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Growing up in Drogheda

  • 24-06-2009 12:22am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 283 ✭✭


    I know there's lots of nostalgia around, particularly 80's stuff but thats the era I grew up in so thought I start a thread in relation to growing up in the town as a youth during that time..

    * Going "down the town" with your pals and after going through the Town Centre and maybe a trip to the Sound Shop (to buy blank tapes:)) go home because there was nothing else to do.
    * Newsbeat!
    * Johno's shop on Magdalene St at lunchtime.
    * The Sound Shop 2 at the bottom of Laurences St (tapes downstairs!)
    * Playing in the Drogheda & District Schoolboys league
    * School Sports day at the O'Raghalllll O'Ragha...The Gaelic Grounds!
    * Loving the Christmas lights around the town as a kid
    * The Hot Pot
    * The fountain in the Town Centre SC that changed colour
    * People queueing in the Abbey Cinema all the way down the stairs...and the film posters on the walls "Herbie Goes Bananas" "The Hills have eyes"!!


«1345

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 732 ✭✭✭Famous45


    The fountain in the Town Centre SC that changed colour

    LOL - quality.

    An good auld jolly up in the cemetary in Thomas Street.

    Mitching from school in the ramparts, viaduct and basically everywhere round the town.

    Johno's was the business. 1/4 Strawberry & Ice Cream

    Whitworth was class when the pool hall was downstairs at the back and the arcade games next to it. Spent probably every night in the place.

    I played in the DDSL!

    The trek every evening after school downtown into Paddy Dwyers, then around to the sound shop, back over the town to McKenna Man, then sitting on the steps in the summer. All the geeks stood at the back of the town centre, hope you werent one.

    Man Dingo's!

    Luciano's!

    Hot Pot - different class, as was Loughran's on the top of Palace Street, used to get scallops, the little ones about 20 of them covered in ketchup.

    Running through the drive thru in Mickey D's when it opened pretending to be a car - lol.

    Samba Festival was brilliant.

    Spending every lunchtime from school in the bookies.

    The No Name! What a place, must have been with every bird in the place.

    I'm sure some more will come to me..


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 732 ✭✭✭Famous45


    School Sports day at the O'Raghalllll O'Ragha...The Gaelic Grounds!

    Was always in the smaller pitch next to the main one!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,126 ✭✭✭✭calex71


    Ah great thread :D

    God i totally forgot about the fountain in the old town center full of money it was , used to hang out at the back on the steps or over on the wall next to the river at the boxing club there.

    Gisties arcade on dominics st , think its a bookies now.
    Remember sataurday afternoons in the queue for cinema.
    Joe thompson's on shop st,
    Used to love going to the sound shop and play with the guitars
    wow sound shop 2 , id forgotten about that one.
    Hot Pot was legendary .

    What was the place called at the end of narrow west st. just on the corner before the abbey shoping center? It's some kind of take away now, used to go there all the time for a mug of tea and a sandwich and chip's. Annoying i cant remember that one :mad:

    the 4 lanterns close by too :D

    cruisos when it still had the records on the roof and the bar in the club was in the middle and was thatched, and i was way to young to be there and getting hit on by a girl who was way to old for me, it had the unique smell and sticky floors :D

    Number 4 on a monday night after work , think it was good fella's before and storm now.

    Is the Genoa still there on shop st?

    the square at the bottom of stockwell street and the health food place that was on the corner, i used to love how it smelled on the way past.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 732 ✭✭✭Famous45


    hat was the place called at the end of narrow west st. just on the corner before the abbey shoping center? It's some kind of take away now,

    sounds like Jumping Jacks!

    Genoa still there.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 377 ✭✭garrincha62


    calex71 wrote: »
    What was the place called at the end of narrow west st. just on the corner before the abbey shoping center? It's some kind of take away now, used to go there all the time for a mug of tea and a sandwich and chip's. Annoying i cant remember that one :mad:

    The Hollywood Café!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 168 ✭✭D rog


    Ah, pool playing in Gisties on a saturday afternoon. Coffee and cake in Hollywood cafe and the cafe in the town centre.

    Does anyone remember the lovely area behind the lane between the old weavers and now mizzoni's pizza? Big fountains and a cafe, was brilliant :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 283 ✭✭Trafford Lad


    Yeah Johno's shop was great, 1/4's of Strawberries and Ice Cream, Rhubarb and Custards etc, remember that time during the American Football craze when you could get those American Football helmet thingys in Johno's, not sure if there were sweets or chewing gum with them as well. Loughran's was great as well, loved the scallops...think they used to be 10p each!

    Remember at that time Eagletons had loads of American Football jerseys/hats/jumpers??


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,126 ✭✭✭✭calex71


    The Hollywood Café!

    wasn't there an unofficial name for it aswell, your right it was hollywood café
    maybe it was called another name after that? around 98/99???

    I must say i was sad when it closed :(

    I'm not sorry to see jumping jacks gone however :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 305 ✭✭NAGGIE03


    Think it was called Hollywood west!!:D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,126 ✭✭✭✭calex71


    NAGGIE03 wrote: »
    Think it was called Hollywood west!!:D

    Thanks naggie , thats it. It's been bugging the **** out of me all day :D


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,569 ✭✭✭Fingers Mcginty


    Hot pot Chicken burgers with garlic mayo after Mcphails. :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,095 ✭✭✭andrew1977


    Anyone remember Gistys arcade ? , down near the dominican church

    From there and back to the whitworth all summer long:D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 283 ✭✭Trafford Lad


    Yeah I remember Gisty's, great spot for pool etc but from memory I dont think it was open that long?

    Also - the garage where McDonalds now is, remember it was the "Ola" garage and the Take Away/Diner in it was called "Breaks" I think?? I remember at the time thinking it was cool that we had an American Style diner in the town :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,737 ✭✭✭sudzs


    Never mind Lucianos... what about "Fantasy "Gaah-dens"?!!! :D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,126 ✭✭✭✭calex71


    sudzs wrote: »
    Never mind Lucianos... what about "Fantasy "Gaah-dens"?!!! :D

    That jogs a memory where was that?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,737 ✭✭✭sudzs


    calex71 wrote: »
    That jogs a memory where was that?


    The Rosnaree Hotel out by Colpe cross on the Dublin Rd. Lately it was called the Europa Hotel but I think it's all closed up now and due for demolition.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 501 ✭✭✭LOTTOWINNER


    mickol wrote: »
    and riding your cousin as well ....

    This is the funniest comment I have read in weeks! It reminds me about couples in Drogheda breaking-up and instead of staying friends, they stay cousins!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 283 ✭✭Trafford Lad


    The Old Library up in Fair St, split between kids and adults and wondering if you would get thrown out if you ventured into the adult library (no that type of adult library;))

    Woolworths where Penneys is now.

    The upstairs bit in Dunnes in West St, this is going back early in the 80's but I think I remember an upstairs with shoes, bags, toys etc.

    The Raft Race on the Boyne, I have early memories of this, Dominics Park being packed, Boynside radio blasting out the tunes!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 168 ✭✭D rog


    The Raft Race on the Boyne, I have early memories of this, Dominics Park being packed, Boynside radio blasting out the tunes!

    And the pram race!! All those men in dresses and baby outfits, weird....


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,126 ✭✭✭✭calex71


    The Old Library up in Fair St, split between kids and adults and wondering if you would get thrown out if you ventured into the adult library (no that type of adult library;))

    Woolworths where Penneys is now.

    The upstairs bit in Dunnes in West St, this is going back early in the 80's but I think I remember an upstairs with shoes, bags, toys etc.

    The Raft Race on the Boyne, I have early memories of this, Dominics Park being packed, Boynside radio blasting out the tunes!

    Good god i remeber all of this would have been at the oldest 5 or 6 when wollies went and the upstairs in dunnes , this this closed when the town center opened in 86/87? wollies a few years b4???

    One of my earliest childhood memories is in wollies with my dad and me getting lost , and the staff giving me sweets till my dad came and got me i must have been all of 3 or 4 at the time :D

    Boyneside radio lmao "it's 3 o clock on the radio and it's time for you and me to make a cup of tea, tea, tea, tea for you and me...." at least i think thats how the jingle went???? Please tell me some one else remembers that and in not inventing child hood memories :confused:

    Oh and "boyneside radio....... NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWSSSSSSSSSS" they were one of many pirate outfits in them days b4 going legit as lmfm ? when did lmfm come early 90's? or maybe a little b4 ?


    Lmao memories keep coming, early 90's when long wave radio atlantic 252 was THEE station to listen to for the cool kids in town

    And Harpo's in the abbey center with the car and dj desk in it ? where we all at least once bought x-works or eclipse jeans before we grew our hair long and switched to mister ace on laurance st where they sold pantera tshirts and fishing gear lol, think mr ace is a phone shop now .

    Dominics barber on peters st where all the cool kids went for hair cuts , and you could read Q magazine and smoke while waiting, hey didnt dome now sinn fein dom have a steak in harpos's or one of the barbers there did? and the basement cd shop down stairs with paddy who also ran buses to gigs, (is he still around?)


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,737 ✭✭✭sudzs


    Anyone remember a shop called "Madame Le Worthy's" How posh!!!

    Was it a newsagent/sweetshop or the place to get your dangly earrings at the bottom of, was it, Dominic st.?

    And anyone mention Callan's yet? Very cool spot for posing!!!

    LOL, remember going doon de toon for a pose?!!!!!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,126 ✭✭✭✭calex71


    sudzs wrote: »
    Anyone remember a shop called "Madame Le Worthy's" How posh!!!

    Was it a newsagent/sweetshop or the place to get your dangly earrings at the bottom of, was it, Dominic st.?

    I think it was at the bottom of shop street opposite wogan's

    remember when wogan's there was connolley's and was red ?
    They hardly still have the little café at the top of wogans do they? was nice view from there


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,095 ✭✭✭andrew1977


    What about Joe Thomas's store in Shop street

    The man sold everything from digital watches to fake wigs:D

    A treasure trove to spend your pocket money in


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,126 ✭✭✭✭calex71


    andrew1977 wrote: »
    What about Joe Thomas's store in Shop street

    The man sold everything from digital watches to fake wigs:D

    A treasure trove to spend your pocket money in

    Ah yeah , they used rent movies upstairs aswell.

    I remember my mum got me this cool blue watch in there, with a see through glass digital face, god i loved that watch :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 596 ✭✭✭35notout


    What about Mildreds Cafe in the Old Abbey Shopping Centre - fantastic milkshakes!

    Or am I going too far back?!?


  • Registered Users Posts: 280 ✭✭NedTermo


    The Hollywood Café!

    Legend! The Hollywood Cafe, haha, great thread.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,364 ✭✭✭washiskin


    Ok,weekend blow-in form Naaaaavan though I was, I loved my teen time in Drogheda:

    Fantasy Gaaardens was indeed a great spot on a friday night - divided into several factions though - the girls in white shoes, the posers whos dance moves consisted of arms a finger snapping height and one foot tapping and everyone else. And a special mention for the Spanish Students every summer.

    Pick'n Pay
    Callans Coffee Shop
    Male Image boutique for wing-tipped shirts
    McDonnells Video Library
    Pilgrims Coffee Shop on Dyer St
    The Boxing Club
    Dorian Mood
    The 4 Lanterns
    Sound Shop 1 & 2
    The Hot Pot
    The Genoa
    The Tom Tom Club in Luciano's
    Hubert Tully's for Ribbons and Odd Buttons to sew on your Levis
    Pink Rhino record shop near the Dominican
    Under the Bridge of Peace on a Saturday afternoon
    Daring each other to walk over the Viaduct.

    I'm sure I'll remember more later....:)

    Oh, The white Horse Hotel.....see...told ya


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 62 ✭✭Darlie


    Serious memories there lads!!
    The small and one from Loughrans kept me going through school, while the Hot Pot got me home from McPhails!

    Was the club in the Rossnaree called 'Thee Place' at one stage? Or was somewhere else, its in my mind for some reason.

    The Linen Hall? Where we graduated to when St Peters steps wasn't cool enough anymore - i.e. at about 15!

    The Abbey Tavern, another hidden gem for underage daytime drinking!

    Still there and still going strong, Joe's in Yellowbatter. Which reminds me of the Boys Club!! Think it caused more social disorder than prevented!

    Wasn't there a bowling alley where the cinema is now?

    And the best memory of all, the old ruin of United Park - which hasn't been touched since!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 283 ✭✭Trafford Lad


    Wasn't there a bowling alley where the cinema is now?

    And the best memory of all, the old ruin of United Park - which hasn't been touched since!![/quote]

    Yeah there used to be a bowling alley where the cinema is, and before that it used to be the Oscars cinema, I remember going to all the Breakdance films there!

    Good old United Park, pretty much the same now as when I started going back in the days when they wore those horrible jerseys sponsored by Walkers Hotel.

    Also remember the Swan Inn, pre Fusion and Man Fridays.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 305 ✭✭NAGGIE03


    I remember every Sat afternoon going to 'Accessory St' on West st to buy friendship braclets, then to Harpos in the West st Arcade for eclipse/Joe Bloggs/ Juice jeans!! The baggier the better!
    Into Cassidys then for a check shirt and then pose on the wall at the back of the town centre!:D


  • Registered Users Posts: 70 ✭✭Baltrux


    Down town at lunch time from school running up the 101 steps trying to make it back in time for class stinking lol


  • Registered Users Posts: 134 ✭✭chemicalfred


    Smokin' down the Glen at lunchtime,
    Buyin single fags,
    Southern fried mushrooms and dietbuster burgers from the Hot Pot,
    Joe Sweeney and the Black Jack
    Underage drinking in Corcorans
    Mrs Claaaaake
    The rampaaaats


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 377 ✭✭Irjudge1




  • Registered Users Posts: 70 ✭✭Baltrux


    Reading through this thread brings back so many memories, I see there's some ex marys on here, yea joe sweeny pure ledgend "ah boies" the old prefabs when the new school was being built, the "mills" at the bottom of the watery hill steps usually between us and "d'ollies". The sexy brown uniform, stoney burns, fingers, all good times.
    I didn't live in Drogheda growing up but spent most of my time there, every Saturday hitched in from Duleek to meet our girls at the fountain in the town centre into the coffee garden with the two groups of friends, loads of us 2 pots of tea. Drinking in the linen hall at 16 17!!!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,126 ✭✭✭✭calex71


    totally forgot about the coffee garden , legend.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 908 ✭✭✭Whiskey Devil


    Laughing my head off at this thread. Didn't grow up here, but I've heard stories of the legendary Johno's Shop. Best Ma Reilly's in town! :pac:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,694 ✭✭✭Dingatron


    I have a hazy memory of buying a brick of the Linen Hall and signing it one night i was there. They never sent it on to me when they bulldozed the place to make way for the Haymarket though. :(

    Joe Thomas's shop was great.

    Had my first pint in the White Horse.

    Spent some quality time mitching around the glen, 101 steps and what we used to call sh1t alley. (the lane at the back of the CBS)

    Remember 'Higans and O'Riordan' beating the crap out of us in St. Marys. Probably warranted :)

    I remember hitching into Drogheda every weekend for years and always getting lifts. You wouldn't do it nowadays.

    The takeaway in Narrow West Street? They had a great video game called Tempest.

    Callan's, The Coffee Garden ........

    O'Shea's back when it was an awl fellas pub, forget the name. Reds when it first opened. The Weavers.

    Good memories :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,126 ✭✭✭✭calex71


    Mr. Ace deserves another mention does it not?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 283 ✭✭Trafford Lad


    Where was Mr. Ace? The name rings a bell...clothes shop somewhere?!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 732 ✭✭✭Famous45


    Where was Mr. Ace? The name rings a bell...clothes shop somewhere?

    Laurence's Street I believe?


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,126 ✭✭✭✭calex71


    Famous45 wrote: »
    Laurence's Street I believe?

    thats right , not sure what's there now though, used to be one of my favorite shops in town. closed between 96 and 98 am i right? could have been earlier.


    Sorry to drag the thread down here and sound old (im 29 next week btw)
    I live in dublin now and come back every other weekend still, so am still with it in terms of local stuff. It's terrible to see the state of 'down the town' these days isn't it :mad: there used to be a time it would take me 40 - 60 minutes to cross west st on a saturday for meeting folks i know. No there are so many closed shops. Now theres nothing to do on west st at all, used to me my saturday ritual to go hang out at back of town center , browse cd's in golden disc's , look at shoes in eagletons with girlfriend (bought shoes there last week glad they are still around!!!!! ) head over to paddy's (anotehr cd place below the barbers on peter's st (is he still there? i know it crossed the road over the years) over to mr ace's all the way back to look at more shoes and girls clothes in every shop on the way with my girl till we got to flip on narrow west st and ten into hollywood west for a mug of scaldey and a toasty and chips.

    These days there fcuk all to do on west st , at least keirans is still there.
    Just dont like scotch hall its too much like dundrum for me :mad:

    Sad to see so many places go from the town like the sound shop in there land mark building hands up whos been to it since they moved? and its actually ony 5 minutes walk from my parents place now lol and i aint been there :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,600 ✭✭✭✭CMpunked


    i know this is slightly off topic but i think its relevant to here...

    When i was growing up (im 21 now). I remember distinctly the shop at the bottom of laurences street (there is a kids uniform and school shop there now) and i was wondering does anyone else remember it?

    It popped into my head when this week someone asked me "When was the first time i can remember MJ?
    And i remembered seeing a life size cut out of his History statue.

    Just wanna make sure im not going crazy :o


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 168 ✭✭D rog


    Was the shop at bottom of Laurences street the Sound Shop 2?
    I didn't realise it was only gone so recently!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,694 ✭✭✭Dingatron


    Was the Boxing club mentioned? Wasn't my scene but a favourite of Mrs. Dingatron. There's a bebo tribute to it but can't link to it as I'm in work. If I find it I'll link to it or if some else can. There is some great pictures from Drogheda in the eighties on it.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,082 ✭✭✭✭Spiritoftheseventies


    Dingatron wrote: »
    Was the Boxing club mentioned? Wasn't my scene but a favourite of Mrs. Dingatron. There's a facebook tribute to it but can't link to it as I'm in work. If I find it I'll link to it or if some else can. There is some great pictures from Drogheda in the eighties on it.
    used to work down in Drogheda. a lot of churches there. how many of you's have been down to the Battle of the Boyne site. how do you feel being beside such a historical site that changed the course of irish history


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 279 ✭✭Mr. Muddle


    The link to the Drogheda Boxing Club bebo page is http://www.bebo.com/droghedaboxingclub.

    The shop at the Laurences/St Peter St junction was the Sound Shop 2, it is now Kobi Kids. The Sound Shop 2 sold records and tapes I think they closed it in the late 80's early 90's with the competition first from Rino Records (owned by Paddy Goodwin who is now a solicitor)then from Golden Disc's


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,126 ✭✭✭✭calex71


    Mr. Muddle wrote: »
    The link to the Drogheda Boxing Club bebo page is http://www.bebo.com/droghedaboxingclub.

    The shop at the Laurences/St Peter St junction was the Sound Shop 2, it is now Kobi Kids. The Sound Shop 2 sold records and tapes I think they closed it in the late 80's early 90's with the competition first from Rino Records (owned by Paddy Goodwin who is now a solicitor)then from Golden Disc's

    Was Rino Records there at the back of the town center where lally's is now?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 732 ✭✭✭Famous45


    The Sound Shop 2 sold records and tapes I think they closed it in the late 80's early 90's

    The Sound Shop 2 was opened until after the end of 1995, cause I remeber buying tickets in there for the Prodigy New Year Eve's gig at the point.

    The attitude in the town has totally changed. Years ago as Calex said it would take you an eternity to walk over the town with the amount of people you would meet and chat to. I know not everyone went to the Whitworth but I'd say the vast majority of us here did at some point, it was a place to go, similar to every estate in the town where a bunch of people were playing football, nowadays I never see kids out kicking ball, we kicked ball in every car park in the town and the days of making nets with your top seems very distant. You could walk throughout the town at most hours of the day years back, I wouldn't like to chance it this day in age regardless of how tough I am.

    I suppose it has changed in a bad way, but I for one am glad of how things went while I grew up in the town, when I look back now at the freedom I had and the chit I got up to, I doubt I would have the same childhood if I was in my youth now. Also when I was younger, Drogheda was a chithole, there was never anything to do, but when I moved away for 8 years I realised that almost every other town out there is exactly in the same position, people want to get out of it etc, and it was then when I looked back you realise you had actually a cracking time.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 168 ✭✭D rog


    Famous45 wrote: »
    I know not everyone went to the Whitworth but I'd say the vast majority of us here did at some point, it was a place to go
    Check :)
    Famous45 wrote: »
    You could walk throughout the town at most hours of the day years back, I wouldn't like to chance it this day in age regardless of how tough I am.
    Used to walk home from Dingo's by myself 3-4am :eek:
    Famous45 wrote: »
    I suppose it has changed in a bad way, but I for one am glad of how things went while I grew up in the town, when I look back now at the freedom I had and the chit I got up to, I doubt I would have the same childhood if I was in my youth now.
    Agree 100%, amazing how age and distance makes you appreciate these things :D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,126 ✭✭✭✭calex71


    well said lad's , from Finians Pk myself, used to play ball and get up to all sorts of divilmet there :D you're right though dont see any kids kicking ball there now remember durring summer we'd kick ball on the green against the kids from the other streets ,we had nothing but fields around us then pretty much , used to be on the outskirts there now the town had expanded well beyond us.

    Some good changes like having a big tesco and lidl over the way is suely welcome though.

    Just read the Drogheda Independent online and 1 article said that there where 40 empty units on west st :0


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