Local Notes: National award for Ballina volunteer
Ann Egan has been honoured for her work with Ballina parkrun.
Ann Egan’s selfless and unflagging work in promoting the weekly Ballina parkrun has been acknowledged at a national level by the Irish parkrun community.
Ann has been presented with the VHI Parkrun Hero Award for the month of March.
The monthly award recognises and rewards those inspirational, hardworking and dedicated members of parkrun and those who have made an outstanding contribution to the event.
Ann has been involved in athletics for many years and was responsible for bringing the popular community-based parkrun event to Ballina for the first time in 2014. The weekly Saturday morning walks/runs have now surpassed the 400 mark in Ballina.
In bestowing the award, the parkrun group said: “Ann is always encouraging towards everyone who participates, and has built a supportive community of runners, joggers and walkers in Ballina.
“Whenever Ballina parkrun participants reach milestones, Ann observes the occasion with tea, coffee and cakes, and she works tirelessly with clubs in the community to encourage their members to become involved in Ballina parkrun.”
Ann, now also an ambassador for five of the Mayo parkrun events, has just recently celebrated her own 100th parkrun.
This free community event, which takes place every Saturday morning at 9.30am from Ballina Soccer Club, averages 50 to 90 runners and walkers on a weekly basis and is organised by volunteers. Anyone interested in signing up for Ballina parkrun can do so at the parkun website, www.parkrun.ie. All you need to do then is to show up and bring your barcode.
Sixty years on from the first-ever Ballina Salmon Festival, this year’s nine-day event is set to be one of the most exciting and entertaining in its long history, which started in 1964.
Major attractions such as Heritage Day and The Moy Swim will be in the mix once again, along with an open-air concert featuring country singer Mike Denver.
This year’s festival will also see a unique show that recalls ‘The Sound of Music’, frequently voted as among the best film musicals of all time, and which was shot during 1964.
Work has already begun on preparation for a theatrical extravaganza which will see local performers reimagine this classic musical, and which will form part of Ballina Salmon Festival’s headline show in Ballina Arts Centre on July 8th.
Running from July 6th to 14th, the full programme for Ballina Salmon Festival 2024 has yet to be announced.
Mayo Stoma Support Group will meet next week in Castlebar.
The meeting on Thursday, May 23rd, takes place in the Ellison Hotel, Castlebar (opposite McDonalds), starting at 7pm. Anyone who intends to come along to the meeting is asked to message 087-6275766 with your name and the number of people attending. Everyone is welcome.
The death has taken place of Mary Howley (Snr) (née Kelly), Cloontia, Bonniconlon, Ballina.
Mary will be dearly missed by her sons Seamus, Eamon (Crossmolina), Joe and John (Knockmore), her daughters Breege Linehan (Mitchelstown), Kathleen McDonagh (Clifden) and Joan Cawley, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends.
She was predeceased by her husband Paddy, infant son PJ and daughter Ann Loftus, Belcarra.
Mary reposed at Gallagher’s Funeral Home, Bonniconlon. Her Funeral Mass was celebrated in the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Bonniconlon, with burial afterwards in Bonniconlon Cemetery.
A quiz and a talk by Craoibhin Manager, Elizabeth Ferguson, are among the several activities in the calendar of Ballina Active Retirement Association this month.
The quiz on tomorrow, Wednesday, May 15 will be in the capable hands of Noreen Baker and Bernie Fuery and starts at 1pm. There is a chair yoga session on Thursday, May 16, preceded by a talk from Elizabeth Ferguson.
Chair yoga takes place again on May 23 and 30, with whist games at 2pm on May 22 and 29.
The group meets in The Pastoral Centre, which is located in the grounds of St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina.
At their meeting last week, members thanked An Garda Síochána for a very helpful talk on safety.
Michael Moloney’s new single ‘Scapegoat’, which will be released this coming Friday, May 17, was produced by Liam Geddes.
Meath-based Liam, a former Ballina resident who has been involved in the music scene for a decade and a half, originally pursued a singing career with considerable success. He first came to prominence on RTÉ’s ‘The Voice of Ireland’ in 2012, before embarking on other music-related projects.
Now, Liam is gaining international respect and is much sought-after as a music producer and songwriter. He co-wrote and produced the Eurovision Song Contest entry which represented Latvia this year.
‘Scapegoat’, from the teenage Ballina-born pop singer and songwriter Michael Moloney, will be dropped on all streaming platforms this week and comes just as Michael gets ready to sit his Leaving Certificate examinations in June. The single follows on from Michael’s March 2024 release ‘Rewrite’.
Congratulations to Glenn Lynch, Clondalkin, Dublin and Mary Golden, Farranoo, Ballina who were married recently in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina.
Ballina Tennis Club Open takes place this weekend. The tournament is run under the auspices of Tennis Ireland and is expected to attract talented tennis players from across the region.
Ballina Tennis Club is located next to Ballina Community Sports Centre, just off Cathedral Road. New members are always welcome at the busy club, and you can find out more information by calling 083-8562510 or by emailing ballinatennis@gmail.com.
Ballina Tennis Club Open takes place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 17th to 19th.
With a sprinkling of his quirky sense of humour, the songs and stage shows of Cathal Connolly make for powerful entertainment.
The local songwriter and musician revealed a formidable stage presence when he played his debut solo show at Ballina Arts Centre in November 2023, and he will be priming the audience for the release of his debut album when he returns to the same venue on May 31st.
Cathal’s acoustic guitar-driven sound creates an intimate atmosphere, inviting listeners to connect with his playful, but sometimes sombre stories.
Cathal – real name Cathal Faughnan - is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and performer from Knockmore. He has extensive music experience both on and off stage and in the recording studio.
He has supported acts such as The 4 of Us, The Whistlin’ Donkeys, Bridin and Greenshine.
Cathal studied Applied Music in Dundalk Institute of Technology, specialising in composition. He ran The Faughnan School of Music in Knockmore for several years where he gave private tuition in piano, guitar, ukulele and singing.
Cathal is a former director of The Core, a resource for young musicians and schools in the Mayo community which is run under the auspices of Music Generation Mayo, and housed within Ballina Arts Centre.
His music, a heartfelt blend of folk and pop, with catchy melodies and honest, relatable lyrics, will leave you wanting more ahead of the release of his debut album later this year. That album will include Cathal’s previously released singles such as ‘WUGO’ and ‘Jealous’.
Aisling Mullarkey, who recently supported Gemma Cox at her Whelan’s of Dublin gig, will be the warm-up act on the night.
Cathal Connolly brings his music to Ballina Arts Centre on Friday, May 31st, at 8pm. Tickets are priced at €15/€12, or €40 for a group of four.
You can book online at www.ballinaartscentre.com. Alternatively, you can call 096-73593 or email info@ballinaartscentre.com
Mayo Cancer Support, which provides support services to those affected by cancer at Rock Rose House, Castlebar, is reminding people in the Ballina area that an outreach clinic is held in the town every week.
The outreach clinic on Tuesdays is by appointment only, and you can book or obtain more information by calling 094-9038407 or 087-2804164. Services are also provided once a month in Achill.
The death has taken place of Jean Hunt (née Bedley), Connolly St., Ballina.
Jean was the treasured mother of Stephen, Lynda, Alison and Andrew. She will be sadly missed by her sons, daughters, cherished grandchildren Conor, Aisling, Ciarán, Cathal, Alan, Zoë and Hugh, adored great-grandchildren Fiadh, Reina, Ethan, Kate and Méabh, daughter-in-law Mary, son-in-law Brian, in-laws, nephews, nieces, relatives, carers and friends.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband John and sister Marjorie.
Jean reposed at McGowan's Funeral Home, Ballina on Tuesday of last week. Requiem Mass was celebrated in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina on Wednesday morning, followed by burial in Leigue Cemetery, Ballina.
