Local Notes: Ballina Soroptimists raise €10,500 for local charities
Ballina Soroptimist Club makes a presentation of €4,000 to Ballina Family Resource Centre, part of the proceeds from the club’s recent fundraising activities. From left are Alison O'Connell (Ballina Soroptimist Club Treasurer), Teresa Murphy, Shirley Moyles (Ballina Family Resource Centre), Fiona Hughes (Chairperson, Ballina Family Resource Centre), Yvonne Ward (Ballina Soroptimist Club President), Marie Morris, Olive O'Donnell and Eileen Kelly. Picture: John O'Grady
The conclusion to a series of successful fundraising events by Ballina Soroptimist Club this year has resulted in the generation of vital funds for several local charities and for vulnerable members of the community.
Over recent months, the club organised a lively calendar of activities, including a very successful September Soiree Lunch. In total, a remarkable €10,500 has been raised through the huge efforts of the Ballina club members and its many supporters.
These funds will go directly to Cancer Care Fund for Children, Daisy Lodge, counselling services at Ballina Family Resource Centre, Ballina Meals-on-Wheels and the St Vincent de Paul.
The club has expressed its gratitude to members, volunteers and the wider community for their unwavering support. Ballina Soroptimists also extends its thanks to local businesses whose sponsorship and donations helped to make the club’s annual Soiree Lunch in the Kennedy Glasgow Centre, The Quay, Ballina on September 27 last such a success.
It’s an especially appropriate time of year to remember the many who are still suffering in Gaza, and the Carols for Palestine evening on Saturday, December 20 will do just that.
Last Christmas, Pearse Street, Ballina was filled with music, candles and community, and vital funds were raised for Jenny and Derek Graham’s water project in Gaza.
Once again an appeal is going out from the Ballina couple to help this important project, with support from Debbie McCole and the dedicated members of Bridgil Ballina.
Jenny and Derek are long-time Irish human rights activists, with deep and decades-long ties to Gaza. They work directly with Palestinians on the ground to deliver water to schools, hospitals and displaced families in the north of Gaza.
Bridgil is a community-driven initiative dedicated to promoting justice, human rights and solidarity with oppressed peoples worldwide. Among the group’s most high-profile public advocacy campaigns is the peaceful rally which occurs on the Ham Bridge in Ballina town centre every Friday afternoon in solidarity with Palestinians, an unshakeable movement that has been going on for 18 months now.
The Carols for Palestine event this Saturday evening outside the Jackie Clarke Collection on Lower Pearse Street begins at 4.30pm, so whether you sing, wave a flag, shake a bucket or quietly hum along, you’re very welcome to join in. All proceeds go directly to the Gaza Water Project, with no overheads or administration fees applied.
With just over one week to go, it is anticipated that the Christmas Day 2025 Ballina GOAL Mile will exceed the impressive €10,471 raised last year - and that figure has been increasing steadily annually in recent years. In fact, the 2024 contribution from Ballina GOAL Mile was the highest of any GOAL Mile event outside of Dublin, placing the local event in the top ten out of the over 200 GOAL Miles which took place around Ireland.
Broadcaster and presenter Anna Daly returned as AIB’s campaign ambassador to launch the 2025 GOAL Mile earlier this month, calling on people across Ireland to continue to ‘step up together’ at Christmas.
This year, Anna has been joined by an exciting line-up of AIB ambassadors to champion the GOAL Mile for 2025. Featuring renowned chef and author Trisha Lewis, beloved TV personality Daithí Ó Sé, and, fresh from her win on the hit RTÉ TV show ‘The Traitors’, Oyin Adeyemi, this inspiring group is encouraging everyone to walk 2,000 steps – approximately one mile – to support the work of AIB’s charity partner, GOAL.
Deeply moved by the plight of street children he encountered while on a trip to Kolkata (Calcutta) in India, John O’Shea founded GOAL in 1977, and for over 48 years, GOAL has responded to almost all of the world’s major humanitarian emergencies ever since, working with vulnerable communities in more than 60 countries. While GOAL continues to be an agile first-responder to humanitarian disasters, it is also committed to working with vulnerable communities to help them survive crises and support them on the road to recovery.
Whether walking, strolling, jogging or running, everyone is invited to participate in the Ballina GOAL Mile with family, friends or their wider community. The event begins at 11am on Christmas Day in Belleek Woods, finishing at 12.30pm.
Entry is €14, or €50 for a family of four, and you can register at https://goalmile.org/locations. Children under five are free.
Pre-event registration helps GOAL to cover event costs and raise vital funds. You can also choose to purchase a ticket with a t-shirt and/or beanie combo.
Alternatively, participants and supporters can donate online via iDonate at www.idonate.ie, search for 'Belleek Woods'.
The 2025 GOAL Mile will once again feature the return of the AIB GAA GOAL Mile competition. Participants who register for the GOAL Mile can nominate their GAA club for a chance to win one of three top prizes: €7,000, €2,000 or €1,000 for their club.
To enter the competition and view the full terms and conditions, visit www.aibgaagoalmile2025.com.
Ardnaree Sarsfields GAA Club is fundraising for MS Ireland Western Region to support those in the community who are living with Multiple Sclerosis and to honour families affected by the condition.
The club will host a charity game at its grounds on St Stephen’s Day at 1pm, with Town and Country teams vying for the John O’Donnell Memorial Cup.
MS Ireland West provides essential services such as physiotherapy, counselling, support groups and home-based assistance that helps people maintain independence and quality of life. By raising funds, the club hopes to strengthen these vital resources and raise awareness about MS and its impact on people and families.
Donations to the fundraising event can be made online.
The prestigious Mayo Fleadh will return to Ballina over the May Bank Holiday weekend in 2026, running from May 1 to 3.
The securing of the Fleadh in Ballina for the second successive year is testament to the huge work carried out by Bofield Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann branch, whose hosting of the event in 2025 was widely praised.
Set on the banks of the River Moy, this year’s Christmas pantomime is locally scripted and cast, bringing a touch of Ballina wit to the stage of Ballina Arts Centre this week. The fun show will have oceans of songs and music, with new characters from Ballina Dramatic Society’s pool of enthusiastic and talented players who have been rehearsing for weeks.
Like last year’s very successful ‘Perished – The Panto’, ‘A Mermaid’s Sceal’ is based on a Disney favourite, telling the adventures of the ‘Little Mermaid’, and captivating people of every age from the very start.
Be prepared to be whisked along in stormy weathers with Ariel and her friends, and to be dazzled by a stunning array of colourful sea creatures, demure mermaids, rowdy pirates, sharks and an ominous octopus.
This sparkling and clever new show has it all for young and old, and the crew would even love to see lots of little mermaids and pirates dressed up in the audience.
The 2025 Ballina Christmas panto will be staged from Wednesday, December 17 to Saturday, December 20, at 8pm each night. And, for smaller children, matinees will be staged on Sunday, December 21 at 2pm and again at 6pm.
Tickets are still on sale at a cost of €70 for a family of four or €20 per person, plus booking fee. These can be purchased online at www.ballinaartscentre.com. You can also call 096-73593 or email info@ballinaartscentre.com.
The death has taken place of Mary Christina (Ena) Kelly (née Regan), 8 Lord Edward Street, Ballina and formerly of Beltra, Carrowmore Lacken, Ballina.
Ena was the beloved mother of Mary, Anne, Sean and Michael. She will be sadly missed by her daughters, sons, sister Nancy Clarke (Lacken), grandchildren Richard, Sinéad, Anna, Patrick, Martin, Grayce, Joseph and Jack, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, daughter-in-law Helen, Michael’s partner Angela (Reilly), sons-in-law John O’Toole and Peter Leonard, carers, relatives, many friends and kind neighbours.
She was predeceased by her husband Martin, her parents Mary Kate and Joseph, and brothers.
Ena reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Monday of last week. Requiem Mass was celebrated in St Patrick’s Church, Ballina on Tuesday, followed by burial in Leigue Cemetery.
May she rest in peace.
The Blue Christmas Service in St Michael’s Church next Sunday, December 21, is open to everyone. If you have lost someone you love, or if you have had a bad year and you feel that Christmas is just too much for you, yet you want to remember the birth of Jesus, then come along to this quiet and reflective service.
There will be some music and readings, and the service starts at 7.30pm in the beautiful surroundings of St Michael’s, located on Church Road, Ballina.
Ballina Chamber of Commerce is urging people to shop local this Christmas. The organisation, whose aim is to promote and support the economic well-being of local businesses, works closely with its members in Ballina and surrounding areas, and lobbies on behalf of the business community in order to achieve its objectives.
Ballina Chamber of Commerce, which was named Chamber of the Year last year, has Ballina shopping vouchers available to buy, helping to support local jobs and keep your money in your own community. The Chamber also reminds employers that vouchers up to €1,500 in value may be given to their employees tax free every year.
Vouchers are on sale at Ballina Tourist Office, Lower Pearse Street (located opposite the Jackie Clarke Collection) or can be purchased online at www.ballina.ie.
To find out further information about Ballina Chamber of Commerce initiatives for Christmas 2025, you can telephone 096-72800.
The Father Peyton Centre, Attymass, Ballina is reminding people that its Active Retired Christmas Gathering will take place this afternoon, Tuesday, December 16.
Beginning with Mass at 12.15pm, the event will also include a delicious, homemade Christmas Dinner in the centre’s own café. This will be followed by live music, a festive sing-along, dancing, a bumper raffle and prizes for the best Christmas jumper.
To book a table, please contact the Father Peyton Centre, Attymass on 096-45374 (limited availability).
