Ballina community groups praised for summer events

Community groups in Ballina have been praised for hosting a series of successful events in the summer.

In a presentation to councillors at last week's meeting of Ballina Municipal District, senior council official Declan Turnbull said it had been a busy and productive summer with a host of excellent events held in the town. A delegation from Ballina also travelled to Wexford for the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in August, with a view to learning more about the event ahead of a possible bid to host it in Ballina in the coming years. 

Mr Turnbull said the Dragon Boat Regatta at Ballina Quay in August was another great success for the area that brought people from all over the region and he understood it would now be an annual event. Ballina also performed very well in The Irish Times Green Towns competition, being shortlisted in the final 13, resulting in a lot of publicity in The Irish Times for a few weeks.

“So fair play to the local groups working on it and also the council staff. It is good to know we are there or thereabouts in relation to green towning," he said in his monthly report. 

As for council services in Ballina, he noted that the motor tax “continues to be very busy, attracting a lot of people into the office and is a very busy section for our staff to keep on top of".

Cllr Annie May Reape agreed that the Dragon Boat group has gone from strength to strength.

"They have the Dragon Chorus Choir now as well. I think it has gone even bigger for them than they expected,” she said.

Cllr Michael Loftus also extended congratulations to the organisers of the Dragon Boat weekend, saying: “It was great for people in the Ballina area. The Western Dive Rally in Kilcummin was on the same weekend and that brought 200 people from all over Ireland who came to enjoy the diving we have in North Mayo. We generated about €750,000 for the community through this event between accommodation, food, petrol, etc, which was a big boost to the local economy. That was always what we intended when we sank the MV Shingle in Killala Bay - to bring money back into the community.” 

Cllr John O’Hara said the Dragon Boat Regatta was a first for Ballina, adding: “It is great to see something new, and like anything, once it comes in it is a place to go and a new hobby for people to get involved in.” 

He said he was part of the delegation that travelled to the Wexford Fleadh Cheoil and many useful talks were had over the weekend with those involved in organising it, adding: “It is a fantastic event and the amount of people there was phenomenal. But it is a big undertaking and you have have to be able to close down traffic routes around the town to stage it.”

Mayo Co Council's Director of Services Catherine McConnell clarified that a report on the visit to the Wexford Fleadh will be delivered to councillors in due course.

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.