Local Notes: Charities reap benefit from Ballina Lions Club fundraiser
Ballina Lions Club Golf Classic helped raise funds for a number of charities in the area during the summer, including for Mindspace Mayo. Pictured are members of Ballina Lions Club handing over a cheque to Peadar Gardiner of Mindspace Mayo for €4,000 from the proceeds of the event. From left are Brian Hopkins, Ivan Beattie, Jonathan Merrick, Peadar Gardiner, Joe Doherty, John Carroll (Ballina Lions Club Golf Classic Chairperson), Enda Geoghegan, Pat O'Brien, Joseph Gavin (Ballina Lions Club President) and Gerry Jordan.
A group of Bofield Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Éireann musicians returned last week from a visit to Sitges ’24, an Irish music festival in Catalonia, Spain.
Seventeen young instrumentalists and singers from around the Ballina area were accompanied by a small group of adults for the festival, which began on October 24.
Under the Bofield CCÉ group’s tutor, harp player Siobhan Buckley, the young musicians entertained audiences at a range of events in Sitges and also managed to spend time enjoying the music of other performers and the sights of the beautiful coastal town, located less than an hour from Barcelona.
Catalonia has a long history of its own traditional music and the proud region has always shown a strong affinity with the music, culture and history of Ireland.
This annual festival, which celebrates the very best of Irish arts and performance, is organised by Irish arts organisation Artscope through its Creative Connections brand.
Headline concerts and fringe sessions brought together traditional Irish and folk musicians from many parts of Ireland alongside established music acts such as No Crows, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Niamh Kavanagh, Cathy Jordan and Alan Burke.
Among the most successful outings for Bofield CCÉ was a show in the famous Montroig Café in Sitges, an architecturally impressive and characterful venue where the audience enjoyed a stunning performance by the musicians and singers of the group, in collaboration with the dancers of Craobh Sean Treacy CCÉ from the northside of Dublin.
The four-day festival also included lectures, readings, films and workshops, and featured artists from the Catalan region.
Bofield CCE has thanked everyone for their support with fundraising over the last few months. A special word of appreciation was extended to Sarah Barrett and Marcella Holmes for their tireless efforts in helping to organise fundraisers.
A Bereavement Support Meeting to help people find solace and support on their journey of grief will take place in The Newman Institute, Cathedral Close, Ballina next week.
All bereaved people are welcome to come along to the meeting, which will be held on Wednesday, November 13 at 8pm.
The message from the organisers is that you don't need to be alone in your pain, and they invite you to come along and feel the support of others who have been trained to help you.
The Bereavement Support meetings are held monthly, taking place on the second Wednesday of each month. There will be one further meeting before Christmas, scheduled for December 11.
For more information about this important community initiative, please contact the Newman Institute at 096-72066.
Operatic heroes provide the inspiration for ‘Heroes’, an operatic and dance performance by tenor John Scott in Ballina Arts Centre this weekend.
‘Heroes’ is a journey of music and movement using the universe of German operatic heroes such as Beethoven’s ‘Fidelio’, Wagner’s ‘Die Walkure’ and ‘Siegfried’, and Weber’s ‘Der Freischutz’.
Dublin-born John Scott, through his virtuosic and heroic tenor voice and dance movement, shows two selves - human and mythological. The music portrays heroes battling impossible dark forces and conquering darkness, paralleled with the idea of escape and love.
‘Heroes’ was commissioned by Carlow Arts Festival and has toured to Paris, Zagreb, New York and Livorno. An extract of ‘Heroes’ was performed at 92nd St Y’s Irish Dance Festival 2019 in New York.
Concept, choreography and performance is by John Scott, with soundscape by Jassem Hindi, original lighting by Eric Würtz, costume by Justine Doswell and outside eye by Matteo Fargion.
The show will be performed on Friday, November 8 at 8pm.
Tickets are available to purchase online at www.ballinaartscentre.com at a cost of €18. You can also call 096-73593 or email info@ballinaartscentre.com to book.
The ever-popular Belleek 10k Run returns this year on Sunday, December 1, attracting runners from all parts of the country to Ballina.
Set against the backdrop of the stunning Belleek Woods, one of Ireland's largest urban forests, the race offers participants a scenic and challenging course through forested trails and along the banks of the River Moy.
Attracting runners of all levels, from seasoned athletes to beginners, the Belleek 10k Run is a community-driven event that promotes fitness, well-being and fun for all ages.
With its supportive atmosphere and beautiful surroundings, it has become a staple in the local running calendar, bringing together the community in celebration of health and sport.
The Belleek 10k Run starts at 12pm and you can register online by following the link on the Ballina Athletic Club Facebook page. There’s a free beanie cap for the first 150 people who enter.
St Michael’s Church of Ireland church building fund will benefit from the proceeds of a concert to be headlined by Christian, gospel and country singer James Kilbane later this month.
The beautiful building on Church Road, Ballina was the location for two series of the popular TV music programme ‘Other Voices’ in 2018 and 2020, which saw international artists such as David Gray, Elbow, Denise Chaila, Sam Fender and Villagers play in its tranquil and inspiring surroundings, a setting that is endowed with warming acoustics. Earlier this year, local acts Billow Wood and David Lynn performed in the church.
Enriched with a magnificent bass baritone voice, James Kilbane has released thirteen albums. He won the Irish Gospel Singer Of The Year award at the Irish Entertainment Awards in 2019.
The Achill singer will be performing some of this large back catalogue of music he has recorded over the past 20 years in Ballina, along with many gospel favourites. James will be supported by fellow Mayoman, John Flatley.
The fundraising concert – An Evening of Country and Gospel - will take place on Sunday, November 24 at 6pm. Tickets, at €15, are available from the organisers, online from Eventbrite or by calling 085-8886036.
For further details keep an eye on the Killala Croup of Churches Facebook page.
The Lumiere Quartet is an exciting new group led by acclaimed Irish Baroque Orchestra leader Claire Duff.
For the forthcoming concert in Ballina, the group will be playing with classical bows on gut strings and offering fresh interpretations of Mozart’s so-called ‘Dissonance’ Quartet, the C-major, and Mendelssohn’s ‘String Quartet in A minor’.
Claire Duff (violin), Elaine Clark (violin), Nathan Sherman (viola) and Carina Drury (cello) form this impressive quartet.
The concert is on tomorrow night, Wednesday, November 6, at 8pm. Tickets cost €18 (€16 concession) and can be booked online at www.ballinaartscentre.com. You can also call 096-73593 or email info@ballinaartscentre.com.
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.
The death has taken place of Greg Pearle, 6 The Arches, Cathedral Road, Ballina and formerly of Fatima Mansions, Rialto, Dublin 8.
Greg was an acclaimed singer, guitar player and distinguished songwriter, and performed on television with his band Against the Storm, with leading Irish acts such as Paul Brady, and with John Illsley of Dire Straits. He also made many regular appearances in the Ballina area and across Ireland and was seen as someone who influenced the careers of many other musicians, spanning genres from pop to folk, and rock to country.
Greg was the beloved brother of Richard, Maureen Moyles, Catherine Oliver, Carol Pearle and Regina Pearle. He will be sadly missed by his brother, sisters, brother-in-law Derek (Fitzer), Alan Maloney, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours, his many friends in music and his beloved dog Bella.
He was predeceased by his parents Tommy and Chrissy, his sister Anita and his brother-in-law Tom.
Greg reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Friday of last week, with a private family cremation afterwards.
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.
The busy members of Ballina Bridge Club are organising bridge lessons for beginners on Thursdays nights, from 7pm to 9pm in The Moy Club, Dillon Terrace, Ballina.
Anyone who is interested in acquiring the skills around this enjoyable and cerebral card game should contact Vincent on 087-2263257 for further information.
The results of the bridge game played by club members on Tuesday, October 29, were as follows: 1st, Margaret and James Munnelly; 2nd, Gerry Scanlon and Francis Walkin; 3rd, Mary Corcoran and Breda Mulkearns; 4th, Ann and Sean Callaghan; 5th, Bill Thomas and Ger Moran; 6th, Mary Mongan and Mary O Dowd; and 7th, Niall Kilroy and Ann Ivers.
Ballina Soroptimist Club’s annual Table Quiz next week is set to raise much-needed funds for local charities. The club’s big night will take place on Friday, November 15, at 8pm in The Loft, Pearse Street, Ballina.
A table of four costs €40.
The club’s September 2024 Soiree also helped raise money for charity, in that case for Cancer Care West’s Inis Aoibhinn residential facility in Galway.
The death has taken place of Vincent Frawley, Cathedral Close, Ballina and formerly of Lismore, Co Waterford.
Vincent, who worked in the banking sector in Ballina, was the beloved husband of Fia and loving father to Mary, John and Louise.
He will be sadly missed by his wife, son, daughters, granddaughter Sarah, sons-in-law Adrian and Tommer, sisters Ann and Margaret, brother-in-law John, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends.
He was predeceased by his son David, brothers Frank and Des, and sister Helen.
Vincent reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Saturday evening last, with removal afterwards to St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina.
Requiem Mass was celebrated on Sunday afternoon, followed by burial in Leigue Cemetery, Ballina.
If you've got plans to transform your home, either by adding more space or making it more energy efficient, then Ballina Credit Union has a flexible loan for you.
In 1968, Ballina Credit Union was established by a group of local people to provide the essential funding that is the lifeblood of any thriving community. Unlike banks, it is a completely not-for-profit community financial co-operative and is owned by its members in the Ballina Credit Union common bond area of North Mayo and West Sligo.
From simple DIY projects to full-scale renovations, if you have a plan to transform your home, then talk to your local credit union on O’Rahilly Street, Ballina today about its range of flexible home improvement loans.
You can contact Ballina Credit Union on 096-71066 or email info@ballinacu.ie. You can also visit its website at www.ballinacu.ie where you will find lots of interesting information, including a useful Loan Calculator.
Mayo Cancer Support Association will hold a Church Gate Collection at St Muredach’s Cathedral and St Patrick's Church, Ballina on the weekend of November 16 and 17.
For more than two decades, Mayo Cancer Support has been offering emotional assistance to people affected by cancer in County Mayo. All of the services it provides are available free of charge to service users who visit the organisation’s centres in Castlebar, Ballina and Achill. The group operates its services in confidence, and users can be assured that they will be supported by someone who understands what they are going through and who can offer them comfort and help.
The group is asking the public for its continued support for this local charity so that it can carry on providing help to people affected by cancer and to their families.
If anyone can volunteer to assist with the collections, then please call Rose on 083-4890754.
See www.mayocancersupport.ie for more.
