Claremorris Town Hall documentary on Radio One

STORYTELLER John Corless pictured sitting in Claremorris Town Hall, which was bombed twice inside six months in the early 1970s.

‘Dancing Nancy’ to tell the story of the bombing of Claremorris Town Hall

Edwin McGreal

The incredible story of Cong’s Nancy Murphy and the bombings of Claremorris Town Hall will feature on Documentary on One next Saturday.
‘Dancing Nancy’ is produced by Mayo News writer and photographer John Corless and will air at 2pm on RTÉ Radio One on Saturday.
‘Dancing Nancy’ explores how Claremorris Town Hall was bombed not once but twice in a matter of months in the early 1970s.
The hall was built and opened in 1969 and ran dances successfully on Sunday nights during the dancehall era.
However, 50 years ago, on November 7, 1972 the hall was bombed.
‘Who did it’ and ‘why’ were the two main questions.
It was initially thought to be the work of paramilitaries – this was at the height of the Troubles. However, both the IRA and the UDA issued denials. The hall was not hugely damaged and nobody was injured. Locals gathered around and cleared up the debris and repaired the damage and the hall resumed operation. The ‘who’ and the ‘why’ were still unknown.
Fast forward less than six months and in the early hours of St Patrick’s Day, 1973 the hall was bombed again. Once more locals cleared up the damage and nobody was injured.
This time, however, one of the bombers was found in Dublin. He revealed all – he and his colleague had been instructed by Nancy Murphy from Cong.
She ran a smaller dancehall in Cong and attendances there had been badly affected by Claremorris Town Hall. She was convicted and jailed.
John Corless is well placed to tell this story. He is the Manager of Claremorris Town Hall Theatre. He’s also a renowned writer and photographer. He writes and directs stage plays, and has toured Ireland with productions.
He contributes news, features and sports articles to a number of publications, including The Mayo News where he provides weekly soccer reports, interviews and photography.
His photographs have appeared in newspapers and magazines worldwide and he has broadcast on RTÉ Radio One and on local radio.