 There is very little documentary evidence of dance being practised in Ireland prior to the 17th century, this could be because much of the written record was destroyed in Ireland by Viking raids Scholars have hypothesised this is from non-literate nature of the Irish cultural tradition.Indeed, the modern Irish words for "dance", "rince" and "damhsa" did not develop until the 16th century.The scant evidence available is primarily that of visitors to Ireland, such as a fourteenth-century song written in the South of England, where the poet invites his listeners to "come ant daunce wyt me in Irlaunde".