The Clare Lancers Set is one of the most popular dances in the Irish Set Dancing repertoire. As the name suggests it hails from the Clare area on the mid-west coast of the Republic of Ireland. Other published instructions for this dance include Larry Lynch's Set Dances of Ireland, Terry Moylan's Irish Dances, Pat Murphy's Toss the Feathers and Tom Quinn's Irish Dancing. Joe O'Hara and the Newcastle Irish Set Dancers have versions this set online.
Square Set of four couples, Gents on the left of their partners. 1st Top Couple have their backs to the band, with 2nd Top Couple opposite them. 1st Side Couple are on the left of 1st Top Couple (when facing into the set) and 2nd Side Couple are opposite them (to the right of 1st Tops).
Lower Promenade hold - Lead around + Turn the Lady under [8 bars] + Waltz hold - Swing [8 bars]
16 bars
1st Top Gent + Opposite Lady
Pass left shoulder to left in the centre [2 bars] + Turn clockwise [2 bars] + Swing [4 bars] + Finish with back to own position
8 bars
Top Couples
Square - Pass Opposite (right shoulder to right) + Change places with Partner (left shoulder to left) + Pass back (right shoulders) + Change places with Partner (left shoulders) + Finish in own position facing Corner
8 bars
All with Corners
Swing Corner + Finish facing Partner
8 bars
All Couples
Dance back to Partner [2 bars] + Swing Partner
8 bars
1st Top Lady + Opposite Gent
Pass left shoulder to left + Turn clockwise + Swing
8 bars
Top Couples
Square
8 bars
All Couples
Swing Corner + Dance back to Partner + Swing Partner
16 bars
1st Side Gent + Opposite Lady
Pass left shoulder to left + Turn clockwise + Swing
8 bars
Side Couples
Square
8 bars
All Couples
Swing Corner + Dance back to Partner + Swing Partner
16 bars
1st Side Lady + Opposite Gent
Pass left shoulder to left + Turn clockwise + Swing
8 bars
Side Couples
Square
8 bars
All Couples
Swing Corner + Dance back to Partner + Swing Partner
Lower Promenade hold - Lead around + Turn the Lady under + Swing
16 bars
1st Top Couple
House inside [8 bars] + Right hand in right - Lady turns under 4 times while Gent dances on the spot
16 bars
1st Top Couple
Face each other - Pass right shoulders cross to opposite side + Turn clockwise + Pass Partner and cross with both Top Couples splitting to form Side Lines
8 bars
All Couples
Advance and retire + Advance and Side Couples retire while Top Couples dance in place
8 bars
All Couples
Swing
8 bars
2nd Top Couple
House inside + Turn Lady under 4 times + Cross to opposite + Turn and cross - Top Couple split to form Side Lines
24 bars
All Couples
Advance and retire + Advance and Side Couples retire while Top Couples dance in place
8 bars
All Couples
Swing
8 bars
1st Side Couple
House inside + Turn Lady under 4 times + Cross to opposite + Turn and cross - Top Couple split to form Side Lines
24 bars
All Couples
Advance and retire + Advance and Side Couples retire while Top Couples dance in place
8 bars
All Couples
Swing
8 bars
2nd Side Couple
House inside + Turn Lady under 4 times + Cross to opposite + Turn and cross - Top Couple split to form Side Lines
24 bars
All Couples
Advance and retire + Advance and Side Couples retire while Top Couples dance in place
In this dance at the end of the Chain the Couples line up forming a Column of 8 dancers with each Lady in front of her Partner in the following order: 1st the Dancing Couple / 2nd the Couple on their left / 3rd the Couple on their right / 4th the Couple opposite - All facing out from the Dancing Couples place.
All Couples
Lower Promenade hold - Lead around + Turn the Lady under + Swing
16 bars
All Couples (1st Tops)
Face Partner - Chain all round Ladies to the left / Gents to the right + Swing Partner one turn in Opposite position + Chain back to place and form Column facing out from 1st Top's position (1st Top Lady, 1st Top Gent, 1st Side Lady, 1st Side Gent, 2nd Side Lady, etc. with 2nd Top Gent last)
16 bars
All Couples
Ladies slip right / Gents slip left [4 bars] + Slip back passing Partner to form Ladies (on the left) and Gents lines facing across the set
8 bars
Lines of four
Joining hands along the lines (and with the next set if possible) - Advance and retire twice
8 bars
All Couples
Dance back and face Partner [4 bars] + Swing [4 bars]
8 bars
All Couples (2nd Tops)
Chain around halfway + Swing Partner once + Chain back + Form Column (2nd Top, 2nd Side, 1st Side, 1st Top)
16 bars
All Couples
Ladies slip right / Gents slip left + Slip back passing Partner to form Ladies and Gents lines
8 bars
Lines of four
Advance and retire twice
8 bars
All Couples
Dance back and face Partner + Swing
8 bars
All Couples (1st Sides)
Chain around halfway + Swing Partner once + Chain back + Form Column (1st Sides, 2nd Tops, 1st Tops, 2nd Sides)
16 bars
All Couples
Ladies slip right / Gents slip left + Slip back passing Partner to form Ladies and Gents lines
8 bars
Lines of four
Advance and retire twice
8 bars
All Couples
Dance back and face Partner + Swing
8 bars
All Couples (2nd Sides)
Chain around halfway + Swing Partner once + Chain back + Form Column (2nd Sides, 1st Tops, 2nd Tops, 1st Sides)
16 bars
All Couples
Ladies slip right / Gents slip left + Slip back passing Partner to form Ladies and Gents lines
8 bars
Lines of four
Advance and retire twice
8 bars
All Couples
Dance back and face Partner + Swing + House the set
Place your Right arm around the waist of the person on your right at the level of the small of the back.
Place your Left hand over the right arm of the person on your left clasping the right wrist of the next person.
To Basket left put your right foot in the centre with the knee bent slightly. In effect you will hop on this foot pushing with the other foot placed behind.
