Local Notes: Hollister Ballina makes donation to Croí charity
Hollister Ballina has donated to Croí Third Age on behalf of the Ballina associates who took part in the Operation Transformation event earlier in the year. From left are Mary Lawrence, Hollister; Ciara McAndrew, Hollister; Marie McDonagh, Hollister; and Paul Cunnane, Croí Third Age Mayo Project Co-ordinator.
It was another landmark achievement for the young quizzers of The Quay National School, Ballina when its Under-11 team took the title of All-Ireland Credit Union Quiz Champions 2024, following the final of the annual quiz in the RDS, Dublin.
School pupils Gareth Doyle, Michael Duffy, Aoife Hillery and Cian Gillespie were representing Ballina Credit Union, and the foursome secured the title after outdoing thousands of other schools from around Ireland to reach the gripping final, showcasing exceptional intelligence, knowledge and teamwork.
In 2014 and 2019, The Quay National School under-11 teams were also crowned national champions.
Special tribute was paid to deputy principal of the school, Anne Treacy, who coached the winners.
Meanwhile, the Under-13 team consisting of Quay National School pupils David Baynes, Noah Gallagher, Rowan Harrison and Iarla Hannon was placed in joint second at the national final.
John Sharpson, known to many as Múinteoir John, hosted the event.
This year's quiz journey began in January, with over 25,000 students from schools across Ireland participating in local and regional rounds. The competition, structured into two sections - Competition A for children under 11 and Competition B for children under 13 - challenged young minds and fostered a spirit of learning and collaboration.
The quiz, organised by the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU), is an important part of the credit union movement’s youth outreach programme which aims to demonstrate the value of local credit unions to children and young people.
Grainne Uaile Sub Aqua Club, Ballina once again will welcome visiting divers from all across the country to Kilcummin on the weekend of August 9 to 11.
The club is expecting divers from Ireland and abroad to attend its International Dive Rally at Kilcummin Harbour.
Last year’s event offered an opportunity to showcase the region’s incredible diving offering, attracting a large number of divers and spectators.
A programme of entertainment for participants and for the general public is also to be scheduled in conjunction with the dive events.
A wide range of interesting activities is on offer at Craoibhín Ballina this Spring. From boccia to bowling and seated exercises to scenic loop walks, the social inclusion club located on Cathedral Road, Ballina has something for everyone.
During its ‘Meet The Solicitor’ session this week, the Craoibhín Ballina centre will welcome local solicitor Peter Loftus, of Bourke Carrigg and Loftus Solicitors, Ballina. Peter will give advice and answer questions about wills today (Tuesday, April 16), at 2pm.
Line dancing returns to the Kennedy Glasgow Centre at The Quay every Tuesday until the end of May (excluding May 7), from 12pm to 1pm. The cost is €10 and the instructor is Maria. For those who are new to this fun and healthy activity, beginners classes in line dancing will take place in the same venue on Tuesdays, April 16 and 23, from 11.30am to 12pm.
A quiz night in aid of Craoibhín Ballina will be held in The Cot and Cobble Bar and Restaurant, Sligo Road on Friday, May 10, starting at 9pm. The entry fee is €40 for a table of four and the quizmaster for the night will be Terry McCole. There are prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd, as well as for the best team name and the funniest answer! Refreshments will be served, and a raffle will also offer further attractive prizes.
Telephone Craoibhín Ballina on 087-2785365 for more information on how to get involved in these and many other regular indoor and outdoor activities.
Tickets for the Moy Singers Spring Concert this Saturday, April 20, are available from members of the Ballina choir.
Singer Marc Roberts will join the choral group for its show in the Great National Hotel Ballina, which promises a night of beautiful music and light entertainment, starting at 8pm.
Tickets are also available from the Ballina Tourist Office on Pearse Street, Great National Hotel Ballina and online at Eventbrite, as well as on the door on the night.
A 2.5k competitive swim and a lighter 600m participation swim are on offer for this year’s annual Moy Swim, a festival of swimming that caters for all levels of swimmer and people interested in the water and the coast.
The event takes place on Saturday, July 13, during Ballina Salmon Festival and there will be a categories for both wetsuit and skin swimmers.
Each participant will receive a Swim Fest silicone swim hat and Swim Ireland finisher medal on the day. And there will be a special commemorative gift celebrating 60 years of Ballina Salmon Festival.
You should be aged 16 or over to enter, and swimmers between the ages of 16 and 18 must be accompanied by an adult (except when in the water).
You can book online at Eventbrite but, before you book, remember that you must be able to swim the distance of the event that you have registered for.
The death has taken place of Frank McAndrew, Shanaghy, Ballina and formerly of Whitestream, Bonniconlon and London.
Frank will be sadly missed by his daughter Jacqueline, brothers Paddy (Mullingar) and Jack (Bonniconlon), sisters-in-law Margaret and Bernie, nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, relatives and friends.
He was predeceased by his wife Mary, son Frankie, parents Patrick and Catherine, sister Mary and her husband Tom.
Frank reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina, followed by removal to the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Bonniconlon. Requiem Mass was celebrated on Monday of last week, with the funeral then proceeding to Bonniconlon Cemetery for burial.
Ballina Carers Support Group has announced that Lianne McManamon of Mayo Mental Health will deliver its ‘BREATH’ Programme on Tuesday, April 23, at 11am, in the Newman Institute.
This event is open to the public and is free to all but donations will be greatly appreciated. The Newman Institute is located in the grounds of St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina.
All enquiries to Margaret of Ballina Carers Support Group on 087-0953758.
The death has taken place of Dorothy Grehan (neé Hopkins), Knockleagh, Ballina.
Dorothy was the beloved wife of Michael. She will be sadly missed by her husband, sister Geraldine Hopkins, brother Dermot Hopkins, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends.
She was predeceased by her parents Jack and Annie Hopkins, her brothers Des, Ivan, Stephen and Ted and sisters Mary and Nano.
Dorothy reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Tuesday of last week with removal afterwards to St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina. Requiem Mass was celebrated on Wednesday, followed by a private cremation service in Shannon Crematorium, Co Clare.
A trio of Irish country music stars will descend on Ballina Arts Centre next month. Headlining the concert of old favourites is Declan Nerney, coming from that heartland of Irish country music, the north midlands.
Declan will be joined for his show on Bank Holiday Weekend Sunday, May 5, by singers John Hogan and John McNicholl.
Declan was born in Drumlish, Co Longford at a special time in the music scene worldwide. A revolution in rock and pop brought us The Beatles, Elvis and the Rolling Stones, while here in Ireland the uniquely Irish showband boom was about to explode.
A young man growing up at that time, Declan was heavily influenced by these greats and indeed was getting the rare opportunity to see most of the top showbands appear in his native town of Drumlish.
He would cajole his mother into allowing him to see Joe Dolan, Big Tom, Philomena Begley, The Capitol Showband and many more when they performed in the town’s famous annual marquee festival. From his vantage point close to the stage he would absorb every move made by the guitarists in the bands, watching their fingers slide along the strings and hoping that one day he might be up there performing just like Dan O’Hara or Seamus McMahon.
Declan has gone on to have a superb career spanning over four decades, winning many accolades along the way and scoring countless hits with his catalogue of trademark songs.
Join Declan and his live band, with special guests John McNicholl and John Hogan, for a nostalgic night of music, song and laughter on the 2024 ‘Where’s the Party’ nationwide concert tour.
Tickets are priced at €25 and can be booked online at www.ballinaartscentre.com. You can also call 096-73593 or email info@ballinaartscentre.com.
The death has taken place of James (Jim) O’Neill of Corroy, Ballina.
Jim was the beloved husband of Theresa and dear father to Fiona, Siobhan, John and Conor. He will be sadly missed by his loving wife, daughters, sons, grandchildren Aaron, Eugene and Tristan, daughter-in-law Kate, John’s partner Karina, sisters Sr Breege O’Neill, Ann Murphy, Bernie Molloy and Rose Daynes, brothers-in-law Sean Murphy and Charles Daynes, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
He was predeceased by his parents Annie and James, brothers Tom, Frank and Michael, and sister Mary.
Jim reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Wednesday last. Requiem Mass was celebrated in St Teresa’s Church, Rathduff on Thursday, followed by burial in Ballinahaglish Cemetery.
Belleek Woods Enhancement Committee has welcomed the granting of planning permission for the restoration of the Hermitage and the preservation of the pillars of the Boathouse in the grounds of Belleek Forest, Ballina.
The local group points out that these improvement works will be important for Belleek Woods and its future.
The committee has thanked North East Mayo LEADER for having faith in the project and for funding the necessary studies. Both structures required extensive research because of their heritage and their close proximity to a special area of conservation in the Coillte-owned wood.
“This is a relatively small but not insignificant milestone in preserving Ballina’s heritage and enhancing the woods as a place to visit and enjoy, situated along the Ballina to Killala greenway,” said the committee.
The group also extended its thanks to the team at Coillte for allowing it, a voluntary community organisation, to be involved with this and other projects within Belleek Woods.
Belleek Woods Enhancement Committee expressed its gratitude to architects Vincent Coleman and Simon Beale for the provision of specialised studies during the planning application process.
The death has taken place of Eamon McLoughlin, Ardnaree, Ballina.
Eamon will be sadly missed by his daughters Victoria, Frances and Jacqueline, wife Elaine, brothers Michael and Sean, sisters Margaret, Celine, Phyllis, Rita and Beatrice, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
He was predeceased by his parents Michael and Rita (Tierney), brother Desmond, and sisters Frances and Kathleen Styles (UK).
Eamon reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Friday last with removal afterwards to St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina. Requiem Mass took place on the same day, followed by burial in Leigue Cemetery.
At a meeting of Ballina Active Retirement Association held on Thursday, April 11, a programme of events for April and May was outlined to the members present.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 17, Linda Neary and Bernie Fuery will host a quiz, beginning at 1pm. Chair yoga will be held on April 18 and 25, and again on May 9, 16, 23 and 30, all Thursdays.
A whist session will take place on Wednesday, April 24 at 2pm, and again on May 1, 8, 22 and 29.
Chairperson of Ballina Active Retirement Association, Noreen Baker, will be in charge of the quiz on Wednesday, May 15, starting at 1pm.
On Thursday, May 2, there will be a talk for members by An Garda Síochána at 11.30am.
All of the above events take place in the association’s regular meeting room in the Pastoral Centre, located in the grounds of St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina.
The Culture Club is a programme of activities being offered by Mayo Volunteer Centre. The aim of the club is to bring people together to explore the riches of Mayo’s vast and impressive heritage and landscapes.
Volunteers are being sought by the Ballina-based centre to help promote the county’s rich heritage and hidden gems.
As a Culture Club Ambassador, volunteers will be part of a team, helping people new to the area to become more familiar with their locality and culture. Trips will be organised and led by staff from the Mayo Volunteer Centre.
Mayo Volunteer Centre is part of Moy Valley Resources and is also affiliated to Volunteer Ireland, the national volunteering body. It is a registered charity, and is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development.
Volunteers will be expected to commit to one visit or tour per month, lasting about four hours, and will take part in group visits to places of cultural significance across Mayo. This will include trips to the county’s most popular destinations, such as museums and heritage centres, as well as participation in tours around Mayo’s spectacular scenic locations.
You can find more information by contacting Mayo Volunteer Centre, Cathedral Road, Ballina on 087-6796937, or email community@volunteermayo.ie.
Local music promoters Ballina Punx and the newly-established cultural co-operative TheNCF present a three-band extravaganza in Ballina Arts Centre on Friday, May 3.
The line-up will include Sligo four-piece Some Remain. This alternative punk band delivers a vigorous blend of jagged 70s post punk, sharp noise and catchy hooks, bringing to the stage a powerful, live energy.
Ballina’s newest band Nichts features five musicians who have previously worked with live acts The Jollars, Only Fumes and Corpses, Shithatt and GSB, all of which are well known to punk rockers across the region.
Zrangorn, until now a recording project of Conor Hickey and friends, will complete the line-up of bands. Since 2020, a number of digital singles have been released by Zrangorn, often multi-layered and usually exposing some unconventional instruments. This first live performance will feature Conor on guitar and vocals and long-time collaborator, musician Padraig MacNally, both from Ballina.
The show starts at 8pm. Tickets are just €5 and can be booked online at www.ballinaartscentre.com. You can also call 096-73593 or email info@ballinaartscentre.com
