'I was thrilled going to this ball, as the glamour and the glitter was extra special.'

'I was thrilled going to this ball, as the glamour and the glitter was extra special.'

Theresa Byrne describes the dances she used to attend with her friends. In particular she remembers the Tramps Ball and the Candy Ball and the outfits she wore to each. She remembers how her friends and her would lend each other outfits for the Balls.

Theresa Byrne

Trinity College Dublin

1964

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Theresa Byrne

Adolescence and Early Adulthood

Life Story

Dublin

1960s

The dress dances were exciting and I was asked to many. For the first one, I had a short blue tulle dress with white lace on top, held up by thin blue straps and sequins. Usually all the choir girls helped out by loaning a flashy necklace, silver or gold shoes and handbag. Peggy, on the girls, had a half fur jacket, which must have made an appearance in just about every ballroom that accommodated dress dances and I borrowed it several times. You were never ever short of dresses for these occasions, as all of them did the rounds.The Tramps Ball was held in the Mansion House every year and for this you had to hire an outfit. One year I went dressed as a principal Boy. Another time I was Madame Pompadour. The shop just off St. Mary's road in Ballsbridge was a hive of activity for these occasions, so early ordering was advisable. On this occasion, I was somehow separated from my friends walking up Grafton street and had to continue the journey to the venue on my own. Oh, the embarrassment of it all, as I felt all eyes on me dressed as I was.The Candy Ball was another memorable occasion and was held in the Shelbourne Hotel. I was thrilled going to this ball, as the glamour and the glitter was extra special. I wore a long white dress, white shoes and a black stole embroidered with gold thread. I still have it.

00:01:22

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

Dr Kathleen McTiernan (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Deirdre O'Donnell (Trinity College Dublin)