Dragons roaring at The Quay in Ballina
Saturday mornings are all about dragons at The Quay in Ballina.
Saturday mornings are all about dragons at The Quay in Ballina. Not fire breathing monsters however, this is dragon boating, the fastest growing water sport in the world. It’s fun, colourful, sociable and wholly inclusive. Ballina Dragon Boat Club has a mixed membership comprised of breast cancer survivors and supporters.
Dragon boating is an ancient Chinese sport dating back over 2000 years. The first dragon boat came to Ireland in 1999 and today there are over 20 clubs. The long narrow boats need 20 bodies to paddle them, plus a drummer at the front setting the pace and a helm standing at the stern to steer.
In May 2023 Denise Swanick came up with the idea of getting a dragon boat for Ballina and immediately started gathering a core group. She put out a call on Facebook and the idea took legs. A committee consisting of Denise, Avril Greham, Michelle Dolan, Catherine Timlin and Mary Fleming was put in place and the fledgling group swung into fundraising mode.
That’s where Mayo North East LEADER Partnership and the HSE’s SlainteCare Healthy Communities Programme came in. The goal of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme is to improve the long-term health and wellbeing of certain communities across Ireland and they immediately recognised that this initiative was an ideal match, and provided significant funding toward both the boat and essential training.
As proven by Canadian research, dragon boat paddling is excellent exercise for breast cancer survivors as it provides strenuous upper body activity in a socially supportive environment. Club members describe it as a unique combination of a team sport and an individual non-pressurised effort which really helps their mental health. They explain how after the challenges of cancer treatment, getting back into physical activity helps them to trust their bodies again.
The social benefits are clear to see; the club members are warm and inviting, creating a welcoming atmosphere open to women who need it. Gerry Walsh, owner of nearby Quay West, makes the conservatory area available to them, for the all-important post-training tea, coffee and chat. Molloy’s Pharmacy are their main sponsor. Two recent recruits are Olena and Lana from Ukraine who value the connection with locals.
Ballina Dragons are working towards accessibility for all, both visible and invisible disabilities, they have plans to get a hoist and a pontoon at The Quay. This will be ideal for other boat users as well.
Michelle Dolan wears colours as bright and flamboyant as her personality. A coach, committee member, paddler and self-appointed tea lady, she epitomises the spirit of Ballina Dragon Boat Club and the boat itself is named after her. The first boat that is, with 65 member they are determined to see a second join it.
Mayo North East implements the Social and Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) which is co funded by the Irish Government through the Department of Rural and Community Development, and the European Union through the European Social Fund Plus.
