Local Notes: All the latest news from Ballina
SciFest, the competition which promotes science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in Ireland, saw students of St Muredach’s College, Ballina take home two major national awards this year.
It was the 20th anniversary of SciFest, with qualifying winners from each of the 16 regional SciFest STEM fairs competing in the SciFest National Final.
Matheo O’Regan Farineau, Iarla Hannon and Michael Duffy received the Intel Technology Award for ‘Game Over’, a project created under the guidance of their teacher Aishling Ruddy.
For their work on ‘Buzz Health’, Conor Casey, Conor Moore and Michael Mullaney took the Boston Scientific Medical Devices Award. Cliodhna Boyce is the students’ science teacher at St Muredach’s College.
The next SciFest Regional Fair, which will include a competition, exhibition of projects and a prize-giving ceremony, will take place in ATU next March.
President of Ireland Catherine Connolly is the SciFest national patron.
Des Callaghan, who died recently in Letterkenny, was from a well-known family that ran a grocery shop on Hill Street/Connolly Street, Ballina over many years.
A retired member of An Garda Síochána, Ballina-born Des lived in Letterkenny, Co Donegal.
He will be deeply missed by his beloved wife Julia, children Pól (Fiona), Louise (John), Yvonne (Fearghall) and Angie (Corinne), grandchildren, sisters Mary (Dublin) and Joan (Kent), brothers Frank (Kent) and Vin (Ballina), nieces, nephews, in-laws and a wide circle of family, friends, Garda comrades and neighbours.
He was predeceased by his mother Annie (O’Malley), father Vincey and infant sister Anne.
Requiem Mass for Des was celebrated in the Church of the Irish Martyrs, Letterkenny on Tuesday of last week, followed by burial in Conwal Cemetery, Letterkenny.
May he rest in peace.
A get-together in Ballina every Tuesday evening will welcome people along for an informal chat as gaeilge, caint agus cómhrá.
Buail Isteach is a weekly conversational gathering for those with any level of Irish language skills, and is held in Rouse's Bar, Pearse Street, running for an hour from 7pm. Fáilte roimh gach duine.
From photography and life drawing to podcasting and more, Ballina Arts Centre offers regular creativity sessions for locals this autumn.
A photography group meets twice a month on Wednesdays, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. To join please contact ballinaphotogroup@gmail.com.
Adults can learn the skills around podcasting at sessions every second Wednesday evening. Taking place from 6pm to 7.30pm, the cost is €10 for members and €20 for non-members. To register please contact darren@organicflow.ie.
Life drawing lessons have resumed every Thursday from 11am until 1.30pm, at a fee of €10 per week. You can email patjneville@gmail.com to participate.
For children, there are weekly art workshops during September and October delivered by Ciara O’Hara and Monika Brzozka, with more information available from Ballina Arts Centre website at www.ballinaartscentre.com. Children will be encouraged to express themselves creatively exploring a range of materials, and all the while learning new techniques. The workshops begin tomorrow afternoon, Wednesday, September 9.
A golf outing in Ballina on Friday next, September 11 will help raise funds for St Muredach’s College Parents’ Association and its important project work in the boys’ secondary school. It will be hosted at Ballina Golf Club, with the first tee-offs at 1pm.
The entry fee is €50 per person, half of which will go towards funding of the association’s work. Tee-times can be booked by calling Ballina Golf Club on 096-21050, while sponsorship queries can be directed to Julian Greham on 086-1717747.
The death has taken place, aged 47, of Alexandra (Alex) Neal, Castlecourt, Ballina.
Alex was the much-loved mummy to Ella and only daughter of Anne-Marie and Laurie Neal of Garrankeel, Belleek, Ballina. She will also be missed by her adored partner Phil Whelan (Dublin and London), brothers Justin and Tom Neal, sisters-in-law Chantel and Emma, nephews and nieces Poppy, Daisy, Holly, Evie and Bob, many friends, especially at Moy Innovations, Ballina, and special friend Rita Doherty.
Alex reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Saturday of last week, with a celebration of her life also taking place. The funeral cortège then proceeded to McGowan’s Crematorium, Collooney, Co Sligo for a cremation service.
May she rest in peace.
Ballina teenager Oscar Moore is taking on the annual Kilkenny Medieval Marathon this weekend to raise funds for St Vincent de Paul.
Any donation, big or small, will help support this very worthy Ballina charity, which is the largest charitable voluntary organisation combating poverty in the town, originally set up in Ireland 182 years ago.
Visit the St Vincent de Paul website at www.svp.ie to make your contribution.
St Muredach’s Cathedral Boys’ Choir is inviting new members to join.
The choir offers boys who are in primary school, and are between 2nd and 6th classes, a wonderful opportunity to develop their vocal skills, musical proficiency, team work and confidence.
Under the direction of Regina Deacy and Marie Gilvarry, the boys’ choir performs in public from time to time, including in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina. In recent years, the choir has also sung at Knock Shrine, Ballina Arts Centre and Kylemore Abbey.
Young instrumentalists are also welcome, providing an opportunity for them to play at Masses on instruments such as fiddle, flute, accordion and guitar.
Find out more by emailing stmuredachsboyschoir@gmail.com before Thursday, September 10.
The Ladies Minor Foursomes team from Ballina Golf Club has reached the All-Ireland Semi-Finals in Thurles, Co Tipperary, taking place at the end of next week. To support the team’s participation in the prestigious event, a table quiz will be held in the clubhouse on this coming Thursday, September 10, at 8pm.
The Table Quiz is open to both members and non-members, and Ballina Golf Club welcomes everyone along to enjoy this fun night, which will also include a raffle and spot prizes.
The entry fee per table, for a team of four, is €40.
The death has taken place of Noel O’Dowd, Farrangarode, Quay Road, Ballina and formerly of Rathcline, Lanesborough, Co Longford.
Noel, a former and much-respected manager of ACC Bank in Ballina, was the beloved husband of Mary and dear father to Deirdre and Conor. He had a long association with Ballina Stephenites GAA Club, including as manager of its senior team.
He will be sadly missed by his wife, daughter, son, cherished grandchildren Adam, Luke, Tomás and Fiach, son-in-law Tom, daughter-in-law Caroline, brother Kieran (Lanesborough), sisters Doreen (Australia) and Olive (Australia), in-laws, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.
He was predeceased by his parents, sister Marie, and brothers Brendan and Cyril.
Noel reposed at his residence on Friday of last week. Requiem Mass was celebrated in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina on Saturday, followed by burial in Killanley Cemetery.
May he rest in peace.
The Ballina Darkness Into Light Bucket Collection takes place on Friday next, September 11. All proceeds will go directly to the Mayo Outreach Centre at Ballina Family Resource Centre, helping to support people in the community.
The organisation is seeking volunteers to give a hand with the collection by donating an hour or two of their time. It’s a simple way to get involved, meet people and help raise vital funds for a great local cause.
You can sign up directly at www.i-vol.ie or email ballina@darknessintolight.ie.
Alternatively, just contact Mayo Volunteer Centre, Ballina on 096-71444 or email Vincent McHale at vincent@volunteermayo.ie.
Like to share a small memento of someone?
Textile artist Funny Livdottir is a Swedish creative coming to Ballina to make an artwork based of the memory of people. Small items that remind you of those people you remember, living or not, are being sought for the session.
The item can be anything, such as a glove, a scarf, a badge, a tie, a sock - any item small or big that a textile artist can work with. Write a note or a story about the object and the person, and attach it to the object.
Memory collection boxes are located in Craoibhín Ballina, McDermott Street and The Clarke Museum of Irish History, Pearse Street. The boxes will close on Monday next, September 14.
The finished artwork will be shown during Ballina Fringe Festival 2026.
Every Thursday is Club Night at Ballina Tennis Club. New players and regular players are always welcome to come along between 7.30pm and 9pm and become part of the growing tennis community of Ballina. All equipment will be provided. The first session is free but afterwards membership is required.
The club also invites people to book a court, subject to availability, at a fee of €10 for non-members. Terms and conditions apply.
To join the club or book a slot, please text the Secretary of Ballina Tennis Club at 083-8562510. You can also email the club at ballinatennis@gmail.com.
Ballina Tennis Club, which is floodlit, is located next to Ballina Community Sports Centre, just off Cathedral Road.
