Dancehalls in Ireland were far more relaxed than those controlled by the Mecca circuit in Britain which were all very similar,people were out there to enjoy themselves after the pubs had closed,have a dance or two,talk to the bands afterwards.Bandswere much more versatile,a lot of musicians sang as well as the lead vocalists,in Britain,this was not the case, usually it was just the singers who sang.You could listen to the pure country genius of Ray Lynam  or dance  to a good pop showband such as The Champions ,or follow your favourite band, a good night was always guaranteed!

What was your local ballroom? Is it still open today? Have the ballrooms in  England that played Irish bands in the "good old days" suffered the same fate as their Irish counterparts?

My local venue where I  used to see showbands was St Patricks Club in Leicester,now sadly no more but I did visit the Shamrock Ballroom  in Birmingham,which also has disappeared,both had many memories for me.The Galteymore in London another favourite of mine is the sole survivor of the many showband venues in London.

I see that the Indians play in England regularly: Fri, May 28th at Monaco Ballroom, Wigan, England; Sat, May 29th at Angel Theatre, Rendlesham, England; Sun, May 30th at Embassy Theatre, Skegness, England. Are they one of just a few bands that tour England or are there a lot of bands coming over more regularly from Ireland?

Most of Irelands top showbands visit Britain,to play at the Galteymore Ballroom in London every Saturday including  veterans such as Brendan Shine and the Conquerors.From time to time they also play Irish Social Clubs such as Corby Irish Centre and festivals such as the Woking Irish Festival in  Surrey.

One of my fondest memories are of a regular Sunday night dance in St.Clares Hall Glenavy. We all had a surprise that night. Unknown to anyone the Dubliners made a surprise appearance. "Seven Drunken Nights" was high in the charts and there they were singing it live in front of us. They only stayed for a couple of songs and were on their way.
I never did get another chance to see them live again.  :o

Embassy Ballroom Castleblaney every Sunday night where love stories began. Young famers lined the back wall in there black wellies on a summers evening to catch the last few songs of the night.  Met my first love in the Embassy (not one of the famers I might add) happy days.

hi from the lake district uk, three  hotel/dancehall place`s that I know of  in my part of the country who played host to some of the best night`s I can remember ,  the sandpiper at allenby where I first saw the cotten mill boy`s, with two other band`s what night that was really magic :), has sadly burnt down and is no more, due to an electrical fault. :(. the white heather hotel  (was on an old airfield) again I saw the cotten mill boy`s there on a few ocasion`s and had the best night`s of my life ;D is still there. moota motel on the carlise road, I saw a few country and western act`s there mainly local one`s, has closed down and due to be knocked down, due to bancruptcy. :(.  Valerie

I remember one night being at a marquee outside a certain large town in Co. Donegal . Big Tom was there ( I do,nt know why i was there!!) but to cut a long story short the main electricity wire that powered the whole sheebang was ran up to the local pub and plugged into the wall across the floor. Some oul, fella was heading for the jacks and he tripped on the wire and out came the plug , just when Tom was singing something , Boy did he do us all a favour , that oul fella!!

Beejay, That's not very charitable. I agree with you though. He did everyone a big favour.
What were you doing there anyway ;D

Liamo:  If you had a heard the type of music i heard that night , " Well lad ! i,ll leave the rest up to your own imagination"By the was the same night i was standing up against the side of the tent and all of a sudden, i felt the back of me leg getting very wet ..and hot , and it was,nt GLOBAL WARMING either!!.... ??? ???

So THAT was called MUSIC. A very loose use of the term. Thanks Beejay. I often wondered about that but was embarrased to ask anyone.
Good job for you the "Global Warmer" wasn't facing away from the tent. You could have really been in SH+T. ;D

It seems to be the in thing to take a swipe at Big Tom. Tom is one the finest entertainters to grace the ballrooms of Ireland. A true gentleman who is still drawing the crowds and this at a time when many of his contemporaries wouldn't draw enough people to fill a telephone box. Let's all put our shoulders to wheel and organise a petition to get Pat Kenny and the Late Late Show to honour rhe big man with a Late Late Special. My favourite ballrom the Ard Ri in Manchester.

God Almighty man, sure he,d hardly go down Castleblaney Street , to attend a function in his honour , How the hell would he make it to the Late Late? If he ever appears on the show i,ll bet you one thing. There,ll be No free CD,s for EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE!!  He,s as tight as a Camels Ass in a Sandstorm! ;D

Hi Tiptop
   I agree with everything you said about Big Tom.  I saw him in The Lavey Inn Co Cavan August 2005 . He Is still drawing the crowds and singing great as ever.  His latest CD "The Same Way You Came In " Is the most requested song on the radio for the past year.   Your favourite ballroomThe Ardri in Manchester is no more :'( there is now a block of flats on the site.  St Kentigerns Social Club in Manchester is now the place to be :)
                  Smith

Everone's entitled to their opinion and taste. Personally, if it was me, I'd go out the "same way as I came in".

We had a saying "If you could,nt score at a Big Tom or a Larry Cunningham Dance , Then forget it!". All the dancing was that "Shoulder up Shoulder down stuff" Can you imagine Tom singing  "The HUCKLEBUCK? " Thats , righ t, you would,nt want to. or Cunningham singing " The Holy City"?
I heard him do Little Rosa wan night . Jimmy steps up to the mike " And now Larry,s going to SING a monologue , Little Rosa" Christ preserve us , and we paid 10 bob to get in to hear crap like that!!

My favourite ballroom was the Starlight in clones co monaghah. i enjoyed all the bands. larry cunning was my no 1 and johnny mcevoy. i still go to hear the bands in the lavey inn. i now follow gary gamble a new lad on the road. he is great sings very like daniel o donnell so if you hear he is near were you live go to one of his shows and let me know what you think

 Hi Country-girl-mags
  Glad that you enjoy the gigs at The Lavey Inn.  Seamus keeps the scene alive in Cavan by booking all the big bands.  I remember before The Lavey Inn was built a marquee would be erected every year for six weeks on the site where The Lavey Inn now stands for The Lavey Strand Carnival.  As a child I would look forward to the marquee going up it was a great place to go instead of school I would spend all day in the tent sliding up and down the floor with my brothers and we would collect all the photos of the band that had played there the night before.
                      smith

have you still got your photo you collected do you know eddie owens
and top gear

Hi Country-Girl-Mags
     Yes I know Eddie Owens he is from Upper Lavey.  I have two of his CDs  the one he recorded withTop Gear to raise funds for The Holy Family School In Coothill and "The Best Of Eddie Owens"  Some of the photos we collected are still around some are on the website.
                      Smith

The best Irish dancehall here in Manchester was the Carousel. I still remember the worst night was when I ordered a pint of Guiness and it was like 'nectar'.
Went back for another pint and they had run out.

Great bands though, Royal, Miami, Hoedowners, Jim Farley, Johnny Flynn, Swingtigtime Aces, Royal Blues, Savoy etct.

Anyone remember Adamstown?  It was the place to be on a Sunday night in the 70s.   Or anyone remember the Olympic in Dublin?

:D :D :DHi Ronnie,Those were great days,yes I  Remember the Olympic,it was a nice dance hall,saw one of my fav bands there New Blues,still keep in touch with some of them,one of whom is a penpal.Best Wishes,Pete.