Sets.ie

the website for Irish set dancers

Welcome to Sets.ie, a website about Irish set dancing with an abundance of upcoming events, articles and photos. Set dancing is probably Ireland’s most popular form of traditional dance, and can be enjoyed all across the country and in many places around the world. For an introduction to set dancing, please read the article The Joy of Sets.

The site’s sections are described below with links to some of the contents. You can use the section titles as shortcuts—tap one and you’ll return to what you were last looking at. To return to the home page from elsewhere in the site, tap Sets.ie at the top left. The site’s full contents are available from a menu which appears when you tap the capitalised headings at the top of the window.

The Home page appears by default when you visit Sets.ie. If instead you would like skip the home page on future visits and return directly to what you were last looking at, tap the second option here—

START WITH home page last used page

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Stories

latest reports on recent Irish set dancing events

This section of Sets.ie presents first-hand accounts of the craic from set dancing events around Ireland and beyond. The latest stories are shown below and keep an eye out for new ones to be added in the months to come.

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Calendar

thousands of Irish set dancing events

Today’s Calendar

ALL LOCATIONS

Sets.ie is the best source of information on upcoming set dancing ceilis, workshops and classes. Events taking place today are shown above.

Where would you like to go dancing? Tap on a location below to see the full calendar of events taking place there—

IrelandMunsterLeinsterUlsterConnachtCo CorkDublinCo ClareCo KerryCo GalwayCo MeathCo DonegalCo SligoNorth AmericaUSANew YorkMassachusettsCaliforniaPennsylvaniaNew JerseyCanadaEuropeFranceGermanyItalyBritainAustraliaJapanAll locations

Do you follow a favourite ceili band? Look up the schedules for dozens of bands and musicians, including these popular ones—

AbbeyAnnalyBrian BorúMatt CunninghamDuntallyGlensideKingdomLegacyJerry McCarthyGer MurphyNeily O’ConnorTim Joe & AnneJohnny ReidyRise the DustSalamancaMicheál SextonShandrumSliabh AughtyStar of MunsterSwallow’s TailTaylor’s CrossTullaUí Bhriain

Find classes and workshops by hundreds of teachers, including—

Syl BellGerard ButlerMaureen CulletonMarie GarrityEdwina GuckianPádraig McEneanyPat MurphyTimmy Woulfe

If your interests are more specialised, try looking here—

Sean nós dancingCéilí dancingEvents for junior dancers

Readers of Sets.ie can mark any events they are interested in with a tick ✓. See your personal schedule (only if you have ticked one or more events) and the most popular events (3 or more ticks) using these links—

My DiaryPopular events

Don’t see what you’re looking for above? You can also view events for individual venues, callers and contacts, and more. Browse the full menu by clicking on HOME above and then choose the Calendar option, and then you’ll see all event categories. Also, look for the search icon % at the top right of the calendar page—tap it, type a few letters and you’ll see a list of matches.

Note that classes are normally hidden from view—there are so many that it makes it hard to find other events. If you’re specifically looking for classes, make sure they are visible. Tap the appropriate option here to change the setting—

X CLASSES visible hidden

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Set Dancing News

articles from the magazine for Irish set dancers, 2006–2017

Referred to as “the set dancer’s Bible” by some of its loyal readers, Set Dancing News magazine was published bimonthly for nineteen years from December 1997 to December 2016, a total of 115 issues. Here you’ll find articles from issues published from 2004 through 2016, plus a few from 2017 which have not been seen previously. Earlier issues will be added until the full collection is online.

Shown below are links to the most recently added articles—just tap the one you’d like to read. To see all the issues and articles available, tap on HOME at the top and choose Set Dancing News. You’ll then see the list of issues—tap on one to see its articles. While viewing articles, tap the search icon % at the top right to perform a text search of all the available issues and articles.

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Photos

the largest online collection of Irish set dancing photos

A team of photographers documented set dancing events across and beyond Ireland on behalf of Set Dancing News magazine. Only a fraction of the photos from each event were published in print, but many more are available in the hundreds of albums on Sets.ie. The collection stretches back to 2001, and is organised by year and venue or event. Links to the latest albums are shown below—tap one to see its photos. To browse the full collection, tap the word HOME in the green banner at the top and choose Photos from the drop-down menu. You'll then see a list of years, and tap one to see the albums it contains. When browsing photos, tap on the search icon % at the right of the top green banner to do a menu search—type three or more letters to see all the matching albums.

Special thanks is offered to all the photographers who volunteered to take the pictures available here. Among them are Joan Pollard Carew, John Finbarr Crowley, Chris Eichbaum, Patsy Finn, Carol Gannon, Maura and Pat Lyons and Pat Murphy, and you’ll see the names of others as you browse.

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The Set Dancing Anthology

interesting and historical reading about dancing

The excerpts here are about dancing in the past and are taken from books and magazines published from twenty years to two centuries ago. There are some first-hand accounts of ceilis and learning to dance in Ireland, and several on dance etiquette. The most recently added excerpts are listed below—tap on one to read it in full. To browse the full collection, tap on HOME in the top green banner and choose The Set Dancing Anthology. You’ll then see the five volumes in the collection—tap one to see the articles therein. Tap the search icon % at the right of the top green banner to type some text and find matching articles.

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Events by region

Events by country

Events by county and state

Events by venue

Teacher schedules

Band schedules

Caller and contact schedules

Events by category

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

1998

2020

2019

2017–2018

Reference

February–March 2017

December 2016–January 2017

October–November 2016

August–September 2016

June–July 2016

April–May 2016

February–March 2016

December 2015–January 2016

October–November 2015

August–September 2015

June–July 2015

April–May 2015

February–March 2015

December 2014–January 2015

October–November 2014

August–September 2014

June–July 2014

April–May 2014

February–March 2014

December 2013–January 2014

October–November 2013

August–September 2013

June–July 2013

April–May 2013

February–March 2013

December 2012–January 2013

October–November 2012

August–September 2012

June–July 2012

April–May 2012

February–March 2012

December 2011–January 2012

October–November 2011

August–September 2011

June–July 2011

April–May 2011

February–March 2011

December 2010–January 2011

October–November 2010

August–September 2010

June–July 2010

April–May 2010

February–March 2010

December 2009–January 2010

October–November 2009

August–September 2009

June–July 2009

April–May 2009

February–March 2009

December 2008–January 2009

October–November 2008

August–September 2008

June–July 2008

April–May 2008

February–March 2008

December 2007–January 2008

October–November 2007

August–September 2007

June–July 2007

April–May 2007

February–March 2007

December 2006–January 2007

October–November 2006

August–September 2006

June–July 2006

April–May 2006

February–March 2006

December 2005–January 2006

October–November 2005

August–September 2005

June–July 2005

April–May 2005

February–March 2005

December 2004–January 2005

October–November 2004

August–September 2004

June–July 2004

April–May 2004

February–March 2004

December 2003–January 2004

October–November 2003

August–September 2003

Volume 5

Volume 4

Volume 3

Volume 2

Volume 1

Follow Me Up To Carlow

Set Dancing Weekend

October 2nd–4th 2020

Seven Oaks Hotel Carlow Town

Cancelled

Follow Me Up To Carlow

Set Dancing Weekend

October 2nd–4th 2020

Seven Oaks Hotel Carlow Town

Cancelled

Letterkenny Set Dancing Festival

Friday 20–Sunday 22 November 202

Clanree Hotel

Letterkenny Co Donegal

Tap for a poster with full info

Letterkenny Set Dancing Festival

Friday 20–Sunday 22 November 2020

Clanree Hotel

Letterkenny Co Donegal

Tap for a poster with full info

Come West Along the Road

by Pat Murphy

A new book of
instructions
for 76 dances

Tabhair dom do Lámh

by Pat Murphy

The 4th volume
in Pat Murphy’s
series of
set dancing reference books

Apples
in
Winter

by Pat Murphy

The 3rd volume
in Pat Murphy’s
series of
set dancing reference books

The
Flowing
Tide

by Pat Murphy

The 2nd volume
in Pat Murphy’s
series of
set dancing reference books

Toss
the
Feathers

by Pat Murphy

The 1st volume
in Pat Murphy’s
series of
set dancing reference books

Pat Murphy’s definitive reference books for Irish set dancing

Featuring instructions for over 360 dances in total, the history of set dancing and its revival, explanations of steps, definitions, and more

Toss the Feathers was Pat’s first book originally published in 1995, now reprinted in a new and updated edition with 64 classic sets including the Plain, Sliabh Luachra, Caledonian, West Kerry and Connemara, plus descriptions of the steps and a detailed history of set dancing.

The Flowing Tide, the second volume, documents 57 newly revived sets, among them the Donegal, East Galway (2 versions), Williamstown, Mealagh Valley, Glencree and Hurry the Jug. The original edition from 2000 is hard to find, and it is now available in a new version.

Apples in Winter was published by Pat himself in 2009 with instructions for 47 sets, 32 two-hand dances and 11 céilí dances. Instructions for popular favourites such as the Ballyduff, Kilfenora Plain, Boyne, Claddagh, Moycullen and Sliabh Fraoch can be found inside.

Tabhair dom do Lámh (Give Me Your Hand) is the fourth volume in the series, with 52 recently revived and newly composed sets like the Ballyfin, Ballykeale, Camp, Corballa, Merchant, Moate, Rinkinstown and Templebeg, plus a selection of two-hand and céilí dances.

New! Come West Along the Road is Pat's fifth book, which includes a total of 76 dances, including 37 of the latest newly composed and revived sets, a unique collection of 17 reels from Kerry, and much more.

All books are available directly from wPat Murphy (tap name for contact info, tap icon for Pat’s full workshop schedule).

Pat’s upcoming workshops

Saturday 1 May Half-Door TradFest Co Laois

Monday 12 July South Sligo Co Sligo

Monday 19 July Joe Mooney Co Leitrim

Sunday 5 September Barcelona, Spain

Cancelled

Please assume that all classes, ceilis, workshops and weekends in Ireland and around the world are cancelled until further notice.

Do not travel to events at this time.

New Listings

No set dancing is planned for the foreseeable future, so Sets.ie listings have been cleared to reflect this. Events which still show may be tentative or cancelled. Confirm events before travelling.

Please share details of future ceilis, workshops and classes for inclusion in Sets.ie. Contact Bill Lynch at 087 9393357 and setsie@me.com.

Cancelled

Please assume that all classes, ceilis, workshops and weekends in Ireland and around the world are cancelled until further notice.

Do not travel to events at this time.

New Listings

No set dancing is planned for the foreseeable future, so Sets.ie listings have been cleared to reflect this. Events which still show may be tentative or cancelled. Confirm events before travelling.

Please share details of future ceilis, workshops and classes for inclusion in Sets.ie. Contact Bill Lynch at 087 9393357 and setsie@me.com.

Cancelled

Please assume that all classes, ceilis, workshops and weekends in Ireland and around the world are cancelled until further notice.

Do not travel to events at this time.

New Listings

No set dancing is planned for the foreseeable future, so Sets.ie listings have been cleared to reflect this. Events which still show may be tentative or cancelled. Confirm events before travelling.

Please share details of future ceilis, workshops and classes for inclusion in Sets.ie. Contact Bill Lynch at 087 9393357 and setsie@me.com.

Cancelled

Please assume that all classes, ceilis, workshops and weekends in Ireland and around the world are cancelled until further notice.

Do not travel to events at this time.

New Listings

No set dancing is planned for the foreseeable future, so Sets.ie listings have been cleared to reflect this. Events which still show may be tentative or cancelled. Confirm events before travelling.

Please share details of future ceilis, workshops and classes for inclusion in Sets.ie. Contact Bill Lynch at 087 9393357 and setsie@me.com.

Free Set Dancing Event Listings

Sets.ie

Contact Bill Lynch
to include your
events here: 087 9393357 setsie@me.com

Advertise on Sets.ie for only

€20

per month.

Get your booking in early!

Contact Bill Lynch: 087 9393357 setsie@me.com

Feature your event

in inexpensive advertising on Sets.ie

Tap here to see a poster with more information.

Your personal Sets.ie diary

A faint circle appears after every event.

If an event interests you, tap its circle.

The event is now marked with a green tick ✓. Once you’ve ticked one or more events, look at My Diary to see your schedule. Popular events shows what other readers are interested in.

Make your faves easy to spot

Find a ceili with your favourite band in the Sets.ie listings and tap the band’s name.

Then look for the star icon ☆ and tap that.

The band now appears in caps & colour.

This works for venues, teachers & contacts.

Wondering how to get there?

For directions to any venue listed in Sets.ie, just tap on the venue name

to see its expanded info.

Then look for the road icon d beside
the name and tap it to open Google Maps with the venue as your destination.

Where are the classes?

Classes are hidden by default in the Sets.ie listings.

Here’s how to see them.

Tap the gear icon G at the bottom.

On the menu under Classes tap visible to see them in the listings.

Need to contact someone?

While viewing the listings in Sets.ie, just tap on the name of a venue, band or contact to expand the basic entry—

into the more informative version—

with phone numbers, email addresses
and other info shown.

Introducing ads on Sets.ie

Include a colourful ad for your event, product, service or business on Sets.ie at reasonable prices.

Ads appear while browsing the listings. They show up in a random order, one or more in a row, depending on the width of the screen or browser window.

A reader will see more ads as they scroll through the listings, or by tapping the little arrow to the right. Ads alternate with photos, which operate similarly.

After all current ads have been seen, they show up again in a new random order for as long as the reader is browsing Sets.ie.

Ads are 600 by 500 pixels in size and can combine images and text.

They can be scheduled to start and stop on any two dates, and when one event has passed they can automatically update to show the next one, or even several.

Tapping on an ad can send a reader to a larger version with more info, or to a website.

The introductory cost is just €10 for two weeks, €20 for one month or €100 for six months—advance payment only. For more info, please contact Bill Lynch (tap name for contact info).

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