Origins of, and Stories about, the Titles of Dances in the RSCDS Books

RSCDS Book1 No. 9 "Rory O'More" Date of Publication: Origins/Composer: Collected locally Ref. RSCDS Stories: He was the second son of Ruairí Ó Mórdha, captain of Leix, and Margaret, daughter of Thomas Butler and granddaughter of  Piers Butler, eighth earl of Ormonde . His family was one of the most important of the Irish septs. Ruairí Caoch Ó Mórdha (fl. 1554), his father, was the son of Connell Ó Mórdha (d. 1537), and early acquired the character of a successful chieftain. On the death of Connell a dispute broke out between his three sons – Lysaght, Kedagh, and Ruairí – and their uncle Peter, who was the  Tanist , in line to head the family. Peter was for the time a friend of the Butlers. Consequently, the Lord Deputy of Ireland,  Lord Leonard Grey , supported the sons; and, although Peter was acknowledged chief, Grey got hold of him by a ruse, and led him about in chains for some time. Lysaght was killed; Kedagh secured the chieftainship, but died early...

RSCDS Book 1 No. 8 "The Duke of Perth" Date of Publication: "The Ballroom 1827" Origins/Composer: Collected locally Ref. RSCDS Stories: John Drummond   (1714–1747), titular 7th Earl and 4th   Duke of Perth , was a  Scottish  nobleman  and  Jacobite . John Drummond was the younger son of  James Drummond , fifth earl and second titular Duke of Perth, and Lady Jane Gordon, daughter of  George Gordon, 1st Duke of Gordon . He was the grandson of  James Drummond, 4th Earl of Perth , who was stripped of his titles for taking part in the  Jacobite Rising of 1715 . However, the 4th Earl was created Duke of Perth by  James Edward Stuart , the "Old Pretender", in the  Jacobite Peerage . The Drummonds continued to claim both titles, though they were never recognised by the  de facto British government. Portrait by  Domenico Duprà . John Drummond was brought up by his mother at  Drummon...

RSCDS Book 1 No. 7 "Strip the Willow" Date of Publication: Origins/Composer: 1. Collected locally Ref. RSCDS 2. Strip the Willow is an old Hebridean weaving dance. Ref. MaxiCrib Reuben Freemantle Stories: The movements of the dance represent stripping the leaves off the willow wands to ready them for weaving. Basketry: Traditionally every farm in Europe and in the early years of North America, maintained a willow plantation that served as a wind break, a shelter belt for livestock, a hedge-row where medicinal plants were found, and a place to find materials for fencing, furniture making, and basket weaving.  These were not accidental and wild, but were planted intentionally with special varieties of willow, hazel, fruit and nut trees, herbs, and berries.  If you have an old homestead, you may have one of these areas, grown over and just waiting for managed harvesting to bring it back into production. Colin Manthorpe sitting on the plank making a herr...

RSCDS Book 1 No. 6 "The Flowers of Edinburgh" Date of Publication: Published in "The Ballroom, 1827." Origins/Composer: Collected locally Ref. RSCDS Stories: In the old days the city of Edinburgh was less famous for its greenery than for the smoke and bad stench pervading the Old Town, which gave rise to its nickname, »Auld Reekie« (Old Smoky). The tenements of the Old Town did not feature the indoor sewage disposal technology that we are accustomed to today, and it was by no means uncommon for the good citizens of Edinburgh to greet the early morning by emptying the content of their chamber pots out of a 5th-story window with the cheery cry of »Gardyloo« (from the French  gardez, l'eau , or »Watch out, some water«) to warn hapless passers-by. Hence, one interpretation of the title of this dance views it as a kind of super-euphemism for these »blooms« of crudity and tastelessness. More delicate and tender sources prefer to relate the title to the youn...

RSCDS Book 1 No. 5 "Meg Merrilees" Date of Publication: Published in "The Ballroom, 1827," with a difference Origins/Composer: Collected locally Ref. RSCDS Stories: In 1732, Jean Gordon presented a petition to the justiciary court at Jedburgh, setting forth that she was indicted as an Egyptian, common vagabond, and notorious thief; that she was old and infirm, and had lain long in jail, and was willing to enact herself to leave Scotland never to return. After being set free, she went to England.  In 1745, whilst in Carlisle, she expressed Jacobite sentiments in public, and as a result was set upon by a mob who ducked her to death in the River Eden. Jean is best remembered as likely model for Meg Merrilees in Sir Walter Scott's 'Guy Mannering'. From: http://www.scottishgypsies.co.uk/borders.html Also: Meg Merrilies BY  JOHN KEATS Old Meg she was a Gipsy,         And liv'd upon the Moors:  Her bed it was the...

RSCDS Book1 No. 4 "The Nut" Date of Publication: Published in "The Ballroom, 1827". Origins/Composer: Stories: Picture: Note: Instructions: THE NUT  (J8x24) 2C (4C set) RSCDS Book 1 1- 8 1M turns 2L RH, Balance-in-Line with 2M as 1L dances RSh round her partner passing under arms 9-16 1s lead down the middle and back to top 17-24 1s+2s dance Poussette. 2 1 (MINICRIB, Dance Crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors) Video: https://www.scottish-country-dancing-dictionary.com/video/nut.html