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Commins Calling The death of Freda Conway revived memories of her family's association with the Gaiety Ballroom.
When the Gaiety in Islandeady was the Ballroom of Romance
Commins Calling Michael Commins
THE recent death of Freda Conway (nee Bourke) from Dooleague, Islandeady revived memories of her family's association with the Gaiety Ballroom in the parish along the main Castlebar to Westport road. Seven years ago, Freda, who was the youngest and the last surviving member of her generation of the Bourke family, contributed a lovely feature article to ‘Reflections’, a book which captured many stories from the Islandeady and Glenisland areas back through the years. As a tribute to Freda and her family's role in the parish life of Islandeady over the decades, we include a shortened version of the article she penned about the famous ballroom. "The Gaiety Ballroom in Islandeady still stands, a monument to another age, a dance hall where romance blossomed which led to many happy marriages. It all started with Edward Bourke from Kilbree, Islandeady, who was married to Bridget McDonnell from Burren, outside Castlebar. “He had a great love of music and played the piano, sometimes for his family’s entertainment and at other times for local people. He also had a deep interest in politics and served with great distinction as a Fine Gael representative on Mayo County Council. “At the time he got the idea to build the Gaiety Ballroom, planning permission was not required from the County Council. All you needed was the backing of the parish priest and, as the saying goes, you were away for slates. “Fr Paul McLoughlin was the parish priest in Islandeady at the time, a man still spoken of by the older people of the area as an outstanding pastor. He gave the idea his blessing and things began to move quickly. Edward then contacted PJ Kelly, Westport, a building contractor. The year was 1938, a short time before the outbreak of World War II, a time when money was scarce and emigration was rife. “The dance hall was completed in record time and the opening night was a gala occasion and the dance attracted a huge crowd from many parts. Radios were few and far between and rural electrification was still many years away. “PW Leamy from Castlebar provided the music on the opening night and a memorable occasion it was. Patrons came in their hundreds, on their bikes mainly, with bicycle clips, lamps, the lot. Admission was 1s 3d. Three pence went to the tax. Cloakroom tickets were 3d and you could buy minerals and sweets. It was mainly quicksteps, foxtrots and old-time waltzes. The Siege of Ennis was very popular too. “The Gardaí were vigilant about bicycle lamps in those days. Each bike had to have a bell, giving rise to the old saying ‘Where would you be going without a bell on your bike?’ The Gardaí often left their bikes in our house for safety and my mother would give them a cup of tea. The Gardaí came out from Westport and I remember Garda Johnson, Garda Kerins, Garda Canning, Sergeant Regan and Detective Kennedy. They have all now passed to their eternal reward. The Gardaí were efficient but always courteous and had good relations with the local people. “For all-night dances, which often went on to 3 o’clock in the morning, we had to provide a supper. The band members had their supper in our house during a break in dancing. In addition to PW Leamy, Brose Walsh, PJ Murtagh, Eddie Roy, Stephen Garvey, Mattie McDonagh, Johnny Flynn, Billy Newell and Tony Chambers played regularly in the Gaiety. “Other favourites in those days were Johnny Mulvey, who was very prominent in the GAA for many years, Michael John Flannery, Rush Street, Castlebar, who taught for many years in Achill, Alfie Faulkner, Castlebar, the former president of the INTO, who served as chairman of Athlone UDC and has lived in Athlone for many years, Charlie Reynolds, Jimmy Garvey, a brother of Stephen’s, Tony O’Grady, Manulla and Pheasant Hill (whose favourite song was ‘The Jolly Old Steamroller Gang’), Joe Chambers, Tom Walsh, Westport, Peter Gavin, Westport, Madame Bourke whose son Sean played with the Brose Walsh Band for many years, Seamie Gavin, a super trooper both on and off the stage, Dick Gillespie, Castlebar, a great trumpeter and drummer, and Chas Guthrie, Castlebar who sang with Eddie Roy and who died in Wales. He was a champion turf cutter in his day. All were brilliant musicians. “PW Leamy was a brilliant pianist and also produced musical shows and operettas. He was editor of The Mayo News for a number of years and also worked in the Connaught Telegraph and many other provincial newspapers. Those who worked with PW remember him as an outstanding journalist. “One of the most memorable occasions in the Gaiety Ballroom was when the 1951 Mayo team, All-Ireland champions, brought the Sam Maguire cup there. Peter Solan, with his strong local connections, was the hero of the hour and with him were Mick Flanagan (RIP), Paddy Prendergast, Eamon Mongey and other members of that great team. “It was a magic time for young Mayo people and we vividly recall the intense pride we had in the team. There are so many other great memories of the Gaiety. We can now look back nostalgically on them, in many ways an age of innocence before television opened our eyes and ears to the world. “‘Who’s playing in the Gaiety?’ was the question on many young people’s lips the week before the dance. The Mayo News or Connaught Telegraph were scanned for the name of the band. One can visualise the number of romances which blossomed there and led to happy marriages. The expression ‘Did you square at the Gaiety on Sunday night?’ meant did you leave someone home – most times on the bar of a bike. “The dancehall was the hub of social activity in town and country at the time. It was a great social gathering where neighbours and friends met in a convivial atmosphere. Even the price of cattle was discussed at the dances as well as other matters affecting rural life. We met our townie cousins and talked about football and camogie. For sport was then king, we travelled little and most of them had few of the material things in life. Those who danced in the Gaiety were a lively and lovely lot. Today, many of them are scattered in various parts of the world, from Birmingham to Boston, from London to Los Angeles. But all will share nostalgic memories of their young lives and the friends they danced with in the Gaiety. “The bands are now silent, the dancers have drifted away, but the Gaiety stands as a monument to the enterprise and ambition of Edward Bourke, my father, who provided a valuable social outlet for young people from Islandeady and many other areas. We remember him with pride and gratitude. The music and the laughter are gone, but sometimes, when I listen carefully, I feel I can hear the sound of the fiddle, trumpet and piano. And those immortal words, ‘Next dance, please’.” We hope that the above article has brought back many memories for our readers this week. Freda managed to capture so much of the history and the ‘feel’ of that era in what was a lovely trip down memory lane. She was an outgoing lady with a commanding presence and a great love for her native parish and community. She had a special fondness for Islandeady Church and was a deeply religious person whose faith was a core value in her life. She took an active interest in politics and was a very strong and loyal supporter of the Fine Gael party. (Her late husband, Paddy, who died in 1988, was an ardent Fianna Fáil supporter!). The death of her son, Edward, in 2001 was a heavy cross for Freda and the family to shoulder. He operated the well-known garage that bears his name in Castlebar. His wife Teresa died following an illness in September of 2006. Fr Pat Donnellan spoke eloquently at the funeral Mass about Freda and her contribution to the life of the parish over the years. The death of Freda Conway marks the end of an era in Islandeady. She is survived by daughters Maura (Commons) and Helena (Dunne), sons PJ (Paddy Joe) and Declan, in-laws, grandchildren, great-grandchild Treasa, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends.
Mannions immortalised in Galway cycling lore
PEOPLE like Mickey Palmer in Westport will cherish this rare picture of one of Connacht’s most famous cycling families. It is the only one in existence of the six Mannion brothers from Laught between Dunmore and Mountbellew, a legendary cycling clan that brought sporting renown to their parish and county of Galway. All six, with the possible exception of Tom, who was more dedicated to Gaelic football, were first-class cyclists and four of them, Mick, Mattie, Jimmy and Paddy, won All-Ireland senior NCA track titles. The Mannion cycling saga began in the 1920s and ended when the youngest member, Paddy, retired in the early 1960s. In that period, they immortalised the name of Mannion in the sporting annals of County Galway and put the little-known village of Laught on the sporting map. A comment about the Mannion brothers in the Galway GAA Year Book of 1964 reads: “The Laught Mannions carried on a Galway cycling tradition, handed down to them by the Goodes of Ballinasloe. They maintained that wonderful tradition and, with their great dedication to the sport, established themselves as one of the outstanding sporting families in the history of Galway.” It is interesting to note that Mickey Palmer of Westport still commands such a cherished place in the history of cycling here in the province. He would have known the Mannion brothers well. And it is nice to see that Westport’s Charlie Keating has included a tribute song to Mickey on his latest CD release. There are many of the older generation who had enormous interest in and respect for the feats of those famous cyclists of other days. I know Henry King in Ballyglass, Kiltimagh, will also be delighted to see this short feature about the famous Mannion family from Galway in this week’s Mayo News. (Thanks to Tom Lally in Garrafrauns for supplying the photo).
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