Show o valentine day in ireland in ireland the great feature of st bt valentines day la is the breakdown dance all the boys and all the girls engaged in it the couple dancing the longest winning the coveted app applause lausO the victorious couple Is looked upon as well mated and not infrequently a wedding follows during eastertide tho the dance itself la Is indeed a spectacle with much ceremony the door ot of da the barri Is lifted from its hinges and the dance commenced as soon aa the fiddler or the player of the bagpipe orders the couples out the floor a 0 the barn Is of mud hence the door is laid on the ground to form a suitable surface for the dancers goldsmith describes the dancers in his deserted village the lancing dancing pair that simply sought renown by holding out to tire each other down the absolute wholeheartedness whole heartedness of the dance and the fierceness fler ceness of these tests of endurance must be seen to be appreciated though the occasion Is one of the utmost jollity and good will the contestants are in dead earnest in thel ren deavors to win |