The sun., 1905-09-03
IRISH DANCES REVIVED.
The Cuniann No Rinncc WIN Show New YORK
This FAN what They Are Lake.


The Irishmen who are devoting time
and energy to the revival among their
countrymen In this city Of the arts which
fiourished among their ancestors are now
forming classes for the coming season for
the study Of the Irish language, history,
art and amusements.
The Cumann ma Rinnce, or Dancing
Society, under the direction Of John j.
O'Leary. young attorney OF this city and
vioe-presideat Of the Gaelic League Of the
State OF New YORK, is holding rehearsals
Of the Irish dances which will be feature
OF tho Irish exposition to be held In Sep
tember in Madison Square Garden.
we are trying to revive both here and
IN the old country. the dancing that was
an art in the day Of Ireland's greatness,
said Mr.. O'Lcary in q pause IN the prac-
tising. "These dances are worked out to a
fine point. There IL a great deal more to
them than there is to the ordinary square
dance.
"They combine both pleasure Of motion
and exercise and the steps, though simple
enough after you have learned them. are
so varied that tho dancing doesn't pail on
orc ss the round dances do. The teachers
Of physical culture IN The. city are iptrq-
ducing Irish dancing In their classes a.
one Of the most healthful and graceful
forms Of exercise.
"You see. he pointed out, as the dancers
formed square and went through series
Of intricate steps in perfect unison with
the high notes Of q solitary fiddle. that the
dance Is composed Of two parts the body
and the figure, aud. OF course, the iigging
which is a most important part OF all the
dancing. The gabail, or body. which Is
the basis Of the dance. precedes each new
figure, whether there are three or twenty
It Is always begun with the sidestep, and ia
invariably longer than the figure following.
sThe interest in these dances is greatly
on the increase. The greatest oppositi on
we have met has been on the part Of the
Irish themselves. Two years ago at an
Irish picnic In a Northern town the an
nouncement that there would be an exhi-
bition Of Irish dancing was hissed. After
the dancing, however. those who had been
most opposed were completely won over
and eager to learn the steps.
sNow all the Gaelic societies are taking
It up, and the number Of Irish dane ers
is SO large that 1t has Eeen found necessary
to move from the room lent us by the Gaelic
II ague in its clubhouse to the Metropolitan
Hall. There are in all over a thousand
members OF the Cumann ma Rinnce.'
During the autumn and winter the men,
bers Of the Cumann ma Rinnce will give
exhibitions OF the reels and jigs, the Rinnce
Fa Fadn, or long dance. and others.
The Cumann ma Rtnnce is only Part
Of the work to which these Irish enthusiasts
are devoting themselves Of reyiving the
almost dead arts Of Erin. In September
j. C. Lynch, president Of the. Gaelic League.
viii open classes among the societies OF
the various boroughs for the study Of the
Celtic tongue. There is now q growing
interest felt in the Geelic LANGUAGE IL this this
play, sAr Son Gait Cheud Gradh, by
Andrew j. O'Boyle. presented last year
by the New York Philo- Celtic Society.
sit IL our aim.' said Mr.. Lynch, TO infuss
into our language. once thought dead. =
the same results among the Irish people
In America as are Yeats, DR.: Douglass
Hyde and the other great leaders In the
mother country.
.We are teaobinx tho Irish people their
own lansuage, interesting them in ne
raoe, irving to rouse In them the feeling
of pride in their country which 80 many
wears Of oppression and poverty have
.The difficulties have been many, but
90 far they have been oSeTcane ,sd sdd .nd aS
WORKING together, the ratioralizing Of
Ireland becomes far less distant possi-
bility.
up Nv the Cumann Ceoii, or the Singing
society, OF which Charles Eoonan is preei-
dent. Meetings Of the Cumann Ceoi;
which comprises more than one hundred
voices. viii be held after Sept: 20 In Xavier
Han. Here, in the Jesuit COLLEGE building,
the Irish songs, both those Of tho modern
noets Moore and Thomas Davis: In the
English tongue, and the old Gaelic runes
and folksongs are taught.
Me CImann Ceoil, under the direction
of Bernard O'Donnell, follows the lnss OF
the German "a serfest. and II Is the in
tartion OF tho directors to populariAe the
old songs by q ssries OF concerts during the
year.