Peter, is it possible that this story about Jackie playing reels instead of polkas has got turned back to front? I know I've heard or read the story from you before, but I think I might have also heard it from Jackie's mouth when I was hanging out with him in the Catskills between 2005 and 2013 or thereabouts.

The way I remembered it, Jackie played polkas instead of reels as a protest because the dancers wanted the reels at an unplayable speed. This actually makes sense if you try the following experiment: play, I dunno, the Silver Spear as fast or faster than you comfortably can. Then, tapping your foot at exactly the same pace, switch into Johnny Leary's polka no 2 aka Maids of Ardagh (since it starts with a very similar phrase). I'm sure you'll find, as I do, that the polka is _much_ easier to play at that pace.