Murphy’s Town Hall Athenry 72 8th April 1969 – St Mary’s Hurling Club held a Ceili & Old Time Dance in the Hall with music by Liam Ivory’s Band, admission 6 shillings, (source: Hall Journal, see also Connacht Tribune 4th April 1969, page 18). 9th May 1969 – Athenry Players, “By Public Demand”, again performed Gerard Healy’s Thy Dear Father in the Hall, (source: Hall Journal notes, see also Connacht Tribune 2nd May 1969, page 14). 6th June 1969 – Athenry Presentation College held their first Annual Dance in the Hall with Music from the Swingtime Aces Showband (source: Connacht Tribune 13th June 1969, page 4). 18th July 1969 – Unfortunately, no info is available for activities in the Hall at this time but, in other Athenry News, the Connacht Tribune of this date carried the following on page 9: 138 “Athenry’s gift to the music world, Norman Payne, has released his first LP in Canada. Norman who was born in Athenry is the youngest son of Mr James and the late Mrs Birdie Payne of Cross Street, Athenry. Before emigrating to Canada, Norman was a very popular lead vocalist with the Swingtime Showband, Athenry, and now he is lead singer with Canada's top band The Tara Showband, all of whose members are Irish emigrants. Some of the numbers which Norman sings on the new L.P. include Hush, not a word to Mary, Eileen and Norman's own composition My Own Galway.” 12th August 1969 – Connacht Tribune 22nd August 1969 carries the following on page 2, regarding application for a Dance Hall Licence: “...TAKE NOTICE that It Is the Intention of the undersigned Margorie Murphy of Clarke Street, Athenry, County of Galway to apply at the Annual Licensing Session of the District Court to be held at Athenry on the 24th day of September for a public dancing licence In respect of the premises known as the Town Hall, situate at Clarke Street, Athenry, Co. Galway, pursuant to the public Dance Halls Act, 1935. Dated this 12th day of August, 1969. Signed: MARGORIE MURPHY, Applicant...” 18th September 1969 – Killimordaly Hurling Club held a Pre-Carnival Dance in the Hall with Music from The Crystal All Stars Showband, admission 7s & 6d (source: Connacht Tribune 19th September 1969, page 13). 17th October 1969 – Athenry Drama Club Rehearsals (source: Hall Journal notes). 20th to 22nd October 1969 – Badminton Club Bookings (source: Hall Journal notes). 1st November 1969 – Youth Club Dance (source: Hall Journal notes). 7th & 9th November 1969 – Athenry Players performed their Autumn Revue 69 in the Hall, A Musical and Dramatic Revue (source: Hall Journal notes, see also Connacht Tribune 7th November 1969, page 14). 28th November 1969 – The Blood Transfusion Service Mobile Unit were in the Hall 3.00 – 5.00 pm and again 7.00 –9.30pm on this date (source: Hall Journal, see also Connacht Tribune 21st November 1969, page 2). 27th December 1969 – Dance held in the Hall with Music from The Swingtime Aces (source: Hall Journal). 7th January 1970 – Badminton Dance (source: Hall Journal). 24th January 1970 – School Dance (source: Hall Journal notes). 7th February 1970 – School Debate (source: Hall Journal notes). 11th, 12th & 13th March 1970 – Athenry Drama Group performed The Far Off Hills in the Hall, a 1925 Comedy in Three Acts by Lennox Robinson (source: Connacht Tribune 6th March 1970, page 14). 139 The Tuam Herald 28th February 1970, page, carried the following note: “Athenry Players are to stage their festival production, The Far Off Hills by Lennox Robinson, in the Town Hall, during the second week in March. A number of new artistes have been introduced this year, and with the help of some of the more seasoned players, the group should this year again put on a top class performance.” 138 NB: Norman Payne had emigrated just over a year earlier (see entry above for June 1968). 139 The advertisement in the Tribune gives the title as The For Off Hills but this is incorrect. The play was first published by Chatto & Windus, London in 1925
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