Local Notes: Street art and good food in Ballina
The cooks who served up the delicious food at the street party on the final day of the Ballina Fringe Festival.
As part of the Ballina Fringe Festival, held from October 4th to 13th, the final event was the Pure Ballina X Global Kitchen street art launch.
This year's mural by artist SUFEK in Diamond's Car Park celebrates in Pure Ballina style with the theme 'United by Place’, based on tea as a universal and shared experience.
To celebrate the completion of this mural, Ballina's first Global Kitchen street food party was launched. Ballina Global Kitchen brings our community together to experience the food and music from around the world.
Six amazing volunteers, who are originally from Algeria, Tunisia, Sudan and Pakistan and now live in Ballina, cooked up a real feast for the local community, showcasing their cuisines and cooking skills. They provided a banquet of hot and savoury dishes as well as stunning desserts and cakes. The women have volunteered through the Mayo Volunteer Centre at many events and on several projects throughout the year and were very keen to take part in this cultural event.
The Mayo Volunteer Centre provided the necessary HACCP Health and Safety training for the cooks and also worked in collaboration with renowned local chef Ronan Fox who helped oversee the kitchen proceedings on the day at St Dymphna’s and St Nicholas’ Schools. Huge thanks go to Maureen Quinn, Principal of St Dymphna’s School, Elaine Kelly-Murray, the school’s Home Economics teacher and Eddie Quinn, the caretaker, for their help and support to bring this event to fruition. We also can’t forget the DJ on the day, Nick Preston, who played music from across all cultures.
The volunteers also had time to share their stories with the artist SUFEK about how important tea is in their cultures and what it means to them.
This event was delivered in partnership by Ballina Fringe Festival and Mayo Volunteer Centre. Ballina Fringe Festival is sponsored by the Ice House with funding from Creative Ireland, Mayo County Council, Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Art, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
The results of the game played by Ballina Bridge Club members in The Moy Club on Tuesday, November 5 were as follows: 1st, Rosaleen Keohane and Betty Gormley; 2nd, Margaret and James Munnelly; 3rd, Helena Moran and Mary Gilvarry; 4th, Frances Walkin and Gerry Scanlon; 5th, Mary Lowry and Trisha Slowey; 6th, Breedge Mulligan and Vincent McMahon; and 7th, Mary McAndrew and Caroline Callaghan.
The results of the game played on Tuesday, November 12, were as follows: 1st, Mary Gilvarry and Helena Moran; 2nd, Breda Mulkearns and Mary Corcoran; 3rd, Sean and Ann Callaghan; and 4th, Vincent McMahon and Ethel Walker.
Ballina people will be treated to a feast of choral music on Friday night when The Moy Singers present their annual Christmas concert, with special guests Spotlight Children’s Choir.
‘Carols by Candlelight’ will have a distinctly Christmas flavour, with the four-part mixed voices of The Moy Singers performing many seasonal evergreens. Expect some surprises along the way too.
There will be a debut performance at ‘Carols by Candlelight’ for Ballina’s Spotlight Children’s Choir. Both choirs will be directed by Shona Seck, owner, voice teacher and performance coach at Spotlight Vocal Studio Ballina.
Tickets are priced at €20, with proceeds going to the Great Convent Revival Project, which has major plans to begin the restoration of the historic but now disused Convent of Mercy in Ballina.
The concert will be held in The Great National Hotel Ballina on Friday, November 22, starting at 8pm.
Tickets are available online through Eventbrite, from members of The Moy Singers, from Ballina Tourist Office or from the venue. Contact Great National Hotel Ballina on 096-23600 or email info@hotelballina.ie.
The death has taken place of Maire Attracta Lee (née Quinn), Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, England and formerly of Garracloon, Cloghans, Ballina.
Maire was the devoted and beloved mother of Martin, Sharon and Jacqui.
She will be sadly missed by her children, brothers Gerry and Seamus, in-laws, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
She was predeceased by her husband Michael Lee, her parents Liam and Mary Ellen Quinn, and brothers Tiernan and Fionan Quinn.
Maire’s funeral Mass was celebrated in St Teresa’s Church, Rathduff, Ballina on Tuesday of last week, followed by interment of ashes in Ballinahaglish Cemetery, Knockmore.
The performance of excerpts from Handel’s ‘Messiah’ by Vocalessence, which was due to take place in St Michael's Church, Ballina on Sunday, December 1, has been postponed until further notice. Watch out for more information in due course.
Walter Macken’s play is the choice of Ardagh Community Players for their 2025 theatrical production.
A man returns to his hometown after being in jail for five years for murder. His friends try to help him to fit in again, but he refuses and secludes himself from the world. Only a pretty girl and his crippled son can still reach him.
This brooding 1952 play from the pen of the late Galway writer later became the first film to use the facilities of Ardmore Studios in 1959, and starred Hollywood actor Arthur Kennedy.
Walter Macken is probably best known for his novel , which was also turned into a cinema screen success.
is one of his most popular stage plays and is regularly performed across the country.
It will be presented by Ardagh Community Players on February 14, 15 and 16. Earlier this year, the theatre group’s production of attracted large numbers of people to Ardagh Community Centre.
Mayo Cancer Support Outreach Clinic is providing free support services to those affected by cancer at its Outreach Clinic in Ballina today, and every Tuesday. To make an appointment, please telephone 094-9038407 or 087-2804164.
Natasha Walsh has been awarded the title of Volunteer of The Year (Connacht) by Swim Ireland.
A member of Ballina Dolphins Swimming Club, Natasha received her prize at the Swim Ireland 2024 Awards ceremony in Dunboyne Castle Hotel, Co Meath.
Olympic gold medallist Daniel Wiffen also took a top award at the ceremony.
A Disney classic with a chilly twist is how the forthcoming Christmas panto in Ballina is being described.
will be a clever and thoroughly enjoyable take of Disney’s , the 2013 cinema family musical which, in turn, was based on Hans Christian Anderson’s fairy tale .
Presented by Ballina Dramatic Society, will bring you on a fun-filled and mysterious frosty journey with lots of snappy punch-lines and a brilliant mix of familiar and interesting characters.
The show will feature lively choral and dance scenes and a very quirky, locally scripted story line that will have you laughing out loud throughout, with loads of name-dropping in between.
If the thought of winter makes you feel cold and miserable, then you will certainly cheer up with a night at this Ballina panto.
It’s entertainment for all ages when comes to Ballina Arts Centre on Friday, December 6 (7pm), Saturday, December 7 (8pm) and Sunday, December 8 (matinee at 3pm).
For the opening night on Friday, children are invited to come dressed in their gear and will then be home on time to watch the year’s biggest annual television show on RTÉ One.
Tickets for each performance are priced at €20, or €70 for a family of four. These are now available to purchase online at www.ballinaartscentre.com. You can also call 096-73593 or email info@ballinaartscentre.com.
Mayo Volunteer Centre, a project of Moy Valley Resources IRD, is currently accepting entries for its Poetry Competition to celebrate International Volunteering Day on Thursday, December 5.
This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase your creativity and share your thoughts and experiences about volunteering and what it means to you.
Whether you are a long-time volunteer, a new volunteer, someone who has benefited from the work of volunteers or someone who manages volunteers, Mayo Volunteer Centre would love to hear your story – in verse.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony on December 5 in the Mayo Volunteer Centre, which is located at Cathedral Road, Ballina, with refreshments provided on the day. Each winner will receive a prize and read their poems at the prizegiving event.
If you would like to submit a poem, please complete the form online and you will then be forwarded the submission guidelines. Entries should be submitted by Friday, November 29, and entrants should be resident in Mayo.
Further details are available from 087-6801934 or email info@volunteermayo.ie.
Heartfulness Meditation is the title of a class being offered in Ballina Family Resource Centre every Tuesday night until December 17.
Adults over 18 years are welcome to come along and benefit from the experience. The event is free, but donations will be accepted.
Further information is available from Anne on 087-9337121 or Angelika on 087-7444481.
Ballina Family Resource Centre is located on Abbey Street, Ardnaree.
Bonniconlon Drama Society is weighing up the options for its next stage production. The group has already selected the weekend of March 28, 29 and 30 for its 2025 offering, so keep an eye on this section for more details.
Craoibhín Ballina is running a Christmas raffle.
All proceeds will go to Craoibhín Ballina, which is an organisation set up by Moy Valley Resources to promote positive well-being and social inclusion to all adults in Ballina and the wider region in a happy, safe and welcoming environment. It achieves this aim by encouraging people to participate in social activities that promote a fulfilled and healthy lifestyle.
Tickets are now on sale in the centre, which is located on Cathedral Road, Ballina.
Your support will be greatly appreciated and there are impressive prizes up for grabs.
Contact 087-2785365 or email craoibhinballina@gmail.com for more information.
‘Political Visions from the Grassroots’ is an initiative that will bring together voices sharing different opinions at Ballina Library today.
This cross-border Women's Deliberative Café is a collaboration between libraries in Mayo, Longford, Monaghan and mid-Ulster.
The deliberation in Ballina Library, Pearse Street will take place at 4.30pm today (Tuesday) and will look at issues such as shared problems and different policies between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
A Christmas market, festive music, stories and magic will provide for a heart-warming Saturday afternoon in Attymass on Saturday, November 30.
Open from 12pm to 5pm, the event at the Fr Patrick Peyton Memorial Centre in Attymass village will feature stories and a touch of magic with Father Steve, as he leads an uplifting exploration of what Christmas means.
A Christmas market will showcase the best of local produce, arts and crafts, helping you to find some unique gifts. Meanwhile, choirs and musicians will spread their seasonal cheer throughout the day for what promises to be a joyful celebration of community, creativity and Christmas spirit.
Kilmoremoy Ladies Gaelic Football Club has expressed its thanks to everyone who has supported the club throughout the year, including its 2024 team gear sponsors and those who donated raffle prizes for the club’s awards night earlier this month.
Sponsors included Great National Hotel Ballina, Ridgepool Fuels, Specsavers Ballina, Hidden Hearing Ireland, Hollister, Mulligan's Pharmacy, Gerry Kenny Sports, Amy Roddy Coaching, Allure Hairdressing, Body and Mind, Wild Atlantic Glow, Diane O'Hora, Molloy’s Pharmacies, GRG Sports, Ballina Motor Care, McKane’s Chemists, The Loft, Harrison's Pharmacy, Rouse's Jewellers and The Bookshop.
This year, Kilmoremoy Ladies Gaelic Football celebrated the 20th anniversary of its establishment.
Ballina Salmon Anglers' Association presented cheques from the proceeds of its Last Cast Competition to two local organisations earlier this month. River Moy Search and Rescue and Grainne Uaile Search and Recovery Unit both benefited from the event in September.
Members of Ballina Salmon Anglers' Association Francis Gorman (Chairperson) and Peter McHugh (Treasurer) made the presentations.
