What did YOU do before heading down?

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!

Brunswick wrote: Hiya gang,  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.

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! 

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.....

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.

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.

 Thanks for the insight there, Finno! 

GG

 What did YOU do before heading down?

Jesus am i the only one who read this thread title and nearly had a heart - attack ????????????????

oops!...probably shouldn't have said "hard enough".....the way your mind works....

Blondie wrote:  What did YOU do before heading down? Jesus am i the only one who read this thread title and nearly had a heart - attack ????????????????

Haha! Never thought of that either, Joan.    I can 'edit' the title if you want?

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