Local Notes: All-Ireland champions are welcomed to Ballina Quay NS
There was great excitement at The Quay National School in Ballina last week as the Sam Maguire Cup was brought to the school by Mayo footballers Conor Loftus, Dylan Thornton, Liam Golden and Ryan O'Donoghue, who are pictured with pupils from third class. Picture: John O'Grady.
Gaelscoil na gCeithre Maol, Ballina recently completed a two-year European education project called ‘Sharing Stories, Sharing Cultures’, which was funded through the Erasmus+ Programme.
Pupils and teachers from the school visited partner schools from Tiszafüred in Hungary, Nykarleby in Finland and Trabzon in Türkiye. In turn, the Gaelscoil hosted pupils and teachers from these schools in Ballina.
The visits helped to develop a broader understanding of the cultural heritage, traditions, stories and shared values of the three countries.
Through online collaboration, classroom activities and visits to each other’s schools, pupils learned about the different cultures, languages and communities of their European partners. They also forged new friendships, and gained a better understanding of what it means to be part of the wider European community.
The project has created lasting links between the four schools, and provided valuable opportunities for both pupils and teachers to learn from one another while sharing their own culture and traditions.
During the last school year, and as part of a separate Erasmus programme, ten pupils from the Ballina town-centre Gaelscoil visited a school near Kraków in Poland, and nine pupils visited a school near Alicante in Spain.
The programme also facilitated a numbers of teachers to undertake professional development courses on AI and Climate Change in Ghent, Belgium.
For the new 2026/2027 year, Gaelscoil na gCeithre Maol is looking forward to taking some of its pupils on a trip to another European school.
Ballina Karen Community Green Garden welcomed new volunteers to help out at its extensive plot on Sligo Road, Ballina recently.
This award-winning garden includes vegetable plots, flower beds, rose beds, a polytunnel and the Hare’s Corner Wildlife Pond. New volunteers are always welcome, and more information is available on its social media pages.
The entrance is via St Muredach's College main gate, veering left at the top of the avenue.
Ballina Arts Centre will host its third annual cheese, wine and classical music night on this coming Saturday, September 19.
This autumn’s soirée introduces the musicians of the internationally-known, Irish-based Kantos Quartet. The string quartet features some of this country’s finest and most experienced classical artists. Sarah Sew and Hugh Murray are on violin, Alexandros Koustas is on viola and Aoife Burke plays cello.
Their Ballina programme will include the music of composers from across three centuries as the Kantos Quartet treats audiences to its interpretation of Beethoven’s ‘String Quartet in B flat Op.18 No.6’ [1800], Caroline Shaw’s ‘Blueprint’ [2016], Swan Hennessy’s ‘String Quartet No.2’ [1920], and JanáÄek’s ‘String Quartet No.1 Kreutzer Sonata’ [1924].
The seating for the evening will be café-style, and capacity is limited, so advance booking is advised to avoid disappointment.
Visit the Ballina Arts Centre website for more information and to book your tickets, or simply call the box office on 096-73593. Please inform Ballina Arts Centre of any food allergies when booking.
The death has taken place of Mary Newell (née Reilly), ‘Clan-Mhuire’, Avondale Court, Ballina.
Mary was the beloved wife of John and dear mother to Tony (Vanessa), Johnny (Trish), Melissa (David), Gordon (Racheal), Paul (Ashling) and Kevin (Louise).
Mary will be sadly missed by her heartbroken husband, sons, daughter, cherished grandchildren Aoibhínn, Katelyn, Grace, Riley, Ellie, Keeva, Karli, Charlie, Daithí and Killian, mother-in-law Patsy, the extended Newell family, relatives, neighbours and friends.
She was predeceased by her parents Jimmy and Bridie Reilly, brother Séamus ‘Dicey’ Reilly, infant son Patrick, and cousin Freddie Maloney (née Reilly).
Mary reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Tuesday of last week. Requiem Mass was celebrated in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina on Wednesday, followed by burial in Leigue Cemetery, Ballina.
May she rest in peace.
Among the recent baptisms in the Parish of Kilmoremoy (Ballina) were Lucy Marie Clarke, Fenian Row, Ballina; Ben Noel Harrison, Belleek Lodge, Ballina; Zoe Mary Lawrence, Shanaghy, Ballina; Finnian Stephen Thomas MacHale, Australia; Georgia Louise Campbell, Bonniconlon; Cormac Sean MacHale, Cloghans, Ballina; Gearoid Theo Moran, Rathnaconeen, Ballina; Shay Declan Forde, Castlefield Manor, Ballina; Theo Sean Forde, Castlefield Manor, Ballina and Julie Ann Borisov, Moy Heights, Ballina.
Bridge classes for beginners will begin on Thursday, September 24 in Ballina. Lessons in the popular card game will be delivered in the Dick Hearns Centre, which is located beside Ballina Swimming Pool, just off Cathedral Road.
For further information, please call 087-2263257 or email dickhearnscentre@gmail.com.
Ballina Swimming Pool has resumed children’s swimming lessons on Tuesdays and children’s length training on Sundays. For further information about regular activities in this 25m, 5-lane facility please call 096-70506.
Meanwhile Ballina Dolphins Swimming Club, which operates from the Ballina public pool, has returned with its own activities for the year ahead.
Grants Available for Climate Action Week Mayo County Council is inviting community and voluntary groups in Ballina to apply for funding to host events during National Climate Action Week, which will take place from October 12 to 18 this year.
A gala charity fundraising night in Belleek Castle is assembling three well-known Ballina singers to perform during a four-course meal that will be preceded by a prosecco reception, and all helping to raise money for Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation.
The live music will come from Patrick Lacken, Amanda Goonan and Tony Kelly, with some special guests also lined up.
The event is taking place in the delightful surroundings of the medieval banqueting hall of the Ballina hotel on Saturday, September 26. Doors open at 6pm and the dress code is smart casual.
This will be an unforgettable evening of wonderful food, live entertainment and celebration, all while supporting the invaluable work of Mayo Roscommon Hospice.
Tickets cost €90 per person and tables for five and ten are available. Booking is now open, via Eventbrite. You can also call Belleek Castle on 096-22400 for more information.
Pacers Basketball Club has announced that it has resumed training sessions in Ballina Community Sports Centre for the 2026/27 season.
Under-12’s are accommodated on Mondays from 6.30pm to 8pm. On Tuesdays it’s the turn of Under-14s from 6pm to 7.30pm, and Under-16s from 7.30pm.
New members are always welcome to join the Ballina club.
Entries have now opened for the annual Credit Union Art Competition, and Ballina Credit Union is inviting schools across the region to become involved.
Last year, Ballina Credit Union was honoured to have its representative Kevin Lee Sweeney, a student of Colaiste Iascaigh, Easkey, take the top prize nationally in the 14-17 AN category of the competition, which attracts close to 30,000 entries from across Ireland each year.
The Credit Union Art Competition is one of the most recognisable and longest-running competitions of its type in the country. Now in its 43rd year, the theme of the 2026 Credit Union Art Competition is ‘World of Colour’.
Young entrants are being encouraged to use art to explore the colours, experiences and perspectives that make our world unique. Whether inspired by nature, culture or imagination, entrants are invited to interpret the theme in their own way.
From bright, bold landscapes to subtle moments of everyday beauty, ‘World of Colour’ offers endless opportunities for artists to tell their stories through creativity.
Artwork will be judged on originality, artistic merit and how effectively it interprets this year’s theme. Entries must be hand-drawn or painted, as digital artwork is not eligible. Local winners will progress to regional and national stages of the competition.
The competition is open in two categories – General and Additional Needs (AN), across five different age categories and the closing date for entries is Friday, October 9, at 4.45pm.
Visit the Ballina Credit Union website at www.ballinacu.ie/news/art-competition-2026/ for more details, including terms and conditions.
