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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

Map of East Down John Simpson of Drumreagh Willie and May McCloy Lizzie Donnan, The Hayes brothers Davy and Jimmy Carse, Davy and Jim Bowman, David Boyd The Coey's of Ballydrain, Sammy Coey of Castle Espie, Danny Cromie Geordie Montgomery, Andy and Eddie Morrow, Alec Johnston Adam Haslett, William John and Samuel Crawford Jimmy Quigley, James O'Prey, Sammy Hare Willie Glover, Rosaleen Duffy

Charlie Ferguson (flute), Davie Wylde (fiddle), Nigel Boullier (banjo), George Russell (bodhran), Davy Graham (guitar), Dianna Skillen (fiddle), Julian Friers (whistle/flute) Bangor - New Year's Eve 1975 Geordie McAdam - Gilmore's Kircubbin 1977 Dianna Skillen, Geordie McAdam, Nigel Boullier - Geordie's shop, Gray's Hill, Bangor 2014 Geordie McAdam, Stanley Mooney, Nigel Boullier - Stanley's home c. 1989 Geordie McAdam - Gilmore's Kircubbin 1977 1/3 Geordie McAdam Stanley Mooney Ernie Swain, Trevor Stewart - Johnny Joe's, Cushendall c.2014 Donaghadee Folk Club 1977 Geordie McAdam, Nigel Boullier, Ernie - Fealty's c.2017 Ernie Swain, Trevor Stewart - Johnny Joe's, Cushendall c.2014 1/4 Ernie Swain Sam McCaughey, Bernie Graham - Mournes c.1992 Sam McCaughey - Ballyferriter, Kerry c.1994 Leon Agnew, Sam McCaughey - Balloo House, 1977 Sam McCaughey, Bernie Graham - Mournes c.1992 1/3 Sam McCaughey Charlie Ferguson Dianna Skillen & Ben Lennon c.2018 Graeme Kirkham, Dianna Skillen - Coleraine 1976 Dianna Skillen, Julian Friers, George Russell, Philip O'Connor c.1974 Dianna Skillen & Ben Lennon c.2018 1/4 Dianna Skillen Davy Graham David (jnr) & Davy Lennon Foxy's Shed Davy Lennon, John Flack, Foxy Carberry, Nigel Boullier, Geordie McAdam - Bangor, 2020 Nigel Boullier, Brian Montague Queens University Belfast 2023 Photo courtesy of Alan Woods

Andy Dickson

Step Dancing Videos Maggie Pickens Maggie Pickens, also known as Maggie Pickie, was a very popular step dance throughout Down and much of Ulster. It is danced solo or as a two-hand dance. Interestingly several fiddle players were keen step dancers - Jackie Donnan, Willie McCloy, Willie Herron and James McElroy - to name but a few. Both Jackie and James danced Maggie Pickens, in fact James McElroy would often have asked Jackie to play the tune for James to dance to. Bernie Graham and Bernie Corr (dancing below) learned this version of Maggie Pickens from Margaret Rea and Joe McGuigan of County Derry. Dancers - Bernie Graham (Bangor, County Down) & Bernie Corr (Randalstown, County Antrim) Fiddles - Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh (Gweedore, County Donegal) and her daughter Nia Ní Bheirn. Recorded - 23rd July 2022 in Belfast on the Titanic Dock. Dance Instructor, Bernie Graham (Bangor, County Down) front row in the centre, leads her step-dancing class in dancing Maggie Pickens for Belfast Trad in the Rosemary Hall, All Souls Church, Belfast 2020. Fiddle - Martin Dowling (Belfast) Mazurka The original Mazurka was danced as a set of four couples; it derived from a Polish Folk dance from the province of Masovia in the 1840s. The two-hand dance the Polka Mazurka then derived out of the Polka but was danced to Mazurka music. The Polka Mazurka is a popular dance around East and Central County Down; the only other area that I have the seen the Polka Mazurka danced is in Glenties in County Donegal. In Down and Donegal the Mazurka is generally a two-hand dance. Bernie Graham learned the following Mazurka danced solo from M argaret Rea, the step dancer from Derry City. It came from C é line Tubridy who learned it in Gortahirk in North-West Donegal where she was raised. The steps can be found on page 90 of A Selection of Irish Traditional Step Dances , 1998 written by Michael Tubridy ( C é line's widower) where it is titled the Little Dutch Dance . Dancers - Bernie Graham (Bangor, County Down) & Bernie Corr (Randalstown, County Antrim) Fiddles - Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh (Gweedore, County Donegal) and her daughter Nia Ní Bheirn. Recorded - 23rd July 2022 in Belfast on the Titanic Dock.

David Carse - Part 3 1 Reel - New May Moon Reel - Craig of Ailsey 2 Reel - The Opera Reel 3 Reel - The Maids of Galway (HD ref WMcC98) Reel - Dick's Reel Jig - The Campbells are coming (HD ref JW294) 4 Hornpipe - The Cuckoo's Nest (HD ref JD147) 5 Reel - Jenny among the hay Reel - Carrickmannon Lasses (HD ref WS128) Quadrille Tune 6/8 - The Quaker generally titled Merrily danced the Quaker (HD ref JD158) 6 Waltz - The Scotch Waltz, also locally called The Girl from Foley's Hotel or Sweet Sixteen (HD ref WS135) Quadrille Tune 6/8 - 3rd Lancers locally titled Whut wud ye dae if yer Rump was brok (HD ref JS123) 7 Jig - Father O'Flynn Reel - Glasgow Reel 8 Schottische - Come and Go Schottische 9 Reel - Gypsy Lass (HD ref WMcC97) Hornpipe - Untitled Hornpipe 10 Hornpipe - Untitled Hornpipe Strathspey - Untitled Strathspey 11 Reel - Carrickmannon Lasses (HD ref WS128) Reel - Jenny among the Hay Polka - Ballroom Polka 12 Quadrille Tune 2/4 - Duncan Davidson (HD ref WS128) Polka - Dargon Polka Schottische - What's a' the Steer 13 Song - Home fires burning Reel - Purty Kate 14 Polka - Heel and Toe Polka Jig - Paddy get up (HD ref JE179) Reel - The Blackbird (HD ref WMcC97) 15 Reel - Scotch Mary (HD ref JW321) Hornpipe - Untitled Hornpipe 16 Hornpipe - The Caspier's Hornpipe Hornpipe - The West End Hornpipe 17 Reel - The Black Haired Girl Reel - The Wine that shook the Barley Jig - Rory O'Moore 18 Hornpipe - The First of May (HD ref JD148) Hornpipe - The old Wife of 80 years 19 Figure Dance - Bessy Black (HD ref WS113) Country Dance - Princess Royal (HD ref WMcC93) 20 Indecipherable Jig - Aprons On (HD ref RQ203) Jig - The Royal Arch Mason (HD ref JW298) 21 Jig - Jackson's Trip (HD ref JS82) Jig - Tilerugan Lodge Jig - The Connaught Man's Rambles (HD ref WMcC95) 22 Untitled Strathspey - Miss Lyle's Strathspey (HD ref JD163) 23 Jig - Killyban Braes Reel - Mason's Apron (HD ref WMcC98) 24 Jig - Trip to the Cottage Reel - Push about the Joram (HD ref RQ205) 25 Polka - Untitled Polka (last 3 bars) Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled locally titled Whut wud ye dae if yer Rump was brok (HD ref JS123) Reel - Miss McLeod's Reel (HD ref JW319) 26 Reel - Touch me if you dare (HD ref JRQ206) Hornpipe - The Blackbird 27 March - The White Cockade Polka - The Wooden Stane Dyke 28 Waltz - Untitled Waltz Reel - Katy got her clinkin generally titled The High Road to Linton (HD ref JD161) 29 Waltz - The Woodland Whisper (HD ref JW341) Waltz - The Dewdrop (HD ref RQ207) 30 Schottische - The Governor Schottische Schottische - Untitled locally titled John Simpson's Schottische (HD ref JS85) 31 Waltz - The Cornflower Waltz (HD ref WS135) Jig - The Blackthorn Stick occasionally called The Moorhall Jig (HD ref JSav124) 32 Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled generally known as 4th figure Patience Lancers (HD ref WS124) 2nd part Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled (Jimmy Ward's No 6 for 1st of the Lancers HD ref JW313) Quadrille Tune 6/8 - Untitled generally known as 4th figure Patience Lancers (HD ref WS124) 1st part

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

Andy Dickson 2 The following audio tracks were recorded at the Tivoli Bar Folk Club, Donaghadee on 17th April 1978 by Denis Reynolds which he later digitised. Reel - The Man from Bundoran & The Glass of Beer Andy Dickson (fiddle), Dermy Diamond (banjo), Tara Bingham (flute) accompanied b y Eugene "Spooly" Kelly (guitar) and Sammy Weir (bodhran) play two reels - The Man from Bundoran and The Glass of Beer. The Man from Bundoran, The Glass of Beer Andy Dickson 00:00 / 02:37 Reels - McDonagh's & Charlie Lennon's No.4 Andy Dickson (fiddle), Dermy Diamond (banjo), Tara Bingham (flute) accompanied b y Eugene "Spooly" Kelly (guitar) play two reels - McDonagh's and Charlie Lennon's No 4 McDonaghs, Charlie Lennons No 4 Andy Dickson 00:00 / 03:08 Reels - The Crosses of Annagh, Crowley's & Fergal O'Gara Andy Dickson (fiddle), Dermy Diamond (banjo), Tara Bingham (flute) accompanied by Eugene "Spooly" Kelly (guitar) and Sammy Weir (bodhran) play three reels - The Crosses of Annagh, Crowley's and Fergal O'Gara. Crosses of Annagh, Crowleys, Fergal OGara Andy Dickson 00:00 / 03:58 Reels - Farewell to Ireland & The Tarbolton Andy Dickson (fiddle), Dermy Diamond (banjo), Tara Bingham (flute) accompanied by Eugene "Spooly" Kelly (guitar) and Sammy Weir (bodhran) play two reels - Farewell to Ireland and The Tarbolton. Farewell to Ireland, The Tarbolton Andy Dickson 00:00 / 05:29 Jigs - The Black Rogue & Richard Dwyer's Andy Dickson (fiddle), Dermy Diamond (banjo), Tara Bingham (flute) accompanied by Eugene "Spooly" Kelly (guitar) and Sammy Weir (bodhran) play two jigs - The Black Rogue and Richard Dwyer's. The Black Rogue, Richard Dwyer's Andy Dickson 00:00 / 03:12

Step Dancing to fiddle music below Spence's Mountain, east Mourne Mountains, 1874 Hans & Annie Donnan c.1900 Champion step dancer Hans Stephenson Donnan (1859 - 1900) Dancing on Bangor Boat, 1906 Square Dancing, Bangor, 1963 Hans & Annie Donnan c.1900 Champion step dancer Hans Stephenson Donnan (1859 - 1900) 1/13 Dancing Half Sets at Lambeg on the River Lagan, c.1930 Dancers are thought to include; Dorothy Beattie, Patricia Mulholland, Roy Lillie & Joe Stewart (gentleman in the top hat). Fiddlers thought to be Paddy O'Rafferty and his daughter McElroy's Ceili, 1949 Clea Ball, 1900 Waringsford Orange Hall, 1920 McElroy's Ceili, 1949 1/12 Greyabbey Village Hall, 2006. American students visit the weekly dancing class Back row - US student, Philip Robinson, Andy Brown, US student, John Bailie, Phyllis Goodall, US student, Hammy Lawther, Betty Schofield, Betty Woods, Margaret Gibson, John Davidson, Jim Cuthbertson Middle row - Rachel McAvoy, US students Front row - two US students, Nigel Boullier (fiddle), Jackie Donnan (fiddle), Bob Traite

Map of the Ards Peninsula John Macpherson Mulhollan Ned & Tom McCarry Andy Hanlon of Portaferry Sam White, Joe & Mary Walker, John & Annie Eadie Jimmy Bailie, the Kearneys, Barney Smyth, Brigid McGrath Harry Coulter Jim McBride, Agnes White Francis Donnelly, Eddie Devine, James Tomelty James Bailie, Frank & Bob Caughey, James Reid & Johnnie Dunn Eddie McMullan, Stevie Egan

Sessions The Bus Pass Ceili Band - Rice's International Bar, Newtownards Reel - The Boy in the Boat Jackie Flynn (accordion), Bernie Stocks (fiddle), Davy Graham (guitar-bouzouki), Trevor Stewart (pipes), Dianna Skillen & Nigel Boullier (fiddles), Paul Bell (flute), Ian Hull (bodhran). Recorded 4th January 2023. Jig - Connie the Soldier Jackie Flynn (accordion), Bernie Stocks (fiddle), Davy Graham (guitar-bouzouki), Trevor Stewart (pipes), Dianna Skillen & Nigel Boullier (fiddles), Paul Bell (flute), Ian Hull (bodhran). Recorded 4th January 2023. Ards Peninsula Sessions - Coach Inn, Portaferry Reels - Austin Tierney's & Return to Miltown From the left; Shirley Howard (fiddle), Davy Graham (mandola), Anita Anderson (piano accordion), Bob Torrens, Ernie Swain, Marie & Deirdre Shannon, Dianna Skillen (fiddles). Recorded 4th November 2012. Reels - Sailing into Walpole's Marsh & the Galtee Ben Healy (flute), Davy Graham (mandola), Bob Torrens, Ernie Swain, Marie & Deirdre Shannon, Dianna Skillen (fiddles), Ian Hull (bodhran). Recorded 4th November 2012. Jig - Sean Ryan's No. 3 This jig was known as Sean Ryan's Number 3 in the Comber and Balloo sessions because it was played in a set after two other compositions of Sean Ryan's. It is generally titled the Dooney Rock . Davy Graham (mandola), Shirley Howard, Bob Torrens, Ernie Swain, Marie & Deirdre Shannon, Dianna Skillen (fiddles). Recorded 4th November 2012. Ards Peninsula Sessions - The Portaferry Hotel, Portaferry Reel - Music in the Glen From the left; Brian Harte (guitar) off screen, Liam McQuillan (bouzouki), Ian Hull (bodhran), John Savage & Ernie Swain (fiddles), Ben Healy (flute), Bob Torrens (fiddle), Trevor Stewart (pipes). Recorded 2017.