First half of €15,000 fund is distributed to community and voluntary groups to support new events for Ballina 2023
The Ballina 2023 Steering Group has made its first round of awards under Round 1 of the Ballina 2023 Community Fund (to fund events taking place up to the end of July 2023).
Small grants of up to €1,000 have been awarded to assist with the cost of new, small-scale events or initiatives to be developed as part of the programme to mark the town’s year of celebrations.
Chairman of Ballina 2023, Jarlath Munnelly said: “From the outset, the Ballina 2023 programme has sought to involve, empower and connect communities within the town. We hope that this fund will assist community and voluntary groups to mark this important year in ways that are unique and important to them, and that will contribute to RISE, the Ballina 2023 Legacy Programme.”
The community fund is supported by Mayo County Council, and preference has been given to applications that align with Ballina 2023’s key pillars and values – Arts & Culture, Business and Enterprise, Community & Inclusion, Sports, Climate Action/Environment/Sustainability and Youth.
Round 1 Grant Recipients
Attymass Parent’s Association Climate Awareness Community Family Day (Arts & Culture, Community and Inclusion, Climate Action, Environment and Sustainability): €1,000
Attymass Parent’s Association will host a community Family Day on June 12, inviting children and their family members living in the community to take part and experience an inclusive interactive spectacle piece developed by Circus 250 with the aim of building awareness of the current climate issues that society is facing and how the community to work together to make positive changes.
Ballina Arts Centre & Cathal Gavin Events (Arts & Culture): €500
To support with a performance by Cathal Gavin on May 26, with a 2023 theme
Ballina Community Cleanup Group (Climate Action, Environment and Sustainability): €800
To support with the group’s ongoing Plant a Tree for ’23 initiative. Over 6,000 trees have been planted to date in Ballina by volunteers, in an effort to contribute to a greener future for Ballina.
Mayo Mental Health Association Children’s Art Exhibition (Community & Inclusion, Arts & Culture): €900
Mayo MHA runs an annual Art Poster Competition for primary school students to introduce young school children to think about mental health and well-being in their formative years. To celebrate Ballina 2023, Mayo MHA will hold an art exhibition with the entries from this year’s Art Poster Competition at their awards ceremony, bringing the community together to share information and celebrate young people’s ideas around the importance of promoting positive mental health.
Mayo Volunteer Centre – Volunteer Recognition Event (Community & Inclusion): €1,000
To date, over 500 volunteers have contributed to the success of Ballina 2023, and Mayo Volunteer Centre will hold an event at the end of June to acknowledge this effort, thank volunteers and also acknowledge the volunteering efforts of the many community groups who work in Ballina and surrounding areas.
The Moy Singers Spring Concert (Arts & Culture): €500
A very special performance on April 23rd with special guest Brídín, honouring Ballina’s musicians of the past, volunteers of the present and talent of the future.
October Nights (Arts & Culture): €800
The commissioning of musician Laurie Shaw to write an album about Ballina, in its 300th year.
OutWest presents A Day Out for All (Community & Inclusion): €1,000
Mayo’s Community LGBT+ Support Group, OutWest is throwing a party on June 17, with a family-friendly day of LGBTQI+ events in various venues around Ballina.
St Nicholas’ School, Ballina (Community & Inclusion, Arts & Culture): €1,000
Creation of a mural in the garden in St Nicholas’ School, led by artist Emma Donoghue, in an area used by pupils to relax and to enjoy the outdoors. The theme of the mural will be the wildlife, flora and fauna of Belleek Woods, and the work will be created in partnership with a number of local groups.