All roads are leading to Ballinrobe this weekend and next with racing, sales, and a big marquee show with Panti Bliss, all on the cards over the next 10 days.
The town is gearing up for the homecoming show of one of its most famous sons, acclaimed drag artist and prominent gay rights activist Rory O'Neill (aka Panti ).
Rory is performing his Panti Comes Home show in a marquee at Freedom Mobility, Abbey Street, Ballinrobe at 7pm.
Tickets are €25, with all proceeds going to four local charities and clubs. The tickets are available now from Feerick Property, Abbey Street, Ballinrobe, on (094 ) 9541192.
In the meantime, the business community of Ballinrobe is stirring up plenty of celebrations of its own this weekend.
The entire town is putting out the 'sales' signs today and tomorrow (Friday and Saturday ) for the ever-popular annual Ballinrobe Sales Days.
This is the fifth annual Ballinrobe Sales Days.
The town-wide retail event will see a wide range of different offers and discounts in businesses all over Ballinrobe throughout the weekend.
Local shoppers and visitors from further afield as well are expected to descend on the town for the shopping weekend.
Meanwhile, a number of business owners in Ballinrobe are celebrating a milestone anniversary, including WellCare Cleaners, Deirdre Biggins Fashions, Ryder’s Pharmacy, Tierney Shoes, and Marrey Bikes, who are all marking 10 years of commercial success.
Deirdre Biggins Fashions, Church Lane, has recently expanded and is now firmly established as one of the region's leading exclusive stockists of occasion and casual ladies fashion lines sourced from London and Paris.
The shop also has an extensive children’s clothing department.
WellCare Cleaners, Abbey Street, began as a cleaning service in the town but now also operates in the surrounding hinterlands and boasts an ever-growing residential and commercial clientele.
When all of the shopping action is over, it will all be kicking off out at the Ballinrobe racecourse on May 25 and 26, when the first two race meetings of the new season will be held.
Ballinrobe-based company McHale is once again sponsoring a number of races including the McHale Mayo National and the McHale Coranna Handicap Hurdle, both on May 26, each of which has a prize-fund of €30,000, making them Ballinrobe Racecourse’s most valuable races.
Other notable events coming up in Ballinrobe include the Run Forest Run endurance event on June 6; the Mayo Athletics Club Vodafone 5k series, which continues on June 16; and the inaugural Ballinrobe Feis which takes place on June 20 and 21.
