last updated 28 September 2007

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Set Dancing Library

Copyright © 2010 Bill Lynch

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• Céilí Cois Cuain Volume 1—DVD by Pat Murphy

• Books—Irish dance manuals, Other books on Irish dance, Ballroom manuals, Accounts of Irish dancing, Related dance traditions and Other interesting dance books
• Recordings—Music for dancing, Live recordings of dancing and Ceili bands and musicians
• Videos
• Set Dancing Anthology, New Articles, Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3 and Volume 4

Set Dancing Books

Irish dance manuals

The books listed below contain instructions for dancing sets or other Irish dances. Historical books published in Ireland with descriptions of quadrilles are also included.

Elizabeth Turner Bell

Fifty Figure and Character Dances for Schools, Waverley Book Company, London, 1921. Dances for children, illustrated with photographs of children dancing in costume. Includes an Irish jig for a couple and a French quadrille.

Esther Brown

Notes on Irish Dance, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, 1951, catalogue number FP818. From the notes for Smithsonian Folkways recording Irish Popular Dances.

• Bonfire Dance, Divided Dance (Rinnce Roinnce), Donegal Long Dance, Fairy Reel, Harvest-time Jig, Kerry Dance, Square Reel

Irish Jigs, Reels and Hornpipes, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, 1956, catalogue number F6819. The notes included with this recording by Willie Clancy and Michael Gorman describe several Irish dances.

• Donegal Long Dance, Four-hand Reel, Gates of Derry, Rinnce Fada (slip jig)

Peter Buckman

Let's Dance, Paddington Press, 1978. Includes a brief history of Irish dancing, with full details on early European and ballroom dancing, as well as modern dancing.

Elizabeth Burchenal

Rinnce na Eirann, National Dances of Ireland, A S Barnes and Co, New York, 1924. An excellent American manual of ceili dancing clearly explaining all dances and moves. Lovely photographs of dancers in Irish costume.

• Antrim Reel, Bohreen Dance, Bonfire Dance, Bridge of Athlone, Donegal Long Dance, Donegal Round Dance, Duke Reel, Eight Hand Reel, Fairy Reel, Fionnala, Four Hand Jig, Fox Hunter's Jig, Galway Reel, Gates of Derry, Harvest-time Jig, Haste to the Wedding, Humours of Bandon, Rinnce Fada, Square Reel, Piper's Dance, Siege of Ennis, Sixteen Hand Reel, Spinning Wheel Dance, Stack of Barley, Walls of Limerick, Waves of Tory

Stephen Burke

Set Dances for Fun, Leo Publications, 1994. All the sets included in this book were created by Stephen Burke with the exception of the East Galway.

• East Galway, Fields of Athenry, Galway Bay, Ring of the South, Slides at the Crossroads, South and West Polka, West Hills, West Homes

T Legget Byrne

Terpsichore, Her Votaries and Fashions, Dublin, 1898. A book of ballroom dances for members of the Irish Ascendancy, complete with notes on correctly raising children, the etiquette to follow when at Dublin Castle, exercises for all the principal muscles of the body and advertisements from the finest merchants in Dublin. A complete scanned copy is available on Chris Brady's web site at chrisbrady.itgo.com/dance/leggett/leggett3.htm.

• Alsatian Polka, Barn Dance, Berlin Polka, Caledonians, Circassian Circle, Galop, Highland Schottische, Polka, Polka Mazurka, Lancers, Mignon, Norwegian Country Dance, Prince Imperial Quadrille, Quadrilles, Rheinländer, Sir Roger de Coverley, Schottische, Tantivy, La Tempête, Valse Cotillion, Waltz, Washington Post

Peggy Carty

My Irish Dance, Yourman Promotions, 1987. 'Covers a broad spectrum, "personal development", cultural bodies in Ireland, Irish language, treasures and symbols of Ireland, with figures and photographs to show those now experienced in Irish dancing how to stand correctly and hold hands.'—Dr John P Cullinane

• Caledonian (2 versions), Monaghan (1st figure only), Walls of Limerick

Betty Casey

International Folk Dancing USA, 1981, Doubleday & Company, Garden City, New York, ISBN 0 385 13308 1. A manual for international folk dancers with detailed instructions for a few ceili dances.

• Haymakers Jig, High-Cauled Cap, Kerry Reel, Sweets of May, Stack of Barley, Two-hand Frolic, Walls of Limerick

Aruba Coghlan

20 Irish Dances, 1994. A book of solo and figure dances for step dancers.

• Eight-hand Jig, Four-hand Jig, Four-hand Reel, Six-hand Reel, Two-hand Jig, Two-hand Reel

An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha

Ár Rinncidhe Fóirne (Our National Dances), An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha. The ceili dancers' Bible containing nearly the entire repertoire of ceili dances. In three sections, the first of which was first published in 1939. Still in print.

• Antrim Reel, Bonfire Dance, Bridge of Athlone, Cross Reel, Duke Reel, Eight-hand Jig, Eight-hand Reel, Fairy Reel, Four-hand Reel, Gates of Derry, Glencar Reel, Harvest-time Jig, Haste to the Wedding, Haymakers Jig, High-Cauled Cap, Humours of Bandon, Lannigan's Ball, Morris Reel, Rakes of Mallow, Rince Fada, An Rince Mór, St Patrick's Day, Siege of Carrick, Siege of Ennis, Sixteen-hand Reel, Sweets of May, Three Tunes, Trip to the Cottage, Walls of Limerick, Waves of Tory

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Éireann and the Gaelic Athletic Association

Coiscéim 1—An authentic guide to Set Dancing, Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Éireann and the Gaelic Athletic Association, 1988

• Ballycommon, Caledonian, Cashel, Cavan Reel, Donegal, North Cork Polka, North Kerry, Sliabh gCua, South Galway Reel, Wexford Half

Dr John P Cullinane see also Other books about Irish dance

Further Aspects of the History of Irish Dancing, Dr John P Cullinane, 1990

• King's Head, Soldier's Joy, Humours of Bandon, and others including more than a dozen four hand reels

Anne Schley Duggan, Jeanette Schlottmann, Abbie Rutledge of the Texas State College for Women

Folk Dances of the British Isles, A S Barnes and Company, New York. One of the volumes of the Folk Dance Library published in the 1930s, containing English, Scottish and Irish dances.

• Irish Lilt, Irish Long Dance

Gaelic Athletic Association, Co Clare

Rince Set Caledonian, Co Clare Gaelic Athletic Association, 1985

• Caledonian

Gaelic League of the State of New York

Rinnce na h-Éireann, a simplified work on the performance of the dances of Ireland, 1907. Available on-line from the US Library of Congress collection of Dance Instruction Manuals at memory.loc.gov/ammem/dihtml/dihome.html.

• Eight-hand Jig, Eight-hand Reel, Four-hand Jig, Four-hand Reel, High-Cauled Cap, Rinnce Fada, Six-hand Reel, Sixteen-hand Reel, Twelve-hand Reel

William Hammond

Call the Set, Cork Folk Publications, 1988

• Ballyvourney Reel, Sliabh Luachra

Call the Set No 2, Cork Folk Publications, 1990

• Ballyvourney Jig, Borlin, Jenny Lind

Call the Set No 3, Cork Folk Publications, 1994

• Ardgroom, Mealagh Valley, Televara

The Set, Ossian Publications, 2002. Notes for all the dances are included in this four-CD collection with music by Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich, Paul O'Shaughnessy, Donncha Lynch and others.

• Ardgroom, Ballyvourney Jig, Ballyvourney Reel, Borlin, Clare Lancers, Clare Orange and Green, Corofin Plain, Jenny Lind, Kenmare Polka, Mealagh Valley, North Kerry, Set of Erin, Sliabh Luachra, Televara, Victoria Jig, Waltz Cotillion, West Kerry

Kate Hughes

Dancing Book, Dundalk, Co Louth, 1867. A unique handwritten dance manual produced by a teenage girl who was taught by a dancing master called Thomson. A web site by Chris Brady at chrisbrady.itgo.com/dance/leggett/leggett3.htm presents scans of the full manuscript with his own annotations and notes by Tom Flett.

• Aeonia Pony, Blandon, Bohemian Girl, British Grenadiers, Circassian Circle, Clutha, Clydesdale Lassies, Cumberland Reel, Duke of Perth, Fairy, Flowers of Edinburgh, German Schottische, Guaracha Waltz, Haymakers, Heather Bell, Hibernian Circle, Honey Moon, Hullachan Reel, Humming Birds, Jacks the Lad, Jessie's Hornpipe, Jock the Boy, La Prince Imperial, La Tempête, Lads of Kintyre, Little Favourite, Love at the Window, Lover's Dream, Medley Waltz, Meg Merrilees, Merry Dance, Merry Lads of Ayr, Merry Milkmaid, Merry Oddfellows, Meszeppa, No 1 Grand March, No 2 Grand March, Nut, Olladina, Paddy O'Rafferty, Petronella, Pheasents, Polka, Prince Charles, Prince Consort, Quadrille, Queen Victoria, Queen's Welcome, Reel of Eight, Rifle Volunteers, Rory O'More, Rover's Joy, Royal Albert, Royal Oak, Sachá, Shoulder to Shoulder, Silver Bell, Thistle, Torryburn Lassies, Triumph, Venetian Waltz, Virginia Circle, Wee Rigg and more

Mary Bee Jensen, Clayne R Jensen

Folk Dancing, Brigham Young University Press, Provo, Utah, 1973, ISBN 0 8425 0458 3

• Sweets of May

Larry Lynch

Set Dances of Ireland, Séadna, 1989, ISBN 0 9514848 0 X (Ireland) and 0 9623366 0 2 (US). A thorough study of sets from the west and south of Ireland as they were originally danced. The anecdotes from old dancers make this an interesting read for enthusiasts.

• Ardgroom, Ballyvourney Jig, Ballyvourney Reel, Ballycommon (2 versions), Black Valley Jig, Black Valley Polka, Caherciveen Polka, Caledonian (5), Cashel (2), Clare Lancers, Clare Orange and Green, Dingle Polka (2), Ginny Ling, Kilkenny Lancers (3), Killorglin Polka, Newmarket Polka, Mazurka (2), Newmarket Meserts, Newmarket Paris, Plain, Plain Polka, Set of Erin, Tipperary Lancers, Valentia Right and Left, Victoria

Bill Lynch

Set Dancing News, Bill Lynch, since 1997. Bimonthly newsletter with event listings and reviews, news, articles, photographs and advertisements, most of which is also available on this web site. A set is included in each issue with notes by Pat Murphy, Eileen O'Doherty and Joseph O'Hara—see the magazine for Irish set dancers.

• Aherlow, Ballagh Plain Half, Ballycastle, Ballycommon (Co Offaly), Ballycroy, Borlin Jenny Reel, Cape Clear Island, Doire Cholmcille, Donegal, East Galway Reel, Gillen, Glencorrib, Hollymount, Inis Meáin, Inis Oírr, Kildownet Half, Killyon, Knocknaboul, Mayo Lancers, Newmarket Meserts, North Kerry Plain, Set of Erin, Shramore, Slip and Slide Polka, Tournafulla, Williamstown

John MacNamara

Set Dancing Prompt Cards, Cois Life Ireland. 'All you need to remember 10 great sets.'

• Ballyvourney Jig, Ballyvourney Reel, Ballycommon, Caledonian, Connemara, Plain, Sliabh Luachra, Waltz Cotillion, West Kerry

Pádraig and Róisín McEneany

Faoi Do Chois, Pádraig and Róisín McEneany, 2005. A package consisting of an instructional DVD, a music CD and a book of instructions.

• Connemara, Durrow Threshing, Fermanagh, South Sligo Lancers

John J McManus

Irish Ceili and Set Dances, John J McManus, 1992, regular updates. A condensed presentation of sixty dances adaptable as cue cards.

• Aran, Ardgroom, Auban, Ballinascarty Half, Ballycommon, Ballyvourney Jig, Ballyvourney Reel, Black Valley Jig, Borlin, Caledonian, Caragh Lake Jig, Cashel, Cavan Reel, Clare Lancers, Clare Orange and Green, Connemara, Corofin Plain, Derradda, Donegal, Dunmanway, Durrow Threshing, Eight-Hand Jig, Eight-Hand Reel, Fermanagh, Fermanagh Quadrilles, Four-Hand Reel, Frères Nantais, Galway Half, Gillen, Glencree, High-Cauled Cap, Jenny Lind, Kenmare Polka, Labasheeda Reel, Leitrim, Limerick Orange and Green, Mazurka, Melleray Lancers, Monaghan, Morris Reel, Newport, North Kerry, Paris, Plain, Portmagee Meserts, Rosscahill, Sixteen-Hand Reel, Skibbereen, Sliabh gCua, Sliabh Luachra, South Galway Reel, South Kerry, Sweets of May, Televara, Three Tunes, Tory Island Lancers, Trip to the Cottage, Valentia Right and Left, Waltz Cotillion, West Kerry

Terry Moylan

The Cuirassiers Set, Na Píobairí Uilleann, 2002. A pamphlet describing a set devised from a quadrille found in an 1823 dance manual.

• Cuirassiers

Irish Dances, Na Píobairí Uilleann, 1984, ISBN 0 9509743 1 5. The first book of the set dancing revival.

• Caledonian, Cashel, Clare Lancers, Ballyvourney Reel, Mazurka, Monaghan, North Kerry, Plain, Sliabh Luachra, South Galway Reel

The Pipers' Set and Other Dances, Na Píobairí Uilleann, 1985

• Ballyvourney Jig, Ballyvourney Reel, Clare Orange and Green, Jenny Lind, Pipers, Victoria

The Quadrilles and Other Sets, Na Píobairí Uilleann, 1988

• Auban, Ballycommon, Connemara, Quadrilles, Televara, West Kerry

  A selection of the sets in these books is available at the Brooks Academy web site, www.setdance.com.

Pat Murphy

Toss the Feathers, Mercier Press, 1995, ISBN 1 85635 115 7. The best reference for set dancing. Details on 64 sets and a history of Irish dancing.

• Aran, Ardgroom, Armagh, Auban, Ballyvourney Jig, Ballyvourney Reel, Ballinascarty Half, Ballycommon, Black Valley Jig, Borlin, Caledonian, Caragh Lake Jig, Cashel, Cavan Reel, Clare Lancers, Clare Orange and Green, Connemara, Corofin Plain, Derradda, Down Lancers, Down Quadrilles, Dublin, Dunmanway, Durrow Threshing, Fermanagh, Fermanagh Quadrilles, Frères Nantais, Gillen, Glencar Polka, Jenny Lind, Keadue Lancers, Kenmare Polka, Kildare, Kilkenny Lancers, Kilkenny Quadrilles, Labasheeda Reel, Leitrim, Limerick Orange and Green, Longford, Mazurka, Melleray Lancers, Monaghan, Newmarket Meserts, Newmarket Plain, Newport, North Kerry, Paris, Plain Polka, Plain, Portmagee Meserts, Roscommon Lancers, Skibbereen, Sliabh gCua, Sliabh Luachra, South Galway Reel, South Kerry, South Sligo Lancers, Televara, Tipperary Lancers, Tory Island Lancers, Tubbercurry Lancers, Valentia Right and Left, Waltz Cotillion, West Kerry

The Flowing Tide, Mercier Press, 2000, ISBN 1 85635 308 7. A definitive collection of 57 more sets, many previously unpublished, including some from Canada, USA and Australia, with notes on the history of the set dance revival.

• Armagh Lancers, Australian Half, Ballingeary Jig, Ballycroy, Ballyroan Half, Borlin Jenny Reel, Bruca, Cloghan, Cloonagh Lancers, Cuilmore, Doire Cholmcille, Donegal, Dromgarriff Half, East Galway Reel (2 versions), Glencorrib, Glencree, Glengarriff Polka (2), Hollymount, Hurry the Jug, Inis Meáin, Inis Oírr, Inverness South Square, Kildownet Half, Kilgarvan Polka, Killyon, Knocknaboul, Knocktopher Polka, Long Caledonian, Loughgraney, Lough Neagh, Mayo Lancers, Mealagh Valley Jig, Meath Half, Meelin Victoria Jig, Mullahoran, Nedinagh, Pride of Erin Waltz, Roscahill, Royal Cotillion, Set of Erin, Shramore, Sligo, Slip and Slide Polka, Sneem, Souris, Tory Island, Tournafulla, Truro Waltz Quadrilles, Tyrawley, Victoria Jig, West Limerick Polka, Wexford Half, Wicklow, Williamstown, Wolfhill

John and William Neal

A Choice Collection of Country Dances, John and William Neal, Dublin, 1726. Contains descriptions of figure dances. Reissued in the USA in 1989.

Eileen O'Doherty

Set Left—Set Right, Na Píobairí Uilleann, 1989

• Ballingeary Jig, Barney, Borlin, Cavan Reel, Derradda, Dungarvan Polka, Labasheeda Reel, Melleray Lancers, Paris, South Kerry, Waltz Cotillion

The Walking Polka, Na Píobairí Uilleann, 1995, ISBN 0 9599743 5 8

• Aran, Ardgroom, Ballinascarty Half, Black Valley Jig, Caragh Lake, Connemara Jig, Corofin Plain, Dunmanway, Durrow Threshing, Fermanagh, Gillen, Kenmare Polka, Down Lancers, Leitrim, Limerick Orange and Green, Mealagh Valley, Portmagee Meserts, Newport, Plain Polka, Skibbereen, Tory Island, Tory Island Lancers, Valentia Right and Left, Wexford Half

Mícheál Ó hEidhin

Déan Rince, ClÓ Chois Fharraige, 1976

Joseph O'Hara

Irish Set Dance Study Notes, Joseph O'Hara. Written to illustrate the pattern of each figure using standard terminology including descriptions of any special steps. Available on the internet at www.setdanceteacher.co.uk.

• Aran, Ardgroom, Armagh, Auban, Ballyvourney Jig, Ballyvourney Reel, Ballinascarty Half, Ballingeary Half, Ballycommon, Birmingham Jig, Black Valley Jig, Borlin, Caledonian (2 versions), Camden Hornpipe, Caragh Lake Jig, Cashel, Cavan Reel, Clare Lancers, Clare Orange and Green, Cloonadiveen Lancers, Connemara, Connemara Jig, Corofin Plain, Derrada, Down Caledonian, Down Lancers, Down Quadrilles, Durrow Threshing, East Galway, Fermanagh, Glencree, Hungerford Jig, Inis Meáin, Jenny Lind, Kenmare, Kildownet Half, Killenaule Lancers, Killyon, Kilmanagh Lancers, Labasheeda, Leitrim Jig, Limerick Orange and Green, Mazurka, Melleray Lancers, Monaghan, Newmarket Meserts, Newport, North Kerry, Paris, Plain, Plain Polka, Portmagee Meserts, Roscommon Lancers, Rosscahill, Skibbereen, Sliabh gCua, Sliabh Luachra, Sneem, South Galway (2), South Kerry, South Sligo Lancers, Televara (2), Tubbercurry Lancers, Valentia Right and Left, Waltz Cotillion, West Kerry

J G O'Keefe and Ard O'Brien

A Handbook of Irish Dances, M H Gill and Son Ltd, Gill and Macmillan, 1912

• Donegal Country Dance, Eight-Hand Jig, Eight-Hand Reel, Four-Hand Jig, Four-Hand Reel, Long Dance, Six-Hand Reel, Sixteen-Hand Reel, Twelve-Hand Reel

Peadar and Gerald O'Rafferty

Dances of Ireland, Max Parrish and Co Ltd, London, 1953. A small book on the history of Irish dancing, with no mention of set dancing. Colour illustrations of Irish costumes. Part of a series of 26 books on European folk dancing.

• Four-hand Reel, Haymakers Jig, Rinnce Fada, Sixteen-hand Reel

Grace Orpen

Dances of Donegal, D M Wilkie, London, 1931

• Barn Dance, Berlin Polky, Corn Rigs, Fairy Reel, Highland, Irish National, Irish Reel, Military Two-step, Pin Dance, Shoe the Donkey, Six Handed Duke, Six Handed Reel, Strasperry Reel, Trip to the Cottage, Waves of Tory

Tom Quinn

Irish Dancing, Harper Collins, 1997, ISBN 0 00 472069 5. Enough sets for at least two lifetimes, all in a single volume you can carry in your coat pocket.

• Aran, Ardgroom Polka, Armagh Quadrilles, Auban, Australian Half, Ballyvourney Jig, Ballyvourney Reel, Ballinascarty Half, Ballycommon, Ballyhahill Half, Barndance, Barney, Blacktown, Black Valley Square Jig, Borlin Jenny, Borlin, Caledonian, Caragh Lake Jig, Cashel, Cavan Reel, Clare Lancers, Clare Orange and Green, Cloneen Jig, Connemara, Connemara Jig, Corofin Plain, Cross Reel, Cuchulainn Jig, Derradda, Down Caledonian, Down Quadrilles, Dublin, Duke Reel, Dungarvan Polka, Dunmanway, Durrow Threshing, East Galway, Eight-Hand Jig, Eight-Hand Reel, Every Man's Chance, Fáinne Uladh, Fermanagh, Fermanagh Quadrilles, Four-Hand Jig, Four-Hand Reel, Galway Half, Gates of Derry, Gillen, Glassdrummond Reel, Glencar Polka, Glencree, High-Cauled Cap, Hooks and Eyes, Humours of Bandon, Hurry the Jug, Jenny Lind, Jubilee Jig, Keadue, Kenmare Polka, Kildare, Kilkenny Lancers, Kilkenny Quadrilles, King's Head, Labasheeda Reel, Leitrim, Longford, Mallon's Reel, Mazurka, Mealagh, Melleray Lancers, Monaghan, Mullabawn, Newmarket Plain, Newmarket Mazurks, Newport, Paris, Peeler and the Goat, Plain Polka, Plain, Portmagee Meserts, Quadrilles Half, Rosscahill, Roscommon Lancers, St Patrick's Day, Schottische, Set of Erin, Shanless Reel, Shoe the Donkey, Siamsa Beirte, Sixteen-Hand Reel, Skibbereen, Sliabh gCua Polka, Sneem, South Galway, South Sligo Lancers, Sweets of May, Televara, Three Tunes, Tipperary Lancers, Tory Lancers, Trip to the Cottage, Tubbercurry Lancers, Two-Hand Country Dance, Two-Hand Hornpipe, Two-Hand Jig, Two-Hand Reel, Uibh Rathach, Valentia Right and Left, Waltz Cotillion, West Kerry, Wexford Half

Set Dancing for Galway Committee

The Set Dancer, Set Dancing for Galway Committee, magazine published annually from 1993 to 1998

• Cavan Reel, Leitrim, Roscahill (all in issue 4, 1997, by Tom Quinn)

J J Sheehan

A Guide to Irish Dancing, John Denver, 1902

Charles T Sykes

The Royal Hibernian Quadrilles, Goulding, D'Almaire, Potter and Co, London, 1821. Issued in commemoration of the visit of George IV to Ireland. Contains music and descriptions of five figures of a quadrille.

Michael Tubridy

A Selection of Irish Traditional Step Dances, Brooks Academy, 1998, ISBN 0 9533637 0 8. The first book to publish step dances, in a notation devised by the author based on music notation and verbal instructions. A tape of music for the dances in the book is available.

• Job of Journeywork, Priest and His Boots, St Patrick's Day, and six others

Assunta Uí Chathasaigh

Gliogaram Cos 1—Sets of County Cork, Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Éireann—Co Cork, 1988

• Aghina Jig, Ath a'Caoire, Auban, Ballyvourney Reel (with two local variations), Ballingeary Jig, Borlin, Borlin Jenny, Cill na Mártra Jig (similar to Ballyvourney Jig), Dunmanway, Glengarriff Polka, Glengarriff Reel, Mealagh Valley, Meelin Victoria, Sliabh Luachra, Skibbereen, West Cork Plain (similar to Mealagh Valley)

Kevin B Westley

Westly School of Irish Dancing, Kevin B Westley, 1992

• Antrim Reel, Barn Dance, Bonfire Dance, Bridge of Athlone, Caledonian, Cashel, Clare Lancers, Plain, Cross Reel, Cuil Aodha, Duke Reel, Eight-hand Jig, Fairy Reel, Four-hand Reel, Gay Gordon, Harvest-time Jig, Haymakers Jig, High-Cauled Cap, Highland Fling, Lilac Waltz, Mazurka, Morris Reel, North Kerry, Piper's Dance, Pride of Erin Waltz, Rakes of Mallow, St Bernard's Waltz, Schottische, Shoe the Donkey, Siege of Ennis, Sixteen-hand Reel, Stack of Barley, Sweets of May, Trip to the Cottage, Two-hand Jig, Two-hand Reel, Walls of Limerick, Waltz Cotillion, Waves of Tory

Other Books on Irish Dance

These books include historic or general information about set dancing and other Irish dancing as well as dance music.

Dianna Boullier

Exploring Irish Music and Dance, O'Brien Press, 1998. Lightweight book with little of interest to dancers.

Breandán Breathnach

Dancing in Ireland, Dal gCais Publications, 1983. Compact but well researched and detailed history of Irish dancing, with a section on the Church and dancing.

Folk Music and Dances of Ireland, Mercier Press, 1971, ISBN 0 85342 509 4. A study of the history, development and current condition of Irish traditional music, song and dance.

Helen Brennan

The Story of Irish Dance, Brandon, 1999, ISBN 0 86322 244 7. Well-researched study of Irish dance concentrating on traditional set and step dancing across Ireland. Includes chapters on the long-running controversy over ceili dancing, dancing masters, the three styles of Irish step dancing, the clergy's attitude and others.

Cairde Rince Céilí na hÉireann

Ceiliúradh Náisiúnta—National Centenary Weekend Commemorative Booklet, 1997, Cairde Rince Céilí na hÉireann, ISBN 0 9531960 0 3. Issued by the recently formed group spearheading the ceili dancing revival in Ireland on their weekend commemorating the hundredth anniversary of the very first ceili. Contains stories of ceili dancing clubs across Ireland in their heyday and their lean times.

Dr John P Cullinane see also Irish dance manuals

Aspects of the History of Irish Dancing, Dr John P Cullinane, 1987

A Short History of Irish Dancing in Australia, Dr John P Cullinane, 1995

Irish Dancing Costumes, Their Origins and Evolution, Dr John P Cullinane, 1996, ISBN 0 9527952 05. Full of historical photographs of the tasteful dance costumes of the past.

Aspects of the History of Irish Dancing in North America, Dr John P Cullinane, 1997

Aspects of the History of Irish Céilí Dancing, Dr John P Cullinane, 1998. Among many interesting details is how the London Irish adopted the word céilí for their dances.

P J Curtis

Notes from the Heart, Torc, 1994. The chapter on dance has a history of set dancing and its revival and an interesting article on how Irish immigrants created the minstrel tradition in America.

Sean Donnelly and others

Ceol na hÉireann No 1, Na Píobairí Uilleann, 1993, ISBN 0 9509743 3 1. A journal with scholarly articles on traditional music. Includes an article on dancing masters.

Ceol na hÉireann No 2, Na Píobairí Uilleann, 1994, ISBN 0 9509743 4 X. With an article by Michael Tubridy on the set dancing revival.

W H Grattan Flood

A History of Irish Music, Browne and Noland, 1927

Arthur Flynn

Irish Dance, Appletree Press, 1998. A lightweight book for modern step dance and Riverdance groupies with a few inaccurate paragraphs on set dancing.

Henry Glassie

All Silver & no Brass, an Irish Christmas Mumming, Dolmen Press, Dublin, 1975. Traditional mumming and strawboys in Co Fermanagh.

Lilly Grove

Dancing, Longman, Green and Co, London, 1895. A volume in the Badminton Library of Sports and Pastimes giving the history of dancing around the world, with a few quaint pages on Ireland.

Donal Hickey

Stone Mad for Music, The Sliabh Luachra Story, Marino Books, 1999, ISBN 1 86023 097 0. The culture of Sliabh Luachra and people who've made its music, dance, song and stories.

Geoff Holland

London Set Dancing Diary, Geoff Holland, London events listing published approximately bi-monthly.

Irish Government

Public Dance Halls Act, Irish Government Publications, 1935

Chris Keane

The Tulla Ceili Band 1946-1997, Chris Keane, 1998. A detailed study of one of the famous bands of Co Clare, with a decade by decade history, profiles of the main players, a directory of all its players, a discography, photos, old advertisments and more.

Tony Kearns and Barry Taylor

A Touchstone for the Tradition, Brandon, Dingle, 2003. The story of the Willie Clancy Summer School.

Joan Lawson

European Folk Dance, Pittman Publishing, 1953. A section on Ireland includes instructions for dancing sevens and threes.

Michael Loughnane

My Life and Memories of Rince Agus Ceol, Michael Loughnane, Lisheen Publications, 2002, ISBN 0 9533709 9 2. Autobiography of Michael Loughnane, the Thurles dancer, teacher and musician.

Isao Moriyasu

Hear the Heartbeat of Mother Earth, Tokyo Shoseki, Tokyo, 1997-1998, ISBN 4 487 79314 9 and 4 487 79371 8. Two Japanese volumes on Irish music, the second featuring articles about Joe and Siobhan O'Donovan and the Tulla Ceili Band.

Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin

A Pocket History of Irish Traditional Music, O'Brien Press, 1998

Joseph O'Hara

Set Dancing Newsletter, Joseph O'Hara, 1992-1997. Quarterly events listing for Ireland and Britain.

Francis O'Neill

Irish Folk Music, Regan Printing House, 1910

Irish Minstrels and Musicians, Mercier Press, ISBN 0 85342 801 8

Donal O'Sullivan

Irish Folk Music, Song and Dance, Mercier Press, 1952

Francis Roche

The Roche Collection of Traditional Irish Music, Ossian Publications, 1982, ISBN 0 946005 05 2. A collection of dance music originally published in 1927 which includes music for seven quadrilles. Interesting notes on Irish dance in the prefaces include a reference to sets as 'matter foreign.'

Chris and Ellis Rogers

Late 18th & 19th Century Ballroom Dances, Eglington Productions. Volume VII in the Nonsuch Early Dance series edited by Peggy Dixon. The Rogers have been instrumental in reviving the quadrilles in the original formal style.

Curt Sachs

World History of the Dance, W W Norton, 1937

Michael Tubridy

Connie Ryan, the Mighty Set Dancing Master, Michael Tubridy, 1999. Connie Ryan was the man who more than any other brought set dancing back to life in Ireland and the rest of the world before his untimely death in 1997. Michael Tubridy's book is a highly informative and carefully researched account of his life, with fascinating details of Connie's early years in Tipperary, his involvement in dancing in Dublin and his great work in the set dancing revival. The book contains many family and other private photographs of Connie over the years.

Ethel L Urlin

Dancing Ancient and Modern, Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton Kent & Co, London, circa 1910. Two pages on the history of Irish dancing.

Geoff Wallis and Sue Wilson

The Rough Guide to Irish Music, Rough Guides, London, 2001, ISBN 1 85828 642 5. Compact and informative volume with all you need to know about the music scene, with brief sections on dance history and ceili bands.

Rieko Yamashita

Feel the Beat of Irish Dance, Tokyo Shoseki, Tokyo, 1998, ISBN 4 487 79370 X. A nicely presented book on traditional Irish dancing in Japanese, with many photographs of teachers, musicians and dancers in Ireland, detailed explanations of dancing terms and movements, and much more. Pity it's not in English, but expect some well-informed Japanese tourists at your favourite venues in Ireland.

Rieko Yamashita and Isao Moriyasu

An Introduction to Irish Dancing, Ongakunotomo, Tokyo, 2002, ISBN 4 276 25081 1. Another Japanese-language guide to the Irish dancing scene, featuring interviews with Patrick O'Dea, Mick Mulkerrin, Anton MacGabhann, Pat Murphy and others, and biographies of James Keane and Connie Ryan, and photos by Bill Lynch.

F A Zorn

Grammar of the Art of Dancing, Dance Horizons, New York, 1905

Ballroom manuals

These books of ballroom dances include instructions for dancing the Quadrilles, Lancers, Caledonian, Waltz Cotillion and other dances related to Irish sets. They are mostly English books from the 1950s which are easy to obtain in second hand bookshops.

John R Gillespie

Old Time Dancing, C Arthur Pearson, London, 1950

Michael Gwynne

Old Time and Sequence Dancing, Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons, London, 1950

William Lamb

How and What to Dance, C Arthur Pearson, London, 1906

Everybody's Guide to Ball Room Dancing, Madgwick, Holston and Co, London, ~1910

A J Latimer

A Bouquet of Old Time Dances, Danceland Publications Ltd, London, 1948

F J Mainey

Old-Time Dancers' Handbook, Herbert Jenkins, London, 1953.

Edward Scott

Dancing as an Art and Pastime, George Bell and Sons, 1892

Dancing a Pleasure, Henry J Drane, London, 1892

Leonard Scrivener, editor

The Complete Ballroom Dancer, Evans Brothers, London, 1957

Victor Sylvester

Modern Ballroom Dancing, Barrie and Jenkins, 1974

Old Time Dancing, Herbert Jenkins, London, 1949

Cecil H Taylor

Old Time and Novelty Dances, The Dancing Times Limited, London, 1947.

Sydney Thompson

The Theory and Practice of Old Time Dancing, John Dilworth, London, 1950.

Old Time Dance Book, Burke Publishing Co Ltd, London, 1956.

A C Wirth

Complete Quadrille Call Book and Dancing Master, Frederick J Drake and Company, Chicago, 1902. Includes a superb collection of etiquette rules.

Accounts of Irish dancing

These books are mostly personal stories of travel or life in Ireland which include descriptions of dancing.

Padraic Colum

The Road Round Ireland, Macmillan, New York, 1926. The author visits a house dance in Clare and writes movingly of an American wake in Connemara.

Gordon Cooper and Ernest Welsman

Your Holiday in Ireland, Alvin Redman Ltd, London, 1948. Has a lovely photograph of crossroads dancing in Kerry. See Photo album 13.

Willie Costello

A Connacht Man's Rambles, Edmund Burke Publisher, 1997, ISBN 0 946130 16 7. A chapter on house dances, dance halls and bands in and around Claremorris, Co Mayo, fifty or more years ago.

Nicolette Devas

Two Flamboyant Fathers, Collins, London, 1966. This autobiography includes the author's experience of dancing on Aran.

Sean Dorman

Valley of Graneen, Sketches of Donegal, Peter Davies, London, 1944. With an excellent account of a house dance hosted by the author, and some drawings of the night.

P J Duffy and others

Place of Legend, Place of Genius, Coleman Heritage Centre, 1997, ISBN 0 9530741 0 2. Stories of the old days in Co Sligo, with emphasis on music and dance.

Lord Dunsany

My Ireland, Jarrolds, London, 1937. A long paragraph describes the costumed wren groups visiting his home on St Stephen's Day.

Elizabeth Fingall

Seventy Years Young, Collins, London, 1937, republished by Lilliput Press, Dublin, 1991, ISBN 0 946640 74 2. The autobiography of a Galway girl who danced in the Dublin ballrooms of the 1880s where she met an Earl who became her husband.

Robin Flower

The Western Island or The Great Blasket, 1944, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0 19 281234 3. A poem about dancing.

Éamon Kelly

According to Tradition, Mercier Press, 1986, ISBN 1 85635 112 2. First presented on stage in 1979. With a story about Biddy boys and their Biddy ball.

Julia Kemp

Hidden Gold, Coomhola Borlin Community Development Association, 1998. Brief accounts of dancing and the wren in the Borlin valley.

Kieran Lillis

Kieran Lillis Remembers, 1991. Short articles on the old days reprinted from the Clare Champion.

Kieran Lillis Remembers, Book 2, 1994

Thomas H Mason

The Islands of Ireland, B T Batsford Ltd, London, 1937. With a description of dancing on Aran.

Patrick McCarthy and Richard Hawkes

Northside of the Mizen, Mizen Productions, Goleen, Co Cork, 1999, ISBN 0 9536793 0 6. Thorough descriptions of country traditions including the kitchen dance.

Cole Moreton

Hungry for Home, Viking, 2000, ISBN 0 670 88012 12. The abandonment of the Blasket Island and the dispersal of its residents to America, with a brief, modern account of dancing in Dingle.

Martin Morrissey

Land of My Cradle Days, O'Brien Press, Dublin, 1990, ISBN 0 86278 229 5. A chapter with a detailed description of a Wren Dance.

H V Morton

In Search of Ireland, Methuen, London, 1930. Travel book with one passage about a failed crossroads dance.

Jeremiah Murphy

When Youth Was Mine, A Memoir of Kerry 1902-1925, Mentor Press, 1998, ISBN 0 947548 88 2. The author's youth in Kerry, with a few paragraphs on music and dancing. Interesting account of the Irish Civil War.

Flann O'Brien (Brian O'Nolan)

The Dance Halls, The Bell Magazine, 1941, reprinted in The Best of The Bell, O'Brien Press Ltd, Dublin, 1978. An hilarious account of the Irish dance hall scene after the Public Dance Halls Act was passed.

The Poor Mouth, Harper Collins, 1941, translated by Patrick C Power 1973, ISBN 0 586 08748 6. A parody of The Islandman and similar books written in Irish by country men and women about their lives. Includes the story of a fanciful feis.

Seán Ó Criomhthain

Blasket Memories, edited by Pádraig Tyers, Mercier Press, 1998, ISBN 1 85635 230 7, published in Irish as Leoithne Aniar, 1982. These memories of the Blasket by the son of Tomás O'Crohan include a chapter about music and dance on the Island.

Tomás O'Crohan

Island Cross-Talk, 1928, translated by Tim Enright 1986, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0 19 281909 7. Pages from an island diary.

The Islandman, 1929, translated by Robin Flower 1937, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0 19 281233 5. The classic autobiography of a Blasket islander.

Liam O'Donnell

The Days of the Servant Boy, Mercier Press, 1997, ISBN 1 85635 165 3. Farm life in the twenties and thirties with an enjoyable chapter on the Sunday night dance.

John O'Donoghue

In a Quiet Land, B T Batsford Ltd, London, 1957. The Kerry childhood of a boy with a passion for music and dance.

Bridget Horan O'Mahony

Pagan Dances of Caherbarnagh, Educare Press, Seattle, Washington, 2001, ISBN 0 936944 28 7. The opening chapter reveals the excitement of a Sliabh Luachra dancing platform in their heyday.

Conchúr Ó Siocháin

Seanchas Chléire, 1940, translated by Riobárd P Breatnach, The Man from Cape Clear, Mercier Press, 1975, ISBN 1 85635 014 2. A few paragraphs on the interaction between a piper and some young dancers.

Seán Ó Súilleabháin

Irish Wake Amusements, Mercier Press, 1961, translated by the author in 1967, ISBN 1 85635 174 4.

Tomsie O'Sullivan

The Dance Halls of Lahinch in the Past 100 Years, 1999 Ennistymon Parish Magazine, Old Ennistymon Society, 1998. Interesting details about old dance halls.

Bridie Quinn-Conroy

Not a Word of a Lie, 1993. The excitement of a house dance enthusiastically described in one chapter.

Enid Stark

A Lady's Child, Faber and Faber, London, 1941. An autobiography with accounts of dancing classes and parties in large houses around Dublin before World War I.

John Millington Synge

The Aran Islands, 1907. Playwright Synge's classic account of his trips to the islands includes the story of an evening on Inis Meain when he played his fiddle for some dancing.

William Makepeace Thackeray

The Irish Sketch Book, Smith, Elder and Company, 1843. A disdainful comment about dancing at a fair in Kerry.

Lady C C Vyvyan

On Timeless Shores, Peter Owen Ltd, London, 1957. Thoughtful and detailed description of a house dance on Aran.

Kate Douglas Wiggin

Penelope's Irish Experiences, Gay and Bird, London, 1901. A children's novel with a detailed description of a Kerry crossroads dance.

Niall Williams and Christine Breen

O Come Ye Back to Ireland, Soho Press, New York, 1987, ISBN 0 939149 22 2. The first of four books by a Dubliner and his American wife about their life in Clare with brief mentions of music and dance including a visit to the Willie Clancy Summer School.

The Pipes Are Calling, Soho Press, New York, 1990, ISBN 0 939149 33 8. In a chapter of this volume the couple visit the Fleadh Nua in Ennis for a ceili.

Related dance traditions

These books about dancing in other countries have been recommended by readers of Set Dancing News.

Peter Ellis

Collector's Choice of Old Time, New Vogue and Modern Ballroom Dances in Australia, The Victorian Folk Music Club Incorporated, Melbourne. Three volumes of dances, music, and reminiscences from MCs, band leaders, musicians and dancers in Australia.

Joan F and Thomas M Flett

Traditional Dancing in Lakeland, English Folk Dance and Song Society, London, 1979

Traditional Dancing in Scotland, Routledge and Kegan Paul, London, 1964

Traditional Step-Dancing in Scotland, 1996, ISBN 1 898218 45 5. History, anecdotes, descriptions of Scottish step dances and an appendix on Cape Breton.

Reg Hall

I Never Played to Many Posh Dances, Scan Tester, Sussex Musician, 1887-1972, Musical Traditions, 1990

J A Hammerton, editor

Society and Clubland, Educational Book Co Ltd. A selection of nineteenth century ballroom cartoons from Punch.

Earl Leaf

Isles of Rhythm, A S Barnes & Co, New York, 1948. Voyeuristic photographic account of Caribbean dancing, including quadrilles danced in Jamaica and Martinique.

John E Lewis

The Mammoth Book of How it Happened, Robinson, ISBN 1 85487 521 3. With an eyewitness story of a gunfight which erupted after a quadrille in Dodge City, Kansas, in 1868.

Colin Quigley

Close to the Floor: Folk Dance in Newfoundland, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1985, ISBN 0 88901 099 4. A brief but detailed account traditional step and social dancing in Newfoundland. The author describes three sets including versions of the Plain and Lancers.

Philip J S Richardson

The Social Dances of the 19th Century, Herbert Jenkins, London, 1960. Interesting account of 19th century English ballroom dancing, including cotillions, quadrilles, waltzes and others.

Cecil Sharp and A P Oppé

The Dance (European Folk Dance), Halton and Truscott Smith, 1924

Helen Wingrave and Robert Harrold

Aspects of Folk Dance in Europe

Other interesting dance books

These books make no mention of set dancing but have interesting points of view on dancing.

Craig Marcott

Three Minutes of Intimacy—Dance Your Way to a Sensational Social Life, Sundance Publishing Inc, Patchogue, New York, 2000, ISBN 0 9678701 2 7. The title says it all—the book makes a strong case for dancing as the way to social success. An excellent chapter on modern etiquette.

Carol Martin

Dance Marathons, University Press of Mississippi, Jackson, Mississippi, 1994, ISBN 0 87805 701 3. Dancing gone mad in Depression-era America.

William H McNeill

Keeping Together in Time—Dance and Drill in Human History, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1995, ISBN 0 674 50229 9. "Extravagant expenditure of muscular energy in dance and song is the most fundamental of all human devices for consolidating community feeling, simply because it arouses a warm sense of togetherness, diminishing personal conflicts and facilitating cooperation." The author sees dance, or 'muscular bonding', as a fundamental force in human evolution, tracing it from our primate ancestors and primitive society, to religion, war and politics in more recent history.

Set Dancing Recordings

Music for dancing

The recordings listed below include studio or live music arranged for dancing one or more sets or other Irish dances.

Abbey Ceili Band

Bruach an tSuláin, Abbey Ceili Band, 2000

• Ballyvourney Jig, Borlin, Caledonian, Corofin Plain

Béal a' Ghleanna, Abbey Ceili Band, 2002

• Connemara, Plain, Sliabh Luachra, West Kerry

Barefield Ceili Band

Between the Sets, Denis Liddy, 2003

• Caledonian, Plain

Brian Ború Ceili Band

House Around, Brian Ború Ceili Band, 2003. A new band from Bray, Co Wicklow.

• Caledonian, Connemara, Tipperary Lancers

Broken String

Mémoires Celts #1. The first and only recording for sets from France—difficult to obtain.

• Clare Lancers, Hurry the Jug, Paris, Waltz Cotillion

Michael Buckley

Irish Dance Music

• Sliabh Luachra, Stack of Barley, St Bernard Waltz, Highland Fling, Valeta Waltz

Willie Clancy and Michael Gorman

Irish Jigs, Reels and Hornpipes, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, 1956, catalogue number F6819. The notes by Esther Brown included with this recording describe several Irish dances.

• Donegal Long Dance, Four-hand Reel, Gates of Derry, Rinnce Fada (slip jig)

Michael Coleman, Leo Rowsome and others

Irish Popular Dances, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, 1951, catalogue number F6818. The pamphlet Notes on Irish Dance by Esther Brown describes the dances.

• Bonfire Dance, Divided Dance (Rinnce Roinnce), Donegal Long Dance, Fairy Reel, Harvest-time Jig, Kerry Dance, Square Reel

Johnny Connolly, Eugene Kelly, Paddy Higgins

Popular Irish Céilí Dances, Cló Iar-Chonnachta

• Bridge of Athlone, Fairy Reel, Haymakers Jig, Johnny, Siege of Ennis, Shoe the Donkey, Stack of Barley, Sweets of May, Three Tunes, Two-hand Hornpipe, Two-hand Reel, Walls of Limerick, Waltz, Waves of Tory

Country Sunshine

Country Sunshine

• Sliabh Luachra

Matt Cunningham

Dance Music of Ireland Vol 1, Ainm Records

• Barn Dance, Caledonian, Haymakers Jig, North Kerry, Siege of Ennis, South Galway Reel, Two-hand Reel, Two-hand Jig, Walls of Limerick

Dance Music of Ireland Vol 2, Ainm Records

• Bridge of Athlone, Cashel, Fairy Reel, High-Cauled Cap, Mazurka, Schottische, Shoe the Donkey, Stack of Barley, Sweets of May

Dance Music of Ireland Vol 3, Ainm Records

• Cavan Reel, Donegal, Plain, Schottische, Shoe the Donkey, Sliabh Luachra, Stack of Barley, Trip to the Cottage

Dance Music of Ireland Vol 4, Ainm Records

• Connemara, Labasheeda Reel, Paris, South Kerry

Dance Music of Ireland Vol 5, Ainm Records

• Aran, Auban, Clare Lancers, Derradda, Waltz selection

Dance Music of Ireland Vol 6, Ainm Records

• Black Valley Jig, Corofin Plain, Gay Gordons, Military Two-step, Monaghan

Dance Music of Ireland Vol 7, Ainm Records

• Clare Orange and Green, Jenny Lind, Sliabh gCua, Waltz Cotillion

Dance Music of Ireland Vol 8, Ainm Records

• Melleray Lancers, Newport (twice, at normal speed and a beginners pace), Skibbereen, The Three Tunes

Dance Music of Ireland Vol 9, Ainm Records, 1995

• Ballycommon, Caragh Lake Jig, Durrow Threshing, Fermanagh

Dance Music of Ireland Vol 10, Ainm Records, 1997

• Fermanagh Quadrilles, Gillen, Glencree, Rosscahill, South Sligo Lancers, Valentia Right and Left

Dance Music of Ireland Vol 11, Ainm Records, 1999

• Ballyvourney Jig, Ballinascarty Half, Cork Reeks, Doire Cholmcille, Kildownet Half, Killyon, Williamstown

Dance Music of Ireland Vol 12, Ainm Records, 1999

• Borlin Jenny, Glencorrib, Inis Meáin, Limerick Orange and Green, Mayo Lancers, Peeler and the Goat, West Kerry

Dance Music of Ireland Vol 13, Ainm Records, 2002

• Aherlow, Ballycroy, Inis Oírr, Kilfenora, Loughgraney, Sweetheart Waltz

Dance Music of Ireland Vol 14, Ainm Records, 2004

• Armagh, Ballyduff, Claddagh, Tory Island

Dance Music of Ireland—15 Ceili Dances, Ainm Records, 2004. Twelve tracks of music, with some tracks serving for two or three dances.

• Bridge of Athlone, Eight-Hand Jig, Fairy Reel, Harvest Time Jig, Haymakers Jig, High-Cauled Cap, Humours of Bandon, Priest and his Boots, St Patrick’s Day, Siege of Carrick, Siege of Ennis, Sweets of May, Three Tunes, Trip to the Cottage and Walls of Limerick

Dance Music of Ireland—16 Two-Hand Dances, Ainm Records, 2004. Fifteen tracks, with one track doing double duty.

• Barn Dance, Corn Reeks, Gay Gordons, Mazurka, Mil-i-tary Two-Step, Peeler and the Goat, Pride of Erin Waltz, St Bernard Waltz, Schottische, Shoe the Donkey, Stack of Barley, Sweetheart Waltz, Two-Hand Hornpipe, Two-Hand Jig, Two-Hand Reel, Valeta Waltz

Dance Music of Ireland—Calling the Sets, Ainm Records, 1999, with calling by Sean Dempsey

• Doire Cholmcille, Glencree, Mayo Lancers, South Sligo Lancers

Dance Music of Ireland—Calling the Sets No 2, Ainm Records, 2000, with calling by Sean Dempsey

• Ballyvourney Jig, Mazurka, Paris, Skibbereen

  Matt's music is a joy to dance to—it's full of life and the tunes magically change at the perfect moment in the set. He performs a great public service to dancers by making music available for the latest sets. His twelve volumes are now available in a single boxed collection.

Domhnall De Barra

Get Set—Go!, Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Éireann

• Ballyvourney Jig, Cashel, Clare Orange and Green, Connemara, West Kerry

Munster Sets and Things

• Sliabh Luachra

Billy Donegan and Jambylia

Sets and Waltzes, Kerry Music

• Caledonian, Sliabh Luachra

Fódhla Ceili Band

Beirt Éile 1, Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Éireann, 1979, difficult to obtain

• Siege of Carrick, Sweets of May, Three Tunes, Waves of Tory

Beirt Éile 2, Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Éireann, 1979, difficult to obtain

• Bridge of Athlone, Humours of Bandon, Trip to the Cottage

Music for Set Dancing. Timings by Tom Quinn. Matches the video Set Dancing Made Easy by Apollo Video.

• Cavan Reel, Derradda, Monaghan, Newmarket Meserts

Gleann an Iolair Ceili Band

The Derry Boat, 1998. Available from Maeve Close or Big Plain Records.

• Baile Bhúirne Jig, Cashel, Newport, Plain

Glenside Ceili Band

Set Dance Music from the Glen, 2001

• Cashel, Connemara, Corofin, Newport, waltzes

Heather Breeze

The Heather Breeze, 2001

• Ballycastle (32 bars too long in third figure), Cashel, Connemara, Derradda, Newport, Williamstown

Music in the Glen, 2004

• Ballyduff, Claddagh, Inis Oírr, Kilfenora, Louisburgh, waltz

Waltz of the Bells, 2004

• Boston Two-Step, Breakaway Blues, Brittania Two-Step, Gay Gordons, Gordon Two-Step, Military Two-Step, Mississippi Dip, Polly Glide, Pride of Erin Waltz, St Bernard’s Waltz, Schottische, Shoe the Donkey, Stack of Barley, Sweetheart Waltz, valeta Waltz, Waltz Country Dance and Waltz of the Bells

P J Hernon

Buail Cois Air, GTD Heritage Recording Co Ltd

• Aran, Connemara, Mazurka, Plain, South Galway Reel

Buail Cois Eile Air

• Corofin Plain, Frères Nantais, Newport

May Keogh, Tommy Delaney

Buntús Rince, Gael-Linn

Rince an Dara Céim, Gael-Linn, 1968

Rince an 3ú Céim, Gael-Linn, 1969

• High-Cauled Cap, Humours of Bandon, St Patrick's Day, Sweets of May, Three Tunes

  This three part series of recordings for step dancers includes figure dances in the third volume.

Kilfenora Ceili Band

Live in Lisdoonvarna, Dolphin Records, 2002

• Caledonian (polkas for the last figure)

Simon Knight with Phil Dawson, Vicki Mogridge, Pete Nicholson and Arthur Baxter

Playing for the Set, 2002. Memorial recording of Simon playing live in Finnegan's Wake, Bristol, England.

• Ballyvourney Jig, Cashel, Mazurka, Plain

The Donncha Lynch Band

Set Dances of Cork and Kerry Vol 1, Yutaka Usui, 2002. Music by Donncha Lynch and his sons Donncha Jr, Aogán and Ronán.

• Ballyvourney Jig Set, Ballyvourney Reel Set, Borlin Jenny Reel Set, Hurry the Jug, Sliabh Luachra Set

Tommy McCarthy, Eamon McGivney, Michael Tubridy and others

Set Dances of Ireland Vol 1, Séadna. Also with Junior Crehan.

• Clare Orange and Green, Mazurka, Stack of Barley

Set Dances of Ireland Vol 2, Séadna. Also with Denis MacMahon, Timmy O'Connor and Paudy Scully.

• Newmarket Meserts, Plain Polka

Set Dances of Ireland Vol 3, Séadna, 1994. Also with Denis McMahon, Timmy O'Connor and Paudy Scully.

• Paris, Sliabh Luachra

Set Dances of Ireland Vol 4, Séadna, 1997. Also with Denis McMahon, Timmy O'Connor and Paudy Scully.

• Clare Lancers, Set of Erin, Sliabh Luachra Plain

Set Dances of Ireland Vol 5, Séadna, 1998. Also with Brendan Begley, Denis McMahon, Timmy O'Connor, Johnny O'Leary and Paudy Scully.

• Black Valley, Caledonian, South Kerry, West Kerry

  The music in this series of recordings is produced by Larry Lynch for the sets in his book, Set Dances of Ireland.

The McElroy Band

Sets Ceili, Glens Music, 1997. Recorded at a ceili at the INF Hall, Hilltown, Co Down, with calling by Joe Farrell.

• Cashel, Connemara, High-Cauled Cap, Plain, Shoe the Donkey, Sliabh gCua, South Galway, Waltz Cotillion, West Kerry

Sets Ceili 2, Glens Music, 1999. Recorded in Kilcoo, Co Down. Called by Joe Farrell.

• Clare Lancers, Labasheeda, Mazurka, Newport, Skibbereen, Waltz Cotillion

Padraig Moynihan, Siobhán O'Brien, Tim Kerins, Kieran Griffin

Caiseal Rince: Step it Out, Sulan Tapes

• Sliabh Luachra

Na Píobairí Uilleann (various musicians)

Round the House, Na Píobairí Uilleann, 1986. With Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich, Gerry Bevan, Steve Cooney, Frank Hogan, Mark Kelly, Séamus Meehan, Neillidh Mulligan and Paul O'Shaughnessy.

• Clare Lancers, Plain, Sliabh Luachra

Mind the Dresser, Na Píobairí Uilleann, 1986. With Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich, Gerry Bevan, Steve Cooney, Tom Dermody, Martin Dermody, Pádraig Mac Mathúna, Edel McWeeney, Conal Ó Gráda and Seán Ó Loingsigh.

• Ballyvourney Reel, North Kerry, Victoria

Pay the Piper, Na Píobairí Uilleann, 1987. With Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich, Gerry Bevan, Patsy Broderick, Ronan Browne, Tom Dermody, Frank Hogan, P J Howell, Mark Kelly, Edel McWeeney, Séamus Meehan, Tom O'Brien and Seán Ó Loingsigh.

• Caledonian, South Galway Reel, Monaghan

Call the Tune, Na Píobairí Uilleann, 1987. With Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich, Gerry Bevan, Ronan Browne, Steve Cooney, Frank Hogan, Kevin Glackin, Declan Masterson and Paul McGrattan.

• Auban, Ballyvourney Jig, Pipers

Show the Lady, Na Píobairí Uilleann, 1987. With Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich, Gerry Bevan, Michael Bonamy, Patsy Broderick, Steve Cooney, Maureen Fahy, Frank Hogan, Eugene Lambe and Michael Mellett.

• Connemara, Jenny Lind, West Kerry

Face the Hob, Na Píobairí Uilleann, 1987. With Kevin Glackin, Madonna Heron, Frank Hogan, Declan Masterson, Paul McGrattan, Dermot McLaughlin, Séamus Meehan, Seán Ó Loingsigh and Sean Potts.

• Cashel, Clare Orange and Green, Mazurka

  These six tapes are classics not just of set dancing, but of Irish traditional music. Highly recommended to dancers and to music lovers. Musicians take note—full music for every tune on the six tapes is available in two books, Music for the Sets—The Yellow Book and Music for the Sets—The Blue Book, from Dave Mallinson Publications.

Sean Norman Ceili Band

Mighty Set Night, Sean Norman, 2001

• Durrow Threshing, Inis Oírr, Killyon, Williamstown

O'Aces

Ón Oíche go Maidin, Outlet Recording Company, 1998

• Ballyvourney Jig, Connemara, Derradda, Fermanagh, Newport

Brian Ó Broin, Damaris Woods, Jim Woods, Ciarán Ó Muirí, Máirtín Ó Muirí, Odhrán Ó Casaide, Simon Ó Cróinín, Colm Dubh Ó Méalóid, Gerry Tully, Declan Flynn and Eoin Ó Meachair

Ceol don Chéilí, Brian Ó Broin, 2002, double CD

• Bridge of Athlone, Fairy Reel, Harvest Time Jig, Haymakers Jig, Rakes of Mallow, Shoe the Donkey, Siege of Ennis (2 versions), Stack of Barley, Sweets of May, Three Tunes, Two-hand Hornpipe, Two-hand Reel, Walls of Limerick (2), Waves of Tory

Neily O'Connor

Goodbye Johnny Dear

• Sliabh Luachra

Johnny O'Leary

Music for the Set, Ossian Publications, 1989

• Sliabh Luachra

Johnny O'Leary of Sliabh Luachra, Craft Recordings, 1996

• Sliabh Luachra, West Kerry

Public House Ceili Band

Go Figure, Public House Ceili Band, 2001. The first recording of sets from America.

• Caledonian, Connemara, Plain, Sliabh Luachra

Sean Quinn, Seamus McCullough

Popular Ceili Dances, Vol 1, Glens Music, 1999

• Harvest-time Jig, Haymakers Jig, Humours of Bandon, Siege of Carrick, Siege of Ennis, Sweets of May, Three Tunes, Trip to the Cottage, Walls of Limerick, Waves of Tory

Johnny Reidy

At Home in Sliabh Luachra

• Caledonian, Plain, Sliabh Luachra

Irish Ceili and Full Polka Sets, 1982

• Sliabh Luachra

Full Polka Set

• Sliabh Luachra

The Johnny Reidy Band, 1998

• Caledonian, Connemara, Sliabh Luachra, West Kerry

Polka Set and Jig Set, Volume 6

• Jenny Ling, Sliabh Luachra

Tim Joe and Anne O'Riordan

Tim Joe O'Riordan

• Peeler and the Goat, Sliabh Luachra

The Reel Thing, 1998

• Plain, Sliabh Luachra

St Malachy's Ceili Band

Dance the Set Vol 1. Called over the music by Sean Dempsey.

• Cashel, Connemara, Mazurka, Plain

Dance the Set Vol 2, 1993. Available with and without calling by Sean Dempsey.

• Borlin, Monaghan, Newmarket Meserts, Portmagee Meserts

Michael Sexton Ceili Band

Michael Sexton Ceili Band, Michael Sexton

• Caledonian, Connemara, Newport, Plain (8 bars too many in the 3rd figure)

Mad to Dance, Michael Sexton, 1998

• Cashel, Clare Lancers, Clare Orange and Green, Labasheeda

Micheál Sexton and Pat Walsh

Live, Micheál Sexton and Pat Walsh, 2005

• Caledonian, Cashel, Kilfenora, Plain

Shaskeen

Live, Faoilean Recordings, 1992

• Aran, Caledonian, Connemara, South Galway Reel

Live Vol 2, Faoilean Recordings, 1993

• Corofin Plain, Newport, North Kerry

Live Vol 3, Faoilean Recordings, 1994

• Clare Lancers (missing 3rd figure on CD), Derrada, Frères Nantais, Two-hand Dance

Live Vol 4, Faoilean Recordings, 1997. Recorded at McCarthy's, Kilbeacanty, Gort, Co Galway and dedicated to Connie Ryan.

• Cashel, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Plain, Shoe the Donkey

Show the Lady

House at Home Volume 1, Simon Knight, 1996

• Plain, Valentia Right and Left

House at Home Volume 2, Simon Knight, 1996

• Caragh Lake Jig, Sliabh Luachra

Pat Sullivan, Vince Milne, Brid Cranitch and Timmy McCarthy

Call the Set, Cork Folk Publications

• Ballyvourney Reel, Sliabh Luachra

Call the Set— 2, Cork Folk Publications

• Ballyvourney Jig, Borlin, Jenny Lind

Call the Set— 3, Cork Folk Publications

• Ardgroom, Mealagh Valley, Televara

  These tapes have lively calling by Timmy McCarthy on side one and music without calling on side two.

Swallow's Tail Ceili Band

In Full Flight, Swallow's Tail

Cashel, Clare Lancers, Connemara, Corofin Plain

Matty Teehan

Trip to Sliabh Arda, Muintir Chorcaí

• Cashel—Matty plays enough music to dance the second figure twice like they do in Tipperary.

Templehouse Ceili Band

Music for Sets Volume 1, Templehouse Music

• Clare Lancers, Labasheeda Reel, Limerick Orange and Green

Music for Sets Volume 2, Templehouse Music

• Paris, Plain, South Kerry

Tipsy House

Sets in the City, Tipsy House, 2003. Sets from the Plough and Stars Pub in San Francisco.

• Corofin Plain, Plain, West Kerry, waltz

Triskell

Faoi Do Chois, Pádraig and Róisín McEneany, 2005. A package consisting of an instructional DVD, a music CD and a book of instructions.

• Connemara, Durrow Threshing, Fermanagh, South Sligo Lancers

Michael Tubridy

A Selection of Irish Traditional Step Dances, Brooks Academy, 1998. A tape for the book of step dances. The dances are played twice—on side 1 at a beginners pace with calling by Celine Tubridy, and on side 2 without calling at a normal pace.

• Job of Journeywork, Priest and His Boots, St Patrick's Day, and six others

Uí Bhríain, John and Martina Breen

The Sets, John and Martina Breen

• Black Valley Jig, Clare Lancers, Sliabh Luachra

various musicians

Irish Popular Dances, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, 1951, catalogue number FP818. Dances for this recording are described in Notes on Irish Dance by Esther Brown. Still available.

• Bonfire Dance, Divided Dance (Rinnce Roinnce), Donegal Long Dance, Fairy Reel, Harvest-time Jig, Kerry Dance, Square Reel

The Magic of Irish Set Dancing 1, Ossian Publications. With the Fódhla Ceili Band, Connie Ryan, Betty McCoy and the Slievenamon Set Dancers.

• Ballyvourney Reel, Connemara, Plain

The Magic of Irish Set Dancing 2, Ossian Publications. With the Fódhla Ceili Band, Connie Ryan, Betty McCoy and the Slievenamon Set Dancers.

• Melleray Lancers, Skibbereen, South Galway Reel

The Magic of Irish Set Dancing 3, Ossian Publications. With the Fódhla Ceili Band, Connie Ryan, Betty McCoy and the Slievenamon Set Dancers.

• Aran, Cashel, Mazurka

The Magic of Irish Set Dancing 4, Ossian Publications. With the Kincora Ceili Band, Frances McKenna, Pa O'Brien and the Brian Boru Set Dancers.

• Ballingeary Jig, Ballycommon, Frères Nantais

The Magic of Irish Set Dancing 5, Ossian Publications. With the Donncha Lynch Trio, Timmy McCarthy, Rhona McCarthy and the County Bounds Set Dancers.

• Ardgroom, Kenmare, Set of Erin

The Magic of Irish Set Dancing 6, Ossian Publications. With the Donncha Lynch Trio, Timmy McCarthy, Rhona McCarthy and the County Bounds Set Dancers.

• Borlin, Mealagh Valley, Victoria

The Magic of Irish Set Dancing 7, Ossian Publications. With the Donncha Lynch Trio, Timmy McCarthy, Rhona McCarthy and the County Bounds Set Dancers.

• Ballyvourney Jig, Sliabh Luachra, Televara

The Magic of Irish Set Dancing 8, Ossian Publications. With Brendan Begley and friends, Brooks Academy.

• North Kerry, Waltz Cotillion, West Kerry

The Magic of Irish Set Dancing 9, Ossian Publications. With Brendan Begley and friends, Brooks Academy.

• Clare Lancers, Clare Orange and Green, Corofin Plain

The Set, Ossian Publications, 2002. Music by Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich, Paul O'Shaughnessy, Donncha Lynch and others. A four-CD collection of reissued recordings from the Call the Set and Magic of Irish Set Dancing series. Includes complete notes for the dances by William Hammond. Some of the sets are called by Timmy McCarthy.

• Ardgroom, Ballyvourney Jig, Ballyvourney Reel, Borlin, Clare Lancers, Clare Orange and Green, Corofin Plain, Jenny Lind, Kenmare Polka, Mealagh Valley, North Kerry, Set of Erin, Sliabh Luachra, Televara, Victoria Jig, Waltz Cotillion, West Kerry

Danny Webster

Ceile Time in Ireland, Danny Webster, 2005

• Ballyduff, Ballyvourney Jig, Cashel, Connemara, Newport, waltz

Live recordings of dancing

These albums include live recordings of set dancing which are not arranged for dancing. Figures may be missing, in the wrong order or faded out before finishing. However, they make good listening. Sean nós dancing is also included in some recordings.

Ballinakill Ceili Band

Favourite Irish Dances, EMI, London, 1959. Recorded live at the Irish Club, Parnell Square, Dublin.

Barefield Ceili Band

Flowers of the Burren, Denis Liddy, 2001. Margaret Brohan dances sean nós steps in the last track.

Séamus Begley, Steve Cooney

Meiteal, Hummingbird Records, Dublin, 1992. Includes a live track of the West Kerry set and others which are suitable for dancing it.

Billy Clifford

Irish Traditional Flute Solos and Band Music from Kerry and Tipperary, Topic Records, London, 1977. Includes the hornpipe from the Cashel Set.

Four Courts Ceili Band

The Four Courts and Friends, GTD Heritage Recording

Bobby Gardiner

The Clare Shout. With several tracks of set and step dancing.

Noel Hill and Tony McMahon

I gCnoc na Graí, Gael-Linn, 1985. Fabulous Clare dancing by Aidan Vaughan and others can be heard in this inspirational recording made in Dan O'Connell's Pub, Knocknagree.

Music of Dreams, Gael-Linn, 1993. A second album featuring more dancing by Aidan Vaughan, with Willie Keane and Paddy Neylon.

The Lahawns

Live at Winkle's, The Lahawns, 1997. Live recording of very danceable music from Co Clare.

Live at Lena's, The Lahawns, 2001. With a brush dance by Margaret Brohan.

Isao and Masako Moriyasu (Paddy and Bridget)

Paddy and Bridget and Their Great Friends, Custy's Music Shop, 2000. Two Japanese musicians and their friends from Clare and elsewhere, with dancing by Aidan Vaughan and Celine and Michael Tubridy.

Paddy and Bridget and Their Great Friends 2, Custy's Music Shop, 2001. More of the same including a half set.

Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin

Traditional Music from Clare and Beyond, Celtic Crossings, 1996. With a hornpipe from Patrick O'Dea.

various musicians

Ceili House on the Road '93, Radio Telefís Éireann, 1993. A great collection of pieces by ceili bands featured on RTÉ's Ceili House radio program. Lively music and enthusiastic audiences.

Kieran Hanrahan's Ten Years of Céilí House, Radio Telefís Éireann, 2005

Mighty Session!, Oifig an Cheoil, 1995. Dancing in the street on the cover and one live track inside.

Music at Matt Malloy's, Realworld, 1992. Nice session music with one track of dancing.

The Rushy Mountain, Globestyle Records, 1997. A compilation of Sliabh Luachra music from a series of LPs issued by Topic Records in the 1970s including one track of live dancing with nearly three figures of the Sliabh Luachra set.

The Sanctuary Sessions, 1994. More session music with a track of dancing.

Traditional Music from Clare and Kerry, Radio Telefís Éireann, 1987. Two collections of music, one tape from Clare, one from Kerry, recorded and introduced by Ciarán Mac Mathúna. There's a track of dancing on each, with the Mullagh set in Philadelphia.

Ceili bands and musicians

This music is by ceili bands and musicians who regularly play for set dancing, but is not arranged for set dancing.

Ardellis Ceili Band

40 Years, 1957-1997, Chart Records, 1997

Assaroe Ceili Band

Mary McGonigle and the Assaroe Ceili Band, Waltons, Dublin. With vocalist Mary McGonigle.

Barefield Ceili Band

Iolar, Denis Liddy, 1999. An award winning band of children.

Bofield Ceili Band

100 Years a Growing, Hummingbird Records, 2000

Bohola

Bohola, Shanachie Records, 2002. First recording by the Chicago trio who regularly play for ceilis.

Bridge Ceili Band

Sparks on Flags, Cló Iar-Chonnachta, 1999

Castleblaney Ceili Band

Ceili Time in Ireland, Sharpe Music

Coleman Country Ceili Band

Coleman Country Ceili Band, GTD Heritage Recording, 1993

Johnny Connolly

An tOileán Aerach, Cló Iar-Chonnachta, 1993. Also with Charlie Lennon and Steve Cooney.

Drioball na Fáinleoige, Cló Iar-Chonnachta, 1998. Also with Charlie Lennon and Steve Cooney.

Coolin Ceili Band, Kilfenora, Co Clare

The Morning Star, 1984

Humours of Clare

Dave Culligan (Michael Sexton Ceili Band)

Snowbound for Christmas, 2002

Tom Cussen (Shaskeen) and Tony Howley

There's always room in our house, 2003

Matt Cunningham

The Green Hills of Erin, Ainm Records, 1995

Memories of Ireland, Ainm Records, 1995

West of the Old River Shannon, Ainm Records, 1995

The Spirit of Ireland, Ainm Records, 1996

Every Story Told, Ainm Records, 2001

Nigel Davey of the Davey Ceili Band

The Accordion Sounds of Nigel Davey, 1989

Brí, 1999

Malachy Doris Ceili Band

Irish Night Out, Major Minor Records, London, 1970. With Peter Sherry on fiddle.

Chris Droney of the Four Courts

Down From Bell Harbour, Cló Iar-Chonnachta, 2005

The Fertile Rock, Cló Iar-Chonnachta, 1995

Irish Dance Music, Rego Irish Records, 1993

Emerald Ceili Band

Ceili House, Emerald Ceili Band, 1995

Emerald Ceili Band and Friends, Emerald Ceili Band, 1996

Clear the Dresser and Take the Floor, Emerald Ceili Band, 1999

Ennis Ceili Band

Ennis Ceili Band, Ennis Ceili Band, 2003

Esker Riada

Come West Along the Road, Esker Riada

Four Courts Ceili Band

Traditional Irish Music from County Clare, GTD Heritage Recording

Traditional Irish Music and Song from Co Clare Vol 2, GTD Heritage Recording

Ceol ón Scioból, GTD Heritage Recording

Pat Friel, Maria McHugh and Liam Grealis from Heather Breeze

Humours of Westport, Pat Friel, 2001

Patty Furlong

Traditional Irish Music on Button Accordion, Patty Furlong

Gallowglass Ceili Band

Irish Dance Time, Pickwick Records

Fred Hanna

Irish Ceili, Outlet Recording Company, 1997

Irish Party Favourites, Outlet Recording Company, 1997

Jackie Hearst Ceili Band

Gerry Burns and the Jackie Hearst Ceili Band, Waltons, Dublin. With vocalist Gerry Burns.

P J Hernon

First House in Connaught, GTD Heritage Recording

The Floating Crowbar, GTD Heritage Recording. With Marcus Hernon.

P J Hernon, Gael-Linn, 1978. With Marcus Hernon.

Béal a'Murlaigh, Gael-Linn, 1989. With Marcus Hernon.

Inis Fail Ceili Band

A Taste of Ireland, 1997

Innisfree Breeze

Living in London, 1995

Richie Kelly

King of Ceili, Chart Records

Let's Have a Ceili, Chart Records

Kilfenora Ceili Band

The Best of Irish Music, GTD Heritage Recording

Reels, Jigs, Polkas, GTD Heritage Recording

Kilfenora Ceili Band, GTD Heritage Recording, 1995. The first recording by the young Kilfenora band.

Set on Stone, Dolphin Records, 1997

Leitrim Ceili Band

It's Irish Dance Time, Dublin Records, New York, circa 1960. Joe Burke leads the band on box.

Murray Family

The Bucks of Oranmore, GTD Heritage Recording

Sean Norman Ceili Band

Mighty Ceili Night, Sean Norman

Ship in Full Sail, Sean Norman, 1995

Johnny O'Leary

An Calmfhear/The Trooper, Gael-Linn, 1989

Orchard County Ceili Band

Ceili Music from Ireland, Irish Record and Video Supplies. A band from Keady, Co Armagh.

Owenmore Ceili Band

Owenmore Ceili Band, Pickwick Records, 1982

Pride of Erin Ceili Band

Harvest Time in Ireland, Outlet Recording Company, 1979

Donal Ring Ceili Band

40 Years of Jigs and Reels, 1998

Rolling Notes Ceili Band

The Rolling Notes Ceili Band, Gilles Poutoux, 2004. A ceili band based in Paris modelling themselves after the old Ballinakill Ceili Band.

St Fachnan's Ceili Band, Kilfenora, Co Clare

St Fachnan's Ceili Band, GTD Heritage Recording, 1985

Michael Sexton, P J Murrihy, Dave Culligan and Micheál Sexton

A Taste of Traditional Irish Music and Song, GTD Heritage Recording

Shaskeen

Atlantic Breeze, Faoilean Recordings

Irish Traditional Music and Song, Outlet Recording Company

My Love is in America, Faoilean Recordings, 1993

The Mouse Behind the Dresser, Faoilean Recordings

Sliabh Notes

Sliabh Notes, Ossian Publications, 1995

Gleanntán, Ossian Publications, 1999

Along Blackwater's Banks, Ossian Publications, 2002

Swallow's Tail Ceili Band

Hell for Leather, Sound Records

Táin Ceili Band

The Táin Ceili Band, 2000

Tulla Ceili Band

Echoes of Erin, Dublin Record Company, New York, 1958

Claddagh Ring, EMI Ireland Ltd, Dublin, 1970

Ireland Green, EMI Ireland Ltd, Dublin, 1972

Sweetheart in the Spring, EMI Ireland Ltd, Dublin, 1973

40th Anniversary, GTD Heritage Recording, 1986

A Celebration of 50 Years, Green Linnet, 1996

Michael Tubridy

The Eagle's Whistle, Claddagh Records, Dublin, 1978

Turloughmore Ceili Band

The Bee's Wing, 2001

various musicians and bands

Ceili Time in Ireland, Triad Sound Laboratories, New York. With the Ardellis Ceili Band, Emerald Ceili Band and McCusker Brothers.

A Championship Irish Ceili, Delta Music, 2003. With the Dublin and Raheny ceili bands.

Crossroads Ceili, Chart Records. With Brendan Begley, Mary Corcoran, Mick Gaynor, Seamus Glackin and Michael O'Brien.

Classic Ceili Bands, Castle Communications, 1994. With the Ballinamore Ceili Band, Brophy Brothers Ceili Band, Eamonn Ceannt Ceili Band, and Sean Dunphy Ceili Band.

Glenside and Kilfenora Ceili Bands, Castle Communications, 1967—Glenside, 1974—Kilfenora. A commonly available compilation of the old bands.

The Great Ceili Bands Volume 1, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. A collection of old 78rpm records including the Aughrim Slopes, Ballinakill, Garda, Kincora, Moate, Austin Stack and Tara Ceili Bands.

Irish Dance Music, Topic Records, 1995. A stunning collection of old recordings with informative notes by Reg Hall.

Irish Music: The Living Tradition Vol. II, Green Linnett, 1980. The Tara Ceili Band and the Garrai Eoin II Ceili Band, two bands of children from New York including 13 year old Eileen Ivers.

Past Masters of Irish Dance Music, Topic Records, 2000. A companion volume to Reg Hall's Irish Dance Music.

Reunion Concert, Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Éireann, 2001. Live recording of a concert with fifteen All-Ireland winning ceili bands.

Round the House and Mind the Dresser, Topic Records. A collection of old records and live recordings from the sixties and seventies, concentrating on polkas, slides, flings, hornpipes, the mazurka, waltzes and barndances.

Take the Floor, Ceol Music. With the Brophy Brothers Ceili Band, Eamonn Ceannt Ceili Band, Kearney Ceili Band and Noel Touhy Radio Ceili Band.

Very Best Irish Ceili Music, Outlet Recording Company. Two-CD compilation with Shaskeen, the Malachy Doris Ceili Band and Pride of Erin Ceili Band.

The Very Best of Ceili, Ceol Music. Three-CD compilation with the Ballinamere, Blarney, Brophy Brothers, Dungarvan, Sean Dunphy, Inisfail, Liam Ivory, Kearney, Brendan Mulhaire, St Brendan's, St Peter's and Noel Touhy ceili bands.

Waterford Comhaltas Ceili Band and others

Irish Traditional Entertainment from Waterford City, 2001

John Whelan

Celtic Fire, Narada Productions, 2001

Come to Dance, Narada Productions, 1999

Celtic Reflections, Narada Productions

Celtic Crossroads, Narada Productions

Flirting with the Edge, Narada Productions

Set Dancing Videos

Matt Cunningham

Come to the Ceili, Ainm Records, 1993. Recorded at Cois na hAbhna, Ennis, Co Clare, and at the Great Southern Hotel, Galway City.

Come to the Ceili Mór, Ainm Records, 2003. Beautifully recorded at the Irish National Event Centre, Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney, Co Kerry, during the Gathering Festival.

• Ballyvourney Jig, Caledonian, Corofin Plain, Kilfenora, Newport, Sliabh Luachra, plus waltzes, sean nós steps and a demonstration of the Roscommon Lancers

Irish Set Dancing Made Easy Volume 1, Ainm Records, 2005. A series of instructional videos featuring Pat Murphy, Tony Ryan, Aidan Vaughan, Pádraig and Róisín McEneany and other teachers

• Claddagh, Clare Orange and Green, Sliabh Luachra

Irish Set Dancing Made Easy Volume 2, Ainm Records, 2005

• Aran, Ballycroy, Caledonian, Fermanagh Quadrilles

Irish Set Dancing Made Easy Volume 3, Ainm Records, 2005

• Clare Lancers, Monaghan, South Galway, Williamstown

The Thresher and the Dance, Ainm Records. A day in the fields harvesting and threshing corn followed by the threshing dance featuring Connie Ryan and the Durrow set dancers.

• Durrow Threshing

John Fennell

Hell for Leather, John Fennell, 2004-2005. The set dancing extravaganza performed by 160 or more west Clare kids has been released on video at least three times, most recently as a two-DVD set.

Fódhla Ceili Band

Ceili at the Castle, Apollo Video. With dancing by Tom and Áine Quinn and the champion Kells Set Dancers.

• Cavan Reel, Two-hand Reel

The Fódhla Ceili Band Play Music for Set Dancing, Apollo Video

• Cavan Reel, Derradda, Monaghan, Newmarket Meserts

Set Dancing Made Easy, Apollo Video. Dances taught by Tom Quinn.

• Cavan Reel, Derradda, Monaghan, Newmarket Meserts

Four Courts Ceili Band

The Four Courts Ceili Band, Michael O'Sullivan, 2005. A tribute to Chris Droney, George Byrt and Seán Jordan of the Four Courts filmed as it happened in Vaughan's Barn, Kilfenora, Co Clare.

Olive Hurley

Ceili Dancing Step by Step Volume 1, Ainm Records

• Bridge of Athlone, Duke Reel, Eight-hand Jig, Fairy Reel, Haymakers Jig, St Patrick's Day, Walls of Limerick, Waves of Tory

Ceili Dancing Step by Step Volume 2, Ainm Records

• Four-hand Reel, Gates of Derry, Lannigans Ball, Morris Reel, Rakes of Mallow, Siege of Carrick, Siege of Ennis, Sweets of May

Ceili Dancing Step by Step Volume 3, Ainm Records

• An Rince Mor, Eight-hand Reel, Harvest Time Jig, Humours of Bandon, Rince Fada, Sixteen-hand Reel, Trip to the Cottage

Ceili Dancing Step by Step Volume 4, Ainm Records

• Antrim Reel, Bonfire Dance, Cross Reel, Glencar Reel, Haste to the Wedding, High-Cauled Cap, Three Tunes

Irish Rambling House

The Irish Rambling House at Stonehall, Co Limerick, Irish Rambling House Recordings, 2001. A Limerick performance group of thirty traditional musicians, singers, dancers and storytellers.

• Cashel, Sliabh gCua (a figure of each)

Iveragh Set Dancers

Iveragh Set Dancers Present Their Local Sets, C R Videos, 2000. With music by Gerard O'Donoghue and Micheál Gleeson. The Iveragh Set was specially composed for the Millennium.

• Iveragh, Portmagee Jig, South Kerry, Valentia Right and Left

Eamon Kelly

Stories from Ireland, Gandon Video, 1987. With set dancing to music by Tony McMahon, Kevin Glackin and Paul McGrattan.

Jim Lynn Ceili Band

Come to the Céilí, Irish Record and Video Supplies

• Cross of Arboe, Duke Reel, Eight-hand Jig, Eight-hand Reel, Gates of Derry, Harvest-time Jig, Morris Reel, Sweets of May, Three Tunes, Walls of Limerick

Pádraig and Róisín McEneany

Faoi Do Chois, Pádraig and Róisín McEneany, 2005. A package consisting of an instructional DVD, a music CD and a book of instructions.

• Connemara, Durrow Threshing, Fermanagh, South Sligo Lancers

Maldon Meehan and Ronan Regan

Dance Sean-Nós, Maldon Meehan and Rónan Regan, 2005. Simple and effective sean nós instruction by two young dancers with the music of Johnny O'Halloran on box.

Mick Mulkerrin and Mairéad Casey

Buail cois ar!, Mick Mulkerrin and Mairéad Casey, 2005. A DVD of sean nós dancing instruction with music by Jimmy Noctor.

Steps for Sets, Mick Mulkerrin, 1998. This video teaches several battering steps from Mick's repertoire, including reels for the Caledonian, Connemara and Cavan Reel sets, polkas, jigs and hornpipes. Mick comes across on screen just as he does in person, relaxed and easy to follow. Mairéad Casey demonstrates the lady's steps. Chris Droney and Joe Rynne on concertina and fiddle accompany the instruction. Jimmy Noctor on box plays for a display of sean nós dancing by Mick. The tape concludes with the full Caledonian set danced in Vaughan's Barn, Kilfenora, Co Clare, by Mick, Mairéad and locals.

• Caledonian

Pat Murphy

Céilí Cois Cuain Volume 1, Pat Murphy, 2007. Four sets demonstrated and danced to music by Heather Breeze. 

Cashel Set, Claddagh Set, Derradda Set, Kilfenora Set

The Pride of Erin, Pat Murphy, 2005. An instructional DVD of two-hand dances with music by Heather Breeze. Each dance is demonstrated by a single couple and then danced by several couples.

Achill Schottische, Back-to-back Hornpipe, Breakaway Blues, Brittania Two-step (2), Canadian Barn Dance, Circle Waltz, Eva Three-step, Gay Gordons, Johnny, Military Two-step, Mississippi Dip, Peeler and the Goat, Pride of Erin Waltz (2), St Bernard Waltz, Shoe the Donkey, Southern Rose Waltz, Stack of Barley (2), Sweetheart Waltz, Two-hand Jig, Two-hand Reel, Waltz Country Dance, Waltz of the Bells, White Heather Foxtrot

Benny O'Carroll

Dance It Yourself!, Benny O'Carroll, 2005. A music CD with a bonus DVD featuring an hour's workshop with Timmy McCarthy, who puts a set of beginning dancers through their paces. Commentary tracks are available in five languages to provide additional information.

• Ballyvourney Reel, Doirinn Álainn Jig, Fling, Peeler and the Goat, Shoe the Donkey, Two-hand Hornpipe

Joe O'Donovan

Old Style Traditional Step Dancing, Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Éireann—Coiste Co Chorcaí, 1996. The grand master of set dancing has put everything he knows about solo dancing into this three hour video. Joe details the steps and shows many unusual dances. Contact Joe to obtain a copy.

Donncha Ó Muíneacháin

Beirt Eile—A video of two hand dances, Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Éireann, 2004.

• Peeler and the Goat, Scottische, Shoe the Donkey, Siamsa Beirte, Stack of Barley (3 versions), Three-hand Highland, Two-hand Jig, Two-hand Highland (2), Two-hand Reel

Owenabue Valley Traditional Group

Ceol na Carraige, Barry Cogan, 2004. A promotional DVD for a folk group based in Carrigaline, Co Cork.

Shaskeen

The Best Ever Irish Pub Session, Outlet Recording Company, 1999

Templehouse Ceili Band

An Irish Hooley, Dreoilín Productions. With Donncha Ó Muíneacháin and dancers from Clare.

various musicians and dancers

All Set, Mary Fox. Three sets danced in an Orange hall in Co Down are compared to the three corresponding Clare sets.

• Caledonian, Clare Lancers, Down Caledonian, Down Lancers, Down Quadrilles, Plain

Céilí Time in Ireland, Lunar Video

• Sliabh Luachra, Plain, Walls of Limerick

Come West Along the Road, Radio Telefís Éireann, 1994. Archive videos of traditional music, song and dance opening with an amazing performance by the Mullagh Set.

Come West Along the Road, Radio Telefís Éireann, 2005. More RTÉ video archive material including dancing by young Donncha Ó Muíneacháin, a figure of the Jenny Ling danced by Dan O'Connell and other dancers from Knocknagree, Co Cork, and a Caledonian by Clare dancers.

Doolin Set Dancing, Brooks Video, 1988. Figures of the Caledonian and North Clare sets, danced in an annual competition in a pub in Doolin, Co Clare.

Doolin Set Dancing, Brooks Video, 1989

Doolin Set Dancing, Brooks Video, 1990

The Fair of Ennistymon, Brooks Video. Featuring a children's set dance competition.

A Feast of Irish Set Dances, Oilean Productions

• North Kerry, Sliabh Luachra, West Kerry

Ireland's Most Popular Ceili Bands, Apollo Video. With the Ardellis, Malachy Doris, Fódhla, Gallowglass, Richie Kelly, Sean Norman, Dermot O'Brien, Siamsa, Templehouse Ceili Bands.

The Magic of Irish Set Dancing 1, Ossian Publications. With the Fódhla Ceili Band, Connie Ryan, Betty McCoy and the Slievenamon Set Dancers.

• Ballyvourney Reel, Connemara, Plain

The Magic of Irish Set Dancing 2, Ossian Publications. With the Fódhla Ceili Band, Connie Ryan, Betty McCoy and the Slievenamon Set Dancers.

• Melleray Lancers, Skibbereen, South Galway Reel

The Magic of Irish Set Dancing 3, Ossian Publications. With the Fódhla Ceili Band, Connie Ryan, Betty McCoy and the Slievenamon Set Dancers.

• Aran, Cashel, Mazurka

The Magic of Irish Set Dancing 4, Ossian Publications. With the Kincora Ceili Band, Frances McKenna, Pa O'Brien and the Brian Boru Set Dancers.

• Ballingeary Jig, Ballycommon, Frères Nantais

The Magic of Irish Set Dancing 5, Ossian Publications. With the Donncha Lynch Trio, Timmy McCarthy, Rhona McCarthy and the County Bounds Set Dancers.

• Ardgroom, Kenmare, Set of Erin

The Magic of Irish Set Dancing 6, Ossian Publications. With the Donncha Lynch Trio, Timmy McCarthy, Rhona McCarthy and the County Bounds Set Dancers.

• Borlin, Mealagh Valley, Victoria

The Magic of Irish Set Dancing 7, Ossian Publications. With the Donncha Lynch Trio, Timmy McCarthy, Rhona McCarthy and the County Bounds Set Dancers.

• Ballyvourney Jig, Sliabh Luachra, Televara

The Magic of Irish Set Dancing 8, Ossian Publications. With Brendan Begley and friends, Brooks Academy.

• North Kerry, Waltz Cotillion, West Kerry

The Magic of Irish Set Dancing 9, Ossian Publications. With Brendan Begley and friends, Brooks Academy.

• Clare Lancers, Clare Orange and Green, Corofin Plain

Music of Dreams, Radio Telefís Éireann, 1993. Another Pure Drop programme with Aidan Vaughan, Paddy Neylon and Willie Keane dancing sets and Noel Hill and Tony McMahon providing the music.

100 Years of Irish Dancing, Apollo Video, 1997. Dancers include Tom and Áine Quinn and the Carrickcruppin Dancers; and musicians include the Fódhla, Gallowglass, Sean Norman and Siamsa ceili bands.

The Pure Drop Set Dancing, Radio Telefís Éireann, 1990. Two programmes from the traditional music television series. Includes conversations with Aidan Vaughan, Martin Bolger, Ray McBride and others.

• Ballyvourney Jig, North Kerry, Plain, Roscommon Lancers (three or four figures of each)

Songs and Music from an Irish Cottage, Irish Record and Video Supplies. Waltzes and two hand dances.

Take the Floor, Apollo Video. With Sean Norman and the Templehouse Ceili Band.

For consistency, most sets mentioned on this page are named as in Pat Murphy's Toss the Feathers (where possible). The following sets are known by other names.

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Bill Lynch

Set Dancing News, Kilfenora, Co Clare, Ireland 065 707 1363 Republic of Ireland 087 939 3357 mobile +1 410 504 6000 North America +353 65 707 1363 elsewhere +353 87 939 3357 setdancingnews BillLynch@eircom.net