Local Notes: Ballina council official retires after 40 years of service
A function was held in The Cot and Cobble in Ballina for Sean McNulty, who recently retired from Mayo County Council after 40 years of service. Sean is pictured with his wife Bernie, daughter Aoife, sister Anne and extended family. Picture: John O'Grady
As part of its ongoing development and fundraising activities, Ballina Golf Club has launched a new monthly lotto fundraiser which will kick off with the first draw on Tuesday next, February 3.
A significant number of improvements have taken place on the golf course thanks to the hard work of course staff and the voluntary efforts of members. The proceeds of the lotto will be reinvested back into the course through the purchase of new machinery, along with further course enhancements for the benefit of members and visitors alike.
The lotto is now live and open to members, friends, family and the community in general.
The jackpot (match four numbers) is €5,000. If the jackpot is not won there are guaranteed cash prizes every month (match three, share or lucky dips).
To play the Ballina Golf Club lotto you can download the Clubforce app from the App Store on your iPhone or Android. Once downloaded search for ‘Ballina Golf Club’ and click on ‘Lotto’.
Further details are available from the club office at 096-21050.
The club is stressing the importance of this new fundraiser and is encouraging you to take part and support the future development of Ballina Golf Club.
All-Ireland Senior Céilí Band Champions Glór na dTonn will perform at a fundraising concert in aid of Mayo Roscommon Hospice to be held in memory of the late Paul and Linda Judge.
The céilí band from Scoil Acla Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann branch in Achill took first place at last year’s Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2025 in Wexford.
Paul and Linda Judge, from Rathkip, Ballina, died within eight months of each other in 2024 and 2025 and had a long association with Bofield branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. The couple’s son and daughter, Alan and Roisin, have also been actively involved in Bofield CCÉ over the years, and Alan is a member of Glór na dTonn Céilí Band.
For this special show, Glór na dTonn Céilí Band, which is organising the concert, will be supported by some of Bofield’s senior musicians, including the Bofield Céilí Band.
The concert will be staged in the Great National Hotel Ballina on Friday, February 6, at 8pm and everyone is encouraged to get out and show their support for such a wonderful charity, during a night which will be filled with music, song and dance.
Tickets, costing €25, are available from the Mayo Roscommon Hospice website at www.hospice.ie.
Mayo College of Further Education and Training is providing free cookery classes in Ballina that focus on making budget-friendly meals.
The classes are on Tuesday mornings from 9.30am to 11.30am in the kitchen of the Involve Youth Centre, which is located in the former St Mary’s Secondary School, Ballina. Here you will learn to cook tasty, budget-friendly meals which you can then take home.
For further details, please contact Deirdre on 096-71652 or email deirdrefreney@msletb.ie. Classes are for Over-18s only.
Recently married in the Parish of Kilmoremoy (Ballina) were Cathal McCormack, Oranmore, Co Galway and Shauna Coppinger, Athenry, Co Galway.
Coping with a long-term health condition can be challenging but a new programme beginning in Ballina in early March will give people the skills and confidence to live well with the condition.
The Living Well programme is a free, six-week, self-management programme for adults over the age of 18 with chronic or long-term health conditions. The course will also help those caring for someone with a long-term health condition.
Long-term health conditions include, but are not limited to, diabetes, asthma, COPD, stroke, MS, arthritis, cancer and depression.
The programme, which will run in Ballina each Thursday from March 5 to April 9, between 10.30am and 1pm, will assist people to look after their day-to-day needs around making healthy lifestyle choices, monitoring symptoms and dealing with the emotions about their health condition.
A key part of Living Well is setting goals that you want to achieve. Each week you will learn how to reach these goals by making an action plan, while also getting support from the group to problem-solve.
Two trained leaders will deliver the programme.
If you want to join this programme in Ballina, or if you require more information, please contact Liam Gildea on 086-0142675 or email lgildea@southmayo.com.
The results of the game played by members of Ballina Bridge Club on Tuesday, January 13 were as follows: 1st, H. Moran and M. Gilvarry; 2nd, M. Munnelly and A. Callaghan; 3rd, G. Scanlon and F. Walkin; 4th, M. Mongan and M. O’Dowd; and 5th, M. Corcoran and B. Mulkearns.
The results of the game played on Tuesday, January 20 were as follows: 1st, S. and A. Callaghan; 2nd, B. Thomas and G. Moran; 3rd, H. Moran and M. Gilvarry; 4th, C. Callaghan and M. McAndrew; and 5th, A. Ivers and B. Mulligan.
New members are always welcome to join Ballina Bridge Club, which meets every Tuesday night at 7.30pm in The Moy Club, Dillon Terrace, Ballina. For further information, please contact 087-4493598.
Grainne Uaile Sub-Aqua Club, Ballina has elected new officers for 2026, headed by Chairperson, Kathy McSharry. Other roles include Equipment Officer, William Winters; Secretary, Frances Doherty; Treasurer, Rose Barrett; Diving Officer, JF Brisson; Training Officer, Kate Hills; Public Relation Officer, Emma Donohue; Search and Recovery Officer, Lukasz Pociask; Child Protection Officer, Kathy McSharry; Events Officer, Claire Murphy; and board members, Christy McDonagh, Michael Rouse and Derek Reape.
The progressive sports diving club, formed in 1979, also operates a search and recovery unit, and is based at Slí Éctra, Ballina.
Order of Malta Ambulance Corps, Ballina will benefit from the proceeds of the annual Charity Table Quiz organised by members of Ballina Soroptimist Club later this week.
The Order of Malta is a voluntary ambulance and first aid organisation. The Ballina unit of Order of Malta provides event medical services at a local level for festivals, sporting and community gatherings, and also assists at larger national events. This volunteer Ballina organisation operates to a professional standard where high-level training is an integral part of their work, delivering an exemplary service to the people of the area.
Order of Malta Ballina celebrates 85 years in existence this year.
The Ballina Soroptimist Club quiz night will take place in The Loft Bar, Pearse Street, Ballina on Friday, January 30 at 8pm.
A table of four players costs €40.
Dancing classes have returned to Ballina Community Sports Centre. The Monday morning classes begin at 11am in the Cathedral Road venue, where you will learn both country and modern line dancing. More details are available from 086-8474744.
River Moy Search and Rescue has a novel way of helping you dispose of your Re-turn cans and plastic bottles. Call into the organisation’s HQ at Quay Road, Ballina – the old Quay National School – where you will find containers available outdoors in which to donate your recyclable items. By doing so you are helping the group to generate funds that will support its voluntary work right around the region and keeping valuable materials in Ireland’s circular economy.
The gate will be open and there is plenty of space to drive in a car. The Eircode is F26 EW63.
The death has taken place of Bernadette (Bernie) Cawley (née O’Reilly), St Enda's Villas, Ballina.
Bernie was the beloved mother of Caroline and Thomas. She will be sadly missed by her daughter, son, mother Aggie O’Reilly, partner David McDonnell, grandchildren Cillian, Fiadh and Kai, Caroline’s partner Thomas, Thomas’s partner Amy, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
She was predeceased by her father Bernard and sister Geraldine.
Bernie reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Tuesday of last week. Requiem Mass was celebrated in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina on Wednesday, followed by burial in Leigue Cemetery, Ballina.
May she 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 begins tonight (Tuesday, 27) in Rouse's Bar, Pearse Street, running for an hour from 7pm. Bí linn agus fáilte.
Recent baptisms in the Roman Catholic Parish of Kilmoremoy included: Sofia Elise Kuiper, The Netherlands; Bridget Iris Duffy, Walsh Street, Ballina; Clare Michelle Traynor, Kilmoremoy, Ballina; Maisy Kate Sweeney, Quignashee, Ballina; Logan Patrick Michael Ferguson, The Hawthorns, Ballina and Toronto, Canada; and Conall Thomas McGarrigle, Crossmolina.
Craoibhín Ballina is selling St Brigid's crosses from its newly-opened centre in the Old Convent School, Convent Hill, Ballina. The crosses cost €3 each with all proceeds going towards the enhancement of facilities at its new location.
And watch out for details of a forthcoming Valentine’s Coffee Morning in the centre next week.
Whenever St Mary’s Secondary School, Ballina present their annual musical you are certain to be entertained by a truly professional production - and this year will be no exception.
Tickets have gone on sale for the school’s new show '4Ever in Blue Jeans', to be staged on Thursday, February 12 and Friday, February 13.
Set in New York City, the all-girls’ school promises a night full of music, memories, dance and drama during this original show. The dazzling performance will feature 1980s and 1990s song classics, with a touch of nostalgia and a little of the blues.
Inspired by the show’s title, audiences are invited to wear denim on the night and anyone in denim will be automatically entered into a ‘Best in Blue’ competition for some great prizes.
Tickets cost €15 and €10 (concession) and can be purchased from the school office. Call 096-70333 to book. '4Ever in Blue Jeans' will be staged in the school’s assembly hall, starting at 7.30pm each night.
