Ballina to celebrate all things Mayo during May Bank Holiday

Ballina Arts Centre is celebrating all things Mayo this weekend with two major events. 

The Mayo Fladh will be launched on May 2nd & 3rd with a concert on Saturday night and a play on Sunday. At the same time, to celebrate Mayo Day, on Saturday 2nd the Centre will run a full programme of free workshops and activities.

The Mayo Fleadh Launch Concert will takes place on May 2nd, and features Colm O’Donnell & friends, along with performances by the All-Ireland Senior Trio Champions and The Bofield Céilí Band. This lively evening of music will showcase some of Mayo’s most accomplished musicians and award-winning performers. The following evening, on Sunday May 3rd, ‘Let Justice Rise Though the Heavens Fall’ returns to the centre, also as part of the Mayo Fleadh. This powerful drama is based on the life and legacy of Michael Davitt. It chronicles his influential life and remarkable global impact in a thought-provoking and entertaining production that is a real ‘must-see’.

Over the same weekend, Ballina Art Centre celebrates Mayo Day, on Saturday May 2nd, with a full programme of free events. These include storytelling, life drawing, drop-in family art workshops, DJ workshops for teens, gallery tours and live music.

The day kicks off with family-friendly storytelling performances at 12pm, 1.30pm, and 2.30pm. Come to the Rehearsal Studio and hear about the Adventures of Gráinne Bear, who is connected to Ireland’s Pirate Queen, and who will be joined by Pirate Pete.

Families can also attend the drop-in art workshop, which will take place in the Art Room from 2pm – 4pm. Titled “The Green and Red of Mayo", the workshop will focus on working with complementary colours. For the adult artists, there will be a special Life Drawing session with Cormac O’Leary, from 10.30am to 2pm in the Lower Gallery. This is also free, but spaces are limited, so booking is essential.

If you would rather look at art than make it, why not join the free guided tours of the two gallery spaces at 2pm and 4pm. The tours will be led by Art Centre Director, Paul Cunningham, who will share insights into the two current exhibitions, "Daisy Chains || Data Trails" by Ciara Tuite and "Lost Painting" by Cormac O’Leary.

Meanwhile, Teens are invited to join a drop-in DJ Workshop, from 2pm to 5pm with Organic Flow Studios DJ, Ryan Cawley. Ryan will cover beat counting, beat matching, track selection, and DJ set-building. There will be more music on the Mezzanine from 2pm to 4pm with a concert by Music Generation, which will showcase young musicians from Mayo.

With so much on offer, Ballina Art Centre is helping to ensure that this year’s Fladh is launched in style and that Mayo Day in Ballina is a true celebration of Mayo Arts and Culture.