INIS  OIRR  SET
        © 2008   Larry E. Taylor

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    This set is from the Aran Islands of County Galway, Ireland.
    Chain:   In the first three Figures, ladies first take a waist-level hold right-hand-to-
              right in the center then dance on to the opposite gent (who has danced into
              his partner's position); partners take left hands and form an arch; the lady
               dances anticlockwise under the arch and the gent follows her around;
              ladies also chain when dancing to home; original partners take left hands
              and form an arch; the lady dances anticlockwise under the arch and
              the gent continues to face into the set as both dance to-place.
              The arch-to-place is not danced in Figure Four.
    Swing in ceili hold.
    The First Couple begins the figure with backs to the music (as does First Top couple
              of a full set).
    Figures One through Three are danced as a half set (two couples); Figure Four is
              danced as a full set (four couples); when danced on the island of Inis Oirr,
              the first three Figures are often danced with no break between them.
    Gents dance forward 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.
    Documentation is based upon workshops led by Pat Murphy (in Toronto, Canada)
              and Eileen O'Doherty (in Dublin, Ireland).
    Edition of December 5, 2006 Contact larryetaylor@hotmail.com 
 
  SET FORMATION   FIGURE 1 -- REELS (120 BARS)
Dance lift-2-3-4, an ordinary reel step.
Both couples: ladies crossover (change places) passing right-shoulder-to-right)2;
gents crossover (change places) passing left-shoulder-to-left)2;
ladies then gents repeat the preceding crossover4;
partners face and dance out (no touch, no turning)8;
swing in ceili hold8;
ladies chain (see heading)8;
partners face and dance out (no touch, no turning)8;
swing in ceili hold8;
REPEAT "MARKER" advance holding crossed hands (rights on top)2;
during retire turn the lady under clockwise with both hands as partners
          change places (lady dances across in front of gent);
          keep crossed hands (lefts on top)2;
holding crossed hands (lefts on top), crossover clockwise to opposite;
          dance across side-by-side then turn anticlockwise to-place
          (gents move further as they back into place)4;
holding crossed hands (now rights on top), again advance2;
again retire turning the lady under and changing places as above2;
crossover clockwise to home holding crossed hands (lefts on top)4;
partners face and dance out (no touch, no turning)8;
swing in ceili hold8;
repeat from  REPEAT "MARKER"  32.
  SET FORMATION   FIGURE 2 -- REELS (160 BARS)
Dance lift-2-3-4, an ordinary reel step.
Both couples: ladies chain (see heading)8;
partners face and dance out (no touch, no turning)8;
swing in ceili hold8;
REPEAT "MARKER" first lady and second gent crossover right-shoulder-to-right; dance
          loosely or casually here and elsewhere in this fun-set; face one
          another for the full eight bars; turn clockwise and dance
          to the center8;
swing in ceili hold6; reverse to home2;
advance holding crossed hands (rights on top) as in Figure One2;
retire / turn the lady / change places as in Figure One2;
holding crossed hands (lefts on top), crossover clockwise to opposite4;
repeat from  REPEAT "MARKER"  to re-establish home positions24.
partners face and dance out (no touch, no turning)8;
swing in ceili hold8;
repeat from  REPEAT "MARKER"  with second lady and first gent leading64.
  SET FORMATION   FIGURE 3 -- REELS (160 BARS)
Dance lift-2-3-4, an ordinary reel step.
Both couples: ladies chain8;
partners face and dance out (no touch, no turning)8;
swing in ceili hold8;
REPEAT "MARKER" first couple house inside and leave the lady with the second couple; ladies
          face the second gent and he takes their inside hands8;
trio advance and retire once (solo gent retires then advances, no-touch)8;
ladies turn beside the second gent (no arch) and the first gent takes the ladies'
          inside hands (wheelbarrow hold); the trio-and-one advance and retire6;
          near set-center, ladies face each other and place hands on the gents'
          shoulders as all form a circle-of-four2;
little Christmas clockwise8;
little Christmas anticlockwise8;
ladies chain8;
partners face and dance out (no touch, no turning)8;
swing in ceili hold8;
repeat from  REPEAT "MARKER" with second couple leading64.
  SET FORMATION   FIGURE 4 -- POLKAS (136 BARS)
Dance down-2-3, an ordinary polka step.
All couples: take hands in a circle and advance and retire twice8;
dance at home in waltz hold (two revolutions)8;
REPEAT "MARKER" take hands in a circle and advance and retire twice and ladies dance inside the
          set to the next gent on the right on the final two bars8;
new partners dance at home in waltz hold (two revolutions)8;
repeat from  REPEAT "MARKER" until original partners are again at home48;
interlacing advance and retire then crossover in open waltz hold (facing in) :
          with side couples beginning two bars after tops, advance and retire once
          then crossover anticlockwise (sides dance in-place for two bars before
          advancing and tops dance in-place for two bars after having crossed over)12;
          tops then sides repeat the advance and retire and crossover to home12;
interlacing chain (ladies do not dance under an arch at home) :
          top ladies chain and side ladies chain beginning two bars after tops begin8;
partners face and dance out (no touch, no turning)8;
swing in ceili hold8;

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