Documentary On The Grove

For all you over 40's or thereabouts!

Having seen your website advertised on a banner last night I have spent today in a wave of nostalgia which in the interest of all the Era's of The Grove and for posteritys sake I intend to share....

From 1977-81 roughly anyone who went to The Grove wore a uniform of blue faded tight jeans- no self respecting Grover would be seen dead in "new " jeans, to get them to this state required lots of washing, then wearing them in the bath until they shrunk tight to you, closing them required acrobatics flat on the bed with a coat hanger in the zip.Over this we wore Grandad shirts (male & female alike) or loose embroidered tops bought from Shree in Grafton St.or The Dandelion Market, no ensemble was complete without desert boots and a duffle coat-these coats were piled up high down the back of the hall or on the stage where they would often be noted to "move" accompanied by stiffled giggles in the course of the night.Dresses were very long, loose & floaty (a la Stevie Nicks) any girl who could sew extra layers on them or turn Dad's shirts into Grandad ones or embroider jeans or waistcoats...etc was very popular.I remembered one girl in particular from Ardcollum (I think), whom I envied madly 'cos she not only dressed like Stevie Nicks but looked like her too! I often wondered how she ended up (hopefully not wearing a twin-set & pearls!!!).We wore love-beads, ivory chip type necklaces and sharks tooth on a thong (& these were things you wore around your NECK!) or even melon pip necklaces!

Before you could GET in you had to run the gauntlet of the queue and the Bouncers-provided of course you could still stand up after a visit to Hi-jacks Wine Bar in O'Connell St (anyone remember here?) The Neptune or The Sheds, you would weave your way through the crowd chewing mints or gum.-Are there any of the origional Bouncers out there? I recall them asking what plays/novels were on The Leaving Cert course when they suspected that someone was greatly increasing their age!The membership card was green-no photo on it so it was interchangeable (I found mine recently).

Inside it was heads down- like a great advert for dandruff both fella's and girls had long hair and everywhere there was the all pervasive smell of patchouli and dope ( I'm not sure if this can be mentioned here as no-one has yet referred to it) but its a bit like that phrase about the 60's (in reverse) if you weren't aware of it you weren't there!Of couse really cool Groovers did not actually dance at all! they were in their own little psychedlic world propped against a wall or in the middle of the floor.

All the Grove males were experts in the one-handed bra opening technique-but just to confuse them some of us wore-"Front-loaders" as we called them!. Newcomers were easily identifiable if they asked you to dance to Lynard Skinnard's "Freebird" and were greeted with scorn.There was always a lot of cheering and clapping if Cecil made an announcement that some poor unfortunate's parent was at the door! Does anyone remember the night He played "Abba" and the entire hall collectively sat on the floor until he took it off again?Sometimes now I hear a song and am transported back to that time at The Grove.I've had people ask me how I know all this music/words of songs and I always give The Grove & Cecil the credit for it because it wasn't just a dance but an education and a love of music that has lasted a lifetime/I hope I've triggered some memories here and as you read down through this you are going "but what about....."? and add to this post.

I'm compilying a list at the moment of the songs played at this time-so watch out and add your own.

 

Just realised that maybe this should be on the Memory Lane section! perhaps Moderator could copy it to there too.Didn't make it to the re-union I only found out about it the day before but everyone seems to have had a good time.When my parents were moving house they found a tape which I had made,  they have since given it to me-its of...... Grove songs!! (and it still exists!) so I'll list them all soon.It was a bit worrying to find "In a Country Church Yard" on it perhaps Cecil could clear this one up-did he REALLY play Chris deBurgh???

Guys,

 

Any updated on when the documentary is being shown on RTE - - just want to make sure I am out that night -- after seeing the pics from the october reunion - can only imagine what we'll all look like on telly - - then again - - who cares what we looked like- - we had a blast! - maybe I'll give a video tape of the show as a christmas pressi to mates !!!!!!!!

Jackie

 

 

Jackie is a great planner She has to be she has 23 people going to her house for Christmas Dinner..................

Inculding me