Castlebar councillor wants to take major event from Ballina

The Cathaoirleach of Castlebar Municipal District wants to reverse a decision to hold next year's Mayo.ie Western People Women's Mini-Marathon in Ballina.

The North Mayo capital had been selected to host the 2026 event following a tendering process last year, with Castlebar staging it this year. However, the Cathaoirleach of Castlebar Municipal District Cllr Donna Sheridan wants the popular event to "return to Castlebar on a permanent basis". This year's event was organised by Mayo Sports Partnership and the Western People in conjunction with Ballina-based Moy Valley Resources, which provided crucial logistical support. 

The Fine Gael councillor hailed the event, which was held on Sunday, May 4th, as a huge success but said she was "disappointed" it is moving to Ballina in 2026, noting that it had been staged in Castlebar every year from 2010 up to the onset of Covid-19 in 2020.

“I feel really strongly about this. We are not an incubator for festivals such that our Women’s Mini-Marathon that started here can be given to another district.

“I would like our manager David Mellett to write to Mayo Sports Partnership on this and to produce data showing how many from the district participated in this year’s event, how much money was raised and how expressions of interest for partners were put out because people had asked me how could they get involved and how was it managed. So I would ask the Sports Partnership to reconsider having it back in Castlebar because it was a Castlebar event and it is very disingenuous to take it out of the town.” 

Cllr Blackie Gavin praised everyone involved in the Mini-Marathon, as well as all of the other events that were held in Castlebar over the May Bank Holiday Sunday, saying it was "one of the best days ever in Castlebar".

"Everyone I was talking to on The Mall that day were delighted the Mini-Marathon was back, that the organisation was so clean and run so well and the Municipal District did such a great job."

Independent Cllr Michael Kilcoyne said he had no problem supporting the Cathaoirleach's efforts to keep the Mini-Marathon in the county town, adding: “But your party is in the majority in the council with 19 seats and can, by resolution, propose the event be kept in Castlebar – and my group will support you.” 

Fine Gael Cllr Cyril Burke said Cllr Kilcoyne was correct and that the Cathaoirleach would get the "full support" of the [Fine Gael] side.

Cllr Sheridan replied: “Very good. I will put down a notice of motion on this for the next Mayo County Council meeting proposing that this happens.”