'Dates involved a trip to 'The Pictures' or going dancing in one of the many venues around the city '

'Dates involved a trip to 'The Pictures' or going dancing in one of the many venues around the city '

Harry Browne describes the dating practices when he was a young man.

Harry Browne

Trinity College Dublin

1965

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Harry Browne

Adolescence and Early Adulthood

Life Story

Dublin

1960's

Dating was a complicated business in those days. In the first place the meeting place said a lot about the people involved. Country people or Culchies as they were known met at Nelson's Pillar or under the clock at Clery's department store. This was definitely not 'cool' for us sophisticated Dublin Jackeens. Our meeting place was the Mayfair Cafe in O'Connell Street, some fifty yards from the clock at Clery's but a world away in terms of 'cool'. Dates involved a trip to 'The Pictures' or going dancing in one of the many venues around the city. Afterwards we might have a cup of coffee in the Mayfair or other coffee shop, followed by a walk home. We met, as I said earlier in the Metropole but it was a venue for older people and somewhat staid so we did not often frequent it afterwards. Coincidentally four of my family met their future partners in the Metropole. In the darkness of the picture house it was possible to sit with my arm around Sheila's shoulder and even steal a kiss if circumstances allowed. We were both enthusiastic dancers so most of our dates involved going to various dance halls in the Dublin area. As Sheila came from the country and, as most of her friends were also from a similar background, we mostly went to the Olympic Ballroom. Many of the dances in the Olympic were run by various student societies of University College Dublin. The Yerrawaddies was the engineers society and the Ags was the agricultural students version. Jack Flahive had the residency there and he finished his gig at nine o'clock to be followed by the main bands. These were the early showbands. 'The Indians' were particularly memorable and of course Dickie Rock and the Miami and all the other famous showbands.

Irish Research Council for Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (IRCHSS)

Dr Kathleen McTiernan (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Deirdre O'Donnell (Trinity College Dublin)