CÚCHULAINN  SET
         © 2008   Larry E. Taylor

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    This set dance is from the Cooley Peninsula of County Louth, Ireland.
    Swing in waltz hold in Figures 1 and 2 and in ceili hold in Figure 3.
    Throughout the set, gents dance first on the left foot and ladies begin forward on the
              right foot.
    Bar counts (quantities of measures) for patterns are shown in bold.
    The total bar count for each Figure includes an eight-bar introduction of music.
    First side couple is on the left of the first top couple.
    Abbreviations are used in a version recorded below.
    Documentation is based upon a posting on the Newcastle Irish Set Dancers website.
    Edition of October 25, 2008 Contact larryetaylor@hotmail.com 
 
  SET FORMATION   FIGURE 1 -- JIGS (136 BARS)     Lead up the Lady
Dance ordinary jig steps, down-2-3 and 1-2-3-kick.
All couples: take hands in a circle and advance and retire twice (1-2-3-k, 1-2-3-123)8;
swing (see heading) original partner in waltz hold8.
HOUSE INSIDEADVANCE, CHANGE PLACESTO-HOME, CHANGE PLACES
First top couple: REPEAT "MARKER" house inside in waltz hold8;
take right-hand-in-right and advance to the center (1-2-3-lift)2;
form an arch and the lady dances under anticlockwise as partners
           change places to face out of the set2;
dance to home, still right-hand-in-right2;
again turn the lady under anticlockwise as partners change places and face
           into the set2.
SWINGEACH COUPLE REPEATS CENTRAL PATTERNS
All couples: swing original partner in waltz hold8.
repeat from   REPEAT "MARKER"   with first side couple, second top couple, then second
           side couple leading72.
ADVANCE AND RETIRESWING
take hands in a circle and advance and retire twice, as above8;
swing original partner in waltz hold8.
  SET FORMATION   FIGURE 2 -- REELS (152 BARS)  Back to Back 
Dance reel steps, lift-2-3-4 stamping the last beat and five-step.
All couples: take hands in a circle and advance and retire twice (5-step)8;
swing original partner in waltz hold8.
CROSSOVERS AND RETURN BY GENTS THEN LADIESSWING
Top couples: REPEAT "MARKER" gents crossover:  meet in the center right-shoulder-to right;
          dance to the opposite gent’s position and dance on-the-spot,
          without turning4;
dance backward toward home, meeting the opposite gent in the center left-
          shoulder-to-left; continue backward diagonally to and then in-place4.
ladies dance crossovers as above -- except:    begin left-shoulder-to-left
          and face partner after having returned to home8;
swing original partner in waltz hold8;
BACK-TO-BACK AS COUPLESLADIES CHAINLITTLE CHRISTMASSWING
crossover twice as above -- except as couples:  begin right-shoulder-to-right;
          partners turn clockwise to-place at home8;
ladies chain:   after taking right-hand-in-right in the center, give left hand to the
                     opposite gent; couples form an arch and the lady dances around
                     and the gent dances after her; ladies do not touch dancing to home;
                     take right-hand-to-right-hand with partner for an arch; the lady
                     dances under the arch anticlockwise and top couples form a
                     circle-of-four8;
little Christmas (basket)6; reverse to home2.
All couples: swing in waltz hold8.
Side couples: repeat from   REPEAT "MARKER"   56.
ADVANCE AND RETIRESWING
All couples: take hands in a circle and advance and retire twice8;
swing original partner in waltz hold8.
  SET FORMATION   FIGURE 3 -- REELS (136 BARS)  Queen Maeve
Dance reel steps, lift-2-3-4 stamping the last beat and five-step.
All couples: take hands in a circle and advance and retire twice (5-step)8;
swing original partner in ceili hold6; dance out facing into the set2.
HOUSE INSIDEDANCE FREE IN-PLACESWING
First top couple: REPEAT "MARKER" house inside, holding crossed-hands (rights on top)8.
All couples: dance free (face partner, dance in-place without touching or turning;
          jump lightly to-place on both feet on the final beat)8;
swing original partner in ceili hold; dance out facing into the set2;
repeat from   REPEAT "MARKER"   with first side couple, second top couple then second
          side couple leading72.
ADVANCE AND RETIRESWING
take hands in a circle and advance and retire twice8;
swing original partner in ceili hold8.
  SET FORMATION   FIGURE 4 -- HORNPIPES (128 BARS)
Dance lift-2-3-4 and as shown.
All couples: take hands in a circle and advance and retire twice (5-step)8.
LADIES DVANCE AND CHANGE PARTNERSGENTS PINWHEELLEAD AROUND
All ladies: REPEAT "MARKER" advance toward the center (lift-2-3-4 twice)2; turn right while dancing
          in-place2;
dance to-place (left-shoulder-to-left, dance behind the gent) beside the gent
          originally on the right4.
All gents: pinwheel clockwise then anticlockwise (each gent grasps the wrist of the gent
          he follows – Bridget’s Cross)8.
All couples: keeping left hands linked in the center, gents collect the lady at his home with the
          right arm at the lady’s waist behind and lead around to the gent’s home8.
repeat from   REPEAT "MARKER"   three times to have original partners at their respective
          homes72.
ADVANCE AND RETIREFULL HOUSE, DOUBLING THE FINAL TWO BARS
take hands in a circle and advance and retire twice8;
full house in waltz hold6; double2.

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S E T    F O R M A T I O N

 

CÚCHULAINN   SET                1S is LEFT
F1  JIGS 136 bars   down-2-3 and 1-2-3 k
ALL:   A&RHHC (1-2-3-k)8         SWGW8
REPEAT  "MARKER" 1T:  HIW8
ADVRnR(1-2-3-k)2   TLU ACW CHGg PLs2      RPT HO4
ALL:   SWGW8
RPT FR   REPEAT  "MARKER"   1S, 2T, 2S LEADING72
ALL:  A&RHHC8     SWGW8
F2  REELS 152 bars     Clare-style lift-2-3-4
AL:   A&RHHC (1-2-3-k)8         SWGW8
REPEAT  "MARKER" TT:   Gs BK2BK (MEET R2R1, TO OPP G’s POS & OTS3
   BKWD:  MEET L2L1  DIAG TO & I-P AT HO3)8
   Ls  BK2BK  AS ABOVE  EXC BEGIN L2L & FC PART AT HO8
   SWGW8
   BK2BK AS PAIRs (BEGIN R2R. TRN CW TO-PL AT HO)8
   L CHN, NO-TCH HO BUT Gs TRN PART RnR TO-PL8
   L-XMAS6   TO HO2
ALL:  SWGW8
SS:  RPT FR   REPEAT  "MARKER"   56
ALL:  A&RHHC8     SWGW8
F3  REELS 136 bars    Clare-style lift-2-3-4
ALL:   A&RHHC (1-2-3-k)8         SWGC8
REPEAT  "MARKER" 1T:  HIXH8
ALL: DANCE FREE (FACE, NO-TCH, DN BOTH FT ON 8)8
             SWGC8
RPT FR   REPEAT  "MARKER"   1S, 2T, 2S LEADING72
ALL:   A&RHHC (1-2-3-k)8         SWGC8
F4  HORNPIPES 128 bars    lift-2-3-4
ALL:   A&RHHC (1-2-3-k)8
REPEAT  "MARKER"  Ls ADV2 TRN 90o CW & I-P2
   BEHIND G TO NEXT R4

     Gs PW (Hs ON WRISTS) R/L      KEEP Ls, Rs NEW WAIST8

     LA GENTs’ HO8
     RPT FR   REPEAT  "MARKER"   THREE TIMES72
    A&RHHC (5-step)8
     FHW6   DBL2

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