There is Athy that never goes out…
The Smiths guitarist and solo artist is set to play a show in the Kildare town this summer.
Johnny Marr will play a gig at Dreamland Ballroom in Athy, Co. Kildare on June 25th 2024.
Marr’s parents are originally from Athy, before they moved to Manchester, so the gig is a bit of a homecoming, after a plaque was unveiled to Marr in the own in 2018.
The venue is seemingly returning to its old showband name for one night as it’s now called the Athy Recreational Community Hall, though it previously hosted country icon Johnny Cash, Thin Lizzy and more recently, Christy Moore.
Johnny Marr Kildare gig information
Artist: Johnny Marr
Venue: Dreamland Ballroom
Location: Athy, Kildare
Tickets: €51.85 plus fees on sale Friday 23rd February at 10am from Ticketmaster.
Presale: Thursday February 22nd
Marr also plays Limerick and Sea Sessions that week.
In the early 1960’s the Reynolds Brothers (Jim and Albert) were fast becoming the kings of the ballroom circuit. They opened their original Cloudland in Rooskey in September, 1957, followed by the Roseland in Moate in September, 1959 and then the Longford Arms Hotel. The Dreamland in Athy would be the fourth project for the company but only the third of their “land” ballrooms. It opened its doors on Friday, July 14th, 1961 to the sounds of Victor Sylvester and his Orchestra. The ballroom was large, boasting a “nearly 5,000 sq. ft.” dance floor. For most of the next 20 years, the Dreamland was the place to be for dancing featuring all the biggest bands. In early 1971, the Reynolds Brothers sold the ballroom to their major competitor, Associated Ballrooms led by Con Hynes. The ballroom was renamed the Sunflower Ballroom and reopened on September 5th, 1971 by the Royal Showband.
However, at the end of the 1970’s, the popularity of the ballroom scene was waning and the ballroom stopped running major dances and the attendance dropped. They were soon hosting clothing sales and the odd teenage disco.
In early 1982, the ballroom finally went up for sale . The local Lion’s Club raised funds to purchase the aging ballroom and for the last
35 years it has been used as a community centre. It has been renamed ARCH (Athy Recreational Community Hall) and continues to play a role in the local community.
