With Ballina riding high as it reaches the half way point of its 300th year celebrations, following a succession of events including the annual festival on the Moy, the Connacht Fleadh, the Mini Marathon, not to mention the visit by US President Joe Biden - and now this week - further celebrations following a series of Grade A marks in an assessment of the town by Irish Business Against Litter, Ballina has become the place to be for tourists in Mayo - according to local councillors.
At this week's Ballina MD meeting held in the heart of the town at the Foroige building, right next door to Supermac's on Pearse Street, with the 2023 good vibes continuing and yet another positive story for the town emerging in light of the news that Foroige wants Ballina to be a pilot location for a roll-out of digital hubs across Mayo - the celebrations just kept on going.
Newly installed Cathaoirleach for Ballina MD, Cllr Seamus Weir, said the good results from IBAL was all thanks to the cohesive efforts between the Tidy Towns, Ballina Chamber of Commerce and the many volunteers across the various organisations all working together for the town to enhance the buildings and amenity areas. "I would like to congratulate them all and the council staff whose outdoor teams are there day in and out," he said.
Cllr Michael Loftus said he wanted to compliment those involved in the Ballina Festival and the committee, saying it was a fantastic success and adding: "One woman described it as far better going to Ballina than Westport. She came from Down, and said there was a nicer atmosphere here, it was a lot better and she enjoyed it better. Compliments to Jarlath (Cllr Munnelly ) and his team in Ballina 2023 for what they have done so far. It has been shown that it and the 300 celebrations have been some of the highlights this year. I also want to pass this on to the Ballina Clean-up group; the signs at Dunnes Stores, I think they are absolutely brilliant and for Dunnes to have given permission for them to be there just has to be noted."
Lots of people are making the Westport comparisons
Cllr Jarlath Munnelly said the annual Ballina Festival was always a big highlight and it was great to see all the support and turnout, adding: "No doubt Ballina is having an excellent year and no doubt because people in many organisations across the town are involved in it. Lots of people are making the Westport comparisons to me also all the time and people are saying Ballina has a lot going for it - and that really was the objective of the year, to show that. So it's so far so good and more to come."
Cllr Annie May Reape said: "The town is just amazing, 2023 has been excellent; well done to the council and also to all of us and those involved. The festival was really noted and the Heritage Day was possibly one of the best we’ve had. There were people here from Sligo and the North, as it happened to be on July 12, and people from Enniscrone, who have been coming for 40 years, said they have never seen anything like it. Definitely the Westport connection is mentioned - no offence to Westport but this is what people are saying - and the Fleadh also, they are impressed with. All in all, the business with Joe Biden I think started the interest also."
Cllr Mark Duffy added his compliments for all involved and to the organisers also of the Connacht Fleadh, the Mary Robinson Climate event and the Festival, saying: "Ballina has been taken up with so many events in the last number of weeks, there has been a lot of high profile visitors, keynote speakers, the Macnas parade on Saturday was a brilliant success; even on fireworks night the rain held off and we joined the celebrations with our sister city of Pittsfield in the US."
Cathaoirleach Cllr Seamus Weir concluded: "We didn’t hold back; between President Biden, the Women’s Marathon, the festivals etc, we were busy all that time and have shown Ballina off very well."
