Category: Set Dance Instructions

Resources

• Instructions
  • Armagh Lancers instructions – Maldon’s Printable Word Document
    This sheet provides simple calls rather than detailed descriptions. It’s designed to be clear and concise, making it ideal for those who are already familiar with the dance and just need a quick reference to remember what move comes next. This format helps keep things straightforward without any unnecessary details.
  • Armagh Lancers Instructions – This version differs from what’s in Pat Murphy’s book. It’s based on a resource from a 1993 workshop, so you may notice some variations. The authors, Danny and Joan Hathaway, included helpful notes that aren’t in Pat Murphy’s version, which provide additional insights. The dance was passed on to them by Mick O’Callaghan and George McCombe in 1979. The main differences I noticed are:
    • The active lead dances the first figure instead of the active follow.
    • The “Big Christmas” lasts for 8 bars each direction, rather than 4 bars.
• Music
  • Publications and Music for the Armagh Lancers
  • Scrap Set resources for the Armagh Lancers – not that some of these are incorrect so if you are using this be sure to double check things.
• Video
  • Youtube playlist for the Armagh Lancers
• Books
  • This set appears in Pat Murphy, The Flowing Tide, p 37. Pat got the set from Patrick’s O’Dea.

Videos

Figure 1 Square Jigs 136

Figure 2 Square & Line Jig or Single Reel 136

Figure 3 Big/Little Christmas Jigs 136

This is the same group but a better recording and demo of this figure. Notice that they have taped a square on the floor and are mostly dancing in that size of space.

Figure 4 Follows Star Jigs 136

Figure 5 Chain & Line up Jig or Hornpipe 168

Full playlist with other dance references and videos:

Armagh Lancers Set

• Start: none
• Transition: none
• Finish: none
• Step: down jig
• Swing: waltz hold
• Sides: first sides on left

Figure 1 Square Jigs 136

Active Follow	& Opposite advance & swing (waltz hold)	8
Active couples	Square (pass r only)	8
All	Swing corner	8
	Swing partner at home	8
	(1ST T/2ND T/1ST S/2ND S)

Figure 2 Square & Line Jig or Single Reel 136

Active	R in R Advance & turn as retire & swing	8
Active couples	Square (inactive couple split)	8
	Lines Advance & Retire	8
	Swing partner at home	8
	(1ST T/2ND T/1ST S/2ND S)

Figure 3 Big/Little Christmas Jigs 136

All	Big Christmas – left (4) right (4)	8
Active couples	Visitation	8
All	R star with corner	8
	Little Christmas open up  (inactive couple on right)	8
	Big Christmas R foot (4) & Switch L foot (4) break away
	Repeat (actives are in opposite positions now) (T/T/S/S)

Figure 4 Follows Star Jigs 136

Follow	Advance 2x	8
Leads	Advance 2x	8
Follows	R Star (Leads dance on outside going r)	8
All	Swing (Follows moving to R)	8
	(Repeat 4x)

Figure 5 Chain & Line up Jig or Hornpipe 168

All	Chain (12) & Line up (waist hold behind active couple) (4)	8
	Weave Cast off solo in to lines	8
	Lines Advance	8
	Swing at home (dance to your partner & swing)	8
	(1ST T/1ST 2/2ND S/2ND T)

Music

Armagh Lancers Music Playlist on Spotify
At the moment, there isn’t a band that has recorded a specific track for this dance. So, I’ve put together a “scrap set” playlist on Spotify. While the titles of the figures may not match, the tune types and lengths are perfect for the Armagh Lancers and are in order of the dance. Enjoy!

Steps

Down Jig Step or 3’s

The step used in this dance is the “down jig step”, also referred to as the traveling step or 3’s. The leads start on the left foot, and the follows start on the right.

Advance and Retire Step

We also use the advance and retire step in this set, you can use your 3’s from above or use this pattern. The step, step, step, lift, back, back, 1-2-3. Again leads start on left foot and follows start on right foot. When standing next to your partner, facing into the set, your lifting foot will be on the inside of the two of you.

We use the down jig step for the Armagh Lancers and many other jig figures. I have included here the 3’s and the advance retire step we covered in class.

Battering Jig Steps

This is a playlist of lots of different jigs steps with more advanced battering. They can be used in other jigs sets as well.

History

If you keep scrolling you will find some footwork videos on this tab as well as a video explaining the similarities between the Clare Lancers and the Armagh Lancers, which both come from the original Second Set of Quadrilles -Lancers.

We’ll start with the Armagh Lancers, from the north. If you’re familiar with the Clare Lancers, you’ll notice some similarities. Sets based on the original Lancers set typically feature lines often in the 2nd and 5th figures, and a “Christmas” movement in the 3rd and/or 4th figures. This set follows that pattern.

I’m excited to introduce this dance to our community—it’s a lovely jig set, and we don’t have many jig sets in our local repertoire. To see Armagh on the map of Ireland, click on the Ireland tab.

In Pat Murphy’s book, he shares this about the set: “This lovely old set, similar to the Second (Lancer) Set of Quadrilles, was given to me by Aleta Hancock from Los Angeles, who learned it from Patrick O’Dea during his workshop there in April 1999.”

For those of you going to Ireland this summer and learning from Pat Murphy, I have a homework assignment: Ask Pat about this set! Or, if you meet Patrick O’Dea, ask him if they have any additional information or know where in Armagh it originates.

NOTE: While reviewing the dance, I realized I made an error when teaching the “square” movement. If you recall, it was difficult to navigate the square with the jig step. We should have danced the square, passing everyone by the right shoulder the whole time, instead of alternating between right and left. I’ll go over this again when we meet. The good news is that this adjustment will make it much easier to move around the square and reach your corner.

In the document I adapted Betty’s fabulous term of “visitation“ for the movement in the 3rd Figure of “Big/little Christmas. She called the move Visitation which is so perfect! It’s the move where you Advance to the center, then advance to the side couple on your right and then back up into the opposite position and advance to the side couple on right. Here is that move demonstrated.

This next video shows the Clare Lancers and the Armagh Lancers side by side, allowing you to compare the similarities and differences between the two dances.

• Instructions – Set dancing teacher site
• Instructions – Dance minder
• Music and book recourses

Figure 2

• Full instructions Set Dancing Teacher Page
• Full instructions Dance Minder Page

Ballyvourney Jig Set Playlist

Ballyvourney Jig Set

• Printable Document
• Printable Spreadsheet

Slide Steps

Footwork Playlist

Helpful Links

The Clare Lancers is one of my favorite dances. It was one of the first sets I memorized and also one of the first dances that our Portland, Oregon community really got down pat. I think part of the reason is that we were able to dance it so often, since it’s danced entirely to reels. We frequently had the chance to dance to live music at our monthly dances and at the pub. The band would play reels, and we’d dance as many figures as we could until the music stopped. In contrast, other dances might switch tune types, so we could only dance the figures that fit with whatever the band was playing.

As a dance nerd, I remember talking with Rick and Judy Russell to make t-shirts with shorthand on the back. The idea was that each of us could have a figure on the back of our shirt, and if we needed a refresher, we could simply turn around. I really wish I still had those shirts!

A bit more about the Clare Lancers: It’s traditionally danced in a smooth style with no battering. The movements flow seamlessly into each other, and this smoothness really highlights the beauty of the dance. That said, if you look at how it’s danced today, particularly in the revival, there are a variety of styles and footwork variations. For example, as of 2025, dancers are incorporating a turn movement in the second figure instead of the traditional “pull past” with their partner. They keep turning without letting go.

I remember dancing in the late ’90s or early 2000s at a summer school in Ireland, where we were doing the Clare Lancers at the evening ceili. A group of exceptional dancers, including Ger Butler, was in the set next to mine. During the advance and retire, they threw their legs up high, kicking them before retiring. It looked so cool and was a far cry from what I had expected when I first learned this set in America from a book. Being in my 20’s and seeing other dancers close to my age inspired me.

These dances are alive, and they continue to be a vibrant part of our tradition. That said, I think it’s valuable to know how they were originally danced, as well as how they can be danced today. A good rule of thumb is to go with the flow and read the room. If you’re outside our community, observe what others are doing. If you see something you like, try it out. This is probably one of the reasons we have so many variations on the original three sets. Plus, it’s hard to remember everything, so a variation might emerge based on what someone remembers. This is a living breathing tradition.

Video

Intro & footwork

Figure 1 – Square Reels 160

Figure 2 – 4 turns Reels 192

Figure 3 – Big Christmas Reels 144

Figure 4 – Little Christmas Reels 192

Figure 5 – Chain & line up Reels 192

Whole Playlist

This playlist includes each figure danced individually, as well as the full dance performed at a ceili with multiple sets on the floor. You’ll see how the sets align during movements like advance and retire, making for an exciting visual. There’s also a music-only section for focused listening or dancing along. Enjoy!

Clare Lancers Set

• Printable Document
• Printable Spreadsheet

Clare Lancers

• Start: Lead Around Turn the follow & Swing
• Figure: changes each figure
• Transition: Swing, but not always
• Finish: House
• Step: smooth reel step (up reel step), smooth advance & retire step

Figure 1 Square Reels 160

Active	Lead & Opposite follow pass L turn (4) and swing (4)	8
	Square (like a 4 hand chain without hands)	8
All	Swing corner	8
	Swing own	8
	1ST T/2ND T/1ST S/2ND S

Figure 2 4 turns Reels 192

Active	House inside	8
	R in R turn follow 4x	8
	Pull past, pass back (opposite couple split)	8
All	Lines Advance & retire 2x  (second time: outside couple stay in, inside couples retire)	8
	Swing	8
	1ST T/2ND T/1ST S/2ND S

Figure 3 Big Christmas Reels 144

Follows	Advance & Retire	8
Leads	Advance, retire, advance, lead around position	8
All	Lead around	8
	Christmas (8 bars each direction)	16
	Swing	8
	Repeat 2x

Figure 4 Little christmas Reels 192

Active	House inside	8
Active couples	Lead to left (follows on inside)	8
All	Star R with side couple	8
	Little Christmas	8
	Swing at home	8
	1ST T/2ND T/1ST S/2ND S (2nd and 4th time lead to right leads inside)

Figure 5 Chain & line up Reels 192

All	Chain	8
	Line up behind Active & Slide (Follows R/Leads L)	8
	Lines Advance 2x
	Dance to your partner (4) Swing (4)
	Repeat 4x

Music

Playlist

This dance is traditionally dance with the smooth step and no percussive battering. Today it is danced in many ways.

Footwork Playlist

This is a deeper dive into Clare Battering and might not be the best steps for this set as it’s usually danced smooth. While not traditaional, I sometimes use the Clare battering step #1 for the 4 turns as well as some of the advance and retire steps for the lines advancing.

Map

Close up of County Clare

Full Map of Counties

Resources

• Full instructions Set Dancing Teacher Page
• Full instructions Dance Minder Page
• Music and publications for the Clare Lancers Set
• Printable Document – Maldon’s simple version
• Printable Spreadsheet – Maldon’s simple version

• Full instructions Set Dancing Teacher Page
• Full instructions Dance Minder Page

Caledonian Set Playlist

Caledonian Set

• Printable Document
• Printable Spreadsheet

Clare Battering Steps

Footwork Playlist

Helpful Links

• Instructions

Helpful Links