Lisa Hallinan has worked in the arts, event and communications sector for many years and has a passion for connecting communities and creating magical cultural experiences – and we’re lucky to have her making magic with us for Ballina 2023.

From Enniscrone, she loves sea swimming, surfing and anything that can get her to the beach. She is a qualified rescue diver and loves to travel, though that has all been set to pause since the arrival of her most sincere passion, her three beautiful children; Lillian, Sarah and Jamie.

Lisa can now mostly be seen at her computer or roaming the beautiful Abbey at Rosserk, close to which she lives with her family and their pony Pinky.

Once a committed city-dweller, Mairead made an unplanned moved West in 2007 and discovered what it was to truly have it all: community, clean air, affordable housing, bad roads, howling gales, and occasional sunshine.

Since then, there is not a hill or mountain in Mayo she hasn’t climbed. More recently, Mairead has discovered the joy of a daily dip in the wild Atlantic Ocean.

Married with two teenage sons, who are just about to find their own way in the world, her hope is that they will travel widely with curiosity but will always carry this place with them.

A North Mayo native, hailing originally from the beautiful coastal village of Kilcummin, Lacken, Sheila has called Ballina home for the last 15 years. Currently managing a start-up business in the energy and renewable sector, she also has 23 years experience in the retail and customer service industry.

She has a huge interest in all things music and is currently part of the Rejoice Gospel Choir and Heroes for Hospice musical group. 

As our Volunteer Coordinator, Sheila is excited to meet lots of new faces throughout the year and share the experience of Ballina 2023 with the whole community.  

Arlene is a Leitrim woman by birth , and has recently moved to the area. Arlene is really looking forward to getting involved in the local community, and is happy to volunteer for Ballina 2023.

She spent 16 years working as a Home Economics teacher in secondary school and now works as a Community Home Economist for Co. Roscommon.

Arlene loves all things foodie and is keen to experience all the culinary delights North Mayo has to offer.

Meet Avril, the Diversity & Inclusion Officer for Ballina 2023. Avril is a native of Ballina and brings a wealth of personal experience and knowledge to her role, having spent almost 18 years in Dublin, moving back in 2015 to her first loves, Ballina and Mayo.

Avril is passionate about inclusion and raising awareness for the Disability Community. In her free time, Avril enjoys spending time with family and friends over some good food and a nice glass of wine. She is delighted to be a part of Ballina 2023

A London-born woman who moved to Ballina 28 years ago and hasn’t left since, Victoria is a mother of four children, 3 girls and one boy.  She has an interest in history and she loves to write and tell stories. Vicky is in the process of writing her first historical fiction novel and dreams of being a published author.

She joined the Ballina 2023 team for her love of history and to be able to put some of her knowledge of the town’s history to some good use, in sharing with the world what Ballina is about and its rich history and people.

As an ex-Londoner, Christopher relocated to the Ballina area where the air is fresher and the rural charm of Ireland’s hinterland provides a calmer, greener place to live.

 He holds a BA honours degree in Music Technology and has experience in both the Film and Music industries. He directed the film “A Famine Portrait” in Ballina which won the 2019 Jury Prize at the DiviPassion short film festival in Ballina’s twin town of Athis-Mons in Grand Paris, France.

 Besides his creative pursuits, Chris likes to workout at the Gym and enjoy outdoor fitness activities such as running and cycling.

Bonniconlon native Siobhan obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Event management and Public Relations from GMIT Galway. She has a passion for events and working behind the scenes. Ever since she can remember, she has been fascinated by logistics and planning, and has always preferred being in the background working on the event instead of actually watching it.

In her spare time, Siobhan is an American country music fanatic and is animal obsessed and has two cats and two dogs. She is a motorsport enthusiast and a member of the Mayo Motorsport Club. often attending motor rallies and car shows. Siobhan was raised n a GAA family, and is Mayo GAA mad!

Siobhan is excited to be volunteering with Ballina 2023 and knows it is going to be an amazing year for the town.

Originally from Normandy, France, Jordan has made themselves busy within their local communities wherever they are, whether driving ambulances as an EMT through busy streets in Paris to fostering abandoned cats for the NWSPCA in Mayo, Ireland.

They’ve become a very familiar figure within LGBT+ non-profit organisation OutWest, for which they have served as both Chairperson and Mayo Coordinator as well as their on-going roles in managing website and social media platforms and being a trained tester for Rapid HIV testing among other committee duties. They also oversaw the instalment of OutWest’s LGBT+ Drop-In Centre; the first centre of its kind in Mayo.

They are very happy to contribute their skills and experience now to Ballina 2023, and to be working once again with other individuals in making a positive impact on the community.