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Privacy Policy

A legal disclaimer

The explanations and information provided on this page are only general and high-level explanations and information on how to write your own document of a Privacy Policy. You should not rely on this article as legal advice or as recommendations regarding what you should actually do, because we cannot know in advance what are the specific privacy policies you wish to establish between your business and your customers and visitors. We recommend that you seek legal advice to help you understand and to assist you in the creation of your own Privacy Policy.

Privacy Policy - the basics

Having said that, a privacy policy is a statement that discloses some or all of the ways a website collects, uses, discloses, processes, and manages the data of its visitors and customers. It usually also includes a statement regarding the website’s commitment to protecting its visitors’ or customers’ privacy, and an explanation about the different mechanisms the website is implementing in order to protect privacy. 

 

Different jurisdictions have different legal obligations of what must be included in a Privacy Policy. You are responsible to make sure you are following the relevant legislation to your activities and location. 

What to include in the Privacy Policy

Generally speaking, a Privacy Policy often addresses these types of issues: the types of information the website is collecting and the manner in which it collects the data; an explanation about why is the website collecting these types of information; what are the website’s practices on sharing the information with third parties; ways in which your visitors and customers can exercise their rights according to the relevant privacy legislation; the specific practices regarding minors’ data collection; and much, much more. 


To learn more about this, check out our article “Creating a Privacy Policy”.

Every town has its story—but in Ballybunion, those stories live and breathe in the voices of its people. From windswept summers on the beach to quiet winters by the fire, from long-lost dance halls to legendary characters still fondly remembered, our Local Stories page is a celebration of the moments that have shaped this special place.

Here, we gather memories, anecdotes, and first-hand accounts that chart the rich social history of Ballybunion and its surrounding communities, that you won’t always find in textbooks—tales passed down through generations, shared across kitchen tables, and retold with pride and a touch of humour.

Whether it’s a recollection of school days, a snapshot of working life, or a look back at how the town has evolved through the decades, each contribution adds another thread to the fabric of Ballybunion’s identity.

We invite you to read and reflect, and perhaps even contribute your own story, because the history of Ballybunion isn’t just in the past, it’s being written every day.

The Marconi Station
Ballybunion's Part in Communications History

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The Central Ballroom
A Venue that transformed Ballybunion's Social & Entertainment Scene

In the 1940s and 1950s, social dancing in Ballybunion revolved around just two venues: the Pavilion on Main Street and the smaller Ballerina dance hall across the road. That all changed in 1956, when local businessman Matt O’Sullivan, owner of the Central Hotel, transformed the town’s entertainment scene with the construction of the Central Ballroom.

Built on the site of an old dairy yard on Lower Main Street (where the Golf Hotel stands today), the ballroom opened its doors on Friday, June 29th, 1956. The occasion marked a milestone in Ballybunion’s social history. Entertainment on the night was provided by the Pete Roxburgh Big Band from Scotland, featuring guest vocalist Josef Locke. The first patrons through the doors were local residents Joe Stack and Mary Noonan of Church Road.

Roxburgh’s band held the first summer residency in 1956, followed in 1957 by the Maurice Mulcahy Orchestra from Mitchelstown, County Cork. Their association with the Central Ballroom became legendary, as they performed six nights a week, every summer, for thirteen consecutive seasons.

By the late 1960s, Matt O’Sullivan made the decision to relocate the ballroom to a new site behind the Central Hotel, on what is now Lartigue Road. Constructed entirely by local tradesmen, the new venue was completed in just four and a half months at a cost of £65,000 — a significant investment at the time.

The new Central Ballroom officially opened on Thursday, May 23rd, 1968, and enjoyed immediate success during the summers of 1968 and 1969. However, a breakdown in negotiations between the O’Sullivan family and the Maurice Mulcahy Orchestra led to the end of their long-standing partnership in 1970. The loss of the resident band contributed to a sharp decline in attendance, and after two difficult seasons, both the ballroom and hotel were sold to a group of Tralee businessmen.

Under new ownership, the Maurice Mulcahy Orchestra returned, restoring some of the venue’s former popularity for another decade. Nevertheless, changing social trends in the late 1970s — including the rise of cabaret lounges and live music in pubs — signalled the beginning of the end for traditional ballrooms across Ireland.

The Central Ballroom, once the beating heart of Ballybunion’s nightlife, could no longer draw the crowds it once had. After nearly three decades at the centre of the town’s social life, it closed its doors in 1984. A few years later, the building found a new purpose as the Ballybunion Community Centre — ensuring that, while the music may have faded, its legacy continues.

 

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About Us

Ballybunion News is your trusted source for local news, stories, and history from Ballybunion and surrounding areas.

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