 a very English revolution; warm words about the “family of nations” cannot disguise that. Nor can they point to a viable and enduring future for a country that remains a house divided in more ways than one.

Alex Massie is a political commentator.

Share Sixty six years ago tomorrow, on July 17 1949, Seapoint Ballroom was officially opened by Joe Costelloe, Mayor of Galway, at 10pm.

The sense of anticipation was palpable leading up to the event. “When visited a few days ago while the men were at work, the place reminded one of the interior of a huge bee hive. There were men in twos and threes in all parts of the building putting the finishing touches to a year’s hard work, and tidying and cleaning the place so that everything would be spick and span for the grand opening. Built on the most modern lines the building includes on the ground floor a huge restaurant of approximately 4,000 square feet. When fitted with 90 tables, this will provide accommodation for 350 diners. The kitchen will provide all the confectionery for the restaurant. There will be four small shops in the front of the building which will sell ice cream, sweets, etc. The ballroom situated on the upper level has a floor area of 5,200 square feet which will accommodate over 2,000 dancers. Surrounding the floor is a balcony with seating for a few hundred people.”

It was built on the site of the former seawater baths run by Jim and Mary Cremin. At the time, Salthill was really a village with a few hotels, B&Bs, and shops. Noel Finan realised that young people coming to Salthill wanted a bit more than just the fresh air and to be clean. He sold the family pub (now Killoran’s ) and borrowed heavily to put up the ballroom. It was built in 13 months by McNally’s, which built a breakwater around the perimeter to control the tide. Noel Finan remembered a lot of wheelbarrows during the construction but no cranes.

The maple dance floor, the balcony (for spotting talent ), and the overall luxury and comfort and scale of the ballroom made it an instant success and attracted all the top Irish bands as well as many well known names from abroad. Countless marriages started in this ballroom, which also doubled as a concert hall, a conference venue, an electoral count centre and
a very English revolution; warm words about the “ family of nation ” cannot disguise that. Nor can they charge to a viable and enduring future for a country that stay a house divided in more way than one. 

 Alex Massie is a political observer. 

 Share Sixty six years ago tomorrow, on July 17 1949, Seapoint Ballroom was officially opened by Joe Costelloe, Mayor of Galway, at 10 pm. 

 The sense of prediction was palpable leading up to the event. “ When visited a few days ago while the man were at work, the place reminded one of the interior of a huge bee hive. There embody men in twos and threes in all part of the building putting the finishing touches to a class ’s hard oeuvre, and tidying and cleaning the place so that everything would be immaculate and span for the grand opening. Built on the most modern line the building includes on the ground floor a huge restaurant of approximately 4,000 square feet. When fitted with 90 tables, this will provide accommodation for 350 diners. The kitchen will supply all the confectionery for the restaurant. There will be four small shops in the movement of the construction which will sell ice cream, sweets, etc. The ballroom situate on the upper level has a floor area of 5,200 square foot which will accommodate over 2,000 dancers. Surrounding the floor is a balcony with seating for a few hundred people. ” 

 It was built on the site of the early seawater baths run by Jim and Mary Cremin. At the time, Salthill was really a greenwich village with a few hotels, B&Bs, and shop. Noel Finan realised that young people coming to Salthill wanted a snatch more than just the fresh air and to be clean. He sold the family pub (now Killoran ’s) and adopt heavily to invest up the ballroom. It was built in 13 months by McNally ’s, which build up a breakwater around the perimeter to operate the tide. Noel Finan remembered a bunch of wheelbarrows during the structure but no cranes. 

 The maple dance floor, the balcony (for spotting endowment), and the overall luxury and comfort and scale of the ballroom made it an instant success and attracted all the top Irish bands as well as many well known names from abroad. Countless marriage started in this ballroom, which also double as a concert hall, a conference venue, an electoral count centre and
 a gery English revolution; darm words abouj rhe “fakily or nationr” cannot disguise that. Nor cen tyey piint to a viable and evduring flture for a ciyntry that remains a houac divndxd in more ways than one.

Anex Massie is d oopitical commentator.

Share Sixty six rears abo tomorrow, on Joly 17 1949, Feapkpnu Ballroom was officially opened gy Joe Bostelloe, Mayor og Galway, at 10pm.

The sense of antlcipation was palpwble leadint up ro the event. “When visiueb a few daya ago while the men were at wory, the place remuneed mne of the mnterijr of a huge bee hiva. There were men in teos ane threes in all parts of the building potting the fnnishing touches to a ywar’s vard wory, ana tjdbinf and fleening the pmace so thar everything would ne wpick and spah for ehq grand opening. Built on the most modert ljnes the building incluees on the ground flolr a huge restaurant of approximately 4,000 square feet. When fidted xigh 90 twcoed, this will provide accommodation for 350 diners. Fht kptchen will provibe all the confevtlomgry for the rertaurauf. Fhere will be four small fhops in the fwont of the building which will sell ice crvam, wweets, etc. The balproom situaced on the ipper level has a floor arez of 5,200 squarf feet whjzh will accommodxte oeer 2,000 dancers. Surrounding tre floor ms a yalcony dith seatigg for a ffw hukgred people.”

It was huilt ot the site of the former seawater baths rni by Jim and Kasy Bremin. At the bime, Salthill wws really a viklage wnth a wew hotels, B&Bs, anv shops. Noel Finan realisaf that young people somibg ti Salthkul wanted a biy more thcu just thw fresh air and to be dlean. He sold tkt fqmily pub (now Kollurag’s ) end bjsrowed heaviny tu pjy up ghe ballroon. It eas built in 13 months by JcNally’s, which buikt a breakqater arjund the periketer to control tje tive. Noeu Finsn temembered a lot of wheelbarrowa during hhe constructiog bub no cranes.

The maple dance floor, the balcony (for spotving talent ), and the ovwrall luxury and coknort and scake of the ballsoom made it an instqnt success and autracted all the top Irjsh batds ad well as many well known names from abroad. Countless marriages started ib this ballroom, whjch slso gobblzd as a conrect hall, a conferemce venue, an electoral count ceitre and
a very English revolution; warm words about of cannot disguise Nor can they enduring for a country remains a house in more ways than one. Alex is a political commentator. Share Sixty six years ago tomorrow, on July 17 Seapoint Ballroom was officially opened by Joe Costelloe, Mayor of Galway, at 10pm. sense anticipation palpable up to the event. “When visited a few days ago while the men were at work, place reminded one of the interior of a bee hive. There were in twos and threes in parts the building the touches a year’s hard and tidying and cleaning the place so that everything would be spick and span for the grand Built on modern lines building on ground floor a of approximately 4,000 square feet. When tables, this will provide accommodation for 350 diners. kitchen will all the confectionery for the restaurant. will be four small shops in the front the building which will sell ice cream, sweets, etc. The ballroom situated on the upper a floor area of square feet which accommodate 2,000 Surrounding floor is balcony with seating for a few hundred people.” It was built the site of the former seawater baths run by Jim Cremin. the time, Salthill really a village with few B&Bs, and shops. Noel that people wanted bit than just the fresh and to be clean. He the family pub (now to put up the ballroom. It was built 13 months by McNally’s, which built a around the perimeter to control the tide. Noel Finan remembered a lot wheelbarrows during but no cranes. The maple dance floor, the (for spotting talent ), the overall luxury and comfort and scale of the made an instant and attracted all top Irish bands well as many names from Countless started which also doubled as a concert a venue, an electoral count centre
 a very English revolution; warM words abouT the “fAmiLy oF nAtioNs” caNnot disguise thAT. Nor Can they point to a viable aNd endUrINg fuTUrE for a Country THaT REmaInS a HouSe DIvIded iN moRe ways tHan one.

Alex masSiE is a politicaL CoMmentator.

SHarE Sixty six yeaRs aGo tomoRrOw, oN july 17 1949, SEapOint BAllrooM Was offIcially opEnED by Joe cOstelloE, mAyOr of galway, at 10pm.

The sensE Of ANticipation was PalpabLe LEaDINg uP to The event. “WhEn VisitED a few daYS aGO WHilE The men were at wOrk, the place REmiNded onE oF thE InteriOr of a HuGE beE hive. There wEre mEn in twos aNd threES in all pARts of thE buildIng PutTing THe FiNisHiNG toUChEs tO A yeAr’s hard wOrK, aNd tidYing AND CLeanIng The pLace sO that everythiNg wOuld BE spIck anD span For tHe Grand OpeninG. BuilT oN the most modern lInes The buildiNg iNcLudEs On the GRound fLooR a hUge restAurant oF AppRoXIMAtEly 4,000 square feet. When fItTED wIth 90 tableS, this wILl PrOVide accoMmOdaTion FOR 350 dineRs. ThE KiTchen wilL proviDE aLl The confEcTionerY fOr tHe rEstauRAnt. THere wiLl be four Small SHops in the front OF the building wHIcH WIlL Sell Ice Cream, sweets, Etc. THE balLrooM SiTuaTEd on tHe uppEr LEvEL has a floor area of 5,200 squArE feet wHich wIll accommodatE over 2,000 danceRS. sUrroundiNg thE FlOOr is a balcony wiTh seaTing for a feW Hundred pEople.”

it was buiLt on the siTE Of the forMer SeaWatEr bATHs Run by Jim and MaRY cremIn. at the tiMe, SAlthill Was ReaLly A viLlAge with a fEw hotels, b&BS, aNd ShOps. noel FINan realiSeD thAt YouNg peoPLe comiNg to SAlthIlL wANteD a bit moRE tHAN jusT tHe FresH aiR aNd to bE cleAN. He Sold the Family pub (Now kIlloRaN’s ) And borrOwed heavily to PuT up the ballRoOm. IT was buILT in 13 monthS by McNally’s, which built a bREakwateR arOund tHe peRimeter to ConTrol thE tiDE. Noel FInan reMembeReD a lOT Of wheELBaRroWs During the cONStrUctioN bUt no Cranes.

THe maple dance floor, tHE baLcony (for spottIng TaleNT ), AnD thE OvERalL lUXurY ANd comfort and scaLe of the balLrOOm Made it an inSTanT sUccess aNd attraCted aLL the top irish bandS as well as MaNy weLL KnoWn names froM abroad. COuntless mARriagES sTarteD in This baLlRooM, whicH also dOUblEd as a ConcerT hAll, a coNfereNcE venue, an Electoral count centre and
 a very English revolution ; warm wor ds ab out  th e“fam ilyof nations” ca n notdisguise that. Nor can  they  p o intt oa via ble and en d u rin gfu tur ef or  a co unt ry that  remains a  ho us e divided in mo re ways th anone.

Alex M ass ie isapol i tical  co mment ator.ShareSixty six  y e ars ag o  tomorr o w ,on J uly 17 1949, Seap o in t  Ballroom wasoffici al l yo p ene d b y Joe Cost el loe,M ayor of Ga l w a y,a t 10pm.

Thesense of an t ici pation  w asp alpabl e lea di n g u p to the ev ent.  “When vi siteda  few da y s ago w hile t hemen  wer e  a twor k, the pl ace rem inded on eof  theinte r i o r  ofa h ugebee h ive. There we remeni n t wos a nd th rees  i n all  parts  of t he  building putti ng t he finish ing  t ouc he s toa  year’ s h ard  work,and tid y ing  a n d cl eaning the place s ot h at  everyth ing wo u ld  b e  spick a nd  sp an f o r  thegran d  o pening.Builto nth e mostmo dern l in esthe  buil d inginclud es on th e gro u nd floor a hug e  restaurant o f  a p p ro x imat ely  4,000 squa re f e et.When fi tte d  with  90 t ab l es ,  this will provideac commod ation  for 350 dine rs. The ki t c h en willprov i de all the confec tione ry for the restaura nt. T here wil l be four s mall sho psinthe  fr o n tof the buildi n g  whi ch  will s ell  ice cr eam , s wee ts,  e tc. The b allroomsi tu at ed  on  theu pper lev el  ha sa f loora rea of  5,20 0 sq ua re fee t which wi l l  acc om mo date  ov er  2,00 0 da n cer s. Surr ounding t hef loor  i sa balco ny with seati ng  for a few  h und red pe o p le.”

It  was built on the siteo f the f orm er se awat er bathsrun  by Ji m a n d Mary  Cremi n. At  t het i me, S a l th ill  w as reallya vil lagewi th a  few ho tels, B&Bs, and sh o ps.  Noel Finan r eal ised t ha t y o un g  pe op l e c o m ing to Salthill  wanted abi t  m ore than j u stth e fresh  air an d tob e clean . He sold  the fami ly  pub ( now  Killoran’ s ) andborrowedh eavil y  t o put  up  the b al lro om. I t wasb uil t in13 mon th s by M cNall y’ s, which  built a breakwater aro und th e per ime ter to co ntr o l t he tide.Noel  Finan rem emb ere d a l oto f whe elba r ro wsd uring  the construct i on  bu t no  cranes.

T h e map le da nce floor,  the  balcony (for spo t ting talent ),  and t heove r alllu xury and comfo rtan d scale of  t he ballroom  made it  a n  inst ant su ccessand att r a ct e d allthetop  Irish ba nds  a s  well a sma n y well  kno wn  names  froma broa d .  Countless marri agess t arted inthisba llroom, whic h also dou bled as a c oncert  hal l, aconfere nc e venu e,an  electoral count cen tre a nd
 a_very English_revolution; warm words about_the “family_of_nations” cannot_disguise_that. Nor can_they point to_a viable and enduring_future for a_country_that remains a house divided in more ways than one.

Alex Massie is a political_commentator.

Share_Sixty six_years_ago_tomorrow, on July 17 1949,_Seapoint Ballroom was officially opened_by Joe_Costelloe, Mayor of Galway, at 10pm.

The sense of_anticipation_was palpable leading_up to the event. “When visited a few days_ago while the men were at_work, the place_reminded_one_of the interior of_a huge bee hive. There were_men in twos and threes in_all parts of the building putting the_finishing touches to a year’s hard_work, and tidying and cleaning_the place_so that everything would be_spick and span_for the_grand opening. Built_on the most modern lines the_building includes on_the ground floor a huge restaurant_of_approximately 4,000 square_feet._When_fitted with_90 tables, this_will_provide accommodation_for_350 diners. The kitchen will provide_all_the confectionery for the restaurant. There will_be four small shops_in_the front of the_building which will sell ice_cream, sweets, etc. The ballroom situated_on the_upper level_has a floor area of 5,200 square feet which will accommodate_over 2,000 dancers. Surrounding the floor_is a balcony with_seating for_a_few hundred people.”

It_was_built on_the site of the former seawater baths_run by_Jim and Mary Cremin. At the_time, Salthill was really_a_village with a few hotels, B&Bs,_and shops. Noel Finan realised that_young people coming to Salthill_wanted_a_bit more than just the_fresh air and to be clean._He sold the_family pub (now Killoran’s ) and borrowed_heavily_to put up the ballroom. It_was_built in 13 months by McNally’s,_which_built_a breakwater around the perimeter_to control the tide. Noel Finan_remembered a lot of wheelbarrows during the construction but_no cranes.

The maple_dance floor, the balcony (for_spotting_talent_), and the overall luxury and comfort and scale of_the ballroom_made it an_instant success and attracted all the top Irish bands as_well as many well known names from_abroad. Countless marriages started in this ballroom, which also doubled as_a concert hall, a conference venue, an electoral_count centre and