Local Notes: Christmas initiatives from Ballina Chamber
Meeting Mrs Claus at the Jackie Clarke Collection in Ballina were Kadie Mae Clifford, Kyle Moyles, Oisin Moyles and Erin Moyles. Picture: John O'Grady
The Taste of Ballina Christmas Hamper from Ballina Chamber of Commerce is proving to be quite a hit this year.
The hampers are full of hand-picked products that are sourced locally in and around Ballina and in the North West.
The hampers range in price from €65 to €100 and you can choose from a corporate hamper, a classic hamper or a deluxe hamper.
Ballina-based Connacht Distillery, Ella and Jo Cosmetics and Noo Chocolates, along with Reel Deel Brewery (Crossmolina), the Gourmet Popcorn Company (Foxford) and O’Hara’s Bakery (Foxford) are among the brands whose produce is included in the hampers.
Each hamper contains a written description featuring the local businesses supported in The Taste of Ballina Christmas Hamper 2023.
To order your hamper, please contact Ballina Chamber on 096-72800.
Ballina Chamber is also reminding shoppers about the Christmas Cracker Bonanza Draw for 2023.
Each year, Ballina businesses offer up to €10,000 worth of vouchers for the Christmas draw, with draws taking place during the month of December.
When you spend locally in a participating Ballina business, your name is entered into the Christmas draw. You could then be in with a chance of winning €100 worth of vouchers. Remaining draws will take place on December 15 and 21.
Another initiative from the local business organisation is the Ballina Chamber Shop Local Vouchers, the perfect gift to help keep money in the local economy and support employment in Ballina.
Business owners who would like to reward their staff with the Shop Local Voucher are reminded that Revenue’s Small Benefit Exemption Scheme means that employees can get some vouchers or other non-cash benefits each year without paying tax on them. Income tax payers can get up to two benefits each year, up to a total value of €1,000.
Ballina Chamber Shop Local Vouchers come in denominations of €10, €25 and €50 and are redeemable in most outlets in and around Ballina (through participating Chamber members), and can be used in multiple of shops, restaurants, hotels, beauticians and hair salons.
Ballina Bridge Club winners of the competition on November 28 are as follows: 1st, Gerry Scanlon and Francis Walkin; 2nd, Ann and Sean Callaghan; 3rd, Trisha Slowey and Mary Lowry; 4th, Josie Cawley and Ann Ivers; 5th, Ger Moran and Bill Thomas; 6th, Mary Gilvarry and Niall Kilroy; 7th, Betty Gormley and Rosaleen Keohane; 8th, Caroline Callaghan and Mary McAndrew; 9th, Mary O’Dowd and Mary Mongan; and 10th, Helena and Pauline Moran.
Winners of the bridge competition in the Ballina club on December 5 were (North/South): 1st, Margaret and James Munnelly; 2nd, Rosaline Keohane and Betty Gormley; 3rd, Gerry Scanlon and Francis Walkin; 4th, Mary Gilvarry and Niall Kilroy; and 5th, Ann Ivers and Josie Cawley.
East/West winners were: 1st, Ger Moran and Bill Thomas; 2nd, Mary Mongan and Mary O’Dowd; 3rd, Mary McAndrew and Caroline Callaghan; and 4th, Ann and Sean Callaghan.
Drop in to the Christmas Pop-Up Shop on Tolan Street (Bridge Street), Ballina, near its junction with Hill Street. The shop is operated by Ballina Chamber and offers a diverse range of delightful and surprise goodies.
The Ballina Christmas Pop-Up Shop is open from 12 noon to 6pm.
The death has taken place of Marion McGowan (nee Lynch), Carrowcushlaun, Ballina.
Marion was the beloved wife of Tony and loving mother to Susan Harte (Ransboro, Sligo), Christopher (Westport), Carol O’Dea (Ballina) and Antoinette Carden (Ballina).
She will be sadly missed by her loving husband, daughters, son, sisters Anne, Pauline and Kathleen, brothers John, Benny and Henry, sons-in-law Michael, Sean and Pete, daughter-in-law Colette, grandchildren Aine, Micheál, Peter, Matthew, Mark, Moya, Ava, Ella, Isla, Honora, Anthony and Harriet, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
She was predeceased by her parents Paddy and Harriet Lynch and by her brothers Padraic and Gerard.
Marion reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Monday of last week, followed by removal to St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina.
Requiem Mass took place on Tuesday with burial afterwards in Leigue Cemetery, Ballina.
A Christmas Carol Service featuring St Muredach’s Cathedral Choir, Rejoice Gospel Choir, the Parish of Kilmoremoy Children’s Choir and St Muredach’s Cathedral Boys’ Choir will take place in Ballina on Sunday next, December 17.
The carol service in St Muredach’s Cathedral will be led by musical director, Regina Deacy, and it starts at 5pm.
There will also be a procession of gifts to the crib, in aid of St. Vincent de Paul.
Heartfulness Ireland is offering three relaxation and meditation sessions under the title ‘Finding Peace Within’ in Ballina Family Resource Centre on Tuesdays, December 12 and 19.
The sessions are from 7 to 7.45pm and are for adults who are over 18 years only. There is no fee. If you are interested, then please come along a few minutes early in order to settle in…and bring a blanket!
Ballina Family Resource Centre is located on Abbey Street, Ardnaree.
Craoibhín Ballina is selling tickets for its annual Christmas Raffle, which are available from the centre at Cathedral Road, Ballina (next door to St Muredach’s Cathedral) between Monday and Friday, and from 9am to 4pm each day.
Prizes to be won include a home fuel bundle worth €500, a Christmas Food Hamper worth €300 and Ballina Shopping Vouchers worth €200. Tickets are €5 each or a book of tickets can be purchased for €25.
The draw will take place on Monday, December 18. All proceeds will go towards the running costs of Craoibhín Ballina, so your support will be greatly appreciated.
The death has taken place in Nottinghamshire, England of John James (JJ) McAndrew, formerly of Ardoughan House, Ballina and Shranoploya, Glenamoy.
JJ will be sadly missed by his wife Brenda (Brenie) and mother Mary (Maud) Ruddy McAndrew.
He is also mourned by his sisters Maureen (Nottingham), Monica (Nottingham), Ann (Castlebar), Caroline (Manchester), Margaret (London), Sharron (Ballina) and Edel (Ballina), brothers Peter (Ballina), Raymond (Turkey), Tommy (Lancashire), Gerry (Egypt), brothers-in-law Paddy, Tony, John, Philip and Murat, sisters-in-law Sarah, Ann, Melek and Hanife, his extended family in Nottingham, Emma, Vincent and his step-grandchildren, uncles Tom and Jack, and auntie and godmother Monica McAndrew, adored nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, long-time friends, relatives and fond neighbours.
He was predeceased by his father Peter McAndrew.
Funeral Mass for JJ took place in St Barnabas Cathedral, Nottingham on December 11.
Funeral arrangements for Ireland will be announced later.
Ballina Parish Bookshop is reminding parishioners that a large collection of Christmas cards, cribs and gifts are in stock in its Pastoral Centre bookshop.
The bookshop is located in the grounds of St Muredach’s Cathedral and its opening hours are from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm.
A new edition of is also on sale in the shop, at a cost of €2.
The Craoibhín Ballina Christmas Party for members takes place this Thursday, December 14, from 1 to 4pm.
Tickets to the event in the Great National Hotel Ballina can be purchased from Craoibhín on 087-2785365 or by calling into the Craoibhín Centre on Cathedral Road.
The death has taken place of Henrietta Leonard (née Crean), also known as Ettie, of Carrowkerribla, Attymass, Ballina.
Henrietta will be dearly and lovingly missed by her relatives, neighbours and her extended network of friends from near and far.
She was predeceased by her parents Anthony and Margaret.
Henrietta reposed at Clarke’s Funeral Home, Foxford on Tuesday of last week, followed by removal to the Church of the Immaculate Conception and St Joseph, Attymass.
Funeral Mass took place on Wednesday, with the funeral proceeding afterwards to Bonnifinglas Cemetery.
First Year students of St Mary’s Secondary School, Ballina took part in a fundraising drive recently which saw them raise €230 for the Irish Cancer Society.
The project involved some of the First Year students designing a Christmas card, and was coordinated by Grace Devine.
One Million Stars Ireland is a community arts project that connects communities through the craft of weaving stars. Over the last few weeks in Ballina, some locals have been busy contributing to the countrywide efforts to weave one million stars in total.
Each eight-point star woven represents light, hope and solidarity against violence, promoting the project’s eight points of healthy love within relationships.
More information is available from Mayo Volunteer Centre, Cathedral Road, Ballina or on the website www.onemillionstarsireland.ie.
Rejoice Gospel Choir will be among the groups singing at Kilmoremoy Parish Carol Service on Sunday next, December 17. The performance will take place in St Muredach’s Cathedral at 5pm.
The Ballina vocal group, which celebrates faith and spirituality through the medium of spiritual and uplifting songs, will also sing at Christmas Eve Mass in St Patrick’s Church, Ballina on December 24, at 4pm.
The choir members performed for residents of Ballina’s Moyridge Nursing Home and Riverview Nursing Home earlier this month.
Bofield Handball Club will hold a fundraiser event in Bonniconlon next Monday night, December 18.
A 25 Card Drive (singles) and raffle will deliver attractive prizes for the winners, at an entry fee of just €5, with proceeds going to support underage development in the local handball club. The event takes place in The Village Tavern, Bonniconlon starting at 8pm.
Photos of Ballina and of scenic spots in other parts of North Mayo feature in a 2024 calendar from Transition Year students of Gortnor Abbey Secondary School, Crossmolina.
The calendar is very well presented, with a high gloss finish. It sells for €10 and, as a special offer, can be posted as a Christmas gift to any address in Ireland for just €11.
Grainne Uaile Sub Aqua Club and Search and Recovery Unit is reminding those people who may have missed its Flag Day last week that you can still make a donation online.
The Grainne Uaile Sub Aqua Club, based in Ballina, has had a dedicated Search and Recovery Unit providing on-call day and night, 365 day a year support for over 35 years.
The Search and Recovery Unit consists of club members who volunteer their time to support the unit.
The members are trained in the use of specialist equipment, required to work in a variety of hazardous conditions such as rivers and lakes, often with limited visibility.
Donations to the club’s Search and Recovery Unit can be made at www.ifundraise.ie.
Ardagh Community Players group is preparing for its production of the comedy ‘Marrying Mike’, with a cast of seven.
Written in 2023, this is one of the first outings for the new three-act play from the pen of Westmeath playwright Jimmy Keary, among whose other works include the popular ‘For Better, For Worse’.
The story revolves around elderly bachelor farmer Mike Fogarty, who has land and money despite appearances to the contrary, and who suddenly announces that he is looking for a wife. Mike’s scheming friend Barney O’Toole decides that his sister Colette would be an ideal candidate. Both Barney and Colette are determined that it will be a very short marriage. Mike’s friend Kate O’Sullivan discovers the scheme and rushes to the rescue. But Mike is a hard man to save from himself.
Ardagh Community Players meets every Monday and Thursday evening in Ardagh Community Centre, with the hilarious play pencilled in for staging on February 9, 10 and 11.
