(L-R): Geoff Thompson, Festival Director; Billy McGrath, film director; Credit: Ali Sahib, Chronicle.lu

On Friday 25 September 2026, the British & Irish Film Festival Luxembourg screened the 85-minute documentary Ballroom Boom at the Cité Auditorium in Luxembourg city centre, the Cinémathèque @ Cercle Cité.

The film featured U2's Adam Clayton as the narrator who explored the phenomenon of 1960s Irish showbands, when thousands of musicians performed the latest hits live in ballrooms across the country. Chronicling a hugely successful local industry, made up of working-class musicians, that created legends such as Joe Dolan and Dickie Rock, and future rock heroes Van Morrison and Rory Gallagher, this feature-length cut is a fascinating snapshot of a time when Ireland created, and worshipped, its own stars.

The film's director, Billy McGrath, was in attendance and was introduced by the Festival Director, Geoff Thompson, who revealed that he has worked with the likes of U2, David Bowie and Bob Geldof; he had created the Liffey Laugh comedy festival; he had been the PR Manager of the Galway Arts Festival, and he had produced and directed films on Irish castles, British castles, te Boomtown Rats, the Pogues and Clannad; and also tv series with Ardal O'Hanlon and Keith Barry. 

Billy McGrath confirmed tat he had been commissioned by RTE to create a 2-part series entitled Ballroom Blitz; however, as this was shown on RTE and is available on the RTE Player, only audiences in Ireland can access it. Therefore he decided to do a second edit, and included some additional footage, and could not use others as the rights would have cost too much. As a result, the 85-minute Ballroom has been screened only once in Ireland - at the Galway Film Fleadh last July - but was screened in London the day beforehand, as well as at multiple venues and festivals throughout the US and other countries. 

Geoff Thompson pointed out the Luxembourg connection in the film: Professor Diarmuid Ferriter, who was one of those interviewed on screen, delivered the St Willibrord Lecture in Luxembourg in 2011 (on the topic of "From Celtic Dawn to Celtic Tiger: Ireland 1900-2000").

The post-screening Q&A addresses the film's nostalgia and the historical footage used, as well as the director's career in the music industry and his interest in showbands.