Lovin Ireland

24 hours in: Ballina

In our inaugural video series, we headed to co. Mayo to the riverside town of Ballina. Lying at the mouth of the river Moy, it’s difficult to miss its rushing waters (especially the Ridge Pool situated in the heart of the town). Ballina’s location favours salmon fishing, so much so there’s even an annual Salmon Festival that takes place every July in the town.

Founded as a garrison town, its streets are lined with beautifully preserved Georgian and Victorian buildings - with the former provincial bank (now housing the Jackie Clarke Museum) being one of its best architectural examples. There are also some incredible street art dotted around the town with commissions from the likes of Friz, Maser and Canvaz seen on the sides of buildings and once-grey walls.

There’s a train station pretty central in the town, which is a great shout for the car-less/eco-conscious amongst us. It’s a great place for a night away, and in a nice location if you want to explore the west coast, given its proximity to Sligo and the mayo coast.

Our top picks:

🛌 Stay at @ballinamanorhotel1
🍽️ Eat at @the_poacher_restaurant
🍸Sample a cocktail at @hogansballina
🍺 Grab a Guinness at V.J Doherty’s
📝 Visit the @jackieclarkecollection
🎻 Catch a gig at St Micheal’s Church
🎨 Take a walk around and spot the street art

📹 @emilymullwan

#Lovin #ballina #discoverireland #invite #pureballina