Local Notes: All the latest news from Ballyhaunis
John McNeive, Deirdre Duffy, Tom Flatley, Seamus Birmingham and Billy Lyons at a genealogy and heritage group evening at the Community Hall in Ballyhaunis addressed by Billy, a renowned local historian. Organised by Ballyhaunis Community Council, the group meets every month.
CJ Sheeran, which operates a Ballyhaunis plant making pallets for the manufacturing sector, is in hiring mode and has made its first acquisition outside of Ireland to meet demand for pallets in a clear signal that Ireland’s exports continue to grow despite American tariffs on the European Union.
After a decade of acquisitions across Ireland, including the purchase of Hazelhill Timber Products, CJ Sheeran has now taken over PH Pallet Services in Manchester.
“We do a lot of business in the UK which we service from sites here,” Fergal Moran, head of business development at the company, explained. “We also do some business with Irish customers with sites in the UK. Therefore, we had a desire for a base in the UK.
"The Manchester firm is predominantly focused on buying in and refurbishing secondhand pallets.”
Looking ahead, Moran is optimistic about the economic conditions and outlook for 2026 for CJ Sheeran.
"We are upbeat about the year ahead. We have a decent amount of new business and sales in the pipeline.”
Given it supplies pallets for containerised exports from Ireland, CJ Sheeran’s business is closely correlated to international economic and trading conditions.
“Our business is a carbon copy of the multinational [export] sector,” explains Moran.
Key clients include makers of engineering, pharmaceuticals, IT and construction materials as well as spirits products. The spread of industries means the company is well protected from cyclical swings in particular sectors, Moran explained.
“Most of the sectors we are in are flying. 2025 was a very, very strong year for us, the biggest in revenue terms since we were founded…
"The Irish economy is flying,” according to Moran.
There has been minimal impact from the imposition of a 15% tariff on exports to the US - “or if there has we haven’t seen it". This means more jobs in CJ Sheeran plants like Ballyhaunis.
“We’ve taken on two people in the first week of the year and will be looking to take on two more in Ballyhaunis.”
Growing demand from clients means increased mechanisation at plants but it doesn’t mean fewer jobs.
“We are always hiring, we have new robots landed in Ballinrobe in February but it won’t affect employee numbers.”
Moran is also optimistic about Irish timber supply, noting 2,600 hectares of forestry were planted in 2025, and while that’s well off the Government target of 8,000 hectares, it’s the highest figure since 2000.
CJ Sheeran chief executive Mark Sheeran chairs the national forestry lobby group Forest Industries Ireland.
Trees knocked by Storm Éowyn in 2025, meanwhile, have been quickly brought to market.
“There was two years’ worth of timber on the ground but the sector has been moving that timber very quickly so the sector has shown it can react to disasters. Initially there were worries the timber would rot before being sold but that won’t happen.”
A worker with 40 years of service at Ireland West Airport captured the indefatigable essence of Monsignor James Horan’s personality and his achievement as the airport’s founder on a programme broadcast recently by the BBC World Service.
Pearse Concannon told the ‘Witness History’ programme’s feature on Monsignor James Horan how he left a bricklaying apprenticeship to train as a fire officer at the airport. After a 16-week training course, Concannon became one of the first fire and rescue officers at the airport.
The ‘Witness History’ programme, which aired last week, also featured archive audio from the American TV network CBS ’60 minutes’ programme whose anchor described Monsignor Horan as a “parish priest” employing “guile, blarney and faith” to build an airport.
'Witness History', which features recollections by witnesses to great events in history, also captured the excitement on the day in 1986 when the airport opened to the cheers of thousands of people and a marching band greeting the arrival of the inaugural flight into the airport, an Aer Lingus service from Dublin.
The Monsignor, speaking to RTÉ on the opening day, predicted somewhat presciently the “prosperity” which the airport would bring to the region. Sorrow at his untimely death several months after the airport’s opening is also captured by Pearse who told 'Witness History' that the mammoth task of getting the airport open had “taken its toll”.
'Witness History' can be listened to online at the BBC World Service’s webpage.
Oranmore-based Bualadh Bos Drama Group will stage the Seamus O’Rourke play at the Community Hall in Ballyhaunis on February 14th before going on the national amateur drama festival circuit.
Director of the production Pauline Kennelly told this column the play, the group’s main full-length production this year, played to sold out houses for three nights in Oranmore before going on a two-night run at the Town Hall Studio Theatre in the heart of Galway.
A hugely popular voice on national radio and TV for his whimsical, humorous observations on life from his vantage of rural Leitrim, writer Seamus O’Rourke in tells the story of two elderly bachelor brothers, Eugene and Pat McPartland.
“Their days are marked by quiet routines and unspoken regrets,” said Pauline. “But on a summer night in 1979, Pat knocks on Eugene’s bedroom door. What begins as an awkward attempt at conversation unfolds into a night of revelations with dry humour and aching vulnerability.”
Tickets can be purchased by calling 087-9777899.
Mayo County Council has engaged a local plant hire company for an archaeological dig to pave the way for the erection of a pedestrian bridge over the River Dalgan on Bridge Street in Ballyhaunis.
The long-planned bridge, which will facilitate the widening of Bridge Street, will be located inside the boundaries of the grounds of St Mary’s Abbey, a protected property listed by the National Monuments Service, hence the need for an archaeological examination prior to any construction works. The dig is set to commence on January 26th.
The Mary Elwood Irish Dancing School will join several local singers and country/folk artist Mark Finn for an evening of entertainment on January 31 at the Community Hall to mark St Brigid’s Day.
Renowned local actor Pat Doyle will be performing some recitations while folk singer Noel Lyons will sing some of his own songs along with sean nós singer Angie Seamróg.
Popular local barman John Morley will also sing a song. Tea, Irish coffee and other refreshments will be served during the evening which gets underway at 7.30pm with donations at the door for St Vincent de Paul in lieu of an entry charge.
Contact ballyhauniscommunitycouncil@gmail.com for further details.
