In part 2, of The Kilkenny Mayfair ballroom, The Kilkenny walkers club look behind the scenes at the one time famous ballroom that saw not only famous bands from Ireland perform there but also well known American singers
Part two of our look back at the Mayfair ballroom
Week two of our look back at The Mayfair ballroom, and we begin with a look at some of the programme presented to attendance at the venue. A Gaelic League Ceilidhe, music by the Army Ceilidhe Band, Adm 3/6. The Arcadian Band provided the music for the Xmas Dance, novelties, carnival effects, with dancing from 9 p.m. to 2 p.m. Buffet and milk bar Adm 5/-Popular short dance at 9.p.m. Adm 2/6. Music by Tom Tyrrell’s Band. December 31st dancing 8.45 p.m to 11.45 p.m. Music by the Arcadians spot prizes and carnival effects. Adm 2/6. A footnote to the advertisement was “Patrons are requested to wear shoes.”Not to be outdone, a grand dance was organised for the Dessart Hall, Christmas Night, Music by Tom Tyrrell and his band. Danesfort Dance Committee called all dancers to a ‘Great Christmas social’ at Desart Hall onSt Stephens Night, dancing from 9.00p.m. Music by the Ossory Band. Adm 6/- including supper.
Hectic programme
The Mayfair continued with a hectic programme of dancing: January 15th Dicksboro Social Club hosted a dance, adm 3/- The following evening Kilkenny Lawn Tennis organised a dance, adm 2/6. January 17th Kilkenny County Dance took place, Adm 12/6 catering by the Central Hotel. The Arcadians played at these three functions. The following week Kilkenny Rugby Football Club hosted a dance for January 24th Adm., 2/6, music by Tom Tyrrell’s band.As was the custom, dancing was suspended for the Lenten season. During this period the Mayfair ballroom was repainted and alterations carried out. The most important alteration from the dancers point of view was the resurfacing and polishing of the dance floor. The painting and decoration was in the capable of Michael Quinn of Michael Street. The Mayfair could now be regarded as one of the most up to date ballrooms in the provinces. An attractive programme was arranged for the Easter holidays. Billy Watson’s famous dance band provided the music on the Sunday and Monday nights. Adm 3/-. The Kilkenny Hunt Ball was held on the Wednesday night, music by Phil Murtagh’s band, while the Kilkenny Choral Society held their dance on the Thursday night. It soon proved to be a most popular venue when on Sunday nights up to twelve or thirteen hundred patrons crowded into the Ballroom during the 1960s.
Crowds
The pubs closed their doors at 10.o’clock on Sunday nights and the crowds made their way to the Mayfair. The ladies gathered early and the gents arrived sometime before 11.00p.m. The admission fee was six shillings and for that, dancing continued until 2.00 a.m. The popularity of dancing at the Mayfair continued through the 50s. and 60s. The all time greats of the showband era played the venue, such as The Royal Showband, Capital Showband, Dixies, Cadets, Tom Dunphy and his band. Mick Delahunty and his Orchestra was the most popular show of the 50s and always played to full houses.Over the years the Mayfair hosted a number of well known American names, Ray Charles, The Everley Brothers, Dusty Springfield, The Treeloes, and Chubby Checker. Just before he was killed in an air crash, Jim Reeves played to 1700 people, said to be the biggest crowd ever at the Mayfair. He had four men with him, down the front holding back the crowd with brush handles.
Abbey Dance
The Black Abbey dance on the Tuesday before the Lenten close down always drew a packed hall. Dancing continued at the Mayfair up to the early 1970s when the doors finally closed. Smithwick’s Brewery acquired the premises, and for a time the dancing area was used for basketball, indoor soccer, badminton and various activities. The building itself provided more office and canteen space for the staff, until the final close down of the Brewery happened in 2013. The Star Theatre on John Street, to the rear of Lewis, was the venue for dancing, films, and concerts. It was a very popular venue in the early 1900s and had its heyday during the second world war period. Lady Ellen Desart at her own expense had the Desart Hall built in 1914 for the citizens of Kilkenny. It contained a ballroom with a stage, kitchen and cloakrooms. From the outset it was a great asset for the citzens. Local bands such as the Continentals, Arcadians, Ossory and Tom Tyrrell provided the music. It was a popular venue for Soccer clubs, who organised the dances as fund raisers. The introduction of the Carlton Ballroom in the late 1950s drew a younger generation and set the local band The Black Aces on their way to fame. The band started out as a skiffle group, rehearsing in the old band hall of Patrick Street. The home grown bands schedule was gruelling the Black Aces playing five nights a week for many years. The group bought the body of a truck and had it custom built including aeroplane seats. Their popularity grew and in 1962 they toured the Irish Heartlands of America.
New beginnings
Minister Heather Humphreys officially opened The Mayfair Library to the public on the 24th of April 2024. This facility, previously home to the Mayfair Ballroom, has been transformed into a major public facility with more than 1,800square metres of community library space available over two floors. The project was funded by Minister Humphreys Department of Rural and Community Development and Kilkenny County Council representing an investment of just under €7.2m.
Thanks
The Kilkenny Observer newspaper wish to thank all who took the original photos. We don’t have names for all photographers but wish to thank the following for their contribution and help in locating those used. Tom Brett, Josephine Coyne, County librarian, Eddie Dullard, Eddie the Snapper, Mick Walsh. Thanks to Pauline O’Connell who completed an historical research on the Mayfair in 2024 for her assistance with artwork and photos.
