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Despite a lot of them not having much money to spend, many people still found ways to escape the confinement of everyday life and have some fun in 1930s Ireland.
Local clubs organized evenings of card games, bingo and whist in halls and churches in more rural parts of the country. In the larger towns and cities others would visit the cinema or theater, many of which remained open throughout the Second World War.
Those who could afford it would start the evening with dinner and a movie or show in the more lively setting of Dublin City. From there some people would move on to one of the city's numerous night clubs.
Dancing was the night out of choice for young people. Some bands toured village halls and cafes across the country where people were more than willing to join in the fun. Boys and girls would spend the evening getting ready with friends while listening to the radio, before moving on to the dance. The thriving halls of jitterbugging youths would be the meeting place of many future couples.
However, as is often the way with merrymaking, some were concerned about the amount of alcohol people consumed at dances. Few could afford such a luxury, but those who could were often chastened in their local newspapers.
For the most part, social gatherings provided a welcome source of comfort to both young and old in a country that was rapidly changing.
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