Irish Showbands Forum
http://www.irish-showbands.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl
Discussion Board >> The Ballrooms >> The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
http://www.irish-showbands.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1084907610

Message started by Admin on 05/18/04 at 19:13:30

Title: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by Admin on 05/18/04 at 19:13:30
In researching for the ballroom section of the site, I am discovering that quite a few that are simply gone...as in--demolished! A few that spring to mind are Pontoon Ballroom in Mayo, the Silver Slipper/Baymount in Strandhill, Pavilion Ballroom in Louth, Pavilion Ballroom in Skerries, and soon to be National Ballroom in Dublin (reported 8/15/03). What about your local ballrooms? Have they survived?    

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by seenthescene on 06/22/04 at 09:55:17
Well, The Tempo in Moira is still there but I believe is now used as a church or meeting hall.

St. Clares in Glenavy still stands but has turned to a quieter lifestyle as just a Parish hall. I don't really know what goes on there now, used to be the odd whist-drive.

And as mentioned elsewhere Top Hat no longer stands.

There was also another hall up at Pond Park had a Friday night dance, it's still standing.

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by irishmolly on 05/15/06 at 00:33:24
not too sure what happened to ,ierne.AOH, georges hotel, the irish club. the town and country aka the town and muck.the crystal ballroom.
discos will never have the atmosphere the ballrooms had

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by celebrity on 05/15/06 at 00:56:57
:) :) :)I agree with Irish Molly the discos won't replace the ballrooms,when they pulled down the National a few months ago,I felt as if a part of me had gone too,there were so many memories for fans like myself and everyone connected to the music industry,lets savour those memories please :) :)

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by kelly_17 on 05/15/06 at 22:11:17
The Ritz ballroom in Carlow stands idle now for nearly 20 years

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by liamo on 05/15/06 at 22:37:17
It was a great spot 8)

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by kelly_17 on 05/15/06 at 23:25:21
Yes it was, the last band I seen there were The Indians, they had a greart  show very talented musicians long live Live Music.

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by Trisha on 05/15/06 at 23:43:04
Yes, I have to agree with you about the Indians. They're still going today but I haven't seen them in many years.

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by Shay on 09/06/06 at 02:46:47
Sad to see The Granada Ballroom in Granard Co Longford demolished last week Truly the end of an era for the North Midlands

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by breezy_willow on 09/24/06 at 02:08:40
Hi
The Westpark Hotel, Portumna, Co Galway had a great ballroom and played host to many of the top bands from around the country. It was heartbreaking to see them put in raised platforms and fixed seatings when they changed it into a niteclub/disco.  It is now an upmarket country park hotel. I doubt if they hold dances there anymore. Such a shame. I enjoyed many, many happy times there! At least the memories are strong - they can't demolish them!!!
D

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by ronnie on 11/21/06 at 09:27:27
It is so sad to see all the ballrooms closing.  They were ballrooms of romance for many and indeed many met their husband/wife there.  I remember Dancing all over Wexford and all the ballrooms in Dublin.  Anyone remember going to the Ags dance on a Wed night in the Olympic?

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by dub_in_scotland on 12/13/06 at 04:17:58
grew up in dublin three years younger then you and i dont remember being in any of those places,mind you i was hippy type back then and we probably moved in different circles

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by Ernie on 12/14/06 at 12:53:30
As they say `Time marchs on/This is progress`(?) so lets be fair about this and stop looking back through `rose-tinted` glasses.
I agree with all of you that it is very sad to see the ballrooms disappearing-they were a part of our growing up, a part of our memories(some happy, some not).However,for every decent ballroom there were 5 or 6 rotten.Granted we did not mind at the time but would you be happy going to one of them now?
Before any of you call me a silly,sad person, think on this-I (like most of you) grew up during the showband era and looked forward to the dances AND hitched to carnivals. Yes,the bands were good (and I am not putting them down)They provided music/entertainment in places where there was nothing, they worked hard to do this and I say `Thank You` to them all (good & bad) but the venues-that is something different.
As long as one person remembers where they danced then the ballroom will never be missed.

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by ronnie on 12/15/06 at 11:28:48
The Ritz in Carlow was a great spot, I spent many Sat nights there or in Carlow Rugby Club.  Anyone remember the Rugby Club?

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by liamo on 12/15/06 at 12:02:31
Not the rugby club but I remember the Ritz 8)

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by kelly_17 on 12/15/06 at 20:46:25
Ronnie The Rugby Club had the longest run of ever with the same band it was a great spot,  the Ritz also had Wed night dances still standing but empty now.

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by ronnie on 03/07/07 at 09:37:08
Was it the Hennessys that played in the Rugby club?  I know it was always the same band not like the Ritz.  Of course during the summer there was the Tara Ballroom in Courtown and all the local marquees and festivals.

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by liamo on 03/07/07 at 13:37:04
Now there's a memory or two, The Tara Courtown 8)

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by ronnie on 03/07/07 at 14:52:35
Dances nearly every night of the week in Courtown and Dave Moynihan on a Tuesday night for lets say the 'older generation'. Many great bands played there and during the summer a guaranteed crowd and a great night to be had.

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by kelly_17 on 03/07/07 at 14:53:37
No it was not The Hennessys they were a Carlow family band ,in the Rugby Club it was The Tourists who played every Saturday night.The Hennessys may have played relief in The Ritz I think ,Kelly

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by ronnie on 03/07/07 at 14:56:28
The band never really mattered all I knew was they were the same every week and you are right it was the Tourists.  Thanks for that.

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by Shay on 06/19/07 at 21:55:44
The Horizon in Mullingar was demolished yesterday Another one bites the dust!!

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by ronnie on 06/22/07 at 09:27:28
I was in Courtown a couple of weeks ago and see the Tara Ballroom demolished,  I know it was a night club for the past few years but now it is totally gone.  I'm sure there are many with memories good and bad of the ballroom in the 70s. Many met their husbands there.

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by liamo on 06/22/07 at 11:40:53
Not the 70s for me Ronnie but the 60s. I played there in bands and otherwise ;D Great spot.

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by Daniel on 10/28/07 at 00:56:48
Anybody out there remember 'The Stardust' venue in Cork City? I'm sure many bands enjoyed playing there...The atmosphere was great and the place was always packed full. :)

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by liamo on 10/28/07 at 01:04:04
It was a good spot alright. I was only there once for The Big 8. Happened to be in Cork on business that weekend.

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by bonny on 02/22/08 at 01:32:49
;)hello all, im new :-[,

we had adelphi ballroom here in dundalk, was best place all top bands came, 10 bob for royal and 7 /6 for others, we also had pavilion in blackrock near dundalk, another good spot, alas all down, so so sad; :'(

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by liamo on 02/22/08 at 03:12:16
Hi Bonny and welcome aboard. I was in The Adelphi Cinema in Dundalk a few times. I think the ballroom was next to it. I'm trying to remember back to 1956/59 :-[

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by bonny on 02/22/08 at 11:57:35
:Dah hi your right, it was and cinema still there, but round corner was ballroom, was on every friday and sunday nights, and tuesday was for students,hmmmm, we used to go as was cheap just to look at these students, hope you were not 1 them :P

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by liamo on 02/22/08 at 12:33:50
Bonny, check your messages please.

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by JackJoe on 08/06/09 at 22:10:18
So much of our entertainment history has vanished.  Drove past Roseland in Moate (or where it used to be) but no could see it and visited Kiltormer Village in Galway where I often went to a great Sunday night dance but it's falling down now.  The locals told me that its been sold recently and its a furniture store now.
Oh, the memories. :'(http://www.irish-showbands.com/yabbfiles/Templates/Forum/default/cry.gif

Title: Re: The Day The Music Died....Lost Ballrooms
Post by aubrey on 02/17/15 at 19:52:27
The castle ballroom is still in banbridge county down
in newry street,Only it is a bingo hall now.

Irish Showbands Forum » Powered by YaBB 2.5 AE!
YaBB Forum Software © 2000-2010. All Rights Reserved.