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Jackie Donnan (1933 - 2007)
The following film clips of Jackie are reproduced with the kind permission of Raymond and Kate Beattie. They were recorded in Killyleagh in 1977.
The Iron Man - Strathspey
Jackie Donnan plays the Strathspey The Iron Man which he learnt from his mentor Willie Savage from the Toye, Killyleagh.
The Blackbird - Hornpipe
Jackie Donnan plays the hornpipe The Blackbird which he played regularly in his weekly session in Comber.
Untitled Mazurka
Jackie Donnan plays a mazurka which he played for the dance the polka mazurka. He also played it often regularly in his weekly session in Comber.
Untitled Polka & Buffalo Gals - two Plain Polkas
Jackie Donnan plays two plain polkas. He never had a name for the first polka whilst he got the second one, a version of Buffalo Gals, from his mentor Willie McCloy.
Jimmy McClurg's - 2/4 Quadrille Tune
Jackie plays Jimmy McClurg's, a 2/4 Quadrille Tune, that he learnt from Davy Gray. It came from Jimmy McClurg who came from Upper Crossgare, a few miles from Dromara. Jackie played it for the last figure of the Lancers.
Jackie showing the simple introductory steps of the two-hand dance, the Polka Mazurka - he was always shy and wary of recording hence the short duration and abrupt ending.
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