Drumsill / Arena - no more!

[No wides]

End of an Era - if that place could talk!!

http://armaghi.com/watch-as-diggers-pull-apart-former-drumsill-hotel-and-arena-nightclub/

For years the Drumsill Hotel and the adjacent Arena, off the Moy Road in Armagh, were the highlights of the local social scene.

This week the bulldozers finally moved in, clearing the site to make way for a new distribution warehouse and office development.

It is an investment in excess of £5 million and one which will create at least 50 new jobs.

Armagh I exclusively revealed last August that the developent – on behalf of Bunzl McLaughlin – would be allowed to go ahead 12 years after the first of four planning applications was submitted.

It is to be located on "land at the former Drumsill House Hotel Moy Road Armagh".

The planning officer's professional assessment states: "The site comprises the former Drumsill House Hotel, Met Night Club (Arena) and associated car parking approximately two-and-a-half miles to the north of Armagh City."

And while officials, in approving the proposals, said it would make a "significant contribution to the regional company", it does not lessen the nostalgic sadness which many will feel.

It took two industrial diggers to tear down the famous yellow-coloured hotel.

The old Drumsill building had been derelict and neglected for many years. But there was a sadness in watching it being torn down. Digger-load after digger-load of rubble was lifted and carried from the site, as both machines took it in turns to strike the falling shell and retreat.

Both the old hotel and the Arena – or Met as some would recall – were owned by the Gorman family at the time they closed.

The Arena opened in 1990 to much excitement and was the place to be seen in Armagh!

But it was extensively damaged in a fire in 1995.

The venue was rebuilt and refurbished and opened under the guise of The Met – or Met Arena – and again proved a huge draw.

The night-club famously drew revellers from all over, north and south, a thriving venue at the height of the dance scene.

It is even to feature in a documentary being filmed by Hollywood star David Arquette on how dance music helped unite communities here at the height of the Troubles.

It was to close for the last time at the end of August 2004 – 12 years ago this week. The hotel itself closed in December 2001.

Memories were made here; many met their future partners – husbands, wives and significant others – attending club nights in the Arena or Met or discos, dance nights and functions in the hotel itself.

The hotel closed for the last time in December 2001.

All have their stories to tell.

Some might say, 'if walls could talk'. But those walls are now gone and all that remains are our own individual recollections.

The area in front of the hotel has also been dug up and levelled ready for the new development.

The premises will be for use by Bunzl McLaughlin, the leading supplier of non-food catering and cleaning supplies to businesses across Ireland, providing services to the hospitality, healthcare, leisure, industry, facilities management and public sectors – including education, local councils and Civil Service.

The most recent application for planning permission was submitted – by Silverwood Property Development Ltd – in January 2015 and approved exactly one year ago this week.

Officials accepted that Bunzl McLaughlin had no room to grow on its current Cathedral Road site and allowed the construction of a facility which would provide 6,503 sq metres of storage space and 1,435 sq metres of office accommodation.

There had been fears that the company might have to move out of Armagh if it were unable to expand.

The development will also see the retention of a "majority proportion of the existing trees and vegetation" with plans too for new planting to "minimise visual impact".

It is expected that the new facilities will be constructed and ready for occupancy in 2017.

In the meantime, we'll raise a glass, slip back through the years and say: 'Drumsill, Met, Arena – thanks for the music and the memories!'

[gallsman]

Ex was from Armagh. Heard some stories about that place that would make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

[No wides]

It did get a bit mental  , Ceasers was a fine place too!

[Orior]

Ex was from Armagh. Heard some stories about that place that would make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

She's your ex. Feel free to elaborate

[The Gs Man]

Spent many a night in the Arena, lying on the dancefloor waiting on the lights to drop...... about 3 feet.

[illdecide]

Some serious scraps outside it too, the Armagh boys seemed to be fighting with the Portadown and Lurgan ones on a weekly basis. Well they were outside fighting i was inside finger blasting interviewing their girl friends ...lol.

[bennydorano]

For a year or two they had a great run of all the top Irish bands. Remember seeing The Stunning, Hothouse Flowers, An Emotional Fish, Devlin, few others I can't think off. Was there for a few top DJs in an altogether different atmosphere.

[johnneycool]

I think I was there a couple of times.

Was there stages at the sides where you could bust a few moves, ala hitman and her stuff. big box, little box, whoop whoop.


Some spot for the ladies all the same, still preferred the Carrickdale on a Sunday night, girls outnumbered the lads two to one any time I was there!

[T Fearon]

It's forerunner Drumsill House was the setting for our school dances back in the 70s.Nostalgic

[rrhf]

The old drumsill was the spot of my growing up. Was at the opening of the arena. Loads of women in a swimming pool. Wonderful spot for a curt. Then the dance scene took over and wasn't my thing.

[GJL]

Went to teenage discos in the Drumsill and then graduated to the Arena. The beach parties were some craic. Talent was unreal at it.

[Harold Disgracey]

I asked a Keady woman for a dance there 25 years ago, still haven't got shot of her. Had many a good nights craic at the Arena and Caesars before that.

[drici]

I asked a Keady woman for a dance there 25 years ago, still haven't got shot of her. Had many a good nights craic at the Arena and Caesars before that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkMgs3lFwkQ

[stew]

Ex was from Armagh. Heard some stories about that place that would make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

Do not believe everything he tells you, Drumsill was a great, safe spot to shag your significant other.

[general_lee]

Manys a pony was fed on a sat night during or just after. If the walls could talk indeed