West End House days
WEST End House has a great history, but memories now confined to older members of the community.
So I was interested to learn about John Gerard Murphy, whose address was ‘West End House, West Street’.
He was a native of Walshestown and was closely associated with the motor trade but was best known as the man that opened the majestic Abbey cinema on West Street.
During the 1950s, he opened the Abbey ballroom and it provided a wonderful meeting place for so many down the years.
He installed one of the most modern dance floors in the country and brought all the top bands to the town.
In February 1969, both of the buildings were destroyed in a blaze and that left a huge entertainment void in the town.
His son Jackie introduced 10 pin bowling to Ireland when he opened the Stillorgan bowling alley.
John and his wife, Nan, were well known around town.
He died in December 1970 at the age of 79.