Paradiso

This programme contains some strong language.

You know, I really feel sorry for the young people because they won't

be able to dance, really. You know, no dancehalls for them to go to. All

they can go to are hotels. Something like that. But there's no place

where they can have a nice dance and learn to dance right. There's no

music. That I would call music. I wouldn't

call it music now. Just thumpings. Excuse us for saying that.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, 11, 12...

It's been a hard journey. It's a hard journey for anyone living in

the Fountain. People living in this estate now, in the Fountain Estate

feel themselves under threat most of the time T how do you feel people to

feel OK when you are surrounded by this - you know. This is where my

people are from. My mother was born here, I was born around the corner.

Nowadays the Fountain is the last enclave of Protestant unionist

people here on this side of the river. Over this side is ceg began

and the bogside area, where most of the Catholic nationalist people live

and just where we are now is what we call around here an "interface." It

is where the two sides collide sometimes - not too gently. Then the

fence - it's not going to win any prizes for architecture, is it? !

My father was born on this street. He was actually born in the house

next to this one that I am sitting in front of. My mother was born

right in the corner. We had 318 people on the Fountain in 160

houses. At the start of the development and at the start of the

troubles, in 1996, we had 17, 080. I remember the spirit - there was a

community spirit. There was cohesion within the cul-de-sacs. So my link

with the Fountain would have been spiritual and a link through my

family. The history of history is important

to Protestant and Catholic people. It is symbolic to Protestant people

of survival and a harsh land, if you can put it like that. For Catholic

people it is also a symbol of oppression and colonisation and

oppression. So, for both communities this is an important place. We lived

in Albert Place. That was a cul-de-sac. We lived in number 14.

My grandmother lived in number 18 and my Aunty lived in number 19. It

was a family affair. A very close net community. Right here there was

the great pub. It was very small. It was a small pub. It had music

upstairs it had music. I never knew that. The Paradiso has gone. It

exists in the minds of people who remember the Fountain as a poor

man's lost paradise. Now the population is getting older and

older and older. Young people are moving away. There's been a steady

drip for 30 years. It is sad. My sense is it's over. The victors

write the history and the losers write the songs. So I want to talk

to people and try and create songs out of that. So that this place will

be remembered and these people will be remembered.

# To see what I could see # Nothing seemed the same

# Nothing... For me, music has always been a

unifying pack r factor. There's -- unifying factor. There's no boundary

in music. # Victoria

# Henry # Albert

# Boris # Clarence Place

# Kennedy Place # Fountain Place, place, place...

You left two out - Lower Fountain Street and Kempton Place. Thank you.

A couple of things I am thinking about. I want to pick your brains

about. I am thinking back to the '60s, my younger days - write songs

about that era, about the Fountain so, somehow it will be remembered in

songs. At that time, if my memory is right,

there was no such thing as Protestants going one place and

Catholics going the other. You had the money to go where you wanted and

who ever you fan Sid. What would happen if we had a recreation of one

of those nights? Do you think people would come to it? I think you would

get away with it. Do you think people from both communities would

come? I think we're moving into that era, where it is possible at the

moment. People in the main say they are still under siege. There might

be a risk element in it. You have to take risks sometimes. You think it

is worth trying it? MUSIC

# The kiss of fire... If I listen to good music, even classical music, I

get goose pimples. The hairs in my arms stand up. There is no - I mean

I have never had a goose bump when I listen to Top of the Pops now. We

loved the dancing and the music was great. The dancing - one of them

said, do you two get paid for starting off

said, do you two get paid for the minute the music starts, away

even get a chance to take you out. You know? When we got older we went

to the bigger dances. This is the centre and was the

centre life of the Fountain Community. Everybody came - it was

not segregated the way things are now.

If you liked the band, the hall, maybe you thought you would meet the

girl of your dreams. You would go wherever you wanted. We would play

the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Also do some ballroom dancing.

We weren't looking at the faces, we were looking at the feet to see if

there was a good pair of feet there. I like him - I'll wait till he comes

around again! We would play foxtrots and a slow waltz. The band was way

up in the ceiling, nearly. Maybe a cha-cha-cha and a tango.

And I'd just loved it. And ever since I loved the tango music.

She's away! I like the rock 'n' roll, too. And

the jive. And I've seen her doing it! She is great!

In 1969, I came home and the barricades were up. I could have

cried. Ireland at the moment on Saturday and the army had just come

in that week and I went out on the Sunday. -- I remember. I took a walk

around and it was heartbreaking. There wasn't really much you could

do about it. It was bad at that time.

We had this dancing apprentice at the Memorial Hall. I've played in

the resident band way back in the 60s and it was one of the first gigs

I've ever did that I'd got money for. I am going to try to bring that

band together a game. I'm going to meet them tomorrow and ask them, do

they want to get back together as a band, which is going to be really

interesting. I don't know if people are still in the same place

musically or whatever. And there are different personalities in the band.

It will be interesting. Have you got any idea what is going on? Haven't a

clue! Hello! Hello, lads! What is happening? I hope that is paid for!

Going into the Memorial Hall, which is seen by a lot of people is not

really a safe place. And why would people chose -- choose to go to a

place that wasn't safe? So let's see what happens. My God! It is the same

curtains. No, they are not! It has changed! We used to rehearse in the

back. And what about the town hall? Whatever happened, he had fallen

out. He was down the stairs and they changed the notes, do you remember?

And he walks up... He threw the whole lot of them on the floor and

walked out of the hall. We got into the vans and we were driving up

through Ballykelly. What was he doing? He was walking... With the

saxophone in his hand and the suit. The notion is I am trying to put the

band together, reunion, of one of the bands that played in here. We

are going to do it, first of all. Will it work? Let's have a go at it

again. Reunion as such. And the Signetts up on that stage. We could

actually invite different musicians. Try to contact all the musicians we

knew in those days. What would the line-up he? Franz? Saxophone,

guitar. Bassist. We can't even remember who the band was, how are

we going to remember the music?! Well, so far, so good. If we can

keep up this good atmosphere, I am starting to believe we can pull off

the Signetts reunion. That was the song the Signetts used

to do years ago. We all sang songs but the only real singer in the band

was Trevor Keyes, I would say. # Let me talk to you,

# Please let me talk to you... One did contribute a lot with his

saxophone. -- Ronnie. Ronnie, here's a character, and talented. Some of

the things did and said, we more than likely never agreed with him

but he would always fight his corner. Jackie has a great

personality and he is one of the funniest men I have ever known. He

is some boy. He was very moody at times. We would joke and say he was

like a girl! That is the original Signetts. There they are. Jackie,

Trevor, and there was me with a harpoon committee guitar. And hair

as well! I wonder where that all went?

The Signetts, when they played in the main, they were loved. They were

loved. I've known Jackie Molloy since we

played together in the 60s and I lived around the corner from him.

Do you know when that fence when top? Icon say. See, when all the

houses here were demolished, I don't know... In 1969, when the people

lived here they put barricades up. They should be able to find it all

right. What do you think about meeting the boys again? Great!

It is strange to think of everybody going their own way, you know? And

all of a sudden, there will be five slaloms on one piece of music. Part

of the band we are putting together played in the 60s. You know Jackie

Molloy? Yeah. I'd just some are going down to

Danny Grant's pub down there and having a Guinness. A bit of ballroom

dancing, a Latin American set. That is all right.

We will have two tickets! Will you go? Surely. Wouldn't miss that.

I've been working away on my CD about the The Fountain. One of our

members, I hear hears into Cuban music now. -- he is.

That is a song that means lots of my loves all loves of my life. I have

always loved Cuba and the politics of Cuba. That is what got me into

Cuban music. The beauty of it, the romance of revolution, Sheikh of

are. And the revolution. -- Che Guevara. I was born in a little

place off Wapping Lane and The Fountain. I've met Roy when we were

very, very young. And we played in bands together, various local bands,

what they call Irish show bands, where they did a mix of everything.

It is a rock 'n' roll song, from the 11th night, people jiving on the

streets. Do you want that in there? Just do

it again. Just do it again, Roy. There might be a bar to-4 there.

Two, three, four. 1... Part of the project as well, I'm going to put

together the band are used to play with and the men, the Signetts,

basically. -- I used to. Would you come and play? I would be very proud

to do it as a project. Thank you very much. Good stuff.

As usual. What are we doing? Always early! Let's mosey up and have a

pint. I'm not in the mood for playing tonight.

Should we organise it the way we use to organise it? Take your partner

for a two step? Jumbo liar will be done rock 'n' roll. Harry Connick

Junior style. So we will rehearse these now. I tell you what we are

going to do. # I was all right for a while,

# I could smile for a while # When I saw you last night,

# You held my hand so tight, # When you stopped to say good night

it... Is that not an augmented chord? Even

demented! # But when I saw you last night...

That is the wrong chord, Frankie. Things were going great but it all.

To suddenly when Frankie felt unwell. -- it all stopped suddenly.

Oh, Jesus. See what happens. Is he all right?

Not going to make it to April. We'll be all right. We 'll get a cardboard

cut-out of him. Thank Thankfully Frank recovered.

You're swinging again. It's not going as well as I'd hoped.

Frankie's health has given us some concern. Ronny hasn't turned up. It

looks like we've lost a band member already.

Well, the practise yesterday wasn't too bad. Quite a few mistakes made,

but that is understandable. After not being together for nearly

40 years! But, a few more get togethers and we should get the

whole thing right. I'm only sorry that Ronnie wasn't there yesterday.

He wasn't very well or something wrong somewhere because usually

Ronnie would turn up because he likes to play music. For Ronnie not

to turn up there had to be something wrong because he would bring his

saxophone and to different bars and stuff and play music at the drop of

a hat. Maybe sometimes he feels he's not up to it because he's not

getting any younger, just like myself. For some reason he didn't

make it. He was missed because he could have added a lot to what we

were doing. But that's life!

I headed to the junction and I'm going to meet Maureen Heatherington

the director of the Junction. She does a lot of cross-community work.

I'm meeting Eammon, he works with an organisation called The community

Development Learning Initiative and he's from Creggan, which people now

around here is mainly nationalist. I'm going to try and see how we're

going to progress. It's great me having an idea, but we need to make

it appeal to a lot more people. What is the project. I'm thinking of

maybe two things. One is a sense of you talking about a reunion that

might attract in people from the Catholic community, the nationalist

community who formally went. Two strands. Two strands. Basically one

strand is telling the story of the Fountain and writing songs out of

that and perform those songs. That would be more or less a sit-down

concert situation and then there's the dance side. A story about the

Fountain. It the only remaining Protestant community on the West

Bank. We have to be sensitive. If you lived the Fountain and you

suddenly had an inflex of people from Creggan, for example... How

east 's it going to feel to people there? We could change it and keep

it separate. Reunion one night - they don't have to happen - it could

happen somewhere else. Fountain Primary was built in 1995

to replace three church schools in the area. When the schools were in

their heyday, there would have been 600 children in the area. Today,

sadly, there are 27 primary children school area living in the area. The

rest of the children that come to Fountain Primary School are those

with an allegiance to the area, who have families connected to the

churches or for those who want a small family type school I is

important that it should survive. It was a tremendous area. It was

vibrant, full of colour, full of characters. There was a lot of

music. # What was this place before I was

born # Tell me the story

The fountain, sing me a song # What was this place like before I

was born # We had shops and bars and places

to play We are invited to the launch of the

songs at the Fountain Primary School, Thursday, 5th, at 7pm.

# Tell me a story Sing of the Fountain

# Sing me a song # What was this place like before I

was born # What was this place like before I

was born # Tell me a story of the place I was

born # Song of the Fountain

# Sing me a song # What was this place like before I

was APPLAUSE

Thanks very much for coming. It is great to see so many people in one

place. Thanks to Isabel, all the staff and all the children. We're

going to play some rock'n'roll for you.

# Dancing down the street # Feeling the heat

# Up on Fountain Street # It's the 11th night

# Rock'n'roll Thank you very much! I'm still

buzzing. I was really nervous. I couldn't believe how nervous I was.

It's been an honour - the songs are the last word and they capture the

whole thing. You know, the old streets and the whole emotion of the

thing and for Roy too, it with us a labour of love. It is great! It is

monumental for me. Now that the CD is launched, I can

concentrate on planning the big dance night. The way things are

going, it is clear we're going to have to push the date back a bit.

This new idea of yours, getting together the group. The group.

Everybody is keen on the idea. If I can ask you now the next step - what

do you think? We will be over the moon, Roy. The idea is brilliant.

Any way we can help, we would be delighted now. What about you

considering an idea of your group, starting off the festival, launching

the festival on Saturday, 2nd with your reunion dance on the Saturday

night? Right, sounds good. Second of August. Second of August. Drink to

that. It's a deal. Thank you. Well, I'm getting great support from

the Fountain Community. Now for the past I'm a bit more worried about -

I have to somehow convince people from the Catholic community to get

involved. They meet a Tuesday up here at the

50-plus club. I tell you what, they are a real lively group.

Move the arms. # Blue moon...

Roy Arbuckle. One thing I am doing is thinking about having a dance in

the Memorial Hall. Would you go there for a wee dance? I would love

to. Yes.

Did you go? Me and Margaret went one night - we weren't allowed. It would

be great to see the balcony. We were all dying to go, because we were not

allowed to go. We never actually had the nerve.

Somebody here at the back said try and run before that.

I mean they have tea dances in the Guildhall. They could once a month.

Everybody goes there from all over, if from Foun tand the Waterside and

-- Fountain and the Waterside and all.

These have done great since Sunday. We'll be starting the tee dances

soon again. I really look forward to that.

No sign of Ronnie since? Frankie had been communicating with him. Frank

tried to get him yesterday and today. No luck.

He's vanished. I think they'll think about the next

dance at the Memorial Hall. How are these two ladies? This is

Kathleen. I'm a Kathleen too.

You are sisters. They were known as the dolly sisters.

He suggested he would open the city festival. When is that? A Saturday.

That means I can't go on my usual trip to the Bahamas!

Have oatcake! She loves a cake!

Played Mondays Thursdays and Fridays and did gigs in the miner's hall.

All I remember is playing... That's why you made all them mistakes you

wrote for the kol rain constitution. I didn't make the mistakes! You did.

The clear chronology was all wrong and I wrote the words - not you!

Remember you announced them. I didn't say that. I wrote the music.

He got that wrong. You see, that's your man taking notes down! It was

all wrong! OK, so I'm not a prolific writer. I didn't write it. He wrote

it down. Nevertheless, that's why...

MUSIC Thank you very much. Thank you.

As a matter of fact, you could go the extra couple of pound and put on

a professional compare. We'll have a local radio personality. Who? No.

He's about as funny as an open grave. I don't think it's right.

There's bound to be somebody. You could bloody well do it. Snoo I

don't want to do it. I'm doing enough. What about Walter Love? Born

and bred in the Fountain. We don't need an outside personality. Walter

Love was born in the Fountain. Let me ask you a question. What is

this all about? He knows as much about music as I do about fly

fishing! Forget the personalities! I hope you have enjoyed yourselves.

See you next month. Goodbye! This is the band that was formed.

You bring someone in and stand up and go, I want to play this. Not on!

Iter will you what, it is my gig. Well, the meeting went well.

A few resentments, particularly on my part, but I've personally think

that the show goes ahead as planned. We always love to bring new music on

the programme and it is with great delight that we bring you two local

musicians. Let me ask you, what has prompted this nostalgia, this

journey back? Our age! The process of organising a dance

night and night we hope everybody will come to, especially one that

everybody used to come to. That is true. People could go out dancing

every night of the week. We didn't have the sort of divisions we have

now. Maybe we can get people coming in again.

The survival of The Fountain, way back in 1972, I and about several

others decided we would stay and try to make it as comfortable as we

could. We knew it would be an uphill struggle. As the time has gone on,

that hope is beginning to fade. I don't know what the future for The

Fountain will hold. I am now over 70. And I'm becoming weary. Sadly,

time is running out. He has been living for a while with the

knowledge that he is suffering from a terminal illness. His heart must

have been heavy even when he was giving me encouragement that the on

slide could work. By more than determined -- more determined than

ever to live up to his faith in what we are trying to do. -- I am more

determined. I think what will happen is that

people will be willing us onto the good and we will be good, even if we

are bad! If you understand what I mean!

One of the band had played there in those glory days. Members of

Signetts will bring their current collaborators. The Jazz Quartet. And

Roy Arbuckle. And the whole band get together. That is fine.

Are you ready for the men? Are you up for them? Music will be there by

the reformed band back. Do you remember the Signetts?

It is a year since we first met to talk about this. It seems like only

yesterday! Sit at the back! You know what I'm mean! I am only singing two

songs. You're not nervous about playing? I

was never as nervous in my life, trust me. All of the drum fittings

are stuck in the left! Good! So the rehearsal might be drum less! It is

broke! THEY PLAY COUNTRY SONG.

I just heard today there are 40, 50 tickets sold. Not an easy sell. If

they turn up it will be great. We always knew that. Possibly it might

not work. Fingers crossed. It will be all right on the night.

I've put these clothes out. What do you think? I'm wearing that. But I

don't know whether to wear that all that. -- or that.

# Happy people, my, my, my! My hands are shaking and I am as a cat on a

hot roof, but I can't believe it. -- as nervous as a cat.

Filling up nicely now. Good, good. That is something we look forward

to, bringing extra chairs in. The crowd is coming in now and I'm

reliever looking forward to it. There are people I haven't seen for

years here. But I'm not going to cry! They are all here. There is a

girl used to go with! Excuse me! It takes me back more than 50 years.

Would you welcome on, please, a great old friend of mine and a

friend of his. Make them feel at home, they are back!

So, if you feel like dancing, the floor has been freshly dusted!

# Summertime, # And the living is easy,

# Your daddy is rich, # And your mum is good-looking,

# So, harsh, little baby, don't you cry.

There's a lot of people coming in with tears in their eyes. It is a

long time since they were in the hall.

Absolutely fantastic and the floor is jumping! I've never seen as many

happy faces. Even The Young Ones are enjoying it! And eye must be the

oldest one here! -- I. I've met a few people I New Year 's back. It is

nice to see them all again. This is a fabulous night. Really fabulous. I

used to come here to dance many, many years ago. I thought it would

be an ordinary dance but when I came in, it was absolutely packed. What a

relief! I was worried about nothing! The women are here, people have come

from all parts of the city, even Belfast and Galway and God knows

where else! It is a truly integrated event.

We were dancing and we met and we married a year later and we have

been 45 years married coming up. And I am wearing the same dress as when

I met him. Still fits me! After the Troubles we have come through and

you see people coming back together again, it is amazing. The bitterness

has gone. So we are back to where we were in the 60s. First of all, well

done to the maiden city festival. It is wonderful to see it resurrected.

And have to ask this question before I introduced the wonderful group.

Hands up the men who were refused a dance by women in this place? Hands

up, lads! And hands up the women who were glad to refuse them! Ha-ha! Did

anybody fall in love here? But to get ready nostalgic now, for those

of you who are pretending you are still in love, a big round of

applause to the Signetts. # Water ice say,

# Tell me what I say, # Tell me what I say.

# I couldn't dance with another, # When I saw her standing there.

# Yes, since I saw her standing there.

Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen!

Absolute magic. You know, after 40 years, sitting here at my age,

people dancing and clapping and whatever. What more could you ask

for? And what a lovely night. He is a full night. That is what it is all

about and I hope it can be done again in another 100 years! One two,

three, four. I thought they would be throwing things at us but it worked

out OK! I put my heart and soul into that tonight and I am delighted to

be playing again with Frankie, Jackie and Roy. 230, 231, 32, 33...

Both sides of the great divide dancing and appreciating the music.

And they had a ball, and I don't know about anybody else, but I had a

ball. I'd just hope they don't do this every week! OK!

This is the end of the security fence. It's about 240 paces long.

Sometimes it seems it might be 240 paces high. Sometimes I think it

might only take one small step and we would all be gone.

Alexander was saying he wanted to make a film about The Fountain and

the people in The Fountain. And the times. Time has gone on very

quickly! Patrick Kielty

is back on home turf...