Patrick McEvoy crossed the sticks on the kitchen floor and danced “Maggie Pickens”….. There was dancing too at Mary Alice Mason’s (Mrs Morgan). Hugh Smith of Ballyward played the melodeon. My mother, Ellen Anne Breen remembers Maggie Finnegan (Mary Catherine’s sister) playing the mouth organ with one hand and dancing at the same time. (Celia Lee, Journal of the Upper Ards Historical Society No17 , 1993, p.7). Lambeg Irish Folk Dancing Society c. 1930 . Lambeg is a Civil Parish in the north west of County Down. It lies on the River Lagan between Lisburn and Belfast. In the period 1925 - 1939 it was the regular meeting place for the Lambeg Irish Folk Dancing Society. The dancers below are thought to include; Dorothy Beattie, Patricia Mulholland, Roy Lillie and Joe Stewart (thought to be the gentleman in the top hat). The fiddlers are thought to be Paddy O'Rafferty and his daughter. [From discussions with Vera McCrory, who attended the dances in the late 1930s.] Drumaroad & Clanvaraghan Aeridheacht, Garden Party & Céilí, 1936 This description of an aeridheacht, garden party, ceilidhe and general soiree was reported in the Dromore Leader in 1936; “An aeridheacht and garden party was held in the Parochial Grounds, Drumaroad, on Sunday last, and was attended by a very large number of people. The success of the function was directly due to Rev. Father D. Cahill, P.P.,and his capable band of officials. The final of the forty-fives was played and the first prize of a heifer, or £15…… (James Rice, Annsborough won a share of the £10 prize.) Father Cahill, in thanking all present, mentioned that the forty-fives had made £300, which would strongly augment the Drumaroad and Clanvaraghan Church Building Fund. The special Slieve Croob Silver Cup for the best eight-hand reel presented by any P.E. School in Co. Down was won by Downpatrick B team. The rest of the dancing competitions were open, and the results were as follows:- Jig – 1, B. Judge; 2, A. McAleer (miss J. Judge’s pupils) Reel – 1, A. McAleer; 2, B. Judge. Set dance – 1, B. Judge; 2, T. Kelly. Figure dance – 1, Richie “A” Team; Judge “A” Team and Convery Team tied for second. Mr. P. O’Rafferty (adjudicator) said the standard of dancing was extremely high and reflected credit on the teachers…… A ceilidhe was held in the marquee at the close of the proceedings. A larger crowd danced until midnight.” (Dromore Leader , 4th July 1936.) Matthew's Farm, Wallace Hill, Maghercranmoney Although dancing continued continuously for generations there was a period in the 1930s when dancing stopped in many of the local halls. This was due to the depression – when there wasn’t the money to run dances. Regardless of the cessation of public dances during the depression, dancing continued in houses, barns etc. The occasional dance was held publicly at established holidays ie the harvest “churn”, Christmas and New Year. Good examples of farm dances in bygone years were the dances at the Matthews’ farm between Cluntagh and Magheracranmoney, Wallace Hill near Crossgar. There were three ladies living at the farm and usually three times a year they held a dance at the farm. The dance was held in the yard outside the barn, and the dancing carried out to fiddle music – Davy and Robbie Gray, and Hugh Wade were amongst the fiddlers who played there. Harry Matthews, whose aunts organised the dances, was an avid dancer, and is noted for his simple "rolley" way of dancing mazurkas. Map showing Locations of; (a) Crossroads Dancing & Outdoor Events (b) Various Local Dances

Ernie Swain Jig - Up Sligo Ernie Swain plays a jig he called Up Sligo on the fiddle that belonged to the legendary Sligo fiddle player Michael Coleman. Recorded in Dundalk, 12th December 2012.

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

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