Bridge of Athlone

Formation

Longways sets of 5 couples, men on the right , ladies on the left. Men join hands, ladies join hands.

Instructions

  1. Lines advance for 4 steps and retire for 4 steps.
  2. Lines advance, men make arches and ladies go underneath them. Turn round.
  3. Repeat 1 and 2.
  4. Top couple join hands and gallop down to the end of the set, and back again.
  5. Cast off. (Top couple separate, and walk down the set behind their own line, men follow the men, ladies follow the ladies.)
  6. At the bottom of the set, the top couple make an arch with both hands.
  7. Everyone else goes through that arch and walks back to where they started.
  8. Everybody makes an arch with both hands.
  9. The top lady goes through the arches and the man down the outside.
  10. The top man goes through the arches and the lady down the outside.
  11. Everybody swing.
  12. Start the dance again with a new top couple.

Calling

  • In 2 3 4...out 2 3 4...men make arches...ladies underneath. (16)
  • In 2 3 4...out 2 3 4...men make arches...ladies underneath. (16)
  • Top couple down and back again. (16)
  • Cast off, men follow men, ladies follow ladies. (8)
  • Top couple make an arch, everybody through those arches. (8)
  • Everybody make arches : Lady through the arches, man down the outside. (8)
  • Man through the arches, and lady down the outside. (8)
  • Every body swing. (16)
 
Glossary