Description, Listing of Repertoire, Short Film and further information on Dan: The Dan Furey group, led by Michael Tubridy and Noel Devery, is a group of like-minded souls who meet to preserve the dances of Dan Furey (1910-1994), a keen dancer and teacher – I have included the full listing of dances below. Dan and his close friend James Keane brought the dances to the Willie Clancy Summer School, which takes place in Miltown Malby, Co Clare each year in July. Michael Tubridy notated all the dances and has published them. The dances are taught regularly at workshops and festivals in Ireland and abroad; there are many people around the world now dancing this repertoire, not just in Europe but also Kieran Jordan’s dancers in Boston, dancers on the West Coast, Canada and as far as Comhaltas Japan. The Irish group normally meets in different locations around Ireland 5 or 6 times a year, we meet to catch up, dance, drink tea and eat cake! We dance this repertoire in a circle, and towards the end of the session we might dance a couple of figures of a set, the emphasis of these events is to meet and share. Since Covid, the group has been meeting online, once a month on the 3rd Saturday, a free event and open to all. Drop me a line if you would like an invitation to join. Kieran Jordan also created a short film about the group and is available to view below. Dan Furey Repertoire Book 1 (no longer in print) Priest and His Boots 4 x Hornpipe Steps Single Time Easy Reel Slip Jig Job of Journeywork Double Jig I St Patrick’s Day Blackbird Book 2 (this book also includes the Book 1 repertoire) Easy Jig Gabairín Buí (Little Yellow Goat) Little Dutch Dance (Mazurka) Mont Phoebus’ Hunt Jockey to the Fair Celine’s Hornpipe - 5 Donegal Steps Double Jig II Paddy Bawn / Paidí Bán Book 2 is now available on the ITMA website (Irish Traditional Music Archives) Click here for access. Further background on Dan Dancer and Musician, Dan Furey was born in England in September 1909. His father was from Lackyle, Labasheeda and his mother was English, of Scottish origin. While Dan was still a child the family moved back to the family home in Lackyle, County Clare. Some years later three of Dan’s siblings emigrated to America and the remaining two left for England. Dan remained on the family farm, some two miles from Labasheeda. Dancing was a very popular social pastime in many parts of rural Ireland at that time, especially at times of emigration or for those returning home on holidays. Both of his parents loved dancing and his mother also played the piano. Dances regularly took place in the Furey household where various types of sets were danced, The Plain Set, The Reel Set and sometimes The Paris Set. Step-dancing, Four-hand Reels and Two-hand dances were also enjoyed. Dan learned to play the fiddle and had his own distinctive style of playing. He also played the melodeon and the concertina. Dan’s interest in dancing started from about the age of six or seven. His brother George taught him his first steps and he picked up many others in his own locality, and, of course, he learned a lot from his parents. He gradually built up a selection of Sets, Step-dances and Ceili dances. While visiting his brother in England he attended dance classes in Kilburn under the direction of Maurice O’Connor, a dancing master who was originally from Cork. When he was in his twenties he was asked to give private step-dancing lessons to the daughter of Garda Vesey and thus began his teaching career. Soon he was teaching in several schools in the vicinity, making the journey by bicycle in all kinds of weather and carrying his fiddle as he went. Eventually, as requests for classes from further afield were made, he bought a car and travelled to Doonbeg, Kilkee, Carrigaholt etc. In some areas he taught for over thirty years. In the 1980s Dan travelled outside of Clare to teach and he became a regular visitor to Belfast, Galway and London. He also travelled to Chicago several times. Since the death of his father in 1958 Dan lived alone in Lackyle but a steady stream of people from various countries visited him there. Dan, together with his life-long friend, James Keane, contributed to the book Set Dances of Ireland, written by Larry Lynch. In 1990 Dan and James conducted very successful classes at the Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy. Dan Furey died in August, 1993. He is buried with his parents in Killofin cemetery, approximately one mile from his house. In September 1994 the first “Dan Furey weekend” took place. It was organised by local people as a tribute to Dan, to music, and to dancing. The Festival has been going strong since then in Labasheeda, Co Clare.
8 Comments
Pat Murphy
8/10/2021 02:39:51 pm
Having just had the opportunity to read your blog and watch the video by Kieran Jordan I am truly moved once again at the power this old traditional style of step dance has to unite people from all ages and walks of life from all around the world. I knew from Annette that there was a network of dancers from different countries who are passionate about this beautiful art form but didn’t realise the scale. This awful pandemic has ironically had a very positive impact on those of us who have been fortunate enough to discover it’s beauty and experience the joy of the dance whether it be in a square tile in your kitchen on your own during a global pandemic or in a workshop or class with fellow enthusiasts. It was a privilege to spend this last half hr watching the interviews and dance and discovering that I actually really love it too. I hope one day I’ll get the chance to meet so many of this wonderful dance community. Thank you so much Annette. I would never have known any of this or learned so many beautiful dances without your teaching, enthusiasm and inspiration. xx
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Annette
10/10/2021 12:20:27 pm
Thank you SO much for these beautiful words ... I can't wait to bring you to one of the Dan Furey in-person sessions one day - a beautiful way to spend the day ... Ax
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Julie Bowes
20/3/2022 02:32:55 pm
Hello, I am trying to find the music for the entire traditional St. Patrick’s Day that was taught at Wiilie Clancy summer school in 2019. Do you have any suggestions? Much appreciated
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Annette Collins
13/5/2022 11:23:10 am
Hi Julie, sorry for missing your message, I just stumbled over it while I was working on my website. I have been meaning to add the set dances to my website as free downloads, do you want to send me your email address, and I can let you know when they have been added? I'm curious, what instrument do you play? All the best for now, Annette
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Marilyn Abraham
2/7/2022 03:20:06 am
Evening Annette
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Annette
12/9/2022 05:44:37 pm
Hi Marilyn, sorry to miss your message - yes, all the dances are available via the Traditional Irish Music Archives website (ITMA) - here's the link:
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Julia Bannister
18/8/2022 01:48:00 pm
I did not know there was. Dan Fury volume 2 that includes volume 1.. Is this music, dance or both? How do I obtain a copy?
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Annette
12/9/2022 06:15:56 pm
Hi Julia, sorry to miss your message - yes, all the dances (music and steps) are available via the Traditional Irish Music Archives website (ITMA) - I've just added the link to the blog post. A hard copy of the book is available from Michael, if you drop me a private message, I can put you in contact with him.
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AuthorAnnette is an accomplished dancer and multi-instrumentalist. Blogs to date:
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