29Apr

Mayo Day 2023 – Saturday, April 29

April 29, 2023 darkblue.ie@gmail.com

Time: All day

Venue/Locations: Ballina Town Centre

Schedule: Visit mayo.ie/mayo-day-2023 for updates.

Mayo Day is a celebration of Mayo people and the spirit of County Mayo all around the world, led by Mayo County Council and Mayo.ie.

It is an acknowledgement of all that is great about our county and its people, and a day in the year that Mayo people can claim for ourselves to celebrate our achievements and successes.

Ballina 2023 is proud to welcome the flagship festival event to Ballina for the first time in its history, and looks forward to welcoming people from near and far to the town, where there will be something on offer for all the family:

Live Music Entertainment

Food Village, Walsh St

Family Fun in Tom Ruane Park (with shuttle bus from St Muredach’s Cathedral)

Programme of events

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See the full programme of events at Mayo.ie

Event Partner

19Apr

Mayo Day 2023 Family Fun at Tom Ruane Park

April 19, 2023 darkblue.ie@gmail.com

Mayo Day 2023
Saturday, 29th April, 12pm – 5pm
Tom Ruane Park, Ballina

Programme of Events

The Amazing Flea Circus 12pm to 5pm

The Amazing Flea Circus in a Suitcase! Dr Jay unfolds his suitcase, sets up his small table in seconds, and demonstrates the flea circus in a hilarious performance of Ireland’s smallest circus artistes.

Fruity’n’Dishy Juggling Workshop 12pm – every hour

Ever wanted to learn to juggle? Join in the fun and learn how with Ringmaster Dea Birkett and the incredible cast of Circus 250. Fruity loves to juggle her fruit. Dishy prefers to spin his plates.

Kiltimagh Pet Farm 12pm to 5pm

Meet the wonderful animals from Kiltimagh Pet Farm. This is your chance to pet the chicks, ducklings, giant tortoise, pygmy goat, python, donkey and even a llama, to name but a few!

Hours of fun for all the family.

Story Time: 12.30pm-1.30pm | 2pm-3pm | 3.30pm-4.30pm

Artist and storyteller Wayne O’Connor weaves stories to enthrall the children. As words weave the tales, the art is drawn live and gives form to the imagery in front of the children. Wayne’s energetic storytelling style is full of interaction and humour for all ages.

Mini Rugby Blitz in Partnership with Connacht Rugby (Time TBC)

DJ Graham Sweeney

Dj Graham will fill the air with soundwaves from his trendy vintage VW van. Enjoy the retro sounds of the Soundwave Boombox, music and dancing, fun for all the family! This old VW bus which spent most of its life in sunny Brazil has made it all the way to Co.Mayo to spread music and good vibes. Soundwave is a company based on Achill Island which teaches surfing, SUP, guided tours and hosts music events.

Face Painting 1pm – 4pm

Mayo Fire Service (time TBC)

Watch Mayo’s Firemen jump into action to demonstrate their fire quenching skills. Learn about how to become a fireman!

Food & coffee trucks will also be cooking up a storm all day.

FREE SHUTTLE BUS TO TOM RUANE PARK from the St Muredach’s Cathedral car park from 1pm through to 4.30pm.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MAYO DAY 2023

17Apr

Mayo Day 2023 Food Village line-up announced

April 17, 2023 darkblue.ie@gmail.com

Mayo Day
Ballina, Co. Mayo
Saturday, April 29, 12pm – 6pm

Mayo Day is once again bringing the best local food and chefs from the county right into the heart of the day at the Mayo Day 2023 Food Village, for the flagship celebration in Ballina as part of the Ballina 2023 celebrations.

Located in Walsh Street, just off Pearse Street where Mayo Day’s live music event will be taking place, the Food Village, curated by Ronan Fox will have demonstrations, talks and delectable local produce for sale.

A full day of events has been lined up, kicking off at 12.30pm and will run right throughout the day, so make sure to check it out – your taste buds won’t be disappointed!

Running order

12:30pm: Yvonne and Daniel from Poacher Restaurant, Ballina

Yvonne and Daniel from Poacher Restaurant have created an exciting dining experience on Market Square featuring contemporary dining in a relaxed and cosy atmosphere with a special focus on locally sourced ingredients, along with a carefully selected wine list and mouth-watering cocktails.

They are a multi award-winning couple in business in Ballina and on Mayo Day they will be cooking a signature dish from their delicious menu and will also be talking about their success since lockdown.

1:15pm Marcus Robinson, Reel Deel Brewery, Crossmolina

Reel Deel Brewery is based in Crossmolina and the brewery is named after Crossmolina’s River Deel, which runs near the northern shore of Lough Conn. Reel Deel focuses on producing full-flavoured craft beer, and in doing so, supporting their local community in Mayo and promoting Irish heritage.

Marcus, an award-winning brewer will join the producer conversation on Mayo Day in Ballina, speaking about the Reel Deel Brewing Story, their history, heritage, and product development.

1:45pm: Alan Maynard, Belleek Castle and Jack Fenn, Ballina, featuring Clarke’s Salmon Smokery

Allan Maynard is the Executive Chef at Belleek Castle and Jack Fenn’s Café in Ballina. Local and sustainable ingredients are passions of Alan, who cooks with raw ingredients from the Castle’s own gardens and the North Mayo area.

On Mayo Day, Alan will prepare a stunning salmon dish using salmon supplied by local fish suppliers Clarke’s Salmon Smokery. The Clarke family in Ballina has been synonymous with wild Irish salmon since Jackie Clarke first set up his business in Ballina in 1945. A family business, now managed by Jack’s son John Clarke, it ensures that the traditional values from which it started are maintained and carried on.

2:30pm: Connacht Distillery

3:00pm: Gerry Luskin and Rory Culkin

Gerry Luskin, an experienced chef and restaurateur for the past thirty-five years is no stranger to the culinary scene. Having worked in numerous establishments such as Ashford Castle and top restaurants in Manhattan, New York, his reputation precedes him. At present, he owns a family run restaurant, Luskin’s Bistro & Wine Bar in the heart of Ballina, which has established itself as a thriving addition to the fine dining scene in the West of Ireland.

On Mayo Day, Gerry will be joined by award-winning chef and Commis Chef instructor Rory Culkin who will be talking about sustainability in the kitchen environment, and the career prospects for those interested in training in the culinary arts.

3:30pm: Carmel and Mary – The Irish Soda Bread Way

With a passion for baking and a love of Irish tradition and folklore, Carmel and Mary set up The Irish Soda Bread Way in 2019.

The duo were childhood friends in their native Sligo who ended up in Westport and never left! Carmel spent half a lifetime in the local secondary school teaching Home Economics. Mary, now a Fáilte Ireland approved Tour Guide, spent equally as long working as a Medical Scientist in the local hospital. Both love meeting people, enjoy the chat and are great fun!

You can be sure of real kindness, a genuine Irish welcome and lots of laughter with Carmel and Mary.

4:00pm: Ronan Fox and Laoise Quinn

Ronan Fox is an award-winning chef with many years’ experience in the food industry and is curating the food marquee at this year’s Mayo Day. He is currently the executive chef for Aramark Healthcare.

On Mayo Day he will be joined by dietician Laoise Quinn where they will cook and discuss some affordable healthy meal options to easily feed a family for a week.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MAYO DAY 2023

31Mar

Music to the fore in Mayo town centre for Mayo Day 2023!

March 31, 2023 darkblue.ie@gmail.com

Boxing Banjo | Lisa Canny | Gerry Guthrie | Hit Machine Drummers | Stuart Moyles | Michael S Togher & Clodagh Togher | Trad Lib | Finnéin Quinn

Mayo Day 2023, Saturday, 29th April
Ballina, Co. Mayo
Town Centre, 12pm – 6pm

Mayo Day 2023, on Saturday April 29 is gearing up to be another day to remember, celebrating all things County Mayo! This year the flagship Mayo Day event is coming to Ballina for the first time as part of the Ballina 2023 celebrations, and as usual the Mayo Day flagship event will be full to the brim with music, arts, entertainment, culture, and fun for all the family.

The centrepiece of the day will as always be the music stage, which this year will be setting down its roots on Pearse Street in the heart of the town, transforming the street into a carnival of fun for all.

Mayo Day 2023 has a great line-up of musical acts ready to take to the stage over the course of the day with something to suit all tastes and ears, from up-and-coming local acts such as Finéinn Quinn to the energy, charisma, and musicianship of Boxing Banjo, who combine a myriad of instruments including button accordion, tenor banjo, guitar, fiddle and bodhrán.

Their sound transcends musical boundaries bringing listeners on a truly captivating musical voyage like no other. Striking vocal arrangements afford the listener an opportunity to sit back and appreciate the nuances while equally allowing them to propel the band’s infectious choruses.

Make sure you don’t miss out on the magic and high-octane opening act who will again be the Hit Machine Drummers, who will bring the stage to the street before they open the day.

Ballina resident Gerry Guthrie and his band will bring his brand of ‘Country and Irish’ to the stage for a set that will have you dancing and twirling around the street, and Stuart Moyles will also be keeping it country and getting the dancers and jiving fans’ feet moving. Local father and daughter duo Michael S. and Clodagh Togher will have you swinging a beat from their first note.

Trad Lib are an up and coming trad rock group who will have your toes tapping and heart pumping when they bring their brand of magic to Ballina. And back again this year will be Lisa Canny and her band who will bring their folk infused goodness to the masses.

And that’s not all – there will also be food, crafts, art, children’s events and so much more. Keep an eye on www.mayo.ie for updates!

And of course, it’s all free of charge – so make sure you don’t miss out on the magic of Mayo Day and get yourselves to Ballina on Saturday, April 29^th.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MAYO DAY 2023