The main qualification is not to fall down in the middle of a dance when you've had gallons of beer - the rest is commentary.
I played for a side once, but never learned to dance. In England most Morris musicians seem to be dancers too, and are probably better for it in terms of interest and understanding (and working off the beer...)
There used to be a Dublin Morris Side, Jim Troy, a past member of the yeller board, used to play for them at times, and knew all the members. The name escapes me, but there are a couple of other past members that I've seen on site here too... Anyway, Jim is a local at Dublin sessions, you could chase him up, for a good laugh if nothing else, and ask him? He sometimes used to show up at the Culturlann in Monkstown and at The Pipers Club, Na Piobairi Uilleann... They were good 'kick', great craic...
I take it you're friends 'celtic strings'? It is a bit like calling the kettle black, what with you and your tenor banjo? Mind you, in a fight, I'd rather have the tenor banjo in hand than a mandola...
I've sent this link to Alan Corsini, and hopefully he will have something to add... I always thought it would be a kick to do a history or Morris Dance in Eire...
Hey, he/she says their 29 too! So are you a month or weeks younger than she/he is? Or are you just cruisin' for a fight? Not me, I'm not going to swing against a tenor banjo, no way... Wait a minute, I've got a big heavy synthesizer and full metal stand ~ I'll take you on, come on ~
As a former member of the Gorton Morris Men, North-West Clog, based in Manchester, I do not think there are any Morris sides in Ireland. There used to be some dancers in Dublin, but not for years I think.
Celtic I was hoping you would join as we would need something that looks like a pole to stand still Framus like so we can tie the ribbons around your neck.Best use that Banjo will ever get Ps where did you get the idea we were ever friends.And why did you stop the capital letters are you afraid of Guernsey pete ?????
I WAS WAITING FOR THAT.
I'am off now ( thats the smell) for the weekend to the Big House With The Small windows
To Try To Regain My Sanity.
Have a nice weekend.
Pshaw! Only 150 Watts, what am I afraid of. I've got 1,500 on just the one amp...
Stop bickerin' you two and give each other a nice warm bear hug... Now I know that Dphil is a 'he', either because he amplifies his mandola or because you say so strings.
If Bliss is right, you'll have to start up a new team Dphil, but contact those contact first, to connect to your history. I can't for the life of me undestand why anyone would want to subject themselves to the torture of Morris Dance, look what it has done to 'bodhran bliss'...
Maybe a laugh in his direction when you've a mouth full of beer instead? Just don't fight... The mere smell of testesterone should be sufficient... Have a good time whatever you both get up to, and if you see Jimmy or Alan give them my best...
(Just about) though suffering from the same delusion as the man who complained that the reports of his demise were somewhat exagerated,
Dublin City Morris Dancers/Men
is Kicking (arthritically)
Dublin City Morris Dancers once had the distinction of being members of all three Morris groups . . . Ring, Federation and Open . . . simultanously
Dublin City Morris will ecstatically welcome anyone sentient wishing to join them . . . shakey eggs and all. We've accomodated a hurdy-gurdy player in our time.
We meet in Booterstown (Dublin) on the first and third Wednesdays though e-mail Alancorsini first just in case we're on holidays or off dead.
Morris dancing was three things to me. It was a "tradition", it was a good way to find sessions, and a great way to drink in most of the pubs in England. I loved it.
Mind you, Gorton is a deprived inner city area, and the Morris side reflected that. We once kicked the bejabbers out of a load of "Shed" Chelsea fans in the early 1980s. Those clogs, complete with horse shoes, were deadly. The Chelsea men were being homophobic because we were Morris dancers, we thought a good kicking was as good as one thousand talks about the "tradition".
Hey, getting back on track. I've known the Morris side in Dublin, and there were Morris teams in Cymru / Wales, East to The Borders and West to the sea, are there versions of it also in Scotland, as far out as The Shetlands? There are all sorts in North America, what about the European mainland? And what happens in Australia and New Zealand?
Wider yet and wider shall our bounds be thrown . . .
The English Department in Liepzig University boasted a Morris side and probably does still.
Any one know if Bill Tidy's 'Cloggies' are still performing? There was a marvellous cartoon in the Punch showing three cloggies sitting at a table crammed with pints and one says to the others "Any ideas about what we can spend the rest of the Arts Council grant on?"
Type "Morris Dancing Scotland" into the Internet, and at the top is an account of the Banchory Morris Men, (I think) the only side in Scotland. They've been mainly English expats - Scots have been reluctant to join - and they're getting older, so it may fold. They argue Scotland had an ancient Morris tradition, ended by the Kirk; but if there's anything less conclusive than people's speculations on who the Celts or the Irish really were, it's speculation about the history and roots of Morris, because there seems to be practically zilch to go on. (Some Morris man on this site will knee me in the groin for saying this.)
Originally the same as ITM, North Africa, brought into Europe by the Moors, therby Moorish dancers, later bastardised to Morris dancers.
I love the bit about the joke in Punch, says the man who once accidently threw our collection of about £300 into the River Thames, while shouting "another blow for Communism". This was 1983, a tidy sum. We had to steal ALL the free beer, about 40 crates of that Dutch stuff spelt something like "Grulsh", took us some time to load it onto the train back to Manchester.
Nicholas and Bodhran Bliss (or anyone else for that matter)-
If you (A) have a fair amount of time on your hands and (B) can endure a lot of scholarly -- albeit often fascinating -- commentary and counter-arguments, you can go here for background on the origins of morris: https://www.listserv.iupui.edu/archives/morris.html
Probably want to pour yourself a tall glass of something-or-other first.
Must say, some of my most enjoyable sessions have taken place in the midst of morris dance gatherings.
There might not be many morris sides in Ireland but the English ones are not adverse to playing Irish tunes to dance to e.g. Princess Royal, and some rapper teams dance to mostly Irish tunes
Morris Dancers
Morris Dancers
Is there any where around Leinster that gives dancing lessons for lonely old 29 year old shakey egg players with knobbly knees.
# Posted on February 16th 2007 by Dphil
Re: Morris Dancers
"lonely old shakey leg with knobbly knees" ??
# Posted on February 16th 2007 by llig leahcim
Re: Morris Dancers
llig "Shakey Egg " but the leg has been known to shake aswell especially after a few glasses of miwadi is that right MR M.
# Posted on February 16th 2007 by Dphil
Re: Morris Dancers
The main qualification is not to fall down in the middle of a dance when you've had gallons of beer - the rest is commentary.
I played for a side once, but never learned to dance. In England most Morris musicians seem to be dancers too, and are probably better for it in terms of interest and understanding (and working off the beer...)
# Posted on February 16th 2007 by nicholas
Re: Morris Dancers
There used to be a Dublin Morris Side, Jim Troy, a past member of the yeller board, used to play for them at times, and knew all the members. The name escapes me, but there are a couple of other past members that I've seen on site here too... Anyway, Jim is a local at Dublin sessions, you could chase him up, for a good laugh if nothing else, and ask him? He sometimes used to show up at the Culturlann in Monkstown and at The Pipers Club, Na Piobairi Uilleann... They were good 'kick', great craic...
# Posted on February 16th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Morris Dancers
Here's someone who might know or be able to direct you further ~
Alan Corsini
http://www.thesession.org/members/display/888
# Posted on February 16th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Morris Dancers
Dphil, you are to small for morris dancing I think THE FAIRY
REEL Would suit you better
P/S Put that wooden spoon back in the drawer.
# Posted on February 16th 2007 by celtic strings
Re: Morris Dancers
That's not a wooden spoon, that's his mandola...
# Posted on February 16th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Morris Dancers
Thats all his mandola Is good for he call it his wooden banjo
He is trying to introduce a new traditional instrumnent.
# Posted on February 16th 2007 by celtic strings
Re: Morris Dancers
I take it you're friends 'celtic strings'? It is a bit like calling the kettle black, what with you and your tenor banjo? Mind you, in a fight, I'd rather have the tenor banjo in hand than a mandola...
# Posted on February 16th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Morris Dancers
I've sent this link to Alan Corsini, and hopefully he will have something to add... I always thought it would be a kick to do a history or Morris Dance in Eire...
# Posted on February 16th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Morris Dancers
Friends not any more after all the things he said about me
He is jealous of my age he is older than my 29 years.
Al jokes aside i find a lot of the discussions very good and pick
up some pointers Thanks..........
# Posted on February 16th 2007 by celtic strings
Re: Morris Dancers
Hey, he/she says their 29 too! So are you a month or weeks younger than she/he is? Or are you just cruisin' for a fight? Not me, I'm not going to swing against a tenor banjo, no way... Wait a minute, I've got a big heavy synthesizer and full metal stand ~ I'll take you on, come on ~
# Posted on February 16th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Morris Dancers
As a former member of the Gorton Morris Men, North-West Clog, based in Manchester, I do not think there are any Morris sides in Ireland. There used to be some dancers in Dublin, but not for years I think.
# Posted on February 16th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Morris Dancers
He is 29 + Vat. at the high rate. and he has a 150W Amp for
his wooden banjo (Mandola ) so you can see how Dangerous He is
# Posted on February 16th 2007 by celtic strings
Re: Morris Dancers
Celtic I was hoping you would join as we would need something that looks like a pole to stand still Framus like so we can tie the ribbons around your neck.Best use that Banjo will ever get Ps where did you get the idea we were ever friends.And why did you stop the capital letters are you afraid of Guernsey pete ?????
# Posted on February 16th 2007 by Dphil
Re: Morris Dancers
I WAS WAITING FOR THAT.
I'am off now ( thats the smell) for the weekend to the Big House With The Small windows
To Try To Regain My Sanity.
Have a nice weekend.
# Posted on February 16th 2007 by celtic strings
Re: Morris Dancers
Pshaw! Only 150 Watts, what am I afraid of. I've got 1,500 on just the one amp...
Stop bickerin' you two and give each other a nice warm bear hug... Now I know that Dphil is a 'he', either because he amplifies his mandola or because you say so strings.
If Bliss is right, you'll have to start up a new team Dphil, but contact those contact first, to connect to your history. I can't for the life of me undestand why anyone would want to subject themselves to the torture of Morris Dance, look what it has done to 'bodhran bliss'...
# Posted on February 16th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Morris Dancers
Ceol i will see celtic tonite for a few tunes and a couple of pints but a bear wouldnt hug hiim so that wont be happening.
# Posted on February 16th 2007 by Dphil
Re: Morris Dancers
Maybe a laugh in his direction when you've a mouth full of beer instead? Just don't fight... The mere smell of testesterone should be sufficient... Have a good time whatever you both get up to, and if you see Jimmy or Alan give them my best...
# Posted on February 16th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Morris Dancers
"llig "Shakey Egg " but the leg has been known to shake aswell" - Aye Dphil, but a 'Shakey Leg' is not half as much fun as a 'Knee Trembler'!
That's also often associated with a few too many - "glasses of miwadi"
# Posted on February 16th 2007 by Ptarmigan
Re: Morris Dancers
Dublin City Morris Dancers LIVES!
(Just about) though suffering from the same delusion as the man who complained that the reports of his demise were somewhat exagerated,
Dublin City Morris Dancers/Men
is Kicking (arthritically)
Dublin City Morris Dancers once had the distinction of being members of all three Morris groups . . . Ring, Federation and Open . . . simultanously
Dublin City Morris will ecstatically welcome anyone sentient wishing to join them . . . shakey eggs and all. We've accomodated a hurdy-gurdy player in our time.
We meet in Booterstown (Dublin) on the first and third Wednesdays though e-mail Alancorsini first just in case we're on holidays or off dead.
Was hale
# Posted on February 17th 2007 by Alancorsini
Re: Morris Dancers
There you go now.
Morris dancing was three things to me. It was a "tradition", it was a good way to find sessions, and a great way to drink in most of the pubs in England. I loved it.
Mind you, Gorton is a deprived inner city area, and the Morris side reflected that. We once kicked the bejabbers out of a load of "Shed" Chelsea fans in the early 1980s. Those clogs, complete with horse shoes, were deadly. The Chelsea men were being homophobic because we were Morris dancers, we thought a good kicking was as good as one thousand talks about the "tradition".
Those were the days.
# Posted on February 17th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Morris Dancers
I take back anything derogatory I may have ever alluded to with regards to you Mr. Bliss... Salutations and hankies at the ready...
Thanks Alan, I knew you'd come through...
# Posted on February 17th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Morris Dancers
North West clog dancers do not have hankies.
# Posted on February 17th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Morris Dancers
# Posted on February 17th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Morris Dancers
I forgot it was Northwest Morris ~ they can be anything they damned well want to be...depending on the estate...
# Posted on February 17th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Morris Dancers
Hey, getting back on track. I've known the Morris side in Dublin, and there were Morris teams in Cymru / Wales, East to The Borders and West to the sea, are there versions of it also in Scotland, as far out as The Shetlands? There are all sorts in North America, what about the European mainland? And what happens in Australia and New Zealand?
# Posted on February 17th 2007 by ceolachan
Wider yet and wider shall our bounds be thrown . . .
The English Department in Liepzig University boasted a Morris side and probably does still.
Any one know if Bill Tidy's 'Cloggies' are still performing? There was a marvellous cartoon in the Punch showing three cloggies sitting at a table crammed with pints and one says to the others "Any ideas about what we can spend the rest of the Arts Council grant on?"
# Posted on February 17th 2007 by Alancorsini
Re: Morris Dancers
Type "Morris Dancing Scotland" into the Internet, and at the top is an account of the Banchory Morris Men, (I think) the only side in Scotland. They've been mainly English expats - Scots have been reluctant to join - and they're getting older, so it may fold. They argue Scotland had an ancient Morris tradition, ended by the Kirk; but if there's anything less conclusive than people's speculations on who the Celts or the Irish really were, it's speculation about the history and roots of Morris, because there seems to be practically zilch to go on. (Some Morris man on this site will knee me in the groin for saying this.)
# Posted on February 17th 2007 by nicholas
Re: Morris Dancers
Oh... MORRIS dancers... I thought it said "Moms dancers."
Nevermind...
# Posted on February 17th 2007 by Phantom Button
Re: Morris Dancers
Originally the same as ITM, North Africa, brought into Europe by the Moors, therby Moorish dancers, later bastardised to Morris dancers.
I love the bit about the joke in Punch, says the man who once accidently threw our collection of about £300 into the River Thames, while shouting "another blow for Communism". This was 1983, a tidy sum. We had to steal ALL the free beer, about 40 crates of that Dutch stuff spelt something like "Grulsh", took us some time to load it onto the train back to Manchester.
# Posted on February 18th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Morris Dancers
Grolsch!
Hey, I did a search and found these rare lyrics from an ancient sea chanty, maybe the source for the term "Poms"? ~
In South Australia we do Morris
Lep about and flail our arms
In South Australia we do Morris
With ankle irons and pom-poms
Jump up high and click your heels
Lep about and flail your arms
Wave those pom-poms left and right
With ankle irons and pom-poms
This thread is old enough I should be able to get away with this without facing the same pain as nicholas...
# Posted on February 18th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Morris Dancers
Yer still been watched .Hold on to yer goolies
# Posted on February 18th 2007 by Dphil
Re: Morris Dancers
Uh oh...
# Posted on February 18th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Morris Dancers
I was looking to join a side at one time and was told to contact
Frances Tuffery
9 Grange Park Dancers
Raheny
Dublin 5
Phone 01 8480941
Being a lazy type and not really wanting to hoof it up and down to Dublin every week from Longford I never bothered.
As it has been brought up here - is there anyone in the Midlands-ish area interested in forming a side? Just for the craic.
Let me know - maybe e-mail me on reynoldgreenleaf@yahoo.com
Morris on!
# Posted on February 19th 2007 by ReynoldGreenleaf
Re: Morris Dancers
Nicholas and Bodhran Bliss (or anyone else for that matter)-
If you (A) have a fair amount of time on your hands and (B) can endure a lot of scholarly -- albeit often fascinating -- commentary and counter-arguments, you can go here for background on the origins of morris:
https://www.listserv.iupui.edu/archives/morris.html
Probably want to pour yourself a tall glass of something-or-other first.
Must say, some of my most enjoyable sessions have taken place in the midst of morris dance gatherings.
# Posted on February 19th 2007 by sts
Re: Morris Dancers
There might not be many morris sides in Ireland but the English ones are not adverse to playing Irish tunes to dance to e.g. Princess Royal, and some rapper teams dance to mostly Irish tunes
# Posted on February 20th 2007 by geoffwright
Re: Morris Dancers
Celtic string morris!!!!! Dancer my eye.He has 29 left feet
PS...................................... DPhil did not put me up to this...
# Posted on February 11th 2008 by gypsy b