Waltzing up Bray Head

Michael Doorley remembers the celebrated Bray Stairlift, which opened 60 years ago in June, and the boost it gave to the town

In both economic and social terms, the ‘Swinging Sixties’ was an energetic upbeat period in Ireland and ushered in an era of enormous change. Key factors included new Taoiseach Sean Lemass’s successful economic iniatives and the launch of RTE television in 1962. The seaside town of Bray reflected much of this optimistic period, particularly along the seafront/ esplanade, so popular with international tourists and day- trippers. It was then known as the ‘Brighton of Ireland’ with its bandstand, carnivals, amusement arcades, slot machines, bumper cars, Punch and Judy shows and chip shops.

Oliver (Ollie) Mahony- a local lad in his early twenties was engrossed with pretty much everything that was happening all around him at the time. As a fifteen year old, he had various part time jobs- including working on Pat Mooney’s seafront putting green earning 1s/6d per week hiring out deckchairs. A few years later, he got a ‘plum’ job working the chairlift, for which his wages escalated to a whopping £1 per week.

The chair lift was originally set up in the 1940s by Eamonn Quin (father of Superquin boss Fergal Quinn) and was in itself a unique tourist attraction. It was supported by seven metal yellow pylons going up to Bray Head and open from April to October. Buses would travel weekly from Red Island in Skerries- which was also run by the Quinns. It could convey up to 350 people per hour, with the upward journey costing 1s/6d. The upper terminus was at the popular ‘Eagle’s Nest’ ballroom and restaurant from which there were amazing views across the Irish Sea from Dublin Bay to Wales.

The wide scale popularity of ballroom dancing in the early Sixties cannot be underestimated. Huge numbers would attend venues such as the Arcadia in Bray, where some of Ireland’s top showbands (such as the Miami and The Drifters) would regularly perform.

There was a unique culture around it all and whilst no alcohol was served at the dances this did not necessarily mean that all the patrons were sober. The archaic social format was that a dance set comprised three songs or tunes. Girls stood patiently in a row on one side waiting for the fellas to ask them onto the dancefloor and they could accept or decline. The music was usually so loud that communication was more of a shouting match than an intimate conversation. After the early tunes, the tempo slowed to a waltz/slow dance version. If the lady had agreed to stay on for the slow set, it was a good indication for potential romance or alternatively, the promise to retain ‘the last dance’ for the suitor was equally hopeful.

For Ollie, sport was another important aspect of life, particularly football and he and a group of his friends comprised a lively ‘up and coming’ young team calling themselves ‘Bray Celtic F.C’. But they needed to join the Dublin League in order to establish properly and there were financial and other requirements if they were to achieve that status.

Bray promenade. It was then known as the ‘Brighton of Ireland’ with its bandstand, carnivals, amusement arcades, slot machines, bumper cars, Punch and Judy shows and chip shops. The end of The Arcadia Ballroom, the go-to venue in the Sixties

Taoiseach Sean Lemass’s successful economic initiatives mirrored the optimism of The Sixties which was reflected in the town

Using the chairlift to deliver Coca Cola to the Eagle’s Nest restaurant on Bray Head in 1963

organise a dance for that purpose. He had loads of experience of both working and dancing at the popular Arcadia Ballroom and the International Hotel (where he was destined to meet Judith – the Love of his life and his future wife) and he was enthusictally supported in this by six of his football pals namely: David O’Brien, Mick Power, Paddy McLoughlin, Jack Tobin and brothers Sean and Liam Wheeler. The dance venue chosen was the Eagle’s Nest and the local band contracted to play were known as ‘The Wingbeats’ – a most apt name considering the altitude they would be performing at. Unless you were a nocturnal mountaineer, the only way up to a dance there was via the chairlift, which was included in the cost of the ticket of 2s/6d. What there was no mention of was the absence of a return option after the chair lift had closed at 11.00. Hence, it was christened the ‘Cinderella Ballroom’ by a few of the regulars. But there were other factors. In Bray then (as in any town) there were a few ‘rowdies/gurriers’- who looked upon such events as an ideal venue for a good fistfight, particularly up in that remote location with no Garda presence. The tickets sold out instantaneously, although there were some people who said they would ’cough up’ the price at the door on the night but failed to do so. In any event, the dance took place on Friday 29th June 1962 on a beautiful moonlight night. By the time the Wingbeats took stage it was virtually a full house. The music was delightful and the fun and banter was palpable. Over 400 people attended the dance which would have included a few ‘gate-crashers’. The only technical problem was when the PA system broke down, so it was Ollie who had to clamber onstage as MC after the end of each set. There was a local ‘honcho’ selling cheap wine and although by and large it was a peaceful and happy musical night, the inevitable skirmish kicked off towards the end when the band were playing ‘The Loco-Motion’. Basher Murphy was the main offender but the scrap was short lived as Ollie and his pals diplomatically intervened. They were then assured that ‘the row will be finished off back down on the Seafront’ and so it came to pass. When the dance was over at 1am and the tidy-up complete Ollie and the lads were delighted with everything, especially the whopping profit of £35 on the night. This led to another concern. As the chair-lift had shut down, it was half an hour down via the 135 steps in the dark to the Seafront with this vast sum. So, Ollie asked his good pal Mick Power to act as his bodyguard and together they made their way down (cautiously but safely) back home with the night’s takings intact and ready to be banked the next day. The ironic aspect of all that is despite having raised the necessary funds, their application to the Dublin League was supressed by the Wicklow League and not authorised. The lads chose to ‘throw in the towel’, so six months later they all decided to purchase seven Prize Bonds at a fiver apiece. From then on, Oliver focussed on his chosen career- that of Master Barber in his father’s salon- where he had started when it was established in 1957. The Hygienic Barber Shop (a most apt title in the current health environment) is a prominent landmark building on the Main Street with Dempsey Bros. (now Frank Doyle’s) butcher’s shop downstairs. The business had prospered under the expertise of Oliver’s’ Dad who passed away in 1967. Over the subsequent years, Oliver further developed great customer loyalty and strong local personal and business connections such as Ardmore Studios. The latter had their own

Nostalgia decline. The music was usually so loud that communication was more of a shouting match than an intimate conversation. After the early tunes, the tempo slowed to a waltz/slow dance version. If the lady had agreed to stay on for the slow set, it was a good indication for potential romance or alternatively, the promise to retain ‘the last dance’ for the suitor was equally hopeful. For Ollie, sport was another important aspect of life, particularly football and he and a group of his friends comprised a lively ‘up and coming’ young team calling themselves ‘Bray Celtic F.C’. But they needed to join the Dublin League in order to establish properly and there were financial and other requirements if they were to achieve that status.

hairdressers And so it was exactly sixty years ago that Ollie came up with a plan to organise a dance for that purpose. He had loads of experience of both working and dancing at the popular Arcadia Ballroom and the International Hotel (where he was destined to meet Judith – the Love of his life and his future wife) and he was enthusictally supported in this by six of his football pals namely: David O’Brien, Mick Power, Paddy McLoughlin, Jack Tobin and brothers Seanand but strictly for the actors, so for Ollie it yielded film producers and directors- such as screen writer Alistair McLean. He particularly enjoyed the custom of legendary poet Seamus Heaney over the years. Today it is truly a unique historic venue and the haircutting process in itself is an experience of delightful chat and banter. If you glance up over Frank Doyle’s butcher shop, you will see the beacon that is medieval barber’s pole pitched like an angular lighthouse over the Main Street. Now in his early eighties, he is surely the only person in Bray who has happily continued in the same business for a full sixty-five years. Iconic landmark: Frank Doyle butchers. If you glance above it you will see the barber’s pole pitched like an angular lighthouse over the The Wingbeats band in later years Main Street. evolved into ‘The Mexicans’ with Greystones singer Tina as their lead. The Sixties era eventually fizzled out with two key factors leading to a steep decline in Bray’s tourist industry- namely cheap flights to Spain and other destinations and the outbreak of the ‘troubles’ in Northern Ireland. Sixty years on, Ollie and a few of the friends, still have the hard earned £5 Prize Bonds and optimistically await their win from these. Good Luck with that, Lads!

Now in his early eighties, barber Oliver (Ollie) Mahony is surely the only person in Bray who has happily continued in the same business for a full sixty-five years.

Before the infamous massacre, The Miami Showband regularly appeared at The Arcadia Ballroom