0:00:02 > 0:00:05# Let's dance from the floor... Let me hear you sing along
0:00:05 > 0:00:07# Driving through the quicksteps... #
0:00:07 > 0:00:12In rural Northern Ireland, country music is the new clubbing.
0:00:12 > 0:00:16The country night is as big, if not bigger, than the nightclub scene.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20And if you're looking for love out in the sticks,
0:00:20 > 0:00:22you can forget about Tinder.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25If you want to eye up the local talent,
0:00:25 > 0:00:27there's nowhere better than a country music gig.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29Anything in the bag for later?
0:00:29 > 0:00:32Well, I haven't shot yet, but when he shoots, he scores.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36But for our would-be lovers,
0:00:36 > 0:00:39attractiveness is only part of the package.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42Girls, are yous out on the pull tonight?
0:00:42 > 0:00:44We don't want a man holding us back from a good night's dancing, like.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48If you're going to stand a chance of impressing the opposite sex...
0:00:48 > 0:00:52- Hello, girls. We're boys. - ..you need a bit more about you.
0:00:52 > 0:00:57- Being a farmer helps. - I'd be more into my beef farmers.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00Oh, and you'd better be able to jive.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03Wouldn't matter if you're, like, Brad Pitt.
0:01:03 > 0:01:04If you can't dance, you're no good.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11We're following some hopefuls over an endless country summer
0:01:11 > 0:01:14as they try and dance their way to romance.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21These are the Northern Irish music lovers who are keepin' 'er country.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31MUSIC: Knee Deep In My Heart by Shane Filan
0:01:36 > 0:01:4020-year-old Enda works as a bus driver.
0:01:40 > 0:01:44But come clocking off time, he has another driving passion.
0:01:44 > 0:01:46Country music.
0:01:51 > 0:01:56The country night is as big, if not bigger, than the nightclub scene.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58Everybody's going to the country now
0:01:58 > 0:02:00and everyone wants to learn the country.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02Before, you'd be laughed at if you were jiving.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05Now, you're kind of laughed at if you can't jive.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09Having two left feet doesn't just leave you open to ridicule.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11It can seriously diminish your chances
0:02:11 > 0:02:14with the demanding ladies of the dance halls.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17If you can't dance, the ladies don't want to know you, to be quite honest with you.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19Wouldn't matter if you're, like, Brad Pitt.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21If you can't dance, you're no good.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30Enda can't dance yet, so his country nights out have more in common
0:02:30 > 0:02:34with the cloakroom assistant than his jiving-mad friends.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36So, he has set himself the goal
0:02:36 > 0:02:39of going from absolute beginner to accomplished jiver
0:02:39 > 0:02:41over the course of a single summer.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46Men, if you're taking your ladies out for a jive,
0:02:46 > 0:02:50lady's hands always sit on top of the man's hands, all right?
0:02:50 > 0:02:52So, our first move is going to be...
0:02:52 > 0:02:54One is where your hands finish.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58Two, you bring your hand back. Three is back where one was.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00- And then the lady's going to spin off solo...- What?!
0:03:00 > 0:03:02..so you have to let go of hands.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04She's going to spin off to the right.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07By the end of the lesson, you'll have enough for a jive at the weekend.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10Every week, we're going to progress and add a few more moves every week.
0:03:12 > 0:03:14Oh, I don't turn yet?
0:03:18 > 0:03:21'When you see these boys maybe jiving with two girls, like,
0:03:21 > 0:03:23'and I can't even jive one.'
0:03:23 > 0:03:26Oh, I was meant to turn.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28I'm never going to get this.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30You will.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33I wouldn't have the confidence to actually get up to dance.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36And they would literally leave you standing on the dance floor.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39So I wouldn't even bother until I'd learned how to dance.
0:03:43 > 0:03:44Wrong hand.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47Again. Just keep practising it.
0:03:47 > 0:03:52I'd like to be able to just go up and ask anybody out to dance,
0:03:52 > 0:03:55any girl out to dance, and be able to know the steps,
0:03:55 > 0:03:58know all there is to know about the dancing.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02Won't be a wheel like them in the country.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05MUSIC: Stop The World And Let Me Off
0:04:06 > 0:04:09In Fermanagh, the Breslin sisters might just be the kinds of girls
0:04:09 > 0:04:12that Enda is dreaming of being able to ask to jive.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14Regular faces on the circuit,
0:04:14 > 0:04:17they know what to look for in a potential dancing partner.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22Have you ever noticed whenever you're on a night out
0:04:22 > 0:04:23and you see somebody that can dance,
0:04:23 > 0:04:26you'll just be like, "Oh, God, I want him to dance with me."
0:04:26 > 0:04:28There's normally a queue waiting on that.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32There's one fella in particular and they do stand waiting on him.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36If Enda wants to stand a chance of impressing girls like the Breslins,
0:04:36 > 0:04:39he just has to keep working on his moves.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42Oh, my God, if a boy can't dance, it's the worst thing ever.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46- You just want rid of him.- Oh, Jeez, you'll be running to the toilet!
0:04:46 > 0:04:49If he can't dance, I'll always be like, "I'm wrecked.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51"I can't dance any more."
0:04:51 > 0:04:53"My feet are sore!"
0:04:53 > 0:04:56They come along and I haven't a clue how to tell them I don't want to dance!
0:04:56 > 0:05:00You know what I hate? When you wear sandals and they trample on your feet.
0:05:00 > 0:05:01You can't wait to get rid of them.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03You'll be like, "When's this song over?"
0:05:03 > 0:05:05"I have to go and find my friend."
0:05:09 > 0:05:13In contrast to his daughters, dad Tommy's preparation for a big
0:05:13 > 0:05:17night out is a ham sandwich and a cup of tea.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19Takes them an awful length of time to get ready.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22In my days, you know, you'd get ready in a couple of seconds,
0:05:22 > 0:05:25even ate - a couple of seconds, I'd be gone.
0:05:25 > 0:05:31Young girls now, they'll be putting on that tan and make-up for hours.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34Long ago, the ladies didn't put on that at all,
0:05:34 > 0:05:37and it's funny even yet, I'd rather have a woman with none of that.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40If they lean up against your shirt, they'd have you racked with
0:05:40 > 0:05:43that tan and stuff on you - women would have none of that on them, you know?
0:05:43 > 0:05:45Girls, he's out on the pull tonight.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49We don't want a man holding us back from a good night's dancing, like.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52If you get a man, it's always a bonus.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54But you're not actually out looking for him.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57If you get him, you get him, if you don't, you don't, is that it?
0:05:57 > 0:05:58That's it.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01I thought they would have been married long, long, long ago.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05But there's no word of any of them getting married yet, and they're very fine looking girls -
0:06:05 > 0:06:09not cos they're daughters of mine, but they're all good looking girls.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12After the rigours of raising ten children,
0:06:12 > 0:06:16Tommy is recently single, and he has thrown himself into country music
0:06:16 > 0:06:19nights out, which always start in the kitchen.
0:06:20 > 0:06:26LAUGHTER AND WHOOPING
0:06:27 > 0:06:29Do you remember, he couldn't dance?
0:06:29 > 0:06:31He had two left feet and he would trip over you!
0:06:31 > 0:06:33But I think Daddy is a fierce wee dancer now,
0:06:33 > 0:06:37burning wee holes in the floor! Flames coming out behind him.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40You'd need to have a fire extinguisher beside you!
0:06:40 > 0:06:42He's too busy looking for a woman.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44THEY LAUGH
0:06:44 > 0:06:47And there's no decent ones out there. You're not going to get them.
0:06:47 > 0:06:48They're all gone!
0:06:48 > 0:06:52WHOOPING
0:07:10 > 0:07:13Simon and friend Eoin are dancers in demand on the country music
0:07:13 > 0:07:17scene, so they're fuelling up for a weekend of jiving.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20Eoin, you've got plenty there!
0:07:20 > 0:07:23- I'll not go out there without eating them. - That's just his first plate!
0:07:23 > 0:07:25There's a whole bag of Dublin Queens out there.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28We started the Dublin Queens this week, they're balls of flour.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30Lovely. That's them there.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32It's not everybody who gets excited about a spud.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34Well, he likes a good spud.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38On the jiving scene, appearance is everything.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42And Simon's hectic dancing schedule has been causing problems.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46The issues are when he's out three nights a week, there's about
0:07:46 > 0:07:4912 shirts down there for washing and ironing for the following week.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52And I just can't keep up with it.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55So, now, I do the washing and he has to do his own ironing.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58I'm actually going to try and get him to do all the ironing.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00You know, that's the next step.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02Because he's very, very good at it.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05He doesn't realise how hard the make-up is to get off the shirts.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08It has to be steeped, the one wash wouldn't do it.
0:08:08 > 0:08:09Whenever you'd be dancing there,
0:08:09 > 0:08:12her head might brush past your sleeve on your shirt
0:08:12 > 0:08:15and the make-up would just wipe off on it,
0:08:15 > 0:08:17then you might have your arm round somebody, or...
0:08:17 > 0:08:18Different wee things,
0:08:18 > 0:08:21there's different ways for make-up to get onto your shirt.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26MUSIC VOLUME INCREASES
0:08:28 > 0:08:33# In '65, I learned to jive In the borderland in Muff
0:08:33 > 0:08:38# Friday night was show band night That's where I'd strut my stuff
0:08:38 > 0:08:44# We all came out from Derry Each weekend after work
0:08:44 > 0:08:50# Man, we all looked smashing We had hair and miniskirts... #
0:08:50 > 0:08:54You're some dancer, Simon, you can fairly move! You don't need a lady to dance with.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00He is a good jiver, he definitely is.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03He's great music in him, great rhythm.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06So, he definitely is that. I'd highly recommend him!
0:09:06 > 0:09:10You need two people to dance, and if the girl can't dance, the boy can't dance,
0:09:10 > 0:09:12and Mum was always a really good dancer, too.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16I didn't have a good jive for about 25 years, until he started.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18THEY LAUGH
0:09:19 > 0:09:22My husband, he doesn't jive at all, there's no music in him.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24You can't be good at everything!
0:09:24 > 0:09:27# I told my dad No nine-to-five for me... #
0:09:27 > 0:09:30It's a brave move, Simon, going for the pink shirt tonight.
0:09:30 > 0:09:34- What's that saying?- Pink makes the girls wink.- It makes the girls wink.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37It might seem like a brave move, but this shirt has been tried
0:09:37 > 0:09:40and tested, it doesn't show sweat too badly.
0:09:40 > 0:09:41I'm up for a white one tonight,
0:09:41 > 0:09:44but it can get pretty sweaty in it, so I thought I might as well
0:09:44 > 0:09:48go for the white T-shirt underneath it, it'll soak a right bit of it.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51Forget about the Million, you're not taking any more of mine,
0:09:51 > 0:09:53you've used it all. Bit of David Beckham.
0:09:57 > 0:10:02# I looked out my window, what did I see... #
0:10:02 > 0:10:04Meanwhile, the Breslins
0:10:04 > 0:10:07and their friend Dervla have arrived in Monaghan to dance
0:10:07 > 0:10:10to one of Ireland's top country stars, Robert Mizzell.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18One of the attractions of the country scene is a return to
0:10:18 > 0:10:20old school forms of courting,
0:10:20 > 0:10:24and dad Tommy is taking a keen interest in his girls' love life.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26I'll be keeping a wee eye on them, to see who they'll be dancing with,
0:10:26 > 0:10:29if they are a rich puppet or a poor puppet, you know what I mean?
0:10:29 > 0:10:32I'll be keeping them right, you know what I mean?
0:10:33 > 0:10:37For Samantha and Dervla, it's thin pickings on the courting front.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39WHOOPING
0:10:39 > 0:10:42There's a few good looking fellas, and they're all right,
0:10:42 > 0:10:44but they're bit too old for us, I'd say.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47They mostly have their wives with them.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50There's no chance of romance for us tonight, unfortunately.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52Or maybe we're lucky that way!
0:10:59 > 0:11:01There may be no romance in the air,
0:11:01 > 0:11:04but Emma has bagged herself a jiving ace.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07Fella that took me out for a dance, I don't know where he was taught how,
0:11:07 > 0:11:10but he is just absolutely brilliant, he's some beat in him, like,
0:11:10 > 0:11:12he just has the rhythm of the music.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21Well, I just said to him, "I'd love to dance the way you can dance,
0:11:21 > 0:11:24"I went to dancing lessons and I wasn't taught like that."
0:11:24 > 0:11:27And he was like, "Well, sure, if you gave me your number, I'll be able
0:11:27 > 0:11:30"to meet up with you and teach you how to dance the way I was taught."
0:11:30 > 0:11:33And I don't know if that was a wee bit cheesy,
0:11:33 > 0:11:35to get my number, like, but I might give it a go.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37I'd like to get dancing the way he dances.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44WHOOPING AND CHEERING
0:11:44 > 0:11:46That's a brand-new song off my latest album,
0:11:46 > 0:11:49that's Down On The Bayou, ladies and gentlemen...
0:11:58 > 0:12:02# I try my best, pass all my tests But you don't seem to see... #
0:12:02 > 0:12:04Country music diehards Simon
0:12:04 > 0:12:08and Eoin are at the Dungiven Barn Dance, which is in full swing.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13- If we can't get a dance tonight, Eoin...- Ha-ha, true!
0:12:13 > 0:12:15Look at that!
0:12:16 > 0:12:20# Oh, kiss me, Mary, kiss me, Mary Kiss me one more time...
0:12:22 > 0:12:24Dancing is hot and sweaty work,
0:12:24 > 0:12:28and two accomplished pros such as Simon and Eoin have a couple
0:12:28 > 0:12:32of tricks up their sleeve to keep them looking fresh at all times.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41Come on out and change your shirt, I'm out here now.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43Right, come on ahead, quick.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45- Whoo!- He's sweating a bit.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48Need to get that changed, boys.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50- What do you think? - Aye, not bad.- Good talent.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52Pretty good, some talent about.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54Anything in the bag for later?
0:12:54 > 0:12:57Well, haven't shot yet, but when he shoots, he scores, like!
0:12:57 > 0:12:59Got a bit of spade work done.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02To keep the whole dry shirt routine seamless,
0:13:02 > 0:13:05it is important not to be too obvious.
0:13:05 > 0:13:06You know, if I'm back in,
0:13:06 > 0:13:09mostly they'll know that I'm changing my shirt, I mean,
0:13:09 > 0:13:12some people will say, "Oh, you've went out and changed your shirt!"
0:13:12 > 0:13:13You're like, "Yeah, I have!"
0:13:13 > 0:13:17Mine's the same colour, the same white collar, it's all right.
0:13:21 > 0:13:22Done, sorted.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24Just have to pretend there's hair gel here.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27Courage to finish the night, that's the way to go.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30Aye, we'll get the jive on, then. Need somebody we can jive with.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34We'll either split two girls up or we'll take two that we know
0:13:34 > 0:13:36can dance, or we've seen.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38Anything at all.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40- You can't get fussy at this stage! - No.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47Simon and Eoin might have the moves, but impressing 22-year-old
0:13:47 > 0:13:52farmer's daughter Eleanor takes more than just quick feet.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54You get talking to them and you maybe see what line of work
0:13:54 > 0:13:59they're in, if they are big-time farmer, or if they're beef or dairy.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03I'd be more into the beef farmers, I suppose I can relate more.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05These dairy farmers, if you married one of them,
0:14:05 > 0:14:07you might not get too many holidays,
0:14:07 > 0:14:11because they're always with their cattle, morning, noon and night.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15As an only child on a family farm, her parents are also taking
0:14:15 > 0:14:19an active interest in who she might court with.
0:14:19 > 0:14:20A few weeks ago there,
0:14:20 > 0:14:23a new vet started working in the practice in the town,
0:14:23 > 0:14:26and my dad came in to me one evening and he says,
0:14:26 > 0:14:30"Oh, I see there's a new young fella working at the vet's there.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33"I'll maybe send you in from now on." I think he was maybe
0:14:33 > 0:14:38hinting at something there that he saw, a prospect.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44Eleanor and her friend Aisling have been known to travel
0:14:44 > 0:14:47hundreds of miles from rural County Down in search
0:14:47 > 0:14:50of a good country music night out.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56You know the way to a man's heart is through his belly?
0:14:56 > 0:14:59- It's the same sort of idea with the horses.- Same with the horses, right.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02So, you remember that when you're cooking your man a big dinner.
0:15:03 > 0:15:07You feed them well and they keep coming back. That's the way to do it.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10Eleanor's mum and dad might have high expectations about her
0:15:10 > 0:15:13meeting a suitable partner, but she may be already taken.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18I got Penny when I was 16, and I remember that
0:15:18 > 0:15:23because I sort of had to make a decision between a boy and a horse.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26So I went for the horse!
0:15:27 > 0:15:30That's all I can really say about that.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33So I think I made the right decision.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35Would you do the same again, Eleanor?
0:15:35 > 0:15:37Yeah, I probably would. I prefer my horse.
0:15:37 > 0:15:43She's strong and reliable and we've a good working relationship going on.
0:15:43 > 0:15:44See, she's enjoying that.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47You wouldn't get that sort of a response from a man.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53The summer is rolling on.
0:15:55 > 0:15:59If Enda wants to be able to compete on the dancing front with the likes
0:15:59 > 0:16:03of Simon and Eoin before autumn, he's going to have to learn fast.
0:16:08 > 0:16:12Just as well you don't need a dance floor to practise your steps.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15Just getting finished up here for the day
0:16:15 > 0:16:18waiting on Tammy to come for a wee sneaky private lesson.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21Cos I think I need it.
0:16:26 > 0:16:30- Well, Enda.- Tammy. - Y'all ready for this?
0:16:30 > 0:16:32Out anywhere over the weekend?
0:16:32 > 0:16:37- I was out Saturday night for a while, yeah.- Any jiving?- I tried to jive.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40- Trying?- Trying.- How did it go?
0:16:40 > 0:16:43Went all right. I kind of forgot most things, but.
0:16:43 > 0:16:47- Have you your shoes with you or what's the craic?- I forgot them.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50- You forgot them? - Mmm, I was working all day.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53- Right, are you comfortable enough to dance in them?- Aye.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57A good dancer never blames his shoes, so we'll give it a go.
0:16:57 > 0:17:01- If you want to find the rhythm with a lady, what do you do?- This.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05- Yeah, and where does your feet go? - I don't know.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08Right foot in and out.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10And in and out.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14Out, in, out, in.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18So if you practise that, that then eventually becomes your footwork.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21- Right.- When you're ready.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25- One, two, three.- OK, stop there.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28You're not driving a bus. A lady's a delicate thing.
0:17:28 > 0:17:29I want you to put your arms...
0:17:29 > 0:17:31You're in control of her,
0:17:31 > 0:17:35- you're not swinging like you're steering the wheel of a bus.- OK.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38If you are swinging your lady out to here, you're going
0:17:38 > 0:17:42- to drop hands and loss her to some other man.- I don't want that.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45No, so you have to keep her in control and keep her close to you.
0:17:45 > 0:17:50- Right.- Ready to try with a piece of music?- Yeah, we'll give it a go.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53MUSIC: Hold Onto Your Hat by Derek Ryan
0:17:53 > 0:17:55In, out, in, out.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01One, two, three.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05One, two. Right hand.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08Excellent.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12One, two. And your feet are moving, that's good.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15One, two, half turn.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18One, two, three.
0:18:20 > 0:18:21One, two, three.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28- Glad to see the song to end?- Aye.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31The hardest part of jiving is remembering what comes next.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34But the key for you, Enda, is just to keep practising
0:18:34 > 0:18:36and working at it.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38But I think you'll get there. Very good.
0:18:38 > 0:18:43# I met her in the Galteemore In the Galteemore in Cricklewood... #
0:18:43 > 0:18:47The Breslins - Dad Tommy, daughter Samantha and friend Dervla -
0:18:47 > 0:18:50are back out seeing Irish country artist Michael English.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52# In the Galteemore in Cricklewood
0:18:52 > 0:18:55# I asked her for a dance and she said she would
0:18:55 > 0:18:58# The band played an oldie called In The Mood
0:18:58 > 0:19:01# I met her in the Galteemore... #
0:19:03 > 0:19:04But as the evening goes on,
0:19:04 > 0:19:07as far as dancing with the opposite sex is concerned,
0:19:07 > 0:19:11it looks like only one member of the party is getting all the action.
0:19:14 > 0:19:15This is called I Don't Want The Money.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24# I don't want the money
0:19:24 > 0:19:26# I just want your time... #
0:19:26 > 0:19:29Daddy has every woman out on the floor there.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33I had two dances with him. He has every other woman out on the floor.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37- I don't know how he does it. - Neither do I. He's in his element.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40Holy shit, he's as fit as I am. Fit as a fiddle.
0:19:40 > 0:19:47# If our love dies It won't go to heaven
0:19:49 > 0:19:57# Cos it's already been there all the time... #
0:19:59 > 0:20:01Daddy's getting all the dances.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04That's cos older men are just always up for a bit of jiving.
0:20:04 > 0:20:09He waltzing round the floor and sitting smiling just like...
0:20:09 > 0:20:10"I'm watching you."
0:20:17 > 0:20:21He's a great dancer. He has every woman on the floor on the floor.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25He knows them all, he dances them all, isn't that right, Tommy?
0:20:25 > 0:20:28- Yeah, you're right.- And he's looking for Miss Right, by the way.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37So many dance partners to get through, so little time.
0:20:37 > 0:20:38Here we go.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40Two, three, four.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54- What's that on your shirt? - I think maybe...
0:20:54 > 0:20:57And you're talking about not getting it off.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00Girls just like it a bit tighter than a man wants. I'm not...
0:21:00 > 0:21:02As you know yourself...
0:21:02 > 0:21:08- Don't go into any detail.- No, I'm kinda shy as you can see.- Shy?!
0:21:08 > 0:21:13- Shy?! You are not shy.- I'm normally a wee bit tight, Samantha.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16Well, you needn't think I'm cleaning that in the morning.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23One of the climaxes of the country summer
0:21:23 > 0:21:25is the Clonmany Festival in Donegal.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28And Simon and Eoin are at home making sure
0:21:28 > 0:21:30they have enough shirts for the dancing.
0:21:31 > 0:21:35Country music seems to be working wonders for Simon's domestic skills.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39He's coming on, isn't he? A little bit of make-up there, Simon.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41That shirt'll be no good to you.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43There's going to be more make-up on it,
0:21:43 > 0:21:45going to make the washing machine earn its keep.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51You could meet the woman of your dreams out there.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53That could happen any night, I suppose.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55Somebody new.
0:21:55 > 0:21:59You could end up going places or going on a date the next morning
0:21:59 > 0:22:01- or something.- I don't think so. - You'd be like David Beckham.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04You'd call your first child where you met the partner.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08He called his first child Brooklyn cos he met whatever in Brooklyn.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10Ballyliffin wouldn't be a great name.
0:22:10 > 0:22:14Call it something, Donegal or North West.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20In Rathfriland, Eleanor
0:22:20 > 0:22:22and Aisling are getting ready for one of the biggest events in
0:22:22 > 0:22:24the country music calendar -
0:22:24 > 0:22:26the annual young farmers dance in Ballymena.
0:22:26 > 0:22:30I am going for it and I have no idea what dress I'm going to wear
0:22:30 > 0:22:31- to match this.- Pink matches.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34I think I have one pink dress and it's in Belfast.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37I'm wearing either black and white or black and white.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39Right, monochrome look.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42It's a chance for the girls to reminisce about some
0:22:42 > 0:22:46of the fellas they've met on previous nights out.
0:22:46 > 0:22:47Who was that boy you met last time?
0:22:47 > 0:22:50- Oh, Robert!- Robert!
0:22:53 > 0:22:54Yes, that's right.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57He was the one that tried to slip in in front of us at the bar,
0:22:57 > 0:23:01- but we wangled a wee free drink out of it.- Good old Robbie.
0:23:01 > 0:23:06Then he gave me lessons in how to change gears in a 40-foot trailer.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08- Sounds exciting.- It was.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10It's a three transition gearbox or something.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12High, medium, low
0:23:12 > 0:23:16and you've to go through the gears with every transition.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18Then I got my licence out and showed him
0:23:18 > 0:23:20I did the trailer test category B and E.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24- Love at first sight.- He seemed suitably impressed, so he did.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30Eoin and Simon have arrived in small-town Donegal
0:23:30 > 0:23:33for an open-air country music dancing festival.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36And dancing isn't the only thing they're interested in.
0:23:37 > 0:23:41Hello, girls. We're boys.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44There's a lot of very good-looking girls, from this angle anyway.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47When we're dancing that might be a different story,
0:23:47 > 0:23:51but there's only one thing we can do and that's find out.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53# Wham, bam, thank you, ma'am
0:23:53 > 0:23:56# I'll be on my way
0:23:56 > 0:23:58# Thank you but no thank you
0:23:58 > 0:23:59# Not today... #
0:23:59 > 0:24:03The Clonmany Festival is headlined by country star Robert Mizzell
0:24:03 > 0:24:06and is an extravaganza of all things country
0:24:06 > 0:24:08before the chill autumn nights begin to set in.
0:24:11 > 0:24:16# I'm just too young to get married, you see
0:24:16 > 0:24:19# There's too many places... #
0:24:19 > 0:24:21It's a pretty open floor. Anybody can walk on to it.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23There's a lot of girls just standing round the edge.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26They're just itching for somebody to take them up, so it's just a matter
0:24:26 > 0:24:28of going up and saying, "Are you coming for a dance?"
0:24:30 > 0:24:33- Shall we give it a go then? - Let's go.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35Not that fast now!
0:24:36 > 0:24:39# I didn't know it way back then how she influenced me... #
0:24:39 > 0:24:42There's a girl there in a white dress, I asked her for a dance.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44"Aye, I can dance, no problem."
0:24:44 > 0:24:47I danced with her for about 30 seconds, she turns around and goes,
0:24:47 > 0:24:49"Oh, no, I can't dance in heels, you're a professional.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51"You know what you're at here, I don't."
0:24:51 > 0:24:53And I'm a complete bluffer, like anybody else,
0:24:53 > 0:24:56I just try and pass myself at it.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58I really can't in these shoes.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01- You can't dance in them shoes?- No.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04- You've messed my hair and everything now.- Sorry, darling.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06She turned around and said,
0:25:06 > 0:25:09"I can't dance any more," and sort of turned and walked away.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12It sort of makes you feel down on yourself at times,
0:25:12 > 0:25:14but what do you do?
0:25:14 > 0:25:17You just look for somebody else and go over and say, "Can YOU dance?"
0:25:17 > 0:25:21If they say yes, well, then, back up you go again and away you go, like.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25Farmer's girl Eleanor
0:25:25 > 0:25:28and friend Aisling are in Ballymena where the biggest country
0:25:28 > 0:25:32music gig of the year takes place in a livestock yard.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35Oh, there's piles of people here. It's huge.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39My word, how are we ever going to find anyone here?
0:25:39 > 0:25:41You'd be totally lost.
0:25:41 > 0:25:45# Hold on to your hat... #
0:25:45 > 0:25:49Derek Ryan is the hottest ticket on the country music circuit.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52Over 2,000 young farmers have travelled for miles around
0:25:52 > 0:25:56so there's no shortage of eligible bachelors with a good acreage.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02The girls were soon jiving their way through the floor, but it's
0:26:02 > 0:26:06not just a man's jiving skills that Eleanor is interested in.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10# I'll care for you and love you too until the day I die
0:26:10 > 0:26:12# Hold on to your hat... #
0:26:30 > 0:26:33Being a dairy farmer is a fatal blow for any young man's chances
0:26:33 > 0:26:35with the discerning Eleanor.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37But the night is still young.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39Here we go. One, two, one, two, three.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58He has a couple of vintage tractors and that,
0:26:58 > 0:26:59so that's a common interest too.
0:26:59 > 0:27:04But he's a beef and a sheep farmer, so a bit of craic.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18He is a good dancer, so I'll definitely jive with him again,
0:27:18 > 0:27:21maybe learn a few more steps from him or something.
0:27:21 > 0:27:26# My country so-o-oul So-o-oul... #
0:27:26 > 0:27:30While Eleanor seems to have found some common ground in
0:27:30 > 0:27:34vintage tractors, Aisling is in demand as a dance partner.
0:27:34 > 0:27:39He was lovely. He was really nice. A pure farmer.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43Nice shirt, brown shoes and he was, he was good at the jiving,
0:27:43 > 0:27:46he wasn't so good at the waltzing, but he was a good jiver,
0:27:46 > 0:27:48so what more can you want?
0:27:48 > 0:27:52# Praise the Lord I saw the light... #
0:27:52 > 0:27:55I think Aisling's maybe found a man with a bit of potential.
0:27:55 > 0:27:59He was well turned out and he seemed like a good gentleman anyway.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02She seemed to like him and as far as you can tell,
0:28:02 > 0:28:06they got a wee Facebook add, so it's maybe all systems go.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09There are a couple of interesting characters on the scene.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12I don't know if I'll be bringing any of them home any time soon,
0:28:12 > 0:28:16but we'll keep going out and keep jiving away and see what happens.
0:28:16 > 0:28:21# I ain't seen no misery since you've been gone
0:28:21 > 0:28:23# Well, hello trouble... #
0:28:23 > 0:28:25Back on the Main Street of Clonmany,
0:28:25 > 0:28:28country music star Robert Mizzell is bringing his open-air concert
0:28:28 > 0:28:31to a close and, as usual,
0:28:31 > 0:28:34it has been a night of non-stop jiving for the boys.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42Thank you!
0:28:45 > 0:28:47But as the clean-up begins,
0:28:47 > 0:28:50Eoin seems to have lost his wingman, Simon.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53He's living up to his name, Slippery Simon. He's long gone.
0:28:53 > 0:28:55I haven't seen him in an hour or two.
0:28:55 > 0:28:58He's not away by himself, that's one thing for sure.
0:28:59 > 0:29:02I'm trying to ring him here, but there's no answer.
0:29:02 > 0:29:06He's not answering, anyway, so he must be busy of some sort.
0:29:06 > 0:29:08Going straight to voicemail,
0:29:08 > 0:29:10so he's obviously at something he shouldn't be at.
0:29:10 > 0:29:17# And as I wonder where you are
0:29:17 > 0:29:24# I'm so lonesome I could cry. #
0:29:31 > 0:29:36Summer is coming to an end and time is running out for Enda.
0:29:38 > 0:29:42This Saturday night is the big one, the end of season barn dance.
0:29:42 > 0:29:46This is what I've been practising the jive for.
0:29:46 > 0:29:48This was all towards this one night.
0:29:48 > 0:29:52So I want to go out there, strut the stuff, show everybody what
0:29:52 > 0:29:58I've learnt, that it wasn't a waste of time, especially Tammy.
0:29:58 > 0:30:01Fingers crossed I don't be swinging the girls like I swing a bus.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06Enda has only one more of Tammy's lessons left to
0:30:06 > 0:30:08perfect his technique.
0:30:09 > 0:30:13Get your partner. Enda, get your partner.
0:30:13 > 0:30:18- Get a partner.- You're shaking. - Aye, I'm shaking.- Why?
0:30:18 > 0:30:20- Just a nervous thing.- Really?
0:30:20 > 0:30:23One. Smiles, ladies face.
0:30:23 > 0:30:28Three, two, one double out. One back, ladies.
0:30:28 > 0:30:36- Toe spin. What are you at? - I don't know.- Back to the start.
0:30:36 > 0:30:39No mistakes this time, Enda. That's it.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42Pushing off each other so the man's going to turn this time
0:30:42 > 0:30:45and the lady's going to spin back round. Catching two right hands.
0:30:45 > 0:30:48So two right hands back-to-back.
0:30:48 > 0:30:53Right hands back-to-back. Has everybody got that far?
0:30:53 > 0:30:55Let's put them together quickly.
0:30:55 > 0:30:57Oh, no, I was right enough.
0:30:57 > 0:31:01- Yeah.- Hang on, I'll swing you.
0:31:01 > 0:31:04But things are looking distinctly bumpy.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07Oh, no.
0:31:10 > 0:31:12THEY LAUGH
0:31:12 > 0:31:15Teacher Tammy steps in to steady the boat.
0:31:19 > 0:31:22See here, you're going like this. Try and stay up.
0:31:22 > 0:31:23Three, two...
0:31:31 > 0:31:33That's better.
0:31:36 > 0:31:40- Well done. Just a wee bit of work.- Aye.
0:31:40 > 0:31:44- Right, Lyn, your turn. - I'm a lot better than when I started.
0:31:44 > 0:31:47I'd have the confidence now to go and ask a girl out to dance now,
0:31:47 > 0:31:49so that was the main thing and I can do that.
0:31:49 > 0:31:53I feel I can do that now, so that's the first hurdle over.
0:31:53 > 0:31:56Now it's the big stage that's the next hurdle.
0:31:56 > 0:31:58I hope all goes well on Saturday.
0:32:03 > 0:32:07Tommy's country summer has moved up a level.
0:32:07 > 0:32:11While out dancing with the girls, he has met someone special.
0:32:11 > 0:32:13Tonight is a big night.
0:32:13 > 0:32:14After the split in his marriage,
0:32:14 > 0:32:19he's getting ready for his first ever date.
0:32:19 > 0:32:25..This night I was up there and I met this girl, a lovely person.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28I never met the like of her in my life. I'm telling you,
0:32:28 > 0:32:31would you believe it, when I met her first, there was
0:32:31 > 0:32:34something different about her than any other woman.
0:32:34 > 0:32:36I'm going to meet her tonight
0:32:36 > 0:32:39and this is the first date ever in my life. I'm a bit shaky now.
0:32:39 > 0:32:41I'll have to take a wee brandy before I go
0:32:41 > 0:32:44because I'll be shaking going up the road.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47Especially a woman talking to me, it'll scare the life out of me,
0:32:47 > 0:32:48I'm telling you it will.
0:32:48 > 0:32:51D-K-N-Y, whatever that means.
0:32:51 > 0:32:53I don't know much about it,
0:32:53 > 0:32:57but they like the wee tint of a wee scent around the neck, they like it.
0:32:57 > 0:33:00You wouldn't believe they liked the old perfume.
0:33:00 > 0:33:03Some women are very particular about themselves, you know.
0:33:03 > 0:33:07But I'm not as particular, to tell you the truth. Anything will do me.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10I'd wear a boiler suit, anything would do me.
0:33:10 > 0:33:14We're ready for the dancing now, lad. Are you ready to come?
0:33:14 > 0:33:15Bring the brandy with you!
0:33:15 > 0:33:17# Why'd do you come in here looking like that
0:33:17 > 0:33:20# In your high-heeled boots and your painted-on jeans
0:33:20 > 0:33:23# All decked out like a cowgirl's dreams
0:33:23 > 0:33:27# Why'd you come in here looking like that? #
0:33:27 > 0:33:30And it took you a long time to come for your first date,
0:33:30 > 0:33:34but I'm delighted because you are a star, I love you to bits.
0:33:34 > 0:33:36It took me a wee while to get to know you, Tommy.
0:33:36 > 0:33:38I have to get to know the person.
0:33:38 > 0:33:40I don't go out on a date with just anybody.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43- You wouldn't go on a date with just anybody?- No.
0:33:43 > 0:33:45I've been clouted before, I won't be clouted again!
0:33:47 > 0:33:49Oh, golly, golly. Right, right.
0:33:49 > 0:33:53I didn't think you were going to ask me out to dance at all.
0:33:53 > 0:33:56I love dancing with a good dancer and you are one of them
0:33:56 > 0:34:00- as well as a singer.- I'm learning very quickly once I met you.
0:34:00 > 0:34:03You're a great teacher, so you are.
0:34:03 > 0:34:07I've danced with a lot of girls and I mean a lot of girls.
0:34:07 > 0:34:10You'd have seen me sometimes dancing any nights I go,
0:34:10 > 0:34:1420, 25, 30, maybe more even, girls a night.
0:34:14 > 0:34:1720 maybe 10, some nights 15.
0:34:17 > 0:34:22But when I did come across her, there were some feelings that
0:34:22 > 0:34:24she was the one that I did really, really want.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27That's only the first that I ever really wanted.
0:34:27 > 0:34:31I've been so lucky she's saying the same to me.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33It's very hard to get somebody respectable and decent,
0:34:33 > 0:34:37and hopefully the two of us will work out. It would be great if we do.
0:34:37 > 0:34:39She's a lovely person. I hope it works out.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41Are you trying to get me drunk?
0:34:43 > 0:34:46A wee beer wouldn't do that. No, no.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50# You know I like my chicken fried
0:34:50 > 0:34:53# Cold beer on a Friday night
0:34:53 > 0:34:59# Pair of jeans that fit just right and the radio on... #
0:34:59 > 0:35:01The countdown is over for Enda.
0:35:01 > 0:35:05He set himself the challenge of learning to jive over the summer
0:35:05 > 0:35:07and now the big night has arrived.
0:35:10 > 0:35:13Tonight's the night. We're heading for Dungiven.
0:35:13 > 0:35:16Hopefully I'll have the courage now to ask somebody out to dance
0:35:16 > 0:35:20and hopefully I'll remember all me moves.
0:35:20 > 0:35:22So the sweat is on.
0:35:25 > 0:35:31I bought the best dancing shoe on the market. These bad boys.
0:35:31 > 0:35:33Hopefully they'll make me dance better.
0:35:39 > 0:35:44# Dancing for my baby tonight You just sing along... #
0:35:44 > 0:35:48Country star John McNicholl is playing the Dungiven barn dance.
0:35:48 > 0:35:51# Come on, dance Let's dance... #
0:35:54 > 0:35:56Are you all excited?
0:35:56 > 0:36:00- Nervous.- Don't be nervous, you know the stuff, you've been there
0:36:00 > 0:36:01and you've done it now and...
0:36:01 > 0:36:05It's all right at dance practice, but this is the real McCoy.
0:36:05 > 0:36:07Even though the night has arrived,
0:36:07 > 0:36:11dance teacher Tammy is still coaching Enda on the basic moves.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14Lady under, as the lady comes back the man goes under.
0:36:14 > 0:36:16Leave him alone, he's nervous, God love him.
0:36:16 > 0:36:20- We're going to have a wee practice when we go in any way.- Aye.
0:36:20 > 0:36:22# Ain't going to need this house no longer
0:36:22 > 0:36:24# Ain't going to need this house no more
0:36:24 > 0:36:28# Ain't got time to fix the shingles, ain't got time... #
0:36:28 > 0:36:29To get the night started,
0:36:29 > 0:36:32it's straight onto the dance floor for an easy warm-up routine,
0:36:32 > 0:36:34a line dance called the Hucklebuck.
0:36:34 > 0:36:37# Ain't going to need this house longer
0:36:37 > 0:36:38# I'm getting ready to meet the saints
0:36:40 > 0:36:43# This old house is getting shaky... #
0:36:43 > 0:36:46Jiving and the country music scene is very traditional.
0:36:46 > 0:36:49It's up to the man to invite a woman to the dance floor.
0:36:50 > 0:36:52But Enda is getting cold feet.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55- You can do it.- No. - You can do it!
0:36:56 > 0:37:03- Tammy spies a potential dancing partner.- Just go over and ask her.
0:37:03 > 0:37:07- I don't know.- Just do it. Go on.
0:37:08 > 0:37:12Having plucked up the courage, it is the moment of truth.
0:37:20 > 0:37:24# Let's dance on the floor with your baby tonight
0:37:24 > 0:37:26# Let me hear you sing along
0:37:26 > 0:37:28# Jiving through the quicksteps
0:37:28 > 0:37:30# Until the break of dawn
0:37:30 > 0:37:33# Come on, dance, let's dance
0:37:33 > 0:37:36# It's here where we belong
0:37:36 > 0:37:41# I'll just keep on singing If you just dance along... #
0:37:41 > 0:37:44Ten dance classes, two private lessons
0:37:44 > 0:37:47and a lot of hard graft, Enda has pulled it off.
0:37:47 > 0:37:48That boy can jive.
0:37:49 > 0:37:52# But I'm crazy over you... #
0:37:52 > 0:37:56Go on, Enda! Whoo!
0:37:56 > 0:37:59Yeah, he was very good, so he was.
0:37:59 > 0:38:02He's a great dancer. He just came over and took me by surprise.
0:38:02 > 0:38:04Somebody I was told he couldn't even dance and he came over
0:38:04 > 0:38:06and he pretty much taught me how to dance.
0:38:06 > 0:38:08He was that good.
0:38:08 > 0:38:13# I'll keep on singing if you just dance along
0:38:13 > 0:38:20# I'll keep on singing if you just dance along. #
0:38:20 > 0:38:23To go out there tonight and do it and ask some stranger to dance,
0:38:23 > 0:38:28it's a big lift of my shoulders. I just love it now.
0:38:28 > 0:38:32It feels great to be able to go out and ask somebody to jive.
0:38:32 > 0:38:36And no more watching handbags and phones and high-heeled shoes,
0:38:36 > 0:38:38that's all finished now.
0:38:38 > 0:38:40A dancer all the time for me.
0:38:40 > 0:38:44# Ireland's turned to country everywhere you go
0:38:44 > 0:38:47# From Cork right up to Donegal
0:38:47 > 0:38:49# From Dublin to Mayo
0:38:49 > 0:38:52# Yeah, me and my band gonna cross the land
0:38:52 > 0:38:54# We're putting on a show
0:38:54 > 0:38:59# People say it's here to stay Ireland's turned to country
0:38:59 > 0:39:05# And I do believe it's here to stay Ireland's turned to country. #