Local Notes: Winners of Ballina Tennis Club competition
Winners of the XD4 at the recent Ballina Tennis Club Open were Mary and Paul Dunne, along with runners-up Elaine Fox and David Cahill. They were presented with their prizes by Hugh Hanly.
It cost £2 to attend a U2 concert in the Town Hall Theatre, Ballina in May 1980 - and that included a support slot by teenage local band, Polar Moon. Polar Moon's front man and lead guitarist was Patrick Walshe who, like U2, continues to make great music.
Patrick has been living in the UK for several decades, performing and writing music across an eclectic range of genres from rock to orchestral and folk to dance, and even taking to the stage as an actor and opera singer. He will be playing a hometown show once again in Ballina on June 17.
Polar Moon featured Patrick's siblings Kathryna and Ronan, cousin Anne Glacken, and friend Gerry McGurrin.
His mother Sheila Walshe was a musician and singer too, and a strong champion for music in Ballina and beyond. She was the person behind the successful Ballina International Song Contest, which was held over several years in the 1980s, and appeared on a popular live RTÉ television show in the 1990s to sing 'The Ballina Song', which she co-wrote with Frances Glacken.
The early Polar Moon recordings were produced by Barry Devlin from Horslips and recorded in the legendary Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin.
"Late 70's and very early 80's was our heyday and then we all drifted off to other spheres," said Patrick about the young band. "We all, kind of, started off doing trad stuff and used to play in the Crúiscín Lán in Killala before the rockier days of Polar Moon.
“Barry Devlin has remained a great friend and is a lovely bloke. I also worked on an album with Mick Abrahams, the original guitarist with Jethro Tull, where I got to play with some great musicians. Sadly, Mick passed away last Christmas", added Patrick.
The Ballina-born and raised musician, songwriter and film composer also spent time in the USA before returning to the UK for a second stay. His American sojourn saw him compose music for 11 films and he has also written and produced a dance track for German band, Rheinpulse.
Patrick's time across the Irish Sea has been fruitful, writing music for stage, singing for a while with English National Opera, doing some Shakespearian acting, and completing a Masters in Music Composition.
"I now have a recording and mastering studio where I write, record and release my own material," said the Mayoman.
These days he uses the stage name Suttlefish, with some really strong tracks released under that handle in the past few years.
Patrick's most recent EP 'Wrapped', released in 2024, is well worth catching up with. The 'Put on Your Shiny Shoes' dance mix is an epic six-minute track of cross-genre music which ends in a climactic outro, while 'Wrapped' is a gentle rock ballad that reveals his fine vocal qualities. 'Missing Pages' takes the listener to Patrick's Irish trad folk roots, complete with fiddle and banjo, and is a song about looking after someone you love who has dementia.
“My sound is quite an eclectic mix, but all my songs have a message," said Patrick.
Suttlefish is a solo project for Patrick but he does like to get a band together for bigger shows.
He will be back in his hometown for a gig on Wednesday, June 17, as part of the summer Music at Lunchtime series in Ballina Arts Centre, starting at 1.15pm.
A meeting to push ahead with the relaunch of Ballina Community Radio will take place in The Merry Monk next week.
A new enterprise, Moy Radio Company CLG, has been formed by a small but enthusiastic and committed group of local people to manage the process of re-establishing BCR, initially online, and eventually on-air.
The voluntary group behind the relaunch includes Eric Barrett, Kathryn Lally, Vincent Lang, Niall Ginnity, Patrick Gallagher and Cathal O’Boyle.
There is also support from erstwhile BCR presenters Tara Doherty and Paul Bourke, and several other volunteer DJs.
It is hoped that the radio station can operate from the former Convent of Mercy school buildings campus in Ballina, once the required space has been set up for broadcasting.
CRC FM in Castlebar and Claremorris Community Radio have been providing technical assistance to the local group.
The meeting in The Merry Monk, Killala Road, Ballina is on Tuesday, June 23 at 7.30pm. The group is urging anyone who can help out, including with its vital fundraising activities, to come along and be part of the revival of this important community service.
The death has taken place of Gerard (Gerry) Neary, New York, USA and formerly of Carrowcushlaun, Ballina.
Gerry was the beloved father of Francis (New York), Brian (New York) and Michael (New York). He will be sadly missed by his loving sons, daughters-in-law Sy and Emma, grandchildren, in-laws, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
He was predeceased by his wife Kathleen (née Mullin), parents Patrick and Winifred Neary (Breaffy, Ballina), brothers and sisters.
Gerry reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Sunday, June 7. His Funeral Mass and burial will take place in New York at a later date.
This year’s Lady of the Moy will be crowned on Friday, July 3, just in time for the annual Ballina Salmon Festival. The glamorous and exciting night will take place in the Great National Hotel Ballina, and applications are now being accepted from contestants who would like to compete for the 2026 title.
The Lady of the Moy will not only become an ambassador for the festival throughout the year, but will also perform her official duties during festival week.
Whether you are applying yourself or representing a local business you can get more information by emailing theladyofthemoy@gmail.com or by visiting the social media pages of Ballina Salmon Festival.
The current holder of the title is Alanna O’Connor, who represented The Cot and Cobble Bar and Restaurant.
The Lady of the Moy selection event will start at 8pm, and tickets will be available on the door.
The 62nd Ballina Salmon Festival is taking place this year from July 12 to July 19.
The death has taken place of Anne Garvin (née Mullarkey), Moy Heights, Ballina.
Anne was the beloved mother of Paddy, James (Anne), John (Mary), Mary (Alvin), Caitlín (Vincent), Delia (Edmund) and Anne (Brendan).
She will be sadly missed by her sons, daughters, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sister Nelly McDonnell, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband James, daughter-in-law Mary and grandchildren Ciara and Jarlath.
Anne reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Wednesday of last week. Requiem Mass was celebrated in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina on Thursday, followed by burial in Leigue Cemetery, Ballina.
The annual awards ceremony for Ballina Order of Malta will take place on Friday, June 19. Deceased members of the organisation will also be remembered that evening during a special Mass.
Ballina Order of Malta is inviting past and present members to attend and, in doing so, to acknowledge the huge community spirit and commitment of all those who have given service.
Ceremonies will start at 6.45pm in The Pastoral Centre, which is located in the grounds of St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina.
The death has taken place of Susan O’Hora (née Carr), Marian Crescent, Ballina and formerly of Slievenagark, Ardagh.
Susan was the beloved mother of Bernadette Devaney, Padraig, Michael and Stanley. She will be sadly missed by her sons, daughter, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, Padraig’s partner Michelle, grandchildren, sisters-in-law Margaret and Phyllis, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
She was predeceased by her husband Mike, daughter Yvonne, parents Agnes and Bernard Carr, sisters Mary and Tess, and brothers Johnny, Peter, Paddy and twin brother baby Michael.
Susan reposed at McGowan’s Funeral Home, Ballina on Wednesday of last week. Requiem Mass was celebrated in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina on Thursday, followed by burial in Lisheen Cemetery.
Ballina Family Resource Centre’s annual general meeting will take place next Monday, June 22 at 7pm.
The community-based organisation will hold its annual general meeting for 2025 in the Ballina FRC on Abbey Street, Ballina.
The death has taken place of Michael (Mick) Melody, Newtown, Castletroy, Limerick and formerly of Carrowcushlaun, Ballina.
A former Detective Sergeant in An Garda Síochána, Mick will be sadly missed by his sons Declan and Fergus, grandchildren Eliza, Ada, Molly, Maisy and Cian, daughters-in-law Nyree and Mags, brother Seamus (Attymass), sisters Maura (Coventry, UK), Bridie (Knockmore), Teresa (Dublin) and Margaret (Gortogher), sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
He was pre-deceased by his wife Breda (Dillon) and daughter Niamh.
Requiem Mass was celebrated in St Mary Magdalene Church, Monaleen, Limerick yesterday (Monday), followed by burial in Mount St Oliver Cemetery, Limerick.
Age Action’s free digital skills classes continue every Wednesday in Ballina Library, Pearse Street.
If you need some help with your mobile phone or any other digital device, you can register by contacting the Age Action office in Galway at 091-527831. It runs from 10.30am to 12.30pm.
