Ballina counts down to another magic day by the Moy
READY TO RUN: Richard West, Sinead Martin, Alan Rowe, Harry West, Daragh Quinn, Mary Moyles and Alan Murphy at the launch of the River Moy Half Marathon. Picture: Corinne Beattie.
The most welcoming town in Ireland will have hundreds of runners pound its historic streets on Saturday, May 16. That's the message from the organisers of the River Moy Half Marathon in Ballina who say the event is creating huge interest locally, across the island of Ireland and overseas.
The event has attracted crowds to Ballina for more than a decade and the 2026 version promises to be the best yet as the entire community gets ready to welcome runners to Moyside.
The route takes runners along the banks of the river along the Wild Atlantic Way, through beautiful Belleek Woods, starting and finishing at Heffernan Park, home of Ballina Rugby, where a festival atmosphere awaits the athletes.
The organisers promise an event that will be even bigger and better than before.
Daragh Quinn, president of Ballina RFC, club chairman Alan Rowe and incoming president Richard West along with some of the event organisers, club and local representatives launched the event recently. Chamber of Commerce chairwoman Mary Moyles and former Ballina player and Connacht player Harry West were along to share in the occasion.
Mr Quinn said everyone at the rugby club is looking forward to the big event. "We're absolutely delighted to be promoting and driving the River Moy Half Marathon alongside the organising committee.
"We believe Ballina is the most welcoming town in Ireland everyone who comes and runs along the Moy backs that up. Over the years the event has always been promoted as a sport-tourism event which involved many aspects of our great community, as locals and visitors took part and that's why we're so excited about it.
“People come from all across Ireland and as far afield as Italy, Belgium, France, Britain and the United States to run here and they come back year after year because they enjoy it so much.
"We live in a great town where everyone is made welcome and that's what makes the River Moy Half Marathon so special, the President added.
The event will conclude at the Ballina RFC grounds where the club's new facilities will be available for participants use.
To sign up visit www.myrunresults.com.
