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The Ceili Dances
1. The Walls of Limerick
11. Haste to the Wedding
21. Morris Reel
2. Antrim Reel
12. Lannigan's Ball
22. Cross Reel
3. Siege of Carrick
13. Big Dance
23. Eight Hand Jig
​4. Rakes of Mallow
14. Bonfire Dance
24. St. Patrick's Day
​5. Harvest Time Jig
15. Four Hand Reel 
25. Trip to the Cottage
​6. Siege of Ennis
16. Humours of Bandon
26. High Cauled Cap
​​7. Haymakers Jig
17. Glencar Reel
27. Sweets of May
​​8. The Bridge of Athlone
18. Fairy Reel
28. The Three Tunes
​9. Waves of Tory
19. Duke Reel
29. Gates of Derry
​​​10. Long Dance
20. Eight Hand Reel
30. Sixteen Hand Reel

1. The Walls of Limerick

The Walls of Limerick
This is a progressive dance in reel time for any number of couples.  Dancers line up in couples, with gents on left of partner, taking her left hand in his right, the gent's hand underneath the lady's.  Each set consist of two couples facing each other.  It's the simplest of all dances from the point of view of execution.

Formation:
Couple number one has their backs to Top of Room with couple number 2 facing them.  Couple number three has the backs to couple number 2 with couple number 4 facing them......

Movements:
1. Advance and Retire
Partners take inside hands, gent's underneath lady's.  With promenade step, both couples advance towards each other (2 bars).  Retire to place (2 bars).  Repeat movement (4 bars). 
(8 bars)

2. Half Right and Left
Ladies exchange places with sidestep on left foot, passing each other face to face (2 bars), finishing with two threes, while gents dance threes in place (4 bars).  Gents now exchange places with sidestep on right foot, while ladies dance threes in place. (4 bars)
(8 bars)

3. Dance with Opposite
Gents take right hand of opposite lady and sidestep to gent's left, finishing with two threes (4 bars).  All sidestep back to place finishing as before (4 bars).
(8 bars)

4. Swing Around
Already in new position, partners face each other, take both hands crossed.  Each odd and even couple of set swing around each other in an anti-clockwise direction, revolving clockwise back to new position, thus making a full circle.  All finish facing in same direction as at start.

The movements are repeated with each succeeding couple until the music ceases.  In this manner, each couple progresses up or down the hall, with the result that couples dancing opposite each other are constantly varying.
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6. Siege of Ennis

This is a progressive dance in jig time, for any number of two couples in line.  Each set of two couples in line face another set.

Movements:
1. Advance and Retire
Each set of four in line take inside hands and with promenade step, advance towards opposite line (2 bars).  Retire to place (2 bars).  Repeat the movement (4 bars).
(8 bars)

2. Sides
Both couples in line change places. (couple on left going right behind) with sidestep finishing with rising step (4 bars).  All sidestep back to place finishing as before (4 bars).
(8 bars)

3. Right and Left Hands Across
The two gents on outside take right hand of opposite lady, while the four dancers in the center give right hands across the center.  All make full turn clockwise (4 bars).  Release hands, reverse, give left hand in center, dance around anti-clockwise, back to place (4 bars).
​(8 bars)

4. Advance, Retire and Pass Through
Each four in line take inside hands, advance and retire (4 bars).  Advance again, with couples facing "top of room", raise hands to form an arch, allowing opposite line to pass under, all passing right shoulder to right with gent on left passing on outside, ready to face new set to recommence the dance (4 bars).
(8 bars)
 
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The Four Hand Reel

Formation:  Each lady on the right side of the gent.  Couples facing each other.  Top couple have their backs to top of room or top lady's right shoulder to top of room.  Note:  Top of Room refers to where the adjudicators are seated.
This is a four hand dance in reel time for two couples.  It consists of Lead Around, Body, Two Figures and a Lead Around to finish.  

Lead Around:
Partners take inside hands, with gent's hand underneath the lady's.  With promenade step both couples dance a complete circle around anti clockwise back to place.  Release hands, turn inward, take other inside hands (8 bars).  Both couples dance a complete circle clockwise back to place.  Release hands, turn into original position (8 bars).
(16 bars)


The Body

1. The Square
Partners exchange places with sidestep finishing with two threes, gents to right behind, ladies to left in front, on second two threes turn to face partner (4 bars).  Continue on in same direction with sidestep finishing with two threes, turn to face opposite couple (4 bars).  Both couples now in place of opposite couple.  They continue the movement as above to return to own place (8 bars)
(16 bars)

2.  Four Sevens
Gents sidestep to right behind partner, ladies sidestep to left in front (2 bars).  All sidestep back to place, gents in front (2 bars).  Repeat the above movement (4 bars).
(8 bars)
Note:  the two threes are NOT performed in the above movement.

3. Right and Left Hands Across
All four give right hands across in center, gents hands underneath ladies, with promenade step, dance around clockwise, (4 bars).  Release hands, reverse, give left hands across and dance around anti clockwise back to place, finish facing partner (4 bars).
(8 bars)

4. Down the Center
Top couple take right hand in right, dance sidestep to place of opposite couple while opposite couple sidestep to place of top couple on outside (2 bars).  Opposite couple take right hand in right, both couples make half turn in place (2 bars).  Top couple release hands, both couples sidestep back to place, with top couple on outside (2 bars).  Top couple take right hand again, both couples make half turn into original position (2 bars).
(8 bars)
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5. Right and Left Chain
With gents moving in a clockwise direction, ladies anticlockwise, gents give right hand to opposite lady, release continue and meet partner with left hand, now at opposite side of circle.  Continue to opposite lady with right hand, then on to partner with left hand and turn into original position. (8 bars).


First Figure - Figure of Eight and Ring of Three
Top couple take inside hands, advance towards opposite couple (2 bars).  Release hands, top gent dances back to place (2 bars), (stand idle for the following four bars) while the lady advances between the opposite couple, around lady, between again, around the gent and both ladies advance to place of top couple (4 bars).  (Opposite couple may stand idle or dance for first 8 bars).  Top couple and opposite lady form a ring and sidestep anti clockwise finishing with two threes (4 bars).  Sidestep clockwise (2 bars), and on the two threes, top couple raise arms to form an arch to allow opposite lady to pass under to place of top lady, turning clockwise, while top couple advance to opposite gent who has danced sidestep right and left also (2 bars).  Top couple and opposite gent form a ring, sidestep clockwise finishing with two threes (4 bars), sidestep anti clockwise (2 bars) and on the two threes raise hands to allow opposite gent to pass under to place of top gent, while top couple are turning into new place (2 bars).  (Meanwhile the opposite lady is sidestepping to left and right).  Both couples take two hands crossed, dance around each other in an anti clockwise direction revolving clockwise, back to own place (8 bars).
(32 bars)


The opposite couple now perform the Figure.

THE BODY IS AGAIN PERFORMED

The Second Figure - Ladies Chain
Ladies advance towards center, give right hands, release, continue to opposite gent, give left hand, both turn anti clockwise in place (4 bars).  Release hands, ladies return to partner, passing right shoulder to right, take right hand of partner and turn into own place (4 bars).  Both couples take two hands crossed, swing around each other in an anti clockwise direction revolving clockwise back to own place (8 bars).
(16 bars)


THE BODY IS AGAIN PERFORMED

The Finish - Lead Around (16 Bars)
four_hand_reel_1of3.pdf
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four_hand_reel_2of3.pdf
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The Humours of Bandon
This is a four hand dance for two couples in jig time, danced to the tune of the same name.  It will be noticed that the Body is always danced to the second part of the tune (16 bars).  When tops complete the Figure, the Body is again performed, before opposite couple dance the figure, for it to fit to the music.

Formation:  As explained in the Four Hand Reel

Lead Around:  
Partners take inside hands, with gent's hand underneath the lady's.  With promenade step both couples dance a complete circle around anti clockwise back to place.  Release hands, turn inward, take other inside hands (8 bars).  Both couples dance a complete circle clockwise back to place.  Release hands, turn into original position (8 bars).


The Body:
1.  Sides
Partners exchange places with sidestep, gents behind, finishing with Rising Step (4 bars).  Sidestep back to place, gents in front, finishing with Rising Step (4 bars).

2. Half Right and Left
Partners face each other, take both hands (crossed or uncrossed), make a full turn in place (4 bars).  Release hands, couples change places, with gents passing on outside, ladies passing left shoulder to left (2 bars).  Both couples take hands as before, make half turn into new position (2 bars).

3.  Sides
As explained in movement No. 1

4.  Half Right and Left
As explained in movement No. 2 to return to own place.


First Figure - Advance Through Center
Top Couple take inside hands, with promenade step, advance towards opposite couple, dance between and beyond them.  Turn towards each other and take other inside hands (4 bars).  Top gent takes right hand of opposite lady, while top lady takes left hand of opposite gent, both make full turn in place (2 bars).  Release hands, top couple take inside hands and dance back to place (2 bars).
Top couple turn in to face opposite couple, take inside hands and advance towards opposite couple (2 bars).  Top gent takes left hand of opposite lady, while top lady takes right hand of opposite gent, both make full turn in place (2 bars).  Top couple dance back to place, both couples take crossed (or uncrossed) hands, make full turn into original positions (4 bars).
(16 bars)


THE BODY IS AGAIN PERFORMED

Opposite couple now perform the 1st Figure

THE BODY IS AGAIN PERFORMED

Second Figure - Center Meet
Top gent and opposite lady take right hand in right, sidestep to the gent's right while top lady and opposite gent sidestep to the gent's right on outside, all finishing in partner's place (2 bars).  All dance Rising step facing partner (2 bars).  Top gent takes partner's left hand in left, while opposite lady takes partners right hand in right, both couples make full turn back to new position (4 bars).  Top gent and opposite lady take left hand in left, sidestep back to own place, while other two dancers do likewise on outside (2 bars).  All dance Rising Step facing partner (2 bars).  Top gent takes partner's right hand in right while opposite lady takes partners left hand in left, both turn once into original positions (4 bars).
(16 bars)


THE BODY IS AGAIN PERFORMED

The Second Figure is performed again, with top lady and opposite gent taking right hand in right to dance the Figure.

THE BODY IS AGAIN PERFORMED

Third Figure - Ladies Chain
Ladies advance to center, take right hand in right, release, continue to opposite gent, take left hand in left, both turn in place (4 bars).  Release hands, ladies return to partner, passing right shoulder to right, take right hand of partner and turn into own place (4 bars).  Both couples face each other, take both hands crossed, swing around each other in an anti clockwise direction, revolving clockwise back to own place (8 bars).
(16 bars)


THE BODY IS AGAIN PERFORMED

The Finish - Lead Around (16 bars).
humours_of_bandon_1of2.pdf
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High Cauled Cap

High Cauled Cap

This is an eight hand dance in reel time for four couples.  It consists of Lead Around, Body, Three Figures and Finish.  Originally, it was traditionally danced to the tune of the same name.  It originated in County Kerry.

Formation:  Same as Eight Hand Reel.

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