Premier Hall Thurles Packed For 50th Celebrations

For many decades now ‘The Premier Ballroom’ here in Thurles has provided Thurles and Tipperary people with the very best in dancing entertainment. It comes therefore as no surprise that last Sunday the “Thurles Club for dancing”‘ should take an opportunity to celebrate the hall’s 50th anniversary this year.

Maybe it was nostalgia, that chance to slip back in time and remember loves lost or won or maybe it was a chance to meet up again with old friends and renew acquaintances, which drew the crowds.  Whatever each individual’s reason, past patrons flocked in their hundreds to the Premier Ballroom, to relive once again the era of the big band dancing scene, latter which has long since declined, being replaced by the cheaper musical sound influences of the discothèque.

On Sunday night last top vocalist and accordion player Finbarr Dennehy got all dancers well warmed up during the first two hours of this event and he was quickly followed by the 2014 winner of the Sunday World’s ”Entertainer of the Year Award,” namely Country singer Mike Denver and His Band.

Of course the Thurles Club for Dancing, which hosted this major event, was first founded itself back in 1971, and still today hold regular dances in the Premier Ballroom, which boasts of having one of the finest dancing surfaces in Ireland. Dancing is held here every second Sunday night from 9.00 p.m. to 12.00 midnight with an average attendance any evening of 160 persons. Admission is a mere €8.00 per person.

Mind you, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see an increase in patron numbers, on future Sunday events, so successful was last Sunday’s celebratory dance experience.

Lessons in Social Dancing also take place in this large Ballroom twice a year (one session in Feb./March and again in Sept./Oct.) These two six-week courses costs a total of just €20 for each six-week course. This is the 20th year of such lessons. (For further information on these contact Tom Gleeson at 087-9732837.)