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Finnigans (Queens Road, Cheetham Hill)

finnigans1

 

The old Wooden Shack near the bus depot, top of Queens Road. I first started going here in '55. It was run as a dance school catering for all age groups. There were no groups then, only records.

The first part of the evening was taken up with group dancing lessons and then the later part of the night was free dance which introduced some jive, as rock and roll was just starting to enter the music scene.

I learnt to jive here and met my future wife here, after first having dated her younger sister. I also had my fist pints of beer at the pub round the corner on Cheetham Hill Rd. I believe it was called the Temple and served Cornbrooks beer.

I have many happy memories of Finigans, It was a time when I first started taking an interest in girls!!!

Geoff Brannick - 17/2/10

The Vincents played at 'FINNIGANS' on Wednesday February 19th 1964. Remember the audience being really great and going down a storm! It was a really great atmosphere and a very memorable night. Good memories.

Peter Royle - 3/3/10

Also remember the night of Herman's slang at one of the locals. Started going here in 63/64, had some great groups on and played all top hits, When House of Rising Sun came on it would soon clear floor as most people could not dance to the beat.

Even my kids went to dancing lessons here in 70s.

Tony Brown - 2/12/12

Finnegans was rough tough place and the Barn Dance, where the girls moved on to another partner, a good way to start a riot when boyfriends were around. Saw some of the best fights ever out side and inside the club. Forgotten the Temple till read this piece, good old fashioned drinking den. Happy days.

John Gledhill - 14/1/12

I played sax & clarinet for a gig at Finnigans in 1940, remember leavng during an air raid but no one panicked. I didn't know the group. Does anyone remember "The Holme" in Prestwich where I played with Les Vaugn during 1939 for a year or two before leaving to fly airplanes. By the way I still wear shorts during summer here in Australia and I'm well over 90!

21/2/13


 Final demolition following the fire

 

 

 

Comments

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ROBERT LAWLESS
3 years ago
remember it well meet my first wife there we were together 25 years her name then was irene watkins then became robert and irene lawless, lived in langley est. then moved to wythenshawe manchester. what a great place dance hall , yes and we would go to the temple pub before going to finnigans.  
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ROBERT LAWLESS
3 years ago
great place good times now age 78 years
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Eugene Vesey
2 years ago
Interesting memories. Was it demolished in 2013? I remember it from visiting my Aunty Annie O'Keefe at 133 Queens Rd as a kid in the 50s. I remember visiting one of the ladies (Ethel or Florence?) when she was an invalid in bed, with Aunty Annie, who was friendly with her, and as a young boy feeling very bored as they nattered away. I never darkened its doors, but I was always fascinated by it. I'm interested because I'm writing a family history of the Veseys, who lived at 133 Queens Rd. Eugene Vesey.  
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Bernard Warner
10 months ago
My sister and I used to have dancing lessons on a Saturday Lunchtime by Miss Wright, (she must have been about late 20s or 30s), who worked for the then owner, Mr Gibson.  This was around 1960 to about 1963.  We were tought "Modern Dance", in other words, the Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep and Tango etc.  After our lessons, the hall opened up to the public where the age group was from 14 through to mid 20s.  I also remember an elderly lady living in the adjoining house, who I think was a Finnegan.  The dancing consisted mosty of Jive etc, and every third dance was the "Gibsom Rhythm".  Does anyone remember those days?  I would love to hear from anyone who does.  My name is Bernard Warner
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Bernard Warner
10 months ago
Just to add, that I was aged 14 through to 17
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Jim dean
3 months ago
My mum was an instructor Molly sisson later dean she was also the owner of the record store on Hyde road where the local bands bought there records and sheet music
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