How to turn a long stay for professional reasons across the ocean into an agreeable event ? In Buffalo NY, that isn't a problem at all, at least if you are an Irish dancing addict. To be honoust, we looked forward to dance again with the Innishfree Ceili Dancers after our first visit in 2004 during which we were given a warm welcome.
The group is led by Shane & Jean Devlin (2nd and 3th persons from the right of the picture). Amongst their midst is Donna M. Shine (with yellow T-shirt) who does not only dance, but also writes poetry about Ireland. Her book, Ireland Speaks, contains very nice poems that are related to Irish traditional music and dance such as Our Seisiun, The Uilleann Piper, Come Dance With Me, and A Paddy Keenan Concert. Reading the latter comes close to hearing this famous piper (a tune available on Paddy Keenan's website). I recommend this book strongly to all interested in poetry about Ireland.

Here is what I have enjoyed in their company.


October 11, 2005

We started and ended with two sets that I had encountered already before. The first was The Monaghan Set, a set that I had danced thus far only twice: once in Leuven with the Davey Ceili Band, and once in Brendan's set dancing class. I didn't remember anything of it. The other one was the Ballyvourney Jig Set.

In between, two dances were covered that were completely new: one set dance, and one figure dance.

For the Derry Council Set exist two on-line descriptions, one being Joseph O'Hara's study notes and the other one being an explanation from the Crooked River Set Dancers by Lenette S. Taylor.
I could not locate any recording with music specifically suitable for this set. If you want to dance it using CDs, you have to find tunes of the right length in other sets.

Also for the High Cauled Cap I could only find two on-line descriptions: Joseph O'Hara's study notes and a description by Crossreel.
It is one of the dances described in Ár Rinci Fóirne.
The dance has nothing to do with the polka that has the same name.
It is shown on Ceili Dancing Step by Step, Vol 4.
Any reel which is long enough will do.


October 18, 2005

Also that evening, a mixture of dances known and unknown to me passed along. Amongst the known ones were The Caledonian, The Labasheeda Set (Jimmy, the 1th person on the left on the picture above, nearly banged the two ladies he was dancing the high gates with into each other such that I never will forget anymore that in this case the order is dancing lady under, visiting lady under, dancing lady under), The Sliabh Luchra and a few figures of The Plain Set.

New to me was the ceili dance The Morris Reel which is described by Joe O'Hara. The dance is shown on Vol 2. of Ceili Dancing Step by Step.


October 25, 2005

That evening, people dropped in rather late and we were afraid not having a full set. The awful weather could be an explanation. But finally, 10 people showed up.

We warmed up with The Peeler and The Goat, a simple 2-hand ceili, danced to polka, highland or fling. There are 4 eight bar figures which are repeated until the music stops:

Advance and Retire with your partner in waist hold twice (as in The Stack of Barley) along the dancing circle;

Link right (4 bars) and left arms (4bars);

In ceili-house-hold: turn lady under, man turns under, turn lady under, man turns under;

In waltz-hold: house on the dancing circle.
The dance is shown on Comhaltas Video on Two-Hand Dances.
The name comes from a story about an over-officious Royal Irish Constabulary Officer (these people were nicknamed "Peelers") who in 1830 had "arrested" a goat for roistering in Bansha Main Street and butting an officer. Also a song about that event was created. Here is an interpretation of it by The Wolftones.

The set dances covered were not new to me: The Williamstown Set, The Connemara Reel Set, The Mazurka Set, The Corofin Plain Set, and The Ballyvourney.


November 1, 2005

A rehearsal of 4 popular sets was on the program: The Caledonian, The Plain Set, The Clare Lancers, and to finish of The Ballyvourney.
No ceili this time but instead the famous Buffalo Chicken Wings. A nice, temporary Goodbye and see you again soon, oh yeah!