LONGFORD  SET
         © 2008   Larry E. Taylor

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    This set is from County Longford, Ireland.
    Steps:  Gents and ladies begin forward on the right foot in Figures 1 and 2;  the traditional
              step for Figures 1 and 2 is much like that of the Cavan Reel and the Roscommon
              Lancers:    heel scuff-kick up slightly on the right, left heel-toe-down then down
              on the right; then heel scuff-kick up on the left foot.  For Figure 3, dance an ordinary
              polka step (down-2-3) with gents stepping first on the left foot and ladies stepping
              first on the right foot.
    Chain:  After ladies give right-hand-in-right in the center (at waist level) the gent takes
              left-hand-in-left with the opposite lady, forms an arch and she dances under and he
              follows her around; ladies chain with right hands again in the center and then give
              left hands to their partner;  he again forms an arch and the lady dances under and
              around him as he continues to face into the set at his position.
    Dance out:  two dancers face one another and dance in-place without touching or turning.
    Swing in ceili hold.
    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.
    Documentation is based upon a workshop taught by Mick Mulkerrin at Cape May,
              New Jersey USA on October 5, 1997.
    Edition of December 25, 2008 — Contact larryetaylor@hotmail.com 
 
  SET FORMATION   FIGURE 1 -- REELS (152 BARS)
Top couples: R E P E A T " M A R K E R " advance and retire once, right-hand-in-right; pull the hand to the lady’s
          right shoulder when retiring4;
crossover clockwise then pull the hand from the lady’s shoulder as she turns
          clockwise to face-in at opposite4;
pull the hand back to the lady’s right shoulder and again crossover clockwise;
          pull the hand from the lady’s shoulder as she turns clockwise to face-in as
          the gents turns anticlockwise to-place at home4;
dance out with partners (see heading)4;
swing in ceili hold6; dance out2. R E P E A T " M A R K E R "R E P E A T " M A R K E R "R E P E A T " M A R K E R "
Side couples: repeat from   R E P E A T " M A R K E R "   24.
Top couples: R E P E A T " M A R K E R "R E P E A T " M A R K E R " ladies chain (see heading)8;
dance out8;
swing in ceili hold6; dance out2.
Side couples: repeat from   R E P E A T " M A R K E R "R E P E A T " M A R K E R "   24.
Top couples: repeat from   R E P E A T " M A R K E R "    through   R E P E A T " M A R K E R "R E P E A T " M A R K E R "R E P E A T " M A R K E R "   24.
Side couples: repeat from   R E P E A T " M A R K E R "    through   R E P E A T " M A R K E R "R E P E A T " M A R K E R "R E P E A T " M A R K E R "    except all couples  dance out4, swing8
          and dance out2 finally24.
  SET FORMATION   FIGURE 2 -- REELS (272 BARS)
Top couples: R E P E A T " M A R K E R " beginning right-shoulder-to right-shoulder, dance back-to-back with opposite
          partners (dance in, dance to the right without turning then dance backward
          left-shoulder-to-left-shoulder to-place)8;
dance out with opposite partners in the center6; reverse to place2;
opposite partners swing in the center6; form a hand-holding circle-of-four2;
still holding hands, dance in file (each dancer facing the back of the dancer
          in front) clockwise then reverse directions4;
dance in file anticlockwise to-place and release hands4;
dance out with original partners8;
swing in ceili hold8;
repeat from   R E P E A T " M A R K E R "    48.
Side couples: repeat from   R E P E A T " M A R K E R "    96.
Top couples: R E P E A T " M A R K E R "R E P E A T " M A R K E R " ladies chain8;
dance out with original partners8;
swing at home in ceili hold6; swing to the center2;
little Christmas6; reverse to-place2.
Side couples: repeat from   R E P E A T " M A R K E R "R E P E A T " M A R K E R "   32.
All couples: take hands in a circle and advance and retire twice8.
  SET FORMATION   FIGURE 3 -- POLKAS (96 BARS)
All couples: take hands in a circle and advance and retire twice8;
full house, in waltz hold8;
R E P E A T " M A R K E R " take hands in a circle and advance and retire twice;
          ladies move to the next gent on the right on the final two bars8;
full house in waltz hold with new partner8;
repeat from   R E P E A T " M A R K E R "   until original partners are again at home40;
original partners full house in waltz hold8;
original partners full house again as the Figure ends with two full houses8.

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