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

Map of East Down The Savages of East Down Jackie Donnan, Willie Lindsay The Jimmy Savages, Jimmy Bonar, Bobby Geddis The Miskellys of Ballygowan The Fiddler Orr and 1798 at Carricknacessnagh The Edmond Brothers, Godfrey Downey, Jimmy McVeigh Robert McVeagh, Hughie Hunter, Henry Harris, Willie Silcock The Quinns of the Glass Moss

Map of Central Down (South) The McElroys of Legananny & Drumnaquoile John Burns of Clanvaraghan Pat Murnin & the Drin Fiddle Club The Dornans of Drumnakelly & Drumaroad Kevin Casement, Sandy McNerlin, Johnny McKay, Willie McCartan & the Kanes of Clanawhillan Michael & Sean Rodgers The Herons of Herons Road, Joe Cinnamond, Arthur Annett, Thomas Henry Gibson & the McIlroys of Leitrim Pat Gorman of Islandmoyle John Searight & the Redmond brothers from Gransha, Hugh Greenan from Ballybrick & Pat Byrne of Levallyreagh

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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

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

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

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

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

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)