It seems growing up in Ireland is simply one coming of age trial after another. Between Communions and slow sets, family holidays to first kisses many of our lives can be bookmarked by some shared experiences.
There is one rites of passage that many of us will look back with a mixture of fear and fondness. An event that eclipsed any event within a 6 month radius and almost singe handedly drove the technology that enabled people today to delete photographs instantly.
Yes we are talking about The Debs. Hector got some great horror stories this morning so we thought we’d prolong the cringe...
Here are our Top 5 moments that should bring it all come flooding back.
1. The Asking
If as they say (incorrectly) that school is a great preparation for the working environment then The Debs could be seen as the perfect mental try-out for marriage proposal. Back in the ‘good’ old days, it was often up to the boys to take the initiative and the process could be as brutal as a scene from Gladiator. Make no mistake, the girls had a list and it ran like blood along these lines..
1. I’d ACTUALLY die of he asks me
2. He’s not great looking but he’d be a good laugh
3. Charity case chosen by your Mam.
If you were not amongst these 3 you could forget about it.
2. Insider Trading
Forget money and possessions, for teenagers knowledge is the only currency that matters. The shady deals and bargains done in the leads up to The Debs would put The Dow Jones to shame. Intelligence and counter intelligence would be whispered and swapped. For example
Girl: Here Declan, I hear you’re thinking of asking Sinead to The Debs
Boy: How did..
Girl: Sinead is waiting for Kevin Toner to ask her...
Boy: But he’s going with Roisin Reilly?
Girl: No not since 5 minutes ago...He’s going with Trish O’Shea. So you’re not to feck it up for Sinead by asking her...I know you and Kevin play hurling together.
Boy: But..
Girl: And don’t even think about asking Roisin, my cousin Padraic is mad about her and is going to ask her.
Boy: Oh....
Girl: But listen Declan I’ve it sorted...Rachel Fagan is after breaking up with that eejit Brian from the petrol station so she’ll go with ya.
Boy: But...
Girl: Good man...no off you go...here James Smyth...come here to me.
3. What To Wear?
Fellas could go two ways. Traditional tux with that horrendous cummerbund or try and set themselves apart with some zany sartorial exhibitionism as for the ladies it was as much about what the other girls were going with and to not at all costs get anything similar. Needless to say all the girls would pretty much look the same.
4. The Parent Trap
Irish Mammies, it’s fair to say, take very very active role in their spawn’s lives and it none more apparent than debs time. Your Mother if allowed will chose your mate for you based on social acceptability and in many cases old fashioned pity. A lovely young man who is facing the prospect of going alone is kryptonite to a Mammy and she will stop at nothing to get him a mate....even if he;s your cousin!
Making that long walk up to your date’s front door is one of life’s long ones and if the handing over of the Leonidas and frankly useless corsage, you will have to endure a rifle round of Dad jokes along the lines of...’I’m too young and good looking to be a Granddad now’. Shudder!
5. The Debs
Rimmel! Youze can forget your clinical trials, if you REALLY want to put your mascara through the ringer give out free samples outside a Debs venue. There are as many tears as drinks spilled at these things and if you see a couple getting amorous on the dance floor you’d be foolish to assume that they came together.
