"A lot of marriages were made in the Rainbow over the years, no doubt about it and we've had several weddings too".
Built in 1934, the Rainbow Ballroom was a popular venue for showbands. Today it hosts a showbands memorabilia exhibition, concerts, dances and weddings as well as being a community centre.
A voluntary board member, Sean Mc Dermott knows every picture and vinyl record on its walls as well as every band that has taken to the stage of the Rainbow Ballroom of Romance.
As the northwest’s most iconic dance halls celebrates its 90th anniversary, Mr McDermott says it has brought significant social, cultural and economic benefit to north Leitrim.
Over the years the Rainbow, as it is known locally, has welcomed performers such as Dickie Rock, Joe Dolan, Big Tom, Philomena Begley, the Dubliners, Foster and Allen, Daniel O’Donnell and more recently, Nathan Carter.
Last night, the Ballroom was packed for a special social dance to mark the 90th anniversary celebrations.
Michael McGivern, son of Ballroom founder John McGivern, said the Ballroom has a very special place and a rich tradition of celebrating Irish country music.
Bernie and Rita McDonald from Glencar, Co Leitrim who met in the Ballroom 60 years ago said, they "love the music and never miss it on a monthly night".
Jean and Kevin McCann, who made the journey from Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh said they always look forward to the monthly social dance, adding they have "memories that will never be forgotten".
The Ballroom was built by John McGivern on his return to Leitrim from the USA in the 1930s.
"And a lot of marriages were made through the romantic interlude. There’s a lot of nostalgia and memories attached to the Ballroom," Mr McGivern recalled.
The dancehall was a hugely popular venue during the showband era, hosting iconic acts associated with the rock 'n' roll and the country music era in the late 20th century.
"We used to have 1,500 people dancing on a Saturday night during the 1970s and 80s. More people would be dancing nearby in Bundoran, Sligo and Drumshanbo".
The Rainbow has been the subject of a book written by William Trevor, called the 'The Ballroom of Romance'.
A BBC/RTÉ film on Mr Trevor’s story won a British Academy Television Award for Best Single Drama in 1982.
In more recent times the Glenfarne Community Development Trust has overseen the management of the Ballroom.
Linda Slevin who was recently appointed chairperson of the trust says the Ballroom is the "home of Glenfarne" and "the heart of our community".
"Everything takes place here between weddings, birthdays and retirement parties. We supply meals on wheels and provide dance classes, gymnastics and youth clubs. It's our social hub and it's very well used, thankfully."
As the Rainbow has just marked its 90th anniversary, another dance will be held tonight for those who have completed a beginner jiving course ahead of Christmas.
Future plans include digitising the showbands exhibition to ensure the ballroom’s legacy continues for generations to come.
"We feel it'll be a very worthwhile project that will bring this experience into the future," Ms Slevin states as she recalls her own memory of the Rainbow that brought her to north Leitrim.
"I’m from across the border in Co Fermanagh. I used to come to the Rainbow on a Saturday with friends and hope we'd be asked out at the romantic interlude. Some weeks it happened, others it didn't," the chairperson admits.
"I met my husband outside the hall. There was a chip van outside where we got chips after the dancing. I got talking to him there and 33 years later, the rest is history!" Ms Slevin concludes with a smile.
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