SNIPPET: The chains encircling the concrete posts in front of the main door in 1996 were rusty and the scutch grass grew high on the old sturdy wall. But the Ballroom of Romance, the Rainbow, in Glenfarne on the side of the Enniskillen to Sligo road was still standing. The music is long gone. Big Tom doesn't play there anymore. In 1996, Glenfarne, Co. Leitrim is a village of three pubs, a post office, 50 or 60 families and a barrel of memories. Fifty years of good times when the dancing years flourished as they came from miles around to step the night away. It began in a small hall, little more than a galvanised shed, when a young man returned from Depression-hit America with a pocket full of dollars and a fistful of dreams. John McGIVERN was 22 years old, had left the small family farm and worked as an elevator operator in Jersey City. He went to night school and studied the art of public speaking. He came back in 1934, persuaded Michael KEANEY to form a local band and ran weekly dances. In the 1950s, bands like Stephen GARVEY and Brose WALSH and Jack RUANE, all Mayo musicians drew the crowds and were paid seven pounds between ten players plus a meat tea, according to receipts still extant. (Alcohol was never served). It was a band called the Melody Aces from Newtownstewart in Co. Tyrone who were responsible for the lasting nomenclature: "The Ballroom of Romance." They suggested to John that he personally introduce a romantic interlude. He always dressed in a tuxedo, got on stage and sang, "Have You Ever Been Lonely." Then he encouraged the men and women to make themselves known to each other and give each other a twirl (and, I heard, a shy peck on the cheek!). The system worked and even when the big showband stars came to the Rainbow, John was given his matchmaking spot. Visiting acts like The EVERLY Brothers, Billy FUREY, Ronnie RONALD and homegrown products like the Clipper Carlton, The Royal, The Capitol, were halted in favour of the "Interlude." In 17 years up to the 1974 John McGIVERN noted that 202 marriages came from his "Ballroom of Romance" and 157 engagements. John met his own wife, Maureen, at a dance in the Rainbow. She was from Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh. They were married in 1954, had three sons and several grandchildren. John McGIVERN died on 10 May 1996 at the age of 84. Maureen had fond memories of the dancing and kept thousands of souvenirs - receipts, band cards, posters. "You know we were invited to every wedding. To this day I'm still in contact with some couples." At the funeral Mass for John McGIVERN (he was buried 100 yards from the Ballroom) four members of the Melody Aces played some special music. Edward McNAMEE, Gene TURBETT, Patsy McGONAGLE and Shay HUTCHINSON sang in unison, "Have You Even Been Lonely." -- Excerpt, "Leitrim Guardian" yearly magazine.