Local Notes: All the latest news from Ballina
Ballina Meals on Wheels was presented with a cheque for €1,500 following recent fundraising activities in aid of local charities by Ballina Soroptimist Club. From left are Eileen Kelly, Teresa Murphy, Marie Morris, Sinead Quinn (Ballina Meals-on-Wheels), Yvonne Ward (Ballina Soroptimist Club President), Olive O'Donnell and Alison O'Connell (Ballina Soroptimist Club Treasurer). Picture: John O'Grady.
Craoibhín Ballina is moving to the grounds of the former St Mary's Secondary School, located near the vacated Convent of Mercy building on McDermott Street, Ballina.
The organisation is re-locating from its centre on Cathedral Road, Ballina, out of which it has operated since 2008. It was originally established by Moy Valley Resources IRD as the Over-55 Club, and renamed Craoibhín in 2021.
This community-focused group supports the social needs of all adults in Ballina and the wider area, with a primary focus on the area’s aging population.
Craoibhín Ballina is governed by a voluntary board of management, with a small team of staff helping to deliver a weekly schedule of events and activities. It is funded by Pobal and the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, and continues to be supported by Moy Valley Resources. The manager of Craoibhín is Ballina woman, Elizabeth Ferguson.
From January 2026, Craoibhín will be based in the St Anne's School building, on the other side of town. This is in an area of the former girls’ secondary school complex from where a number of local organisations are already now operating, thanks to the work of Ballina Convent Regeneration Committee, a voluntary-led community organisation which has taken charge of the transformation of the historic Sisters of Mercy convent buildings into a community resource.
To access the new location from next month, Craoibhín Ballina members will turn left at the main gate of the convent grounds to where their new centre is located between the Involve Centre and Ballina Men's Shed, at Eircode F26C9E8.
Craoibhín Ballina finally shut its doors at its former riverside location on Friday last and will reopen at its new abode on Monday, January 12, at 9am.
If you need to get in touch with Craoibhín Ballina, then please call 087-2785365.
A reminder has been issued to shoppers that free car parking will continue in Mayo County Council car parks in Ballina from 2pm each day until New Year’s Eve, Wednesday, December 31.
The public car parks concerned are: Emmet Street Car Park, Humbert Street Car Park, Bachelor’s Walk Car Park, Barrett Street Car Park, Teeling Street Car Park and Market Square Car Park.
On-street parking will operate as normal during these times.
St Vincent de Paul, Ballina has expressed its thanks to all who helped out and supported its recent church gate collections.
“We were humbled by your continuous generosity and support," said a message from the organisation.
If you would still like to make a donation, then please contact St Vincent de Paul, Ballina on 096-72905.
The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) actively supports individuals facing poverty and disadvantage and has a history of compassionate care in Ireland going back to 1844.
The Moy Valley branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann is hosting a its inaugural Christmas traditional Irish music session in Ballina on Sunday next, December 28. It takes place in The Merry Monk, Killala Road from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.
All musicians, singers and dancers from across the region are welcome to come along and join in for what promises to be a special festive session.
Moy Valley CCÉ will be offering adult traditional music classes from January, also in the Merry Monk. Further details are available from 087-2775317.
Meanwhile, members of the Moy Valley Comhaltas branch will play during the 12.30pm Mass in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina on Sunday next, December 28.
The death has taken place of Daniel Connell, Rathball, Knockanillaun, Ballina and Streatham, London.
Daniel will be sadly missed by his loving sisters Brigid McHale and Jodie Murphy, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
He was predeceased by his parents Annie and Michael, brothers Johnny, Eddie and Michael, and sister Kathleen McAndrew.
Daniel reposed at Hiney’s Funeral Home, Crossmolina, followed by removal to the Church of the Holy Rosary, Cooneal, Ballina, where Requiem Mass was celebrated on Monday of last week. Burial took place in Lisheen Cemetery.
May he rest in peace.
The St Michael’s Church Breakfast Service on Sunday next, December 28, will see the men of the parish don their aprons and cook and serve breakfast to all present.
This beautiful place of worship on Church Road, Ballina will welcome women, children and men for a special Christmas gathering, which starts at 11.30am.
Recently baptised in the Parish of Kilmoremoy (Ballina) were Hannah Elizabeth O’Connor, Lucan, Dublin; Halo Skye Langdon, St Patrick’s Estate, Ballina; Frankie Anthony Hopkins, St Patrick’s Estate, Ballina; Levi James McDonagh, St Patrick’s Estate, Ballina; Layla Rose Wynne, Quignalecka, Ballina; Hallie Maggie Padden Foody, Friars Court, Ballina; Maja Gawor, Lahardane; Croia Irene Maloney-McGowan, Corcoran Terrace, Ballina; Seán Michael McEvilly, Quignalecka, Ballina; Jo Maria Batty, South Africa and Creggs Road, Ballina; Nellie Eva Hourican, Breaffy, Ballina; John Gerard Maloney, Tyrawley Terrace, Ballina; Ruby Michaela Coleman, Olde Millstone, Ballina; Luan Tobias Gilmore, Church Manor, Ballina and Rhys Vincent McKeon Deane, Fairfield Lower, Crossmolina.
In the true spirit of Christmas, Ballina Lions Club is organising a Christmas Day Dinner for anyone who is alone on Christmas Day this year or who may not be able to cook for themselves.
The meal will be in The Merry Monk, Killala Road, Ballina from 12 noon to 2pm and Lions Club members will be on hand to help provide a convivial atmosphere for the very special occasion.
To book your place, please contact Pat O’Brien on 087-2540334.
This weekend, the club’s final Christmas Food Appeal of the season will be located in Dunnes Stores, Ballina. The club has expressed its gratitude to Dunnes Stores, and also to Tesco Ballina and Moloney’s SuperValu for their support in hosting its food appeals over recent weekends.
Johnny McEvoy returns to Ballina
Always a favourite in this part of the country, it is no surprise that legendary Irish folk and ballad singer Johnny McEvoy can still fill venues – after 60 years of performing!
Tickets are now on sale for an unforgettable evening of music as he takes to the stage of the Great National Hotel Ballina on Friday, March 13, 2026.
Johnny – who celebrated his 80th birthday this year – began his love of folk music while doing school homework and listening to Radio Luxembourg at home in Offaly in the late 1950’s.
As teenagers in the early 1960’s, he and a friend went on to form a folk duo. Little were they to know that, a few short years later in 1965, they would support The Rolling Stones at a gig in Dublin.
Very soon after going solo in the second half of the 1960’s, Johnny scored a huge hit with the emigration song ‘Mursheen Durkin’, which went on to be a No. 1 in Ireland in 1966 and is still a favourite in the 2020s.
At a time when folk groups such as The Johnstons and The Ludlows, and leading folk singer Danny Doyle, were also competing with the Irish showbands for record sales, Johnny managed to continue his own remarkable success with albums and two further No 1 hit singles – ‘The Boston Burglar’ (1967) and ‘Nora’ (1968). Further chart success came his way again in the 1970s with his self-penned song ‘Long Before Your Time’, released during a period in which he had formed his own band.
In the 1980s, Johnny McEvoy delivered two further albums, including a country long player, but spent less time in the studio over the next few decades. His most recent recording is from 2017.
The timeless quality of his voice and songs, and the stories and banter which accompany his music, have retained the attention of audiences not just in Ireland, but internationally, Renowned for his many ballads, haunting lyrics and captivating performances, Johnny McEvoy remains one of Ireland’s most beloved folk artists.
His ‘Both Sides Tour’, which marks six decades in the music business, is a night that fans from Ballina will not want to miss. Johnny last appeared in Ballina in February, 2024.
Tickets for his show are available from Ticketmaster, costing €43.55.
Donate to Meals-on-Wheels Ballina Community Centre provides a Meals-on-Wheels service to the elderly and infirm of the Ballina area, cooking the hot food on its premises on Teeling Street, from where it is delivered to the recipients’ homes by volunteer drivers.
A fundraising campaign by the not-for-profit charity organisation, which is run by a committee of volunteers, is seeking donations from the public.
The Meals-on-Wheels service was first established by the Ballina Sisters of Mercy in 1969. Two years later it was officially launched by the then Minister for Health, and later President of Ireland, Erskine Childers, and this invaluable service has been running successfully in Ballina ever since.
Ballina Meals-on-Wheels ensures that the elderly and the housebound of the area can live healthy and independent lives in the safety and comfort of their own homes.
You can donate via iDonate at www.idonate.ie/cause/mowballina.
Ballina Community Centre also offers meeting rooms on its premises which are available to community groups and self-help groups such as AA and mental health support groups. Contact 096-21572 for more information.
Win a trailer loads of timber A car trailer load of timber awaits the winners of a Ballina Lions Club fundraising raffle, with the draw taking place in January.
Ballina Lions Club was founded in 1978. Now, as one of the largest Lions Clubs in Ireland, its regular fundraising activities enable the organisation to support local volunteer groups, charities and communities through various health, hunger and youth projects.
Tickets for the raffle cost €5 each or €10 for three.
One of Ballina Lions Club’s most thoughtful programmes takes place this coming Christmas Day, with a special dinner in The Merry Monk for anyone who is alone or who may not be able to cook for themselves on the festive occasion. Members will give up their time on Christmas Day to help make the event, which is organised by Ballina Lions Club, a memorable get-together for all those attending.
The late Michael Hanifin The death has taken place of Michael (Micky) Hanifin, Healy Terrace, Ardnaree, Ballina and formerly of Lord Edward Street, Ballina.
Micky was the beloved father of Martin, Jean, Tina, Ann-Marie and Lorna.
He will be sadly missed by his son, daughters, Martin’s partner Evelyn, sons-in-law Ronan, Gary, Bernard and Garry, grandchildren Megan, Jack, Tara, Michael, Molly, Kate, Ella and Matthew, great grandson Páidí, in-laws, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.
He was predeceased by his beloved wife Madge, sisters Mary, Judy and Nan, brothers Johnny and Patrick, and parents Patrick and Julia.
Micky 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.
River Moy Half Marathon Next year’s River Moy Half Marathon has been confirmed to take place in Ballina on Saturday, May 16, with entries now open.
The annual event will be hosted by Ballina RFC, and is set to start and finish at the rugby club grounds on Creggs Road.
The race route is relatively flat but with a few challenging hills along the way. Most of the half marathon will be run on roads on either side of the banks of the River Moy. Part of the route will take participants through the scenic Belleek Forest, where there is an excellent trail surface that is used daily by local runners and walkers in all types of weather conditions.
Entry in the River Moy Half Marathon costs €50 and anyone who registers before May 7, 2026 will have their pack posted out, avoiding the queues on race day. However, overseas registrations will need to collect their packs on the morning of the race.
You can register at www.myrunresults.com.
Improved amenities at busy Ballina playground Parents of the many children who will use Tom Ruane Park, Sligo Road during the school holiday period are reminded that a Sports and Leisure Equipment Box-Up Unit has been installed in the busy recreational area, in association with Mayo Sports Partnership.
Last year, Mayo Sports Partnership received a grant of €67,500 towards the installation of four such equipment boxes across the county, with the aim of promoting physical activity in local community settings. Units are accessible via a box-up app, enabling the user to avail of free equipment on-site such as balls and tennis racquets.
Details on how to download the app are available at the Ballina-based unit in Tom Ruane Park, Ballina’s most favoured playground amenity.
