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Ballroom Blitz

In Ballroom Blitz Adam Clayton explores the unique phenomenon of Irish showbands who dragged a 1950s conservative black and white Ireland – blighted by widespread emigration and a population of less than 3 million people – to finally shake, rattle and roll into the colourful and glamorous 1960s. Fuelled by a growing ballroom ‘mafia' – who controlled artists, venues and radio shows – over 800 showbands, fronted by Ireland's first ‘pop stars', brought the nation to its feet as a quarter of the population danced, romanced and shared a ‘mineral' in packed ballrooms across the 32 counties. A decade later the ballroom industry was on its knees. This two-hour series deftly dives into the parallel social history of our emerging nation as 1960s Ireland benefited from the economic boom; free secondary education and welcomed its first TV channel as young Irish ‘pop' fans embraced an international revolution in sex, music and fashion.

Show Info

Network: Ireland RTÉ ONE (2024 - now)
Schedule: Wednesdays at 21:35 (60 min)
Status: To Be Determined
Show Type: Documentary
Episodes ordered: 2 episodes

(waiting for more votes)

Celebrate 10 years with TVMaze premium.

Previous Episode

Episode 2

Episode 1x02; Dec 4, 2024

Adam Clayton embarks on a passionate and personal journey to explore how showbands played an integral role in the development of an Irish music industry.

Previous Episodes

Episode NameAirdateTrailer
1x02: Episode 2Dec 4, 2024
1x01: Episode 1Nov 27, 2024
View full episode list »

Cast

Celebrate 10 years with TVMaze premium.