What to do in Ballina

yellowpens

What is there for visitors in Ballina??? if you dont fish and you dont play golf and your older then ten what activities is there in Ballina (without a car)

barleybooley

Very little tbh my dear. There's a cinema and shops but apart from that not a whole lot but there is a bus station with buses going to so many destinations so you could make day trips here and there. Enniscrone is nice if it's sunny so I suppose you could knock one day out of it... If you're over eighteen, you could go to Longnecks on Thursday through to Sunday. That's about it really

There's also a bridge which you can jump off. About the only worth while thing in the town. I moved back for summer over a month ago and ahve never been so bored in my life. There's no jobs, noting to do during the day and if I Love You Man is still in the cinema next week I think I'll shoot the place up. I asked them about Last House on the Left and they said, "Were hoping to get it in sometime in July."

Captain Slow IRL

There is a go-karting track out the sligo road - at the blind brook golf club.
Belleek forest is a nice place to go for a walk, lots of history and sights along it.

Deleted User wrote: »

There's also a bridge which you can jump off. About the only worth while thing in the town.

This isn't a very nice comment to come out with, considering the amount of people who have lost their lives in the river over the years. I don't mean to have a go at you, but you could be a little more considerate.

Captain Slow IRL

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

This isn't a very nice comment to come out with, considering the amount of people who have lost their lives in the river over the years. I don't mean to have a go at you, but you could be a little more considerate.

True it may not be the nicest thing ever said but at the end of the day people die from a variety of endevours every single day. A friend of mine happend to try and kill himself by jumping in one day a few summers back but we still joke about it with him.

A jokes a joke, some people may take offence and thats ok but for every one whose offended there are a dozen who are'nt. Someone messaged me after I posted that to say that he agreed completely with me.

Asmodean

I don't think he was insinuating suicide lads, he meant you could jump off to go for a swim. You're all so pessimstic.
On a side note is that Jesus apparition still up on that house? That'd be worth a laugh. Could buy a jesus glow stick and everything, or a jesus ashtray.

Captain Slow IRL

I don't think there was ever an apparition on the house, just too much of grandad's cough medicine;);)

I was wondering about the apparition as I've never heard about it. I have been told numerous times of the priest who crossed the river and nearly got a wallop from a complete stranger when I suggested that perhaps the river had frozen over at the time.

carmelt

Sleep is the best thing you can do:)

Crotchety

There is a good activity that is practiced in and around Ballina. It's called "getting out of town".

♫

♫ wrote: »

There is a good activity that is practiced in and around Ballina. It's called "getting out of town".

That's practiced in pretty much every town in Ireland.

OP, can I ask what it is exactly that you are looking for. You'd be surprised by the number of things that you can do in Ballina.

As mentioned Belleek is a very nice place for a walk and has some very interesting parts of the forest and a rich history.

nayorleck114

Well if you don't drink, there is not much, Really I have tried. I moved from Dublin 6 years ago and well to be honest there is not much here.

1. Get a Bike, Ballina - Enniscrone via the coast road is great.
2. Main pool has a new gym which is not bad.
3. Cinema is acutally very good, new and good sound and seating (usually 90% empty)
4. Beleek Woods is a good visit.
5. Most of the pubs are horrible, the only good ones are the ones with some live music (if you can find them) Duffys I think, Crockets is ok on a sunny evening outside. An Brennas lane is good for Food.
6. The Main park has a new five aside football pitch, very good, also free tennis court.
7. Enniscrone good for surfing, beach is great for a walk.
8. Fishing (I hate)

There really is not much else.

Stroke Politics

Usta drink in Edward Gaughans fado, fadó when I lived in Ballina. Is it still there? Is the squash club in the pub in Bonniconlon still on the go?

yurmothrintites

Gaughan's pub is still open but they don't have an alcohol licence anymore. They just do food I think. As for the squash court I don't know.

WESTY123

There is a squash club, don't know details but it would have to be Ballina Leisure centre or Ballina Stephenites. There is a pool and snooker club opening in July/August. Unfortunately Ballina is a hub for unemployment especially in the current environment, there is little developent in tourisim and leisure, there are numerous clubs but usually used for locals (Mayo sports partnership has more details). There is a site, Ballinalive.com that ha more information including a live feed from the ridgepool.

yellowpens

WESTY123 wrote: »

There is a squash club, don't know details but it would have to be Ballina Leisure centre or Ballina Stephenites. There is a pool and snooker club opening in July/August. Unfortunately Ballina is a hub for unemployment especially in the current environment, there is little developent in tourisim and leisure, there are numerous clubs but usually used for locals (Mayo sports partnership has more details). There is a site, Ballinalive.com that ha more information including a live feed from the ridgepool.

Ya I seen that website ( www.ballinalive.com ), there doing an out and about section . . did ya see it?

here are a few pics from it:
http://www.ballinalive.com/index.php/Photo-Albums/Out-About-In-Ballina/Saturday-11-July-Festival-Weekend/Enjoying-the-music-in-Quattro-30.html#joomimg





its a great idea. . . reminds me a bit of a news paper in sligo that does this kind of thing nearly every week. . goin around to pubs and clubs etc. my mates used to always give mad weird names and would get the paper just to see did they publish the names . . . still it sold papers!!

-osborne-

get a bus and go to castlebar

mardybumbum

-osborne- wrote: »

get a bus and go to westport

FYP

There's a big festival on at the minute in Ballina. Don't think there's near as many people there as previous years and the decision to charge in for events which used to be free is a bit of a joke.

2 euro per person for the Teddy Bears picnic is a disgrace but I guess someone has to pay for the festival committee to travel to Dublin to launch the festival. Staying in 4 and 5 star hotels isn't cheap.

davidjb83

Ballina is great craic. I love Paddy Jordans

Asmodean

Poor Ballina as if it isn't bad enough already if the manulla line gets axed no-one will bother going there anymore.

Captain Slow IRL

Deleted User wrote: »

There's a big festival on at the minute in Ballina. Don't think there's near as many people there as previous years and the decision to charge in for events which used to be free is a bit of a joke.

2 euro per person for the Teddy Bears picnic is a disgrace but I guess someone has to pay for the festival committee to travel to Dublin to launch the festival. Staying in 4 and 5 star hotels isn't cheap.

There is feck all people around, went to krazy karts last night, don't think anyone had trouble seeing it.

I was off wednesday - able to see the heritage day for the first time in a long time, it's sickening to see all the stalls just trying to sell you ****. There were some good sights, but a lot of stuff missing.

And yer man at the tesco car park with the stall selling perfume and aftershave:rolleyes: "roll up, roll up":mad: **** OFF!

Captain Slow IRL

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

There is feck all people around, went to krazy karts last night, don't think anyone had trouble seeing it.

I was off wednesday - able to see the heritage day for the first time in a long time, it's sickening to see all the stalls just trying to sell you ****. There were some good sights, but a lot of stuff missing.

And yer man at the tesco car park with the stall selling perfume and aftershave:rolleyes: "roll up, roll up":mad: **** OFF!

I was hoping to get some nice pics for a project I'm working on but all there was there was stall after stall. I took a pic or two but spent more time in Xtravision and Gamestop chatting with friends. The festival is dead, it really is on it's last legs and the festival committe have done nothing to help.

yurmothrintites

Just home from it there. No Mardi Gras parade just aload of underage children drinking and people falling over. The fireworks were impressive but as someone who generally stays out all night, to be home early from the biggest night of the Ballina year says alot.

yurmothrintites

yurmothrintites wrote: »

Just home from it there. No Mardi Gras parade just aload of underage children drinking and people falling over. The fireworks were impressive but as someone who generally stays out all night, to be home early from the biggest night of the Ballina year says alot.

I didn't even go out, choosing instead to stay in and watch The Punisher. Even though I've been sick the past few days it wouldn't stop me heading to it in previous years, but this year I couldn't be bothered. As I said before the festival is over, I don't see it lasting many more years.

petermijackson

Not that I am one for talking as I have not attended any of the festival this year and did not travel home for the "biggest" night of the year but the Festival Committee comprises of the same people year in year out. What it needs is new faces and ideas.

I would not give out about the festival as there must be huge organising to it and something that I would not want to get involved in. But for all of those people that think the festival is on it's last legs then you should look at getting involved with the committee afterall "It's your Festival"

Kristopherus

Op, you could take a leisurely walk up through St Patrick's Estate :D:D

steph1

All that I saw each night of the festival was drunks everywhere and people falling around, and the one disgusting sight that I saw on numerous occasions during the week was young men pissing in the streets in full view of others passing. Its a disgrace. The amount of young people that I saw sitting around in laneways drinking cans or bottles of cider was unreal. It does not create a good impression of the town at all.

I drove through the town early on Sunday morning after the fireworks and the beat on the street and you should have seen the state of the town. It was like a landfill site. There were bins in the street but dont think anybody used them. I saw one big green wheelie bin which had been upended and all its contents all over the road.

I heard a lot of people complaining about heritage day saying that there were too many stalls with people selling stuff - nothing to do with heritage at all.
I personally think that this whole festival needs to be relooked at and how it is organised. It goes on for far too long. It would be better to have it over three or four days and have a few events on each night and people could come and go to whichever event they wanted to.

There were very few visitors to the town this year. In fact since the summer started there are very few visitors in general mainly because of the recession.

Asmodean

Wasn't at it this year but I always thought it was organised so strangely. Went on for like 2 weeks, with maybe one event on a day, that in all fairness was usually very Mayo-centric and didn't cater to visitors at all. A lot of it just seemed to be very bog standard stuff that you would expect to find in a big town/city on any normal day.
The highlight of the festival always seemed to be the 'Teddys picnic' or whatever it was called...not a very good sign.

steph1

It is too long drawn out. And as we have very little visitors to the town there is very little point in having it like that. The first weekend was the agricultural show and then all the other events happened the week after that. The committee should really consider condensing the whole thing into a three or four day event and leave it at that. People haven't the money to be going out each night to support the events. There is a lot of unemployment in this town now and I dont know where the organisers of these events think that the people are going to have money to go out every night. There was a bit of uproar over the fact that they were supposed to charge in for the Teddy Bears picnic though I dont think too many were at this event from what I heard.

nayorleck114

steph1 wrote: »

It is too long drawn out. And as we have very little visitors to the town there is very little point in having it like that. The first weekend was the agricultural show and then all the other events happened the week after that. The committee should really consider condensing the whole thing into a three or four day event and leave it at that. People haven't the money to be going out each night to support the events. There is a lot of unemployment in this town now and I dont know where the organisers of these events think that the people are going to have money to go out every night. There was a bit of uproar over the fact that they were supposed to charge in for the Teddy Bears picnic though I dont think too many were at this event from what I heard.

I agree with your comment, I did not go to any of the events. However last year I knew the Committee people who did the Mardi Gras Parade. they got so much criticism that they decided not to be part of Committee this year.(thus no parade) A lot of people gave their time for free to organise the festival, The way things are going (if there is not more support) there won't be a festival soon. I think they did their best with the resources they had. But the way the economy is going I can't see it happening next year.

Dollseyes

nayorleck114 wrote: »

I agree with your comment, I did not go to any of the events. However last year I knew the Committee people who did the Mardi Gras Parade. they got so much criticism that they decided not to be part of Committee this year.(thus no parade) A lot of people gave their time for free to organise the festival, The way things are going (if there is not more support) there won't be a festival soon. I think they did their best with the resources they had. But the way the economy is going I can't see it happening next year.

It wasn't because of people who can't accept criticism that there was no Mardi Gras, it was because of insurance reasons!

steph1

Well there is always going to be criticism of one kind or another when you are involved in committees. However one aspect of this whole festival which affects me as I drive for a living is the way the road closures are operated. Saturday night was one good example. The beat on the street was held at the Tesco carpark but roads all over the place were blocked off some of them unnecessary in my opinion. The town is too small for this.

I always thought Mardi Gras was good. I heard various stories as to why it was not held this year one being that sponsorship was not forthcoming and it was either Mardi Gras or the fireworks. Why is there a problem with insurance considering they have had this event for a good few years?

The agricultural show should be held on its own some other weekend. This clashed with Oxygen and I know that a lot of people were gone from town that weekend. There was also a vintage show in Crossmolina on Sunday so that was clashing with the Teddy Bears picnic and I heard very few were at that. There just needs to be some reorganising of this festival so that it is not clashing with others in nearby towns which does not make sense.
Look at the Bonniconlon show. Its a one day event and it seems to be one of the best shows around.

jkmanc1974

Considering moving to Ballina for 6 months for a course starting at the end of August instead of commuting every day from Claremorris, good move or mad move?

Brgds
Johnny

finisklin

Should be ok....the festival is over!

steph1

jkmanc1974 wrote: »

Considering moving to Ballina for 6 months for a course starting at the end of August instead of commuting every day from Claremorris, good move or mad move?

Brgds
Johnny

I would do it. You dont want to be travelling on bad roads in wintertime and you will be saving yourself a two hour stint in the car each day. Unless you are going to commute by train.

jkmanc1974

steph1 wrote: »

I would do it. You dont want to be travelling on bad roads in wintertime and you will be saving yourself a two hour stint in the car each day. Unless you are going to commute by train.

Fancy a change of scenery also so will probably end up moving to Ballina if nothing turns up workwise in the next month or so(highly unlikely!), and like you say it will save on a commute(especially with the state of some of the roads heading up!)

Brgds
Johnny

steph1

Oh Johnny dont start me off on the state of the roads
They are absolutely dire.

jkmanc1974

steph1 wrote: »

Oh Johnny dont start me off on the state of the roads
They are absolutely dire.

Hence another reaosn for moving up

Shiminay

Trevor, we're not too keen on this sorta website pimping on boards. However, have a look at the Sales page or Contact the office about how best to interact with the site's members.

biko

Post removed, please follow Kharns advice (was going to PM Trevor but won't bother now)

Decdawreck

Drink, drink and drink i think are the only real things to do!!!!

As for cinema well thats debatable nowadays they open when they want not when they advertise and they lock you in during a film which i find a bit odd if not a bit of a hazard.

To be honest its a hole that will suck you in and there is little that you can do!!

Hahahaha!!! Ok so maybe i exagerrate

steph1

Lock you in during a film

Yes the cinema often lock the front doors after the last film of the night has begun. I assume it allows the staff to take it easy for awhile. I've often left a screening to make a complaint about people making noise/acting the prat to find that there are no members of staff to be found.

MoyVilla9

Go Karting if you're into that stuff.

Rafa1977

Am heading to Ballina tomorrow for couple nights,any recommendations of what to do or where to go, judging by some of the previous posts could be a quite couple of days!!

The other half wants to go horse riding one of the days, have seen a few places on line, can anyone recommend any?

Thanks.

Alqua

Barnfield Equestrian centre is not too far from the town and is good - can't comment on the others as I haven't been to them, but there are a good few to choose from. Maybe ring around and see what they offer?

Ballina may not be the busiest in terms of activities in the town itself but it is a great base for exploring the North Mayo/Sligo coast if you have a car! Beaches and cliffs galore..Enniscrone, Lacken, Ceide/Dun Briste, Erris, Achill(....) Belleek Woods in Ballina are lovely and there are a few historical sites in the area.

The town has a huge number of restaurants, pubs and cafes so there is no shortage of places to relax and be well fed. Have a good trip, hope you get good weather!

Rafa1977

Alqua wrote: »

Barnfield Equestrian centre is not too far from the town and is good - can't comment on the others as I haven't been to them, but there are a good few to choose from. Maybe ring around and see what they offer?

Ballina may not be the busiest in terms of activities in the town itself but it is a great base for exploring the North Mayo/Sligo coast if you have a car! Beaches and cliffs galore..Enniscrone, Lacken, Ceide/Dun Briste, Erris, Achill(....) Belleek Woods in Ballina are lovely and there are a few historical sites in the area.

The town has a huge number of restaurants, pubs and cafes so there is no shortage of places to relax and be well fed. Have a good trip, hope you get good weather!

Thanks for that Alqua, I have a car so I will be checking out those cliffs.

Alqua

You're very welcome, hope it's of some help! Downpatrick Head (Dun Briste) and Ceide are great spots - the road to Downpatrick Head is just on the Ballina side of Ballycastle as you enter the town, easy to miss, but ask for directions and they'll put you on the right track. Ceide then is the other side of Ballycastle. Best of luck!

am i bovvered

A visit to the museum in Belleek Castle is def worth while.
(Just to note I do work in the building, but no connection to the museum)
The Jackie Clarke Collection also really interesting.
Belleek woods are beautiful, as well as a visit to the monasteries along the Moy Estuary.
If you have Children Tom Ruane park is really well kept, it also has free tennis courts.
+ the normal fishing, golf, great cafe and restaurants.
Seaweed baths in Enniscrone are fun.

Reading this thread some posters here should be ashamed, very easy to sit on your backside and give out, if you want to improve the town, do something constructive!! Ballina has a lot to be proud of too.

helimachoptor

Downpatrick and Ceide are nice, my wife is from there and we go doen every couple if months to see the inlaws. Nice when sunny impressive when it's windy and the head