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Ballina 2023

News

Home / News
29Nov

First announcements for Ballina 2023 include Macnas Parade, RHA West Exhibition, Youth and Sports programme and Music Events.

November 29, 2022 darkblue.ie@gmail.com News

The internationally acclaimed spectacle and street theatre company Macnas will deliver one of the highlight events taking place as part of Ballina 2023. Macnas’ work is unique for the hybrid of professional artists and volunteers collaborating on an event and throughout the year, the company will work with community participants to develop and deliver one of its renowned parades on the streets of Ballina. The event will take place on July 15th 2023 as part of the Ballina Salmon Festival.

Ballina 2023, together with The Mary Robinson Centre, Mayo County Council and the University of Galway, will hold a week-long international sustainability assembly, Communities Creating Change in July 2023. The programme will focus on the theme of sustainable development and enabling grassroots community climate action, exploring the international, national and local perspective in Ballina, connecting communities, practitioners, agencies and government with academics and researchers through dialogue, deliberation, arts and music. The event will happen July 4 – 8, 2023.

Another highlight of the programme for 2023, Ballina is honoured and excited to host the Connacht Fleadh. In addition to the weekend long competition event, there will be a series of traditional music and dance performances that will showcase the traditional arts tradition of North Mayo and West Sligo in venues across Ballina from June 28 to July 3, 2023.

Ballina 2023 are partnering with the Celtic FC Foundation to deliver a year long Community Sports Programme that will include year-round community football sessions, coaching and education in schools and an estate based league for communities in Ballina and the wider region. In addition there will be a series of summer camps, local games, tournaments and celebratory events with teams visiting from the US and Northern Ireland. In addition, the GAA communities of Ballina will welcome adult football teams in March, from Donegal, Meath, Tyrone, Dublin and Galway to participate in the re-ignited ‘Shannon Medals’ tournament providing a spectacular GAA competition.

The Royal Hibernian Academy is collaborating with Ballina 2023 and Ballina Arts Centre to site a collection of its current artist members’ artwork in Ballina for two months in the autumn of 2023. The RHA is one of Ireland’s principal public art galleries, hosting world-class exhibitions of Irish and international artists and is the oldest artist-led visual arts institution in the country, being founded in 1823. The exhibition, titled RHA West, will feature works by many of Ireland most famous living artists including painters such as Mick O’Dea and Geraldine O’Neill, sculptors like Eilis O’Connell and Eileen McDonagh and multi-media artists such as Dorothy Cross and Alice Maher. Over 50 artworks will be shown to celebrate Ballina 2023 and to mark the 200th year of the RHA celebration exhibition.

In addition, renowned Mayo based artist Tom Meskill will work with Ballina 2023 to create a magical series of hand made light sculptures that will form an installation animating a unique location in Ballina throughout early next year.

Ballina 2023 is also collaborating with the French Embassy, Ballina Municipal District and In Humbert’s Footsteps to commemorate the ‘Year of the French’ . The events organised will take place throughout the year including a Festival running August 19 – 22, 2023 and will mark 200 years since the death of General Humbert, and 225 years since his landing in Killala Bay. The Year 2023 will also celebrate 30 years of our twinning with Athis-Mons.
B2023, together with Ballina Municipal District, is also working with Ballina’s Twin Towns of Pittsfield, Massachusetts and Scranton, Pennsylvania for events during 2023 and will have visiting officials and community members conducting exchange visits during the year. Pittsfield and Ballina will celebrate 25 years of twinning in 2023.

Ballina 2023 are delighted to partner with Ballina Community Radio to present On The Road, an offsite broadcaster that will visit the people and places of Ballina and the surrounding regions throughout 2023. On the Road will broadcast weekly on BCRFM and online. If you would like the Broadcast Bus to visit your community or event throughout the year, details will be available on how to book in early 2023.

As part of its legacy programme, Ballina 2023 is also providing an exciting opportunity for young people aged between 18 and 24 who are from Ballina, North Mayo or West Sligo, to gain experience and training in events, music programming, radio and digital broadcast media, sports training, the arts, community leadership and youth voice. Participants will have the opportunity to collaborate with BCRFM, Rio Ferdinand Foundation, Macnas, Warner Music and Ballina 2023 and receive mentorship, training and accreditation as part of the programme.

Speaking about the programme, Cllr. Jarlath Munnelly, Chairperson of the Ballina 2023 Steering Group said:

“Excitement is building ahead of 2023 in Ballina. I’m happy to say that a lot of work has gone into developing linkages across the entire community in Ballina, so I’m really hopeful that every member of the community will see something for them as part of the 2023 programme.” He added, “Equally importantly, I think there will be a significant legacy from the Ballina 2023 celebrations, which I hope will include more civic pride amongst everyone in Ballina, better involvement from people across the community and critically better involvement from young people.”

The programme will also include This Giant Tent, a multi-cultural event celebrating Traveller culture in Ballina and the myriad of cultures and communities that call Ballina home. It will build on a very special project by children celebrating culture and identity that happened in Ballina 2018-2019 involving the Involve Youth Project and Scoil Íosa. For 2023, the project will be developed into a public event rooted in community and celebration, dates to be announced.

On July 8thth 2023, Ballina 2023 will shine a spotlight on the River Moy with a day long celebration of water based activities and cultural events. The River Moy Swim will kick off the day with the ambition to have 300 participants to mark Ballina’s 300th anniversary and will conclude with very special performances along the River Moy.

For the first time in Ballina, Inland Fisheries Ireland will offer a series of public guided tours that will provide participants the rare opportunity to experience first hand the Moy Fishery Salmon Weir. Tours will feature a tour of the Salmon Weir structure and Weir building, insight into the history of the Moy Fishery and Salmon Weir and a demonstration of the fish counters and hydraulics. Tours will happen on selected dates during March, April and July with numbers strictly limited. Booking will be available Spring 2023.

Ballina Community Clean Up is working with communities across Ballina to plant a minimum of one native broadleaf tree for each person in the town by the end of 2023. An ambitious project, the group has already begun sourcing and planting trees for Plant A Tree for 2023 and are inviting groups who wish to be involved to contact them directly through their social media sites.

Grainne Uaile Sub Aqua Club will present an International Dive Rally for Ballina 2023 and will invite scuba divers from around the world to attend a Dive Rally in Killala Bay from August 11th – 13th next year. The geographic positioning of North Mayo as Ireland’s closest land base to the Continental Shelf is the driving force of marine biodiversity to its coastline, and lends itself to being one of Europe’s top scuba diving destinations.

Ballina 2023 is delighted to partner with the Ballina Fringe Festival to present Ballina, Poetry Town appointing a Ballina Poet Laureate who will act as Poet in Residence throughout September and October 2023. As part of the residency, the appointed poet will compose a new Poem for Ballina to mark the 300th anniversary celebration.

St. Muredach’s Cathedral Choir, under the direction of Regina Deacy, on Saturday November 11th 2023 will perform, for the first time in Ballina, Handel’s ‘Messiah’ with guest orchestra and soloists in St Muredach’s Cathedral. The event will be ticketed and released in September 2023.

To mark 300 years since the civic founding of Ballina by Lord Tyrawley in 1723, Ballina 2023 invite from individuals and community organisations in Ballina and its hinterland to also host an event for Ballina 2023. Applications to the Ballina 2023 Community Events Fund will open in January 2023 with further details.

A full music programme will be announced in the Spring 2023 and further events will be announced as details are confirmed.
Programme details are available from www.Ballina2023.ie and our Social Media Sites.

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13Jun

Prizewinners at the Ballina St Patrick’s Day Parade Awards

June 13, 2022 darkblue.ie@gmail.com News

We were thrilled to be recognised as prizewinners at the Ballina St Patrick’s Day Parade Awards Ceremony in May. We were named winners of the Community Participation Promotion Section for our entry in Ballina’s St Patrick’s Day Parade 2022. The theme for this year’s parade was ‘Meitheal’, an old Irish term for people working together for the good of the community. It was great to be part of such a special day for Ballina. We loved seeing the other entries and the support from the crowds that came out to celebrate in the sunshine.

Thanks to the hardworking St Patrick’s Day Fest Ballina committee for a great day out. Many thanks also to the team from Moy Valley Resources IRD who helped to prepare our float, to Sheila and the ​​fabulous dancers and musicians from Moffatt School of Irish Dancing, to Gills Driving School – Gill Group for providing us with a float, and to our lovely driver, Pádraig!

We would also like to give a special shout-out to Ballina Community Clean Up who were busy promoting their #PlantATreeFor23 initiative at this year’s parade. As part of their overall Biodiversity Strategy, Ballina Community Clean Up aims to plant a tree for every person in Ballina by our 300th anniversary. Stay tuned for more news about that over the next few months.

As for us, we’re already planning next year’s St Patrick’s Day Parade entry and we can’t wait!

Ballina 2023 at the St Patrick's Day Parade March 2022
Members of the Ballina 2023 team and volunteers helping out with our float at Ballina’s St Patrick’s Day Parade

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13Jun

Ciara is our #2023MascotMakers winner!

June 13, 2022 darkblue.ie@gmail.com News

We were blown away by the response to our #2023MascotMakers competition. We received thousands of fantastic, colourful and imaginative entries from pupils in national schools around the region. Thank you to all the children who entered and to their teachers for their great enthusiasm! The winning entry was designed by Ciara Cowley, a sixth-class student in Corballa National School.

Ciara’s beautiful salmon design encapsulates Ballina’s world-famous association with salmon as the official Salmon Capital of Ireland. It also reflects all the great talents, qualities and richness of community that exist in Ballina, as displayed through designs on the salmon’s scales.

Thank you to Toymaster Ballina and Eason Ballina for kindly sponsoring the prizes for Ciara and her classroom. 

Ballina Costume Company has now taken Ciara’s design and is adapting it to create our official Ballina2023 mascot, which we’ll be revealing very soon! We are very excited to see Ciara’s entry brought to life!

Competition winner Ciara Cowley from Corballa National School with her mascot entry for Ballina 2023
Pictured is Ciara with her school principal, Bríd Calvey, class teacher Lee Anne Finnerty, Anne-Marie Flynn, Director, Ballina 2023 and Maria Troy, Deputy Manager at Toymaster Ballina, representing Toymaster and Easons.

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10Nov

Ballina 2023 presents Composting Workshop as part of Mayo’s Climate Action Gathering

November 10, 2021 darkblue.ie@gmail.com News

Former Head Gardener at Enniscoe House and owner of AM Landscapes, our very own Annette Maughan will deliver an introductory workshop on how to compost at home this Friday as part of Mayo’s Climate Action Gathering.

Annette will simplify the composting process and share samples of what you should be aiming for.  

Full details of the weekend’s programme of events are available at: http://www.maryrobinsoncentre.ie/mayo-climate-action-gathering.html

Ballina 2023 is proud to partner with Mayo County Council. Ballina Green Town, Ballina Chamber and the Mary Robinson Centre on this event.

Event details:

3pm, Friday November 12th, 2021

Venue: Ballina Green Town Hub, Pearse St. (Formerly Leo Doherty’s Menswear)

Admission: Free, no booking is required – just come along on the day!

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05Nov

Join Ballina 2023 at Mayo’s Call to Action on Climate event

November 5, 2021 darkblue.ie@gmail.com News

Meet the Ballina 2023 team on November 12-13th at Mayo’s Call to Action for Climate – two days of climate action talks, workshops, demonstrations and walks hosted by Ballina – Ireland’s Greenest Town

To mark the end of the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP 26 in Glasgow, Mayo’s Call to Action on Climate event takes place in Ballina over the weekend of November 12th -13th. Activities will feature talks and workshops on a Circular Economy for Ballina, a Call for Climate Action walk, a Decarbonising Communities networking event and over the weekend, there will be information on practical ways everyone can take action for change.

Sustainability underpins the ethos of Ballina 2023, and supporting this initiative, members of the Ballina 2023 team will be joining in the weekend’s events. As part of our Community Engagement programme, there will be a Ballina 2023 Community Desk at The Green Town Hub in Ballina (O’Rahilly St) where members of the public can meet the team and share their ideas on what they would like to see happen during the year-long celebration in 2023, as well as their ambitions for the future development of the town and its people.

Positive action towards meaningful change is at the core of all of the weekend’s events. 

Programme of Events

Everyone is welcome to come along, participate and find out more about how they can be part of Mayo’s action on climate change. For more information and to view the full programme, see www.maryrobinsoncentre.ie/greentown.

The communities of Ballina can also get in touch to collaborate with Ballina 2023 through www.ballina2023.ie, via social media or by emailing info@ballina2023.ie.

‘Mayo’s Call to Action on Climate – Local Action, Global Impact’ is an initiative of Ballina Green Town in partnership with The Mary Robinson Centre, Ballina Chamber, Mayo County Council and the West of Ireland Climate Action Regional Office.

Ballina 2023 is funded by Mayo County Council and supported by Ballina Municipal District Council, Ballina Chamber of Commerce, Mayo North and Moy Valley Resources. 

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21Sep

Ballina 2023 went live – thank you!

September 21, 2021 darkblue.ie@gmail.com News

Ballina’s countdown to a year of celebration in 2023 is now underway, after the launch on Friday, September 17 of this brand new website, a new logo and promotional video, “The Calling”. The launch took place at a reception in the beautiful surrounds of the Jackie Clarke Collection, and was followed by by a free outdoor concert, “Beginnings : Live” in Tom Ruane Park to coincide with Culture Night. As Ballina 2023 went live, the early evening concert featured local music artists Michael Moloney, Billow Wood, David Lynn, Fionnuala Boyle and drag queen Bradley Brock, who performed in idyllic evening sunshine conditions by the River Moy.

Volunteers Niamh Ansboro, Eamon Walkin, Zoe Gallagher and Paul Brennan at the official launch of Ballina 2023 in Tom Ruane Park, Ballina

This was the first large-scale outdoor music event to happen in the region in quite some time, and it was lovely to see so many people out enjoying themselves to live music again.

Over the coming months, an extensive community engagement process will take place to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to participate in and contribute to the Ballina 2023 programme, but if you’d like to get in touch with an idea or to get involved, just contact us here via email.

Some acknowledgements!

As with any community event, the magic could not happen without the time and commitment of so many. A sincere thank you to everyone who helped in any way both on the day, and in the run-up to the event, especially those listed below.

  • To all our performers in Tom Ruane Park; David Lynn & Fionnuala Boyle, with help from Lavinia Gilmartin, Michael Moloney, Bradley Brock and Billow Wood, Brid McGowan and our MC Paul Bourke
  • All those who participated in the Beginnings video, Bradley, Daragh, Richard, and Niamh
  • Shane Walkin and his crew at Audioworks
  • Rob Usher, Andy Smyth and all the crew on site
  • All at Moy Valley Resources IRD, particularly Martin and Emma and their CE and CSP teams
  • Sean, Sarah and all the team at the Ballina Arts Centre, our partner for the event
  • Joe, Sean, Michael, Audrey and Michael from Ballina Garda Station
  • Brian and all the team from the Order of Malta
  • Sean McNulty and his team from Ballina Municipal District at Mayo County Council 
  • Mary and all the team at The Cot and Cobble & John and all the team at Dominos Pizza (Castlebar & Ballina) for helping to keep our crew and volunteers fed and happy
  • Edel, Anne Marie and their team at the Jackie Clarke Collection for hosting the morning launch of the logo and video, and for hosting the Midwest Radio broadcast
  • To Midwest Radio – Tommy, Brendan and Alan for their live broadcast on the morning of the launch, and the great coverage afterwards on social media
  • To all our participants in the broadcast for sharing their perspectives and excitement about Ballina 2023
  • To the Western People for their coverage of the launch and helping us spread the word, pre and post event, online and in in print
  • Andy and Paula at Anula Productions, and Lorg Media for all the digital and video content they created together in the run-up to the event and on the day
  • Marcin, Mateusz and Fiona at Darkblue Design for our website and animated logo
  • David and Daragh at Connacht Print
  • Ann-Marie McGing and team at Mayo Arts Office
  • The many people who kindly helped with the creation of our video pieces “The Calling” and “Beginnings“: Patricia Browne, David McCafferty (Jack Charlton footage), Sean Walsh (Ballina Arts Centre), Anne Marie Forbes (Jackie Clarke Collection), Fred Queenan (Kilmoremoy LGFC), Ger Birrane, (Ballina Town FC), the crew at Ballina Community Clean Up Group, Fr Aidan O’Boyle (St Muredach’s Cathedral), Rev Martin Dean Steel, The Venerable Stephen McWhirter (Archdeacon of Killala), St Michael’s Church of Ireland, Ballina Men’s Shed, Alan Rowe (Ballina Rugby Club), David Hannon, Hollister, Conor & Jimmy Maguire, Kevin Loftus, Ballina – Ireland’s Greenest Town), Sandra McLoughlin, Cllr Mark Duffy, The Western People, Darkblue Design
  • Our funders Mayo County Council and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
  • And last, but definitely not least, all of our wonderful team of volunteers from all around Ballina who donned the Ballina 2023 blue hi-vis vests and helped out on the day – community at its very finest! Thanks Anne-Marie, Annette, Conall, Declan, Eamon, Ivan, Jarlath, Joe, John, Laura, Mags, Mairéad, Martin, Mary, Matthew D, Matthew G, Niall, Niamh A, Niamh O’N, Noel C, Noel R, Paul B, Philip, Seamie and Zoe!
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15Sep

Ballina 2023 launches with Beginnings : Live

September 15, 2021 darkblue.ie@gmail.com News
The line-up for Ballina 2023’s first live event on Friday, September 17 at 6pm in Tom Ruane Park will feature Ballina favourites folk/ trad/ pop group Billow Wood, rising star, Michael Moloney, popular local tenor David Lynn, songstress and budding actress Fionnuala O’Boyle and Ballina’s own Drag Queen extraordinaire Bradley Brock.  

The event, which is part of Culture Night, will also have the first public screening of the new Ballina 2023 promo film, in what promises to be a magical evening on the banks of the river Moy. 

Due to current Government restrictions, to ensure no one is left disappointed, a prerecorded digital event, Ballina 2023 :  Beginnings – Live,  featuring a song from each of the performing artists will also go live on the Ballina 2023 website and social channels from 6pm on Friday September 17th.  

Billow Wood

In addition, to mark National Bike Week, the launch of Ballina 2023 will be a car-free event in collaboration with Ballina’s Green Town initiative.  Those attending are encouraged to park in Ballina’s existing car parks and walk or cycle to Tom Ruane Park.  A ‘Park n Ride’ convoy will also leave Batchelor’s Walk car park at 5:30pm, led by Rachel Nolan of Rachel’s Irish Adventures. The convoy will start with a road safety briefing for cyclists, followed by a short circuit around the bridges by bike and then out along the river to the event. The convoy will return to Batchelor’s Walk after the event concludes. In partnership with the Road Safety Authority, Ballina Green Town will be distributing high vis vests to all participants.

Ballina 2023 is funded by Mayo County Council and supported by Ballina Municipal District Council, Ballina Chamber of Commerce, Mayo North Tourism, Moy Valley Resources IRD and Ballina Lions Club. 

Event partners include Ballina Arts Centre, Jackie Clarke Collection, Ballina Library, Mayo Volunteer Centre and Ballina’s Green Town Initiative. 

The Local Live Performance Programming Scheme is funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and administered by Mayo County Council. 

Event details

Michael Moloney, Billow Wood, David Lynn, Bradley Brock, David lynn and Fionnuala O’Boyle

Location: Tom Ruane Park, Sligo Road, Ballina

Gates Open: 6pm   Start time: 6.30pm

Tickets available from https://ballinaartscentre.ticketsolve.com/shows/873627344 

Event is free but ticketed. Max two tickets per booking.

A Digital Covid Certificate will be required for entrance to the event.  We ask that you kindly wear your mask.

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11Aug

US President Biden hints at a return to Ballina

August 11, 2021 darkblue.ie@gmail.com News

US President, Joe Biden has indicated he wants to make a state visit to Ireland, on a trip that would include tips to both Ballina, Co. Mayo and Carlingford, Co. Louth, to meet with his relatives in both counties. According to the Daily Mirror, discussions have already taken place between officials on either side of the Atlantic, with a view to the President spending three to four days in the country.

The news is of course very welcome as Ballina prepares to celebrate its tercentenary in 2023, when a Presidential visit would represent a very welcome addition to the year-long calendar of events.

President Biden previously visited Ballina in 2016, where he spent time meeting and greeting the people of the town, before dining with his relatives, the Blewitt family, in the Heffernan’s on Market Square. Since then, a firm family friendship has developed between the Blewitts and the Bidens.

The then US Vice-President, Joe Biden, greets locals in Ballina in 2016.

In 2020, to coincide with the Presidential election, Ballina Community Cleanup Group created a large-scale mural of Biden, and placed it near his ancestral home on Garden St, from where his great-great-great-grandfather, Edward Blewitt (1795-1872) departed for Scranton, Philadelphia at the height of what is known as the Irish Famine in 1851.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin is hoping to meet President Biden twice in the coming months, firstly in late autumn at a meeting of the UN Security Council of which Ireland is now a member, and again in March at the White House for St Patrick’s Day.

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04Aug

Cannonball cruises back into Ballina

August 4, 2021 darkblue.ie@gmail.com News

Cannonball RETRO road-trip coming to Ballina, August 13th and 14th 2021

Cruising through the countryside in a classic sportscar taking in magnificent mountain views and rugged coastlines, aromas of late summer infusing the crisp air, retro sounds blasting from the stereo and the authentic driving experience of a perfect classic – it’s a bucket list adventure.

RETRO Cannonball starts in Ballina on Friday August 13th at 10am outside Crockets Quay Bistro, the Quay and is sponsored by BRÚ Brewery, the independent Brewery and Hospitality company providing the best of Irish food, drinks and experiences.  The classic car road trip will make its way up to Donegal and overnight in Letterkenny, then on to Malin Head and through Derry and Antrim taking in The Giant’s Causeway, The Dark Hedges, made famous by Game of Thrones, and finishes in Belfast on Saturday August 14th at 6pm.

Registered cars for the RETRO road-trip include the rare & iconic Ferrari Dino GTS, a Lamborghini Diablo, a Jaguar E-Type, a gorgeous Ferrari 328 GTS, some beautiful Mercedes-Benz SL classics, a Lancia Beta, a BMW 635CSI, a Porsche 911 Carrera and a Porsche 911 Targa, an MG Midget, a Ford Escort Cosworth, a beautiful Chevrolet Corvette, a classic VW Beetle, a Ford Thunderbird and many more.

A classic car takes to the road for RETRO Cannonball, 2020


The Retro Cannonball road-trip is fully compliant with government COVID-19 guidelines and is an outdoor event.  Any car enthusiasts wishing to come out to see the cars on the route are asked to please adhere to the advice of the Cannonball COVID-19 marshals and maintain social distancing. 

This year Cannonball Ireland and RETRO Cannonball will raise funds for The HOPE Foundation, an Irish Charity doing incredible work with the street children of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) in India . HOPE funds and operates over 60 projects including 11 child protection homes, a hospital, an ambulance, counselling, food and nutrition, education, healthcare and the restoration of childhoods to children. 

“We are welcoming cars from the golden era of the 60’s,70’s, 80’s and early 90’s to take in stunning drives and many famous Irish landmarks.” said Cannonball founder Alan Bannon “Classic cars not only appeal to car lovers, but also to lovers of engineering, design, art and history.  They retain an incurable romance and that is the reason why people do, and always will, love classic cars.”

“BRÚ Brewery is delighted to be sponsoring the third RETRO Cannonball raising funds for The Hope Foundation, supporting children in Kolkata.  BRÚ is a wholly owned Irish brewery with a large range of IPAs and speciality Beers including Ireland’s only gluten free lager available countrywide,” said Ed Dunne, BRÚ Brewery proprietor.

Registration is also now open for Cannonball Ireland, the supercar event, taking place on September 17th-19th this year and a firm favourite with both drivers and spectators.  Cannonball has already raised €1,125,000 for charities and has been rolling since 2008.  RETRO Cannonball is an altogether more laid-back experience and drivers still enjoy one of the most unique motoring fraternities in the world with breath-taking driving routes, luxurious hospitality and that rare ‘camaraderie’ that makes Cannonball a truly unforgettable experience.

See www.cannonball.ie for details.

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24Nov

Planning for Ballina 2023 gets underway

November 24, 2020 darkblue.ie@gmail.com News

2023 may feel like a lifetime away, especially from lockdown, but already, plans are motion in Ballina to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the formal establishment of the town in 1723. Ballina will celebrate this milestone through an ambitious and exciting year-long programme of collaborative events and activities in 2023 that will aim to foster civic pride, promote community engagement, honour the past and celebrate the present. The people of Ballina to are invited to log onto www.ballina2023.ie and submit their own ideas for events and celebrations throughout the year.  

The initiative is being launched today with a video on social media featuring some well-known Ballina faces. To get the ball rolling on planning, an initial steering group has been established with representatives from Mayo County Council, Moy Valley Resources IRD, Ballina Chamber of Commerce, Mayo North Tourism and Ballina Lions Club, with the aim of facilitating and empowering citizens of the town to get involved, and take an active role in putting together the year’s programme of events. 

Chair of the steering group, Cllr Jarlath Munnelly said: “This is a unique and exciting opportunity for Ballina to plan an unforgettable year of celebration and fun, with openness, equality, inclusivity and diversity at the core.  It offers everyone in the town an opportunity to contribute and participate to enjoy a major milestone in the town’s history, and all input is very welcome.” 

Ballina 2023 also offers an opportunity to develop a clear vision for Ballina, with public consultation and input, and a bringing together of all existing plans, research and studies related to the town – economic, social, and cultural – to create a single, cohesive plan. This will chart a future for the town that everyone can contribute to, benefit from, and unite behind, leaving the legacy of a platform for further growth.  

Organisers of existing events are urged to participate and add their events to the Ballina 2023 calendar, and all groups are invited to consider staging an event of their own that can be included in the programme of events. The Ballina 2023 celebrations could also coincide with the proposed return of The Gathering tourism initiative, ten years after the national diaspora-focused year of celebrations kicked off an unprecedented expansion of the tourism sector. 

Anyone who is interested in getting involved and helping out in the areas of event planning, community engagement, marketing and PR, fundraising, governance and the creation of a town vision is invited to register their interest by emailing ballina2023@gmail.com. 

How you can get involved 

  • Log onto www.Ballina2023.ie and join the mailing list to receive updates 
  • Complete the short survey about what you would like to see happening in Ballina in 2023 
  • Follow Ballina 2023 on social media – Facebook, Twitter and Instagram 
  • Register to volunteer with Ballina 2023 by emailing ballina2023@gmail.com.  
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Menu

  • About
  • Meet the Team
  • Events
  • News
  • Photo Gallery
  • Video Gallery

Participate

  • Get involved

Legal

  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Connect With Us:
Get Involved:
DONATE
GET INVOLVED

© 2021, Ballina 300th Anniversary Company CLG. Registered in Ireland No. 698808, Website Designed & Developed by Darkblue Design, Co. Mayo, Ireland.