Local Notes: Charities benefit from Ballina Lions Club Golf Classic
Ballina Lions Club helped raise funds for three charities in the area following its 2024 Golf Classic, played in Ballina Golf Club. These included Mayo Autism Camps, Foxford Alzheimer’s Community Trust (FACT) and Mindspace Mayo. Pictured are members of the club handing over a cheque for €4,000 to Mayo Autism Camps. Included in the photo are Sinead Smyth, Leszek Getsee, Lacey Beattie, Elisha Beattie (Mayo Autism Camp -Ballina) and Loretta Getsee, along with members of Ballina Lions Club.
Ballina Lions Club presented the proceeds from its annual Golf Classic to three local charities recently. A total of €12,000 was raised from the Golf Classic, which was played at Ballina Golf Club in early summer this year.
The nominated charities for 2024 were Mindspace Mayo, Foxford Alzheimer’s Community Trust (FACT) and Mayo Autism Camps, each receiving a contribution of €4,000.
The event is the main annual Ballina Lions Club fundraiser and the group has thanked golfers, local businesses who sponsored teams and tee-boxes, and the main sponsors - Connollys Ballina, Ballina Credit Union and Moloney’s SuperValu. Their continued support has resulted in €52,000 being raised over the last three years.
At the presentation of proceeds, Peadar Gardiner of Mindspace Mayo and Elisa Beattie of Mayo Autism Camps confirmed to the club that funds received from Ballina Lions Club will be used to provide outreach services in Ballina, while Jimmy Maloney acknowledged FACT’s appreciation for the continued support for the Alzheimer's Day Care service which it provides.
Mayo Says No to Racism is inviting people to attend a free workshop in Ballina on Monday next, November 4.
‘Understanding Hate and Division in our Communities’ is a three-hour session that looks at how to build an inclusive response to dealing with the issues around racism.
The workshop will be delivered by Hope and Courage Collective, an organisation that supports communities and civil society to stay grounded, caring and resilient in the face of hate, bigotry and extremism.
The workshop will run from 1.30pm to 4.30pm in the Kennedy Glasgow Centre at The Quay, Ballina. Advance booking can be made through Eventbrite, with further information available from the Facebook page of Mayo Social Inclusion. There are a maximum of 40 places available and tea and coffee will be served from 1pm.
Mayo Says No to Racism is a subgroup of Mayo LCDC Social Inclusion and Community Development Working Group.
Toys, clothes, books and plants will be accepted as swapping items at this weekend’s November Swap Shop in Ballina.
The monthly Swap Shop in the Mary Robinson Centre Climate Hub will take place on Saturday, November 2, between 2 and 4pm.
Swappers are welcome to bring along up to five clean items in good condition and then browse around to pick up items to swap.
Once you arrive, you will receive tokens for each item that you have brought along with you, and you can then use these tokens to choose other items available from the selection on show.
The organisers point out that toys which are electrical in nature or with a cord over 30cm cannot be accepted. Baby formula, car seats, baby slings and other safety equipment are also ineligible.
Entry to the Mary Robinson Centre Climate Hub on Emmet Street, Ballina (across the river from St Muredach’s Cathedral) is via the Moy Lane entrance.
Further details are available by contacting info@maryrobinsoncentre.ie or by visiting the centre’s Facebook page.
With Halloween fast approaching, Ballina Library has a very useful scheme that will help you cut down on waste.
Reusable party kits that include cups, bowls, plates, cutlery, trays and jugs are available to borrow for free through the library on Pearse Street. These kits can be used for any kind of celebration, be it a birthday party or family gathering. The kit also includes homemade bunting to decorate your party room.
The kits will cater for up to 30 people and can be loaned out for a week. A deposit of €30 is payable but the full deposit will be refunded once the kit has been returned complete, undamaged and washed to the library.
You can contact Ballina Public Library on 094-9064454 for further information.
The death has taken place of Edel Biesty (née Knight), Hyde Court, Roscommon Town and formerly of Ballina.
Edel was the beloved wife of Paul and deeply loved mother to Eva, Ellen and Tom.
Edel is deeply mourned by her heartbroken family, brothers Gerry and Tommy, sisters Breege, Assumpta, Josephine and Pauline, nieces and nephews, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, cousins, neighbours and friends.
She was predeceased by her parents Gerald and Tess Knight and by her sisters Kitty and Marie.
Edel reposed at Smyth’s Funeral Home, Roscommon. Mass of the Resurrection took place in Sacred Heart Church, Roscommon followed by burial in St Coman’s Cemetery, Roscommon.
The Moy Singers has welcomed a new musical director. The Ballina-based four-part mixed choir will see Shona Seck lead the singers as the group bids farewell to its former musical director, Alf Potter.
As a teenager, Shona completed her Royal Irish Academy of Music musical theatre and popular singing examinations with distinction. In 2017, she was awarded a degree in Voice and Dance from the University of Limerick and completed her MA in Voice Pedagogy (Professional Practice) in 2022. Earlier this year, Shona opened her own voice and performance teaching academy, Spotlight Vocal Studio in Ballina.
Shona, a past member of The Moy Singers, is now busy preparing the group for its Carols by Candlelight concert in the Great National Hotel Ballina on Friday, November 22.
Meanwhile, the members of the group have thanked the talented Alf Potter for his hard work and dedication over the years, first as its accompanist and later as its musical director.
This weekend’s Ballina One Act Drama Festival is promising thrills, laughs, tears and even music, as 11 theatre groups from Mayo, Sligo and across Ireland bring a feast of amateur drama to the stage of Ballina Arts Centre.
Among the drama groups from the four provinces that will present their short and varied plays will be Letterkenny Music and Drama Group, Lucan Drama, Shannonside Drama Group, Bualadh Bos Drama Group (Oranmore), Ennis Players, Upstairs Players (Claremorris) and Castleconnor Drama Group.
Geoff O’Keeffe will be the adjudicator across the festival weekend, which will also introduce three new writings.
Ballina One Act Drama Festival takes place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 1, 2 and 3. Friday and Saturday night’s productions begin at 7.30pm, while there are two sessions on Sunday – a matinee at 1.30pm (costing €10) and a later presentation at 7pm.
Tickets are available to purchase online at www.ballinaartscentre.com at €15 per night, or €35 for a weekend ticket. You can also call 096-73593 or email info@ballinaartscentre.com. Some plays carry a PG rating, while one is adult-themed.
Ardnaree Sarsfields GAA Club 50/50 weekly draw continues, with the following winning cash prizes recently: Majella Byrne, Ballina (€350); Martin Hanafin, Ballina (€330); Marie Kelly, Ballina (€355.50); Denise Gallagher, c/o Moclair’s, Ballina (€300); syndicate members Noel Helly, Gerry O’Boyle and Alan Browne (sharing €385); Aoife Padden (€360) and Helen Mills (€330).
The death has taken place of Padraig Naughton, Oakwood Drive, Ballina and formerly of Willow Park, Athlone.
Padraig was the beloved husband of Carol and dear father to Lauren, Rachel and Dylan. He will be sadly missed by his loving wife, daughters, son, stepdaughters Maria and Debbie, sister Tina, brothers Michael and Eddie, in-laws, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and his many friends at Ballina Golf Club.
He was predeceased by his father Paddy, mother Mary, sister Annette and nephew Derek.
Padraig 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 next meeting of Mayo COPD Support Group will take place in Castlebar on Thursday, October 31, at 2.30pm.
The meeting in Castlebar Tennis Club on Lannagh Road will be addressed by Moira Murphy, who will discuss inhaler techniques.
St Muredach’s Cathedral Restoration Fund will benefit from Midwinter Melodies, a night of delightful music by candlelight which will take place in this historic Ballina building on Friday, November 29.
The guest singer will be Dublin-born Eimear Quinn, who won the Eurovision Song Contest for Ireland in 1996 with Brendan Graham’s song ‘The Voice’, and who has performed in venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, London and the 8000-seater Forest National, Brussels, as well as in Ireland.
Eileen Dunne, the former RTÉ newsreader, will be compere.
The concert will feature St Muredach’s Cathedral Choir and St Mary’s Secondary School Choir under the leadership of musical director Regina Deacy.
Tickets are available online, with no booking fee, at www.ballinaparish.org. You can also buy tickets between 9am and 5pm daily from the Kilmoremoy Parish Office, which is located in the grounds of St Muredach’s Cathedral. Telephone 096-70555 for more information.
The death has taken place of Marty McGinty, 65 Cluain Na Rí, Ballina.
Marty was the dear father of Laura, Rachel, Jessica, Alana and Aimee, and loving grandfather of Callum, Shane, Tyler and Oliver.
He will be sadly missed by his daughters, grandsons, his mother Margaret, brothers Seanie, Robert and Peter, sisters Joan, Midge, Tete, Breda and Christine, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.
He was predeceased by his daughter Naomi, his father Seanie and his sister Irene.
Marty reposed at his residence on Tuesday of last week. Funeral Mass was celebrated in St Patrick's Church, Ballina on Wednesday, followed by burial in Leigue Cemetery, Ballina.
Ballina Bridge Club enjoyed another successful card game on Tuesday, October 22, in the Moy Club, Dillon Terrace. The results were as follows: 1st, Trisha Slowey and Mary Lowry; 2nd, Gerry Scanlon and Francis Walkin; 3rd, Mary Mongan and Mary O'Dowd; 4th, Niall Kilroy and Brid Kenny; 5th, Rosaleen Keohane and Betty Gormley; 6th, Margaret and James Munnelly; and 7th, Amy Maguire and Ethel Walker.
Congratulations to Jennifer Carr, Kilmoremoy, Ballina and Lee Barrett, Knockmore on their recent marriage in Ballina.
A fundraising table quiz in support of Grainne Uaile Search and Recovery Unit will be hosted at the Cot and Cobble Bar and Restaurant, Sligo Road, Ballina on Friday, November 8.
The Ballina-based Search and Recovery Unit, which is part of Grainne Uaile Sub Aqua Club, and is run by volunteers, performs an important public service. The group works alongside Gardaí, the Coast Guard and other agencies to provide a 24-7 service, all year round.
The quiz will begin at 8.30pm and teams of four cost €40. There will be a raffle and spot prizes.
Baptised during September and October in the Parish of Kilmoremoy (Ballina) were Oisin Anthony Reilly, Kilmoremoy, Ballina; Noel-James Wilson Carroll, Oaklawn, Ballina; Jacob Conor O’Shea, Greenhills Estate, Ballina; Millie Christina Murphy, Quignalecka, Ballina; Iarlaith Padraic Neary, Coolcran; Harry Sean McCormack, Rathkip, Ballina; Rylee Jane Cox, McDermott Street, Ballina; Sonny Michael Barrett and Cruze Eoin Barrett, Creggs Road, Ballina; Bobby Michael Staunton, Kimmage, Dublin; Iarla Peter Munnelly, Ballinteer, Dublin; Lorcan Joseph Flannery, The Hawthorns, Ballina; and Leon Ciazenski, Childers Heights, Ballina.
The death has taken place of John Casey, Greenhills Estate, Ballina.
John was the beloved husband of May and loving father to Donna, John, Gerry, Eva and Stephen.
He will be sadly missed by his wife, sons, daughters, grandchildren Joshua and Jacob, sons-in-law Kieran and Conor, brothers and sisters Ann, Eva, Gerry, Margaret and Padraic, in-laws, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
He was predeceased by his parents Kathleen and John, and by his baby brother Thomas.
John reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Sunday with removal afterwards to St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina.
Requiem Mass was celebrated yesterday (Monday) followed by burial in Leigue Cemetery, Ballina.
Craoibhín Ballina is inviting names for its annual Christmas dinner, which will take place this year in Ballina Golf Club on Wednesday, December 11.
As well as top-class food choices such as turkey and ham or roast beef, and apple crumble or pavlova, there will be live music by Padraig Moran and lots of fun. The cost is €25 per person.
Names must be given to Craoibhín, along with payment, by December 4.
All are welcome and for more information please call the Craoibhín Ballina Centre on 087-2785365.
Next year’s River Moy Swim date has been announced by the organisers. The hugely popular event attracts hundreds of swimmers to the river during the annual Ballina Salmon Festival, swimming between the town centre and The Quay.
The 2025 swim date is Saturday, July 19, and it is an official event in the Swim Ireland calendar.
