Local Notes: Ballina's Sarah joins Jack L for nationwide tour
Ballina singer and songwriter Sarah Keane is supporting Jack L on his current Irish tour.
Destined to be a radio and streaming hit with its simple melody, ‘June’ is the first song from Sarah Keane’s upcoming debut EP.
Folk-pop artist Sarah, presently supporting Jack L on his nationwide tour, has been working under the stage name Rowlette for a few years. Now returning to her birth name for her professional work, this singer and songwriter from the Knockanillo area of Ballina studied music in St Mary's Secondary School, under the guidance of Regina Deacy, and also received guitar lessons from Grace Kelly.
As a solo performer with an acoustic guitar, and based in London, Sarah is recognised for her powerful and bewitching vocals, unique story-telling ability and enchanting performances.
An intimate and emotional folk-pop track, ‘June’ captures the experience of uncertainty which follows a break-up where one is struggling to move on whilst knowing they can never go back.
“My friends give out to me all the time for it, but I always stay friends with my exes” said Sarah.
“When someone is a good person and you’ve shared great times together, and it just didn’t work out for whatever reason, it’s hard to say ‘I’m not speaking to you’, but sometimes that’s what’s needed. At least at the start, to move on.”
The singer’s distinctive vocals sit beautifully on top of her trademark acoustic guitar, alongside piano and rich orchestral texture.
The new single, which will be released on April 19, augurs well for the excitement around her forthcoming debut EP.
Accustomed to public performance, Sarah has supported Irish talent at home and abroad, including Jack L, Lisa Canny, Junior Brother and CMAT, and she has graced the stages of Cork Opera House, Theatre Royal, The O2 Oxford, and the ICC and The Water Rats in London.
Sarah is appearing across the country in April and May, and joins Jack L for his shows in The Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo on Friday, April 19 (the day her new single is released), Dundalk, Wicklow, Newbridge and Limerick, along with other gigs in Waterford and Dublin.
A busy calendar for the Dublin-based St Muredach’s College Golf Society this year includes the annual President’s Day, which will take place in Carne Golf Club in Belmullet on Saturday, May 18.
With new captain Chris Brett at the helm, the society promises a mix of competition, leisure and networking for past pupils of the Ballina boys’ secondary school.
Other outings later in the year will see society members and friends assemble to play golf in Dublin, Kildare and Algarve, Portugal.
Ballina Dragons is hosting a health promotion event in conjunction with Breast Cancer Ireland and Craoibhín Ballina on Wednesday, April 17. Women and men are encouraged to attend.
The event takes place in the Craoibhín Ballina centre on Cathedral Road at 7pm and light refreshments will be served. Small donations are welcome.
The death has taken place of John (Johnny) O’Boyle, Marian Crescent, Ballina and formerly of Woodside, New York and Lenerevagh, Glenamoy.
John was the beloved husband of Mary (neé O’Sullivan). He will be sadly missed by his loving wife, sisters Anne Kenny (USA) and Kathleen Devane (Ballindine), brother Paddy (Bangor Erris), sisters-in-law Mary (Bangor-Erris) and Betty Doyle (Kenmare), brothers-in-law Michael (Cork), Noel (Kenmare), Gerald (Kenmare) and Brendan (Kildare), nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends.
He was predeceased by his parents Pat and Mary, sisters Bridie (McGarry), Nora (Davis), Nellie (O’Donnell), Mamie (Flannery), brother Ferdinand and brother-in-law Eoin.
John reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Wednesday last, followed by removal to St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina.
Requiem Mass was celebrated on Thursday with the funeral proceeding to Leigue Cemetery, Ballina for burial.
Amplify Youth is an open music showcase which will be presented by The Core at Ballina Arts Centre on Friday, May 10.
The event is part of the newly established youth music festival Féile Mhaigh Eo, and the stage is open to bands, groups, duos and solo performers who are aged between 12 and 18, and from any genre of music.
If you would like the opportunity to perform at Amplified Youth, The Core is inviting submissions of an audio or video recording of your act for consideration. You can register on www.TheCoreMayo.ie.
As part of the process, applicants will be considered for another exciting performance opportunity also, a slot on the main stage at Big Day on The Mall, Castlebar on May 25.
For further information, please contact Philip Cassidy by email at philipcassidy@msletb.ie or telephone 087-7485954.
Mayo Child and Family Support Networks is inviting members to a morning of reflection and renewal in the Great National Hotel in Ballina on Friday, April 19.
The free three-hour event will be addressed by guest speaker, the author and family psychotherapist Dr Richard Hogan. Registration opens at 9.30am and the event commences at 10.15am, finishing at 12.30pm.
Mayo Child and Family Support Networks (CFSN) is a charity that provides information on the services and supports for children, young people and families in Mayo. It is funded by Tusla, the State's child and family agency.
Join your colleagues who support children and families at this event by registering online via Eventbrite.
Dr Richard Hogan has written the best-selling books ‘Home is Where the Start Is’ and ‘Parenting the Screenager’, and contributes to ‘Raised by the Village’, RTÉ‘s heart-warming series about city children moving temporarily to live in isolated rural areas.
If you would like to have a stand at the event, or require any further information, then please contact louise.beckett@tusla.ie.
The annual general meeting of Ballina Dolphins Swimming Club will be held on Monday night next, April 15.
The online AGM starts at 8pm and the club requests that each family be represented by one parent.
Ballina Active Retirement Association is inviting new members to join. Anyone interested should come along to its meeting room in Ballina Pastoral Centre any Thursday morning between 10.15am and 10.30am.
Following an Easter recess, members will enjoy chair yoga this Thursday, April 11, and can also look forward to whist and quiz events over the coming weeks. Watch out for further information.
The Cortina Owners Club of Ireland will be based at the Great National, Ballina for their Spring Run on April 12 and 13. It is also the 30th anniversary of the club.
More than 40 Cortinas, mk1-mk5, will be at Killala Pier on Saturday, April 13, at 11 am approximately and will travel on to the Céide Fields.
Ballina Salmon Festival 2024 is now inviting commercial businesses, food and truck vendors and craft people who would like to sell and promote their work to apply to trade at this year’s National Heritage Day on Wednesday, July 10.
National Heritage Day in Ballina will feature a superb programme of live Irish and international entertainment acts, food, arts, crafts, history, heritage and family fun, running throughout the big day.
If you are eager to showcase and sell your products, then you can register your interest online. Ballina Salmon Festival will be held this year from July 6 to 14.
Mary Mongan and Mary O’Dowd came out on top in the Ballina Bridge Club game played on Tuesday, April 2.
In second place were Margaret and James Munnelly, followed by Betty Gormley and Rosaleen Keohane (3rd), Gerry Scanlon and Tim Summerfield (4th), Bill Thomas and Ger Moran (5th) and Helena Moran and Mary Gilvarry (6th).
The results of the game played in Ballina Bridge Club on Tuesday, March 26, were as follows: 1st, Breedge Mulligan and Ann Ivers; 2nd, Margaret and James Munnelly; 3rd, Gerry Scanlon and Tim Summerfield; 4th, Bill Thomas and Ger Moran; 5th, Francis Walkin and Mary O Dowd; and 6th, Mary McAndrew and Caroline Callaghan.
The club meets every Tuesday in The Moy Club, Dillon Terrace, Ballina and new members are always welcome.
Pieta’s Darkness into Light campaign helped to fund 100,000 calls and texts and almost 51k counselling hours in 2023. This year’s Ballina Darkness Into Light 5k walk and run will take place early on Saturday morning, May 11, starting at 4.15am from St Muredach’s Cathedral, one of 13 such walks/runs taking place in Mayo.
Pieta was founded in Dublin in 2006 and was established to provide free, accessible support to people affected by suicide and self-harm. Pieta has now more than 20 centres nationwide with over 300 staff, and delivers a variety of supports to people impacted by suicide and self-harm, completely free of charge.
The Pieta Crisis Helpline at 1800 247 247 offers crisis intervention support to anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts or engaging in self-harm and operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
For more details about the Ballina event, please visit the Darkness Into Light Ballina page on Facebook. You can also register at www.darknessintolight.ie.
The Parish of Kilmoremoy saw a large number of baptisms over the last few months. Among those baptised were: Sonny Johann Ott, Dubai; Sean Henry Holets, Chester, England; Conor Edward Hennigan and Chloe Grace Hennigan, Quay Road, Ballina; Ivy Violet Hopkins, Tom Clarke Place, Ballina; Shonia Philomena Margaret Lawrence, Bunree Road, Ballina; Londerley Borges Maughan, Oaklawns, Ballina; Sianna Bridget Maloney, Cluain na Rí, Ballina; Olivia Rose Maloney, Greenhills Estate, Ballina; Luca Zion Kilgannon Birbalas, Convent Hill Crescent, Ballina; Alister Bret McGinty, Convent Hill Avenue, Ballina; Annie Kate Humber, Saint Patrick’s Estate, Ballina; Alfie Shay Borisov, Moy Heights, Ballina; Ben Michael Masterson, Mossgrove Village, Ballina; Fionn Tomás Hennigan, Moyvale Green, Ballina; Flynn McAndrew and Quinn McAndrew, Nephin Court, Killala Road, Ballina; Priya Sue Nealon-Fay, Ballinahaglish, Ballina; Arlo Garrett Callan, Ardoughan Woods, Ballina; Isla Colette Durcan, Breaffy, Ballina; Naoise-Maire Togher, Greenhills Estate, Ballina; Ollie O’Hara, The Moorings, Ballina; George Alan O’Malley, The Moorings, Ballina; Anna Rose Fahey, Moy Heights, Ballina; and Eoin Thomas and Rian Tarig Gillies, Gurteens, Ballina.
Ballina Golf Club is currently encouraging men to play golf. Eddie Treacy, the golf professional at the club, will take gents who might be thinking of getting into the game through their paces as part of the Ballina Golf Club ‘Gents Get Into Golf’ programme.
Email info@ballina-golf.com or telephone 096-21050 for more information about this novel programme. You can also contact Mickey Tighe on 085-8068975.
Tickets for a celebration dinner dance to mark the 75th anniversary of Ardnaree Sarsfields GAA Club will shortly be available. The event will take place in the Great National Hotel Ballina on Saturday, May 4.
Meanwhile, Antoinette Langan, Ballina was the winner of €340 in the club’s weekly 50/50 Cash Draw held last week.
Other draw winners in March were John Durcan, Ballina (€330), Pat Lynch (€360), Niamh Ruttledge, Ballina (€385) and Noel Helly, Ballina (€340).
Tickets for the Ardnaree Sarsfields GAA Club fundraising draw are available from shops in Ardnaree or through the club’s app.
The Jackie Clarke Collection is inviting anyone with an interest in Cumann na mBan to come along and view its large amount of ephemera relating to the organisation, which was founded 110 years ago this month.
Cumann na mBan, translated as The Women’s Association, was a women’s paramilitary organisation which played an important part in the country’s path to independence.
The Jackie Clarke Collection on Pearse Street is displaying photographs, leaflets, pamphlets, political literature and biographies associated with Cumann na mBan. The collection also includes a very rare 1917 Proclamation which was released by Cumann na mBan to mark the anniversary of the 1916 Rising, collected by the late Ballina businessman and historian Jackie Clarke.
The town centre museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm, and entry is free.
The Moy Singers, a 45-member four-part choral choir, is now in its 38th year, which is no small feat for a community-based singing group.
The choir will perform their first concert this year at the Great National Hotel on Saturday, April 20, commencing at 8pm. Alf Potter, who has been the choir's accompanist since 2017, has now taken over the reins as musical director and has created a beautiful and diverse show of new and previous pieces, ranging from Simon & Garfunkel and Mozart to some Broadway musical numbers.
The choir are delighted to have secured Marc Roberts as the Spring Concert's very special guest. Marc came second in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1997.
The choir look forward to welcoming all to their Spring Concert and tickets can be purchased from all choir members, the Tourist Office on Pearse Street and at the venue, The Great National Hotel, Ballina.
The Mary Robinson Centre’s Young Climate Leadership Programme is inviting young people to become champions for action against climate change.
If you are aged between 18 and 30 and are passionate about fighting climate change then this programme will provide you with the tools to gain the knowledge and skills to make a real difference.
Activities you will be involved in include attending climate action and leadership workshops at the Mary Robinson Centre, Ballina, and visiting the sites of local Ballina Green Town climate action projects. Those taking part in the programme will be tasked with leading a climate action project in their own home, work or college community, and documenting their journey through regular video diaries and digital content.
You will also participate in the Mary Robinson Climate Conference projects. The conference will be held this year from June 5 to 7 next.
A total of 50 students will be selected for the eight-month-long programme, and five bursaries will be awarded to students to pursue their own climate action projects.
Applications close on Earth Day, Monday, April 22, and you can get more information by visiting the centre’s website at www.maryrobinsoncentre.ie or by emailing info@maryrobinsoncentre.ie.
The North Mayo Pyrite Group is holding a public meeting in the Great National Hotel in Ballina on Monday, April 15, at 7pm, on behalf of those impacted by defective concrete products.
Following a homeowner-centred public meeting on March 26 last, the committee have collated all priority issues around the defective concrete block scheme and shared these in advance with locally elected representatives.
Martina Hegarty, from the North Mayo Pyrite Group, stated: “We have invited all of our local public representatives, TDs, MEPs and councillors to attend on the night and confirm their commitment to the thousands of individuals directly and indirectly impacted by this crisis in our county to deliver in the lifetime of this government. Two failed schemes is a failure too far. This needs to be resolved now."
All are invited to attend.
‘A Million Medleys’ is the new show from country singer Michael English and his band. This special concert of globally loved, million-selling hits will take to the stage of Great National Hotel Ballina on Friday, April 26.
Taking Michael outside of his country music comfort zone, you will know each song better than the next and will want to sing along with every single one.
Starting at 8pm, and costing €30 (plus handling fee), you can book your ticket from hotel reception on 096-23600, by email at info@hotelballina.ie, or by going to the website www.hotelballina.ie.
