School: St Peter's, Phibsboro

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1. Dances (continued)

   

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   Time and Place for Dancing:-

   Dances never began early, it was usually about 10 o'clock when sufficient numbers had arrived to set the dance properly going. The dance usually last until 2 or 3a.m. The "Dance Hall", in case of small dances, was the typically large farmhouse kitchen. Where large numbers assembled accommodation was provided either in a clay floor barn or in a wooden hay loft.

   Seating accommodation was provided for by rows of planks placed on sides of corn and arranged around the walls of the barn or 'loft'.

   Refreshments:-

   All dances were free and open to all comers and only in the case of a small dance in a kitchen were refreshments provided for all members. In all dances big and small, tea was made for the girls who went in batches into the farmhouse kitchen where an enjoyable supper of home baked bread and butter was provided. Tea, as a rule, was not for the 'boys'; they had to do without it.

   Music:-

   Music was provided by a local fiddler or piper, or melodeon player. During the night the hat was sent round and

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. activities
      1. social activities (~7)
         1. entertainments and recreational activities (~5,933)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Séamus Breathnach

   Gender

   Male