Local Notes: Ballina team claims All-Ireland quiz title
The quiz team from the Quay National School in Ballina are pictured after winning the U-13 category in the Credit Union Chapter School Quiz held in Westport Woods Hotel earlier this year. The team has now gone on to claim the All-Ireland title. Back row, from left: Anne Treacy, Pauline Ryan, CEO Westport Credit Union; Joan Jennings, Sheila Langan, Westport Credit Union. Front row: Iarla Hannan, Gareth Doyle, Michael Duffy, Cian Gillispie. Picture: Frank Dolan
Pupils, parents and teachers of The Quay National School – including principal, Sean Gallagher – have been celebrating the triumphant success of their Under-13 team which won the final of the All-Ireland Credit Union School Quiz 2025 in the RDS, Dublin, completing a series of victories in the contest for the Ballina primary school over recent years.
Gareth Doyle, Iarla Hannon, Michael Duffy and Cian Gillespie’s journey to the top began at the local stage hosted by Ballina Credit Union in Ballina Community Sports Centre last January, and their national victory is a testament not only to their dedication and breadth of knowledge, but also to the unwavering support of their families and their school.
In particular their tutor, Anne Tracey, who retired from teaching at the school last year after over three decades of service, but continued to work with the young quiz team, deserves special credit.
In 2024, Gareth, Cian and Michael, alongside Aoife Hillery, took home a national title in the same competition, winning in the Under-11 category. Impressively, in 2014 and 2019, The Quay National School Under-11 teams were also crowned national champions.
This year’s competition saw over 25,000 pupils from across the country take part in the local, regional and national rounds, which culminated in a thrilling showdown that showcased the very best of young knowledge and teamwork.
Some 88 of Ireland’s top young quiz teams gathered for the grand final of the Credit Union School Quiz on Sunday, April 6, in the historic Dublin south city venue.
Hosted by RTÉ’s John Sharpson, better known to many children as Múinteoir John, the event was packed with energy, laughter and nail-biting tension. His mix of humour and encouragement kept spirits high throughout a fiercely contested day of quiz questions, covering a broad range of topics from history and science to sport and popular culture.
Twelve challenging rounds initially tested even the most prepared teams. By the halfway point, it looked as though it might not be The Quay school’s day. However, in a stunning show of resilience and knowledge, they surged up the leader board over the next three rounds, demonstrating the depth of their preparation and their remarkable composure under pressure.
Then came the dramatic finale, showing a three-way tie at the top. The Quay National School, St Beacan National School (Kilkenny) and Roundwood National School (Wicklow) were locked on 50 points each, prompting an intense tiebreaker round. With determination and quick thinking, it was the four boys representing The Quay School and Ballina Credit Union who rose to the occasion, ultimately claiming the coveted national title.
A Friday night gig in Ballina this week will bring together bands of different styles for three highly entertaining music sets.
Groups from Dublin, Castlebar and Ballina will launch the Easter holiday weekend with a heady mix of punk, indie, grunge and hardcore.
Hubert Selby Jr. Infants is a Dublin-based band comprised of four underground music lifers from Waterford, Dublin and Birmingham. Local favourites Yop are back with a few more new songs while Castlebar young guns Warm Side will make their Ballina debut.
TheNCF Cultural Co-Op is a cooperative based on Lower Pearse Street, Ballina. The group is dedicated to fostering community engagement through the arts, and is a place where artists and volunteers meet regularly and organise events together for patrons.
The forthcoming gig in the TheNCF Cultural Co-Op venue on Friday, April 18, at 9pm is a partnership between TheNCF Cultural Co-Op and Ballina Punx. Admission is €10.
One of the staples of the annual Ballina Salmon Festival is the Teddy Bears’ Picnic, which attracts thousands of people – young and old – to the town park on Sligo Road each year.
Sunday, July 20, has now been confirmed as the date for this year’s outdoor afternoon of games, treats and adventures.
Keep an eye out for further details of the 2025 Teddy Bears’ Picnic, where the little ones and their favourite teddy bears can make some magical and unforgettable memories for the whole family.
Ballina-based Mayo Volunteer Centre has been awarded the National Quality Standard for Volunteer Centres for 2025.
Run under the auspices of Moy Valley Resources IRD, Mayo Volunteer Centre has implemented processes to ensure that the organisation is compliant with the National Volunteer Centre Quality Standards Framework, which covers all aspects of its work from governance to operational processes. The quality process takes place every four years.
“The Quality Standards Framework is a voluntary process and a mark of our commitment to continuous improvement,” said Lesley Moore, Manager of Mayo Volunteer Centre.
“We are delighted to have effective systems in place and will continue to evolve this practice. We are pleased to share the news as it demonstrates the transparency and accountability that we bring to our work as a community-based organisation, and the level of service and openness people can expect when they engage with us", said Lesley, who is shortly to retire from her role as Manager of the centre, a position she has held for the past five years.
Vincent’s, Ballina is seeking donations of furniture, bric-a-brac and household items for its charity shop on Teeling Street.
The St Vincent De Paul-run shop is open from Monday to Saturday, between 10am and 5pm, and can be contacted on 096-72905 or by email at vincents.ballina@svp.ie.
A Bake Sale in the Jackie Clarke Collection, Ballina will help raise funds for Newtownwhite Educate Together primary school. The fundraiser is on this coming Saturday, April 19, from 11am to 1pm. You are invited to come along to the Pearse Street museum to try some delicious, homemade baking and help support the school.
The event is organised by Newtownwhite Educate Together Parents Association.
African, salsa and sean nós dancing will form the centrepiece of a fun workshop in Ballina Arts Centre next week.
This is an intergenerational and intercultural event celebrating the joy of community and culture, and absolutely no previous dance experience is necessary.
The workshop will take the shape of meet-and-greet games to warm up, followed by introductory African and salsa dance sessions. For the closing part of the workshop, participants will be led through some Irish sean nós techniques, followed by a circle dance.
The event ends with a cultural open floor for facilitators and participants to share their favourite dance styles and heritage, and participants are welcome to bring a cultural dance style of their own to share.
The workshop is presented by Undercurrent, an integrated performance company based in County Leitrim.
Booking for the workshop, which is from 11am to 1.30pm on Saturday, April 26, can be made online at www.ballinaartscentre.com. You can also book by calling 096-73593 or emailing info@ballinaartscentre.com The cost is €5 plus booking fee and all are welcome.
Craoibhín Ballina offers a lively start to the Easter weekend with a coffee afternoon on Thursday, April 17, from 12pm to 2pm, to include other refreshments too.
There will be music to enjoy, along with a raffle to spice up the afternoon. Everyone is welcome to come along to the centre on Cathedral Road and join in the fun. The cost is just €5 per person.
The Easter Egg competition played last week by members of Ballina Bridge Club was a huge success, with Mary O’Dowd and David Hackett in first place. Other leading pairs from the session played in The Moy Club, Dillon Terrace, Ballina on Tuesday, April 8 were: 2nd, Mary Mongan and Val Baynes; 3rd, Trish Slowey and Helena Moran; 4th, Mary Corcoran and Mary Mc Andrew; and 5th, Ann Callaghan and Gerry Scanlon.
Ballina Dragon Boat Club won the Best Overall Award for its artistic and colourful participation in this year’s Ballina St Patrick’s Day Parade. The dynamic group captured the top accolade following an impressive display during the 2025 event. The group has thanked The Arts Squad for its creative contribution.
Meanwhile, 20 members of this dynamic club will be walking, jogging and running in the Mayo.ie Western People Women’s Mini Marathon in Castlebar on Sunday, May 4.
Ballina Dragons Meitheal Abhainn is currently fundraising to buy a new safety boat for its crew, with a Go Fund Me page in place to accept donations. This page can be accessed at https://www.gofundme.com/f/dynamic-dragons.
The death has taken place of Vinny Walsh, Moyridge Nursing Home, Ballina and formerly of Ferran Terrace, Ballina.
Vinny was the beloved brother of Christopher, Liam (Lee) and Aidan. He will be sadly missed by his brothers, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
He was predeceased by his parents Leo and Mai, brother Sean and sister-in-law Irene.
Vinny reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Friday of last week. Requiem Mass was celebrated in St Muredach’s Cathedral on Saturday, followed by burial in Leigue Cemetery, Ballina.
Ardnaree Sarsfields GAA Club will host a fundraising table quiz in Katie’s Corner, Abbey Street, Ballina on Friday, April 18. Teams of four cost €40, and the fun starts at 9pm. All are welcome.
Recently baptised in the Parish of Kilmoremoy (Ballina) were Kelsie Marie Simpson, St Muredach’s Terrace, Ballina; Ollie Maverick O’Neill, Lucan, Dublin; Aida Laura McDonnell, Knockanillo, Ballina; Phoebe Julie Devaney, Quignalecka, Ballina; Penny Cherie Devaney, Quignalecka, Ballina; Ellie Rose Devers, Lahardane; Pearl Louise Scott-Sweeney, Abbey Court, Ballina; and Carragh Alanna Forbes, Millview Crescent, Ballina.
The annual general meeting of Ballina Chamber of Commerce will be held on Thursday, April 24 at 8pm.
The meeting will include an evening of updates, discussions and networking. Everyone is invited to come along, with the chamber adding that full participation is important in order to help protect the future of our community and local business.
The AGM will be held at 8pm in Ballina Tourist Office, Pearse Street (opposite The Jackie Clarke Collection).
Mayo Cancer Support, based at Rock Rose House, Castlebar, has thanked all who donated to the organisation’s recent Flag Day Collection in Ballina, which was held on Saturday, April 5. A total of €3,560.64 was raised.
A special word of thanks has gone out to all of the volunteers who assisted on the day, and to the local businesses who hosted the collectors.
All proceeds raised go directly towards the provision of free emotional support services to all impacted by cancer and their families.
Mayo Cancer Support provides its counselling service at Rock Rose House and, by appointment only, at its Outreach Centre in Ballina every Tuesday.
You can call 094-9038407 or 087-2804164 for full details and to book an appointment. Further information about this service is also available online at www.mayocancersupport.ie.
