Murphy’s Town Hall Athenry 13 November 1920 to December 1921 – Dick Murphy (by now a married man) was arrested again in November 1920 and this time detained initially in Galway Town Hall (commandeered as a emergency internment camp) until he was later transferred to the Curragh on 3rd March 1921 (see Connacht Tribune 26th March 1921, page 5). He was interned in the Curragh until the general release in December 1921, when the Treaty was signed. Back in Business (getting there slowly anyway) 5th November 1922 – Connacht Tribune 5th November 1922, page 7, recorded that Dances and Entertainments had returned to the Town Hall and that: “...in the near future a theatrical company, it is expected, will have a week’s engagement.” 17th March 1923 – Connacht Tribune of this date, page 9, recorded that a fundraising entertainments night was held in the Hall by the Town Tenants League. 31st December 1924 – Connacht Tribune 13th December 1924, page 4, reported that Dunne’s No.1 Syncopated Band would be performing their music in the Hall on this date, for the Galway Farmers Association Dance. 6th January 1925 – Connacht Tribune 13th December 1924, page 9, carried an advertisement for the Athenry Beagle Hunt Ball in the Hall, with music provided by Dunne’s No.1 Syncopated Orchestra. The same advert is also carried in the Connacht Tribune 3rd January 1925, page 16. 18th February 1925 – Connacht Tribune 31st January 1925, page 24, reported that Dunne’s No.1 Syncopated Band would be performing their music in the Hall on this date, for the Athenry Club Annual Dance. 2nd October 1925 – Connacht Tribune 26th September 1925, page 1, carried an advert for the sale of land by Public Auction in the Town Hall at 2pm. The land in question was situated at Cloran & Mulpit, the property of Mrs MJ Murphy of Murphy’s Hotel Athenry, NB: Mrs Mary Jane (McDermott Kelly) Murphy was Dick Murphy’s stepmother, having married his father, Mr Richard Murphy Snr, in February 1895. 26 1st January 1926 – Connacht Tribune 26th December 1925, page 1, and 2nd January 1926, page 8, carried advertisements for the Athenry Beagle Hunt Ball with Music by the Harmonic Dance Band Athlone. Connacht Tribune 9th January 1926, page 21, reported on the Ball as follows: “The above Ball, held in the Town Hall, Athenry, on Friday night last, was an unqualified success, both in the numbers who attended and the splendid manner in which all the arrangements were carried out. Over one hundred couples, from places as far apart as Galway, Gort, Ballinasloe, Tuam, Ballyhaunis, etc., took the floor at 10.30 pm to the strains of the Harmonic Dance Band from Athlone, and dancing did not cease until 7 am the following morning. The hall was beautifully decorated for the occasion by the capable committee, and the catering, which could not have been excelled, was carried out by Mrs Hansberry, Athenry. The committee and all concerned are to be congratulated on the success of their venture, and their success is all the more creditable in that this being only their second annual ball...” 12th February 1926 – Connacht Tribune 30th January 1926, page 8, carried an advertisement for an Auction in the Hall of a valuable farm of land at Derrydonnell, Athenry. The Auctioneer was Larry Lardner (see picture opposite). 14th February 1926 – Connacht Tribune 13th February 1926, page 24, carried an advertisement for a Dance in the Town Hall with music from a Special Orchestra. 18th September 1926 – First General Meeting of the recently formed Athenry Rugby Club was held in the Hall (source: Connacht Tribune 18th September 1926, page 5): “The Athenry Rugby Club, which was initiated last year and which met with a fair share of success, hope this year to compete in the Connacht Rugby (Junior) League and also for the Connacht Cup (Junior). It is hoped to have three Rugby teams in all in Athenry this year, and the membership already numbers 52. Many good players are included amongst the number, including one, who wishes to remain anonymous but who is known as ‘the grand old man’ of the game. The first general meeting is being held at the Town Hall to-night (Friday), at 9 o’clock and practice commences on Sunday at Raheen Park.” 2nd January 1927 – Connacht Tribune 25th December 1926, page 2, carried an advertisement for the Athenry Beagle Hunt Ball in the Hall, with music provided by Harmonic Dance Band Athlone. 26 The auction was conducted in the Town Hall by Mr Larry Lardner of Athenry, Auctioneer & Valuer.
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