School: Killyfargy
- Location:
- Killyfargy, Co. Monaghan
- Teacher: B. Ó Mórdha
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0947, Page 021
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- XML School: Killyfargy
- XML Page 021
- XML “A Country Dance”
- XML “A Country Dance”
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- When the flax was in the barn there used to be about ten girls employed for seven days in the winter time scutching it. It was around this time that the dances used to take place. When the girls would be finished with their day's work (about 8 oclock at night) there would gather in men and women for a dance. The dance took place out in the barn. The barn would be cleared and then the dance would start. The principal dance in those days was the four hand reel; that was before polka came. They would dance away until morning. During the dance the fellows would subscribe a "bob" each and would send for whisky and "soft stuff." The whisky would be brought and each person received three glasses. Anybody that didnt take whisky got "soft stuff." The good humour would only start when the whisky was bought. They would dance away like this until the early hours of the morning.
- N.B.
When a dance was held in a house the guests were served with refreshments of all kinds, including some drink. Then the guests collected among themselves and got more drink. This was called a "join" as described above. A dance of this kind was called a spree. This custom,(continues on next page) - Informant
- S.P. Ó Mórdha
- Gender
- Male
