The Maple Ballroom, Kilfinane was built by Willie McAuliffe & opened on the 13th December, 1953. It was opened by the Ralph .Sylvester’s Orchestra, who was a first cousin of the late Victor Sylvester, a famous English Band Leader.
It was one of the most popular dance venues in the south of Ireland, & hosted all of the show bands of the era, Michael O’Callaghan, Mick Delahunty, The Clipper Carlton, Cecil Kettles from Enniskillen, (Johnny Logan’s Father sang with them). Hughie Traynor (Armagh), the Dixies (Cork), The Miami Showband, Dickie Rock, Butch Moore, Tommy Drennan, Brendan Bowyer, The Woodpeckers (from Dudalk). To mention but a few.
Imagine having Elvis as a fan