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This building used to be called the Dreamland Ballroom, aka Sunflower Ballroom in Athy was opened on Friday 14th  July 1961 to the sounds of Silver Silvester and his Orcestra. Lots of the top Irish Showbands and International artists used to play here every Saturday and Sunday night, and it was open from 9pm until 2am in the morning. People travelled from all over the surrounding counties by train, car, bus and even on bicycles.
Bernie Naughton's father, Sean Naughton, who was 86 years of age in September 2022, worked for Jim and Albert Reynolds for 10 years and they were responsible for putting down the Maple wood dance floor in the Dreamland Ballroom. They started their business in the Fairyland Ballroom in Roscommon., and worked their way across Ireland putting down dance floors.
He has loads of stories, waiting to be told of both working and dancing around Ireand.
On the 2nd April 1982 the Dreamland Ballroom was put up for sale.
You can read more of the history of the Dreamland on the Irish Showbans.com website at https://www.irish-showbands.com/images/halls/dreamland-ggx.htm

It is said that Thin Lizzy and U2 once played here in the early 70s. The venue was also used for roller skating on Saturdays and Sundays; Wow! happy days gone by!. This comment sent in by jillmikemack2007@gmail.com

MEMORIES OF IRISH BALLROOMS

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© 2001 County Carlow Genealogy IGP

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