Memories from Derry people of nights at Borderland and Plaza wanted for new book

Do you remember dancing the night away at Borderland in Muff or the Plaza in Buncrana?

In bygone years, these two venues would have been hugely popular with young people from Derry looking for a good night out.

Now, a new book is being planned on the halcyon days of Borderland and Plaza and the authors are keen to hear from people in Derry on their memories of the venues.

The book, called From The Candy Store to the Galtymore, will chronicle this unique time in rural and urban Ireland through the stories of the young men and women who religiously went to their local ‘Ballroom of Romance’ each weekend.

The book will be co-edited by PJ Cunningham and Dr Joe Kearney who are seeking memorable stories from that golden era which saw the beginnings of thousands of romances.

Two of the most popular venues were the Plaza in Buncrana and Borderland in Muff.

PJ said: “What we want are the stories of romance, of chance meetings or tales that are funny and maybe even mischievous.

“All human life gathered for the weekly dances in what was a cultural shift away from the more formal dances which held sway up until then.

“The showband dances were modern and slightly more brash occasions than the country had been used to but, if anything, the number of stories of love and loss, rows and ructions, fun and games grew in the new environment.

“We are seeking particular stories rather than people just remembering the night that Joe Dolan, Brendan Bowyer or Dickie Rock played their local hall.

“Ideally there should be a bit of tension or drama, humour, love or loss involved in what people send in to us.

“With 200 or 300 bands traversing the country every weekend, and dancehalls sprouting up all over the place, everyone has a favourite story from that era.”

Readers are invited to submit stories for inclusion in From The Candy Store to the Galtymore to [email protected] before June 30.