Local notes: Powerful drama returns to Ballina
At the launch of Fleadh Cheoil Mhaigh Eo 2026, held in the Jackie Clarke Collection last Thursday evening, were Michael O'Donnell, Edel Doherty and Tommy Cooke, holding a poster of his upcoming play to be held during the Fleadh in Ballina. Picture: John O'Grady
As part of the Mayo Fleadh Cheoil 2026 celebrations in Ballina over the May public holiday weekend, Tommy Cooke is reviving his powerful drama about the life and legacy of Michael Davitt.
‘Let Justice Rise Though The Heavens Fall’ premiered in Ballina Arts Centre in 2024 and has also been staged in Belmullet.
“The play is an effort to bring alive those dark days and shine a light on those great people, particularly Michael Davitt, who were instrumental in giving the ordinary people of this country hope for themselves and their families and a renewed pride in that joy of being Irish,” says the Ballina playwright. “It is not a sad story but one that sparkles with unbounding inspiration.”
Michael Davitt was an influential figure whose importance is often overlooked in modern Ireland. ‘Let Justice Rise Though The Heavens Fall’ aims to rekindle pride and awareness of the remarkable global impact of this famous Mayoman, bringing to life a story that feels almost unimaginable today, while both informing and entertaining audiences.
The story of Michael Davitt is an amazing one and is told through a variety of mediums in the play, including actors, traditional musicians, singers and video. Over 30 artists from the area are involved, including two traditional sean-nós singers from Belmullet.
‘Let Justice Rise Though The Heavens Fall’ has already raised just under €10,000 for the Anthony Golden Community Park in Ballina and €2,500 for the Ballina Community Centre Meals-on-Wheels project.
It plays in Ballina Arts Centre on Sunday, May 3 at 8pm. Tickets cost €20 plus booking fee and can be purchased online at www.ballinaartscentre.com. You can also call 096-73593 or email info@ballinaartscentre.com to book.
Applications are now being accepted for the annual River Moy Swim, one of Ireland’s oldest river swims.
The Moy Swim is run in conjunction with Ballina Salmon Festival and Mayo Sports Partnership. Many other local organisations and businesses in Ballina also support the open water swimming event, which will take place this year on Saturday, July 18.
The swim is run under the auspices of Swim Ireland and will cater for all levels of swimmers and those interested in the water and the coast. There will be a category for both wetsuit and skin swimmers, with 2.5k and 600m competitive swims and a participative swim.
Timing chips and hats will be available at The Kennedy Glasgow Centre, The Quay, Ballina.
Each participant will receive a Swim Fest silicone swim hat and Swim Ireland finisher medal on the day. There will also be a special commemorative gift sponsored by Heyco.
Registration details are available from the social media pages of The River Moy Swim.
Ballina Salmon Festival takes place this year from July 12 to July 19.
The results of the Easter Egg Competition played by members of Ballina Bridge Club were as follows: 1st, G. Scanlon and F. Walkin; 2nd, M. Corcoran and B. Mulkearns; 3rd, M. O'Dowd and M. Mongan; 4th, B. Thomas and G. Moran; and 5th, H. Moran and M. Gilvarry.
Perrier Award winner Al Porter will perform in Ballina on Saturday, April 18 with his fun show ‘Al Porter: Algorithm’.
This new show from Al is seeking to find a formula for living in a world on fire. Just like online, in life you’ll see more of what you pay attention to, and this 33-year old Dublin comedian is always on the lookout for the upside.
Topics will lead him to explore many questions: Why does Instagram think he needs to get assessed? Can you learn to love renting in a house share? Can his parents deal with empty nest syndrome? Why is his brother the golden child? And much more.
‘Al Porter: Algorithm’ plays in Ballina Arts Centre on Saturday, April 18. Tickets cost €28, plus booking fee, and can be purchased online at www.ballinaartscentre.com. You can also call 096-73593 or email info@ballinaartscentre.com to book. The show starts at 8pm.
Members from Ballina, Enniscrone, Bonniconlon, Attymass, Killala, Knockmore, Crossmolina and Knockmore were lucky winners in the Ballina Credit Union quarterly draw, which took place at the beginning of March.
Garry Loftus was the top prizewinner in the cash draw for members last month, taking away €15,000.
The draw also saw Aisling Murphy (Killala) win €3,000. Alice Rowland (Foxford), David Breen (Ballina) and Lisa Smith (Bonniconlon) were the recipients of a €2,000 prize each.
Other prizewinners included Lewis Nealon (Ballina), Enda Currin (Sligo), Anne P Reddington (Ballina), Ina O’Brien and Aiden Dwyer (Ballina), and Anthony Brennan (Attymass), who won €1,500.
€1,000 went to Roisin Reape (Knockmore), Oliver Boland (Enniscrone), Caroline Kelly (Bonniconlon), Laurita Blewitt (Knockmore), Martina Cawley (Crossmolina), Roisin Colohan (Ballina), Nuala Moran (Ardnaree), Michelle Garrett (Ballina) and Hugh Ginty (Killala).
Other prizewinners included Aisling Bourke (Bonniconlon), who won €815 and Agnes Judge (Bonniconlon), who won €800.
The total amount awarded was €42,115.
Only members of Ballina Credit Union can take part in the Members’ Quarterly Draw. To enter, members must sign up and pay the entrance fee of €8.28 per quarter, which will be deducted in advance from unattached savings. Only members who are over 18 years of age can take part in the draw. All funds raised are returned to members in the form of cash prizes.
‘Understanding and Supporting the Anxious Child’ is the title of an upcoming two-hour course in Ballina, to be facilitated by clinical psychologist Dr Sharyn Byrne.
Those who would like to attend the event in Ballina Family Resource Centre, Abbey Street, Ardnaree are asked to register by calling 096-75573 or 087-0618525. You can also email Ballina Family Resource Centre at admin@ballinafrc.com.
The cost of the course, which takes place on Monday, April 20 from 7pm to 9pm, is €10. Places are limited.
The death has taken place of Noel McDonagh, Ballymacredmond, Knockmore, Ballina and formerly of Creggs Road, Ballina and Main Street, Ballaghaderreen.
Noel was the dear father of Karen, Darragh and Siobhan. He will be sadly missed by his daughters, son, grandchildren Bronagh, Callum, Laoise, Alex, Croía and Síofra, sons-in-law Ray Casey and David Nagle, brother-in-law PJ Loughney, brothers Sean and Donagh, sisters Breege, Maureen, Collette, Annette, Dolores and Martina, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.
He was predeceased by his wife Mary, mother Bea, father Tom, and sisters Frances, Carmel, Patricia and Angela.
Noel reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home Ballina on Monday of last week. Requiem Mass was celebrated in the Church of Christ the King, Knockmore on Tuesday, followed by burial in Leigue Cemetery, Ballina.
Recently baptised in the Roman Catholic Parish of Kilmoremoy (Ballina) were Oliwia Kraciak, Ardoughan Woods, Ballina; Arthur Rodrigues Cirineu, Moy Court, Ballina; Shania Andrea Sherlock, Ennistymon; Rowan Alexander Maye, Ballyholan, Ballina; Marcelina Charlotte Drewe, Abbey Court, Ballina; Fiadh Mary Forbes, Quignalegan, Ballina; Thomas James McDonagh, Tom Clarke Place, Ballina; Síohmha Kalifa Adaeze Kearney, Rehins Fort, Ballina; and Mariah Bernadette McDonagh, Carrentrila, Ballina.
The annual Helena Winters (née Langan) Daffodil Day Coffee Morning held on Saturday, March 14 raised an impressive €5,482.17 for the Irish Cancer Society.
Locals who baked, along with O’Hara’s and O’Hehirs bakeries, were thanked by the organisers for their sweet treat contributions to the event, which was hosted in The Pastoral Centre on Cathedral Road, Ballina.
The organisers also paid tribute to the hard-working volunteers who helped to make the morning the success that it was, and expressed their gratitude to the local businesses that sponsored the raffle.
The death has taken place of Rosaleen Egan, Lord Edward Street, Ballina.
Rosaleen was the beloved sister of Marie. She will be sadly missed by her sister, sisters-in-law Ann Egan and Dolores Egan, brother-in-law Shay, nieces and nephews Sinead, Catherina, Declan, Paul, Carol, David, Keith, Derek, Michael and Peter, relatives, neighbours and friends.
She was predeceased by her parents Mary and Michael Anthony, brothers Michael and Patrick, and her partner Michael Lyons.
Rosaleen reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Wednesday of last week. A Liturgy of Prayers in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina on Thursday morning was followed by burial in Leigue Cemetery, Ballina.
€9,033.65 was the final figure raised by the 2025 Ballina GOAL Mile, which took place on Christmas Day last. As usual, the Ballina fundraiser, part of a countrywide campaign, recorded an impressive result for the amount of money collected, ranking 14th out of the 214 GOAL Miles held around Ireland.
The organisers of the Ballina event have thanked everyone who came out on the day and those who donated online.
The Ballina connection with the Foxford Brass and Reed Band has been strong over the generations. The marching band, which is celebrating its 130th anniversary this year, is a popular favourite at parades in Ballina, and many brass and wind instrument players from the town have played in its ranks across the decades.
A committee is now preparing to write a book on the history of Foxford Brass and Reed Band, which dates back to 1896.
An appeal is being made to people in the Ballina area to help with the publication by furnishing the committee, or any band member, with photographs, memorabilia, newspaper articles and details of any family ties.
Anyone from Ballina who can share memories of their links to Foxford Brass and Reed Band is asked to contact Séamus Burke, Band Chairman, on 086-8582726 or email sjbamc@gmail.com.
Every photograph will be copied and returned to the owner immediately.
The death has taken place of Michael Crean, Greenhills Estate, Ballina.
Michael was the dear father of Shauna, David, Daniel and Micheal. He will be sadly missed by his daughter, sons, grandchildren Abigail, Cian, Jamie, Jordyn, Ryan, Mason and Bella, daughter-in-law Elaine, brothers Martin and Eamon, sisters Sally and Josephine, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.
He was predeceased by his father Ned, mother Muriel, brother Johnny and sister Ann.
Michael reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Friday of last week. A private cremation service was held in McGowan’s Crematorium and Funeral Home, Collooney, Co Sligo on Saturday.
A Bereavement Support Group meeting will take place in The Newman Institute, Ballina at 8pm tomorrow evening, Wednesday, April 8. This is a place where people can find solace and support through sharing with others who are on the same journey, helped by trained facilitators.
All are welcome and there is no need to book in advance. Meetings are scheduled for the second Wednesday of every month.
The Newman Institute is located in the grounds of St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina.
Ballina Chamber of Commerce will hold its Annual General Meeting later this month. Members, and anyone interested in joining the group, are invited to come along to the AGM on Monday, April 27 for an evening of updates, discussions and networking.
The organisation works to promote and support the economic wellbeing of local businesses, particularly that of its members in Ballina and the surrounding areas. Its activities include networking, lobbying and business advice services.
The AGM will take place in the Ballina Tourist Office (upstairs) on Pearse Street, starting at 7pm. The chamber is urging people to attend, adding that participation is important for the future of the community and local business.
The current President of Ballina Chamber of Commerce is Mary Moyles, owner of the Cot and Cobble Bar and Restaurant in Ballina.
Joining the Mayo Day Grand Finale concert in the TF Royal Theatre, Castlebar this year will be Ballina choral group The Moy Singers.
The group, which celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2026, will join fellow Ballina artists Stuart Moyles and Ciara O’Donnell, along with a host of other acts from Sean Keane to Patrick Feeney, for the conclusion of the annual Mayo Day countywide celebrations on Saturday, May 2.
Tickets for this night of music and dance are free and are now available from Eventbrite, with a limit of four per person.
Volunteer tutors who can help people to navigate how to use the internet, get the most from their smartphone or even learn how to attend a Zoom meeting are presently being sought by Age Action.
Age Action is Ireland’s leading organisation for older people, helping to build an inclusive and age-positive society through advocacy, services and education.
Age Action’s course is a learner-led programme designed to meet the needs of participants. These needs can range from learning how to send and receive emails to managing phone apps.
It will be run in Ballina Library for one morning a week for five weeks. Classes are on Wednesdays from 10.30am to 12.30pm.
If you are interested in helping out then please contact Mayo Volunteer Centre on 096-71444 or email: vincent@volunteermayo.ie.
A special edition jersey to help raise money for the new sensory park in Ballina has been launched by the David Cawley Coaching Academy. All of the money raised from the sale of the jerseys will go towards the new facility on the Sligo Road, an ongoing project led by Ballina Community Clean-up Group and other local volunteers and partner organisations.
Designed with inclusivity at its heart, the park offers a welcoming environment for visitors of all ages and abilities, and will be especially appreciated by neurodivergent children and their families.
In addition, further funds in aid of the Ballina Sensory Park will be raised through a raffle which offers prizes such as six months free membership to the football academy and a signed Sligo Rovers jersey.
Full details are available from the social media pages of the David Cawley Coaching Academy.
Ballina and The Quay Community Games athletics events will take place on Monday, June 1, and entries are now open.
A newly-formed committee has been working hard to revive these games in Ballina, not just on the track, but across other sports disciplines such as badminton, football, hurling, gymnastics, volleyball, basketball and swimming as well.
Art, singing, music and other cultural events have been an integral part of Community Games over the decades too, and even handwriting has become a competitive activity.
The athletics events will be held on Ballina Athletic Track in Belleek, commencing at 11am. Follow the social media pages of Ballina Community Games to find out how to take part.
The regional track athletic finals will be staged in Athlone on July 18, with the national finals taking place in Carlow on August 22 and 23.
