This year the thriving town of Ballina is celebrating 300 years of its foundation, although there is evidence the area was already inhabited thousands of years ago.

Lord Tyrawley, an Irish Officer in the British Army, established a garrison here in 1723. Soon it became a busy seaport and a market town.

The linen and flax industries started to thrive, so the town evolved considerably. The French General Humbert landed here, in Kilcummim, to help the cause of the Irish Revolution in 1798, and his army marched through the town.

Here are the Summer-Autumn Events

• Connacht Fleadh and Festival will run from Friday, 23rd June, to 2nd July 2023.

• International Sustainability Assembly will take place from Thursday, 6th July to Friday, 7th of July

• River Moy Swim will take place on Saturday 8th, July.

• Ballina’s TELUS International Salmon Run Sprint Triathlon will take place on Sunday, 9th July.

• International Dive Rally Kilcummin will take place from Friday, 11th August to Sunday, 13th August.

• Macnas Community Parade will take place on Saturday, 15th July.

• The Year of the French Festival will come back from Saturday, 19th August, to Tuesday, 22nd August.

• RHA West will run from Friday, 8th September, to Friday, 20th October.

• Tom Meskell Art Project will run throughout the month of November

• Handel’s Messiah with St. Muredach’s Cathedral Choir will take place on Saturday, 11th November.