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Dance Instruction Books (top)
o A Handbook of Irish Dances, J.G. O'Keeffe & Art O'Brien, M.H. Gill & Son Ltd., Dublin, 1912 Some history, definitions of terms, some ceili and set step dances, although the ceili dances differ considerably from today's official list described in Ár Rinncidhe Foirne.
o Ár Rinncidhe Foirne [Our National Dances], Thirty Popular Figure Dances, Leabhar 1,2,3. 1939. An Comisiùn le Rincí Gaelacha, 6 Sráid Fhearchair, Baile Átha Cliath 2, Wellbrook Press, Purcellsinch, Carlow Road, Kilkenny. Describes the 30 ceili dances officially recognized by the Irish Dancing Commission. Search for it on Lark in the Morning.
o Céilí, Country Set and Two Hand Dances by Kevin Westley T.M.R.F. Basic Céilí, set and two-hand dances clearly described. Search for it on Lark in the Morning.
o Irish Dances, Terry Moylan, 1985. Na Píobairí Uilleann, 15 Henrietta Street, Dublin 1. Music, terms and steps for set dancing, descriptions of 10 sets and their steps.
o Irish Dancing by Tom Quinn, 1998. A compilation of both sets and Céilí dances. Collins Celtic. Search for it on NetStoreUSA.
o The Pipers Set & Other Dances, Terry Moylan, Na Píobairí Uilleann, 15 Henrietta Street, Dublin 1, 1985. Descriptions of 6 sets and their steps.
o The Quadrilles and Other Sets, Terry Moylan, Na Píobairí Uilleann, 15 Henrietta Street, Dublin 1, 1985. Descriptions of 6 sets.
o Set Dances of Ireland, Tradition and Evolution, Larry Lynch, Séanda Books, 88 Walter Street, San Francisco, CA, 1989
o Set Left - Set Right, Eileen O'Doherty, Na Píobairí Uilleann, 15 Henrietta Street, Dublin 1, 1989. Descriptions of 11 sets and their steps.
o Toss the Feathers, Irish Set Dancing, Pat Murphy, Mercier Press, 18 Hume Street, Dublin 2, 1995. Descriptions of 64 Sets. Search for it on Amazon.com or www.ceili.com/
o The Flowing Tide, Irish Set Dancing, Pat Murphy, Mercier Press, 18 Hume Street, Dublin 2. 2000. Descriptions of 57 sets plus a history of set dancing. Order it from www.ceili.ie.
o The Walking Polka, A Collection of Sets, Eileen O'Doherty, Na Píobairí Uilleann, 15 Henrietta Street, Dublin 1, 1995. 25 Sets, with descriptions of special steps.
o Coisceam 1, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann with the Gaelic Athletic League, 32/33 Cearnog Belgrave, Baile Na Manach, Co. Átha Cliath .
o The National Dances of Ireland, Rinnce Na Eirann. 1924. Elizabeth Burchnall. A great historical document with several period pictures of dancers. It's hard to find but the Davenport, Iowa Library has a copy.
o The Library of Congress "American Ballroom Companion" - Dance Instruction Manuals, 1790-1920. These are not strictly related to Irish dancing (there is one book available) but it is a great collection of 210 dance manuals and other documents of historical interest. In particular, there are a number of sermons and treatises on the 'evils of dancing'.
o Rinnce Na h-Eireann - A Simplified Work on the Performance of the Dances of Ireland - 1907. The Gaelic League of the State of New York. This can be viewed on the Library of Congress Web Site.
Instructional Videos (top)
o Irish Dancing Made Easy. Beginning step dancing. Includes free practice cassette. Search for it at Rego Irish Records
o A Feast of Irish Set Dances. Features the Ballybunnion (nearly identical to the North Kerry), the Sliabh Luachra, and the West Kerry Sets. Search for it at Rego Irish Records
o The Magic of Irish Set Dancing. Series of
instructional set dance videos. Search for
them on Ossian Limited.
Volume 1: Connemara Reel Set, Baile Bhiurne Reel Set, Plain Set
Volume 2: Skibbereen Set, South Galway Reel Set, Melleray Lancers
Volume 3: Arran Set, Castel (Cashel) Set, Mazurka Set
Volume 4: Ballingeary Jig Set, Ballycommon Polka Set, Freres Nantes
Volume 5: Ardgroom Polka Set, Set of Erin, Kenmare Polka Set
Volume 6: Victoria Jig Set, Borlin Valley Polka Set, Mealagh Valley Jig Set
Volume 7: Sliabh Luachra Set, Baile Bhuirne Jig Set, Taille Mhara Set
Volume 8: Corca Dhubhne Set, North Kerry Set, Waltz Cotillon
Volume 9: Clare Lancers Set, Clare Orange and Green Set, Corofin Plain Set
o 15 Ceili Dances - Matt Cunningham. Find it at Ainm Music.
o 6 Two Hand Dances - Matt Cunningham. Find it at Ainm Music.
o Irish Set Dancing Made Easy - 3 volume DVD set by Matt Cunningham. Find them at Ainm Music.
Volume 1:Claddagh Set, Sliabh Luachra, Clare
Orange and Green
Volume 2: Ballycroy Set, Caledonian Set, Fermanagh Quadrilles, Aran Set
Volume 3: Galway Set, Williamstown Set, Monaghan Set, Clare Lancers
o Ceili Dancing Step By Step by Olive Hurley - Volumes 1-4. Ths Complements Ms. Hurley's videos - see below. Find it at Ainm Music.
Non-Instructional Videos (top)
o Come to the Ceili, music by Matt Cunningham. This is a lve recording of music and dance filmed at Cois na hAbhann in Ennis, Co. Clare and at the Great Southern Hotel, Eyre Square, Galway City, Ireland. Find it at http://www.ainm-music.com/.
o Come to the Ceili Mór. Matt Cunningham plays for The Corofin Plain Set, The Ballyvourney Jig Set, The Kilfenora Plain Set, The Sliabh Luachra Set, The Newport Set, The Caledonian, Set Dancing Exhibition and Sean Nos dancing at Ireland¹s National Event Centre in the Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney, Co. Kerry. Search for it on Ainm Music.
o The Gallowglass Ceili Band - Together for One Last Reunion - mostly ceili dances, some waltzs and two-hand dances. CD also available
Books with Music for Dancing (top)
o Folk Music and Dances of Ireland, Brendan Breathnach, 1971. Mercier Press, Cork and Dublin. History, with emphasis on music, including 30 tunes
o Ceol Rince na hÉeireann, 1985. Volumes 1,2 and 3, edited by Brendan Breathnach. An Gúm.
o Music for the Sets, The Blue Book, edited by David Taylor, 1995. Mallinson with Brooks Academy and Na Piobairi Uilleann.
o The National Dances of Ireland, Rinnce Na Eirann. 1924. Elizabeth Burchnall. A great historical document with several period pictures of dancers. It's hard to find but the Davenport, Iowa Library has a copy.
Tapes and CD’s (top)
o Michael Sexton Ceili Band - Caledonian, Connemara, Plain and Newport Set
o Michael Sexton Ceili Band Volume 2, Mad to Dance - Clare Lancers, Cashel, Labasheeda and Clare Orange and Green Sets
o Gleann an Iolair Ceili Band - The Derry Boat - Music for Set Dancing - Plain, Newport, Cashel and Baile Bhuirne Jig Sets
o The Gallowglass Ceili Band - Together for One Last Reunion - mostly ceili dances, video also available
o Mike Shaffer - Dance to the Music - Traditional Irish Dance Music
o Set Dances of Ireland - Traditional Irish Music for
Listening & Dancing
Volume 1 - The Myserks, The Orange & Green, The Stack of
Barley
Volume 2 - The Set of Mezerts, The Plain Set
Volume 3 - The Polka Set, The Paris Set
Volume 4 - The Plain Set, The Set of Erin, The Lancers
o Matt Cunningham - Dance Music of Ireland The Complete Collection - 12 CD boxed set. Find it at Ainm Music.
o The Complete Ceili Collection CD by Olive Hurley. Find it at Ainm Music.
About Irish Dance
(top)o Irish Folk Music, Song and Dance, Donal O'Sullivan, Mercier Press, Cork and Dublin, 1952.
o Folk Music and Dances of Ireland, Brendan Breathnach, Mercier Press, Cork and Dublin, 1971 History, with emphasis on music, including 30 tunes
o My Irish Dance, Peggy Carty, The Connacht Tribune Ltd., Market Street, Galway, 1987
o Aspects of the History of Irish Dancing, Dr. John P. Cullinane, 55 Bandon Rd., Cork City, 1987 (Phone: 021-314094)
o Further Aspects of the History of Irish Dancing, Dr. John P. Cullinane, 55 Bandon Rd., Cork City, 1991 (Phone: 021-314094)
o Aspects of the History of Irish Dancing in North America, Dr. John P. Cullinane, 55 Bandon Rd., Cork City, 1991 (Phone: 021-314094)
o Irish Dancing Costumes, Their Origins and Evolution, Dr. John P. Cullinane, 55 Bandon Rd., Cork City (021-314094), 1995
o The National Dances of Ireland, Rinnce Na Eirann (sic). 1924. Elizabeth Burchnall. A great historical document with music. It’s hard to find but the Davenport, Iowa Library has a copy.
o Rinnce Na h-Eireann - A Simplified Work on the Performance of the Dances of Ireland - 1907. The Gaelic League of the State of New York. This can be viewed on the Library of Congress Web Site.
Magazines (top)
o Irish Music - The Monthly Traditional and Folk Magazine, Marne Ltd., PO Box 25, Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
o Set Dancer, edited by Didier Matherat, produced in Ireland and available in the U.S. from J.A.VerHoven, PO Box 1372, Morrisville, PA 19067, FAX 800-636-1973
o Irish Dancing Magazine on the web
o Celtic
Connection Magazine on the web
Web Sites (top)
Online Shopping (top)
o Ossian USA, 118 Beck Road, Loudon, NH 03301,
Phone: 603-783-4383, FAX: 603-783-9660
o The Rampant Lion Celtic
Traders, 224 Indiana Street, Elmhurst, IN 60126, Phone
630-832-6608.
o Interworld Music,
2016 Academy Rd., Thetford Center, VT 05075 800-698-6705
o Andy's Front Hall , PO
Box 307, Wormer Road, Vorheesville, NY 12186, Phone: 800-759-1775
o House of Musical Traditions, 7040 Carroll
Avenue, Takoma Park, MD, Phone: 800-540-3794
o Lark in the Morning , PO Box 1176,
Mendocino, CA 95460, Phone: 707-964-5569