Local Notes: Renewed appeal for volunteers for Ballina Salmon Festival
The Ballina Autism Friendly Town group accepts the runner-up award in the Inclusive Communities category at the IPB Pride of Place Awards in Dublin recently.
The tireless work of a relatively small but dedicated group of volunteers has helped to make Ballina Salmon Festival one of the leading community festivals in the west of Ireland.
Now, the festival is appealing for new volunteers to come forward and help secure the future of an event that has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors to Ballina since its foundation in 1964. Their support is vital to ensuring this proud tradition continues to thrive for generations to come.
To safeguard its continued success, the festival has called an emergency public meeting for Thursday, November 12, taking place at 7pm in Ballina Arts Centre. This comes in the wake of a sparsely attended public meeting last month, which was convened to encourage greater public involvement and support.
For decades, Ballina Salmon Festival has been at the heart of community life, bringing colour, entertainment and civic pride to the town. It has attracted visitors from near and far, provided a valuable boost to local businesses, showcased Ballina on a national stage and created cherished memories for countless families.
The current committee, whose volunteer members devote countless hours each year to planning and delivering the festival, is seeking enthusiastic individuals willing to contribute their time, ideas and expertise. Opportunities exist to join festival committees, assist with planning and administration or help deliver events during festival week.
There are many ways to get involved, including helping to organise some of the festival's best-loved attractions, such as Heritage Day, the Teddy Bear’s Picnic and the spectacular Grand Finale Fireworks Night.
Ballina Salmon Festival has always been built on community spirit, local pride and volunteer commitment.
To keep a much-loved annual celebration vibrant into the second quarter of this century, new volunteers are now needed to come forward and play their part.
Ballina will be the Connacht venue for this year’s prestigious Royal Irish Academy of Music Spotlight Awards concert.
Young musicians, singers and drama students from across the region, in the company of family, friends and peers, will be in Ballina Arts Centre on Sunday, November 15 at 3pm as part of a nationwide series of four regional public concerts that celebrate excellence in music and drama performance.
The RIAM Spotlight Awards recognise the achievements of the tens of thousands of students who participate in RIAM examinations each year. The awards celebrate not only outstanding talent, but also the dedication, creativity and personal growth shown by young performers on their artistic journeys.
Regional Spotlight concerts take place in Thurles, Navan, Ballina and Dublin, featuring a selection of award winners from each area. The events provide an opportunity for performers to showcase their talents while also presenting regional award recipients with their Spotlight medals.
The programme culminates in the annual Spotlight Gala Concert, hosted by Marty Whelan in RIAM's impressive Whyte Recital Hall in Dublin on December 14. The show will feature selected provincial award winners from around Ireland performing live alongside special musical guests.
Admission to the Ballina concert is free, offering music lovers an opportunity to enjoy performances by some of the province’s most promising young musicians and performers.
‘Fair City’ writer Jennifer Davidson will lead a five-week scriptwriting course at Ballina Arts Centre, starting on Monday, November 16.
Designed for aspiring and emerging writers, the hands-on course will provide participants with the opportunity to develop their first script or refine their existing writing skills for television, theatre and film.
The workshops will be facilitated by Jennifer Davidson, a writer for the popular RTÉ soap ‘Fair City’, and the founder of her own successful production company. Drawing on her extensive industry experience, including with Independent Pictures and Shinawil, Jennifer will guide participants through the key elements of effective scriptwriting, including creating a strong logline, developing engaging characters and plots, writing compelling dialogue, and understanding the vital role of rewriting in the creative process.
The course will run on Mondays from 10am to 12 noon for five weeks. The fee is €135.
You can book online at www.ballinaartscentre.com, by telephone on 096-73593 or by email at info@ballinaartscentre.com.
The death has taken place of Margaret Moore (née Ginty), Faranoo, Killala Road, Ballina.
Margaret was the beloved mother of Marie (Foxford), Kieran (Ballina), Patrick (Cork) and John (Ballina).
Margaret will be sadly missed by her daughter, sons, grandchildren Cathal, Leah, Louise, Aimee, Dylan, Anna, Laura, Vivienne, Jake and Jamie, daughters-in-law Anne, Una and Orla, sons-in-law Declan and Paolo, loving sisters Renee and Martha, brother Gerry, extended Ginty and Moore families, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
She was predeceased by her husband Paddy, daughter Lucy Tumilty Moore, parents Jane and Gerald Ginty, and sisters Frankie Leonard and Mary Kilgannon.
Margaret reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Tuesday of last week. Requiem Mass was celebrated in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina on Wednesday, followed by burial in Leigue Cemetery, Ballina.
May she rest in peace.
Are you recovering from a cardiac event? If so, remember that you do not have to face the journey alone. The Croí heart and stroke charity Mayo Cardiac Peer Support Group provides a welcoming and supportive environment for people on the road to recovery.
The group will meet at the Ellison Hotel, Castlebar on Wednesday, November 18, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. The focus of the evening will be well-being and stress management, with opportunities to learn practical strategies that can support recovery and improve quality of life.
Participants will have the chance to meet others who understand the challenges of cardiac recovery, share experiences, offer support and learn from one another in a relaxed and friendly setting.
The initiative is a collaborative effort between Croí heart and stroke charity and the HSE in Mayo, working together to support people living with and recovering from heart-related conditions.
If you are over 55 and looking for a low-impact, moderate exercise class, why not try the popular Move It or Lose It sessions held every Wednesday morning at 10.30am in the Seán Duffy Community Centre, Ardnaree, Ballina.
Suitable for both men and women, these classes offer a great way to stay active, improve fitness and enjoy some social interaction in a friendly and welcoming environment. There is no need to book in advance, simply come along and join in.
Classes operate on a pay-as-you-go basis at €10 per session, and new participants can take advantage of a free first class.
For further information, please contact Leo on 089-4257902.
The late Seamus Quinn of Palmerstown, Dublin 20 was a native of Bridge Street, Ballina.
Seamus, who died earlier this month, was the loving husband of Deirdre, dad to Sinéad, Gráinne, Kevin and Ciarán, grandfather to Cora, father-in-law to Shane, Rachel and Richie, and brother to Stephanie and Michael.
He was predeceased by his son Neil, parents Frank and Nan, and brothers Frank and Seán.
His Funeral Mass was celebrated in St Philomena’s Church, Palmerstown on Friday of last week, followed by burial in Esker Lawn Cemetery, Lucan, Dublin.
May he rest in peace.
Ballina support group Family Carers Ireland is inviting carers from the Ballina area to attend its monthly Ballina Carer Support Group, which meets in the Green Room of Ballina Manor Hotel, Barrett Street from 10am to 11.30am on Thursday, November 12.
This local support group, which convenes on the second Thursday of each month, provides an opportunity for carers to take some time out, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, and chat with others who understand the challenges and rewards of the caring role.
It also offers a chance to meet Michelle Moriarty, Family Carers Ireland's Support Manager for Mayo, and learn more about the services, supports and resources available to carers in the Ballina region.
New members are always welcome to attend in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere.
For further information, please email mayocs@familycarers.ie or call 094-9041148.
The death has taken place of Maureen Ruane (née Hopkins), Drumsheen, Bonniconlon, Ballina and formerly of Gort, Ross, Castlebar.
Maureen is mourned by her sons Michael, PJ, John, Hugh and Tony, daughter Bernie, daughters-in-law Josephine and Lucia, son-in-law Michael, grandchildren Shane, Sinead, Aoife, Rachael, Ciara, Andrew, Daniel, Elisha, John, Conall, Darragh, Gregg and Réiltín, great-grandchildren Fionn and Noah, and a wide circle of friends.
She was predeceased by her husband John, parents Hugh and Maria Hopkins, sister Celia, and brothers Michael, Pat, Hugh and Farrell.
Maureen reposed at the residence of Shane, her grandson, and Cathriona in Drumsheen, Bonniconlon on Thursday of last week. Requiem Mass was celebrated in the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Bonniconlon on Friday, followed by burial in Bonniconlon Cemetery.
May she rest in peace.
Congratulations to Ann White, Niall McLoughlin, Tina Greham and Vincent Kavanagh, who shared the €500 Match 3 prize in Ballina Golf Club’s November Lotto draw.
There was no winner of the main jackpot, which means the guaranteed €5,000 jackpot will roll over to the next draw on Tuesday, December 1.
You can play online. One line costs €5, with three lines costing €10.
Ballina Golf Club extends its sincere thanks to everyone who supports the club's lotto. Your continued participation plays a vital role in helping the club to develop its facilities and activities, and your support is greatly appreciated by all involved.
Meanwhile, the club has started its annual Winter League, with full details available in the clubhouse.
Ballina Bridge Club continues to hold its weekly sessions at the Twin Trees Hotel, Ballina, with members enjoying competitive and sociable games of bridge every Tuesday night.
The results for Tuesday, October 27 were: 1st, T. Slowey and M. Lowry; 2nd, L. Kelly and L. Kenny; 3rd, M. and J. Munnelly; and 4th, D. Hackett and V. Baynes.
The results for Tuesday, October 20 were: North/South - 1st, G. Scanlon and F. Walkin; and 2nd, T. Slowey and M. Lowry. East/West – 1st, M. and J. Munnelly; and 2nd, D. Hackett and V. Baynes.
New members are always welcome to join the club's game at The Twin Trees Hotel.
