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​Fine Gael Senator and Seanad Spokesperson on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Maura Hopkins has confirmed that she has secured €3,000 in funding for the Larry Reynolds festival which takes place in Ballinasloe from September 8-10 September 2017. 
 
Senator Hopkins stated, “This funding allocation is being made available from the Department of Culture, Heritage and Gaeltacht. I have been working closely with the festival committee and Minister Heather Humphries over some time to ensure that this funding was made available to support the festival for this year.”
 
“The festival now in it’s fourth year has continued to go from strength to strength. The festival plays an important role in helping to celebrate Irish music, culture and heritage in Ballinasloe and the surrounding region.”
 
“The festival commemorates the life and work of the late Larry Reynolds who hailed from Ahascragh outside Ballinasloe and emigrated to Boston in the 1950’s. Larry became a renowned fiddle player and throughout his life made an important contribution to the Irish culture in Boston and across North America.”
 
“The hardworking committee work tirelessly each year to continue to run and develop the festival each year. This funding is vitally important to allow them to continue to grow the festival. It is their dedication which allows this celebration of our culture to continue year after year. The festival has grown to become an important event on the festival calendar in the region.”
 
Senator Hopkins concluded, “It is so important to keep alive the rich traditions of Irish heritage and culture which are loved worldwide. In recognising that, it is very important for our Government to continue to recognise the value of providing ongoing and adequate funding to keep these traditions alive.”
 

On Sunday, 27th August, the Ballinasloe Cycling Club held their annual Tour D’Shams Charity Cycle in aid of Ballinasloe Social Services. ​

The club would like to thank everybody involved in making the cycle a success. Hardworking volunteers provided cakes, drinks, sweets and other snacks for all the hungry and thirsty cyclists at their different stops. Lead cars, road marshals, motorbike marshals and sweeper vans were also all important in the running of the event. Ballinasloe Social Services also provided assistant for the day.

Spot Prizes were kindly provided by Barry Taylor, Geraldine Donnelly, James Murphy, Alan Grenham, Dubarry, Coral Leisure, and Monaghan & Sons.

For more photographs, or to get involved with the Cycling Club, visit the club's Facebook.

You can also watch a Ballinasloe Life produced video leading up to the Tour D'Shams.

The IDA’s Business and Technology Park in Ballinasloe is to undergo a series of infrastructure upgrades.

The contract for the works will include replacing road and footpath surfaces, improving signage and road markings, and the installation of LED lights throughout the park.

Senator Maura Hopkins, of Fine Gael, says the Ballinasloe Area Community Development company has worked hard to promote the town for business.
However, Senator Hopkins says the IDA needs to continue to provide more office accommodation to attract investment.