This article has been compiled by Shane Diffily
When I was young and at school the manager of our local gaelic football team used to berate any of his players who weren't great dancers as well as great footballers. "The bestfootballers and hurlers have always been expert dancers," he used to say, "dancing strengthens your legs, makes your movements supple and teaches you to stay in position !". Notwithstanding the fact that my football manager was a slightly mad Kerryman, there is a lot to be said for his theory. The energy expended at a good céilí dance is phenomenal and certainly equivalent to the most tectonic of techno raves - with the added benefit that 'love-doves' and 'whizz-biscuits' are almost unknown at parish hall dance benefits.
The most popular form of Irish dancing is the set dance, a descendent of the 'quadrille' style of dancing as practised on the continent in the 18th and 19th centuries. Imported into Ireland this dance format was altered slightly to suit the peculiarities of Irish musical accompaniment. The popularity of the set dance grew in line with the success of céilí dances which were first organised on a large scale among the Irish community based in the United Kingdom in the early 20th century. The phenomenon of the céilí dance soon spread to Ireland where it attracted a huge following. In a bid to make the new style of dancing as accessible as possible a number of new dances were created specially designed to cater for large crowds. These include such patriotically named sets as 'The Walls of Limerick - Ballaí Luimnigh', 'The Siege of Ennis - Ionsaí na h-Inse' and 'The Bridge at Athlone - Droichead Átha Luain'.
While the number of organised céilí dances has understandably declined over the years, they nevertheless remain surprisingly popular. It is highly unusual for an Irish person never to have been to at least one céilí in their life and even more unusual for them not to have enjoyed it. The fun to be had at a céilí is tremendous - all that music and dancing, the lovely lasses, the strapping young men...a real experience !
Thankfully those who dreamt up the steps for the new céilí dances were aware that not all dancers are on a par with the limb-flinging Michael Flately or Jean Butler. The steps to most dances are very straightforward and can be learned quickly. Below we have provided an animated introduction to the steps of some of Ireland's most popular set dances. Study these before you come here you will amaze the gathered crowds at any céilí with your floor-burning prowess.