BALLAGH  PLAIN  HALF  SET
	© 2008   Larry E. Taylor
	This half set originated in County Tipperary, Ireland.
	First couple begins the dance with backs to the music.
	Swing and house in waltz hold.
	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.
	Edition of March 3, 2008 — Contact larryetaylor@hotmail.com

FIGURE 1 -- POLKAS (112 BARS)    Cross the Figure

	Dance an ordinary polka step (down-2-3) and as shown.
Both couples:	full house in waltz hold8;
	pass through to opposite with ladies dancing between the opposite couple;
	couples turn into one another (gents clockwise, ladies anticlockwise)4;
	pass through to home with ladies again dancing in the middle4;
	swing in waltz hold8;
	still in waltz hold, slide in and out once (1-2, 1-2, 1-2, 123)4;
	house half-way around the set in waltz hold4;
	repeat the preceding slide in/out and house half-way8;
	swing in waltz hold8;
	repeat from      48;
	full house in waltz hold8.

FIGURE 2 -- POLKAS (96 BARS)    Ladies Crossover

	Dance an ordinary polka step (down-2-3).
Both couples:	full house in waltz hold8;
	advance and retire twice in waltz hold, facing into the set8;
	ladies crossover to the opposite gent (straight across)2; swing in waltz hold6;
	repeat the preceding advance and retire and crossover/swing16;
	repeat from      40;
	full house in waltz hold8.

FIGURE 3 -- SLIDES (112 BARS)   Long Chain

	Dance an ordinary polka step (down-2-3).
Both couples:	full house in waltz hold8;
	advance to the center and take left-hand-in-left-hand (or arms) with opposite
	partner; turn anticlockwise twice and end at home still holding the
	opposite partner's left hand8;
	also take original partner's right hand across-the-shoulder and all lead
	around the set8;
	in waltz hold, advance and retire once4;
	house half-way around the set, still in waltz hold4;
	repeat the preceding advance and retire and house half-way8;
	swing in waltz hold8;
	repeat from      48;
	full house in waltz hold8.

FIGURE 4 -- POLKAS (96 BARS)  The Shape

	Dance an ordinary polka step (down-2-3) and as shown.
Both couples:	full house in waltz hold8;
	ladies chain :
	with a waist-level hold for all contacts, ladies grasp right hands in the
	center and dance on to the opposite gent (who has danced into his
	partner's position); partners take left hands and the lady dances around
	the gent and the gent follows (no arch); ladies dance back to home
	without chaining in the center8;
	swing in waltz hold8;
First couple:	(second couple stand) take waltz hold and advance and retire once4;
	still in waltz hold, slide in and out once (1-2, 1-2, 1-2, 123)4;
	house inside the set in waltz hold (the shape)8.
Both couples:	repeat from      with second couple leading40;
	full house in waltz hold8.

FIGURE 5 -- HORNPIPES (80 BARS)  The Hop or Clap

	Dance an ordinary hornpipe step (lift-2-3-4).
Both couples:	full house in waltz hold8;
	as in a portion of the Castle and Durrow Threshing Sets :
	house to opposite2; double to home2; gents crossover left-shoulder-to-
	left (no turning)2; clap then stamp (two quicks, two slows for both)
	facing the opposite partner2;
	as new partners, full house in waltz hold8;
	house half-way (to gents' home)2; double to gents' opposite2; gents
	crossover left-shoulder-to-left (no turning)2; clap then stamp (two
	quicks, two slows for both) facing original partners2;
	repeat from      32;
	full house in waltz hold8.