Hi Sarah, Here are a couple of "easy" dances for folks who don't go to Barn Dances all the time. I can't vouch they are strictly "Irish" but they are easy and fun and cross all boundaries;

The OXO Reel Tune-Quebec Polka or? Longways Sets of 6 couples (men in one line women across from them).

A1 Lines step forward for 4 and back 1st couple gallop to the bottom of the set A2 Lines step forward and back 2nd couple galop down to the bottom of the set B1 Couples at each of the set(top two couples together and the bottom two couples together) circle Left and Right while middle couples Right Hand Star and Left Hand Star so that the set forms a OXO B2 2nd couple (now at bottom of the set) galop back to the top

Everyone swing their partner. Galop=couples take hands and dance or skip sideways down the set.

Right and Left Hand Star=Put right hand out together and walk round to the left back to place. Ditto for the left except walk to the right.

Circle Waltz: (almost any waltz tune will do) Large circle round the room. Gents with ladies on their RIGHT facing into the middle. The first step is like a "swaying" motion with a light kick of the leg and gently swinging the arms forward and back together.

A1-1-2 Everyone into the center with a "sway step" in and out. Then the gent turns the lady on the left over to his right into his partners place. Repeat this 4-times ( if you haven't seen this here is what to do. The ladies let go of their left hand partner and while holding the man on her right hand turns and faces him taking his other hand,they are now facing each other. Now release his left hand and while still holding his right hand turn back into the circle and take the new mans hand, your all in a large circle now holding hands. This movement is gentle and fluid and much easier than it sounds, try it!

so you've repeated this four times now.......you have your new partner! take a ballroom hold and take two side-steps into the circle, and gently twirl her around once, then take two side steps back, and twirl her around.

Now have the couples waltz around the circle together ( tell them to pretend there is a circle on the floor and they have to stay on the line, this way the couples stay in line and dont crash and burn!

If the couples dont know how to waltz just tell them to fake-it, we do it all the time in California! The main thing is to stay moving around the circle until the tune comes to the conclusion..........then all join the circle again with WOMEN ON THE RIGHT OF THE MEN. Repeat at least 4 times or until everyone has danced with everyone else, a good mixer!

Have you called before? If not, relax, just have the folks walk through each dance before they do it to the music. Tell them to relax and if they make a mistake to just catch-up to where they need to be rather than to go back and do the move again:)Make it fun! If you can practice the dances yourself before you teach them you can really work out any problems before-hand that could occur and you won't be as nervous. I invited a bunch over for a jam and had them help me out with some new dances, they were surprised but didnt mind and had fun!

Good Luck! Nancy