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AN IRISH CEILIDHE AND AN INDIAN'S APPBECIATION.
When I was asked to attend the ccilidhe held at Stephen's Green, last week, I hesitated at first, I did not know what a ceilidhc exactly was, though I had a11 idea that it was a sort • of entertainment. But when I was told it would be held by Gaelic Leaguers at a Gaelic League IIall, I was sure, whatever it might be, it would be Irish, and I" made llp my mind not to miss it. Dancing differs in different countries. Some dances are good as exercises, some are good as pastimes, either for those taking part i11 it or for those looking on; some are fit only for the stage, and others are 111c1·c curiosities. All the Irish dances I saw at this ceilidhe are at 011cc exercises and They seem to 11.1e quite pastimes. natural and simple. All agricultural peoples seem to havc developed near ly same kind of dances. I have seen dances similar to the Irish eight 01· sixteen-handed reel i11 the country places in India. Ireland being a cold country people dance within doors ; in India and other tropical countries they dance in the open air i11 the moonlight night. The Irish step-dancing is the best of its kind I have ever seen. There arc many step dances in India and other countries. The main difference is, to my mind, that there is no posturing 01· gesturing in Irish dancing to indicate the meaning of any particular song 01· story. The dancer devotes his whole attention to harmonising his steps to the tune which is being played. There is art in it, grace, and above all, agility. The singing in Irish of Mr. Bradley, like his name in .Irish, is pu1·c Hindustani to inc. I was reminded for once of the fakirs singing 01· rather reciting, their sacred· verse at their holy fcstivals : '' '' Ovrullakhan '' sounds very like the name of some Mahommcdan. In spite of my knowledge of not a fcw phrases like '' djcs mur geth, '' '' kanus tha thu," '' cailin dcas," '' thigin thu," etc., it was all to me Greek in meaning, and
Hindustani i11 sound. \Vit and humour seems to enter largely into every phrase of Irish life. Without them anything Irish, a11 exhorting political speech, a serious article, even a g1·ie,..ous talc is not complete. These found expression in the comic contributions of Mr. Clery and lVII·. O'Donnell. Professor Lloyd J011cs and l\fr. Thomas To a foreigner sang Welsh songs. their style seems to approach English singing, though there is something Irish about it. Ceilidhe I am told simply means companionship ; it is the companionship of many who converse together, feel together.make merry together. This is true of the 011e I saw. Unlike the English ballrooms. the atmosphere is genial, it brings all together, there is nothing formal about it. There was mirth and Laughter in every face. Instead of sitting two by two by themsel vcs, perhaps having a11 ice, here all sit together, talk together, tea together, : . cnj oy together. a One of the features of the ccilidhc J liked most was the appearance of some girls and boys i11 Irish dress. The flowing character, the colours of the Irish cailini dress reminded inc of the East. It is 11101·c artistic picturesque, and graceful than the, dress made of a thousand and one patches of' cloth. The kil ts arc anyt.hing but ,,..estcrn, while the shawl appears to be purely Aryan, There }1.l'C man Irish, ,v hich to a things ) '' progressive '' Eu1·01)ca11 may seen1 to be 11c,,c1· changing. 'I'hey need no change. Irish dancing and I1·ish dress arc of this cl ass ; change i11 their case would mean impairment. : •zz Ccilidhe 011 the whole appears to me as one of the best Irish institutions. It conduces to the l1ealthy development. of' 0�1c o1' the important aspects of Irish life. It eliminates the less congenial atmosphere of' the anzlicised music halls. The Gaelic Leaaue 5 deserves all praise f 01· reviving such a useful and national institution, If all the Gaelic Leagt1e Branches keep up the standa1·d of the one at StCJ)hcn,s G1·een� the l)roblem of the music hall, ci11cma, a11d ballroom is
casil)r soJ,rcd. I can only say to ltn Irish friends ,,·ho ask n1c ho'"': I lik� the ceilidhe, t]1at I l1avc cn1 oyed r: thorougltl y, and th� c,·ening is one « the dcligl1tfl1l c,ren1ngs I ha,,.e sper among the I1·ish people.
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