Local notes: Cyclists ready to explore Mayo's finest scenery
Gregory Battle, winner of the vice-captain’s prize at Ballina Golf Club. He was presented with his prize by the vice-captain, John Slater (left).
Some of North and West Mayo’s finest landscapes will form the backdrop to the annual Ballina Cycling Club Salmon Sportif, taking riders alongside Loughs Conn and Cullen and through the Windy Gap, often in view of Ireland’s highest standalone mountain and Connacht’s second-highest peak, Nephin.
The 2025 event will take place on Sunday next, August 3, starting at 9am, and cycling enthusiasts can look forward to the opportunity to showcase their fitness and skills with some challenging, yet rewarding routes available.
There will be three distance options to choose from, offering something for all levels of ability, across 50k, 90k and 120k distances.
All routes start and finish from the Ballina Stephenites GAA Club grounds on Lord Edward Street, where there is ample parking for bikes and cars.
The 50k route takes cyclists through Crossmolina and on towards Lahardane for a food stop. The cycle continues towards Pontoon, where participants will turn left back towards Ballina while enjoying the lovely views across Lough Conn.
The 90k will also pass through Crossmolina, and onto Bellacorick, where cyclists turn left onto the Castlebar Road. Cyclists will meet a moderate climb around Nephin. The cycle continues to Lahardane for the food stop, then returning to Ballina via Pontoon.
The more arduous 120km route takes the same route as the 90k cyclist group until Lahardane, but is only suitable for experienced cyclists. On reaching the food stop in Lahardane, they will take a right at the church and go to Bofeenaun, after which they will meet a very challenging climb through the Windy Gap. Views from here are spectacular. The cycle continues towards Castlebar, then turning left for Ballina and taking the return journey through Pontoon.
This annual cycle has proven to be a very well stewarded event and word is that the food stop alone is worth the entry fee of €30. A barbecued burger will await cyclists on their return to Ballina Stephenites.
Sign-in for all routes is from 7.30am on August 3 with each race starting at 9am.
You can register on the Cycling Ireland website at www.cyclingireland.ie. You will also find more information on Ballina Cycling Club’s social media pages.
The event is supported by Ballina Stephenites GAA Club, Ballina Lions Club and Soroptimist International Ballina.
Eight members of Mayo Shore Angling Club enjoyed a fine day’s fishing some 42 nautical miles off the North Mayo coast recently, having set off from Killala on the Dolphin Explorer. Among the anglers taking part were Stephen Smith, Jim O'Toole, Jim Caden, Tom O'Hara, Noel Tighe, Tommy O'Malley, Peter Sarsfield and Val McLoughlin.
Val, who is chairman of the club, said that some large pollock were caught during the trip. He also revealed that, on the group’s return journey, they were escorted back to bay by lines of dolphins on either side of the boat.
The death has taken place, age 96, of Teresa Loftus (née Howley), Carralavin, Bonniconlon, Ballina.
Teresa will be dearly missed by her loving children Liam, Virginia, Catriona, Treasa, Ann and Michelle, sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchild, sisters Agnes McManamon and Rita McHugh, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends Teresa was the beloved wife of the late John, and mother of the late Padraig.
Teresa reposed in Gallagher’s Funeral Home, Bonniconlon. Requiem Mass was celebrated in the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Bonniconlon, with burial afterwards in Bonniconlon Cemetery.
Ballina Family Resource Centre has expressed its gratitude to members of Enniscrone Ladies Golf Club for their recent donation, the proceeds of Lady Captain’s Day earlier this month.
The lady captain of Enniscrone, Elaine Doherty, presented a cheque for €500 to Shirley Moyles, who is Project Co-ordinator at Ballina Family Resource Centre. The money will go towards the centre’s counselling services.
The centre on Abbey Street, Ardnaree provides a professional and confidential counselling service which includes therapy services for individuals, couples, adolescents and children in Ballina and surrounding areas.
For more information about these services please contact Ballina Family Resource Centre on 096-75573 or 087-0618525. You can also email admin@ballinafrc.com.
Leading Ballina furnishings store Trevor Morrow Ltd. raised an impressive €6000 at a coffee morning in its premises recently. Two charities – Mayo Cancer Support Association and the Irish Cancer Society – will share the proceeds.
The firm has thanked all who supported the event and who contributed generously to these two very worthy causes.
The death has taken place of Voldemaras (Vol) Vasiliúnas, 23 Convent Hill Crescent, Ballina.
Vol will be sadly missed by his daughters Vaida and Rosie, his partner Marina, stepson Denis and sister Ale.
Vol reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Monday of last week. Requiem Mass was celebrated in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina on Tuesday, followed by a private cremation service in McGowan’s Crematorium, Collooney, Co. Sligo.
The Annual General Meeting of Ballina Tennis Club will take place on Thursday night, July 31. All members are invited to attend, with much focus on the very successful year just past and on plans for the future of the club.
The meeting starts at 8pm in the clubhouse, which is located beside Ballina Community Sports Centre.
Mass will be celebrated in Bonniconlon Cemetery on Saturday next, August 2, starting at 3pm. There will be a collection box for any voluntary contributions, with proceeds going towards the maintenance of the cemetery. All are welcome.
The recent church gate collection in aid of Mary's Meals Ireland realised €2,305 for the charity organisation.
€22 will feed a child every day for a school year, meaning that over one hundred children will benefit from the amount raised in Ballina.
Mary's Meals is an international movement to set up school feeding projects in communities where poverty and hunger prevent children from gaining an education. Daily meals are provided for over two million children in schools in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. Mary's Meals not only addresses the immediate needs of hungry children by giving them a daily meal at school, it also allows those children to receive an education that can provide an escape from poverty for them and their communities.
For more info please go to www.marysmeals.ie.
The death has taken place of Michael (Mickie Joe) Walsh, Greenaun, Knockanillaun, Ballina.
Mickie Joe will be sadly missed by his loving daughters Marcella, Emer, Deirdre and Niamh, sons Pat, Michael and Eamon, sister-in-law Mary Harrison, 13 grandchildren, daughters-in-law Siobhan, Mary and Claire, and sons-in-law Bernard, Max, Paul and David.
He was predeceased by his parents Pat and Florrie Walsh, brother PJ Walsh and, earlier this month, his beloved wife Phyllis.
Mickie Joe reposed at Hiney’s Funeral Home, Crossmolina on Wednesday of last week. Requiem Mass was celebrated in the Church of Our Lady of The Assumption, Ardagh on Thursday, followed by burial in Leigue Cemetery, Ballina.
Just weeks after the sod-turning ceremony for the new 5th Mayo Scout Den and Community Hall, foundations have now been laid on the site at Belleek, Ballina.
Local company John Healy Construction Ltd. was awarded the building project following a tendering process earlier this year, and it is expected that the new Scout Den will be ready for occupation in the first half of 2026.
Funding of €1,152,000 was secured for the development in 2024 under the Community Centres Investment Fund. This followed years of campaigning for a new location for this busy Scout group by its longest-serving member, Benny Walkin, and current Leaders Matthew Garrett and Jonathan Merrick.
The present Scout Den at Teeling Street, which was built in 1969 on church-owned property at the rear of the former Ballina Town Hall, is no longer fit for purpose for the 100 members of the 5th Mayo Scout Unit, which operates Beaver, Cub, Scout and Venturer sections for young people in the area.
The Brian Moylett Memorial Golf Classic this weekend will remember the former hotelier and businessman from Ballina.
The singles competition golf classic will take place at Ballina Golf Club on Friday, August 1 and Saturday, August 2, with an entry fee of €100 for a team of four (€120 for visitors).
A BBQ and entertainment will add to the atmosphere of the occasion, where lots of prizes are on offer.
For further information or to book a spot please contact Ballina Golf Club on 096-21050 or Declan Murray on 086-8770630.
The death has taken place of Jim McDermott, Rathball, Knockanillaun, Ballina.
Jim is deeply mourned by his loving wife Mary, family, relatives and friends.
Jim reposed at Hiney’s Funeral Home, Crossmolina on Monday of last week. Requiem Mass was celebrated in the Church of The Holy Rosary, Cooneal, Ballina on Tuesday, followed by burial in Leigue Cemetery, Ballina.
Ballina Braves Boys Basketball Club is inviting applications to a boys basketball clinic in St Mary’s Secondary School, Ballina. The Good2Great Basketball Clinic on Saturday, August 9 will cater for U12, U14, U16 and over-16 age groups, and will be hosted by the JWils Academy. You can book by sending a WhatsApp message to Kevin on 086-0674977.
The death has taken place of Frank Naughton, Breaffy, Ballina.
Frank is deeply mourned by his cousins, relatives, neighbours and a large circle of friends.
He was predeceased by his parents John and Lizzy, and brothers Michael and Paddy.
Requiem Mass was celebrated in St. Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina on Monday of last week, followed by burial in Leigue Cemetery.
Ballina Golf Club hosted some first-rate competitions during July, and also saw its Ladies Challenge Cup team enjoy success.
On Sunday July 20, the overall winner of the Gents 18-hole stableford was Eamonn Hennigan, with 42pts (Back 9). Other results from the day’s play included: Category 1 - Michael Brady, 42pts; Category 2 - John Bourke, 36pts; and Category 3 - Hugh Byrne, 40pts. In the Ladies 18-hole stableford Alice Melody took the top spot with 41pts. Runner-up was Greta Harrison, with 38pts and third was Michelle Grogan, with 36pts.
David Egan was the overall winner on the previous Sunday, July 20, with 67nett. Other results from the Gents 18-hole stroke were:
Category 1 - Edward Bowes, 68nett; Category 2 - Michael Boland, 71nett; and Category 3 - Dara Gaughan, 65nett (Junior).
The results from the Gents 18-hole stableford played on Sunday, July 6 were: Overall winner - John Marsh, 38pts; Category 1 - Jason Neary, 37pts; Category 2 - Kevin Heffernan, 38pts; and Category 3 - Mark McLoughlin, 37pts.
Competition sponsors included Corcoran Fuels, Dillon McCarron, Archers and Kilroys Care Plus.
The club also saw success from its Ladies Challenge Cup team, which finished in second place in the area final played at Ballyhaunis Golf Club. The team’s achievement was even more remarkable for the fact that most of the players were on their first inter-club golf outing. Team members were Mary Reynolds (Captain), Alice Melody, Deirdre Beattie, Michelle Grogan, Mary Tighe and Catherine Mulligan.
