Credits

Directed by:
Billy McGrath & Adam Clayton

Running Time:
90 minutes

This screening at Village East by Angelika leads directly into the CraicFest 2026 Closing Party, bringing the festival to a communal, celebratory close.

The music that filled the ballrooms — and changed everything.

Ballroom Boom brings CraicFest 2026 to a close with a powerful, music-driven documentary - followed by a closing night party celebrating Irish sound, storytelling, and legacy.

U2s Adam Clayton explores the extraordinary rise and fall of Ireland’s showband era, when over 700 bands and thousands of musicians performed live in ballrooms across Ireland almost every night of the week during the 1960s.

Long before arena tours and global superstardom, showbands gave early platforms to musicians who would go on to shape popular music — including Van Morrison and Rory Gallagher — and influenced generations of performers across Britain and beyond.

Forty years before U2 performed at The Sphere, Irish-born promoter Bill Fuller brought showbands to Las Vegas and helped establish ballrooms across North America and Britain, creating cultural spaces for Irish emigrants and helping give rise to an extraordinary generation of UK talent, including members of The Beatles, Oasis, Johnny Rotten, and The Smiths.

The film confronts the moment that shattered the Irish music scene. On July 31, 1975, rogue British soldiers murdered three members of The Miami Showband at a border checkpoint in Northern Ireland - an event often referred to as “the night the music died.”

Director Billy McGrath & Adam Clayton to attend screening!

Buy Tickets

Credits

Directed by:
Billy McGrath & Adam Clayton

Running Time:
90 minutes

The music that filled the ballrooms — and changed everything.

Ballroom Boom brings CraicFest 2026 to a close with a powerful, music-driven documentary - followed by a closing night party celebrating Irish sound, storytelling, and legacy.

U2s Adam Clayton explores the extraordinary rise and fall of Ireland’s showband era, when over 700 bands and thousands of musicians performed live in ballrooms across Ireland almost every night of the week during the 1960s.

Long before arena tours and global superstardom, showbands gave early platforms to musicians who would go on to shape popular music — including Van Morrison and Rory Gallagher — and influenced generations of performers across Britain and beyond.

Forty years before U2 performed at The Sphere, Irish-born promoter Bill Fuller brought showbands to Las Vegas and helped establish ballrooms across North America and Britain, creating cultural spaces for Irish emigrants and helping give rise to an extraordinary generation of UK talent, including members of The Beatles, Oasis, Johnny Rotten, and The Smiths.

The film confronts the moment that shattered the Irish music scene. On July 31, 1975, rogue British soldiers murdered three members of The Miami Showband at a border checkpoint in Northern Ireland - an event often referred to as “the night the music died.”

Director Billy McGrath & Adam Clayton to attend screening!

More from the festival

Saipan

On the eve of the FIFA World Cup 2002 Irish captain Roy Keane forfeits his place in the squad at the teams preparation place in Saipan, following a heated argument with Irish manager Mick McCarthy. Starring Eanna Hardwicke. Steve Coogan and Kira Hinds. Produced by Glen Leyburn.

Shorts Program

Showcasing award winning shorts such as: Mouse – Directed by Rosie Barrett & starring Lynn Raffery, I DO - Directed by Joseph Jones, HomeTime – Directed by Jonathan Lambert and Gale Force directed by Tara Hegarty.$ 30 tickets. After party Factory 380! at 380 3rd Ave. Complimentary beer & appetizers from 9-11pm.

Kids Program

Award winning Best of Short films for kids and families. Animation and Live Action. Previous short films are Oscar Nominated shorts such as Give Up Yer Aul Sins and Granny O’Grimm. This fun short program is designed for kids and families. $15 tickets

BP Fallon Rock n Roll Wizard

Directed by Niall Carver. BP FALLON ROCK'N'ROLL WIZARD is a feature documentary charting the extraordinary life of a man who didn’t just witness the seismic shifts in modern music — he helped ignite them. This is the extraordinary life story of legendary music figure BP Fallon – a man who spends a lifetime helping others to shape rock’n’roll history… The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, T.Rex, Johnny Thunders, U2 etc. until a late-in-life career left turn via Jack White and Third Man Records. $20 tickets

Where the road
meets the sky

John Connors invites his grandmother Chrissy Donohue Ward into the frame to share the myths and oral traditions that shaped her and inspired him as a filmmaker. A lifelong Mincéir activist and poet, Chrissy blends enchanting fairytales with raw truths, celebrating the Irish Traveller community’s resilience.

Negotiator

In a world riven with conflict what is needed to turn war into peace? How can all parties to a war become all parties to a peace? Experience shows it’s the presence of a critical individual in whom all sides can have confidence to chair talks and create the space for an agreement to emerge. In Northern Ireland, one of the few examples of a long-lasting negotiated peace settlement, that critical person was Senator George Mitchell.

Ballroom Boom

U2's Adam Clayton explores the phenomenal rise and fall of Irish showbands when over 700 bands and thousands of musicians (including future rock heroes Van Morrison and Rory Gallagher) performed the latest chart hits live in ballrooms most nights of the week during the 1960s.

WHAT'S ON NEXT

From incredible live music to outstanding artists and hilarious comedians, there is always something in the works. We'd love to share it with you!

FILM | MARCH 7

Ballroom Boom - U.S. Premier

FILM | MARCH 7

Ballroom Boom
U.S. Premier

This screening at Village East by Angelika leads directly into the CraicFest 2026 Closing Party, bringing the festival to a communal, celebratory close.

Director Billy McGrath & Adam Clayton to attend screening!

Director Billy McGrath & Adam Clayton to attend screening!