The social and commercial life of the village was greatly enlivened in the 1960s and 1970s when four carnivals took place.
The first two were held in 1961 and 1962. In “A Century of Golf, the History of Co. Cavan Golf Club” by Philip Cullivan, is the following reference:
‘Dermot Morgan who had acted as Hon-Secretary of the Club for the previous 27 years moved office and become Captain of the Club. The mind of the Committee was concentrated on ways of improving Club facilities and ways and means of improving both course and clubhouse. Tom Hickey spearheaded an active finance sub-committee. They decided to cash in on the showband popularity and hold a Carnival in Butlersbridge in September. A marquee was hired, bands were booked and the scheme set for a successful fortnight of dancing which was expected to yield a profit of £1,000. Hurricane Debbie decided otherwise and flattened the tent on the eve of the launch; thereafter it leaked and after all the effort yielded only a fraction of the expected profit.’
‘In 1962: A Carnival was held during the Summer and managed to lose £54.00 so that 2 years’ effort proved a great disappointment.’
The first night of the 1961 carnival was held in our local hall due to the storm. The location of the whole event was in Derragarra beside Fintan Tierney’s home where the 5000 square feet marquee was located. There were side entertainments, namely fun of the fair, swing boats, chair-o-planes, shooting range and pongo. A free draw for £50, on admission tickets, was held on the final night. The usual light refreshments and ices were available on each of the nights.
The list of Bands, Performers and Dates played is as follows:
Sunday, 17th. September – Grand Opening with
* PARAMOUNT SHOWBAND (Tuam)
Admission 5/-
Thursday, 28th. September –
* PAT CAMPBELL’S SHOWBAND
Admission 4/-
Tuesday, 19th. September –
* PADDY McCAFFERTY’S BAND
Admission 4/-
Sunday, 1st. October –
* JACK BARRETT ORCHESTRA
Admission 5/-
Wednesday, 22nd. September –
* EUGENE LEDDY’S CEILE BAND
Admission 3/6
Tuesday, 3rd. October –
* Maurice Mulcahy
Admission 6/-
Friday, 22nd. September –
* BLUE ACES SHOWBAND (Waterford)
Admission 6/-
Wednesday, 4th. October –
* KEN BROWNE’S CEILE BAND
Admission 3/6
Sunday, 24th. September –
* RALPH SILVESTER
Admission 5/-
Thursday, 5th. October –
* MERRY MINSTRELS (Delvin)
Admission 4/-
Tuesday, 26th. September –
* DONIE COLLINS
Admission 6/-
Friday, 6th. October –
* THE MIGHTY AVONS
Admission 4/-
Wednesday, 27th. September –
* ST. AIDAN’S CEILI BAND
Admission 3/6
Sunday, 8th. October –
* LEO SINGLETON ORCHESTRA
Admission 8/-
CHILDREN’S CEILI on SUNDAY, 17th. SEPTEMBER, 3 to 6 p.m. Admission 1 s.
The Co Cavan Golf Club again organized the 1962 event. This time the location was the Clones Road, where the present Annalee Park is now constructed. There were no side entertainments on site. The carnival was extended from 9th to 16th and the following is the list of bands and dates.
AUGUST 12TH TO SEPTMEBER 9TH
Sunday, 12th. August –
* JIMMY SHIELDS’ SHOWBAND
Admission 5/-
Sunday, 26th. August –
* MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, Derry
Admission 5/-
Wednesday, 15th. August –
* THE INTERNATIONAL SHOWBAND
Admission 4/-
Tuesday, 28th. August –
* DONIE COLLINS SHOWBAND
Admission 5/-
Friday, 17th. August –
* BLACK ACES SHOWBAND
Admission 5/-
Friday, 31st. August –
* KEVIN WOODS SHOWBAND
Admission 4/-
Sunday, 19th. August –
* THE SWING EARLS
Admission 5/-
Sunday, 2nd. September –
* THE MELOTONES
Admission 5/-
Tuesday, 21st. August –
* DERMOT O’BRIEN, CEILI
Admission 4/-
Tuesday, 4th. September –
* DAVE GLOVER SHOWBAND
Admission 4/-
Wednesday, 22nd. August –
* THE SWINGTIME ACES
Admission 4/-
Wednesday, 5th. September –
* THE GRAFTON SHOWBAND
Admission 4/-
Friday, 24th. August –
* PAT CAMPBELL SHOWBAND
Admission 4/-
Friday, 7th. September –
* THE MIGHTY AVONS
Admission 4/-
Sunday, 9th. September –
* PAT CUSACK, Bray
Admission 5/-
BUTLERSBRIDGE CARNIVAL EXTENDED
TO SUNDAY, 16TH SEPTEMBER
Friday, 7th. September –
* THE MIGHTY AVONS
Admission 4/-
Tuesday, 11th. September –
* THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN
Admission 5/-
Sunday, 9th. September –
* PAT CUSACK, Bray
Admission 5/-
Thursday, 13th. September –
* DAVE GLOVER SHOWBAND
Admission 5/-
FINAL NIGHT Sunday, 16th. September
* THE IDEAL SHOWBAND
Admission 5/-
* £100 Free Draw Sunday, 16th. September
On Admission Tickets.
Another nine years passed (bringing us to 1971) until the next carnival was organized. It was located on the Belturbet Road, below Frank Gillan’s home, and was run by Cavan Enterprises. Opening night was on Friday 21st May with Margo and The Country Folk and it closed on Tuesday 22nd June to the sound of Gene Stuart and The Mighty Avons. Butlersbridge became very well known with adverts on RTE on a regular basis, advertising on local and nearby county newspapers became commonplace.
The local Macra na Tuaithe club organized a successful Fancy Dress Ball on a Sunday afternoon, whilst a talent competition “Opportunity Knocks” style with under and over fourteen age groups sections, was organized on another Sunday afternoon. A Boony Baby competition was also held.
A list of impressive bands that performed is as follows:
21st May to 22nd June 1971.
Margo and The Country Folk
Larry and The Country Blue Boys
The Dubliners
The Sands
Billy Brown’s Band
Derek Dean and The Freshmen
Ian Corrigan and The Country Style
Ray Lynam and The Hillbillies
Brian Coll and The Buckaroos
Navak Showband with Brendan Hutchinson and Dag Carroll
Dermot Hegarty and The Plainsmen
Tony, Bill and The Ventures
Jim Leonard and Annalees
Maurice Mulcahy Orchestra
Gene Stuart and The Mighty Avons.
In 1972 the carnival was held again on the Belturbet Road. Margo and her band opened proceedings on Friday 19th May. Gene Stuart and the local Mighty Avons closed on 27th June. On the night of 30th May, as the Green Glen Showband performed, Butlersbridge GFC made a presentation to two couples, newly weds John and Mary Cusack and Ambrose and Mary Shannon. Whit Monday 5th June saw Mattie Fox and the Country Blue Boys playing for the local Development Association. A special guest was Pat Quinn of Quinnsworth Supermarket fame, a native of Mohill and married to Ann Blake of Ballyconnell. This was the year the Development Association was founded, John Clancy as chairman.
A list of the bands and the dates they played is as follows:
Friday 19th. May Margo and Country Folk
Sunday 21st. May Corrigan and the Country Style
Tuesday 23rd. May The Indians
Friday 26th. May Joe Dolan and the Drifters
Sunday 28th. May Brian Coll and the Buckaroos
Tuesday 30th. May Green Glen Showband
Thursday 1st. June Pat Ely and the Rocky Tops
Friday 2nd. June Tony Kenny and the Sands
Sunday 4th. June Tony, Bill and the Ventures
Monday 5th. June Mattie Fox and the Blue Boys
Wednesday 7th. June Brown and O’Brien
Friday 9th. June Red Hurley and the Nevada
Sunday 11th. June The Chips
Tuesday 13th. June Frank Chisum and his Top 7
Friday 16th. June Derek Dean and the Freshmen
Sunday 18th. June Tommy, Jim and the Times
Tuesday 20th. June Philomena Begley and Country Flavour
Friday 23rd. June Ray Lynam and the Hillbillies
Sunday 25th. June Rob Strong and the Plattermen
Tuesday 27th. Gene Stuart and the Mighty Avons.
The first two were held in 1961 and 1962. In “A Century of Golf, the History of Co. Cavan Golf Club” by Philip Cullivan, is the following reference:
‘Dermot Morgan who had acted as Hon-Secretary of the Club for the previous 27 years moved office and become Captain of the Club. The mind of the Committee was concentrated on ways of improving Club facilities and ways and means of improving both course and clubhouse. Tom Hickey spearheaded an active finance sub-committee. They decided to cash in on the showband popularity and hold a Carnival in Butlersbridge in September. A marquee was hired, bands were booked and the scheme set for a successful fortnight of dancing which was expected to yield a profit of £1,000. Hurricane Debbie decided otherwise and flattened the tent on the eve of the launch; thereafter it leaked and after all the effort yielded only a fraction of the expected profit.’
‘In 1962: A Carnival was held during the Summer and managed to lose £54.00 so that 2 years’ effort proved a great disappointment.’
The first night of the 1961 carnival was held in our local hall due to the storm. The location of the whole event was in Derragarra beside Fintan Tierney’s home where the 5000 square feet marquee was located. There were side entertainments, namely fun of the fair, swing boats, chair-o-planes, shooting range and pongo. A free draw for £50, on admission tickets, was held on the final night. The usual light refreshments and ices were available on each of the nights.
The list of Bands, Performers and Dates played is as follows:
Sunday, 17th. September – Grand Opening with
* PARAMOUNT SHOWBAND (Tuam)
Admission 5/-
Thursday, 28th. September –
* PAT CAMPBELL’S SHOWBAND
Admission 4/-
Tuesday, 19th. September –
* PADDY McCAFFERTY’S BAND
Admission 4/-
Sunday, 1st. October –
* JACK BARRETT ORCHESTRA
Admission 5/-
Wednesday, 22nd. September –
* EUGENE LEDDY’S CEILE BAND
Admission 3/6
Tuesday, 3rd. October –
* Maurice Mulcahy
Admission 6/-
Friday, 22nd. September –
* BLUE ACES SHOWBAND (Waterford)
Admission 6/-
Wednesday, 4th. October –
* KEN BROWNE’S CEILE BAND
Admission 3/6
Sunday, 24th. September –
* RALPH SILVESTER
Admission 5/-
Thursday, 5th. October –
* MERRY MINSTRELS (Delvin)
Admission 4/-
Tuesday, 26th. September –
* DONIE COLLINS
Admission 6/-
Friday, 6th. October –
* THE MIGHTY AVONS
Admission 4/-
Wednesday, 27th. September –
* ST. AIDAN’S CEILI BAND
Admission 3/6
Sunday, 8th. October –
* LEO SINGLETON ORCHESTRA
Admission 8/-
CHILDREN’S CEILI on SUNDAY, 17th. SEPTEMBER, 3 to 6 p.m. Admission 1 s.
The Co Cavan Golf Club again organized the 1962 event. This time the location was the Clones Road, where the present Annalee Park is now constructed. There were no side entertainments on site. The carnival was extended from 9th to 16th and the following is the list of bands and dates.
AUGUST 12TH TO SEPTMEBER 9TH
Sunday, 12th. August –
* JIMMY SHIELDS’ SHOWBAND
Admission 5/-
Sunday, 26th. August –
* MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, Derry
Admission 5/-
Wednesday, 15th. August –
* THE INTERNATIONAL SHOWBAND
Admission 4/-
Tuesday, 28th. August –
* DONIE COLLINS SHOWBAND
Admission 5/-
Friday, 17th. August –
* BLACK ACES SHOWBAND
Admission 5/-
Friday, 31st. August –
* KEVIN WOODS SHOWBAND
Admission 4/-
Sunday, 19th. August –
* THE SWING EARLS
Admission 5/-
Sunday, 2nd. September –
* THE MELOTONES
Admission 5/-
Tuesday, 21st. August –
* DERMOT O’BRIEN, CEILI
Admission 4/-
Tuesday, 4th. September –
* DAVE GLOVER SHOWBAND
Admission 4/-
Wednesday, 22nd. August –
* THE SWINGTIME ACES
Admission 4/-
Wednesday, 5th. September –
* THE GRAFTON SHOWBAND
Admission 4/-
Friday, 24th. August –
* PAT CAMPBELL SHOWBAND
Admission 4/-
Friday, 7th. September –
* THE MIGHTY AVONS
Admission 4/-
Sunday, 9th. September –
* PAT CUSACK, Bray
Admission 5/-
BUTLERSBRIDGE CARNIVAL EXTENDED
TO SUNDAY, 16TH SEPTEMBER
Friday, 7th. September –
* THE MIGHTY AVONS
Admission 4/-
Tuesday, 11th. September –
* THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN
Admission 5/-
Sunday, 9th. September –
* PAT CUSACK, Bray
Admission 5/-
Thursday, 13th. September –
* DAVE GLOVER SHOWBAND
Admission 5/-
FINAL NIGHT Sunday, 16th. September
* THE IDEAL SHOWBAND
Admission 5/-
* £100 Free Draw Sunday, 16th. September
On Admission Tickets.
Another nine years passed (bringing us to 1971) until the next carnival was organized. It was located on the Belturbet Road, below Frank Gillan’s home, and was run by Cavan Enterprises. Opening night was on Friday 21st May with Margo and The Country Folk and it closed on Tuesday 22nd June to the sound of Gene Stuart and The Mighty Avons. Butlersbridge became very well known with adverts on RTE on a regular basis, advertising on local and nearby county newspapers became commonplace.
The local Macra na Tuaithe club organized a successful Fancy Dress Ball on a Sunday afternoon, whilst a talent competition “Opportunity Knocks” style with under and over fourteen age groups sections, was organized on another Sunday afternoon. A Boony Baby competition was also held.
A list of impressive bands that performed is as follows:
21st May to 22nd June 1971.
Margo and The Country Folk
Larry and The Country Blue Boys
The Dubliners
The Sands
Billy Brown’s Band
Derek Dean and The Freshmen
Ian Corrigan and The Country Style
Ray Lynam and The Hillbillies
Brian Coll and The Buckaroos
Navak Showband with Brendan Hutchinson and Dag Carroll
Dermot Hegarty and The Plainsmen
Tony, Bill and The Ventures
Jim Leonard and Annalees
Maurice Mulcahy Orchestra
Gene Stuart and The Mighty Avons.
In 1972 the carnival was held again on the Belturbet Road. Margo and her band opened proceedings on Friday 19th May. Gene Stuart and the local Mighty Avons closed on 27th June. On the night of 30th May, as the Green Glen Showband performed, Butlersbridge GFC made a presentation to two couples, newly weds John and Mary Cusack and Ambrose and Mary Shannon. Whit Monday 5th June saw Mattie Fox and the Country Blue Boys playing for the local Development Association. A special guest was Pat Quinn of Quinnsworth Supermarket fame, a native of Mohill and married to Ann Blake of Ballyconnell. This was the year the Development Association was founded, John Clancy as chairman.
A list of the bands and the dates they played is as follows:
Friday 19th. May Margo and Country Folk
Sunday 21st. May Corrigan and the Country Style
Tuesday 23rd. May The Indians
Friday 26th. May Joe Dolan and the Drifters
Sunday 28th. May Brian Coll and the Buckaroos
Tuesday 30th. May Green Glen Showband
Thursday 1st. June Pat Ely and the Rocky Tops
Friday 2nd. June Tony Kenny and the Sands
Sunday 4th. June Tony, Bill and the Ventures
Monday 5th. June Mattie Fox and the Blue Boys
Wednesday 7th. June Brown and O’Brien
Friday 9th. June Red Hurley and the Nevada
Sunday 11th. June The Chips
Tuesday 13th. June Frank Chisum and his Top 7
Friday 16th. June Derek Dean and the Freshmen
Sunday 18th. June Tommy, Jim and the Times
Tuesday 20th. June Philomena Begley and Country Flavour
Friday 23rd. June Ray Lynam and the Hillbillies
Sunday 25th. June Rob Strong and the Plattermen
Tuesday 27th. Gene Stuart and the Mighty Avons.