Local Notes: Ballina's champion quizzers are honoured
The Under-11 and Under-13 teams from The Quay National School in Ballina were placed first and runners-up respectively in the All-Ireland Credit Union Schools Quiz Final in Dublin. Ballina Credit Union (BCU) marked the outstanding achievement by the winning pupils with an event in the school last week. Adding to the excitement of the day was an ice cream van in the school grounds. Back row, from left: David Dwane (Director, BCU), Pat Farrell, BCU volunteer), Valerie Moran (Risk and Compliance Manager, BCU), John Carroll (Director, BCU), Chloe Nealon (Team Leader, BCU) and Mark Winter (Chairperson, BCU). Front row are the top young quizzers: Noah Gallagher, Rowan Harrison, David Baynes, Michael Duffy, Iarla Hannon, Aoife Hillery, Gareth Doyle and Cian Gillespie. Picture: John O'Grady
The Jackie Clarke Collection will reveal some fascinating gems in a new television series to be aired on RTÉ One.
‘Ireland’s Hidden Treasures’ is on Sunday evenings at 6.30pm, and The Jackie Clarke Collection will feature in the final episode of the series on Sunday, May 5.
The three-part series, produced by Irish production company Bo Media TV and directed by Paddy O’Shea, was shot last year and delves deep into the heart of Ireland's cultural heritage, spotlighting the creative and challenging work behind the scenes of its iconic museums and their custodians.
Cork-based Bo Media is committed to telling stories that reflect the diversity of Ireland's people and heritage. The programme makers say that ‘Ireland’s Hidden Treasures’ is more than just a journey through history, as it also reflects Ireland's cultural significance, celebrating museums as keepers of history and as vibrant storytellers.
The Jackie Clarke Collection is located on Pearse Street, Ballina and opens from Tuesday to Saturday each week between 10am and 5pm. It contains over 100,000 items spanning 400 years of Irish history and admission is free.
The annual general meeting of Mayo COPD Support Group will be held on Thursday of this week, April 23. The AGM starts at 2.30pm in the Tennis Club, Lannagh Road Castlebar.
Those interested are asked to make every effort to attend and your support will be greatly appreciated.
The death has taken place of Sean McHale, Belleek, Ballina, and formerly of Cooneal, Ballina and Ballycastle.
Sean was the beloved father to Bernadette and Sean (Jr). He will be sadly missed by his daughter, son, grandchildren Liam and Molly, son-in-law Ian, brother Dan (Dublin), brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
He was predeceased by his wife Loreta, brother Richard, and sisters Mary Alice, Julia (Australia) and Ellen.
Sean 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.
Mindspace Mayo offers an outreach service in Ballina three days a week.
Mindspace Mayo is a free and confidential support for young people aged between 12 and 25 who may be going through a difficult time. If a young person wants support, Mindspace staff are there to listen, without making judgements, and to provide supportive guidance.
The service is available in Ballina Family Resource Centre, Ardnaree on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and you can contact the organisation on 094-9067001 to find out more. You can also make an appointment online at www.mindspacemayo.ie.
As ABBA fans worldwide mark the 50th anniversary of the release of the group’s debut international hit ‘Waterloo’, Ballina afficionados of this, one of the biggest bands of the 20th century, can look forward to a show by the much-lauded ABBA tribute act The Bjorn Identity.
The Bjorn Identity has its origins in Northern Ireland, founded by professional actors, singers and musicians Karen Rush and Richard Doubleday, who perform as married couple Agnetha and Bjorn on stage, and are also married in real life!
Unequalled in attention to detail, The Bjorn Identity takes to the stage of the Great National Hotel Ballina with seven superb musicians and vocalists, wearing authentic handmade replica costumes to capture the magic of the original ABBA in concert and their famous television performances from 1974 to 1979.
ABBA is the best-selling band of all time to come from mainland Europe, and one of the biggest-selling music acts in history, with songs such as ‘Mamma Mia’, ‘Money, Money, Money’, Super Trouper’, ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!’ and ‘The Winner Takes It All’ still radio and streaming favourites.
With an uncanny likeness to the real thing, even sporting Benny’s iconic spinning white Yamaha stage piano, The Bjorn Identity faithfully recreates the best Abba show this side of Sweden, also incorporating high-tech AV to complete the unique visual and auditory experience.
The Björn Identity launched in 2010 and after some critically acclaimed performances, including in the prestigious Grand Opera House, Belfast and Millennium Forum Derry, are now respected as one of the finest and most authentic Abba tribute bands, reaching audiences across Ireland, the UK and beyond.
The Bjorn Identity performs in Ballina on Friday, August 2. Tickets, priced at €27.50, are now on sale online from Eventbrite, directly from Great National Hotel Ballina on 096-23600, or email info@hotelballina.ie.
Team Hope sends shoebox gifts to needy children in Eastern Europe and Africa every Christmas and now, with eight months to go, the organisation would love to hear from anyone with knitting or crocheting skills who can help with its worthy project this year.
Team Hope is an Irish, Christian and child-focused international development organisation, founded in 2010. It works in Africa and Eastern Europe to help children affected by poverty or marginalisation.
The Christmas shoebox gifts contain lots of appealing goodies for kids, but some of the boxes need to be completed with a few more items. As a volunteer knitter, you can help make the boxes extra special for these children by creating some easy-to-knit, ‘wow’ items.
Mayo Volunteer Centre, based at Cathedral Road, Ballina, and run under the auspices of Moy Valley Resources IRD, is creating a knitting group that will meet every Monday morning between 10am and 12pm. This group will work on creating the knitted items for Team Hope. All patterns, wool, needles, etc will be supplied. Group members will also be able to knit items at home if they wish.
So, please grab your knitting needles and help make a child smile.
For more information about this project, contact Arlene on 087-6796937 or by email: community@volunteermayo.ie.
The death has taken place of Eugene Devenney, Breaffy, Ballina and formerly of Castlederg, Co Tyrone and Birmingham.
Eugene will be deeply missed by his devoted wife Áine, daughter Philomena, sons Aidan and Anthony, grandchildren Siobhán, Catherine, Grace and Sean, great-granddaughter Rosie, daughters-in-law Sue and Marie, and his extended family in Ireland and the UK.
Eugene reposed at his home. Requiem Mass was celebrated in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina on Monday last, followed by burial in Leigue Cemetery.
Soroptimist International Ballina has welcomed new club President, Marian Murphy, to her role. Marian, who was elected at the club’s AGM on April 10, takes over from Eileen Diamond, who saw the club through a very successful two-year term.
Club Secretary Yvonne Ward and Club Treasurer Teresa Murphy continue in their current posts for the coming year.
Ballina Bridge Club continued its very successful year with another session in The Moy Club last week. The results of the game played on Tuesday, April 16 were: 1st, Ger Moran and Bill Thomas; 2nd, Margaret Munnelly and Ann Callaghan; 3rd, Helena Moran and Ann Ivers; 4th, Caroline Callaghan and Mary McAndrew; and 5th, Mary Mongan and Mary O'Dowd.
The results of the game played on Tuesday, April 9, were as follows: 1st, Mary Mongan and Francis Walkin; 2nd, Margaret and James Munnelly; 3rd, Bill Thomas and Ger Moran; 4th, Ann and Sean Callaghan; 5th, Tim Summerfield and Gerry Scanlon; and 6th, Rosaleen Keohane and Betty Gormley.
The death has taken place of Kathleen Egan (née Leonard), Gurteens, Crossmolina Road, Ballina and formerly of Fortland, Easkey, Co Sligo.
Kathleen was the beloved wife of Tommy and the loving mother to Helen, Tommy, Kathleen, Annie, Michael, Molly and Brendan.
She will be sadly missed by her loving husband, sons, daughters, brothers Christy, Sean and Matt, sisters Loretta and Anne, in-laws, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
She was predeceased by her parents Michael and Annie, and by her brothers Mickey and Vincent.
Kathleen reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Monday of last week, followed by removal to St James’ Church, Easkey. Requiem Mass was celebrated on Tuesday, with burial afterwards in Roslea Cemetery, Easkey.
Barking Dog Theatre Company will present two shows for children in Ballina Arts Centre this week.
‘Teddy’s Zoo Adventure’ will be staged tomorrow morning, Wednesday, April 24 at 10am. Children aged six and under will enjoy this story of Sammy Ragdoll, who has a day out at the zoo with her best friend Eddy The Teddy. The show uses many elements of theatre, mime, puppetry and songs to join in with. It’s a perfect introduction to live entertainment for children who have never been to a show before, and a welcome return for Eddy the Teddy’s young fans.
Later in the morning, at 11.30am, the same theatre company will bring ‘Alice Through the Looking Glass’ to life. Alice will meet, among others, Talki Tweedle Dum and Dweedle Dee, Humpty Dumpty, The Red And White Knights, The White Queen and The Red Queen. This is suitable for children aged between five and 10 years of age.
Barking Dog’s two talented actors, with the help of some puppets and children from the audience, present these exciting tales.
Tickets are just €6 and can be booked online at www.ballinaartscentre.com. You can also call 096-73593 or email info@ballinaartscentre.com.
Billow Wood from Ballina has been confirmed as one of the acts for this year’s Wild Roots Music, Performing Arts & Adventure Festival.
The outdoor festival takes place in Hazelwood, Sligo over the June public holiday weekend, from May 31 to June 3. Damien Dempsey and Hermitage Green will be among the headline acts, with Easkey’s Bridin also on the bill. Glamping and camping facilities are provided, with families and campervans also welcome, and there’s a wide option for tickets, from full weekend glamping to general and family day passes.
Billow Wood, who played at Electric Picnic last year, recently returned from a showcase event at Folk Alliance International 2024 in Kansas City, USA, where five other Irish acts also performed a series of gigs.
The band is currently recording new material for release later this year.
A lunch outing on Thursday, May 9, a picnic in Belleek Forest, and afternoon tea are among the many pleasurable activities on the radar of Ballina Active Retirement Association members over the coming weeks.
A meeting of the association held last week also confirmed that there will be a whist game on Wednesday, April 24, and chair yoga on Thursday, April 25. Next week’s events include whist on Wednesday, May 1.
The group is inviting various experts to come along to their meetings to speak on subjects of interest to them, with details to be announced later.
The death has taken place of Daniel (Danny) Brown, 36 Rockwell, Ballina and formerly of Clarke’s Road, Ballina.
Danny is survived by his mother Mary, sisters Gemma and Sharron, and brother Billy. He will be sadly missed by his mother, siblings, brother-in-law Graham, nephews Harry, Riley and Ethan, nieces Emily and Erin, relatives, neighbours, family and a wide circle of friends.
He was predeceased by his father, Reg Brown.
Danny reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Friday last. A private cremation service took place in Shannon Crematorium.
Thursday is the regular club night for budding and experienced tennis players at Ballina Tennis Club. The club welcomes all levels between 7.30pm and 9pm.
Ballina Tennis Club is located beside Ballina Community Sports Centre, just off Cathedral Road, and new members are always welcome.
Just text 087-7986543 if you plan to come along this Thursday night. You can also contact the club on ballinatennis@gmail.com.
Ballina Lions Club has launched its annual Golf Classic, with proceeds this year going to Foxford Alzheimer’s Trust, Mayo Autism Camp (Ballina) and Mindspace Mayo.
Plans are well underway at Foxford Alzheimer’s Trust for a new purpose-built, non-clinical day care centre in Foxford which will allow a significant increase in patient capacity, delivering care in an innovative, patient-centric way.
Ballina Lions Club Golf Classic will take place on Friday, May 31, in Ballina Golf Club, with a total of €4,000 in prizemoney on offer. All golfers are welcome, including non-GUI handicap golfers.
The entry fee is €200 per team of four, a fee that includes all on-course competitions, and a timesheet is available by contacting 096-21050.
The Vincent Lowry Trophy and Prize will be presented to the best overall golfer on the day.
Ballina Lions Club also welcomes sponsorship for the main prize or sponsorship of a tee (€75). The golf classic is supported by Connolly Motor Group, Ballina Credit Union and Moloney’s SuperValu.
A cash contribution can be made directly to the fund through the club’s website at www.ballinalionsclub.ie.
This will be the Ballina Lions Club’s main fundraiser for the year so all assistance is greatly appreciated.
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