Local notes: Hospital donations wanted, charity seeks board members
Pictured at the 2025 Ballina One-Act Drama Festival, which was celebrating its tenth anniversary in November, were, from left: Kathleen Devaney, Catherine Egan, Kathleen Neary and Mary Mulhern. Picture: Maura Morrin Photography
Saint Joseph's District Hospital Ballina has teamed up with Ballina Community Clean-up, Mayo Volunteer Centre and other local community groups to provide much needed enhancement to the exterior and grounds of Ballina District Hospital, working hard on improvement works over the past year.
Dedicated volunteers turn out weekly to give up their own time and to make the grounds tidy and accessible, with much work already done during 2025. The volunteer groups want to further enhance and improve the campus to make it a warmer, more aesthetically pleasing location for its patients, visitors, staff and neighbours.
Almost everyone in the area has, at one time or another, had a loved one being cared for in the hospital and financial help is now being sought to continue this community-based work.
Friends of Saint Joseph's Hospital, Ballina have set up A Go Fund Me page where contributions can be made, with all funds raised going directly to supplying materials for the volunteers to carry out their work.
Four of the eight groups who performed in the 2025 Ballina One-Act Drama Festival have progressed to this year’s All-Ireland One-Act Drama Finals.
The Best Play in the Confined category was ‘Wilding’, from Hoodwink Theatre Productions, while Millrace Drama won Best Play in the Open category for its production of ‘Digging’.
The very successful annual Ballina festival was staged in Ballina Arts Centre last month, with other top awards going to Phoenix Players (The Adjudicator’s Award) and Hoodwink Theatre Productions (The Martin Mitchell Cup for Most Imaginative Production).
Frank Brennan took the Confined Best Actor Award for his portrayal of Ben in ‘The Dumb Waiter’, with The Phoenix Players, while the Confined Best Actress Award went to Elizabeth Doonan, who played Fiadh in the Hoodwink Theatre Production of ‘Wildling’.
The Best Actor top prize in the Open category was presented to David Clarke as Neil in ‘Digging’, by Millrace Drama. Réidín Dunne, a member of Bradán Players, won the Best Actress Award in the Open section.
Hoodwink Theatre Productions and Phoenix Players are through to the Confined section of the All-Ireland, while Millrace Drama and Bradán Players will perform in the Open section.
The All-Ireland One-Act Drama Final will be hosted by the Western Drama Festival in St Brigid's Hall, Tubbercurry on December 5, 6 and 7.
Brendan will be dearly missed by his loving family Bre The death has taken place of Brendan Blewitt, Runagry, Knockmore, Ballina.
Brendan will be dearly missed by his loving family Brenda, Catherina, Joseph and Laurita, adored grandchildren Dara, Emily, Lauren, Emma, Charlie, Cillian, Grace, Kate and Lola, daughter-in-law Deirdre, sons-in-law Ross, Fran and Joe, sisters Nora (USA) and Sr. Aloysius, brothers-in-law Paddy, Mike, PJ and Anthony, sisters-in-law Mary, Josephine and Eileen, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and a large circle of friends.
He was predeceased by his beloved wife Christina and by his parents and siblings.
Brendan reposed at the family residence on Sunday. Funeral Mass was celebrated in the Church of Christ the King, Knockmore on Monday of last week, with the funeral proceeding afterwards to Cloghans Cemetery, Ballina.
Craoibhín Ballina – located next door to St Muredach’s Cathedral – is organising a wreath making session with the well-known craftsman Tom Delaney this Tuesday, December 2 at 2pm. All are welcome.
The Craoibhín Christmas Party is to take place in the Great National Hotel Ballina on Wednesday next, December 10 at 1pm. Tickets cost €30 per person and there will be live music with Padraig Moran.
For more information please contact Craoibhín Ballina on 087-2785365.
The death has taken place of Mary Killeen (née Rice), Scotsgrove House, Ballyderg, Corroy, Ballina, and formerly of Tyrawley Terrace, Ballina.
Mary was the beloved wife of Martin and loving mother to Tracey Clabburn (Derrymannin, Knockmore), Tara Flannery (Ballina), Ciara (Galway), Kenneth (Galway), Shane (London), Emma (Scotsgrove), Susan Langan (Ballina) and Stephen (Scotsgrove).
She will be sadly missed by her loving husband, sons, daughters, brothers Colm, Seamus, Michael, Billy, Kevin and Dermot, sisters Joan, Teresa, Carmel and Bernie, grandchildren Ella, Reah, Edith, Sasha, Mia and Noah, in-laws, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
She was predeceased by her parents Jimmy and Bertie Rice and her brother Frankie.
Mary reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Monday of last week. Requiem Mass was celebrated in St Teresa’s Church, Rathduff, Ballina on Tuesday, followed by burial in Cloghans Cemetery.
A few tickets still remain for the Áirc Festive Feast in the Great National Hotel Ballina on Saturday next, December 6, which includes a Champagne reception, a five-course meal and music.
Áirc is a non-profit charity organisation that aims to provide various supports to the families of children with disabilities in Mayo. The group’s services cover all children with disabilities, from the very mild to the profound.
Áirc is asking anyone who is planning their Christmas party or a family night out to consider helping the organisation’s fundraising efforts by buying a ticket to back this good cause. A raffle will take place on the night with the proceeds going to the organisation.
Live music comes from Rejig while DJ Tommy Elliot will conclude the night’s entertainment.
To book, please contact Kathryn on 087-3427145 or Louise on 087-6799131, or message Áirc on its social media pages.
Tickets for the Christmas Party of OutWest, the Ballina-based voluntary social and support group which operates a drop-in centre for members of the LGBT+ community and allies in the West of Ireland, are now available. The Christmas Party is in the Diamond Coast Hotel, Enniscrone on Saturday, December 6.
The OutWest centre at Unit 6, Culgara, Teeling Street, Ballina (just behind Vincent’s Charity Shop) is a place where people can relax, socialise with others, play games or chat over tea and biscuits in a safe and friendly space. It is also provides access to information on other resources, in a welcoming and accepting environment.
Tickets, at €65, are available on Eventbrite or you can find more details from the OutWest social media pages.
The death has taken place of Mary Smyth (née Gaughan), Kilgellia, Attymass, Ballina and formerly of Behy, Ballina.
Mary was the beloved mother of Padraic (Pat), Anthony (Jnr) and James. She will be sadly missed by her loving sons, daughters-in-law Anne and Sharyn, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, in-laws, nieces, relatives and friends.
She was predeceased by her husband Anthony (Snr), her infant daughter Mary Kathleen, siblings, daughter-in-law Susan and granddaughter Sinéad.
Requiem Mass was celebrated in the Church of the Immaculate Conception and St Joseph, Attymass on Monday of last week, followed by burial in Killeen New Cemetery.
Craoibhín Ballina is seeking Expressions of Interest from people who would like to join its Board of Directors.
The word ‘craoibhín’ derives from the Irish word for ‘little branch’, and this critically important community organisation sees itself as a little branch in the community which is focused on supporting the social needs of adults in the Ballina district, with its primary objective on reducing isolation and loneliness among older people.
Originally established in 2008 by Moy Valley Resources IRD as the Over-55 Club, Craoibhín Ballina is governed by a voluntary board of management, with a small team of staff helping to deliver a weekly schedule of events and activities at its Cathedral Road centre.
It is funded by Pobal and the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, and continues to be supported by Moy Valley Resources.
Craoibhín Ballina is a CLG and a registered charity and would welcome applications from those with experience in governance (including charity regulation), financial management, fund raising, legal affairs, company law or HR.
If you are community-minded and would like to contribute your skills to support and guide the future of Craoibhín Ballina, please send a short cover letter and CV by email to community@moyvalley.ie.
For further information you can contact the Manager of Craoibhín Ballina, Elizabeth Ferguson, on 085-7810944.
The death has taken place of Mary Treacy (née Harkin), ‘Errigal’, Killala Road, Ballina. Mary was the beloved mother of Clive, Damian, Yvonne, Sinead and Niamh. She will be sadly missed by her sons, daughters, sons-in-law James, Eamon and John, daughters-in-law Lynda and Belinda, Angela, her 16 adored grandchildren, great-grandson Paraic, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband Andrew and infant daughters Edel, Briget and Nessa.
Mary reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina. Requiem Mass was celebrated in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina, followed by burial in Leigue Cemetery, Ballina.
Ballina Parkrun celebrated its 11th anniversary recently with a great turnout, as the many participants were greeted with a fine morning.
Local woman Ann Egan was responsible for bringing the popular community-based parkrun event to Ballina for the first time in November 2014. Last year, Ann was presented with a VHI Parkrun Hero Award for her services.
The Ballina Parkrun organisers have thanked the volunteers who turned out to help for the special day in Belleek where, at 9.30am every Saturday morning, runners, joggers and walkers can enjoy the fun and challenge of an organised community event.
Volunteer stewards helping out for the anniversary parkrun included Ailbhe Forde, Ann Egan, Carol O’Donnell, James McConville, Malachy McCarron, Maura Mears, Paddy Murray and Sean Tolan.
