Between the jigs and the reels is an expression used to describe "that which happens among, despite, or because of great confusion, chaos, or disarray; between or because of one thing or another"

(Dictionary; Ireland, Idiomatic)

A couple of years ago, when looking for something else, I stumbled across footage of an Irish dancer on youtube . The footage was just of the dancers legs practising in her treble shoes on a wooden floor. The sound of the shoes practising this step brought me back to my Irish dancing class in Beragh Hall in May 1972. That is where I was with my sisters when someone came to tell us we had to go home. They said there was a surprise waiting for us. Walking up the village street I remember thinking that the surprise must be a new bike! When I arrived into the kitchen there was Dad, home from Long Kesh Prison. He had been gone 10 months.