'The Moscow; Dancehall.

metalplank

Has anybody any information on a Dancehall / Meeting-room called 'The Moscow' that existed in the 1930;s.
It was located on the banks of the River Dodder just above the Weir at Firhouse, County Dublin.
According to some older people (sadly now dead) it was considered something 'risque' to have attended as it was considered politically suspect, and was opposed be Catholic Church influences.
"The young people rarely sought parental approval or consent to attend, or even admitted to them of attending" thus adding to its excitement.
There was a memory that it was maliciously burnt down by 'unknown persons'.

Waitsian

Have you tried a local library, and local newspapers? Also try local historians, and/or history societies. Those seem your safest bet for more info. A search on various social media sites might also bring up a photo if you're lucky, or at the very least, personal reminisces.

Waitsian

The link below gives some context to the closing of some dance halls in the 1930s, as well as further reading at the bottom of the page (including a HistoryIreland article). The Loach film 'Jimmy's Hall' would also be of interest, as might McCann's novel 'After the Lockout'.

A search on Facebook revealed that the Moscow dance hall stood on the Dodder bank near a forge owned by a Kelly family.

Waitsian

For some reason I can't post links from my phone (although I can from my pc; very frustrating!) so do a search for anti-jazz campaign article on The Irish Story website.

pinkypinky

I've moved this to the History & Heritage forum where it may get more response.

Waitsian

pinkypinky wrote:

I've moved this to the History & Heritage forum where it may get more response.

I wholeheartedly agree. I was going to suggest it but didn't want to overstep my bounds.

codonnaile

Sorry to raise a post from the dead, but having been digging into the very same recently I thought I might share some sources I've come across!

In 'The Memoirs of Matty Dunbar of Bohernabreena' (https://arambleabouttallaght.blogspot.com/2020/02/the-memoirs-of-matty-dunbar-of.html):

"Opposite Delaney's, near the banks of the Dodder, down O'Reilly's lane on the left hand side was 'Moscow' dancehall.  It was called that because there was always a row in it!  There were always great nights in Moscow. It was burnt down in the end because of the politics in Firhouse. Between the Blueshirts and the IRA, one crowd used it as a training hall and the other crowd wanted it."

In 'Knocklyon: Past and Present' (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://source.southdublinlibraries.ie/bitstream/10599/4913/2/knocklyon.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjVm_-Hn86IAxXpT0EAHR3FLuUQFnoECBQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw031u-y6oxjFDTBgF4oQw-2):

I know it's probably too little (and most certainly too late) but I hope this helps the next person to go looking!