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Natural beauty and riveting history, Ballina boasts it all
 Otherwise
known as: Béal an Átha (Mouth of the Ford), the town was
initially called Beleek by the English.
Where in the world: On the River Moy, one of the best salmon-fishing
rivers in Europe, at the mouth of Killala Bay in north Mayo.
Description: A busy market town boasting two graceful bridges over the
River Moy. Elegant Victorian and Edwardian pub and shop fronts are a feature
of the town.
Surroundings: Spectacular — the Ox Mountain range to the east,
the Nephin Beg Mountains to the west. The town is also within easy distance
of the ocean.
Essential fact: Ballina is the largest town in Mayo, although not the
county town.
Local history: Lengthy, as you might imagine. Some of Ireland’s
first farmers lived hereabouts, in the days long before EU subsidies —
in fact as far back as 5,000 years.
Ballina’s more recent history includes an Augustinian Friary founded
about 1375, and a 15th century monastery which has largely withstood the
ravages of the weather and the invaders — impressive remains of
the Moyne Abbey can still be visited.
The town itself was officially established in 1729 by Lord Tyrawley when
it was called Belleek.
However considering that St. Patrick is believed to have baptised converts
by a well near the site of the ancient abbey, Lord Tyrawley was a newcomer
indeed. (You can still visit this ancient holy place.)
On the other hand you might want to visit Belleek Castle with its touch
of gothic horror excess.
Today it’s one of the finest four-star hotels in Ireland.
Accommodation is informal, cosy and friendly, rich in décor and
antiquities.
This intimate hotel has 15 guestrooms, with dining in the Granuaile’s
Candlelight Grill Room.
Aperitifs and nightcaps are available at the Armada Bar, a dramatic recreation
of a ship’s ward room from the galleons of the Spanish Armada.
Fascinating castle fact: Belleek Castle is the seat of the Earls of Arran.
The late Earl of Arran moved only two Bills during his parliamentary career.
One had to do with culling badgers, the other with legalising homosexuality.
Noting the packed benches on the second occasion, he remarked that, while
no-one was interested in buggering badgers, everyone seemed obsessed with
badgering buggers.
It was suggested to his Lordship that this might be because there were
very few badgers in the Upper House.
Ballina and European history: During the 1798 Rising, General Humbert
landed at Killala Bay with a force of 1,100 French troops.
After some resistance the French overwhelmed the British and at sunset
on the evening of August 22, 1798, a French soldier climbed to the top
of the Bishop’s Palace and replaced the union flag with an Irish
flag.
The green flag bore a harp in the centre and the words Erin Go Bragh.
The defending British garrison retired to Castlebar and General Humbert
occupied the town.
Ballina had become the first Irish town to be liberated by the French.
Other point of interest: On a hill to the south west of the ancient Augustinian
Ardaree Friary is the Dolmen of the Four Maels.
This structure of three upright stones topped by a capstone commemorates
an ancient, local legend.
The dolmen is said to be the grave of four brothers who murdered their
master Bishop Ceallach of Killala and were hanged by his brother.
Day trips: Just beyond Lough Conn outside the town lies the Nephin Beg
Mountains at the wild and dramatic edge of western Europe.
This is a land once shot through with dispossession and emigration amidst
all the beauty are constant reminders of the old troubled times: Forlorn
ruined cottages; Famine roads and Famine walls; and of course Captain
Boycott’s dwelling, where the world was given a new word.
Why Ballina is in the news: A vast collection of historical documents
and artefacts built up over the years by Jackie Clarke, a businessman
in Ballina, has recently come to light.
Jackie Clarke had various business interests in the town town including
a fish shop.
But he devoted his spare time to collecting historical material, some
of it commemorating great events in Irish history.
He stored this treasure trove of documentation in the attic of his house
in Ballina.
It wasn’t until he died in the year 2000 that the full significance
of his collection became apparent.
It turned out that he had amassed over 40,000 documents, including books,
manuscripts, newspapers, photographs and other archival material.
They cover the past 400 years of history and if put on the open market
would realise tens of millions of pounds.
Clarke had an especially keen interest in the period of the 1916 Easter
Rising and the collection has an unprecedented amount of rare material
from that era, as well as from the time of an earlier rising, the 1798
Rebellion.
One of the innumerable artefacts in the collection is the cockade that
Wolfe Tone wore in his hat during his trial in 1798.
The collection also has copies of the London Gazette from the late l7th
century, with first-hand accounts of the Siege of Limerick and the Battles
of Aughrim and Sligo.
The old Moy Hotel building in Ballina has been bought to house the collection,
which is due to go on display to the public later this year.
Activities: This area of north Mayo is often called a salmon fishing
paradise, with Ballina widely regarded as the foremost salmon angling
resort in Europe.
The Moy Fishery — where catches of over 5,000 salmon have been recorded
in a single season — is located within the Ballina town boundaries.
The most famous part is the Ridge Pool, situated at the head of the tidal
waters — sea trout are a regular catch here.
www.northwestfisheries.ie
Festival fun in Ballina: Ballina Street and Arts Festival — July
7 to July 14 — is one of Ireland’s big summer festivals with
everything from traditional music to sports events. www.ballinastreetfestival.ie
Getting there: Ireland West Airport Knock, (Knock Airport) is about 40
minutes away, or just over 30 miles from Ballina.
Bus Éireann runs a shuttle service five times a day from Charlestown
to the airport.
There are nine or more services a day from the airport to London, Birmingham,
Manchester, Dublin and Durham Tees Valley.
Sligo Airport is about 45 minutes from Ballina, with two flights a day
to Dublin.
Where to stay: The four-star Mount Falcon Country House Hotel and Estate
is located on the west bank of the River Moy, in 100 acres of magical
woodlands between Foxford and Ballina.
Mid-week special offers are available from ?210 for two nights B&B
and one evening meal, per person sharing. Weekend special offers are available
from ?230 for two nights B&B and one evening meal, per person sharing
Mount Falcon Country House Hotel
www.mountfalcon.com
Tel: 00353 (0) 96 74472
Ballina and famous people: Mary Robinson was born in the town. |
