Ballinasloe Tidy Town’s group have been very active of late as the summer months are bedded in and the whirr of the lawnmower fills the senses! The local group achieved the highest marks ever for the Town scoring 315 points in the Tidy Towns Competition last year. These points come from an assessment of all participating towns, carried out by an independent panel of adjudicators appointed by the Department of Rural and Community Development. The group has also been very busy over the last few weekends as their Spring/Summer clean-ups continued. Many members and volunteers turned up on different days and all playing their part for the benefit of the community. The association held their AGM recently in Gullane’s Hotel where their new committee was elected as follows - Tom Madden Chairperson; Padraig Lyons Secretary; Johnny Walsh Treasurer; Eric Naughton Public Relations Officer
Chairperson Tom Madden congratulated all members for their hard work to date but expressed his dismay at the illegal dumping still going on around the town: “I am horrified by the amount of illegal dumping taking place around the town and I suggest that we may be forced to name and shame those doing this, the €5000 fine for illegal dumping is being ignored,” he said. He also thanked the local council, the Ballinasloe Training for Employment CE Group, the probation services, local resident groups, the town team and all the hard-working executive and members of the Tidy Towns Committee. Secretary Padraig Lyons also discussed the groups plans to build on the great marks they received last year: “We must build on this great result by involving more of the Ballinasloe community, schools, organisations and businesses for the town’s successful future in this competition’. To achieve this outcome, local people are asked to ‘Adopt an Area’ in order to cover all areas of our developing town.” For further information on how to get involved or on any upcoming projects contact Tom Madden on 086 8179580 or [email protected]
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A new Discount Store is coming to Ballinasloe in the form of Mr. Price.
Ireland’s Largest Discount Store Chain its provisional date is for the end of June. The store will be located in the old Tesco / Crazy prices Shopping Centre on Sarsfield Road.
The building was formerly part of the Dubarry Shoe Factory, which shared the premises with Paddy’s Lamb meat processors which was all part of the old Workhouse site. The Store opening represents the first arrival of a National Multiple discounter since the German retail discounters Lidl and Aldi in 2000 and 2002, adding to the retail mix in the town centre.
The Mr. Price business model sells top brand name items at a discount of 40% to 70% making them the cheapest of all variety retailers. They currently have 60 stores nationwide and this new store opening is part of their exciting growth strategy. The 100% Irish owned business , established in 2010 will provide all their usual bargains from toiletries to toys, food & drink to fitness, stationery to confectionery, pet to homewares and much more! Having received great interest in the roles advertised with over 100 applications for the jobs on offer from manager, keyholder to sales assistants, the store has employed up to 35 people for their opening at the end of June. Laura Blighe Marketing Director at Mr. Price: “We're delighted to open in Ballinasloe which will be our fourth store in Galway and our 61st store nationwide. With lots of new jobs created in the local area there has been a huge amount of interest from applicants looking to join the team. We are bringing the best in branded bargains all at unparallel low prices exactly what our price conscious customers want.” Mr. Price also has a track record of sponsoring local charities throughout their years in the surrounding areas of their stores. They also have a partnership with Rehab Group and its educational division National Learning Network. This partnership is part of their inclusive employment initiative ensures people with disabilities have equal access to fulfilling careers. The new stores opening hours will be :
Over the past year, Creagh NS have been focusing on celebrating and enhancing their local school environment. At the start of the year, Mrs Gallagher and her committee began the task of bringing the art and joy of gardening and nature to the school. After sourcing, purchasing, and installing their new polytunnel, came the hard graft of making it an environment suited to teach classes in. Facilitated by a generous monetary donation from Cregg Stone; as well as the carpentry skills of caretaker Eddie Brady; the polytunnel soon became an horticultural haven. It is now filled to the brim with a wide variety of plants, vegetables, herbs and fruit thanks to the green fingers and endless enthusiasm of Assistant Principal Caroline Gallagher and her army of helpers. Mr Geraghty's 6th class have also designed and painted beautiful potting tables for outside the polytunnel. The front of the school has also recently been enhanced by a beautiful, hand-crafted outdoor planting box. This piece of work was designed and made by their talented 6th class pupil, Jack Kennedy. Inside the school, there are lots of reflective spaces and friendship pods, all designed to enhance the day-to-day experiences of the school population. On the sporting front, the inaugural soccer play-off of the Joe Murphy Cup, named in honour of their retired caretaker, took place with great success recently. They hope that this will become an annual event in the school. Past pupil and current parent, Val Colleran, Proprietor of UTAH and Regatta also donated a full new set of jerseys to the school.
Ballinasloe Town A F.C. and the Halewood Juniors Soccer Club from Liverpool celebrated 25 years of friendship and sport over the Easter period when a group of adults and youths visited for the Ballinasloe Town biennial Exchange Trip.
Joe Kelly Senior was one of the main founders of this hugely successful relationship 25 years ago and was on hand again this year to meet up with the Halewood group and to cheer on the teams from both clubs. Over the 4 day visit, numerous activities were organised for the Halewood group including swimming, shopping, Bingo at the Soccer Club Bingo in the Shearwater Hotel and a presentation dinner in Gullane’s Hotel in addition to the Tournament Games. Significantly this year the first year that there was an all-girl under 12s game and the Ballinasloe girls won the Irish Cup after a 1-0 victory
Club Development Co Ordinator Johnny Walsh stated: “Apart from the promotion of Soccer this Exchange Trip has developed a great sense of camaraderie between the Ballinasloe and Halewood Communities. It has also proved to be a very beneficial and positive contributory factor to the local economy as in the region of 100 people make the biennial trip for the few days while some of the group also make additional private trips to Ballinasloe at other times of the year.” Ballinasloe Town A F. C. are already making plans for the return trip to Liverpool next Easter.
The Senior A team have once again qualified for the Connacht Cup Final after a tremendous semi-final win away to Castlebar Celtic. The 'Town' were 1-0 l down at half time and faced an uphill battle but they regrouped well at the break and put in a magnificent second half which saw former Irish under 16 International Jordan Carr score 2 goals to secure the victory for Ballinasloe on a 2-1 scoreline. The ‘Town’ will now play the winners of Salthill Devon F. C. and Athenry F. C. The final has been fixed for Éamon Deacy Park (Galway United Grounds) on Sunday May 29 as the club seeks to win their fifth Connacht Cup title. The Clubs Development Committee have been busy recently with preparations for the next phase of the Club Development Works which consist of additional works to upgrade the floodlight system on the Main Grass Playing Pitch to energy-efficient LED lighting and also to upgrade the perimeter fencing, lighting and pitch surfaces at the astro turf pitches. Club Development Co-Ordinator Johnny Walsh stated that he expects works to commence in the very near future. The Clubs Senior Ladies Team are back training at the Curragh Grounds every Monday evening. The Roscommon and District Soccer league are organising a series of friendly games and intend to set up a Ladies League if there is sufficient interest from other clubs. The ‘Town’ have a great tradition of organising Ladies Soccer down through the years and wish to invite all interested ladies to join the club for training every Monday evening at 7.30pm. For anyone wishing to get involved contact Breda Cleary on 087 1533804. The Heritage Boat Association (HBA) is celebrating its 21st birthday in Ballinasloe Marina over the June public holiday, whilst also marking the 21st anniversary of the opening of the Suck Navigation system and marina. Up to 30 Canal Barges are expected to turn up to celebrate the Anniversary promising to be quite a spectacle with great historical significance, considering these are the very boats that travelled to Ballinasloe before the closure of the Grand Canal Line back in 1961. The harbour is steeped in the history of the Grand Canal. The final section of the canal, from Shannon Harbour to Ballinasloe, was opened in 1828. It terminated at Dunlo Harbour, which consisted of a harbour master’s house and two stores, all still surviving to this day on Harbour Road in town. The massive iron mooring rings can be seen on the lower reaches of some of the appartments and houses now in the basin. Before the advent of the Railways in 1830s the Canals were the principal means of bulky goods transportation – agricultural produce, coal, turf, glass, tobacco, whiskey, beer, lumber, ballast, bricks were all taken from the Ships at Dublin Port , transferred to the Grand Canal Basin and their cargos despatched to the West via the terminus at the Harbour Road. The Westminster Parliamentary Gazette in 1836 ; officially recorded some 1,628 first class passengers and 1,830 who travelled by Canal from the Harbour Road terminus to Dublin -a journey that took approx. 2 and half days. Following the closure of the canal in 1961, it was no longer possible for boats to make the journey to Ballinasloe until works commenced in the 1990s to make the River Suck navigable, including the construction of Poolboy Lock – joining the town to the majestic Shannon – Erne Waterway in May 2001. There are 40 retired M ( For Motor ) working boats or barges still active on the inland waterways . The last seven were sold by Inland waterways by way of tender in 2013 when raised from the bed of Tullamore Harbour. The Canal company in the 50s sank a lot of the craft to preserve them in the freshwater in the old harbours and jettys. Ciarán Clinton of the Heritage Boats Association stated: “We are looking forward to our 21st anniversary event in Ballinasloe Marina. Seeing these barges dating back to 1847 is like taking a step back in time and will give an insight to life when Ballinasloe was the last stop on the Grand Canal. Do come along and have a chat when we are in town, our members enjoy sharing these incredible stories.” Boats will arrive on May 28 and will be moored for the week until June 6. This will be a great opportunity to get up close to the very barges which were once part of everyday transport life in the town and bring back memories for those who remember the barges in action especially with Guinness. The newly formed River Suck IWAI Branch welcomed the Athlone Branch to Ballinasloe Marina recently. About 25 members in a fleet of more than ten boats of all sizes made the three hour journey along the River Suck to the town centre to meet local members and officially welcome the formation of the new Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI) River Suck branch.
It was a great opportunity for everyone in both branches to meet their new neighbouring branch and network with other IWAI members. There was a food and drinks reception to meet the visitors. Locals Rachel Staunton and Ed Galvin brought their lovely barge into the marina for the occasion. Athlone IWAI Chairperson Ian Craig presented River Suck IWAI Chairperson Graham Bartlett with the Athlone branch burgee and officially welcomed the branch members to the IWAI family. Graham Bartlett stated: ‘’It was a pleasure to welcome the Athlone IWAI branch to Ballinasloe and we thank them for their kind donation to help get our new branch up and running. It was great to see a large number of boats in the marina and it being utilised to its full potential.” Senator Aisling Dolan also commented: “John Jones, Waterways Ireland engineer and Foreman for the region David Mills met to discuss access and upgrades in preparation for events taking place this summer. Thank you to the Waterways Ireland team for sandblasting and cleaning the service block area. Many activities are being planned for June Bank Holiday weekend so do pop down to have a look. With IWAI River Suck branch, we plan to make Ballinasloe a key destination on the waterway”. Cruisers Ireland also visit on Saturday June 18. There will be many Freeman boats visiting Ballinasloe Marina for the group’s inaugural outing, with a barbecue and other events taking place during the day. For further information, please check out ‘River Suck IWAI Branch’ on Facebook. If you have an interest in the River Suck, boating and developing events at our marina then do get in touch. Members are very welcome for the River Suck IWAI branch, please go to www.IWAI.ie or send a message on Facebook. The community of Moore, Culliagh and wider Ballinasloe has been reeling with the news that Claire Curley ( nee Guinan) – Accountant and Auditor has passed away at home on the 18th of April. Claire had battled with a serious illness in recent years but no one really anticipated her untimely passing. Educated in Scoil Mhuire – she went on to follow her passion for numeracy in studying accountancy . She qualified with Willie Staunton and Co in Athlone. She then did a number of years with Paddy Pendergast and finally she did two years working in RBK Athlone. She moved on up the ranks there – undertaking a lot of professional certifications in the process. She married her teenage sweetheart James Curley and in time became, mother to Jake, Ciaran & Aiveen. Folks of her vintage who knew her well in her younger years will recall a lover of music, voice and movement - in many of her spare hours she could be found singing and dancing with the Ballinasloe Musical Society or involved with Live Performance theatre in Moore, Athlone and Town. She starred in a great many of live shows, cabarets and performances in the Town Hall and elsewhere and was a marvellous disciplined performer on stage. Off stage at various awards, homecoming receptions and fundraising she was in every sense the life and soul of the party. She even managed to coax a stage shy hubby into the Town Hall to help with sets and lights and swore some of her toddler babies could better sing the numbers that she would have to learn! She was a dedicated Committee member of the Ballinasloe Musical Society - serving as an Office holder for a number of seasons. She was gentle, courteous, fun loving and generous to a fault. In her professional life she was helpful, thorough and had a huge attention to detail. She went over and beyond duty to any client. She established her own private accountancy and audit practice in the last decade and was the first Auditor to the Ballinasloe Town Hall Theatre CLG - guiding the financial prudent management of the early years of the company through Charity formation days . All her private and public clients will testify to her dedication and professionalism. Few will remember her passion for sport of her pre marriage days apart from the usual Roscommon and Pearses supporting moments but when her children took up soccer and indeed camogie – she threw herself into the support of them on the field and Clubs that encouraged their talents with huge vigour and typical 100% commitment. Town AFC and Pearses Camogie Clubs were both blessed with her support and enthusiasm. Claire was a very active member of those club through the years and always there to help out – whether it was trips to Halewood or Club Rossie All Ireland Final Preps. In latter years as the cliff face she was facing grew taller and her own options for fun became limited she would light up with the retelling of exploits or just activities and key educational moments of her three chicks! Claire will be missed by us all. Our community’s cultural and sporting fields have lost a huge enabler, participant and encourager. Our loss is a drop in the ocean to the void in her loving family - Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with James, Jake, Ciaran, Aiveen and all of the Curley & Guinan families at this very difficult time. Work has started on the next stage of the development of the club’s facilities. The next phase will include a 3rd court, lights and all weather surfaces for all 3 courts, a small temporary clubhouse, a CCTV security system and improvements to the car parking area and grounds. Having received funding recently under the Sports Capital grant which will cover most of the cost of the latest development, the club still needs to raise more funds towards the costs. Their latest fundraiser will be a Wimbledon draw, with tickets now on sale - for just €10 you get drawn one female and one male player with 10 chances to win cash prizes. Club activities have continued at the courts during the works with the club also getting access to use the courts at Ard Scoil Mhuire when necessary. On the court there has been plenty of action with all the various age groups and players getting back out for the summer months. There are open club sessions on Tuesdays and Fridays from 6-9pm and Sundays 10am-2pm with the first hour focusing on newer members. Junior Coaching Times Ages 5 to 7 (Ard Scoil Mhuire)
Ages 8 to 11 (Ard Scoil Mhuire)
Over 12s coaching will take place at the new courts, commencing at 12 noon starting Sat 28th May and continuing for 6 weeks. The Ladies and Mens ladder competition are also currently ongoing. More recent activities included a one day mixed double competition which raised funds for Pieta House, and a very successful Easter Camp. In other news, club member Rachael Staunton has been selected to represent Connacht in the forthcoming interprovincial competition in Malahide. The clubs are very active and are always looking for new members of all standards to join the club, or to come along to one of the club open sessions first. Annual membership is €50 for adults, €30 for juniors and €90 for families which allows unlimited access to the courts (subject to availability) and all the above activities. All updates on the club’s fundraiser, activities and news will be included on their new website, where courts can also be booked and members can renew and new members can join. For more information see https://ti.clubspark.com/Bsloetennisclub/ , email [email protected] or call Joe 087 2521424, Garry 085 1124197 or Sarah 087 6800598 (juniors and coaching) Drone Footage (thanks to Robert Riddell)
Our club is a grassroots project which aims to promote the game of hockey in the locality. Absolutely no experience is required to join any group. This is particularly applicable to the adult session. The aim here being to get out, try something different, meet new people and challenge yourself to learn something new!" Jennifer Hyde
Ballinasloe Lions Hockey Club is coming to the end of their very successful 12-week trial period.
Over the past number of weeks boys and girls aged 8-16 and a mixed adult group have been training weekly as they all came together to try out the sport, some for the first time. The woman behind it all is Jennifer Hyde a star hockey player who started the project as she felt people in the locality would love to try the new sport out. “Our club is a grassroots project which aims to promote the game of hockey in the locality. Absolutely no experience is required to join any group. This is particularly applicable to the adult session. The aim here being to get out, try something different, meet new people and challenge yourself to learn something new,” states Jennifer. “As adults we push children out of their comfort zones but all too often we like to stay firmly in our own comfort zones. We have a number of adults who only started hockey this year and the feedback from them has been fantastic. Reassuring us that sport is for all and that we can indeed still surprise ourselves with our abilities once we allow the barriers to come down and let go of the fear of failure,” she added. The club’s underage players had their first blitz recently in which they played against all four newly founded clubs in Connacht. They played the Loughrea Lakers, Athenry Swans and Tuam Falcons in what was a fantastic experience for all the new players. “The club has a wide range of boys and girls in all age groups and it has been so rewarding to see the progression of these players week by week. Connacht Hockey has been incredibly supportive of our endeavours and they are running coaching courses for the fundamentals of hockey this Summer. Again, no experience is required to complete this one day course. Thanks to everyone for the fantastic support we have received so far, particularly from Ballinasloe Town Football Club who allow us to use their Astro turf pitches to run training sessions,” Jennifer concluded. If you have any queries about the club and getting involved in any capacity, you can get in touch via their social media platforms on both Instagram and Facebook as well as via email at [email protected] The Ballinasloe Community Games are up and running again after two years of Covid lockdown, as the children get out and about again taking part in healthy sporting and cultural activities.
The Community Games programme of events in competitions in art, model making, and handwriting already having taken place, with music and quiz events also well underway. The big upcoming event is the Annual Community Games Sports, which will be held in Duggan Park on Thursday, June 9 at 6 pm. Boys and Girls aged 6 to 16 will take part in a wide range of events throughout the evening including 60m, 80m, 100m, 200m, 600m and 1200m races, hurdles and relay races. There’s fun promised for all ages as there will also be Mam's, Dad's, and Granny's races! Entries are confined to Ballinasloe Community Games Area and entry forms are available in schools and will be distributed to each child. July sees the team events like soccer, gaelic football, camogie, hurling, rounders, rugby, pitch and putt, and swimming, so there is plenty for everyone to get involved in. If there is anyone interested in entering a team, please contact Carmel at 087 6207477 If you have any queries on age groups or eligibility for the Ballinasloe Community Games you can contact the committee through www.communitygames.ie/ballinasloe |
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February 2025
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