As the former Deanwood Hotel site gets closer to becoming Ballina’s newest supermarket, younger readers will probably be surprised to learn that this venue was in fact Ballina’s first Night Club. Not only that, but it was the first Night Club in County Mayo.
In 1979 – just 40 years ago – leading local female entrepreneur Molly McGuire unveiled Pearls Night Club in her newly purchased hotel building on Bury Street, which subsequently evolved into a number of other clubs during the next few decades.
Before the premises opened as a hotel, it was the residence of the Burns family, and it’s now set to become an Aldi store.
Molly McGuire – whose maiden name is Deane, hence the hotel’s name – also established some other fine entertainment and catering businesses in the town, including The Broken Jug in the town centre and the premises now occupied by The Cot and Cobble on Sligo Road.
