Local Notes: Ballina students create unique artwork
Students from Moyne College, Ballina who created an art piece that was on display during Ballina Tennis Club Open last month. The project involved 5th and 2nd Year students of the secondary school using recycled tennis balls and racquets, and was created under the direction of their teacher Sinead McCarthy (second from left).
Registration is now open for the annual Wild Atlantic 10-Miler race and walk in Ballina.
The race on Sunday, August 16 will take competitors along sections of the Wild Atlantic Way and the Monasteries of the Moy Greenway, with a route through the beautiful forest trails and riverside paths of Belleek Forest alongside the River Moy.
The organisers at Ballina Athletic Club have successfully hosted a range of races over the years, including 10k runs, half marathons and marathons, so can guarantee participants a smoothly run event. Water stations will be posted along the route, hot showers are available after the event and refreshments will be served.
Whilst this is a 10-mile race, walkers are also encouraged to take part and are provided with an earlier start time of 10am from the athletic track in Belleek, followed by an 11am start for the main race from Belleek Castle Road.
The race is chipped and timed and every finisher will receive a bespoke medal on the day. Cash prizes and trophies will be presented to the first, second and third-placed male and female participants, with an additional cash prize for breaking the course record.
Further details regarding the Wild Atlantic 10-Miler can be found online. The first 200 registered participants will receive a quality technical t-shirt.
Ballina Autism Friendly Town is playing a key role in helping to make the forthcoming Mary Robinson 2026 Climate and Nature Conference more accessible and inclusive for autistic people and for the wider disabled community.
As Ballina continues to build its reputation as an AsIAm-accredited Autism Friendly Town, this partnership reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that public events are welcoming and accessible to everyone. By working alongside the conference organisers, Ballina Autism Friendly Town is helping to create an environment where autistic and disabled attendees can fully participate in important conversations about climate action, nature and social justice. The collaboration aligns with the values championed by the former President of Ireland and Ballina native Mary Robinson throughout her career: fairness, equality, and inclusion.
It also highlights the growing recognition that sustainability and inclusion are intrinsically linked. Accessible events strengthen communities, and making the 2026 Climate and Nature Conference more accessible will ensure that disabled people are included in important local, national and global conversations.
This partnership is a strong example of Ballina’s commitment to being an inclusive town where diversity is celebrated and barriers to participation are actively identified and removed. The local organisation believes that a sustainable future must be shaped by, and be for, everyone.
Tickets for the international conference in Ballina on Thursday, July 9 and Friday, July 10 are still available, and further information can be found on the Mary Robinson Centre website.
Miriam Innes has been forging an international career for herself as an artist for more than two decades.
Now, the Castlehill native and former Ballina school student returns to her home county later this week with the exhibition ‘22.96âOverflow’.
Miriam has been building a reputation for herself in Australia, where she has been living and working in recent years, and this new exhibition brings together the work of Queensland artists Joolie Gibbs and Leeroy Todd, alongside that of the talented Mayo artist.
Opening in Ballina Civic Offices, the exhibition represents the first time that Miriam has presented a major body of work in Mayo since leaving to pursue her artistic career abroad.
‘22.96âOverflow’ is the second chapter in the acclaimed ‘22.96’ series, developed in response to the devastating 2022 floods in Gympie, Queensland, where water levels reached a record height of 22.96 metres.
Through drawing, film and installation, the exhibition explores the emotional, environmental and social impacts of flooding while highlighting the strength of communities living with water. The project creates a dialogue between regional Australia and County Mayo, places linked by powerful waterways, changing climates and enduring community connections.
For Miriam, the exhibition represents a significant homecoming and an opportunity to share a body of work shaped by both her Irish heritage and international experience.
“Although the work was born from a Queensland flood event, its themes are universal. Communities in Mayo understand the power of water, the importance of place and the resilience to rebuild and move forward,” she said.
Miriam’s early exposure to peatlands, rural labour and natural materials continue to inform her practice.
Alongside the exhibition, a programme of artist talks, workshops and a residency will encourage cultural exchange between Ireland and Australia.
The exhibition opens on Friday, July 3, running from Monday to Friday each week until August 8.
Miriam will also deliver workshops on paper cutting in Ballina Arts Centre on July 4.
St Muredach’s Cathedral Boys’ Choir enjoyed a special day out in Kylemore Abbey, Connemara recently.
The Ballina boys, under their choir directors Regina Deacy and Marie Gilvarry, were invited by Ite O’Donovan, director of The Piccolo Lasso Children's Choir, to join the young Dublin singers for the special occasion. The two groups, along with the Mullingar Cathedral Choristers, sang at Mass in the historic and stunning abbey. After the service and some lunch there was a short concert where each choir sang individual pieces.
The Ballina choristers topped off the day with bowling and food in Castlebar on the return journey home.
This gathering was a tentative effort to promote the Pueri Cantores organisation in Ireland. Pueri Cantores is an international movement of 40,000 young singers in over 40 countries whose objective is to promote peace through sacred music. Members primarily sing during Masses, performing a rich repertoire that ranges from traditional hymns to plainchant and polyphony.
The Ballina Cathedral Boys’ Choir performs on special occasions in St Muredach’s Cathedral, and new members are always welcome.
The Killala and Tuam Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place from August 28 to September 3.
The cost of the pilgrimage is €1,049 and bookings can be made by contacting 01-2410800, where you will also get further information.
Applications for the invalid section of the annual pilgrimage should go directly to Eileen O'Brien at 086-4013897 or Ciara Deane at 083-8383310.
The pilgrimage will be led by Archbishop Francis Duffy.
Recently married in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina were Brendan Sheehan, Murrough, Galway and Rebecca Hanley, Murrough, Galway.
We wish them health and happiness in the years ahead.
Saturday’s Telus Salmon Run Triathlon in Ballina is taking place in association with Mayo Mental Health.
Organised by Liquid Motion Triathlon Club, the event is for adults from the age of 18 and upwards, and is a perfect challenge for seasoned triathletes.
It will test participants on a 0.75km downstream swim on the River Moy, a 20km flat out-and-back bike ride through the beautiful surroundings around Ballina, and a 5km flat run on the banks of, and in the proximity of, the River Moy, finishing at Bachelor’s Walk, Ballina. The triathlon starts at 9am and all participants will receive a finisher medal.
Further details are available from the Triathlon Ireland website at www.triathlonireland.com or from the Ballina club’s social media pages.
Ballina Meals on Wheels raised €3,370 at its annual church gate collection. The charity organisation has thanked everyone who contributed as well as the volunteer collectors.
