Museum hosts talk on indoor football leagues

A free talk on the indoor football leagues in Dundalk and Drogheda takes place in the County Museum, Jocelyn Street, on Friday night at 7pm.

The talk ties in the Abbey Ballroom Indoor Football exhibition currently on display, which focuses on the Drogheda indoor football league that was played in the Abbey Ballroom.

The exhibition led to new information becoming available about the leagues in the mid-sixties.

At the time, indoor football was seen as entertainment and not sport, which is why so many GAA players were able to participate without being penalised by Rule 27. Women were also encouraged to form their own teams and take part.

While the Abbey Ballroom was the focus for the sport in Drogheda, similar competitions were held in Dundalk’s Adelphi Ballroom as part of the Maytime Festival, the Embassy Ballroom in Castle Blayney, the Pavilion Ballroom in Blackrock, the Parochial Hall in Inniskeen and the Beechmount in Navan.

It is hoped that people who played or attended those competitions could come along to Friday night’s talk and share their stories. The Casuals from Dundalk dominated the women’s competitions in Drogheda, but did they feature strongly in the leagues closer to home?

In the men’s competition, the Beatlers from Inniskeen were reported to have been the only team with a supporter’s club, were you a member of that club?

All welcome to come along to share memories, photos and memorabilia.