Local Notes: All the latest news from Ballyhaunis
Dancers from the Mary Elwood School of Dancing joined local musicians for a St Patrick's Day celebration organised by Ballyhaunis Community Council at the Community Hall.
Preliminary findings from a survey of Ballyhaunis’ population suggest local disquiet over the continued conversion of retail properties into residential spaces as well as worries over the long-term employment opportunities for locals with higher education.
“A recurring suggestion is to encourage new businesses to establish themselves in the town centre, with an emphasis on revitalising vacant commercial spaces rather than expanding rental accommodation,” explained Anne McCarthy, Town Regeneration Officer at Mayo County Council. “The survey highlights concerns about Ballyhaunis' long-term growth, with 80% of respondents feeling the town lacks pathways for progression beyond school or college.”
The survey was conducted as part of the Ballyhaunis Town Centre First Plan, directed by Ms McCarthy’s office, through an online survey, community drop-in sessions and a Town Centre Health Check by students from Queen’s University who also interviewed students of Ballyhaunis Community School, St John’s National School (Logboy) and Scoil Iosa as well as participants in the Foróige BEY project.
Ms McCarthy explained that discussions were focused on key themes such as housing, accessibility, business development, public spaces, and community engagement.
“Concerns were raised about the lack of cycling infrastructure, limited transport options, and accessibility issues, while a significant number of participants emphasised the need for affordable housing, eliminating vacant properties, and enhancing safety measures.
“Young people feel that Ballyhaunis is lacking in spaces for their age group and particularly that the town lacks affordable indoor spaces to hang out and meet their friends. They mentioned that there are no affordable or suitable clothing stores for their age group and that larger coffee shops would be great, with longer opening hours. Others talked about how great it would be to have a cinema or arcade with some remembering the old cinema that was in the town.”
The Community Consultation Survey highlight a strong reliance on private cars in Ballyhaunis, despite its compact town centre and traffic management was a concern for most respondents. The survey revealed that almost 72% of daily trips made by residents are by car while cycling accounting for only 4.5% of those trips.
“Among the 50% living in Ballyhaunis, many still drive, underscoring the need for better sustainable transport options,” said Ms McCarthy.
In regard to improvements they wished to see for the area, over 65% of those surveyed prioritised affordable housing. Other priorities were eliminating vacancy and enhancing safety.
“More than half supported making Ballyhaunis age-friendly for better accessibility and over 35% emphasised the need for better recreational and sporting amenities. These insights underscore the community’s desire for a more inclusive, vibrant, and future-focused town.
“There was a notable interest in better sports facilities with cricket, boxing, affordable gyms and soccer facilities requiring upgrades, better play facilities - and for older children - and more choices for people who are not into sport.
“There was an over-arching need, from all age groups, for more places to meet, socialise, connect, sit and talk: places that foster community and civic engagement. This includes safer public spaces with seating, green areas and weatherproof outdoor spaces.”
Ms McCarthy thanked “everyone who welcomed us, hosted us, attended sessions, put up posters and in any way helped with this consultation".
"The Town Team have been brilliant in this process – ensuring links with the broadest community.”
Ballyhaunis Town Team is a group of locals working with Mayo County Council's Town Regeneration Officer and TBLA, a consultancy hired with a €30,000 grant from government to pay for the research and compilation of a report outlining a ten-year development plan for the town informed by local views, with projects submitted for state funding.
Local councillor Alma Gallagher believes towns like Ballyhaunis, designated under the Town Centre First initiative, should be prioritised not only for national departmental funding but also should get favourable treatment from the local authority in matters like commercial rates.
“The Town Centre First project is a council-led initiative and Mayo County Council must led by example. In Ballyhaunis, wages are low and disposable income is low. Businesses need to be supported. Rates are prohibitive for business start-ups in towns like Ballyhaunis. If we are serious about town renewal we need incentives for businesses to invest in towns designated under the town Centre First Initiative and the review and reduction of rates is one way Mayo County Council can do that.
"The risk is that town centre will become hallowed out and decline further or become mainly residential, limiting the potential for business generation.”
The refurbishment of the old courthouse will be completed this year, according to the top council official for the Claremorris municipal district, of which Ballyhaunis is part.
“In relation to the old courthouse, we will be making arrangements to have the work tendered and carried out as soon as possible,” explained Padraic Flanagan. “It's our intention that this would proceed during this year.”
The allocation from the Department will cover most of the cost, he added.
“There may be a small contribution required from the council depending on costs but this is not certain at this stage.”
A complaint has been made to the Gardaí after a defibrillator, taken from St Patrick’s Church on Sunday evening, was found at the back of the Dalgan restaurant building the following morning.
Two youths were identified from CCTV footage and Gardaí visited the homes of the two youths whose parents were “very upset” at what happened, according to Ballyhaunis Defibrillator Group which fundraised to install and maintain the defibrillators.
Defibrillators are located at Scoil Iosa, Ballyhaunis GAA and Ballyhaunis Rugby Club.
The recent spell of sunny weather is paying dividends for local householders who’ve installed solar panels.
“I have a huge surplus of electricity on a sunny day and most of it is going back to the grid,” explained one local homeowner who expects to reduce his electricity bill by 80% with payments for power generated and exported to the grid.
“That’s after I’ve charged the battery which gives us enough power to run the house through the evening and night," he said.
Ireland, which has the second highest electricity prices in the EU, faces €26 billion in EU fines according to a recent report from the Fiscal Advisory Council which recommends that the government spend €7 billion now on renovating the grid to allow it take more renewable power from solar and wind farms.
Representatives of local community groups have been invited to a meeting of ‘Friends of the Old Convent’, which will take place on April 17th at 2pm in the former Mercy convent complex, which is now owned by Bridgestock Care and operated as an International Protection Accommodation Centre (IPAS) centre.
An invitation from Marie Hunt, reception officer at Bridgestock Care, noted: "We have had a very successful year in establishing linkages with benefits from within the local community for our residents.
“By definition, the group will not be involved in policy matters affecting the immigration and asylum policies nor indeed on the policy of direct provision itself,” noted Ms Hunt who welcomes a designated member of any school, sports club or organsiation to the meeting.
A series of buildings and bungalows at the Old Convent complex house over 350 asylum seekers.
Knock House Hotel will host a public meeting hosted by Failte Ireland on April 9th to discuss the Inland Mayo Destination and Experience Development Plan (DEDP).
Managers of local attractions like scenic walks and historic sites are encouraged to attend the meeting.
“All feedback is welcomed,” note the organisers who will also host a meeting at 2pm the same day in the Dalton Inn Hotel, Claremorris.
The meeting in Knock commences at 7pm.
Failte Ireland has already developed a DEDP for Clew Bay. The plan “provides a shared vision and clear direction towards strengthening and growing an area’s market share of tourism revenues, enhancing the overall visitor appeal through the provision of targeted investment and support".
Ballyhaunis Sports Hub invites locals to participate in a range of activities suitable for all ages including buggy buddies, pétanque – a version of bowls that originated in France - and activator pole walking.
Anyone interested can contact Tracy Cunnane, Ballyhaunis Sports Hub Coordinator, at 086-0618126.
Ballyhaunis Tidy Towns has welcomed a new €5,000 grant to support its local Biodiversity Action Plan to protect and promote plants, wildlife and habitats.
The grant from Community Foundation Ireland, in partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, will ensure that the steps to protect local biodiversity will be guided by the expert knowledge of ecologists.
Laura Dinraths, of Ballyhaunis Tidy Towns, is welcoming the support, saying: “Community Foundation Ireland has supported Ballyhaunis Tidy Towns for the last three years, starting with funding to draft a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) for the area, and subsequent grants to implement our BAP’s actions.
"In 2025, we will avail of Community Foundation Ireland’s funding to carry out an invasive species assessment of the area, remove non-native and invasive species along the Dalgan and plant native shrubs and trees in order to protect the riverbank from erosion, and create habitats for wildlife and pollinators.”
Successful Ballyhaunis projects promoting biodiversity will be sharing ideas and concerns at a networking event later this week.
Sheila Murphy, Biodiversity Officer at Mayo County Council, is hosting a Community Networking Event for biodiversity projects on March 27th at the McWilliam Park Hotel in Claremorris. Starting at 7.30pm, the event will cover best practice in biodiversity actions, share funding information and “discuss common challenges” while also hearing from local groups on their biodiversity projects.
