There is Athy That Never Goes Out – Former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr to play Dreamland Ballroom

Johnny Marr previously visited his parent's hometown of Athy, Kildare to unveil a plaque in 2018. Source: (Suzan Moore/PA)

Cian Ó Broin

Johnny Marr is set to play in Athy’s Dreamland Ballroom this summer, marking the place where the legendary former Smiths guitar player’s parents first met six decades ago.

The Manchester-born musician’s parents John Joseph Maher (81) and Francis Doyle (75) first met at the Kildare venue in the early 1960s, which was once one of Ireland’s hotspots for showbands.

The Dreamland Ballroom, also known as the Sunflower Ballroom in Athy was opened on Friday, July 14, 1961 by future Taoiseach Albert Reynolds and his brother Jim.

Some of the top Irish showbands and international artists played at the venue, which was open every Saturday and Sunday night, with U2 and Thin Lizzy said to have once played there on separate occasions.

Revellers travelled from all over nearby counties via train, car, bus and bicycles, until the venue’s popularity dipped in the 1980s.

The 60-year-old English musician was born in Ardwick, Manchester after his parents moved to the northern UK city, emigrating in a bid to start a new life.

As a young boy, he dreamt of becoming a professional footballer and was approached by Nottingham Forest and even his boyhood team, Manchester City, for trials.

They later moved to Wythenshawe in southern Manchester where he met other notable guitarists and formed his first band at the age of 13, before founding the Smiths with Steven Morrisey at 18.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - February 21st

Marr, who was voted fourth best guitarist of the last 30 years in a BBC poll, will play the Dreamland Ballroom in Athy on Tuesday, June 25.

On November 3, 2018, Marr unveiled a plaque in his parents' hometown of Athy. This was part of the Made of Athy project, connecting famous faces with their ancestral roots and links to the town.

The Kildare concert later this year follows his 'best of' collective album Spirit Power in 2023.

The new best of album, which he will play out in the Dreamland Ballroom, features songs from his four top ten solo albums and brand new single, The Answer, following a highly successful and prolific solo career since splitting from Morrissey in the Smiths in 1987 over “personal differences.”

Marr will also play in Limerick and Sea Sessions in Donegal in the same week in June.

Tickets prices will begin at €51.85 inclusive of booking fees, and go on sale to the public this Friday, February 23, at 10 am through Ticketmaster.