Let's Start at the Very Beginning

Ceilis- 1, 2, 3 and away we go!

This is how I started studying for the Ceili portion- it may be helpful for you, it may not be, but it has worked for me so far.
1) Memorize the order of the Ceilis as they appear in the book. The Commision put them in this order, dating back to the 1930's, because the dances are like building blocks, you need the basic dances first to build up to the more difficult dances. Here they are, in order:

Book 1

• Walls of Limerick
• 4 Hand reel
• 8 Hand Reel
• Morris Reel
• High Cauled Cap
• 16 Hand Reel
• Humours of Bandon
• 8 Hand Jig
• Siege of Ennis
• Harvest Time Jig

Book 2

• Rince Fada/ Long Dance
• Bridge of Athlone
• Haste to the Wedding
• Siege of Carrick
• Antrim Reel
• Glencar Reel
• The Three Tunes
• St. Patrick's Day
• Trip to the Cottage
• An Rince Mor

Book 3

• Haymakers Jig
• Fairy Reel
• Duke Reel
• Lannigan's Ball
• Cross Reel
• Waves of Tory
• Rakes of mallow
• Gates of Derry
• Sweets of May
• Bonfire Dance

It is a good idea to quiz yourself by writing the order down over and over agin until it is second nature. I memorized them this way- don't laugh too hard- by making little stories with reminders of the Ceili names in the correct order:

Book 1: The Walls of Four Ate Morris High. 16 dancers Humoured Eight at the Ennis Harvest.

Book 2: Take the Long Bridge of Athlone to the Weddings in Carrick, Antrim and Glencar. Play the Three Tunes on St. Patrick's Day, and take a Trip to the Cottage if you want to D'Rince Mor. (get it- drink more- ha!)

Book 3: The Haymaker took the Fairy and the Duke to Lannigan's Ball. They Crossed the Waves of Tory with the Rakes of Mallow, Reached the Gates of Derry with the Sweets of May, where they all danced around the Bonfire.

Once you know the order of these dances like the back of your hand, it's time to learn more about them- like whether they are Jig time, Reel time, or Single Jig Time.

Book 1:

• The Walls of Limerick- Reel
• 4 Hand Reel- Reel (duh! :P)
• 8 Hand Reel- Reel
• Morris Reel- Reel
• High Cauled Cap- Reel- and also the longest of all Dances!
• 16 hand Reel- Reel
• Humours of Bandon- Jig
• 8 hand Jig- Jig
• Siege of Ennis- Jig
• Harvest Time Jig- Jig- and also the only dance with the Sink and Grind Step!

Book 2:

• Rince Fada/ Long dance- Jig Time (the book denotes it as Double Time)
• Bridge of Athlone- Jig
• Haste to the Wedding- Jig
• Siege of Carrick- Jig
• Antrim Reel- Reel
• Glencar Reel- Reel
• Three Tunes- Jig AND Reel
• St. Patrick's Day- Jig
• Trip to the Cottage- Jig
• An Rince Mor- Reel

Book 3

• Haymakers Jig- Jig
• Fairy Reel- Reel
• Duke Reel- Reel
• Lannigans Ball- Single Jig
• Cross Reel- Reel
• The Waves of Tory- Reel
• Rakes of Mallow- Reel
• Gates of Derry- Single Jig
• Sweets of May- Jig
• Bonfire Dance- Reel

Okay- so once you get this info memorized- time to find out more about the dances! It is now time to dissect every single dance, learn the amount of bars in each section, the dance's history, and start to memorize the dances. I have been advised by TC's and AD's that the best way to do this is to write, write, write. Take each dance on its own, and start with physically copying the ceili word for word, and then do it without the use of the book, and then keep doing it. So, I am going to do the same thing here. I am going to post the 30 (!) dances over the course of the next few months, but not yet :0) I still have more helpful hints to post- that are good to know while you are tackling each ceili- because, don't forget, you also need to know how to compare and contrast the dances. Stay tuned!