Ancient dancing on display in East Mayo

There was music, movement and a touch of magic at Kiltimagh Museum recently when a large crowd of locals and tourists gathered to witness a unique performance by a travelling Morris dance troupe known as The Ancient Men.

The group, led by long-time organiser John Dawson, delighted the audience with a series of traditional Cotswold dances, brought all the way from the villages of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. Dressed in full Morris regalia, they performed with characteristic energy and charm - with Dawson explaining the long and colourful history behind the group.

“We’re a group called The Ancient Men, and we’re a travelling Morris team,” he told the Western People. “We only meet in the summer each year, and we’ve been doing that for 60 or 70 years. We've done over 100 tours altogether - this is our fifth tour of Ireland.” 

The group, which has previously performed in Sligo, Clare, Cork and Kerry, chose Mayo for their 2025 visit, and for Dawson, the choice of Kiltimagh was an easy one.

“We had a good look around and thought Kiltimagh was a very attractive town,” he said. “A lot of towns around here have narrow streets, but Kiltimagh has that wonderful Market Square with the sculptures - it’s very atmospheric. As soon as we saw it, we knew it was the perfect place to dance.” 

 The troupe’s Mayo leg included stops in Ballyvary, Kiltimagh, and a final performance in Swinford as part of the Siamsa Sráide festival. 

“This is actually our third performance today,” John said. “We started in Ballyvary, danced in Kiltimagh’s Market Square earlier, and now we’re here at the museum before heading to Swinford and finishing at the Turlough House.” 

Funding for the tour is largely self-supported, though the dancers do maintain an age-old tradition. 

“We pass the hat around,” John explained. “And we always tell people that Morris dancing brings good luck - just look at these beautiful blue skies that weren’t here before we arrived!” 

Despite its light-hearted charm, the tradition has deep roots. John, who first took up Morris dancing in 1967, explained some of the dance’s history. 

“It goes back to the 1500s and 1600s - originally performed in royal courts and big halls, then it moved into the villages. It’s had opposition over the years, from religious groups mostly, but it’s survived. It was nearly gone in the 19th century, but there was a revival in the early 20th, and now it’s thriving again.” 

While many members of The Ancient Men hail from England, the group is increasingly international. 

“I live in Nairobi now,” Dawson said, “and we’ve got people flying in from the United States, from all over. Though most of us met in the Cotswolds, we’re a far-flung group these days. But we come together every year for this.” 

There’s also a healthy mix of ages and genders among the dancers, something John was proud to highlight. 

“I’m 76 and still dancing - some of us are into our 80s. And it’s not just men anymore - we’ve got some fantastic women dancers as part of the group. It’s really about community and friendship at this stage. The craic is mighty, let’s put it that way.” 

With the sound of bells, banjos and a concertina along hazel with sticks clashing, the Morris dancers of The Ancient Men brought more than just entertainment to Kiltimagh last Thursday week. They brought a piece of living history, which was very appropriate given the location chosen for the event, with Kiltimagh Museum in the background.