Tribute to the "Old" Grove

Recalling times past, fond memories, teenage innocence and first encounters with the female kind.

It was in July of 1972
The air was warm and the sky was blue
On my motorbike I did rove
To see this place called The Grove

You turned left off Mount Prospect Avenue
There The Grove came into view
It was only an old wooden shack
But inside there was almighty crack

Outside it was Belgrove Football Club
But inside North Dublin's rock 'n roll hub
You had Cecil there on the stage
Playing 45"s  which were all the rage

The lights were low with a reddish hue
At the cloakroom there was always a queue
People handing in their coats
Before heading off for club milks and cokes

Cecil played a fast set and then he'd tease
"That's it, your next dance please"
That was when you had to move
Because he was slowing down the groove

The girls would dash for the jacks
The guys would've planned their romantic attacks
You'd say "Would you like to dance, please?"
Whilst really shaking at the knees

I'll always remember "A Littte Bit Of Love"
By an English bluesy band called Free
I was nervous as you might get
Because that was my first slow set

That first girl did not stay with me
It was the way it was meant to be
There were many more after that
Some stayed a while, for others it was just to chat

I went to The Grove for three full years
Sometimes the memories bring me close to tears
When The Old Grove burnt down I could'nt go back
Nothing could replace that psychedelic shack

I'm glad they made the documentary
A glowing tribute for all to see
Cecil and The Grove on RTE
For a place in rock 'n roll history

The End


Edited by Biker Pat

Brunswick wrote: Pat, I never got to the old Grove (too young ) but that's a cracking poem!! Nice one! Mel.

Mel,

Thanks for that.

A lot on the Forum probably were never there but this just came to me and I had to write it down.

The documentary has revived so many memories that seem like it was only yesterday

But that "Old Grove" was really a magical place.

Great stuff Pat, I am glad to say almost all my sisters and brothers went to the old grove and have all good memories which you dipict in your poem.  Fair play to you and it should go up on the Grove hall of fame.

T

Jaysis Pat, only saw this now.

Absolutely magic.................. and BTW don't see any offerings from Eileen , Marty or Brendan...................

In my book you were the star of the show !

 

 

pat.....wish i was born 10yrs earlier so i two could have the memories you have....that old shack sounds like it was the place to be....in the documentary really enjoyed when they read out the piece from that girls diary...wonder who she was ?
Anyway Pat if I were you ....I would put that poem into a frame and give it to Cecil at the reunion, it's part of Cecil's life and what he did for us and I'm sure he would love to have it....just a thought

xgrovehead wrote: Good one Pat!  Bet yer one regrets it now that you're a famous telly personality.

LOL

Rolo wrote: Agreed Pat, and if Noodles did the same with his Cecil tribute,the poor fella would need a Securicor Van to bring them all home. Something to think about.

I'll give it some thought for sure and let Noodles know. A double offering would be great.

Enjoyed the verse Pat - only made it to the Old Grove about 4
times before it burnt down. Took me about 6 months of
negotiations with the parents and endless jobs around the
house before I was let go... and then it went up in smoke.

You remember the queue to the cloakroom. I remember the
queue for the girls loo and the battle to get some mirror space.

Edited by freebird

Pat....I believe that age is all in the head....your as old as you want to be.....so roll on the next ten/twenty years ....once my family/friends are happy and healthy and still goin to grove reunions then I'm happy

BP - you composed a poem as well - the equal of the Noodles poem! Only catching up with all this stuff, I am humbled by all this talent around me!

Seriously, I do not have any of these talents (OK, was a good drummer in my day, that not really the same thing though), I is jealous !!!