Dance Halls

The Esker Ballroom was owned by Mr James Keaveney, now owner and proprietor of the famed Jim Pete’s Public House in the town of Glenamaddy. The building of the ballroom was begun in 1947, and it was due to open on October 27th, 1948. However, problems arose regarding the building licence and it did not open until April, 1949.

The admission fee to the hall was 1s 8d which included a supper and a dance. The ballroom opened every other Sunday night. It got its name from the townland of Eskermullacaun, where James Keaveney was born. In 1950 the Rural Electricifation "switch-on" dance was held here and one thousand people attended. The music was provided by The Des Fethwell Orchestra and they played until 4a.m. Mr Keaveney maintains that during his 21 years running dances, not one person was ever summonsed by the guards. The well known singer Dusty Springfield performed in the Esker Ballroom in the sixties and Mr Liam Cosgrave, former Taoiseach attended a dance here also. The ballroom was sold to Joe O’Neill in 1970, now named "The Sound of Music".

To learn more about the Esker Ballroom, click here.

In the late 1800’s Ballinastack Hall was a herd house but in 1922 it was burnt down by the Black and Tans. It was rebuilt in 1925 and was then used as a dwelling house. It was opened as a dance hall in 1929 and its owner was Tommy Coyne, and its foreman was Peter Moore. Ned Fahy, and a brother of his, built the hall. The admission fee was 3s 9d which at that time was the price of a suck calf. The ladies outnumbered the men by five to one. A drink licence was granted. Ned Fahy was the door collector and he also played the fiddle there from time to time. The Ernie Barber band, who at that time were the biggest band in Ireland, played in the hall. An Offaly man by the name of Stephen Garvey also played there. Christmas night was the biggest dance of the year. The hall closed down in 1955 and was knocked in 1975.