I live in Downpatrick and I'm writing a history of a tiny dance hall called
the White Rock hall which once stood in a field at the side of the road,
about one mile from Tyrella Beach and four miles from Downpatrick.
It opened in the early 1930s and closed in the 1950s.
Numerous families used to travel by bus from Belfast to either attend dances
in the hall and/or to stay in the nearby Scollockstown village for their
summer holidays.
Many were fed and looked after by my grandmother, Mary Catherine Stranney
(nee Donnelly of Ballymaginthy, near Castlewellan).
It was Belfast folk who helped make this dance hall a great success for over
20 years. Scollockstown is close to Tyrella Beach, which was an extremely
popular destination in those days.
Some of those Belfast visitors had cameras and took photographs of their
visits.
Therefore, I am hoping that some readers might have old photographs of their
visit to the White Rock hall or to Scollockstown hidden away somewhere in an
attic.
Anyone who attended dances in the hall would now be in their late 70s or
older.
Do you remember your mother or grandmother talking about her visit to
Tyrella or camping in Scollockstown?
Might there be some old photos of her visit stashed away in a drawer
somewhere?
I would be delighted to hear from any reader who can help.
Remember, if I can get this dance hall history published in the local
history journal, the Lecale Review, many fond memories (and, hopefuly,
photographs) from this memorable time in the lives of so many, will be
preserved and available to everyone interested to read and enjoy.
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