This year, Ballina Meals on Wheels is marking 55 years since the service was first established by the Sisters of Mercy in 1969. Two years later it was officially launched by the then Minister for Health, and later President of Ireland, Erskine Childers, and this invaluable service has been running successfully ever since.
Ballina Community Centre, now offering its annual Christmas raffle, provides the Meals on Wheels service to the elderly and infirm of the Ballina area.
The service ensures that the elderly and the housebound can live healthy, independent lives in the safety and comfort of their own homes. Meals are delivered to the recipients’ homes by volunteer drivers.
Ballina Community Centre, which is located on Teeling Street, also facilitates meeting rooms on the premises which are available to community groups and self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and mental health support groups. The centre is run by a dedicated committee of volunteers.
The annual Christmas Raffle in aid of Ballina Meals on Wheels is promising a number of attractive prizes, topped by a Christmas Hamper worth €250, a Neptune Hamper from Trevor Morrow Ltd in Ballina worth €250 and a beauty hamper, alongside several other prizes to be won.
The proceeds of the raffle will go towards this local service and the draw will be held on Friday, December 13, with the closing date to buy tickets on this coming Thursday, December 12. You can purchase tickets online at iDonate.
Ballina Meals on Wheels is seeking additional volunteer drivers for meal deliveries, who must have their own car. If you would like to volunteer, then please contact Ballina Community Centre on 096-21572, anytime between 10am and 12pm, Monday to Friday.
Heroes take charity show on the road
Following the launch of its newest production ‘One Day More’ in September, the Ballina charity musical theatre group Heroes for Hospice is bringing this spectacular show to the TF Royal Theatre, Castlebar next year.
The run of four shows earlier this year in Ballina Arts Centre debuted this outstanding production and raised €11,000 for its charity partners, Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation and Mayo Cancer Support. The theatre group is hoping to add significantly to this amount with its performance in Castlebar on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
‘One Day More’ is a celebration of human resilience told through an enthralling story of broken dreams, unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption. It is directed by the accomplished local singing teacher Lavinia Gilmartin, with a score that features some of the best-loved classics of musical theatre.
‘One Day More’ marked the 10th anniversary of the Heroes for Hospice hugely popular 2014 show, ‘Beyond the Barricades’.
Tickets for the TF Royal Theatre production of ‘One Day More’ on April 16 next at 8pm, the Wednesday leading up to Easter, are on sale online at Eventbrite.
Tickets to the show cost €20 and would make an excellent Christmas gift while, at the same time, helping to support two worthy Mayo causes.
Dive Expo to hear MV Shingle story
Michael Loftus, of Grainne Uaile Sub Aqua Club and Search and Recovery Unit, Ballina, has been invited to speak at next year’s Diving Ireland Expo.
An avid diver, Michael will tell the story behind the sinking of the former smuggling ship the MV Shingle in Killala Bay in September of this year. Creating Ireland’s first artificial reef, it is hoped that the sunken ship will attract divers from around Ireland and abroad to the North Mayo and West Sligo region. Michael played a central role in the MV Shingle project.
Diving Ireland Expo is an annual dive and watersports show, and will take place in March 2025 in Nenagh, County Tipperary, located near the banks of Lough Derg.
Retirement group comes to year-end
Ballina Active Retirement Association has announced that its regular activities for this year will cease at its weekly get-together in the Pastoral Centre on this coming Thursday, December 12, when the group will enjoy some festive cheer. Following another successful year, members will mark the occasion with a Christmas meal on Friday, December 13.
Ballina Active Retirement Association will remain closed during January 2025, with a reopening date set for Thursday, February 6, 2025.
The annual general meeting of the group is pencilled in for Thursday, February 13 when the election of new officers will also take place.
Free Christmas Carol service
The annual Carol Service in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina will take place on Sunday evening, December 15 at 6pm. Featuring the superb St Muredach's Cathedral Choir, Kilmoremoy Parish Children's Choir and the newly formed St Muredach's Cathedral Boys' Choir, you can expect to hear many evergreen Christmas carols in a beautiful setting.
The service will also include a procession of gifts to the crib for distribution by St Vincent de Paul. You are asked to please bring non-perishable food items for your contribution to the to the crib, and not to wrap the gifts.
Admission is free to the event and everyone is welcome.
The Carol Service follows the very successful ‘Midwinter Melodies’ concert in the Cathedral last month, which helped to raise funds for the Cathedral Restoration project.
€2,540 for cancer support group
Mayo Cancer Support Association raised €2,540.75 in its recent church gate collections at St Patrick’s Church and St Muredach’s Cathedral and has thanked all those Ballina people who supported the fundraising activity on November 16 and 17 last.
Young acts take centre stage
Young musicians, singers and performers from Centre Stage Vocal and Music Academy will be joined by Bofield Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann for a Christmas concert in Ballina this Friday, December 13.
The festive show will include the seniors and choir of the local academy, presenting evergreen favourites and some surprises along the way.
The concert will take place in the Great National Hotel Ballina, beginning at 8pm. Tickets are available online from Eventbrite at a cost of €15, or €40 for a family of four.
Poetry collection from Seamus Ruttledge
Seamus Ruttledge was raised in Knockmore, Ballina before eventually settling in Tuam many years ago to become part of the artistic landscape of a creative community that punches well above its weight.
The well-known songwriter, poet, musician and social activist has just released his new poetry collection, ‘Jackdaws Chant The Blues’. Late last year, Seamus released the single ‘We Don’t Want Your War’, a strong anti-war protest song.
Through his words, Seamus captures mood and emotion with ease, drawing the reader into his world, almost as a co-creator. His observations are sharp, never overpowering and afford space, like a musician uses silence between notes.
‘Jackdaws Chant the Blues’ is available from Pangur Ban Bookshop, Tone Street, Ballina.
Bonniconlon card game fundraiser
Bonniconlon ICA is holding its annual card game in Gallagher's Village Tavern, Bonniconlon on Thursday, December 10, starting at 9pm. The organisers are offering a prize fund of €500, in addition to plenty of raffle and spot prizes. Tickets are €10.
First solo work in community art space
Emmanuel Matt, a resident of Doonfeeney, Ballycastle, will have the honour of staging the first solo art exhibition in the new NCF Cultural Co-Operative’s community art space at 5 Pearse Street, Ballina all next week.
His exhibition is entitled ‘Commonage’ and there will be an opening talk between Emmanuel and another artist on Saturday, December 14 at 7pm to discuss the landscape of North Mayo and its influence on his work.
Originally from France, but brought up in Switzerland, Emmanuel and his partner moved to Mayo in 2021.
TheNCF Cultural Co-Operative is a creative co-op based at Pearse Street, Ballina that is a community of artists, volunteers and patrons who meet regularly and organise events together.
The ambitious new group has already been involved in attracting several events to the area. For Culture Night last September, TheNCF hosted Ethiopian DJ Hewan Mulugeta at Ballina Arts Centre and was also involved in bringing artists to the town for Ballina Fringe Festival 2024, along with co-hosting other events in Ballina during the year.
Emmanuel Matt’s exhibition will run from Sunday, December 15 to Saturday, December 21, between 3pm and 5.30pm each day.
Recent baptisms
Recent baptisms in the Parish of Kilmoremoy, Ballina include Joshua James Durcan, Creggs Road, Ballina; Roisin Rua Nicola Clarke, Moy Heights, Ballina; Sophia Ruth Bradford, Shanaghy, Ballina; Katie Elizabeth Casey, Market Square, Ballina; Franciczek Lukasz Sokolowski, Orchard Court, Ballina; Aurelia Nia Crossan McCafferty, Friars Court, Ballina; Joseph Gerard Collins, Sonnagh; Gerard Pio McDonagh, Carrentrila, Ballina; Lucca Alessandro Agruello Da Cruz, Chile; Patrick Joseph Maughan, Ferran Terrace, Ballina; and Lily Anne Marie Padden, Behy Beg, Ballina.
The late Frank Doyle
The death has taken place of Frank Doyle, Bohernasup, Ballina and formerly of Tullig, Beaufort, Co. Kerry.
Frank is survived by his loving wife Una, sons Brendan and wife Anne, Aidan and wife Suzanne, David, Robert and partner Lisa, sisters Anne and Eileen, grandchildren Ronan, Nora, Frank, Gareth and Eva, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and many friends.
He was predeceased by his parents Ellen and Patrick, sisters Betty and Leonora, brothers Michael and James, infant daughter Karen and daughter-in-law Claire.
Frank reposed at his home on Wednesday of last week. His funeral proceeded to Leigue Cemetery, Ballina on Thursday afternoon following Mass in St Muredach's Cathedral.
Successful Vincent de Paul collection
St Vincent de Paul, Ballina has extended sincere thanks to everyone in the Ballina area who donated during its recent church gate collections. A total of €5,362.04 was raised as a result of parishioners’ generosity.
Donate a new toy for needy families
A campaign in Ballina to ensure that no child is without a toy this Christmas is gathering momentum.
An Sean Síbín, Abbey Street, Ardnaree is the drop-off point for new toys during a Toys for Christmas initiative organised locally, with Thursday, December 19 set as the cut-off point for donations.
This admirable project is designed to help any family in need this Christmas in Ballina, and in surrounding towns and villages such as Killala, Ballycastle, Swinford, Kilfian, Lacken, Crossmolina, Attymass and Foxford. If you, or someone you know, could use a little extra help this Christmas, then the organisers request that you please don’t hesitate to reach out to them.
You can DM on the Facebook page of Toys for Kids this Christmas 2024, or email kidstoyschristmas24@gmail.com. All contact is completely confidential.
There will also be a fundraising raffle in An Sean Síbín on Thursday, December 19, with generous spot prizes on offer.
The late Phyllis Ginley
The death has taken place of Phyllis Ginley (née Greavy), Carralavin, Bonniconlon, Ballina.
Phyllis is deeply mourned by her loving sons Micheal and Oliver, daughter Loretta, grandson Shane and his father Gerry, sisters-in-law Mary Ann and Bridie, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and a large circle of friends.
She was predeceased by her loving husband Micheal, parents Thomas and Winifred, and brothers Paddy and John James.
Phyllis reposed at her residence on Wednesday of last week. Requiem Mass was celebrated in The Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Bonniconlon on Thursday, with burial afterwards in Bonniconlon Cemetery.
Local weddings
Recently married in the Roman Catholic Parish of Kilmoremoy (Ballina) were Eve Caulfield, Creggs Road, Ballina and Dylan Batty, Johannesburg, South Africa, and Paris Maughan and John Ward, both of Cluain na Ri, Ballina.
The late Eamon Brogan
The death has taken place of Eamon Brogan, ‘Moy Lodge’, Quay Road, Ballina and formerly of Easkey, Co Sligo.
Eamon, who ran his own dental practice in Ballina for several decades, was the beloved husband of Mary (née Ruane) and loving father to Ciara Booth (Laois), Aoife Evans (Dublin) and Dearbhla Bradley (Dublin).
He will be sadly missed by his heartbroken wife, daughters, sons-in-law Richie, Matt and Mick, grandchildren Richard, Seán, Ella, Wyn, Seamus, Líle and Barra, nephews John, Conall and Dara Calleary, niece Síofra Jenkins, relatives and friends.
He was predeceased by his parents John and Kathleen, sister Doris Calleary and brother-in-law Sean Calleary.
Eamon reposed at McGowan’s Funeral, Ballina on Friday of last week. Requiem Mass was celebrated on Saturday in St Muredach’s Cathedral, followed by burial in Leigue Cemetery, Ballina.
