What did YOU do before heading down?
Printed From: The Grove Social Club
Category: The Grove Social Club
Forum Name: Knacker Drinking & Pre-Grove Activities
Forum Description: What did you do before you came down? Want to meet up before the next Grove Tribute Night?
URL: http://www.theGroveSocialClub.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=895
Printed Date: 23-November-2024 at 17:09
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: What did YOU do before heading down?
Posted By: Vinyl Junkie
Subject: What did YOU do before heading down?
Date Posted: 11-November-2010 at 22:06
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Hiya gang,
Did you have any set routine before you went down to the Grove? When myself and my friends started going down first, we'd queue up like all the other non-members, completely sober, considering ourselves lucky to get in. Then, some of the lads 'moved on' and the crew I hung around with discovered alcohol and the pleasure to be had especially drinking "down the Annes" and heading inside for the 'albums' (or with our albums) before the main Grove started when the singles started. Then, after my folks figured out that we were drinking down in St Annes before going in, they gave the Green Light to drinking in the front room (we were over 18 by now, obviously). From memory, these were the best Grove days for me - drinking at home, playing tunes before heading down to Sybil Hill. After that, it was hit the Neptune and grab the last bus back to Raheny/Clontarf for around 11.45pm for the last bit of the Grove. Then...I felt too old to be there... 
Would love to hear your stories.... 
 ------------- TPFKAB (The Poster Formerly Known As Brunswick). |
Replies:
Posted By: Chris Rooney
Date Posted: 11-November-2010 at 23:17
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I didn't drink til I was 18, so first year or so was sober. Then the normal routine was to go to Superquinn, buy a naggin of Pernod, naggin of Smirnoff, & a bottle of blackcurrant. Mix them all together at home in a litre milk jug & head off, slugging it on the way & try to act sober so you got in! Head in for the album Cecil always played before the main crowd got in. Drank a litre bottle of Pernod one night before heading down, got in & the album/headbanging circle got going. I was doing cartwheels in the middle! A mosh started & someone ran into me & the button off my jeans went PING!!!!!! One of the lads had a leather jacket with the long strings on it so I ripped one off & tied my fly up. All was grand til I needed a pee, & got it open just in time before wetting myself! Happy Days! ------------- Lovely cushioned header, for Gerrard!!!! Oooooooooooh you beauty! What a hit son, what a hit!!!! |
Posted By: RoundaboutToo!
Date Posted: 12-November-2010 at 00:40
Good thread Mel, Great Story Chris! 
My first few times at the Grove was with a few from school. None of us drank then. (actually the only time I wasn't let in, I was sober!) Great times, great music, Then the demon drink was discovered - 2 pints, maybe 3, from Kelly's near the Cosy Cafe, on the Malahide road. In the cold weather we (4 of us) imbibed in Artanehead's house listening to Floyd, Genesis, Bowie.... then headed down. In the warmer weather, we headed to St Annes, near the entrance for the beers, sometimes a bottle of Liebfraumilch. I drank most of a bottle of Dubonnet one time thinking it was ordinary wine. Lovely stuff! Always had a tube of toothpaste in the army jacket for the checkpoint. We went in in pairs and met in the jacks always relieved we hadn't been stopped. Can almost hear Zeppelin playing now..... |
Posted By: Uncle Arthur
Date Posted: 12-November-2010 at 02:08
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Great thread Mel. Time for a confession. I used to do dj at the oasis in ard scoil ris, which finished at 11.30 and then go straight to the grove afterwards. However I always brought a large bottle of black russian into the oasis in my record case (ingredients purchased in martins of fairview and mixed on the malahide road). Having finished the night there with Achiles Last Stand or Trampled Underfoot I would hotfoot for St. Pauls. On sunday night I used to drink with a crowd in Coles in Fairview (now Smyths) before getting the bus up the howth road. I always prefered Sunday nights at the grove! ------------- UA "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity but an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty" |
Brunswick wrote:Posted By: Vinyl Junkie
Date Posted: 12-November-2010 at 10:33
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Me too, although it was a bit weird with the 'extension' closed off on those nights. I don't know how I got up for school/work on Mondays in those days. ------------- TPFKAB (The Poster Formerly Known As Brunswick). |
Posted By: Sister1
Date Posted: 12-November-2010 at 18:09
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Usually a few cans before heading down. Used to drink them in St. Annes or on Vernon Ave. The offie on the howth road near the beachcomer was usually good. Being reasonably tall got me served i reckon. One night in the offie, the attendant nodded and said at least he wouldn't have to ask me for id - and proceed to say he got all sorts in there, even Grove Cards as ID.....I tried not to laugh......where exactly he thought I was headed I don't know. Once or twice we went to Harry Byrne beforehand - lucky to get served and swift 2/3 pints before 10.00 pm..... ------------- Keep it Local, Keep it Near! |
Posted By: Grovegirl
Date Posted: 12-November-2010 at 20:26
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Liebfraumilch, Roundy....memories! Never see it on the supermarket shelf these days.I wonder is it still on sale? GG |
Posted By: Vinyl Junkie
Date Posted: 12-November-2010 at 21:37
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It is still on sale Mary. Pick up a bottle every now and then. Always reminds me of the Knacker drinking days and friends parties in and around Artane.
------------- TPFKAB (The Poster Formerly Known As Brunswick). |
Posted By: RoundaboutToo!
Date Posted: 13-November-2010 at 00:29
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I just remember it was cheap (wasn't everything then?), very sweet, and had very colourful labels.
Mateus Rosé wasn't too bad either. Oh yes, lots of thought went into pre Grove drinks.. |
Posted By: BrendanFella
Date Posted: 13-November-2010 at 01:52
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A few bottles of Carlseberg Elephant and a few Guinness at THE SHEDS and we ready for the walk back up Vernon Ave. to the Grove. ------------- BrendanFella IRISH DIPLOMACY IS....The ability to tell a man to Go To Hell so that He looks forward to making the trip. |
Posted By: finno
Date Posted: 14-November-2010 at 10:38
"Germany's most exported wine, which is sweet, inexpensive, and generally looked down upon by connoisseurs. This wine's origins go back to the sixteenth or seventeenth century. The word Liebfraumilch, which means "milk of Our Lady," was originally used only for wines produced from the vineyards of the Liebfrauenkirche ("Church of Our Lady"), a church in the city of Worms in Germany's rheinhessen region." - anwser.com Knew you were all good convent girls! ------------- A man must have a code |
Posted By: Grovegirl
Date Posted: 14-November-2010 at 13:45
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Thanks for the insight there, Finno! GG |
Posted By: Evangeline
Date Posted: 14-November-2010 at 16:36
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I normally went with 2-3 friends. Spent about 2 hours
getting ready. Well, it takes a while to get the hair and make-up *just* right when you're a goth. Congregated in one or other of our houses with a few cans/nagin of vodka smuggled into the bedroom. Then there was the 'running the gauntlet' leaving the house and making sure the parents didn't notice you were a) half cut, b) 'dressed like a cheap tart'. 
I remember one night in particular leaving my friend's house, her mam decided Karen was wearing way too much make-up and dragged her into the kitchen to administer the facecloth before letting her go. She was highly annoyed! Ah, those were the days. Jen /^o^\ ------------- "Gentlemen! You can't fight in here, this is the War Room!" |
Posted By: Blondie
Date Posted: 14-November-2010 at 21:42
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What did YOU do before heading down? Jesus am i the only one who read this thread title and nearly had a heart - attack ???????????????? ------------- Blondie I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it ! |
Posted By: BrendanFella
Date Posted: 14-November-2010 at 22:53
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AH Blondie...that thought never even crossed me mind....LOL I'm talking Grove circa 60's, hard enough to get a kiss... ------------- BrendanFella IRISH DIPLOMACY IS....The ability to tell a man to Go To Hell so that He looks forward to making the trip. |
Posted By: BrendanFella
Date Posted: 14-November-2010 at 22:54
 oops!...probably shouldn't have said "hard enough".....the way your mind works....------------- BrendanFella IRISH DIPLOMACY IS....The ability to tell a man to Go To Hell so that He looks forward to making the trip. |
Posted By: Blondie
Date Posted: 15-November-2010 at 10:11
Ah Brendan way before my time Grove in the 60's as for me having a dirty mind innocent as the driven snow ask any of them ------------- Blondie I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it ! |
Posted By: Vinyl Junkie
Date Posted: 15-November-2010 at 10:53
Haha! Never thought of that either, Joan. ------------- TPFKAB (The Poster Formerly Known As Brunswick). |
Posted By: DONDON
Date Posted: 15-November-2010 at 11:44
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Well heading to the old Grove, usually started with a hairwash and then plenty of brut aftershave or if that was gone my Dads old spice. My 2 sisters were going as well and My Eldest would do her nut if she found out that I intended going on a Sunday, as that was her favorite time.Of course she had a Boy friend from Clontarf and she didn't want me looking at her or meeting her at the Grove. I remember the guys Name but I will keep Mum on his Name. I had four Girl friends during my stint at the grove.One of them I arranged to meet under Clearys Clock and she was a half an hour late.We missed the Savoy showing of One flew over the cuckoo's nest.. So we ended up looking at the Texan chainsaw massacre( how romantic can you get) I asked her why she was so late and she said her Dad drove her in and went around a few time just to get a good look at me before he decided to allow Claire to meet me. Ah those were the days of fun and innocence I wasn't drinking then so I would usually meet a few friends on the way down and be early so you had a better chance of getting in.The bouncers were more likley to let you in when you were there early.I remember before I got my card I use to borrow a friends. The heat of the place when you arrived late But going early and listening to the music at it's loudest was great. When the Grove sadly burnt down we had to endure club 74 and crap music and the fights that broke out. Everyone seemed to be in tartan or had some piece of tartan on their clothing and the loafers were all in, even on some of the Women. In fact some of the Women in their bomber jackets were more dangerous looking than the guys. I didn't like the music and it attracted a skin head element then thanfully Cecil came back and things were normal again. We would have a few pints in the light House in Howth ( it was the only place you could get served ) and then head for the Pauls Grove. Time or tide waits for no Man and I stop going when then crowd seemed to get younger looking. Does anybody remember a character at the Grove who was a major spurs Fan who had bedecked himself with badges on his scarf and wolly hat,and his denim Jacket ------------- Grover from 73(old Grove) In the year of the bankers and developers When recession raged across the land there were many driven by the hopelessness to set sail for the Americas and Australia |
Posted By: Mins
Date Posted: 16-November-2010 at 04:39
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Mel was there a thread like this one before ??...Defo..must resurrect a few
old threads...HEY - who hasnt done the " Grove Time Capsule" yet..own up..anyhow.... My better memories are of the Winter Grove Saturday nights..Setting: cold, dark Saturday evening..guess I would have finished the ecker, walked the dog, done the bit of baking for my Mum and then sat down for the Saturday dinner of Roast Grief, Gravy, Cabaiste and Roast Spuds, followed by Rhubarb Tart and Cream. YUM ( I want some NOW )... Yep took the bath ( we had no shower ), dried and back combed the hair and then went hunting for clothes. If I decided to do the indian skirt/dress I was sorted..but if it was jeans etc I sometimes had to resort to borrowing my Dads Grandfather style shirt when I was stuck - ( I must have been )...ridiculous it was his Orchestra Shirt with a removable collar and must have been massive on me but sure everything was oversized then, the more you hid the better ( YES we have done a thread like this before )... Wud stick my head around the sitting room door, whisper to Mum about not letting Dad know what I was wearing and could I have her purse please for some bus fare.. I would get the 2045 ish 29A down to the shops at the Annes and get out at the Sugarloaf where my buddy lived. Her folks owned that and they lived over the shop..anyhow I would consult with her and we would maybe change clothes. I remember borrowing a pair of skin tight jeans every 2nd week round about 4th year, she would wear them every other ( gosh we really were badly off )...in addition to pinching the Dad`s shirt for the night I would have pinched one of his waistcoats too. We would apply lots of black eyeliner, sneak in and nick some fags from the shop - preferably MORE menthol and recomb the hair as it would have died or flopped invariably with the usual wind howling about.. Back out the door an hour later and get another 29A round to Sybil Hill - have a smoke outside and head in, head straight for the centre to hassle the New Romantics from our year and then suss out who was down the back. These were the days before we stayed on the 29A to town and headed to the Plough and returned on the second last bus to Pauls. Remember the speed of those buses at that hour - drivers all in a hurry to get to the garage and go for last pints I guess. Summer Grove Prep was a bit different - the long evening promoted the whole head to St Annes to hang out on the mound and people watch, a couple of tinnies on the sly etc. Didnt have to wear so many layers either which was nice. Only time I queued for the Grove was for New Years I think and I defiinitely was never sober. Bit all over the place Mel but that my bit... Nite, Mins X |
Posted By: Vinyl Junkie
Date Posted: 16-November-2010 at 10:08
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Cool, Mins. Mel. x ------------- TPFKAB (The Poster Formerly Known As Brunswick). |
Posted By: joey the lips
Date Posted: 16-November-2010 at 10:21
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great stories ------------- You can checkout anytime u like but u can never leave |
Posted By: Rolo
Date Posted: 16-November-2010 at 15:47
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Earliest memories as a 16 year old........ only allowed go on a Sat night at first.........most of the people I knocked around with weren't from my area so meself and the John Daly fella would mosey down early enough to check out the albums,strongest memory is hearing the Bass Drum from " You're All I've got Tonight " from the Cars first album as we went into the corridor. Used bring down the odd album and remember trying for weeks on end to get Cecil to play Saturday night was spent hanging around with various different groups of people,one of my favourite things about the Grove............just meeting people that you knew would be there,stopping for a chat,maybe a bit of headbanging and then moving on. Met herself one saturday night in late 1981 ( yeah, nearly 30 years ago ) and the rest is history After leaving school and going to College,the Grove Sunday Night became a reality. Every Sunday ( in the playing season ) was spent in the same way............up early for a match,home for the dinner,down to the Park for the afternoon to hold hands,home for the ablutions about half six and then the bus into Barney's Pub on Eden Quay to hook up with the lads off the team for a few pints of Harpic before getting the bus up to Sybil Hill and the altogether different Grove experience. Less people,older crowd,more chatting than headbanging.......... In the Summer when there was no match,just stayed in the scratcher until dinner time. Fantastic days and ones I really wish my own 17 year old could experience. |
but he took a lot of persuading,quite rightly predicting that it wouldn't go down too well with the rockers. Eventually one saturday he relented and was proved 100% correct...........but feck the begrudgers, I loved it.Posted By: Pogue Mahoney
Date Posted: 16-November-2010 at 19:41
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I had six nice shirts and four pairs of shoes that I saved mostly for the
Grove. It was vexing when our servant girl Mary did not have them shined and ironed. Often I would tell my mother and she would make her call a taxi for me to get there when I was running late. |
Posted By: Rolo
Date Posted: 17-November-2010 at 00:26
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No trousers then Sean, bet you were popular with the ladies |
Posted By: Mins
Date Posted: 17-November-2010 at 04:40
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Commando Rolo, Commando - Best way
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Posted By: Vinyl Junkie
Date Posted: 17-November-2010 at 11:02
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Probably just wore them really, really long Grandfather shirts... Can picture Pogue coming along to a reunion in one of them shirts, a pair of slippers and a nightcap on his head.
------------- TPFKAB (The Poster Formerly Known As Brunswick). |
Posted By: DONDON
Date Posted: 17-November-2010 at 11:40
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Pogue'S Taxi ------------- Grover from 73(old Grove) In the year of the bankers and developers When recession raged across the land there were many driven by the hopelessness to set sail for the Americas and Australia |
Posted By: Rolo
Date Posted: 17-November-2010 at 11:53
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Wouldn't know Miss Mins, but you know, I'll take your word for it. |
Posted By: Mins
Date Posted: 07-August-2012 at 05:50
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The old Threads..nothing like them for a laugh.. :) |
Posted By: Vinyl Junkie
Date Posted: 07-August-2012 at 15:30
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They really are, aren't they? Pity we dont get more new members on here to discuss their own memories. Far more on FB that havent (or dont seemed to have) registered (or post) here. ------------- TPFKAB (The Poster Formerly Known As Brunswick). |
Posted By: Mins
Date Posted: 08-August-2012 at 21:59
| Maybe its worthwhile as Moderator that u send an email to grove@nearfm.ie for Pete to read out and ask all the listeners to please log into the official site and register more importantly - that raises awareness for this, the reunions and now the radio show..if there is more interest then more interest will be shown in keeping the show going on longer..also there should be a slot for some of the Grove couples..the ones that were interviewd in the paper there 2 years ago..we can think of a few..anyhow BR might already have that in the pipeline but just thought to mention it..maybe also we can dig into the archives and suggest ONE funni topic to brush on to chat about in studio - like the Grove Fashion, Grove Modes of Transport, Grove Time Capsule, Slow Sets and all the other stuff we used to laugh about that can jog the newbies memories and maybe get everyone posting here afresh and anew..just ideas but u know the way...no harm in mentioning it here...look forward to listening in on Friday..Mins.. |
Posted By: Biker Pat
Date Posted: 08-August-2012 at 22:13
Great ideas there Mins  ------------- May be going to hell in a bucket but at least I'm enjoying the ride. Biker Pat Grove 1972-1975 |
Posted By: Vinyl Junkie
Date Posted: 09-August-2012 at 10:33
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Good ideas there Mins. Peter might have already seen your message above but I'll PM him to announce the existence of the grovesocialclub.com website, give its web address, discuss it's contents etc., on a regular basis. Some newbies in here would be very welcome.
Edit: Message sent although Peter has mentioned that this weeks show was pre-recorded when Lesley was over from Oz so he wont be able to get the word out this Friday I presume. ------------- TPFKAB (The Poster Formerly Known As Brunswick). |
Posted By: Black Russian
Date Posted: 09-August-2012 at 15:47
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Hey I need a few researchers here so.... I am up to my eyeballs with the course inpending exams and the radio show... If anyone has a bit of time to look through some of teh threads or post maybe copy the link of the page or even some of the stories put them on a Word document and email them to me ??? I will try and mention the Grove website a bit more... With just 90mins trying to chat put cd in and cue up the right song chat again and waffle  We do forget things... ------------- "Legal downloads is killing Piracy" http://www.flickr.com/groups/th |
Posted By: Vinyl Junkie
Date Posted: 09-August-2012 at 16:13
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Peter,
If it would make things easier I could post a weekly topic for "discussion" (taken from our large "archive" on this site) on the FB Radio Page while the show is running (referencing that further discussion can be taken up on this website after the show is over) and see if people want to throw their comments in.
e.g Show topic for discussion tonight: "What did YOU do every Saturday night before going down to the Grove?? - Any comments?"
(If you're also interested in commenting on this topic after the show has finished, a similar thread, and many more interesting Grove-related threads, may be found at http://www.thegrovesocialclub.com" rel="nofollow - www.thegrovesocialclub.com ).
Do sign up to the site and share your memories.
How about something like that as a template each week, and I'll dig out a different thread from here for people to comment on every Friday. Maybe it'll draw in extra members to here?
If you're happy enough with that, I'll do the honours, if you're cool with it?
Mel.  ------------- TPFKAB (The Poster Formerly Known As Brunswick). |
Posted By: Black Russian
Date Posted: 09-August-2012 at 16:24
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Yeah Mel go for it.... Thats your job.... Put it in the Grove radio page and not the Event page... ------------- "Legal downloads is killing Piracy" http://www.flickr.com/groups/th |
Posted By: Vinyl Junkie
Date Posted: 09-August-2012 at 16:42
No problem. I'll maybe post something around the time the show starts to try as many as I can (i.e. everyone listening in). On the "Grove Radio" page - no worries!  ------------- TPFKAB (The Poster Formerly Known As Brunswick). |
Posted By: DONDON
Date Posted: 10-August-2012 at 11:37
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Great Idea Mel ------------- Grover from 73(old Grove) In the year of the bankers and developers When recession raged across the land there were many driven by the hopelessness to set sail for the Americas and Australia |
Posted By: finno
Date Posted: 10-August-2012 at 22:31
Seem to recall spending some Saturday nights in town Bruxelles..also the flowing tide but some of that overlapped with the GroveOh yeah a winebar under pizzaland on O'Connell Street called Hijax(?)------------- A man must have a code |
Posted By: Vinyl Junkie
Date Posted: 09-September-2016 at 22:29
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Pre Grove reunion drinks, if anyone is interested, on the night of 5th November, in the Waterside pub in Howth from 7pm. Head up to the Abbey Tavern between 8.30pm - 8.45pm. All welcome. ------------- TPFKAB (The Poster Formerly Known As Brunswick). |
Posted By: Pogue Mahoney
Date Posted: 02-April-2024 at 23:16
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It would have been funny to meet in Saint Anne's - and everyone had to bring their own bottle of Bulmer's. There's a plan for the next reunion- Knacker Drinking ...We can all meet at Cecil's statue.
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