Local Notes: Ballina Dragons celebrate an Irish first
Dragon Boat Club from Ballina were the winners of the National Lottery Good Causes Sport Award 2025 for their innovative approach to well-being, fostering community through sport and expanding beyond sporting activities. Chairperson Denise Swanick and club members are pictured celebrating their award. Picture: John O'Grady
Ballina Dragons Boat Club is still celebrating its recent achievement in winning the Sports Category of the National Lottery Good Causes Awards 2025 and the group’s exciting plans for its future as a community organisation.
The club came out on top of a shortlist of four other clubs from Cork, Offaly, Monaghan and Dublin to become the first-ever dragon boat club in Ireland to win the award.
At the prizegiving ceremony in the Killashee House Hotel in Naas Co Kildare, hosted by Marty Whelan, the club was presented with a prize of €10,000.
Founded by the current chairperson, Denise Swanick, the club has had a transformative effect across the Ballina, North Mayo and West Sligo region, promoting inclusivity and community wellbeing alongside the joys and benefits of dragon boating across all ages and abilities.
Operating its boating activities from a site at The Quay, Ballina, the organisation was awarded charitable status during the summer, and moved to its new indoor space in September of this year.
The new Ballina Dragons Meitheal Abhainn Community Hub has become another major milestone along its community development journey.
Located at the former St Mary’s Secondary School on McDermott Street/Convent Hill, the new hub is set to become a vibrant space for health, wellbeing, creativity and connection. A wider range of programmes and activities are being introduced in this new chapter, Phase Two of its development. These include health promotion and physio-educational activities, alternative therapies, Pilates, yoga and low-impact fitness classes.
For further information, or to get involved in Ballina Dragons, please contact Dragons Boat Club Ballina at secretary.ballinadragons@gmail.com or follow updates on social media.
A free six-week climate course for the over 55s will start in the Climate Hub of The Mary Robinson Centre, Ballina next Tuesday, November 4, provided by retired United Nations diplomat, Jacinta Barrins.
This course is about helping those who are over the age of 55 to demystify climate change. It focuses on explaining, in common language, what climate change is and why we are asked to take action.
Expect to be engaged and motivated by the course, during which there will be lots of discussion on practical, everyday actions that can be taken. For example, Jacinta will describe the science behind the link between a cup of tea and climate change!
Jacinta believes that the over 55s were not taught about climate change in schools and so she wants to fill this gap. She is targeting those who consider themselves as ‘beginners’ to the topic, and is encouraging both men and women to attend.
Jacinta delivers these courses on a voluntary basis right around the country.
You can enrol in her Ballina course by calling 089-4238873 or by emailing info@maryrobinsoncentre.ie. Or just call into the centre from Monday to Friday, between 12pm and 2pm. The course will run for two hours each Tuesday, starting at 10.30am.
The Mary Robinson Centre is located on Emmet Street, right across the river from St Muredach’s Cathedral.
The walls of the Sisters of Mercy convent chapel in Ballina have absorbed a century and a half of hauntingly beautiful sacred music, sung by the nuns who served there. Latin plainchant and, following the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, hymns sung in English were a daily part of liturgical life for the nuns.
Now, the regeneration work in the chapel of the former convent has brought this charming building back to life for new generations to enjoy.
The community-led restoration of the historic 162-year old building, which at one time was home to dozens of nuns before it closed in 2008, is a painstaking and delicate process.
But the transformation of the chapel has been remarkable, with work to its beautiful heritage windows and timber ceiling taking centre stage. Its natural acoustics have remained intact and music will return to the chapel once again this Christmas.
Watch out for details of two special events coming up on Friday, December 12 and Saturday, December 13.
The results of the Ballina Bridge Club game played on Tuesday last, October 21 were as follows: 1st, D. Hackett and V. Baynes; 2nd, C. Callaghan and M. McAndrew; 3rd, M. Mongan and M. O’Dowd; 4th, T. Slowey and M. Lowry; and 5th, S. Callaghan and A. Callaghan.
The annual general meeting of the Moy Valley branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann will take place on Sunday next, November 2 at 1pm in the Merry Monk, Killala Road, Ballina. New members are very welcome to come along.
The branch is in the process of setting up traditional music classes for adults and set-dancing classes for all age groups, and more information about this will be made available at the AGM. You can also call 087-2775317 for further details.
Baby Bloom Classes will be coming soon to the Sean Duffy Community Centre in Ardnaree. These sensory and developmental sessions for babies aged 0-14 months are designed to nurture development and strengthen the parent-baby bond through music, sensory play, bespoke props and thematic activities.
Baby Bloom Classes will offer its popular Caterpillar Club and Busy Bees Club, which are both now available to book. The classes begin on Tuesday, November 4, running every Tuesday until December 9. Further details are available on the social media pages of Sean Duffy Community Centre.
The death has taken place of Noel Quinn, Creggs Road, Ballina and formerly of Quignashee, Ballina.
Noel was the beloved father of Kevin, Brian, Fiona and Helen. He will be sadly missed by his sons, daughters, relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
He was predeceased by his loving wife Kay and by his parents Kevin and Nellie Quinn.
Noel reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina. Requiem Mass was celebrated in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina on Monday of last week, followed by burial in Leigue Cemetery, Ballina.
May he rest in peace.
A Blessing of the Graves ceremony will take place in Leigue Cemetery, Ballina on Sunday next, November 2. The service begins at 3pm and will also include the saying of the Rosary and prayers for the deceased.
The death has taken place of Amanda Naughton (née Walsh), Cloonagun, Breaffy, Ballina.
Amanda was the beloved mother of Lizzy and Michael and will be sadly missed by her daughter, son, brothers James and John, sister Linda, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.
She was predeceased by her husband Michael and by her parents Mavis and Pearse.
Amanda reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Wednesday last, with removal afterwards to St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina. Requiem Mass was celebrated on Thursday, followed by burial in Leigue Cemetery, Ballina.
May she rest in peace.
You can help to improve your digital skills when using a smartphone or tablet at a new class beginning in Ballina next Monday.
Teachers Susan and Declan will be in the Craoibhín Ballina Centre, Cathedral Road from 2.30pm to 4pm on November 3, and every Monday, to guide you through making the most of your device. Please call Craoibhín on 087-2785365 for more information or to book a place.
MyMind, a national not-for-profit social enterprise and registered charity, is providing access to professional, affordable face-to-face counselling and psychotherapy sessions in Ballina.
The not-for-profit social enterprise and registered charity MyMind was established in 2006 to address the gap between the public and private mental health sectors by providing affordable and accessible mental health services within the community, with tens of thousands of people having availed of its sessions nationally.
The Ballina face-to-face sessions are offered in the Mayo North East office at Kevin Barry Street. To learn more and to register, please visit www.mymind.org or call the MyMind team on 0818-500800.
Conversationalist, writer and podcaster Michael Harding has fond memories of the father he only knew for the first 22 years of his life.
Now 71, Michael’s memoir from 2024 entitled ‘I Loved Him from the Day he Died’ has inspired the author and playwright’s latest one-man show, ‘An Evening with Michael Harding’, which he will present in Ballina Arts Centre on Thursday, October 30.
Michael will share memories of a Camino walk in Spain which took him on a special journey last year to mark his 70th birthday and talk about how ‘I Loved Him from the Day he Died’ led him to a heartfelt examination of love, forgiveness and letting go.
The bestselling, award-winning author of ‘All the Things Left Unsaid’ and ‘Staring at Lakes’ will reveal stories about the father who shaped his life and his own experiences on the spiritual walk.
‘An Evening with Michael Harding’ is on Thursday, October 30 at 8pm. Tickets for the show cost €25 plus booking fee and can be purchased online at www.ballinaartscentre.com. You can also call 096-73593 or email info@ballinaartscentre.com.
There were several baptisms in recent weeks in the Parish of Kilmoremoy (Ballina). These included: Ellie-Rose Adams, Tyrawley Terrace, Ballina; Kacie-Leigh Adams, Tyrawley Terrace, Ballina; Ryan Stephen Lackey, Ashpool, Bachelors Walk, Ballina; Mieky Val Lackey, Ashpool, Bachelors Walk, Ballina; Presley Jason Jamie Devers, Lord Edward Street, Ballina; Lainey-Rose Noreen Ann Devers, Lord Edward Street, Ballina; Rowan Peter O’Grady, Rehins Fort, Ballina; Maisie Carmel Naughton, Mossgrove Village, Ballina; Mikey Raba, The Glebe, Ballina; Luke Patrick Alexander Maughan, Carrowcushlaun, Ballina; and Claire Elizabeth Moroney, The Hawthorns, Killala Road, Ballina.
Every Thursday is Club Night at Ballina Tennis Club, for both regulars and newcomers to the game. Bring along a friend if you are a new player, where the first game will be free. The club will provide all equipment on the night.
Membership will be required for subsequent activities at the club, which is located next door to Ballina Community Sports Centre, just off Cathedral Road.
The weekly Thursday session is from 7.30pm to 9pm. To join, please text the Club Secretary at 083-8562510 or email ballinatennis@gmail.com.
If Roald Dahl’s ‘The BFG’ is your favourite book then come along to Ballina Library tomorrow (Wednesday, October 29) where The Tallest Smallest Theatre will be there to bring you the big fella himself.
All 7ft-plus of him will be present in Ballina with his huge chair to talk about all things giant. But he needs help to create more ‘ringabellers’ and who better to ask than a gaggle of ‘childers’.
This free event is for those from seven years of age and upwards, with two sessions of interactive fun, the first at 11am and again at 12.30pm.
For more information please contact Ballina Library on 094-9064442.
Join Santa and Mrs Claus, their elves and helpers on a special train journey from Ballina to Manulla Junction this Christmas. This is the tenth year of Ballina Scouts’ Christmas fundraising activity, taking place on four Saturdays - November 29 and December 6, 13 and 20.
Kids and their parents are invited to accompany the Claus family on this enchanting Christmassy train ride and enjoy the festive atmosphere aboard, on a return trip which lasts around 90 minutes, starting at 10.30am.
All proceeds will go to the new Scout Den under construction in Belleek, Ballina, and due to open before the summer of 2026.
Tickets are quite limited so it is advisable to book straight away for this novel festive train journey. Priced at €17.50 plus booking fee, tickets can be purchased online from Eventbrite, while further information is available from the social media pages of 5th Mayo Scout Group.
The death has taken place of Bridie Peoples (née Joyce), Barnfield, Corroy, Ballina and formerly of The Islands, Urlingford, Co Kilkenny.
Bridie will be sadly missed by her loving husband John, devoted daughters Eimear and Áine, sisters Mary Hogan, Kathleen Ryan and Anna Kelly, brother Tom Joyce, nieces, nephews, extended family and a wide circle of friends.
She was predeceased by her parents, parents-in-law, and brothers Pat and Fr Jer.
Bridie reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Thursday evening last. Requiem Mass was celebrated in St Teresa’s Church, Rathduff, Ballina on Friday, with burial afterwards in Ballinahaglish Cemetery.
May she rest in peace.
A new bereavement course in association with the Parish of Kilmoremoy and the Newman Institute will commence in Ballina next Tuesday.
‘Understanding Grief and Loss – A Journey of Healing’ will be presented over four weeks by the Director of the Knock Shrine Family Centre and radio broadcaster Monica Morley.
The course is to take place every Tuesday night this month in the Newman Institute, beginning at 8pm on November 4. Different themes will be explored each week, from understanding the impact of grief and loss to getting to a place of contentment once again.
The course fee is €60 and to book a place please call 096-72066 or email reception@newman.ie.
The Newman Institute is located in the grounds of St Muredach’s Cathedral.
Smart Recovery Ireland meetings are starting next Monday in The Dolmen Club House, Bohernasup Ballina, facilitated by the Western Region Drug and Alcohol Task Force.
Smart Recovery supports individuals who have chosen to abstain or are considering abstinence from any type of addictive behaviours (substances or activities) by teaching how to change self-defeating thinking, emotions and actions.
Its weekly Ballina meetings at 12pm on Mondays will help to build motivation and manage thoughts, feelings and behaviours, while guiding attendees to work towards long-term satisfactions and quality of life.
For more information please call 087-1843897.
