Local Notes: Moy Singers enjoy visit to Dáil Éireann
The Moy Singers are pictured with Minister Dara Calleary outside Leinster House.
The Moy Singers travelled to Dublin recently as guests of Minister Dara Calleary. They were treated to a special lunch followed by a tour of Dáil Eireann. Minister of State Alan Dillon and Mayo TDs Rose Conway-Walsh and Keira Keogh extended a warm welcome to the singers and wished them well for their Christmas Carols by Candlelight Concert on Friday, November 18, in the Great National Hotel, Ballina. Minister Calleary also congratulated the Moy Singers on their forthcoming gala concert on June 13, 2026, celebrating 40 years of singing, a reflection of the perseverance and unwavering spirit of members of the group and the community.
The mammoth work of Ballina’s Let There Be Light committee continues behind the scenes as this energetic new voluntary group prepares for the Ballina Pumpkin Patch in the old convent grounds this Halloween weekend, the Christmas lights switch-on next month and the Ballina Christmas Market 2025 at IQ Ballina in December.
The Let There Be Light committee has designed a spectacular visual feast for this year’s town Christmas lights. Santa Claus will be in Ballina to switch on the Christmas illuminations on Sunday, November 23, with a full day of festive fun in conjunction with the Jackie Clark Collection that promises music, entertainment and celebrations for all the family.
The town centre will host the Christmas Market on December 12, 13 and 14. Working in conjunction with Mayo County Council and local community groups, the Let There be Light committee has ambitious plans for a market that will be bigger, brighter and more festive than ever before, featuring a wide range of stalls celebrating local talent and festive fare. Arts and crafts retailers will offer handcrafted gifts and art, while food retail stalls will showcase quality products for off-site enjoyment. Catering stalls will provide hot and cold food for visitors to enjoy on-site, creating a true festive atmosphere. Businesses and local producers who would like to participate in the market are invited to register their interest to secure a space at this festive celebration.
This weekend’s Ballina Pumpkin Patch is a fundraiser for the 2025 Christmas lights project in Ballina. The Halloween event takes place from October 25 to 27 in the Convent of Mercy Grounds, McDermott Street. On site will be a pumpkin market, food and coffee trucks, and games and competitions, all open from 10am to 5.30pm on each of the three days of the holiday weekend. Tickets are now on sale at Eventbrite.
Next year, Ballina Salmon Festival will mark 62 years since it was first established, with planning for the event now well underway. One of the West of Ireland’s most high-profile annual community festivals will return from July 12 to 19, 2026. National Heritage Day is pencilled in for Wednesday, July 15 and the River Moy Swim will take place on Saturday, July 18.
The death has taken place of Owen Maughan, Knockleagha, Ballina.
Owen was the beloved son of Sean and Ann and dear brother of Martin, Catriona, Margaret, Lena and Sean, and is also remembered by his grandfather Martin Joe Collins, brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends.
He was predeceased by his grandparents Owen and Kate Maughan, Maggie Collins and nephew Jamie Collins.
Owen 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.
Swimming lessons for adult beginners and improvers are taking place every Wednesday night in Ballina Swimming Pool. The lessons start at 9pm and more information can be had by contacting 096-70506.
Virtuoso blues musician Giles Robson will present his Edinburgh Fringe Festival show ‘Up Close with the Blues’ in Belleek Castle, Ballina over the October holiday weekend.
Giles Robson is one of the finest blues harmonica players in the world and an impressive blues vocalist. The Englishman is the only European artist to appear on Chicago’s legendary Alligator Records, and only one of three British blues artists, alongside Eric Clapton and Peter Green, to win a coveted Blues Music Award in Memphis, USA.
His Ballina show will be a super-intimate performance, giving an unforgettable soul-filled and fun night out from this great all-round entertainer. Included in Giles’ set will be songs from his album ‘Seven Blues Classics’.
Tickets for the show on Sunday, October 26 can be booked through Eventbrite, or follow the Belleek Castle social media pages for more information.
The postponed ‘Concert for the Children of Gaza’ will now take place in Ballina on Friday night, October 24. Originally scheduled for October 3 last, the fundraiser had to be cancelled as a result of Storm Amy.
Ballina musician and songwriter Martin O’Donnell is organising the gig, at which seven acts will show their compassion for those suffering in Gaza when they perform in the Great National Hotel Ballina for the free event, with all of the artists giving their services pro bono.
Among the acts performing will be Alder, Dan and Ciara of Bog Bodies, Padraic Collins, Tommy Cooke, Hannah and Chuck Dunford, Tara Doherty, and Martin O’Donnell and Michael O’Rourke.
The concert is seated and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
A donation box will be accessible on the door for those wishing to make a contribution to the cause. Proceeds will go to the UNICEF Ireland Gaza Emergency Appeal for Children Fund and to Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders, whose teams act fast to save people’s lives in conflict zones.
This free concert starts at 8pm and all are welcome.
French conversation classes have returned to Craoibhín Ballina, taking place every Thursday afternoon from 3.30 to 4.30pm, and chair yoga will be back in Craoibhín with instructor Alex on Thursday, November 6 at 2.30pm.
For more information about the wide range of activities and services available at Craoibhín Ballina from Monday to Friday each week, please call 087-2785365.
Congratulations have been extended to Claire Quinn and Paul Stapleton who were married recently in the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Bonniconlon.
The Jackie Clarke Collection, Pearse Street will be the location for a Halloween Kids Craft Camp during the school mid-term break next week.
Not only will children learn some fascinating skills, but also there will be fun and games for the young participants throughout the four-day event, which is organised by Ballina Costume Company.
The Halloween Kids Craft Camp is open to children aged between four and 12. It takes place from Tuesday, October 28 to Friday, October 31 from 9.30am to 3pm, at a cost of €90.
Booking is essential as places are limited. Please call 096-72154 for further information or to book a place.
Tennis classes for beginners and improvers are currently taking place at Ballina Tennis Club. The classes will cover the common tennis strokes and basics of single and doubles play. You will also learn about the techniques, tactics and rules of tennis.
Contact Artur on 085-7573457 for more information. Ballina Tennis Club is located beside Ballina Community Sports Centre, just off Cathedral Road.
Adult mentors are required for Foróige's Big Brother Big Sister Programme in the Ballina area. If you are interested in supporting a young person then this is an enjoyable way to spend your time and have a positive impact on that person’s life.
The Big Brother Big Sister Programme is community based and pairs adult volunteers with young people who are looking for friendship and support from someone with a bit more life experience.
By meeting up for an hour a week and sharing your interests, you can have an extraordinary impact on the day-to-day life of a young person.
Foróige has many young people waiting to be matched to a mentor and would be delighted to hear from you. So, if you have an hour to spare, please call 086-0471420 or email mentoringmayo@foroige.ie to express your interest in volunteering or to find out more information about the organisation’s recruitment process.
The death has taken place of Geraldine Quinn (née Tolan), Carracastle, Attymass, Ballina.
Geraldine is deeply mourned by her sons Allen, Gerard, Edmond and Jason, daughter Sharon, daughters-in-law, son-in-law, brothers Tony, Dessie, Brendan, Kieran, Ambrose and Maurice, sisters Margaret, Bernie, Pauline and Madeline, grandchildren, mother-in-law Alice and her brothers and sisters-in-law, neighbours and a large circle of friends.
She was predeceased by her parents Anthony and Kathleen Tolan, and by her father-in-law Colm Quinn.
Geraldine reposed at Gallagher's Funeral Home, Bonniconlon on Wednesday evening last. Requiem Mass was celebrated in the Church of the Immaculate Conception and St Joseph, Attymass on Thursday, with burial afterwards in Bonnifinglas Cemetery.
If you are a musician, comedian, poet or storyteller, the opportunity to showcase your talents to an appreciative audience will present itself in Ballina this holiday weekend.
An Open Mic session in the intimate TheNCF Cultural Co-op space on Lower Pearse Street will welcome all types of artists to come along and perform, with this relaxed night of creativity, fun and community spirit set to take place on Saturday, October 25 at 10pm.
Artists who wish to perform are asked to sign in from 9pm, and right-handed and left-handed guitars will be made available where required by a performer.
The night’s entertainment will be hosted by Seán Gorman and Joe Clarke.
As the members of the Moy Singers prepare for their big Christmas show on November 28, a fundraising quiz for the renowned Ballina mixed-voice choral group will take place this weekend.
The lively group is promising plenty of fun, lots of raffle prizes and a host of clever questions, to be presented by the quizmaster, Vincent Lang.
The table quiz is on Friday, October 24 at 8pm in The Loft Bar, Pearse Street, Ballina, with special prizes for the three best-placed teams. Entry costs €40 for a team of four.
Ballina Arts Centre is the venue for a hands-on arts and crafts workshop for children on Saturday next.
Young artists aged seven to 12 are invited to this fun and engaging session, where children will be introduced to the world of monoprinting, a simple yet exciting printmaking technique where each print is completely unique.
Through guided steps, the young students will learn how to design, paint and press their own prints using spooky Halloween themes like ghosts, pumpkins, bats and haunted houses. No prior experience is necessary.
Once they’ve mastered the technique, kids will create their very own eerie artwork and spooky paper crafts to take home for the Halloween festivities.
This workshop is all about encouraging imagination, experimentation and creativity. All materials are provided and costumes are welcome, provided they are art-friendly.
The one-hour workshop is at 11am on Saturday, October 25 and the cost to attend is €10 plus booking fee.
The results of the game played by members of Ballina Bridge Club at their weekly session in The Moy Club, Dillon Terrace last week were as follows: 1st, M. Mongan and M. O Dowd; 2nd, T. Slowey and M. Lowry: 3rd, G. Moran and B. Thomas; 4th, S. and A. Callaghan; and 5th, G. Scanlon and F. Walkin.
The death has taken place of Erna Troy (née McDonnell), 121 Greenhills, Ballina and formerly of Tom Clarke Place, Ballina.
Erna will be sadly missed by her husband Leo (Snr), her adored children Leo (Jnr), Sharon and Shane, daughters-in-law Maria and Rachel, son-in-law Ramazan, grandchildren Kaya, Leyla, Ruby, Fionn and Kayleigh, mother in-law Bridget Teresa (Tess) Troy, brothers Randal and Eugene, sister Geraldine, in-laws, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.
She was predeceased by her parents Maureen and Randal McDonnell, and by her brother Michael.
Erna reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Friday of last week. Requiem Mass was celebrated in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina on Saturday, followed by burial in Leigue Cemetery, Ballina.
This year, Bonniconlon ICA will host its first Christmas Craft Fair in the Grove Hall, Bonniconlon, with proceeds going to support St Dymphna’s School, Ballina.
If you are a crafter or a community group and you would like to take a stall then please email icabonniconlon@gmail.com or call 087-1195104 for further details. Stalls cost €30.
The Bonniconlon Christmas Craft Fair is on Sunday, November 30, from 12pm to 5pm.
This year’s Christmas panto in Ballina will thrill people of every age, as ‘A Mermaid’s Scéal’ introduces us to a whole new level of absurdity. The exciting, fun and musical show will feature lots of new characters and comes from Ballina Dramatic Society – and friends – as the group presents its annual seasonal offering.
Be prepared to be whisked along in stormy weathers with Ariel and her friends, and to be dazzled by a stunning array of colourful sea creatures, demure mermaids, rowdy pirates, sharks and an ominous octopus. ‘A Mermaid’s Scéal’ is based on Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ and was scripted locally.
This sparkling and clever new show has it all for young and old, and the crew would even love to see lots of little mermaids and pirates dressed up in the audience.
The 2025 Ballina Christmas panto will be staged from Wednesday, December 17 to Saturday, December 20, at 8pm each night. And, for smaller children, matinees will be staged on Sunday, December 21 at 2pm and again at 6pm.
Tickets are already on sale at a cost of €70 for a family of four or €20 per person, plus booking fee. These can be purchased online at www.ballinaartscentre.com. You can also call 096-73593 or email info@ballinaartscentre.com.
This event will help support the Ballina Arts Centre Development Fund.
