Local Notes: Ballina Active Retirees are 21
Cutting the cake to mark the 21st anniversary of the founding of Ballina Active Retirement Association were, from left: Bernie Cawley (Treasurer), Noreen Baker (Chairperson); Pauline Gray (Secretary); and Rosemary Armstrong (Assistant Secretary).
Ballina Active Retirement Association celebrated its 21st birthday last month with an event in Enniscrone.
The group was founded in 2002 by the late Paddy Flynn and his wife Ann, from Marian Crescent, Ballina. Many people will remember Paddy for his long and loyal service to the game of soccer in Ballina.
The first official meeting took place in the Pastoral Centre, on the grounds of St Muredach’s Cathedral, on Thursday morning, November 30, 2002, and meetings are still held in the same location today.
The first committee consisted of: Chairperson, Mary Galvin; Deputy Chairperson, Gerry Moore; Secretary, Sheila Greaves; Assistant Secretary, Ann McDonald; Treasurer, Paddy Flynn; and Assistant Treasurer, Peadar Tuffy.
Activities arranged during those early years included indoor mat bowling, bus trips, museum visits, social dancing, holiday breaks, Dáil visits and meals out.
The arts played an important role too, with the group even having its own band, and members participated in Irish language classes, a drama group, a music circle and choir.
Membership increased to 150 at one time, although those numbers have dwindled in more recent years.
“The passing years and ill health took their toll, as did Covid. All have had a major impact on us,” said Pauline Gray, who is the current secretary. “We lost some good friends and colleagues. This meant that some activities were either discarded or changed to suit our circumstances.”
The annual Mass for deceased members was celebrated recently in the Father Peyton Centre, Attymass.
Now, well into the third decade of the 21st century, regular activities enjoyed by group members reflect the changing times. Weekly chair yoga is very popular, as is whist and a monthly quiz. Some members partake in regular walking and swimming.
“We are just a group of all-encompassing seniors, keen to keep as active as possible and stay as healthy as we can,” said Pauline.
“We love meeting and making new friends, male and female, and we extend the hand of friendship to anyone who would like to join us.”
Ballina Active Retirement Association will resume activities for the New Year on Thursday, January 11, 2024, with the AGM taking place on Thursday, January 18.
Brian Hopkins, Chairperson of Ballina Fianna Fáil, has expressed his deep appreciation to all those who volunteered as part of the group’s Ballina Christmas Lighting Team.
He said: “Since the beginning of the summer, a number of people, including Mayo County Council officials Robbie Maguire and Declan Turnbull, Ballina Chamber president Tracey Glacken and CEO Mags Downey-Martin, Martin Devaney of Ballina Community Clean-Up, Cllr Mark Duffy, Minister of State Dara Calleary and myself, met on a weekly basis to plan and execute the lighting of Ballina for Christmas 2023. A lot of work went into the planning of the lighting as we developed and expanded the extent of lighting throughout the town - all of these people gave up their time and expertise to ensure that our town is looking beautiful for Christmas and providing a real experience for all those shopping and socialising in our town over the festive season.
“As Chairperson of Fianna Fáil, I wish to express my thanks to them all. I want to reserve special thanks and gratitude to the volunteers who undertook the task of erecting the lights. This involved many late, dark, cold and wet evenings when two groups of volunteers, one headed up by the Fianna Fáil organisation in Ballina and one by Ballina Community Clean-up, set about the huge task. The result of those labours is truly phenomenal and the town has never before looked so well for Christmas. I am deeply appreciative of the efforts of the Fianna Fáil volunteers and those from the Clean-up group – this was a collaboration that has worked fantastically well for the betterment of Ballina,” he said.
“On behalf of Fianna Fáil, I also want to thank Minister Calleary for his unwavering support of the lighting of Ballina and for securing the necessary funding from the Government for the addition of new lights this year.
"I take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy Christmas and urge you to shop local and support local as best you can this festive season."
Volunteers are needed to help out with general housekeeping duties in Ballina Community Centre, Teeling Street, Ballina.
If you are interested in providing some of your time to this wonderful organisation then please telephone 096-21572 or email monwb@hotmail.com.
Local singer and songwriter Michael Moloney has clocked up over 100,000 streams for his music on Spotify alone. In the process, the young Ballina man, who is studying for his Leaving Certificate in Dublin, has seen his songs register plays across 116 countries around the world.
The popular light entertainment podcast series Blackmilkshake also featured an interview with the 17-year-old in their most recent broadcast.
2023 saw the young musician play The Helix Theatre, Dublin and Ireland’s biggest music festival, Electric Picnic, along with headline shows in The Academy, Dublin and The Ruby Room, Castlebar.
The teenage singer has been a regular guest on the national stage in the last few years. As well as being selected as a finalist for Junior Eurovision, Michael has made appearances on ‘The Today Show’, ‘Ireland AM’, ‘The Evening Show’, and on the Covid special ‘Homeschool Hub’.
Most memorably for many people, Michael was singing on live television during the 2020 ‘Late Late Toy Show’ when he was surprised by Dermot Kennedy during a rendition of the star's song ‘Giants’.
Michael’s love for the craft of songwriting is evident in his music. Citing artists like Bob Dylan and The Beatles, along with contemporary acts like Phoebe Bridges and Lewis Capaldi, he has drawn great influences from the study of these artists. Whether it's playing guitar or piano, or singing acapella, Michael’s ability to put his heart and soul into what he does best shines through for all to enjoy.
Michael has thanked everyone who has listened to his music this year and is planning to use 2024 to bring his promising career to the next level.
Music Generation Mayo is currently in the process of drawing up plans to hold public consultations in Ballina to inform its new Strategic Plan for 2024-2029.
Strategic Innovations, a strategic consultants firm, will lead the public consultation process.
Music Generation Mayo provides a variety of music programmes for children and young people around the county. Professional musicians facilitate learning on a wide range of instruments, voice and music technology, across all styles of music.
Enquiries from interested community groups or individuals who wish to contribute to the five-year strategic plan can be directed to damianevans@msletb.ie.
Public consultations will take place in Ballina and Castlebar from Tuesday to Thursday, January 9 to 11, 2024.
It is planned to facilitate contributions at one of Music Generation Mayo’s in-person sessions, if possible, or one of its virtual sessions.
Music Generation Mayo will also have an online method of contributing to the consultation process via its website at www.musicgenerationmayo.ie, in addition to happily accepting written contributions by email to laurie@strategicinnovation.ie.
Ballina Training Centre has a range of new evening courses beginning in January, with bookings now open.
A course in Barbering is aimed at providing participants with the knowledge, skill and competence to use barbering techniques within the hairdressing and barbering industry. An Introduction to Hairdressing course will equip the learner with skills to provide an upstyle, wig, hairpiece or hair extension service for a client.
Those with an interest in Human Resources Management can avail of a 14-week evening programme to facilitate the learner in understanding the role of HR management in a range of organisations.
Courses in MIG Welding and Manual Metal Arc Welding are also listed to commence early in the new year.
Further details are available from www.fetchcourses.ie.
Operated by the Mayo Sligo Leitrim Education and Training Board, you can contact Ballina Training Centre directly at 096-24017. The centre is located at Riverside, just off Church Road, Ballina.
Ladies from the class of 1984 in St Mary’s Secondary School, Ballina are being invited to a 40-year reunion next summer.
The class get-together, including dinner, will take place in the Great National Hotel Ballina on June 29, 2024, at 7pm.
1980s-inspired entertainment will help trigger lots of nostalgia for the former pupils of the convent school on the night!
To book a place please contact Mary Devaney at 087-4147244 before May 31, 2024.
The death has taken place of Ellen Reynolds (née Howley), Old French Road, Belleek, Ballina and formerly of Ellaghmore, Bonniconlon.
Ellen was the beloved mother of Maureen (London), Sean, Mick, Kay (Dublin), Patricia (Dublin) and Dolours (Dublin). She will be sadly missed by her sons, daughters, grandchildren Susan, Hillary, Louise, Daragh, Laura, David, Shane and Mark, great-grandchildren Kathlyn, Tommy, Keeva, Rory, Karly and Killian, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.
Ellen’s husband Joe predeceased her.
Ellen reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina. Requiem Mass took place in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina on Monday of last week, with the funeral then proceeding to Leigue Cemetery, Ballina for burial.
Ballina Library will re-open after the Christmas break on Tuesday next, January 2.
Ballina Library offers community meeting places and study spaces, as well as free internet access and genealogy and local history resources. You can even rent a musical instrument!
And, of course, you can borrow a book.
Membership is free to all who live, work or study in the county, but you do need to become a member. You can join online or call into your local library in the centre of Pearse Street, Ballina.
The death has taken place of Eileen Murphy (née O’Shea), Crofton Park, Ballina.
Eileen was the beloved wife of John.
She will be sadly missed by her husband, her sons Sean and Patrick, in-laws, relatives and friends.
Eileen was predeceased by her parents Martin and Bridget, and by her brother Martin.
Eileen reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Tuesday of last week, with removal afterwards to St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina.
Requiem Mass was celebrated on Wednesday with the funeral proceeding to Leigue Cemetery, Ballina for burial.
The late, great songwriter Leonard Cohen will be remembered through new arrangements of his music at a concert in Ballina early in 2024.
Christine Tobin, who will also perform other songs, titles her forthcoming show at Ballina Arts Centre ‘A Thousand Kisses Deep’.
‘A Thousand Kisses Deep’ is a beautiful re-working of Leonard Cohen songs alongside some choice originals and other favourites.
In her own writing, Christine Tobin specialises in idiosyncratic, highly musical poetic vignettes with a strong sense of story, so it is no surprise that she weaves magic with the profound, sensual songs of Cohen, and in her own musical settings of WB Yeats and contemporary Irish poet Paul Muldoon.
She has chosen Cohen’s songs from his early 1960s albums through to his 2001 release ‘Ten New Songs’.
The live show of ‘A Thousand Kisses Deep’ won a prestigious Herald Angel Award at the Edinburgh Fringe and the album received rave reviews. In 2012 she won a BASCA British Composer Award for her settings of WB Yeats, and in 2014 she was awarded Jazz Vocalist of the Year at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Earlier in her career Christine won Best Vocalist at the BBC Jazz Awards.
Having been an integral part of both the New York City and London scenes for many years, Christine is now based in North West Roscommon. Her unique, rich sound has been described by newspaper in Britain as ‘Tobin’s 24-carat voice’. Her expressive range acknowledges finely acquired jazz, folk and 20th European art song influences.
‘A Thousand Kisses Deep’ comes to Ballina Arts Centre on Saturday, January 20, at 8pm.
Tickets cost €18 (€16 for concession). You can book online at www.ballinaartscentre.com. Also by email at info@ballinaartscentre.com or telephone 096-73593.
The death has taken place of Eugene Foy, Bradford, Yorkshire, England and formerly of Bonniconlon, Ballina.
Eugene is deeply mourned by his loving wife Lilly, sons, daughters, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, relatives and a large circle of friends.
Requiem Mass for Eugene was celebrated in the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Bonniconlon on Friday of last week, followed by burial in Bonniconlon Cemetery.
CAPTIONS:
Pic 1. Patricia Maguire, Rehins, Ballina, making a presentation of €5,000 to Cancer Care West nurse Catherine McCormack. Patricia, who raised the funds in memory of her father Paddy McGrath from Rossport, has thanked everyone who generously supported this very worthy cause.
Pic 2. Cutting the cake to mark the 21st anniversary of the founding of Ballina Active Retirement Association were, from left: Bernie Cawley (Treasurer), Noreen Baker (Chairperson); Pauline Gray (Secretary); and Rosemary Armstrong (Assistant Secretary).
Pic 3. Celebrating 21 years since Ballina Active Retirement Association was founded by Ann and the late Paddy Flynn were Mary McDonnell and Grace Dowdall.
