An English Longsword Dance Team based in Nottingham
Welcome to Sullivan's Sword
Sullivan’s Sword is a mixed longsword dance team based in Nottingham, England. We can be seen performing at festivals, fetes, pubs (of course!) all around Nottinghamshire and sometimes much further afield.
To contact us with a general enquiry or to book us for an event please email events@sullivanssword.co.uk. We take bookings for a variety of event types, both public and private; our fees are very reasonable (and sometimes zero, at our discretion). We have danced & played at fetes, festivals, pubs, care homes, sword dance experience/work-shops, to name but a few. We also perform plays (particularly on Plough Sunday) as the Owd Oss Mummers.
Recruiting Now!
Join us for a try-out...
Sullivan’s Sword always welcomes new dancers and musicians, both men and women. We practice each Tuesday evening from 8pm at The Poppy and Pint, Pierrepont Rd, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 5DX. If you would like to give it a go then email our captain: captain@sullivanssword.co.uk
Or… just turn up!
Supporting Local charities
Each year, members of Sullivan’s Sword select a local charity to support through their activities. To raise funds for their chosen charity, they organise collections at their annual Plough Sunday event in January, as well as during their dance outs throughout the year. Since January 2023, Sullivan’s Sword has continued to support Framework, a charity dedicated to providing support for people experiencing homelessness.
Chris Morris, Practice Co-ordinator for the group, says: “We want to help people who have fallen on hard times. We chose to continue collecting for Framework as we feel that they do a great job in providing support to those who need it.”
Matt Cooke, Community Fundraiser at Framework, says: “We are so grateful for the commitment of our friends at Sullivan’s Sword, which helps us continue to provide our services during such challenging times. With their support, and of course with the generosity of all the local people who donated on the day, we are determined to continue being there for some of our society’s most vulnerable people.”
Please donate to Framework via our fundraising page:
Happy St. Patrick's day to all our fellow folkies!
We'll be upstairs at the Poppy & Pint doing our usual thing - all welcome! ... See MoreSee Less
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We are meeting for a practice tonight 8-10pm at the Poppy & Pint.
Please feel free to come along if you fancy having a go at longsword dancing. ... See MoreSee Less
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SULLIVAN'S NEEDS YOU!
Plenty of reasons to join us :-
To be in the good company of friendly dancers and musicians.
To keep a very ancient tradition going, that most people don't even know exists!
To raise money for a charity that helps the homeless.
To socialise - which helps your mental health.
To dance - good for your body and mind.
To join in with our lovely, talented musicians.
And if you're a folklore enthusiast:- plenty of maths and geometry to explore in the ritual dance movements and swords locks!
Pagan symbolism - lifting the sword lock helps to make a new day arrive and encourages the sun to rise!
Or just enjoy the Dancing and Music for its own sake!
Come along and have a go - dancers and musicians very welcome.
Check with us before turning up at the Poppy and Pint on a Tuesday, in case we're dancing out! ... See MoreSee Less
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We had the privelege of performing alongside Eric as recently as last September, when he was playing for Greenwood Clog at the Erewash Canal heritage open day at Trent Lock.
He was a tremendous musician as well as being highly accomplished in his academic career and other fields - a true legend of the Nottingham folk dance scene who will be sadly missed.Dr. Eric Foxley
12th March 1937 – 23rd December 2025
The Foresters are sad to report the death of Eric Foxley, a dancer and musician who was well known and respected by many sides. Eric died on December 23rd 2025 after a prolonged battle with cancer which he had fought with true grit and determination. As was his nature he volunteered for experimental drug trials and outlived his NHS predicted life expectancy by over 10 years. Despite the illness he was still playing an accordion at events and riding his tricycle throughout 2025. This he did with humour and a stoic determination to enjoy life.
Eric danced and played for the Thames Valley Morris Men prior to moving to Nottingham in 1956 where he studied mathematics at Nottingham University. He met the Foresters for the first time that summer, at the Abingdon Ring Meeting, and asked if he could join the side. This meeting was when the Foresters were admitted to the Morris Ring. After graduation he undertook a PhD in mathematical logic before showing an interest in Computer Science and moving on to become a lecturer in the Mathematics Department. At one stage he was Director of the Cripps Computing Centre before re-joining the academic staff in the Mathematics Department. Later he joined the newly-formed Computer Science Department. Throughout this period he danced and played music for Foresters, and continued to do so after retirement in 1998.
Eric had a strong commitment to Morris Dancing throughout his whole life. He was in possession of Cecil Sharp's 3-hole pipe which he wanted to be donated to the EFDSS. As a young teenager he was taken by his parents to meet William Kimber and Jinky Wells. He was given tuition by both these venerable old men of the Morris. He was very proud of this association and his link to former Morris times, a link that has now sadly been broken. He had an intimate knowledge of the history of the Morris Revival in the earlier part of the twentieth century.
Eric was an exceptional musician. In 1993, when Nottingham hosted an international cycle conference, he rode around Nottinghamshire on the back of a tandem playing his accordion. If someone could whistle a tune he could pick it up immediately. This he did for a group of golfers that wanted to perform a Morris Dance with golf clubs to the theme tune of Auf Wiedersehen Pet. Eric also played for Greenwood Clog Dancers and for Freds Folks, in which he was a founding member in the 1950s and leader until 2025.
In Brittany, Eric was known for organising Morris Dancing tours and for many years the Foresters performed in villages and towns in northwest France. The French audiences were always appreciative and keen to arrange spontaneous street parties.
Eric was also an accomplished potter. He owned his own kiln and all of us who knew him have a bowl, mug or plate that he made. Some of his ceramic tiles are still on display in Nottingham and in press cuttings these were referred to as the work of ‘local artist Eric Foxley’.
Not only was he a webmaster for Foresters but he managed websites for many others, including The Greenwood Clog Dancers and an online music database.
Eric was a key member of Foresters and will be sadly missed by the side.
Foresters Morris and Sword Dancing Club. ... See MoreSee Less
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In spite of the weather forecast, we're still hoping for a good turnout for our 50th anniversary and Plough Sunday celebrations this Sunday (11th January) in Southwell.
A reminder of the programme:
10.30 Plough Sunday service in St. Denis church, Morton, followed by some traditional songs in the church
12.00 - 1.15 pm dance displays at various venues around Southwell
The Admiral Rodney Southwell
The Hearty Goodfellow
The Final Whistle, Southwell
The Wheatsheaf / Market Place
1.15 - 2.00 pm lunch break
2.15 pm onwards - The Final Whistle, Southwell
Performance of the Farnsfield Plough Play by Sullivan's Sword
50th anniversary celebration cakes
Dance displays by all of our guest teams.
We will be collecting for Framework Charity ... See MoreSee Less
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An article from The Bramley newspaper about the upcoming Plough Sunday event on 11th Jan. It's combined with Sullivan's Sword 50th anniversary so there'll be cake aplenty!
If you've been with Sullivan's in the past or The Owd 'Oss Mummers, (who Sullivan's are descended from), please turn up for the celebration! ... See MoreSee Less
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Photos from the SDU longsword tournament in Lincoln today. Thank you to Sallyport Sword Dancers for organising such good weather and good beer! ... See MoreSee Less
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Longsword dancing in Lincoln tomorrow ... See MoreSee Less
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Just to avoid any confusion, our 50th anniversary celebration is postponed until Plough Sunday on 11th January. ... See MoreSee Less
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A bit of heritage tomorrow - we'll be dancing at midday and 3pm at Mills Dockyard near Trent Lock
Look out for Lord Conyers Morris Men too! ... See MoreSee Less
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