Céili Houses and Dancing Masters

[Christopher]

There was a sharp decline in the use of the Irish language, as well as traditional customs and Irish music during the period when the Penal Laws were enforced. The Irish people became adept in finding way round these problems and Dancing Masters started to travel round the country during the 1700s www.ceilidancing.com/short.asp

[DoireM]

Many thanks Christopher for posting this website!  Invaluable to me as a former hoofer.

[Christopher]

Hello DoireM,

Here's a link to an article on Crossroads Dances which were banned by the Church in 1935 (see the article below). The writer says it would be impossible to have such events today as there's too much traffic on the roads. That doesn't worry the road bowlers in Co. Armagh. Anyway it's possible to get road closing orders for car rallies and motorcycle races throughout Ireland so one for a Crossroads Dance shouldn't cause too many headaches.
http://lemuriangypsycamp.wordpress.com/category/the-crossroads-dance

The Public Dance Halls Act 1935 ... www.setdance.com/pdha/pdha.html

Christopher 

[DoireM]

Hello Christopher,

Thank you for forwarding me more information on Ceili Houses and Dancing Masters.  I am in awe of your knowledge and how helpful you are on this site to everyone.

Many thanks,
DoireM

[eadaoin]

there used to be a crossroads ceili in Uttynail(sp?) every year in the 1990s ... I think it's Co Meath, up in the NW of the county near Moynalty - it's 12 years since I danced there, so I'm a bit vague. It's a tiny road and cars came through every so often in the proceedings!
eadaoin

[DoireM]

Wouldn't be great if this tradition made a big comeback ... at the crossroads. 

[leprechaun]

 There was a Popular Hall called The Laurel Ballroom.Located in Carracrom near the Bofield  Cross.It opened on the 25th of Dec: 1938 admission was 2s and dancing was from 10pm. until 2am The Humming Bird often played there.Sadly the hall closed in the  fifties and was demolished in 1990.
            There was one in Graffy which closed in 1928
 It was a wonderful Tradition.

[KarenM]

Hi Christopher,

Thanks for posting the link, very interesting!!

My daughter is taking a ceili class she is learning Aoibhneas na Bealtaine - The Sweets of May which she will perform in a competition this November at the Oriachtas.

Karen

[Christopher]

Hello Karen,

Best wishes to your daughter when she performs in the competition in November.

I've just had a look at an article on How to compete in Fleadhs. I didn't realise that competitors could purchase the written comments of the adjudicators and have them forwarded by post as they're not permitted to see them on the day of the Fleadh.

The Irish Great Famine and Scottish Highland Clearances had their advantages When the Irish and Scots emigrated their musical culture and traditions weren't forgotten. Some of those emigrants were probably amongst the first musicians from Ireland and Scotland to tour America or Australia. Although the majority settled in those nations a few managed to return home and pass the word that there was a good audience to be found by doing some travelling. Since those days they've been followed by many great musicians who've had the freedom to return home once their tour ends. http://tinyurl.com/437o2y

Christopher