“WHAT we want are the stories of romance, of chance meetings or tales that are funny and maybe even mischievous,” said PJ Cunningham, co-author of a new book looking to tell the story of Ireland's showband era.
From The Candy Store to the Galtymore hopes to chronicle a unique time in rural and urban Ireland and Britain through the stories of the young men and women who religiously went to their local ballroom of romance each weekend.
People with memories of the halcyon days and nights of dancing to showbands are being sought to retell their tales as part of a new publication due out later this year.
The book will be co-edited by Cunningham and Dr Joe Kearney who are now looking for stories from that golden era which saw the beginnings of thousands of romances.
Final night at Galtymore in 2008“All human life gathered for the weekly dances in what was a cultural shift away from the more formal céilís which held sway up until then," Cunningham said.
“The showband dances were modern and slightly more brash occasions than the country had been used to but, if anything, the number of stories of love and loss, rows and ructions, fun and games grew in the new environment.
“We are seeking particular stories rather than people just remembering the night that Joe Dolan, Brendan Bowyer or Dickie Rock played their local hall.
“Ideally there should be a bit of tension or drama, humour, love or loss involved in what people send in to us.
“With 200 or 300 bands traversing the country every weekend, and dancehalls sprouting up all over the place, everyone has a favourite story from that era.”
Co-author Dr Kearney remembers the influence that showbands had on his own youth working in London.
“In the sixties, many of us spent our time in poor accommodation in Cricklewood, Kilburn, Manchester or Liverpool,” said Joe.
“We lived for the visits of the Irish showbands to provide a flavour of the life we had left behind and an escape from the humdrum of ordinary living.
“The Galtymore, The 32 Club, The Gresham and the Hibernian in London were meccas for us.
“They were packed to the rafters every time the showbands came to town.”
Have you got a great story to tell? Email [email protected]
You can also contact the book's authors on [email protected] before June 30.
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