word ceilidh 1st used in English Dance?

Subject: word ceilidh 1st used in English Dance?
From: Mr Red
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 06:17 PM

When was the word ceilidh used in England to describe any folk gathering (not necessarilly dance though for e-ceilidh it might be more relevant)

A question sparked by a discussion on e-ceilidh (e-mail forum) ensued following the missive from a bemused American (of Scots descent) as to the phrase "English Ceilidh" - the lass seems to be locked in the 19th centuary where meanings never evolve and words are a national (contentious word in itself here) exclusivity.

FWIW the OED says:

ceilidh (phonetic spelling woz here). Also ceilidheor ceili
[Irish céilidhe, Sc. Gael. ceilidh, f. OIr. céile companion.]
In Scotland and Ireland:
a. An evening visit, a friendly social call.
b. A session of traditional music, storytelling, or dancing. Also attrib. and fig.
1875 Celtic Mag. I. 40 The Highland Ceilidh.
Ibid., The fire in the centre of the room was almost a necessity in the good old Ceilidh days.
1904 Daily Chron. 17 Mar. 3/1 Participants_narrated their incidents at the _ceilidh', round the cottage fire.
1935 L. A. G. Strong Seven Arms 76 He was a great man at a ceilidh, a good guest, and a good host.
1959 Times 10 Jan. 7/6 All over the British Isles today at ceilidhes, hootennanys and similar gatherings in pubs, clubs and private houses, folk music is flourishing as it has not done for over a century.
1959 Times 7 Aug. 13/6 The informal ceilidhe atmosphere.
1965 Listener 24 June 925/1 Broadcasting House, London, was a small circle of loved, fond faces, and its programmes a perpetual ceilidh of safe and familiar songs and stories.

Subject: RE: word ceilidh 1st used in English Dance?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 06:52 PM

I'd guess at the 1940s for the beginning of English usage referring to music and dance events outside Ireland and the West of Scotland; probably around the same time that "hootenanny" began to creep in. A detailed examination of E.F.D.S. News would yield examples, I'd think.

Subject: RE: word ceilidh 1st used in English Dance?
From: GUEST,Peter from Essex
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 07:06 PM

In southern England I first came across the usage in the mid 70s after an absense of a few years from the folk scene.

Always a mix of dance and sone (normally 2 dances and a song spot) and just before the take off of English Country Music, mostly Irish influenced tunes.

I remember everybody laughing when EFDSS ran a "ceilidh" with no song or morris spots. Post that on eCeilidh and Mr Harris wouldn't understand the joke..

Subject: RE: word ceilidh 1st used in English Dance?
From: Mr Red
Date: 23 Oct 03 - 04:28 PM

Steve would - though he might not laugh.

No I was looking for a "I wus there kind of story" But then Peter Kennedy ran ceilidhes which seemed to have no dance in them in 1954 at C# House. He is still with us and visiting sessions in the Gloucester area he now resides in.

Subject: RE: word ceilidh 1st used in English Dance?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 23 Oct 03 - 08:03 PM

I'd certainly think that the Kennedys père et fils were instrumental in spreading the new use of the term, if indeed they didn't start it.

Subject: RE: word ceilidh 1st used in English Dance?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 24 Oct 03 - 03:10 PM

Popular misquote:

"O the days of the Ceilidh Dancing,
O the ring of the piper's tune!"

Nigel