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Any material not supported by sources may be challenged and removed at any time. This article has been tagged since February 2007. Ballina (Irish: Béal an Átha) is the largest town in County Mayo in the Republic of Ireland. It lies at the mouth of the River Moy near Killala Bay, in the Moy valley, with the Ox Mountain range to the east and the Nephin Beg Mountains to the west. Ballina is in north Mayo, in the province of Connacht. The name is derived from Béal an Átha (mouth of the ford) or Béal Átha an Fheadha in Irish. Personal image by Kanchelskis on it:, see it:Immagine:Ballina_crest. ...
Bullet for locations in Ireland, displays location and not area. ...
Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is currently the only fully functional Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). ...
The Irish national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Ireland. ...
During late Gaelic and early historic times Ireland was divided into provinces to replace the earlier system of the tuatha. ...
Connaught redirects here. ...
For much of its history, the island of Ireland was divided into 32 counties (Irish language contae or condae, pronounced IPA: ). Two historical counties, County Desmond and County Coleraine, no longer exist. ...
Statistics Province: Connacht County Town: Castlebar Code: MO Area: 5,397 km² Population (2006) 123,648 Website: www. ...
Basic Definition In geography, the elevation of a geographic location is its height above mean sea level (or some other fixed point). ...
Statistics Province: Connacht County Town: Castlebar Code: MO Area: 5,397 km² Population (2006) 123,648 Website: www. ...
The River Moy (Abhainn na Muaidhe in Irish) rises in the Ox Mountains in County Sligo in the northwest of Ireland. ...
Connaught redirects here. ...
According to the 2002 census, Ballina is the largest town at 1,451 hectares, compared to Castlebar at 1,099 hectares. The recorded population of Ballina's urban area is 9,478.
History
 Map showing old Mayo-Sligo border - see 'Old borders' While Ballina was first officially established in 1729 by O'Hara, Lord Tyrawley, Belleek, now part of the town, pre-dates the town’s formation, and can be dated back to the late 15th, or early 16th century. Although, what is now known as Belleek Castle was built in 1831. Beside the town's modern Roman Catholic cathedral is the "remains of an Augustinian friary founded about 1375", according to Encyclopædia Britannica. Image File history File links Cassells_north_east_mayo. ...
Image File history File links Cassells_north_east_mayo. ...
The Belleek estate once occupied lands from the Moy River to the modern-day Killala Road. This included part of the ‘Old French Road’ which General Humbert marched on from Killala, and beside part of which in the Killala Road-Belleek area was Belleek’s reservoir – presumably destroyed in the construction Coca-Cola’s ‘Ballina Beverages’ factory; the ‘Old French Road’ is now closed off at that point, with what amount to diversion road signs claiming Humber marched where he did not. General Humbert (1755-1823) was a French revolutionary general famous for his failed invasion of Ireland in 1798. ...
Old borders Ballina is on the Mayo side of the Mayo-Sligo county border, part of what is now the town was once was part of County Sligo, with the border for the most part once being the River Moy, south of which was in Sligo, including Ardnaree, and Crockets Town (the Quay).
The 1798 Centenary memorial (the Humbert Monument) was dedicated on May 11, 1898, it was late due to the money also being used to fund revolutionary organisations. The monument was originally sculptured by a Dublin Craftsman but in recent years it has been restored locally by G J Ginty & Sons. The figure on the monument is not Humbert but Mother Ireland. Maud Gonne, a famous Irish woman unveiled the monument. At the event Maud Gonne famously poured water over another speaker's (an IRB member) head. Maud Gonne MacBride (21 December 1866 – 27 April 1953) was an English-born Irish revolutionary, feminist and actress, best remembered for her turbulent relationship with William Butler Yeats. ...
The Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) was a secret fraternal organisation dedicated to fomenting armed revolt against the British state in Ireland in the nineteenth century and early twentieth century. ...
The Dolmen of the Four Maols is located at the back of Ballina's Railway Station. The Dolmen dates from c2,000 B.C.E and is sometimes called locally the 'Table of the Giants'. The Dolmen is said to be the burial place of the four Maols. The four Maols murdered Ceallach, a 7th century Bishop of Connacht and were hung at Ardnaree - the Hill of Executions. Tradition says that their bodies were buried under the Dolmen.
Architecture, planning, and housing
 St Muredach's Cathedral on the banks of the River Moy in Ballina The town has some notable architecture, including the 15th-century Moyne Abbey, and St Muredach's Cathedral, which is the Cathedral Church of the Diocese of Killala. Work on the Cathedral began in 1827. The stone was quarried locally and the roof and ceiling were completed before the Great Famine (1845). The spire was completed in 1855 and by 1875 the organ had been commissioned. Outside Ballina, on a small hill to the west, stands a dolmen, thought to have been erected 4000 years ago. The only all-boys' secondary school in the town, St. Muredach's College, celebrated its centenary on 10 September 2006. Amended from personal photo by Kanchelskis on it:, see it:Immagine:Ballina. ...
Amended from personal photo by Kanchelskis on it:, see it:Immagine:Ballina. ...
(14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ...
Killala (Irish: Cill Ala) is a village in County Mayo, Republic of Ireland. ...
Naval Battle of Navarino by Carneray 1827 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...
Bridget ODonnell and her two children during the famine The Great Famine or the Great Hunger (Irish: An Gorta Mór or An Drochshaol), known more commonly outside of Ireland as the Irish Potato Famine, is the name given to a famine in Ireland between 1845 and 1849. ...
1845 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...
1855 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...
1875 (MDCCCLXXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...
Poulnabrone dolmen in County Clare, Ireland For the French TV miniseries, see Dolmen (TV miniseries). ...
September 10 is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years). ...
For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...
The town centre has somewhat retained its historic appearance, avoiding the degree of modernisation seen in many Irish towns - according to Ireland.com, the website of the national newspaper the Irish Times, “many of the shops and pubs have retained their Victorian and Edwardian style”. In recent years, in an attempt maintain these styles, the town council introduced design guidelines for shop fronts.
The majority of housing in the town is provided by housing estates that are privately built; once in a fit condition, the green areas, roads, and footpaths are handed over to the local authorities. In the main, these housing estates are made up of semi-detached houses. In recent years, the estates have rapidly expanded the size of the town, even outgrowing newly drawn town boundaries, with estates built on nearly every main road from the town.
Besides this, there has been some development in apartment building, most notably the Ridgepool Apartments, located in the same building as the Ridge Pool Hotel on the bank of the River Moy. Apartments have and are been built in old and new laneways of the town centre. New laneways are being opened to link shopping streets to the old Diamond’s Yard car park, the laneways and the car park also accommodates new shops and improved access to old stores.
Culture & recreation
Sports Ballina Stephenites, is one of the local Gaelic Athletic Association club teams. The name also refers to the town’s Gaelic Athletic Association grounds. In 2005, the team won the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship for the first time. The other GAA football club in Ballina is Ardnaree Sarsfields. A stylised Celtic cross serves as the traditional logo of the GAA. The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) (Irish: Cumann Lúthchleas Gael) is an organisation which is mostly focussed on promoting Gaelic Games - traditional Irish sports, such as hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball, and rounders. ...
The All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football tournament played between the hundreds of senior football clubs in Ireland. ...
Ballina Town FC and Ballina United are the town's two soccer clubs. Known affectionately locally as The Town, Ballina Town FC is a soccer club catering for the Ballina area in County Mayo. ...
In basketball, Merry Monk Ballina represents the town in Ireland’s Men's ‘Supperleague’. The town used to have two teams, in 2002, the Ballina Colts, and the Ballina Hawks under aged teams joined to form Ballina Braves Basketball Club. The former senior teams were named Longnecks Ballina, and Lundy Foods Ballina.
Tourism Ballina's location favours salmon fishing, and one of the best spots, the Ridge Pool, is situated in the heart of the town, and boasts a fine harem established in the late 1940s. Ballina is widely regarded as the foremost salmon angling resort in Europe.[citation needed] The highlight of the tourist season occurs in early July when the Ballina Street and Arts Festival takes place. Illustration of a male Coho Salmon The Chinook or King Salmon is the largest salmon in North America and can grow to 1. ...
Infrastructure
Education The primary schools that serve the town include Scoil Croí íosa of the Convent of Mercy (all-girls), Scoil Padraig (all-boys), the Quay NS (mixed), Culleens NS on the Killala Road (mixed), and Scoil na gCeithre Maol (mixed), a gaelscoil situated by the Ridgepool. There is also a Montessori school and many pre-schools.
There are also three secondary schools - St. Murdeachs College (all-male), Moyne College (mixed), and St Marys of the Convent of Mercy (all-female). Other local mixed secondary school options include schools in Crossmolina, Foxford and Lacken Cross (past Killala).
Communications & media Broadband over telephone lines is currently provided by Eircom, and BT Ireland.
Ballina is one of the towns due to have a MAN (Metropolitan Area Network), the ductings and fiber optic cables are in place, but with no ISP Connections. The MANs are being built for the Department of Communications, they will be run by a private operator, but will remain the property of the government.
Local media The Western People is a local newspaper based in Ballina and until recently was also printed at its premises in the town, it is owned by the Cork-based Thomas Crosbie Holdings. Two freesheets, the Mayo Advertiser and the Mayo Echo are distributed throughout Ballina. The Connaught Telegraph, published in Castlebar and, to a lesser extent, the Mayo News published in Westport, also carry local news related to Ballina. Mid West Radio is the regional station with an office in the town. The Western People is a weekly local newspaper published in Ballina, County Mayo in the Republic of Ireland, it was first published in 1883. ...
The Mayo Echo is a free newspaper, in County Mayo, Ireland. ...
The Connaught Telegraph is a weekly local newspaper published in Castlebar, County Mayo in the Republic of Ireland. ...
This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...
Westport is the name of several communities around the world. ...
Historically there has been a number of newspapers directly linked with the town, these include:
- Ballina Advertiser, Mayo And Sligo Commercial Gazette (Jan 10, 1840 - Nov 10, 1843)
- Ballina Chronicle (May 2, 1849 - Aug 14, 1851; M/W Connaught Watchman)
- Ballina Herald (1844 – Oct, 1961; C/A 'Ballina Herald and Mayo and Sligo Advertiser')
- Ballina Herald and Mayo and Sligo Advertiser (Oct, 1891 - Apr 28, 1962; M/W 'Western People')
- Ballina Impartial, or Tyrawly Advertiser (Jan 13, 1823 - Nov 16, 1835)
- Ballina Journal and Connaught Advertiser (C/A 1880 - Mar 11, 1895)
- Connaught Watchman (Aug 2, 1851 - Oct 3, 1863)
- Tyrawly Herald; or Mayo and Sligo Intelligencer (1844 – 1870)
- Western Gem (1843)
- Western Journal (1977 - Feb 15, 1980; C/A Sligo Journal Feb 22, 1980 - Mar 11, 1983)
- Western People (1883 - Present)
- Western Star (1835 - 1837)
[M/W = merged with; C/A = continued as |Source: National Library of Ireland
Transport Public transport within the town is mostly limited to taxis.
Roads The N26 is the main road to Dublin, it leaves the town south to Foxford, and after Swinford joins the N5 to Dublin. N59 comes from Belmullet and Crossmolina in the west, goes through the town to Sligo to the northeast. The R314 makes up the road to Killala, and then Ballycastle. The R294 goes to south County Sligo via 'the Windy Gap' in the Ox Mountains, this is used by some to get to Dublin, vie Tubbercurry and Boyle (most notably when Mayo is playing in the GAA All Ireland Final, after which the main roads are clogged by traffic travelling to other parts of the county). The N26 road is a National Primary Route in the Republic of Ireland linking Ballina and Foxford to the N5 Dublin–Westport road. ...
There is currently a plan to build a ring road around the town, but this has been in place for a number of years. A small stretch of the N26 leaving the town to Foxford was recently modernised. An inner-relief road was completed just before Christmas 2005, it links the Killala Road (R314) and Crossmolina Road (N59) - it goes through ‘Rockville’ housing estate on the Killala Road and joins up to other roads at St Patrick's Church, near the Crossmolina Road. A section of the N59 from the town to the Sligo boarder is currently been upgraded. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (900x600, 200 KB) Ballina (.it (county Mayo, Ireland), Town centre. ...
Image File history File links Download high resolution version (900x600, 200 KB) Ballina (.it (county Mayo, Ireland), Town centre. ...
The 'Ballina & Environs Development Plan, 2003-2009' plans for cycle lanes "on all major traffic routes leading into town”, and for the building of stage one of the "outer ring road linking the N26 (Foxford Road) with the N59 – West (Crossmolina Road), and the R314 (Killala Road)”.
Bus Ballina Bus Station is host to a major Bus Éireann bus depot.
Rail Ballina is the terminus of a railway route from Dublin. Historically the railway line continued to Killala. The modern line to Ballina is a branch off the main Dublin-Westport line; passengers have to change at Manulla Junction, though some direct Ballina-Dublin services do run. Terminal Station was also the name of a railway station in Chattanooga, Tennessee; see Chattanooga Choo Choo. ...
Most rail services in Ireland are provided by Iarnród Éireann in the Republic of Ireland, and by Northern Ireland Railways in Northern Ireland. ...
WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ...
Currently a ex-Dublin 'Commuter' train services the Manulla Junction to Ballina line, in 2006 it replaced Mk.1 Carriages and a 071 class locomotive. On a Friday there is a mid-afternoon down train from Dublin which does not stop at Manulla Junction, it is served with Mk.2 Carriages.
The only other stop on the Manulla-Ballina line is Foxford. Foxford station opened 1 May 1868, in 1963 despite local opposition it was closed - it reopened in 1988 and is now served by the Ballina-Manulla Junction train. The line is owned by the state company CIE, and previously by the Midland Great Western Railway. Córas Iompair Éireann[1] (CIÉ) is a statutory authority which is owned by the Irish Government. ...
The Midland Great Western Railway (MGWR) main line extended from Broadstone in Dublin to the Midlands (Athlone) and onwards to Galway and Clifden in what is now the Republic of Ireland. ...
Since January 14, 2007, the newly assigned ‘Commuter’ railcars run a new Ballina-Foxford-Castlebar-Westport service, vie Manulla Junction, three times daily each way.
Air Ireland West Airport Knock (Knock Airport, NOC) is about 40 minutes, 31.5 miles, or 50.7 km from Ballina. Bus Éireann now runs a shuttle service about five times a day from Charlestown to the Airport. There are nine or more services a day from the airport to London, Birmingham, Manchester, Dublin and Durham Tees Valley. Sligo Airport is about 45 minutes from Ballina and has two flights a day to Dublin, usually operated by Aer Arann ATR42's but occasionally ATR72's. Knock International Airport (IATA: NOC, ICAO: EIKN), now called Ireland West Airport Knock (from October 2005) and formerly called Connaught Airport, and previously to that Horan International Airport, is located at Knock near Charlestown, County Mayo, Ireland. ...
Sligo Airport (IATA Airport Code: SXL) is located in Strandhill, near Sligo in the Republic of Ireland. ...
Industry Multinational companies Coca Cola, under the name Ballina Beverages, has a processing plant in the Killala Road area of the town. In 2005, the company expanded their large sky-like blue boxed building which can be seen from across the town, it remains the same height and length but on the road access side of the site it has noticeable increased in width. The extension seamlessly merges with the original. In January 2000, the plant produced its first commercial batch of Coke Cola. They operate a team named ‘the Ballina Beverages Sponsorship Team’, according to the Western People the company donates to around 100 ‘local events’ annually, besides this, in December 2005 the Sponsorship Team split 25,000 euro between five local charities. Coca-Cola is a cola (a type of carbonated soft drink) sold in stores, restaurants and vending machines in more than 200 countries. ...
The Western People is a weekly local newspaper published in Ballina, County Mayo in the Republic of Ireland, it was first published in 1883. ...
Charles River Laboratories, Inc. run pre-clinical animal testing labs (locally nicknamed ‘the rat labs’ or the "rat factory") under the Irish registered company 'River Laboratories Biolabs Europe Limited' - in the area of Carrentrila on the old Foxford Road. They also operate out of a location in North West Mayo. Formerly, the now dissolved company Biological Laboratories (Ballina) Limited operated from the same premises. Charles River Laboratories, Inc. ...
Lionbridge operate a ‘VeriTest’ test centre on Emmet Street in the town centre. It is their ‘European Operations’ headquarters.
Hollister a medical device company, operates a manufacturing facility on the Foxford Road, Rehins, Ballina.
Government The lowest level of local government in the area is Ballina Town Council (Ballina UDC); the next level is Mayo County Council. Councillors are elected directly to both. The chairperson of the Town Council takes the title of Mayor, or in more recent times Meara. The county and town councils share offices at Arran Place, it includes the local Motor Tax Office.
Other elections held in the town include countywide elections for TDs who then represent the county in the Dail, and elections to pick the EU MEPs for the region. The Mayo parliamentary constituency spans the entire area of the county in Connacht, taking in Castlebar, Westport and Ballina. ...
Dáil Éireann is the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of the Republic of Ireland1. ...
Local government plans Adopted Ballina & Environs Development Plan (June 2003) - Adopted Ballina & Environs Development Plan (pdf)
Ballina Area Action Plans - Killala Road Area (inc Belleek area) (pdf)
- Quay Road Area (pdf)
Sister Cities & Twin Cities Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ...
Athis-Mons is a town in France, chief town of canton of the Essonne, in the north of this départment (arrondissement of Palaiseau). ...
Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...
Pittsfield redirects here. ...
Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...
The City of Scranton is the county seat of Lackawanna CountyGR6 in Northeastern Pennsylvania, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 76,415 (2003 estimate: 74,320). ...
Additional information
Prominent residents (past and present) Edward Whelan (1824-December 10, 1867). ...
Mary Robinson (Irish name Máire Mhic RóibÃn; born 21 May 1944) was the first female President of Ireland, serving from 1990 to 1997, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, from 1997 to 2002. ...
Photo gallery Gate House at Belleek Forest Park. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (486x648, 38 KB) Gate House at Belleek Forest Park, Ballina, Co Mayo, Ireland. ...
| Knox Gore Monument at Belleek Forest Park. Image File history File links Knox_gore_monument. ...
| The concrete ship the 'SS Creteboom' in the River Moy. Image File history File links The_creteboom. ...
| A side view of the Creteboom. Image File history File links The_ss_creteboom_side_view. ...
| The Folrette also in the Moy river. Image File history File links TheFolrette. ...
| A view of the town from a beside Leigue graveyard - one of the highest points in area. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2004x999, 245 KB) Summary A view of Ballina, County Mayo. ...
| A view of Rockwell housing estate and the Killala Road area. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1632x800, 286 KB) Summary A view of Rockwell housing estate and the Killala Road area, Ballina, County Mayo. ...
| The Quay, at Crocketstown, Ballina. Image File history File links Thequayballina. ...
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Surrounding towns and villages Attymass is a village located in County Mayo, Republic of Ireland. ...
Buildings in Ballycastle Ballycastle (Irish: Baile an Chaisil) is a village in County Mayo, Republic of Ireland, situated northwest from Ballina, near Mayos north coast in the West of Ireland. ...
Bonniconlon (or Bunnyconnellan) is a village in County Mayo, in the Republic of Ireland. ...
Carra (also spelled Cahra or Ceara in Irish) is located approximately two miles from Bonniconlon, near Ballina. ...
This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...
Easky (Iascaigh in Irish) is a village in County Sligo, Ireland. ...
This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...
Inishcrone or Enniscrone (Irish: Inis Crabhann) is a small coastal village in County Sligo, Ireland. ...
Killala (Irish: Cill Ala) is a village in County Mayo, Republic of Ireland. ...
Lahardane (Leathardán) is a small village in the west of Ireland adjacent to Lough Conn and to Nephin, and close to the town of Ballina. ...
Pontoon (Pont Abhann in Irish) is a lakeside village in County Mayo in Ireland, situated between Lough Conn and Lough Cullin. ...
See also This is a link page for cities and towns in the Republic of Ireland, including larger villages, and villages and townlands of note, as well as towns, townships or urban centres in Dublin. ...
Known affectionately locally as The Town, Ballina Town FC is a soccer club catering for the Ballina area in County Mayo, Republic of Ireland. ...
The Céide Fields is the name given to an area situated on the north Mayo coast in the west of Ireland. ...
The River Moy (Abhainn na Muaidhe in Irish) rises in the Ox Mountains in County Sligo in the northwest of Ireland. ...
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