It is amazing the market that exists for nostalgia.

Last week the Belltable hosted such a night and it attracted a very big attendance. It centred round film taken by Eamon O’Connor on the streets of the city and involving, in the main, himself, and Tom and Pascal, in their many and varied pranks.

But the funniest part of the three hour plus programme was the Radharc documentary, “The New Matchmakers” filmed 40 years ago which covered ‘courtship etiquette’ for young farmers in Glenamaddy. It was priceless and shows how far decadence in this regard has taken a firm grip on the young people of today.

Ballroom dancing from the Redemptorist organised ABC Club (Anonymous Bachelors Club) held in Cruises Hotel was another highlight. Fr Gerry Reynolds, then Rector at Mount St Alphonsus, spoke on the need in those times of such dances.

The ‘courtship etiquette’ included the young men being shown how to use their cutlery and how to ask a girl to dance and to then escort her back to where she had been before the request was made!

The Cruise’s dance scenario was, however, tinged with a little sadness because so many of those at the dances are now deceased. Many others, though, are very much alive. And, of course, Cruises Hotel no longer exists. It was a place of happy memories!

Brief film of the Garryowen-Young Munster 1971 Rugby Cup Final and the FAI Cup final in the same year were a bit of a disappointment and why a motor rally in Donegal from nearly  decades ago was screened at 11.10 made the most enjoyable event drag on a little. The film on the life of Brendan Bowyer and the Royal Showband, “The One Nighters” also went down well.

With such a large attendance I am sure there will be a repeat performance.
 
If Brian Cowen increases the old age pension in today’s Budget, I hope a certain bank in the city makes amends… For many months, two notices inside the particular bank have posed the following question: “Is €193.30 per week enough to fulfil your retirement dreams?”