The Late Billy Hopkins (RIP)

[carmelkearney]

HI TO EVERYONE, BILLY HOPKINS HUSBAND TO ANN ROCHFORD WAS BURIED TODAY R.I.P. AND I GOT TO THINKING ABOUT THE TIMES I(WITH LOTS OF FRIENDS) WOULD GO TO SEE THE HOPKINS BROTHERS IN THE RISING SUN OR ANY OTHER PUB WE COULD GET TO WE HAD GREAT NIGHTS WHEN THEY PLAYED HARD TO BELIEVE IT WAS NEARLY 40 YEARS AGO. CARMEL K.

[annemcnamara]

Hi Carmel,

I heard about Billy's death on the radio. R I P.
I remember we used to walk from the Curragh
in droves to the Rising Sun to hear Just 4
the earlier we got there the better we would
be guaranteed a table with 5 or 6 stools together
happy times

Anne.

[rose5mcdonaghtce]

Hi All,

Opening night in the Rising Sun I travelled out with my Da and Mam's youngest sister Peg RIP who was home from England on holidays, Da had got an invitation to attend, now there was free beer, so the place is rocking, no room to move, trying to make our way to the bar from the front door was torture, Peg was a petite little thing so she is linking me so I won't lose her in the crowd. As we are heading down towards the bar there is a woman approaching who is some woman for one woman, a weight problem is an understatement, I say to Peg look whats coming you better hold on to me, as I reckon if the woman bumps into her we'll never find her again. Next thing another woman is poking me in the shoulder saying "excuse me love is she bothering you" I say no, but I am trying to keep this one with me. I got a lecture the length of her arm about how I might be like that someday too WHEN I HAVE A FAMILY I'm thinking she must have at least twenty of them. If looks could kill, I would'nt be writing this post. On and on she went about my bad manners passing remarks on somebody's size, when I had'nt really. We eventually get a drink and leave for the Gravel Pit. The Rising must have been opened about six months before I went back near it, thought it was a dump, still saw it as Williams and not a nice place to go. There was a comedian out there one night and the girls got around me to go and that was it, could not keep me out of there then. Monday night Mick Foley, Wednesday Just Four, Friday night can't remember their names but two of the chaps are married to local girls, one of the Maguires Maddenstown and Mary Tobin, Brownstown, Sunday night was The Big Two, I married a nephew of one of the band members, Saturday night was usually a band or comedian from Dublin.

When I met my husband at a dance in Keadeen he was home from England on holdiays, having moved there when he was six with his family, one of the nights he asked would I mind if he collected his mother and her sister to drop them up home from the town as they were out for a drink, when we got into the Curragh Inn lounge who is sitting there, but the very large lady who was his mother and her sister the one who had poked the shoulder off me, who kept saying to me your very familiar are you sure we have'nt met. My husband is an ONLY CHILD. when I got my foot in the door and got better acquainted with them I told his aunt who I was, she said you were the last straw that night, the crowd and heat was making her irritable. When there was anything wrong with my mother in law RIP the joke always was, the big family you had did'nt just upset your figure you know.

Rose.

[andybrennan]

Rose
Another well told piece, I did go to the Sun but prefered the gravel Pit , bar staff had more manners there and the beer was better also had great bands best Fenian Kenny.

Andy

[annemcnamara]

Andy,
of course you prefered the Gravel Pit in Suncroft
is'nt that where your lovely wife hails from?

Anne

[johnnykelly]

Hi ROSE
The other band was a guy from Dublin/Wicklow called the Fionon Kenny Band whom were top notch and nearly as good as Just four, the Fionon Kenny band consisted of a set of twin brothers(dubs) who married 2 Naas girls and still live there Eddie on drums fionion on sax Colm was lead guitar hailed from Athlone and the other twin on bass guitar, now and again they would bring along a guest singer or player also performed in the Gravel Pit, great nights good fun,

[andybrennan]

Thats true Anne,
But it had a great athmosphere,

Mick (R.I.P) Shouting at closing time have yese no homes to go to, time to go home to the mammies and sure no one paid him a bit of notice

Andy

[annemcnamara]

Andy,

never went to Gravel Pit myself but I'll bet you are glad
you walked that extra mile or two to meet Trish your better half I'm sure you will agree

Anne.

[rose5mcdonaghtce]

Hi Andy,

The Pit was a great old spot, Mick McDonald was one of the nicest gents you could meet. The atmosphere was brilliant both behind and outside the bar.

Rose.

[rose5mcdonaghtce]

Anyone remember the Leinster Arms in Kildare, packed on a Saturday night, everyone there before going dancing in Derby House. Paddy (Plumps) McCormack had a band at the time, enjoyed a few Babychams listening to Your Auntie Maggies Remedy and My Brother Sylves there. Paddy would be playing, singing and giving a gymnastics display on stage all at once.

Rose.

[mary carroll]

Hi Rose,
I remember the Leinster Arms, I use to play darts there with my sister and brother, its changed a few hands since it was the Leinster Arms, its now Graces and looks completely different, the last time I was home it had a great band there, but as time goes everything changes nothing stays the same or feels as good now as back then but its great for the younger generation. Oh to be 18 again. ;D

Cheers
MaryC

[mag]

Hi Rose,

I remember getting Hal Conway bus from out side the post office, I would have about £1 that covered my fare to Kildare and back and the ticket into the Derby, I didn’t drink so I was ok and 10p cover charge into the Lenister Arms.
I don’t remember any of the bands but one song sticks in my mind “look at all the young folk putting on the style”

Do you remember girls were not allowed into the CYMS in trousers, had to be a skirt or dress.

Always had a good laugh on Hals bus on the way home.
Happy memories

[kathyo]

hi mags
good to hear from you.
was hals wife nanny becks?
look forward to seeing you at the next meeting
all the best kathyo

[johnnykelly]

Hi Kathyo
Annie Becks was indeed the wife of Hal Conway she had a second hand clothes shop in Knoxes corner, and Hal had a drapery shop in Brownstown, Annie moved her shop up to the new house up in brownstown, sadly both have passed onto greener pastures RIP,
JOHNNY KELLY,

[andybrennan]

Hi Johnny
Don't forget that Annie Becks also had a Shop in Newbridge, a grand woman she could show Alex Fergusion how to chew gum and if they had a compition she would have won gums up gums down.

Andy