1975-mid 80s
Printed From: The Grove Social Club
Category: The Grove Social Club
Forum Name: Memory Lane
Forum Description: general Grove Discussions & contact old friends
URL: http://www.theGroveSocialClub.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=48
Printed Date: 28-June-2025 at 13:15
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: 1975-mid 80s
Posted By: Ann Whelan
Subject: 1975-mid 80s
Date Posted: 12-October-2005 at 10:40
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A friend of mine recently sent me an email with the website for the Grove. This should have been done years ago! But what amazed me after looking at all the photos taken during the Reunions was how few members are registered in comparison!!!! Two or three of my friends in Ireland had told me about the Grove reunions, which I must admit if I was living there I would certainly love to attend. My friends and I started going there in 1975 and just recently I found my old membership card which I never had the ability to throw out because each time I looked at it, it represented a very happy era in my life. I so loved that time, the music, the fashion, the people and it seemed that everyone I met was into poetry, reading the "Hobbit", art, party going and in a band! Bands of that era that we use to go see were "Stryder", "Foul Play" etc and the band members were devotees of Grove Culture. When I think of the Grove I not only think of the Wednesdays, Saturdays and my favourite, the Sundays that I spend down there religiously for well over a decade but also the other places that were Grove related such as St. Anne's park where on our summer holidays from school and college my best friend and I would spend the days walking around Clontarf, Brookwood Ave, and we patrolled with gusto the avenue in St. Anne's where many of the Grove goers of that time took up residence in the day time. It was like the place to go and see and be seen by other fellow Grovites. Plus it filled in the day time hours until the even came around and it was time to hit La Grove. I was a student in Art College at that time and when I think back on those days I recall the time when Grafton St had traffic, the Diceman, Woolworth's, Shree, Freebird Records and the Dandelion market were all in existence. I attended the National College of art and Design in Kildare St but spent more of my time hanging out up in Gaiety Green and over in Trinity! The Temple Bar district was not even in its conception stages, The Roundabout in Artane had free flowing traffic that never got bunged up, and I was able to supply three quarters of North Country Dublin with "10 journey tickets" for the trains by purchasing them and getting the student rate. This delighted many of my Civil Servants Grove goer friends as they quite rightly felt that they had eventually got one up on the system! The local haunts of the day for my friends and I were Bruxelles, the Neptune, Harry Byrnes, Clontarf castle in the pre-face lift days, the Crofton Airport hotel (to see the Look-a-Likes, Stryder, Bogie Boys etc) and The Baggot Inn. Popular venues for post Grove nibbles were often a stop en route in the direction of one's home to "Lynches" on the Howth Road or the "Cosy Cafe" on the Malahide Road until it was rumored that they had been charged with using cat food in their burgers.
To this day I still love the music of the early seventies and if I buy Cds, they usually revert back to that time. The songs I remember that were among some of my favourites were; "Nutbush City Limits", "Us & Them", "Wonderous Stories", "Tapestry", "Baker St", "Blue Monday","Cocaine", "SwingTown", "Smoke on the Waters", "Whiter Shade of Pale", "Nights in White Satin", "Our House", "Fame"(Mr. Bowie!), "One of these Nights", "At Seventeen", "The Joker", "You ain't seeing nothing yet", "Stairway to Heaven", "Dreams", "Tubular Bells", "Sweet home Alabama", "Smoke on the Water", "Spirits in the Sky", ......the list could go on forever. And I still love such artists as Genesis, Bad Company, Blue Oyster Cult, Hall & Oats, Fleetwood Mac, Michael McDonald, The Cars, Simple Minds, The Doors, David Bowie, Stevie Nicks, Thin Lizzy ( I was delighted to see Phil's statue outside of Bruxelles, another of my favourite haunts, when I was at home last month!)Tom Petty & the Heart breakers, Black Sabbath, Leonard Cohen, Talking Heads, Foreigner, Led Zeppelin, Dylan, The Cure, Horseslips, Bread, Neil Young, Steely Dan, Pink Floyd, Clifford T Ward, Roxy Music, The Doobie Bros ..... Standard Albums de la jour to have in your collection were "Rumors"- Fleetwood Mac, "Dark side of the Moon"-Pink Floyd, "Harvest"-Neil Young, "Bat out of Hell"-Meatloaf, Led Zeppelin, "IV" etc
I must confess I loved the fashions of that time and am absolutely in my element to see that all that hippie, gypsy chic is currently coming back into vogue and so my vintage clothing is getting a revival. I am sure that I am one of the only girls who was Grove obsessed and NEVER owned a pair of jeans in my life. All of my dresses had to be long and flowing and lucky for me I was fortunate to be able to design and make my own attire, complete with patchwork bags, embroidered ensembles and accessories. I loved the headbands, beaded hair, the silver & turquoise jewellery, rings on every finger and I have to admit that I never, changed nor matured in the slightest bit and as a result I just have an updated version of the same look. And not only that I am directing my young daughters in the same direction fashion wise. Not only am I stuck in the 70s/early 80s era musically, fashionwise and mentally but I still feel and act as I did when I was 17yrs old. I never progressed a bit past that age and so that is the age in my mind I am stuck at. My friend is stuck at 19yrs old so I get solace from knowing that there are others out there suffering from this disorder. When I think of the Grove I also remember how everyone seemed to have their own designated place where they religiously sat or danced each week so if you wanted to find someone that you knew, it was not a mind blowing task. Our place of residence was usually down by the extension, on the nights it was open. The only characters I remember who stood out was a guy Marcus who use to also play a flute up a tree in St. Anne's park. I'm sure that is good to have on your CV though. Most of the people that I met there and became friends with I often see and meet when I am in Dublin and the best bit of all is none of them have changed in the least. On paper the years may be showing but in spirit we still the same as the good old days. I attended St. Mary's Secondary school and so many of my class were regulars of the Grove Institution. I often wonder what ever happened to all my classmates..... we left school in 1979...would love to hear from them. It is a pity that there was not a postboard on the site where people could display their old membership card and see who remembers who from that! That would certainly make interesting if not fun viewing dot Com! ------------- Ann |
Replies:
Posted By: Rolo
Date Posted: 14-October-2005 at 12:04
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Ann, Can't believe you're the first person on the site to mention Marcus.Often wondered what happened to him. Notice you didn't mention Zero Zero when you were talking about the popular local bands of the day. How you could class The Lookalikes in the same sentence as Stryder is beyond me. Zero Zero contained a singer / bass player who always wore Red and Black striped trousers, a drummer from Donaghmede and a guitar player with the biggest head of curly hair you ever saw. They were popular from about '82 - '85 so you must have been aware of them.
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Posted By: Ann Whelan
Date Posted: 14-October-2005 at 17:20
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Marcus use to attend quite a lot of the parties and venues that I attended around that time. He was a regular patron of the Flowing Tide/Neptude. Believe it or not there were quite a good few Grove Goers of that day who use to go to see the LookAlikes and some of them Stryder members! You may need a valium after hearing that but it is very true! I met all of Stryder up there along with many of their loyal followers of the time! A while back some one sent me a Classmates Irish website and who of all people did I meet on that only Alan Quigley the lead singer in Stryder.....we had a great correspondence catching up on old times and finding out what everyone else was doing! great fun. ------------- Ann |
Posted By: russell
Date Posted: 17-October-2005 at 15:54
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Ann Good to read to read your memories of the grove, it really brought me back especially the mention of names like Stryder, and Marcas. When I was going down to the grove the i'd heard the mention of Marcus a few times, and as I remember i'd also heard stories of him playing playing flute from a treetop, but I never quite worked out if it was true or not, but his name was legendary at the grove. as far as the bands of those days were concerned I knew zero zero well . i went to scholl with the lead guitarists brother. zero zero were as follows John costello -guitar, Robbie poole- drums and i think it wae Eion on bass. they played the Ivy rooms a few times, the above trio would always go down to the grove about 11:30 (after a few pints at the nep I imagine ) I remember the name stryder so many times but cant remember if i ever saw them. i also loved going to watch people like Freedie White and Scullion down at the Baggot. I know Freedie whites still knocking about, but does anyone know what happened to Scullion?. living in london makes it hard to keep track !! Russell
------------- Russ |
Posted By: Rolo
Date Posted: 18-October-2005 at 08:29
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Russell, You're bang on about Zero Zero. ( I just didn't want to mention any names but since you've started the ball rolling ) ........the Bass Player with the Red and Black striped trousers was Colm Darcy. Rolo
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Posted By: Ann Whelan
Date Posted: 18-October-2005 at 13:53
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Hi Russell, yes I do remember Scullion and freddie White...your memory is a lot more alert & sharper than mine. Philip king and I think it was Sonny Condell use to come into the National College of Art & Design where I attended and do the odd gig which was great. I still can't remember Zero Zero although I do remember red & black stripey jeans!!!
------------- Ann |
Posted By: Ann Whelan
Date Posted: 18-October-2005 at 14:25
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Also around that time I remember going to the Fairview Cinema to see the Talking Heads movie of the day where three quarters of the audience would know each other and it was always lots of fun. The same applied to Pink Floyd's "The Wall" & Slane Castle to see the Rolling Stones .... ------------- Ann |
Posted By: Stevie
Date Posted: 18-October-2005 at 17:32
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Hi Ann, Us, St. Mary's girls have to stick together! I left there in 1980 but I don't remember an Ann Whelan? "Stevie" by the way is only in deference to Stevie Nicks, it sounds like you were one of the girls I really envied doing all that dressmaking & embroidery (see my memory lane post!!). I remember the Croften Airport Hotel so well & The Lookalikes...in fact the one and only time I was refused entry to The Grove was when myself and a gang bounced through the gate of St. Pauls singing (well howling) "Can I take you home tonight" and one of the bouncers said we should go on home right now.Honestly, I was stone cold sober..the indignity of it!!!! I forgotten about Stryder until you mentioned them...don't know Zero Zero at all...does anyone remember Rocky De Valera & the Grave Diggers? loved Freddie White too. I remember the big green in the centre of a much different Roundabout on the Malahide Road and a bench in the middle, anyone remember "The Benchers" as they were called a gang from the Grove who congregated there..you know, long hair and duffle coats...etc I know one of them was Mark Alfred he lived on St. Brigid's Road and a few years later was killed off his motorbike, think maybe there was a Liam as well-perhaps someone else knows them. Stevie |
Posted By: Ann Whelan
Date Posted: 19-October-2005 at 08:46
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Hi Stevie, I left ST. Mary's educatioanal system in 1979 so I would probably have knowing you to see. I live in the West Indies now but I still keep in contact with a lot of my friends from school. Often I ask them if they have kept in contact with other school friends and it is as if half of St. Mary's has fallen off the plannet!!! I remember the time that guy was killed off his motorbike. I lived in Artane and use to walk past the Roundabout on a daily basis........I liked it in it's natural format even before they stuck those high trees (landscaping I presume) in the centre of it and you could see when the buses were coming. I' don't recall any of the bencher mob but you may have remembered down by the shops where Bradleys Chemist was there was always a group loitering there...Robbie Coady etc....they also were Grove converts and went to the Neptune, Bruxelles, Crofton and attended the same parties!!! Yes I remember Rocky De Valera. I have to say I loved Stevie Nicks music and have gone to see her in concert a few times. I use to go to the "Oasis" down in Ard Scoil Ris and I remember everytime that the played "Dreams" there was a guy there who use to ask me up and religiously tell my that I looked like Stevie Nicks. I never tragically saw the resemblence myself but maybe he was suffering from substance abuse which would be unheard of in those days! I never was hip enough to get refused entry into the Grove Establishment but I was underage getting my membership there, for the "Oasis" and "Joey's". It is amazing what a bit of make up can do. I use to try to make myself look older to get into places and then try and pay the cheap fares on the bus, which was often taking me to such venues!!!! ------------- Ann |
Posted By: Stevie
Date Posted: 19-October-2005 at 11:34
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Ann,
You're a tonic! and you're bringing back memories by the minute, I think a classmate of mine went out with Robbie for a good while if I've got the correct Robbie? think he was a bit of a heart throb in those days! you've hit on the correct gang by the way.
Loved the "Oasis" too though THAT feels like a very long time ago, one of my friends kept trying to set us all up with her brother there who was such a geek, made life really difficult and she adored him.Very embarressingly I also went to the Ard Scoil Rís "Ceilís" as well -oh the horror! & "Joeys" Leslie Rogers a friend of mine was in your year at school-don't think she was a big Grove fan though, not like me I lived for it!
People keep telling me that Dublin is such a small place but I've only encountered 3 people from school since I've left-where did they go?
maybe West Indies like yourself and other far flung places...
Isn't this site great fun? I would love to make the re-union but I'm in Killarney that week, "Come as you were party" scary!!! now its just a small matter of losing 9 stone and growing my hair long and dyeing it in 3 weeks???
Stevie
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Posted By: Ann Whelan
Date Posted: 19-October-2005 at 12:45
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Hi Stevie, Leslie Rogers came over here to me to celbrate her 40th birthday!!!She was over in Barbados on hols and popped on a plane and came over on a visit. Her brother has been out here on hols with me as has half of my road, north county Dublin and family members I have not heard from in years all suddenly appear. I love the hilarity of it all and enjoy the visits immensely! I was in the same class in St. Brigids (now we are really getting vintage!) as Leslie and her sister Jackie. I even did a portrait of Jackie for Leslies birthday that their brother commisioned me to do for Leslie. I knew Robbie as he lived at the Roundabout, which seems to be taking on a central and very prominent life of it's own since I joined this site. The last time I met him was about 4 years ago and he is still exactly the same, except the lock tresses were traded in for shoulder lenght. Often after the Grove he would come back to my house and my mother would ask him if he would like a drink as in tea or coffee! He would look over at the whisky and say he'd have an usice Beatha. My poor mother never drank in her like and poured half pint portions so he'd think this was hilarious and always left my doors well elubricated a la carte I am happy to say!!!!!! She also use to send him home with bags of food as she was under the impression that anyone who lived in and I quote "a flat". End of quote, did not eat. All their money she believed went on rent and alcohol. Well at least she got the latter right! I must ressurect my 21st birthday photos as Robbie and co, and quite a lot from the Grove were at it, and once I see the faces I'll remember a lot more...Alan and Dermot Flood etc. My mother, may she rest in peace, was monitoring the bar as she said that she wanted to have control over the alcohol consumption by those present. I was mortified when she broke this news to me as well you can imagine. Well I could have saved myself all the worry as she was dishing out half pint glasses (with no ice nor mixers) of Blue label Vodka!!!! One guy fell down the stairs, another guy crashed into the kitchen cabinet and knocked the whole thing off the wall, another friend of mine started a cream flan throwing episode, .... my mother later confided that she was so impressed with how most of "that crowd" = Grove people only came to the kitchen for one drink. What she was not aware of was that half of them had passed out in the front room!!! Half a pint of de blue label vodka has that effect on you! If you went to the "Oasis" you probably knew Dermot O'Neil .... If you were the year behind me did you know Antonia Bell, Elaine & Margaret Moore as they were in that year. ...
------------- Ann |
Posted By: Rolo
Date Posted: 19-October-2005 at 13:01
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Hello Ann, Any chance I could join in this little conversation you're having with Stevie as I think I have you now. Think you lived in Maryfield or Ardcollum. I'm from top of Ardlea Road and was friendly with Elaine and Margaret Moore for a few years. Were you Elaine's mate with the blonde hair ? If you were then you'd surely know John Daly who knocked around with us back then. Rolo
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Posted By: Ann Whelan
Date Posted: 19-October-2005 at 13:27
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Hi Rolo, did you have black curly hair??? Yes, I lived on Maryfield cres and was friends with Carol, Elaine & Margaret's sister. I went to Art College with Olive Daly, John's sister!!! Did you live on the Ardlea Road up near Stephen (he lived in the end corner house) around the corner from the Moores. Carol came here on hols too!!!!!! Stephen went to the Grove too and hung around with John Corcoran. He is coming on hols here in the next month!!!!!!! This is getting to be quite hilarious!!!! Just found my Grove card and was about to scan it...Can you put a pic on this site. Naturally enough, it is rather the same as what they say about a passport....if you look anything like that in life, then you are not well enough to travel!!!! ------------- Ann |
Posted By: Rolo
Date Posted: 20-October-2005 at 08:19
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Ann, Are you referring to Stephen Matthews ?, if so I went to school with him and with John Corcoran. Sadly the long black curly hair is no more but you've got the right man. Still see John Daly on and off , in fact meeting him next week and will relay your regards. Still see Margaret the odd time but haven't seen Elaine for years. Do you know where she's at. I'd my old membership on display at my recent 40th along with many other old photos from the Grove era. Fantastic memories. Rolo |
Posted By: Ann Whelan
Date Posted: 21-October-2005 at 07:21
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Hi Rolo, Elaine is married and lives in the states. Say hi to John. What is he doing now? Yes it was Stephen Mathews that I was referring to. Met him about 3 yrs ago with John. Still as laid back as ever.I'd love to see your 40th photos!!!!! ------------- Ann |
Posted By: Rolo
Date Posted: 02-November-2005 at 12:27
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Ann, Met John Daly at weekend and sends his regards. Believe it or not he's got 4 kids,from 19 to 4. Still in the carpentry business and still as much crack as all those years ago. Rolo |
Posted By: ExArtanehead
Date Posted: 07-November-2005 at 01:08
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Hi Ann, Thanks for your long letters, you are jarring memories from my eternally 18-year old brain. I think I was in school with Marcus - red curly hair? Chanel College, we left in '76, lived in the Grove from '77 - '80, then I eventually joined the rat-race. My memories of Marcus were a girl under each arm, and great parties at his house. I vaguely remember a lot of smoke, as Marcus kept sl*gging some guy who didn't partake, calling him "Dude". A girl said that she would have committed suicide if not for Patti Smith! Marcus called his dad by his first name (Tony, I think it was). I'm going to encourage my two sons to do likewise (unless they turf me out, first!) Anyway, have to go, cheers... ------------- Remember when you were young? |
Posted By: Ann Whelan
Date Posted: 07-November-2005 at 07:23
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Hi ExArtanehead,
I am not sure what educational system Marcus attended as in those days I must confess that education was not high on de list of popular topics to discuss!!! I'm sure that the Samaritans will be eternally grateful to the said Patti Smith for preventing an unnecessary end to life!!!! I am sure that drink or some other substance had been taken and would have been thriving and circulating in de aul blood stream when that thought came (& went equally as fast) to pass!!!! It is amazing how certain songs bring back certain memories. Although Gloria Gaynor always gave me a colonic irritation I do remember how when I was doing my leaving Cert in the summer of '79, that song (which I absolutely dreaded with gusto!) "I will survive"- gave me great solace that I would indeed pass the said Leaving!!!! If only I put as much thought, study and effort into working as I did into wishing for miracles, I could have done wonders with the world! Another song I remember which always brought back memories was "Torn between two lovers" as I recall at the time that was out there were two guys who I use to like who suddenly appeared, just like the C.I.E busses, on the scene at the very same time. when they phoned our house I would never answer the phone but made my poor tormented mother (who I must confess actually loved all this action as I was the only girl in our house...so she only had to go thru it all once, plus I got away with murder!) answer the phone. I would ask who was on the phone, A or B, and she would dramatically reply who ever it was and would declare that she was not taking my messages any more. When I would get off the phone I would return to her singing "Torn between two lovers" and hard as she would try not to, she would burst out laughing. To this date I still use songs and burst into song to illustrate a point. When my 6yr & 4yr old are having a "heated discussion" over something that they want, be it food or whatever I calmly turn around and say to them and I quote "As our great role model and forefather Mick Jagger once said 'You don't always get what you wanttttttt, you don't always get what you wanttttt, but if you try sometimes, you might just get what you need!" End of quote Dot Com! It is hilarious as my offspring take and remember all this in good faith and I great great amusement when the pair of them will be looking for something and then out of the blue, Andres who is 6yrs will turn to his sister and say ever so seriously "Veacha! remember what mommy always says!" Mommy is usually at this point in time dot com standing like a gobsh*te in the dark wondering just what it is that I am meant to always say, as I must confess I do have quite a lots of musical quotes that come to pass! He will then break into "As our great role model and forefather Mick Jagger once said 'You don't always get what you wanttttttt ......." I'm sure Mick would be thrilled!
PS.Whatever happened to Bob Smith Poster PinUp Boy for the Grove Website Reg. No 18491 ??????? ------------- Ann |
Posted By: ExArtanehead
Date Posted: 08-November-2005 at 01:37
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Ah Ann, Chanel class of '76, a classic! I managed to do pretty much nothing for five years after a piss-poor LC, but they caught up with me in 1980, when I was conscripted, kicking and screaming, into the technology revolution. On the subject of songs, I brought a Television single in for Cecil to play, Marquee Moon, but he wouldn't play it, saying "No punk rock, sorry" He definitely didn't know any punk music, did he?! Also on bands, yeah, the Bogey Boys, and also Kathmandu, remember them in the Baggot? priceless! They did a great rendition of "Ashes to Ashes", and their own stuff was great too. My two boys, 8 and 6, both love Thin Lizzy (I keep telling them that they do), and keep asking me to play their favourite songs: The Boys are Back in Town, I'm Afraid of Americans, Dancing in the Streets(Bowie/Jagger), Fireball (DP), By the Way by the Chilis; I mean there are so many good songs from the Grove era, AND after, it's just marvellous, isn't it? Sorry, waffling on here, time to go again. Did you know Liz Holohan, Imelda Tierney, or Nuala can't-think-of-her-last-name? ------------- Remember when you were young? |
Posted By: eejit91
Date Posted: 08-November-2005 at 10:47
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I enjoy reading your stuff Ann and ditto on the music front as I have my two little ones in the car with me asking constantly for "Dreamer".. They love Super Tramp - they are turning into my proper little Grove molds. ------------- "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better." |
Posted By: Ann Whelan
Date Posted: 08-November-2005 at 15:34
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Hi Artanehead,
congratulations on achieving five glorious years of excelling in the fine art of doing sweet feck all as we in de trade say as it takes skill, guts and precision to pull off such a fast one and get away with it!!! Actually I know quite a lot of kindred spirits who I hung around with that who did just that! I had forgotten about Katmandu ... what a great time all that was. Yes the music then was quite something else ....never quite seem to get the same kick of the music that I hear nowadays tho. The funny thing is that where I live we get the "Arts Channel.".....don't know if anyone sees that in the states but it is amazing ... I have seen more brilliant documentaries on that featuring Irish bands. There was a brilliant one that I saw about Thin Lizzy .... it showed them in concert, never before seen footage & interviews of Phil Lynott, they interviewed his wife......showed his home in London...interviewed his mothered....talked about his music, who he influenced, they really documented it well. I was in floods by the end of it and was on my sofa wiping away the tears with a charmin ex strength, extra soft long lasting toilet roll as there were no cleanex in the homestead. It was very sad when you saw the talent, his life and then how tragically young he was when it all came to an end. I remember one time when I was in Mexico, I was out somewhere in basically what we would call the wilds of nowhere. My friend and I stopped at this little bar/restaurant which looked as though it had been the inspiration for that kids poem; "There was a crooked man, & he walked a crooked mile......and they all lived together in a crooked house." Do you know the one!? Well I will never forget walking in there and I was half wondering if the building was safe as it looked as it could collapse at any God given moment dot com while at the same time I felt I was surrounded by what looked like the inmates of Al Catraz all staring at me as though I had just been flown in from Mars via Concord. We had just taken our seat and ordered uno Corona ( purely to assist with the economy) when I thought I was hearing things when a tape of "Thin Lizzy" was put blasting on! It was brilliant and transformed the whole moment. I could not believe that I was hearing such music in de wilderness!! My friend who is Mexican had naturally enough never heard of them before but as he said if they brought such pleasure to the Irish themselves then they must be good!! What could I say but "Cheers!" I remember being at a 21st party which was held in the Old Sheiling Hotel and "Dancing in the Street" was played......Alan & Dermot Flood, Marcus & co were all at it and great time was had by one and all. In fact I remember Marcus one time became poetic after much drink had been taken, oddly enough and decided to try to out do Shakespeare. He turned to me in the Neptune and said "Shall I compare three to a glass of Guinness, with thy white hair & black body!"..my hair is blonde and I was dressed in de classic black at the time dot com. Guess Channel Colleges education was not totally wasted!!!! The name Imelda Tierney sounds vaguely familiar and I knew quite a lot of can't-think-of-thier-last-name's but Nuala does not ring a bell. What part of Artane did you hail from? ------------- Ann |
Posted By: ExArtanehead
Date Posted: 08-November-2005 at 20:06
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Hi Ann, I lived in St. Brigids Road, the heart of Artane! I've moved across to Dublin 15, about a mile from Myos pub in Castleknock (with a few other excursions en route). The whole place is one giant suburb, but don't worry, it has all the social attributes: drug users, the odd cream cracker calling at the door selling brushes, and lately, loads of immigrants (bring 'em all in, I say, it's great!). How is St. Lucia? Where is it? I don't see anyone I know on this site, so no more details about meself, yet. Bye for now, XAH ------------- Remember when you were young? |
Posted By: SaintPauls78
Date Posted: 08-November-2005 at 20:56
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Ann, may I ask a favor; You write well and the subject matter is near and dear to my heart, Now class, repeat after me . . . .
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Posted By: Rolo
Date Posted: 09-November-2005 at 06:27
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Hi ExArtanehead, Where on St.Brigid's Road ? 'cos I was in the position of constantly walking up and down there from '81 - '88 to get to my girlfriend's gaff in Abbeyfield. Rolo
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Posted By: Ann Whelan
Date Posted: 09-November-2005 at 07:33
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Hi XAH,
I spent half of my life walking up and down that road to St. Brigids School and then Santa Mary's! There was no escaping it as I even went to a kindergarten class run by a Mrs. Brady who lived right opposite the Crescent! I remember when Lipton's supermarket was where the bank is now and we thought that was a huge supermarket at the time!!! My mother use to buy lunch for my brother and I in O'Mahony's each day on our way to school; a pink snack wafer (remember with the three choc wafer biscuits in it!) a packet of King crisps and an orange juice each. Tres nutritious! That was in the pre-Artane Castle days! Did you know Ruth Farrell (they lived in the center of the Crescent) Martina Bradley (they had the Chemist there) and Paul Heffernan?
Dublin has really changed from when I was living there. A few years ago I went home and was taking a taxi from the airport to my parents house in Artane and decided to keep the instructions simple so I chose La Malahide Road route and then thinking I was keeping it even simpler decided to get the man to cut in towards the Channel area for a short cut. This was after they had hacked the Roundabout and must have had excess cement left over and decided to cock up some of the other exits & entries into roads. I thought I was about to guide directions down a road where once you could go only to discover that they had blocked the road and I seemed to be in a maize at a dead end dot com. I had to tell the unimpressed nonfriendly not at all happy with life or the universe cabdriver to do a U-turn and the aul fart turned to me and inquired had I ever been in the Artane area prior to this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I informed the said fart that I had indeed lived all my life in the vicinity prior to it getting a face lift and he didn't budge an eyelid. This just seemed to add to the dazed and confused expression that was on his face. To add insult to injury when I finally got to my doorstep the fart charged me 40 pounds for the journey down from Dublin airport which is usually around 20 mins if you are not engrossed in doing detours a la carte & raising your blood pressure unnesscisarily!
Another thing that I find amazing is how when you go into the city center now and it is even in la Suburbs everyone who is serving is foreign. Even San Barnados seems to be rampant with non English speaking indivuals. When I was at college and we spent half of our lives patrolling Straid Grafton, the only time you ever heard a foreign accent was usually in the summer when there would be a few tourists around and even then it was mainly Americans and Spanish. I was at home twice this year, in July and Sept and Grafton St has turned into the reverse (even Artane Castle has too!!!!!!!!!) where you rarely hear an Irish accent, it all sounds like Chinese, Romanians, Russians..... Seems to me like the once pure Celtic race is slowly fizzling out!!! I had to phone the bank in Irlanda this week and the two people who attended to me were South African & a New Zealander (I asked what nationalities they were!)
St Lucia is in the West Indies -Caribbean and we are a half an hour flight from Barbados. So when we go on hols over to Barbados I tell my husband that this is just the equivalent of us in Ireland going to the Isle of Man so he is not impressing me! I live up on the most northerly tip of the island overlooking the ocean and out onto the island of Martinique. It is very scenic and beautiful here and oddly enough when we are driving through the rain forest it is so lush and green that in many ways it reminds me of Ireland if only we had the Tropical climate!!!! I always loved the sun and so I am in my element here. It is also great for kids as there is a lot of beach life and boating etc. And the water is crystal clear and warm!!!! You get to meet a lot of tourists here as it is a holiday destination. I use to go home every six months to shop and always enjoyed going home in the summer to buy all the summer stuff. When I would return here and go to the beach, it was so easy to spot UK visitors on the beach as 99% of them must be dressed from the Marks 'n Sparks summer sales! My husband is always amazed at how I can pick out the Irish (this is more so a result of the white pasty skin tones.....and if they are culchies they are even easier to spot due to the white/blue vein complexion with red/light dry mousy brown/fair hair who go shrimp pink after duo weeks in de sun with Factor 1000) & the British on the beaches now. It is like one of my pastimes when I don't have something constructive to occupy my dormant brain with. Must say that I always loved 'people watching' and still do!!!!
I have not met anyone that I really knew well either on this site which I find amazing since I knew so many who were institutionalized in the Grove!!! Also another thing I found amazing when I saw the photos taken at the reunions was that there did seem to be a good crowd in attendance but very few seemed to be dedicated enough to actually sign up on this site!!!!! The mind boggles a la carte!!!! ------------- Ann |
Posted By: Rolo
Date Posted: 09-November-2005 at 08:08
|
Hi Ann, You're right about the size of the crowd but most I've talked to about the site were familiar with it but were not particularly interested in signing up. Maybe we're the peculiar ones,with all this living in the past stuff. I think it's great fun though and you'd probably be surprised if you managed to make it back for a tribute night with the amount of people you'd recognise without actually knowing their names etc. Rolo |
Posted By: Ann Whelan
Date Posted: 09-November-2005 at 08:16
have to agree with you that I do indeed find this great fun and very amusing!!! I aways lived in the Past so that is nothing new for me!Think I could have even been born in the wrong century! ------------- Ann |
Posted By: xgrovehead
Date Posted: 09-November-2005 at 08:51
|
Oh well, its their loss really. As long as we don't run out of steam and have nothing left to talk about, I'm happy enough to chat to whoever is peculiar enough to log onto this site, multiple times a day like myself. St Lucia sounds lovely Ann, I was thinking of you the other day when I heard an ad on the radio for a property showcase in the Radisson hotel, Sapphire Cove, St Lucia it was called. You may be overrun with Irish people (moneyed southside types) before too long!!
------------- We have not inherited the earth from our ancestors, we have only borrowed it from our children. -Ancient Proverb. |
Posted By: Ann Whelan
Date Posted: 09-November-2005 at 09:07
|
Hi Exgrovehead,
very true! I'm the same frame of mind as your fair self and since I joined the said site find myself checking it several times an hour! Sure we can always go like the yanks and get theraphy for it later on!
I've met and had the main guys for Sappire Cove here and have become good friends with an Irish couple who are based here represting them. Have to say that the Irish are like a breath of fresh air, full of laughs and fun when you meet them....that is the one thing that i miss living abroad! We've already had an invasion of Irish via Digicel......... ------------- Ann |
Posted By: eejit91
Date Posted: 09-November-2005 at 13:05
|
Ann St Lucia sounds a lot better than what I see out the window here in But, it's a nice place with a great change of seasons - my arms are killing me here from raking leaves!!! That’s the part I could do without. We are waiting on the snow now also and by the time we are done with that the fine summer will approach. Certainly makes you appreciate the whole turn of events. I agree with you about the change in Well kudos’ to your posts, they are very enjoyable. ------------- "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better." |
Posted By: Ann Whelan
Date Posted: 09-November-2005 at 13:53
|
Hi eejit91, Believe it or not what I miss the most living in a Tropical Paradise is the seasons. So rake up them leaves with gusto and the gentle love and tender care that only fallen leaves deserve! I always loved the Spring in particular. Here it is like eternal summer everyday of the year which is brilliant and I can live with. The only day it knocks me off totally is Christmas day as I associate our Irish climes of rain, early dark nights and artic conditions with the said Yule. It is very hard to get into the season of good will when the sun is beaming out of the blue cloudless sky, the coconut trees are barely moving due to lack of breeze and idealic white sail boats are sailing past your doorstep on what looks like a mirrored ocean. It must be very picturesque where you are if you have snow for Christmas. I spent a month in New York state one December travelling around doing demonstrations of calligraphy on Irish crystal and I shall never forget the piercing cold of the snow. There was a blizzard and I am not trying to be funny here but it followed me to all the bloody towns and cities I was due to appear in! Naturally enough I had not gone with a wardrobe to accomadate such Baltic conditions and thought I would die of the cold. When I was in Buffalo the guy that I was doing a demo in his shop for, decided to take me to see Niagara Falls. I saw it from the American side and then he decided that I had to also see it from the Canadian side as that was the best side to view it from. When we got out of the car I thought my bones had frozen and I now know how it feels to be a cow or pig frozen solid and unable to move in a butchers freezer domain! That is the coldest I have ever experienced it in my life where your body actually aches. I recall how this guy then decided to take me to see all the exclusive homes of the wealthy, still on the Canadian side. I remember seeing huge golden ornate slays filled with what I presume were fake presents on the front snowy lawns of these mansions. As we drove by he casually asked if we did this in Dublin. I found this highly amusing as I said "If we had that on the lawn in Dublin, not only would the presents be stolen from the slay but the slay itself would be taken too!!!" I think he thought that I was trying to be amusing but I only found it entertaining as I was being honest! I loved the shopping and some of the stores where I worked reminded me of The Merchantile out of the "Little house on the Prairie!" And I loved how they have beautiful scents of Cinnamon in the shops when you walked in and pretty little dishes of candies scattered around the store for the customers to nibble on! Can you imagine Ben Dunne doing that!!!!? I was in one such very picturesque little store in Albany I think it was called and decided to go out side for a romantic walk in the snow on my own, as you do when your last remaining brain cells have fallen the victim to frostbite. This store was in the middle of nowhere and so I did not know what was the road and what was not. Well I obviously walked off what was the road or path because I ended up doing a somersault extradinaire down a snowy embankment with my newly purchased disposable camera in hand. I remember thinking as I lay down in this mound of snow looking up to where I had to climb back up, "Well this would never have happened to Nellie Olsen!!!!" Or maybe it would. Amazing what goes through your mind in times of trauma or complete stupidity, such as this personal case quite clearly illustrates dot com!
The prices of houses there are a joke now. And very few of them even had what I would call a decent garden. One of my friends in Dublin had a house which she purchased before the market went totally haywire and I remember sitting in her kitchen and it was so small that if you sat at the table and reached out you could touch the fridge, cooker etc or you could move your leg out to touch the presses on the other side. Without getting off the chair you could use your body to touch all four corners of the room. We know this as we did it! Sad to think of how we entertain ourselves, but it could be worse!
------------- Ann |
Posted By: Ann Whelan
Date Posted: 09-November-2005 at 14:05
|
PS. Hi eejit91, I just thought, the gardners who do our garden have what looks like a mini little hoover gaget that whips up the leaves, you could invest in one of those, retire your rake and take the strain off your arms collecting leaves! Happy raking! Long live de leaves! ------------- Ann |
Posted By: eejit91
Date Posted: 09-November-2005 at 14:21
|
Ann that is gas, one of my sister's has the smallest kitchen I even seen in my life - I always tell her - Jasus Mary you'd need to go out the back door to turn around and come back in. The snow is lovely especially for Christmas. The kids love it; in fact we live in an older village with our own lake and golf course. So over Christmas they do carriage rides around the park and then cook smores over the bonfire and make hot chocolate. It's lovely, and then on really snowy days the kids go sledding on the golf course. Now as lovely as that all sounds, come Feb/March if it's still snowing we get major cabin fever! The spring & Autumn are two of the nicest months we have with the most pleasant weather - so livable. Summer is deadly hot and the humidity would kill you. I like the heat but I like to breath too. We were home in Ireland for Paddy's Day a few years back and went to Achill Island - now that is a place I could easily fall in love with, especially when the weather is nice. You just can't beat St Lucia sounds fantastic altogether; I would think with your great artistic ability, it's heaven to you. We do get a good old laugh here at Christmas! some of the houses are incredible! Their Electric bills must be out the roof. ------------- "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better." |
Posted By: eejit91
Date Posted: 09-November-2005 at 14:25
|
I have a leaf blower! I couldn't even feel my arms the other day after blowing the leaves. My husband thought it would be a great idea to let all the leaves fall before blowing them to the front of the yard for pickup! Consider the fact our garden has 4 tall trees!!! So that wasn't the brightest idea considering he pulled his back out and I was the one left doing the almightly job... What we need is a hired hand! ------------- "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better." |
Posted By: Ann Whelan
Date Posted: 09-November-2005 at 15:14
|
Hi eejit91 Where you live sounds absolutely stunning. I wanted my husband to take the kids and I to Aspen for Christmas, trying to find what you just described but we may just visit you instead!!!!!!!!!!!! I would love the carriage rides, roasting chestnuts on an open fire (I sound like bleeding Bing Crosy on LSD! Get a grip Ann quick...you see what I mean about songs?) etc and for the children to experience snow. My two got so excited this year when I told them that I was taking them on hols to Ireland. They asked if they could buy willies, a raincoat and an umbrella for the occasion, their summer hols. When I looked down at the ecstatic faces with eyes sparkling with excitement the first thought to go through my head was "well you have Ireland truly sussed!" Other people get tee shirts, shorts and flimsy attire going on their hols, my brood have to do the opposite and put on lairs of clothes!!!
The first time that my husband ever visited Ireland I had the man brainwashed about our weather and thought I had excelled in doing an excellent job preparing him for the worst. He was born on the island of St, Lucia and only does hot tropical climes so you can see what I was dealing with. Naturally enough we arrive in Dublin only to walk straight into a bloody heatwave and make me appear to be a total misfit ..... it was that freak very hot summer that we had. After doing some time in Dublin we decided to drive all around Ireland so that he could get a glimpse of my native shores & heritage. He is not into cities at all, being an island boy, and so when we landed in the west he was in his element a la carte. I have to agree with you ...if only we had the good weather, no where beats Ireland for the geographical beauty or the craic of the people.Shame about the wintery summers though. When we were in Roundstone I got some fantastic photos ...t he sand was so white & the water looked so blue that to this day when people see the pictures they ask is it Barbados!!!! I recall taken a photo of my next of kin in the water. I insisted that he not only get into the aqua looking waters but dive into it (this coming from a girl who won't put her head beneath water is amazing!) if he wanted an authentic happy looking holiday photo to add to our collection. To please me he did that but it was hilarious because before I had a chance to hit the click on the camera I heard the most agonizing moan as he emerged with a face that resembled that of the Hulk after getting a kick in de groin! I will never forget the horror on his face as he said how cold it was and all I was saying was "Smile! Fake a bloody smile for the camera!" Thank's be to God I am not a Director filming a love shot and shouting at the actors what to fake! The man actually shivers now when I show him the photo and if I comment on how nice our Irish waters look, he never fails to remind me of how deceivingly cold they are. The classic Cold Case Files!
We have had our fair share of holiday bloopers and it is a wonder the guy travels with me anymore. One year when we were in Dublin we stayed at a very nice new hotel that had just opened 3 weeks prior. The one thing I love about hotels are the freebies; the little soaps, miniature bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, sewing kits, pens etc. It's sad but I love collecting them .......... When we went in the first thing I did was run around checking out the soaps, bottles etc. Martin being "Mr. Practical & sensible checked out the pluming, the water pressure in the shower (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! these routine checks never fail to amuse me as I could understand them if he was purchasing the hotel but not for a months stunt there!!!!!!) etc. I paid more attention to the decor or the room. As he was doing his routine check he said there was a microwave there so perhaps we should go out & buy some food and dine in the room. I said fine ....let's hit the shops & with that we were in the stores buying up a wealth of vegetarian delights & foods that you would never get in San Lucie. We bought enough food for a week ....in fact it would have been way cheaper for us to dine out 3 times a day for the following week. Anyhow that is part of the joys of being on holiday! We returned to our recently approved checked out room & I was pulling the bags apart, opening them & taking everything out so that we could decide on what we were going to feast on from the extensive range of delights before us. As I was doing that Monsieur Practical was on the phone to reception requesting empty plates & cutlery for our party de luxe. The guy arrived presently with a lovely tray of empty table wear & Monsieur P gave him a very healthy tip. Martin loves his food & food that he likes never fails to make him happy. Before I go any further I have to say that we never had a microwave in our house in Ireland so they are not something I was familiar with. We have one here but I just guessed that they are all different. Anyhow I took out the baby potatoes & all the things we had selected to eat & placed them on one of the plates provided........hoping that it was microwave proof & would not crack. When I went down to the microwave & put the plate in the door would not close because the plate was too big. No problemo I thought & executed backup plan numero uno: so I placed all the food into the 100% Irish linen serviette & popped it into the microwave. I then tried to close the door & switch on the timer and that is when my problems began. I tried every conceivable way to lock the door & keep it close but to no avail. Neither could I get the thing to switch on no matter how hard I tried. And tried hard I did. Monsieur practical was getting a trifle impatient because he was starving & expected a prompt home cooked meal from la microwave without any problemos. In the end I told him that the thing was broken (note at this stage dot com the item in question had become known as a 'thing') & he would have to see if he could work it as I could not. Monsieur Impatient came over & banged the door several times but nothing happened. In the end he said that he was going to phone reception & report that the microwave was not functioning at all. Let me add that Monsieur Impatient was not I would say on the hotels top hot list of favourite guests as he had got us moved 5 times in one week to five different rooms over (a)in room numero uno, the central heating was making a noise. I never heard it!, (b) in room numero duo the water pressure in the shower was not as good as in room numero uno!!!! Christ! (c) in room numero trio the view was not nice ..................in the end we ended up back in numero uno. Tres embarrassing a la carte. When he picked up the phone to loge in his microwave complaint I said "OOOOOOH! They are not going to be happy in reception!" Indeed I was thinking no one in the hotel, including his wife is going to be happy or able to relax until Monsieur Impatient is leaving!!!!!! For good!!!! Just before the girl at reception answered the phone he put it back on the hook, got up in silence, walked over to the said microwave & summoned yours truly to come over to it. Yours truly was reclining on the bed with a glass of vino watching this whole episode unfold with an amused eye. I went over & he opened the microwave door open, removed the uncooked food in the 100% pure Irish linen serviette & calmly asked and I quote? "When did you ever see a microwave with a carpet in it?" He looked at me & I said "Well I don't know that much about microwaves but maybe it has a carpet to prevent the plate from slipping or it's because of the Irish climate!" The latter idea did not I must confess really convince me but I thought the anti slip theory seemed sound enough! He then turned to me & said "Do you know what this is?" And do you know what it was?????????? Guess......................it was a "safe"!!!!!!!!! There we were sitting amongst a cornicapolia of uncooked foods with a safe & no microwave!!!!!!!!! The good & positive thing to emerge from this learning experience is that I can now tell the difference between a safe & a microwave!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And on that case I rest my case. Amen!
------------- Ann |
Posted By: eejit91
Date Posted: 09-November-2005 at 16:07
|
Ann are ya sure you don't need my user name - eejit. A safe and a microwave! although I've done some mad stuff myself over time. What about the day I backed the van out and forgot to open the garage door! Hubby's comment "The worst part is I know you'll do it again". You see I was pregnant on Ronan hence the lazy brain - My 9 year old Darragh who was 4 at the time announced "That was stupid Mammy"! What can you say to that.
The most stupid of all was when I came to live here first and on the Telly they would advertise - 1-800-Flowers and I said to my husband what do you do dial 1-800 and shout Flowers into the phone.. ok that was really bad... but true ------------- "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better." |
He still loves me!!
Posted By: Rolo
Date Posted: 12-November-2005 at 06:58
|
Hi Ann, Either I've got my time zones awful confused or you get up at a ridiculous hour, either that or you've not been to bed yet. Rolo. |
Posted By: Ann Whelan
Date Posted: 12-November-2005 at 07:04
|
Hi Rolo, you are not confucious at all dot com. I do get up at a ridiculous hour...usually wake up around 5am......I alwas opened my eyes with the sun! Even in Dublin as soon as the sun came up, I leap out of bed! ------------- Ann |
Posted By: Rolo
Date Posted: 12-November-2005 at 07:05
|
Question, What's the sun ? |
Posted By: xgrovehead
Date Posted: 12-November-2005 at 07:26
|
Umm, the big orange thing in the sky which is drying my washing as I type? ------------- We have not inherited the earth from our ancestors, we have only borrowed it from our children. -Ancient Proverb. |
Posted By: Stevie
Date Posted: 12-November-2005 at 09:11
|
Right with you there Rolo! I took many years for me to find out that 5o'clock actually occured TWICE in 24 hours!!!! and when it did occur I was on my way HOME... Hey, if you are Ronan Leech, is Fiona your sister? top of Ardlea Rd Ann, how could you possibly do this after a late night head banging down at the Grove??? Stevie |
Posted By: Rolo
Date Posted: 12-November-2005 at 09:23
|
Hey Stevie, Now you've got me at a terrible disadvantage , need some help here. Rolo. |
Posted By: ExArtanehead
Date Posted: 13-November-2005 at 03:46
|
Hi Rolo, I lived just off St. Brigids, on Danieli Road, I was doing other things in the 80s (sounds mysterious), so I don't think our paths crossed. ------------- Remember when you were young? |
Posted By: tony99
Date Posted: 21-November-2005 at 12:59
|
"the Crofton Airport hotel (to see the Look-a-Likes, Stryder, Bogie Boys etc)" Hey Ann, I was down in Orlando about 10 years ago and just happened on this Irish Pub. Who was playing inside only the Lookalikes (Baby don't leave 'til I wake up"). They had a slightly different lineup with Mick Redmond (ex of The Tabs, from Drumcondra) on lead guitar. I remember the first time I went to the Crofton Airport nightclub and the "bleedin" bouncer would'nt let us in just because we came from East Wall. I also went to see the Talking Heads movie at the Fairview Cinema. Do you remember the mad advertizements they used to have before the movies. - Windsor Motors, McDowells Happy Ring House, etc. I've been living in Washington DC for 14 years and it still feels like I left yesterday. Did you ever go to the Blind dance in Marino? |
Posted By: eejit91
Date Posted: 21-November-2005 at 14:03
|
Ditto there Tony - Living in Ohio 14 years and yes it feels like I stepped off the plane just yesterday!!!! ------------- "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better." |
Posted By: Ann Whelan
Date Posted: 21-November-2005 at 14:33
|
(Baby don't leave 'til I wake up"). They had a slightly different lineup with Mick Redmond (ex of The Tabs, from Drumcondra) on lead guitar. I remember the first time I went to the Crofton Airport nightclub and the "bleedin" bouncer would'nt let us in just because we came from East Wall. I also went to see the Talking Heads movie at the Fairview Cinema. Do you remember the mad advertizements they used to have before the movies. - Windsor Motors, McDowells Happy Ring House, etc. I've been living in Washington DC for 14 years and it still feels like I left yesterday. Did you ever go to the Blind dance in Marino? Hi tony99, I have the Lookalikes album at home in Irlanda with that very song on it! Sean O'Connor was the leadsinger that I remember and then I remember Eamon broke off and went el solo. We use to see him at McGonnagles. What part of East Wall did you hail from? My mother (RIP) came from there and my aunt and lots of cousin still reside there and worked in the area.Yes, I do remember those Happy Ring House adds and the boos that were made at them! Sad to think how they wasted such advertisements on the likes of us!!! Yes, I also went to the Blind...had forgotten about that!!! ------------- Ann |
Posted By: Kay Fagan
Date Posted: 21-November-2005 at 15:40
|
Hi Tony I heard of the blind but never went.My husband used to live in East Wall Bradshaw was there name. I remember going to Fairview Cinema jasus that wasn't yesterday
------------- Kay Fagan |
Posted By: tony99
Date Posted: 23-November-2005 at 12:40
|
Ann, do you remember the “Jagger” circle in the Blind. Every time Satisfaction or Brown Sugar came on it was time to throw some Jagger shapes. Strangely enough, a Jagger circle automatically formed for other songs like “All Right Now” by Free, “Jailbait” by Wishbone Ash, and “Rebel Rebel” by Bowie. And what about the crazy purple fluorescent lighting. We were always hoping the girls would wear white because ……well you know what I mean! Kay, I remember the Bradshaws from East Wall. I lived in the lane between Church Rd and Shelmalier (which is now blocked off). |
Posted By: Ann Whelan
Date Posted: 23-November-2005 at 15:48
|
Hi Tone99 You made me laugh with the memory of the crazy purple fluorescent lighting....I remember it well & thankfully was never subjected to it as I was a child of Black. I would get embarassed for those mere mortals whose lingerie was on full display, although at times I got the weird impression that some female fatals made this move deliberately!!!!! To this day I can still NOT understand women who wear white skirts with black knickers underneath. If anyone can explain de logic of this please step forward as this has mesmorized me for years!!!!! ------------- Ann |
Posted By: Rolo
Date Posted: 27-November-2005 at 11:19
|
[QUOTE=tony99]
I also went to see the Talking Heads movie at the Fairview Cinema. Do you remember the mad advertizements they used to have before the movies. - Windsor Motors, McDowells Happy Ring House, etc. Just saw the above, Before the Talking Heads Movie was ever made,who remembers going to the Zeppelin Movie " The Song Remains the Same " ,late night at the same venue. Still a great concert movie, the opening riff of " Rock and Roll " set the tone for a powerhouse performance. Rolo. |
Posted By: ExArtanehead
Date Posted: 30-November-2005 at 13:52
|
Hi Ann, Sorry about the delay, been busy with the real world. Ruth Farrell sounds familiar, didn't she have two brothers, James and Paddy? I think Paddy ran into trouble years back with the hard stuff, and is no more... I actually stacked shelves in Liptons for the summer, many moons ago. A guy called Derek Leavy took it over, but drank himself out of business. Jaysus, It's all doom and gloom, but plenty more survived, I'm glad to say! Still don't see anyone familiar on this website, though... ------------- Remember when you were young? |
Posted By: ExArtanehead
Date Posted: 19-December-2005 at 23:00
|
Ann, are you there? I'm listening to "Epitaph" by KC, I think Cecil played 21st Century Schizoid Man once, though I can't be sure, can someone help here? Maybe he played Elephant Talk, but that was after my era, the 70s... ------------- Remember when you were young? |
Posted By: RoundaboutToo!
Date Posted: 18-August-2006 at 02:48
|
Hello All, I'm a forum newbie and a Grove oldie so excuse any ramblings and faux pas! I'm amazed I've only found the forum, and more amazed to find others from my Grove era - '77 to '81. Stayed up till all hours last night delving through it! Ann - ( and Stevie and Rolo and russell and all), Don't think I know you but our paths would've crossed - thanks for your memories of Dublin from late '70s/early '80s - Buses on Grafton St, the Diceman, Fairview cinema.. Anyone remember Kings pub beside the Dandelion? or the Brazen Head when they sold only large bottles? Good music at the Crofton, Baggot Inn (Katmandu), Toner's & McGonigales. The Magnet in Pearse St.; 'Zebra', (Dublins 1st Reggae band?) Gigs at the National Stadium? But exArtanehead! its been a long long time! (subtle Genesis quote) I also lived at the Grove '77 to '80; also left Chanel in '76 and my brain too is 18 years old - That narrows it down hugely! Yourself, myself, Mick from Maryfield and Charlie made up the quorum. I'll pm you later. So all, I'm from the Roundabout too! hence the name. The Lamb Lies Down was our favourite for years, hence the avatar. My music was (and sometimes still is) ELP, Genesis (with Gabriel), Bowie, Patti Smith and Westlife (no really, the last one was a typo). Marcus who played the flute in St Annes lived in Galway for years, I'll find out what he's up to. He did rock carvings and drawings too down the park. There was another flautist - Frank; also lives in Galway? (XAH, the Marcus you mentioned might be Mark - great parties, and he did call his dad Tony!) I frequented the Neptune till '90, occasionally playing a bodhran badly and drinking Dry Blackthorn, though usually the other way round - 'twas there I met Dermot & Alan, Gerry & Colm from Zero Zero, (Gerry's living in the Wesht now), Stryder and a multitude of others. (anyone at Arthur's party in Dalkey?) For fear of going off topic, I'll shut up and compile a list of grove tracks I remember ( and still listen to) - amazing what influence 1 record deck, a tape deck and 2 big speakers in a school hall had. Thanks Cecil. Keep up the good work/posts about that era/area & jokes (was it Biker pat posed: How do you kill a Circus? - Go for the Juggler.)? still laughing... I'm definitely not getting into the word association (football) forum... now where was I? ok, Send... |
Posted By: Rolo
Date Posted: 18-August-2006 at 15:18
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Ah RoundaboutToo, at last someone else who remembers Zero Zero. JC came on here for a while from his home in Sydney ( If ya read enough you'll find it somewhere.) He´s still playing guitar all these years later. Anyway,glad you´ve finally found the Forum and look forward to more contributions. BTW do you happen to remember a band that played McGonagles round that time called Free Booze ? Rolo. |
Posted By: RoundaboutToo!
Date Posted: 29-August-2006 at 00:34
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Hi Rolo, yeah Gerry was the synth player, from Ardlea/Kilmore Rd I think. I remember when the band had all their gear stolen and paid ransom to some guys in Sheriff St to get it back but to no avail. Did Colm have a left handed fretless Rickenbacker? not easy to replace at the time. I did hear of Free Booze, though never saw them; friend of mine wanted them to play at his 21st so he could tell everyone there would be Free Booze at his party!  CP. |
Posted By: Biker Pat
Date Posted: 29-August-2006 at 11:43
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[/QUOTE] Welcome to the forum Roundabouttoo.  ------------- May be going to hell in a bucket but at least I'm enjoying the ride. Biker Pat Grove 1972-1975 |
Posted By: St Brigids
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 01:57
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Reading these posts is a bit like a session with a shrink – all the memories come flooding back – and it only seems like … well a little while ago. Just saw that Grove documentary tonight… they skipped over the late 70s a bit quick. Wonder when the Oasis documentary will be aired … the CBs going around separating any couples getting too close. Ann – if you walked up St Brigid’s Rd to St Mary’s then I must have passed you thousands of times. I had to wade through the grey uniforms going to and from school – best part of the day. I was, I guess, a bencher (same crew who took up residency outside Bradleys – hung around the Cresent, and graduated to a fire in St Anne’s after the Grove years). I’m trying to place you - did you know a girl called Petina or something? Did you know the lads from Stryder? I remember going to see them share the bill with U2 in a little hall near the church in Harmonstown – leaving the gig when Stryder where done & U2 taking the stage ... I'll remind Bono about that if he bothers to get in touch. Nobody mentioned the Alsations? |
Posted By: Rolo
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 08:35
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Oh yes they did.( Mention the Alsatians,that is. ) 5 Honours and a 175, a 750 and a licence to drive. Read ALL the posts man, see Songs from the Grove, sometime late last month or early this month. Rolo. |
Posted By: Vinyl Junkie
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 08:53
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Hey St Brigids, The little hall was "St Brendans" school hall near Measc Avenue (opposite that big green)?? I remember that night as well with Stryder and U2, was after prizes were given out for Artane Summer Project as I recall. I remember thinking "U2"?? cant be much good with a name like that but what did I know. And yeah, as Rolo said, the Alsations were discussed in the "Songs from the Grove" thread....
------------- TPFKAB (The Poster Formerly Known As Brunswick). |
Posted By: RoundaboutToo!
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 10:18
Welcome St Brigids! I remember the Benchers - was it ye who decorated the trees at the roundabout at Christmas? CP. |
St Brigids wrote:Posted By: Rolo
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 10:32
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Mel you must've known the Stryder lads, didn't the guitar player live across the road from ya. ( Sort of ) Rolo. |
Posted By: elaine
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 10:58
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this is such a laugh just spent the last hour reading all the posts about the benchers,robbies coady(i went out with him for ages)stryder ,know alans brother ger,was wondering if anyone knew the whereabouts of paul heffernan or colm airton????
------------- ec |
Posted By: Vinyl Junkie
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 11:29
not sure Rolo, memory is a bit hazy these days.... ------------- TPFKAB (The Poster Formerly Known As Brunswick). |
Posted By: cathyd
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 15:00
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Hi, I only discovered this site today. I was a Grover from 1979 to 1982. I wasn't allowed go before I was 16 and even then, my da used to come down and collect me when it was over, even though all my friends were walking up at the time. How embarrassing!! There was a whole gang of us, fellas and girls, who used to be down by the extension doors. Looking at the programme last night on RTE1 brought back so many memories. I remember one New Year's Eve there was a bomb scare just before midnight and we all had to leave the building. It was a hoax, TG, probably somebody who didn't get in trying to ruin it for the rest of us. I remember a few names alright from the gang we used to hang around with. Mick McPartlin, Robbie (his father owned a few shoe shops), BJ McGuinness, John (BJ's friend). I wonder what they are doing now. I lived in Artane (Brookwood Grove) and I went to Mercy College (or Virgo Clemens as it was called back then). I would love to go to the reunion in October if I can get tickets and I can arrange for some other Groveheads to come too.
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Posted By: RoundaboutToo!
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 15:19
Welcome Elaine, Welcome Cathy! glad ye found the forum. There sure is a lot of reading here, and loads of new people since the documentary last night! Every one of them quite mad. (not me though  ) CP. |
Posted By: Rolo
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 15:23
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Hiya Cathy, welcome to the madhouse. We're same era ( 80 - 85 )and I recognise the lads names. Think they were all Ard Scoil Ris lads. ( We were David's so we hated them ). Also know a few fellow " Green Uniform School " girls from round that time...............and don't mind Roundy, he's as mad as the rest of us ! Rolo. |
Posted By: cathyd
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 15:28
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Hi Rolo Thanks for the welcome. God, its great just to know there are all these Groveheads out there who understands what the Grove was all about. My poor husband doesn't know what it means. He's from Finglas and he said that he and a few lads tried to get in once but they wouldn't let them. My sister actually met her husband at the Grove. |
Posted By: Vinyl Junkie
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 15:29
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Welcome aboard Cathy and Elaine. Cathy, its a small world - I lived on Brookwood Avenue (my folks still do) and I used to hang around with "Micky Mac" back in the early 80s too. I went down from around 1980(ish) up until around 1986 or 1987, and it was a wrench to finally admit that I might be getting too old, even then... Mel. ------------- TPFKAB (The Poster Formerly Known As Brunswick). |
Posted By: Rolo
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 15:31
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..............and that's where I met my darling too. Rolo. |
Posted By: cathyd
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 15:33
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Hi Mel, You wouldn't happen to be Mel Lavin. I used to be part of that gang, myself, Deirdre Mangan and Liz Quinn. I used to live two doors up from Ian (McLoughlin). You're right, it is a small world |
Posted By: Bluebell
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 15:35
 ------------- You are what you wanna be....age doesn't matter |
Posted By: Vinyl Junkie
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 15:36
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Thats me Cathy! Thought it might be you alright as there aint that many houses on Brookwood Grove. I stayed on at the Grove after some of you guys stopped going as I couldnt get enough of the place. How are things with you?
------------- TPFKAB (The Poster Formerly Known As Brunswick). |
Posted By: Rolo
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 15:37
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Hey Bluebell, how come it wasn't you and Hayseed in the Doc. then ? Rolo. |
Posted By: Hayseed Dixie
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 15:41
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Hey Rolo  They actually interviewed us in the room upstairs..but was late in the night and I think we were a little "tired and emotional" by that stage..hehe! Funny..I haven't seen the documentary yet...but I believe the other couple are married the same length as us..and the first song they danced to was Stairway... weird huh!! Guess we just didn't have the faces for TV...*L* ------------- Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again. - (Henri Cartier-Bresson) |
Posted By: Rolo
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 15:44
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Yeah, we heard that they were looking for couples to interview that night, but think we just chickened out. We're 17 years too, mad innit ! Can't remember our first dance though, think it might've been Alternative Ulster ! Rolo. |
Posted By: Bluebell
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 15:46
They did interview us at the hotel when the documentary was been made....but it was well into the night when we were both sozzled...so I guess our clips ended up on the editors floor...thank god cos can't remember what we said....had a feeling though cos we never got an invite to the preview of the doc...and everyone elce who was involed did.  ------------- You are what you wanna be....age doesn't matter |
Posted By: Bluebell
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 15:50
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Hey hayseed....maybe this couple stole our identity and stole our story ??? Must find out who this couple is? Anyone know them ? ------------- You are what you wanna be....age doesn't matter |
Posted By: Rolo
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 15:51
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.........and some who weren't involved but blagged their way in 'cos they nobbled Cecil and Andy at the Summer Reunion. I'da been with them but for a prior engagement. Sorry guys, don't know the couple they did choose. Rolo. |
Posted By: Hayseed Dixie
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 15:52
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Hmmm..wonder is there a connection here Rolo...? Maybe they put something in the minerals back in the day... a marriage potion perhaps..  ------------- Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again. - (Henri Cartier-Bresson) |
Posted By: Bluebell
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 15:52
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Rolo...will your wife come to the reunion too?....we must of all crossed paths through out our years down in the grove. Can't wait to meet you all at the reunion. ------------- You are what you wanna be....age doesn't matter |
Posted By: Rolo
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 15:58
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She's been at three, Halloween,Christmas and Easter.She loves the Headbanging. Didn't come in Summer 'cos none of our regular gang were going and she didn't want to be the only one that wasn't part of this thing. She'll probably come at Halloween though, should be a few of the old crowd then. Funny now, having to distinguish between " The Old Crowd " and " The New Crowd " Looking forward to meeting you and Hayseed too. Rolo. |
Posted By: Hayseed Dixie
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 16:11
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Should be a bit of craic okay! Tho this time I'm definitely bringing my rasta wig.....so I can actually have something to shake when I headbang... We missed the last fancy dress one..well..we didn;t..but we didn't know it was fancy dress...some of those costumes were amazing!! ------------- Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again. - (Henri Cartier-Bresson) |
Posted By: cathyd
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 16:15
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Hi Mel, Doing alright thanks. Lived in London for a while but back home now 12 years. I have been married 15 years but couldn't have kids. We live in Donaghmede now (not far from the ma and da!!). How are you doing and do you still keep in touch with any of the lads?
Cathy |
Posted By: Vinyl Junkie
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 16:31
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sent you a Private Message Cathy ------------- TPFKAB (The Poster Formerly Known As Brunswick). |
Posted By: elaine
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 23:26
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thanks roundaboutToo and brunswick for the welcome.........gonna see if i can talk some of my old mates into coming down to a reunion nite.......my era would've been 75'-79'..watched the docu with my kids it was great for them to see what i'd been talking about for all those years! ------------- ec |
Posted By: RoundaboutToo!
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 23:32
Elaine - '75-'79, same years as myself and many more! Bruns was a bit later. I haven't been to a reunion either, could be a lot of first timers at Hallowe'en! Thanks to all who've kept it going! CP. |
Posted By: elaine
Date Posted: 20-September-2006 at 23:39
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and guessing from your username you're are from artane???i was from the wrong side of the tracks (edenmore)so had to give false address for membership card always needed some dutch courage getting through door but it was worth it....
------------- ec |
Posted By: eejit91
Date Posted: 21-September-2006 at 00:25
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Elaine did you know the Bridgettes from Edenmore? ------------- "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better." |
Posted By: Hayseed Dixie
Date Posted: 21-September-2006 at 14:39
Geez...I'd forgotten all about that myself. I lived in Kilmore so had to pretend I was from Artane or somewhere I think.... think they'd probably get sued for that today...  ------------- Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again. - (Henri Cartier-Bresson) |
Posted By: Rolo
Date Posted: 21-September-2006 at 14:49
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Not far from ya Hayseed, why'd ya not go to David's ? Rolo. |
Posted By: Hayseed Dixie
Date Posted: 21-September-2006 at 14:53
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Oh cos I lived in Balgriffin when I first moved from across the water..so I was only up the road from Belcamp..so made sense then.. was a hell of a walk from Kilmore to Belcamp I can tell ya...and I usually had to dodge the natives in Darndale on the way..hehehe!! ------------- Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again. - (Henri Cartier-Bresson) |
Posted By: ARD 257 DJ
Date Posted: 22-September-2006 at 12:10
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So 28 years on nothing has changed on the northside then ------------- I never kissed anything that could lick it's own balls. |
Posted By: Bencher
Date Posted: 22-September-2006 at 19:12
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The Benchers mostly knew one another from David's school, and although it may have appeared we hung out at Bradley's, the real reason was that the Molloy brothers all lived there. As many of the previous posts note we also hung out at the roundabout. Mark Alfred was one of the crowd, and a great friend to boot, who threw wild parties every Saturday afternoon prior to going to the Grove or the Crofton which we eventually started going to when we got too old for the Grove. Mostly the Benchers went their separate ways, but some of us still meet up for a few pints.
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Posted By: IanL
Date Posted: 01-October-2006 at 10:41
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I was going through some of my compilations the other
evening and I came across Climax Blues Band's "Couldn't get it right". It's a great track from the '75-early 80s era (issued around 1976, I believe). Did Cecil ever play it ? I never heard it played in the Grove from 81 onwards while I was there. Yet it does seems to meet the Grove criteria perhaps a little too mellow for headbangers but still a classic IMHO. CBB had some other good output too that I wouldn't be embarrassed to put on a turntable or iPod. --Ian ------------- Ian - Grover '81-'84 Exiled to Mayo since 2005 |
Posted By: cathyd
Date Posted: 02-January-2007 at 10:29
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A few months ago, on one of the forums, I came across links to download Grove songs. I can't remember which one it was. I got an MP3 player for Christmas and I would love to download my youth on to it!!! Can anyone help me? |
Posted By: Vinyl Junkie
Date Posted: 02-January-2007 at 18:47
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Sent ya a PM Cathy!! ------------- TPFKAB (The Poster Formerly Known As Brunswick). |
Posted By: Floyd
Date Posted: 02-January-2007 at 22:20
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It's amazing how many people are going around with the 'latest Grove album'-honestly-if that was in the shops that would sell... Stereo was up to 11 playing it in the Tonto household before the re-union...and then Today FM in the car on the way-Alice Coopers show! Perfect! ------------- There are three kinds of people in the world,those who are able to count,and those who can't... |