Local Notes: All the latest news from Ballina
Overall winners in the Ballina Golf Club Winter League are pictured with the incoming Club Captain, John Slater. From left are Kevin Heffernan, Tommy Cooke, Mary Tighe, Sean Walsh and John Slater.
The dates for the Credit Union Schools Quiz 2026 have been announced by Ballina Credit Union.
The first stage of the popular quiz for primary schools in the Ballina Credit Union area, which covers much of the North Mayo and West Sligo region, will take place on Friday, February 6.
Over the past 12 years, Ballina representatives have led the way in Connacht with the most successes at national level.
In April, the Under-13 team from The Quay National School, Ballina was placed first in the All-Ireland Credit Union Schools Quiz 2025 in the RDS, Dublin, completing a series of victories for the Ballina primary school in the contest over recent years.
The winning Under-13 team had come through the first stage of the quiz in Ballina Community Sports Centre where almost 200 primary school students - representing 26 schools from across North Mayo and West Sligo - had taken part. The previous year, the Under-11 team from the same Ballina primary school took the title of All-Ireland Credit Union Schools Quiz champions 2024.
The 2026 contest will return to Ballina Community Sports Centre and the deadline for entries from schools in the Ballina Credit Union common bond area is Friday, January 23.
There are two categories for school pupils: Under 11, for entrants aged 10 or younger on December 31, 2025 and Under 13, for entrants aged 12 or younger on December 31, 2025.
Further information is available from Ballina Credit Union on 096-71066 or by email at info@ballinacu.ie.
The second stage of the Credit Union Schools Quiz 2026 will take place at regional level on the weekend of March 6 to 8, with the final confirmed to take place on Sunday, April 19.
The very successful Ballina Golf Club Winter League was played over four Sundays recently. The competition attracted 21 teams, mixed with ladies and gents, and concluded with the finals of both the main competition and the Plate competition.
Overall winners were Mary Tighe, Sean Walshe, Tommy Cooke and Kevin Heffernan, while the Plate winners were Sinead Fox, Keith Desmond, Colin Hennigan and Patrick Gaughan.
During the Winter League, Week One winners were Darren Flaherty, John Horgan, Malachy Burke and Kathy Foley. Henry Bourke, Bill Kiely, Brian O’Boyle and Helen Dunne won Week Two, while the Week Three prize went to Richard Doherty, Stewart Bruce, Ela Doherty and Michelle Grogan.
The club, along with players in the league, have paid tribute to the greenkeeper and staff for the impressive condition of the course.
Competition sponsors were Eddie Treacy Golf, Coleman Electronics and Callan Tansey Solicitors.
Anyone home for the New Year holidays who might be hoping to extend their stay will be interested to learn that IQ Ballina offers a simple solution to working remotely.
IQ Ballina is the innovation hub and enterprise space in the beautifully-restored 18th century former military barracks, which saw its first tenants take up residence there early last year.
Hot desks are also available in this town centre business campus, with its convenient location offering easy access to Ballina’s cafés and shops.
IQ Ballina is operated by Mayo County Council and Moy Valley Resources IRD.
Go to www.connectedhubs.ie and search for IQ Ballina to book a desk.
Ballina Bridge Club has revealed the results of its Christmas competition for members held in The Moy Club, Dillon Terrace, Ballina on Tuesday, December 2, which was won by M. Corcoran and B. Mulkearns. Other placings were as follows: 2nd, M. Mongan and M. O’Dowd; 3rd, B. Mulligan and A. Ivers; 4th, G. Scanlon and F. Walkin; and 5th, M. Gilvarry and H. Moran.
The results of the Maeve Lavelle Trophy competition held on Tuesday, November 11 were as follows: 1st, S. Callaghan and C. Callaghan; 2nd, A. Ivers and V. Baynes; 3rd, M. Corcoran and T. Slowey; and 4th, G. Scanlon and B. Mulligan.
Ballina Public Library will re-open later this week following the Christmas and New Year break. The library on Pearse Street will return to its regular hours on Friday, January 2, from 10am.
Normal opening hours each week are Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 5pm, and Saturday, 10am to 4pm.
The death has taken place of Bride Tolan (née Mannion), The Glebe, Ballina and formerly of Crossmolina and Dunmore, Co Galway.
Bride was the beloved mother of Conor, Kieran and Darragh. She will be sadly missed by her sons, daughters-in-law Michelle, Niamh and Jill, grandchildren Fionnán, Kate, Róisín, Max, Ava, Jake and Donnacha, sister Celia, brother Tom, in-laws, nephews, nieces, relatives, friends and neighbours.
Bride reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina, with Requiem Mass celebrated at St Muredach’s Cathedral, followed by a cremation service in McGowan’s Crematorium, Collooney, Co Sligo.
TheNCF Cultural Co-Op, Ballina will host its very own New Year’s Eve Party tomorrow night.
This not-for-profit organisation has seen a busy year, with a variety of entertainment and cultural events staged at its space on Lower Pearse Street.
Formed in 2023, TheNCF is a community of performing, visual and literary artists, volunteers and patrons who are organising a diverse range of arts events together, based out of Ballina. Its objective is to provide the local and wider Mayo community with access to creativity.
During 2025, TheNCF hosted regular open mic nights and DJ sessions, and was involved in Culture Night events. TheNCF also collaborated with Ballina Fringe Festival and The Conncert, as well as hosting gigs by international acts.
On December 31, from 10pm, you can ring in 2026 at TheNCF with DJ Quincy and DJ Spuggy as they close out 2025 in style. Expect a night of upbeat underground house, rolling techno vibes and a few unexpected gems dropped in along the way.
If you are feeling the call to slow things down a little after the Christmas rush, then you are invited to the Mary Robinson Centre this January for some free Anseo Mindfulness sessions.
A series of four restorative mindfulness sessions are to be offered on Thursday evenings at 7pm, from January 15 to February 6.
This will be a soft, supportive introduction to bringing mindfulness into your everyday life and no experience is needed.
To book, just email anseomindfulness@gmail.com, but please note that places are limited.
The Mary Robinson Centre is located across the river from St Muredach’s Cathedral at Emmet Street, Ballina.
