Local Notes: Ballina Soroptimists present cheques to charities
Ballina Soroptimist Club presented a cheque for €7,000 to Inis Aoibhinn Cancer Care West recently, part of the proceeds of a fundraising event which took place in September. From left are Marian Murphy (President of Soroptimist Ballina), Yvonne Ward, Laura Kenny, Geraldine McKenzie, Eileen Kelly, Orla Cunniffe (Inis Aoibhinn Cancer Care West) and Patricia Fox.
Ballina Soroptimist Club presented cheques to three local charities earlier this month, the proceeds of its very successful September soiree.
The afternoon event in the Kennedy Glasgow Centre, The Quay, Ballina last Autumn raised €9,000. Cancer Care West received €7,000 while local organisations Ballina Community Centre and St Vincent de Paul each accepted cheques for €1,000.
Ballina Community Clean-Up, in conjunction with Mayo Volunteer Centre, has set its sights on a rejuvenation project for Ballina District Hospital on Mercy Road over the next 12 months.
Phase 1 of this ambitious project will focus on carrying out some landscape and gardening work in the hospital grounds. The energetic voluntary group, which does significant work to enhance the appearance of Ballina, is seeking additional help for its latest undertaking, and is inviting extra volunteers to come on board to help out.
Phase 1 will commence on Saturday, January 11, from 10.30am to 12.30pm. It is anticipated that this phase of the Ballina Community Clean Up hospital project will run every Saturday morning for about six weeks.
If you are interested in becoming involved in this first stage of the project, then please register your interest by contacting Edel at Mayo Volunteer Centre on 087-2470197 or by email at edel@volunteermayo.ie.
Ardagh GAA Club's very popular annual 5k run, jog or walk will be held on St Stephen's Day. This year's event is dedicated to the memory of former club player Diarmaid Farrell, from Ardagh, who sadly and unexpectedly passed away in early July of this year.
A donation will be made to this year's chosen charity, the very worthy Meals on Wheels, which operates out of Ballina Community Centre on a year-round basis. Your support will be greatly appreciated.
Registration will be at 10.30am on Thursday, December 26, with the 5k starting at 12pm. The entry fee is €10 (adult), €5 (child) and €20 for a family.
The results of the card game played at Ballina Bridge Club on Tuesday, November 26 were as follows: 1st, Rosaleen Keohane and Betty Gormley; 2nd, Gerry Scanlon and Francis Walkin; 3rd, Mary McAndrew and Caroline Callaghan; and 4th, Mary Mongan and Mary O’Dowd.
The death has taken place of Shelia Howley, Convent Hill, Ballina and formerly of Dooeighney, Corballa, Co Sligo.
Sheila was the beloved sister of Helen, Emily, Tom and John Paul. She will be sadly missed by her sisters and brothers, uncle Paul Boland, relatives, neighbours and friends.
She was predeceased by her father John, her mother Mai and brother Michael.
Sheila reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina. Requiem Mass was celebrated in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina on Monday of last week, followed by burial in Killanley Cemetery.
The Big Brother Big Sister Programme is currently looking for volunteers in Ballina and North Mayo to act as mentors.
The Big Brother Big Sister Programme is an internationally renowned youth mentoring programme that forms a friendship between an adult volunteer and a young person between 10-18 years who will benefit from extra support. It is run under the auspices of Foróige.
Successful adult volunteers are asked to share one to two hours a week with the young person they are matched with. The initial commitment requested is for one year. All applicants are carefully screened, receive training and, subject to approval with the programme, are provided with support throughout their match with the young person.
If you would like to contribute to helping a young person making change in their own life please register your interest by contacting Mayo Volunteer Centre, Cathedral Road, Ballina on 096-71444, or by email to vincent@volunteermayo.ie.
The death has taken place of Padraic Gallagher, Ardrass, Attymass, Ballina.
Padraic will be dearly missed by his wife Bridie (Bourke), his sons John, Martin and Terry (UK), daughters Ann Marie Moore (Ballina) and Teresa Kelly (Moygownagh), sons-in-law Robbie Moore and Robin Draisey, adored grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends.
He was predeceased by his daughter Catherine Draisey (UK) and, recently, by his son-in-law Tim Kelly (Moygownagh).
Padraic reposed at the Father Peyton Centre, Attymass, followed by removal to the Church of the Immaculate Conception and St Joseph, Attymass. Funeral Mass was celebrated on Monday of last week, with burial afterwards in Killeen New Cemetery, Attymass.
The final weekend of 2024 will not be seen off quietly in Ballina. A Christmas gig in TheNCF community space will host an event organised by Ballina Punx, and featuring local band Yop and Enniskillen punk garage duo Hectic Bins.
To add to the party atmosphere, several Ballina Punx DJs will be spinning some tunes before and after the live acts with an eclectic mix of music. Admission to the show is €10.
TheNCF is a cultural co-op for North Mayo and West Sligo, and has its own base on Pearse Street, Ballina since earlier this year.
The death has taken place of Liam O’Connell, Rehins, Ballina and formerly of Humbert Street and O'Rahilly Street, Ballina.
Liam, a well-known Ballina businessman, was the beloved father of Yvonne, Sean and David.
He will be sadly missed by his daughter, sons, son-in-law Subhrendu, daughter-in-law Alison, grandchildren Tara, Keira, Conor, Sam and Charlie, sister Marie, relatives and friends.
He was predeceased by his wife Nuala and his siblings Eileen and John.
Liam 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.
The 21st Ballina GOAL Mile is expected to draw a large crowd to Belleek Forest on Christmas Day.
Runners and walkers will convene at 11am to run or walk a mile for GOAL, the charity which is active across 15 countries, helping people whose lives and livelihoods have been shattered by conflict, disease and climate change.
The GOAL Mile is supported by AIB, and the nationwide event sees tens of thousands of people run or walk a mile to raise funds for this Irish-based charity.
It is a Christmas tradition for thousands of families, especially in Ballina, and it attracts huge numbers from all around the area, no matter what the weather.
All donations on the day or online are gratefully accepted. If you need more information or sponsorship cards, please contact Catherine on 087-9736310 or Marion on 086-3644073.
The death has taken place of Sheila Keane (née Langan), The Quay, Ballina.
Sheila will be sadly missed by her nieces Mary Dowling (Gurteens) and Carmel Scheftel (New York), nephews John Coultry (Belderrig) and Brian Coultry (Killala), extended family, neighbours and friends.
She was predeceased by her husband John, her parents, sister Molly Coultry, and brothers Johnny, Vincent, Martin and Patrick.
Sheila reposed at Lynn's Funeral Home, Killala on Tuesday of last week. Requiem Mass was celebrated in the Church of the Assumption, Ardagh, Ballina on Wednesday, followed by burial in Ardagh Cemetery.
The Big Christmas Paddle in Ballina on St Stephen’s Day, Thursday, December 26, will help raise funds for Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation.
Taking place at The Quay, the event begins at 2pm and it is hoped that hundreds of kayakers, dragon boaters, rowers and stand-up paddlers will come along for this worthy cause and enjoy the water activities and festive occasion.
The event will include a Christmas flotilla of small water vessels which will travel southwards on the River Moy as far as The Point at Riverslade.
You can donate to the charity on the day or online.
The death has taken place of Dessie Murphy, ‘Forthill’, Breaffy, Ballina and formerly of Currower, Attymass, Ballina.
Dessie was the beloved father of Ann Marie. He will be sadly missed by his loving daughter, brothers Paschal (Currower), Ivan (Ballina) and Jerome (Waterford), sisters Eileen Lloyd (Scotland), Marion Jefferies (New Zealand), Carmel Murphy (Bray), Geraldine Lynn (Keenagh), Nuala Higgins (Tuam), Bernie Naughton (Breaffy) and Lucy Scollard (Kerry), brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
He was predeceased by his parents Anthony and Bridget, his wife Kathleen, and brothers PJ and Anthony.
Dessie reposed at McGowan's Funeral Home, Ballina on Wednesday of last week. Requiem Mass was celebrated in St Muredach's Cathedral, Ballina on Thursday, followed by burial in Leigue Cemetery, Ballina.
Ballina Dragons is reminding the public that it is part of the current Blue Token Community Fund campaign being run in Tesco Ballina.
The Tesco Community Fund was launched ten years ago to support local good causes in the communities around each of the supermarket’s 177 stores throughout Ireland. Every 12 weeks each Tesco store donates up to €2,000 between three local good causes in its community.
So, remember to vote for Ballina Dragons by using your blue tokens, as the local charity with the most tokens will receive a donation from Tesco Ireland.
The men's end-of-season presentation in Ballina Golf Club saw a host of prizes awarded to the club’s top golfers this December.
Keith Cunningham was crowned the Ballina Golf Club Noel Dee Golfer of the Year 2024.
Eoin Devaney was the recipient of the Ballina Golf Club Junior Golfer of the Year 2024 award, and Darren Flaherty, Colin Culkin and Bill Kiely were crowned golfers of the year in their categories.
Steve Harris and Glen Forde took home the Doubles Match Play winners award and Keith Cunningham also received the Singles Match Play winner award for 2024.
The death has taken place of Patrick (Pat) McHale, The Woods, Broadmeadow Vale, Ratoath, Co Meath, and late of Ballina.
Pat will be sadly missed by his beloved wife Mildred (Mel), son Padraic and Padraic’s daughter Kennedy; daughter Edel and her family Mick, Ben, Sophia and Amber; son James and his family Helen, Shania, Dylan, Faye and Kelvin; son Robert and his family Ashley and Rían; daughter Paula and her family Sam, Isabella, Rhea and Matthew; his beloved and caring brothers and sisters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
He was predeceased by his mother Mary, father Anthony and sisters Mary and Elizabeth.
Funeral Mass for Pat took place in the Holy Trinity Church, Ratoath, followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.
Irish not-for-profit social enterprise and registered charity MyMind has announced the opening of a new location for face-to-face psychotherapy and counselling services in Ballina next month.
The service will be available, by appointment, from Monday, January 6, 2025 at the offices of Mayo North East, Kevin Barry Street, Ballina.
MyMind is the first and largest blended model of mental health care in Ireland, and is putting Ireland at the forefront of mental health innovation.
The development sees MyMind furthering its reach for face-to-face mental health support in the west of Ireland. This is of particular importance in areas such as Ballina and North Mayo where homeowners are affected by defective concrete blocks, for which MyMind offers fully funded, free sessions in conjunction with the Housing Agency, under the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The Mayo North East office is recognised within the community for its own supports and programmes for homeowners affected by this issue, thus providing MyMind with the ideal base for maximum impact at a local level.
The project is a collaborative effort between Mayo North East and MyMind, with invaluable assistance from Caroline Wilson, Mayo Defective Concrete Block community facilitator.
“Face-to-face counselling has been a preferred service requested by those accessing the Mayo Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme,” said Caroline.
“The ongoing stress and uncertainty can take its toll. I encourage impacted homeowners and families to use this free service that will provide direct emotional support and a confidential safe place,” she said.
MyMind’s network of qualified psychotherapists and counsellors provides face-to-face appointments in 10 locations across Ireland, and online in 25 languages, without waiting lists or the need for referral. Standard rate individual sessions are available at €60. MyMind offers reduced rate, low-cost appointments at €30 for full-time third level students, retirees, the unemployed and any person earning less than €25,000 annually.
For more information on MyMind’s services, and to register, visit www.mymind.org or call 0818 500 800.
A reminder has been issued to shoppers that free car parking will continue in public car parks in Ballina from 2pm each day until Tuesday, December 31. On street parking will operate as normal during these times.
The Moy Singers have been busy this December entertaining locals and visitors to the town alike, while also helping to raise money for charity in the process. Recent gigs for the Ballina four-part mixed voice choir have included an outdoor performance on Pearse Street and a ‘Delight the Customer Day’ in the foyer of Bus Éireann.
On Friday morning last, The Moy Singers introduced a festive atmosphere in the public area of Ballina Credit Union for a special members’ Christmas event, bringing a smile to everyone’s face.
There were 12 winners in the annual Christmas Raffle in aid of Ballina Meals on Wheels.
Prizes went to Susan Birkinshaw, Jean Ruddy, Noeleen Cummins, John Hallahan, Mary Trimble, Conor McLoughlin, Nicola Blendell, Martha Collins, Catherine Egan, Darragh Munnelly, the staff of Bank of Ireland and Handy Hut.
The proceeds of the raffle will help support this vital local service, which operates out of Ballina Community Centre on Teeling Street.
Ballina Meals on Wheels is seeking additional volunteer drivers for meal deliveries, who must have their own car. If you would like to volunteer, then please contact Ballina Community Centre on 096-21572, anytime between 10am and 12pm, Monday to Friday.
