Top Things to do in Ballina
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The 10 Best Things to Do in Ballina, Ireland
Discover the best top things to do in Ballina, Ireland including Belleek Castle Museum, Jackie Clarke Collection, Connacht Whiskey Company, Rosserk Friary, St. Muredach's Cathedral, Tom Ruane Park, Saint Mary's Well, Ballina Dolmen, The North Mayo Heritage Centre, Fr. Peyton C.S.C. Memorial Centre.
Restaurants in Ballina
1. Belleek Castle Museum
Overall Ratings
5 based on 180 reviews
Open 7 days a week, our castle tours are a highlight not to be missed. The Tours include the history of the castle, going back to the Middle Ages. You will see the Medieval Banquet Hall, the Spanish Armada Bar and other romantic Rooms. The highlight of the tour will be the Marshall Doran Collection, the finest collections of medieval armour, jurassic fossils and antiques in Ireland.
Reviewed By TalCul
Went on tour of the castle with an excellent guide called Carol. She really brought the place alive and spent great time with us with her vivid descriptions of the history of the castle. Highlights are the bar and armoury! Would highly recommend!
2. Jackie Clarke Collection
Overall Ratings
5 based on 125 reviews
Reviewed By preglad - New York
I read about the Jackie Clark Collection in preparation for a third go round leisurely stay based outside Ballina. There wasn't all that much of consequence I'd missed over many decades exploring the surrounding terrain, so a visit there began with a curious sense of responsibility, possibly all the more quirky sourced in one of Sicilian American background.
How bad could it be? The house was visually interesting in itself from its exterior, parking and varied other town center options were proximate if deciding on an early bail-out. Oh yes, and the other great incentive: all free of charge as in somewhat self endowed. The two ladies and gent on call were charming and helpful as could be imagined. After a personal five minute overview discussion, off we went self guided and quickly absorbed throughout, engaging the varieties of curiosities housed in multiple exhibit rooms on ground level and up the stairs beyond.
Little by little, we were provided with an absorbing look at records depicting one man's collection of his life's surroundings and related contemporaneous news.Thousands of Jackie and his wife's devotedly gathered mementos magnified that particularly eventful period of Irish history.
We wound up spending many hours going from room to room before exiting through his garden so much later than imagined. This museum serves as much as a fascinating shrine to a most devoted and visionary subject as it does an impressive vault of Irish history. That singular vision results in such a panoramic arrangement of human events - for us to behold, absorb and celebrate far beyond his own lifetime.
Jackie Clarke was a brilliant businessman, opening shop after shop (more than half a dozen) employing many then and to this day. Have a peek inside his impressive proximate smoked salmon shop for openers. JC led seemingly multiple lives, and I'll be looking toward an inclusive biography trumpeting both his intense drive and the attentive range of his and later his devoted wife's impressive achievement.
3. Connacht Whiskey Company
Overall Ratings
5 based on 56 reviews
We are an independently owned craft Irish whiskey distillery located in the town of Ballina, County Mayo Ireland. Situated in a beautiful setting across from the River Moy, the distillery offers guided tours, tastings, and a gift shop. You will learn how pot still Irish whiskey is made and get to enjoy a sampling of our products. The Visitor Centre is open 7 days a week, Mon-Fri (10-6) Sat (12-5). The guided tours of the distillery are scheduled and run at 12:30 PM and 3:30 PM Booking is highly advisable.
Reviewed By Shellmurray - Bath UK
Went to the Connacht Whiskey on a recent visit to Mayo, and what a fantastic experience it was, Lyndsey the tour guide was so knowledgeable and the tour was excellent, looking forward to visiting again in 2019 when there own Whiskey will be available, the tasting session was also a great experience with Vodka, Gin, Poitin and whiskey available. Definitely a must see for everyone
4. Rosserk Friary
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 61 reviews
Reviewed By preglad - New York
Rosserk Abbey, Moyne Abbey, and Mary's Well make for a lovely morning or mid-afternoon's leisurely engagement of County Mayo inclusions celebrating bucolic Ireland's abundance of hidden gems.
In the first of these three stops, we encountered varying and engrossingly detailed embellishments that remain mostly within Rosserk medieval Franciscan friary, a hallowed structure situated gracefully in a much conducive setting of natural piety.
Though smaller in size than its impressive Moyne counterpart, I found our time spent at this particular stop even more atmospheric.
5. St. Muredach's Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 36 reviews
Reviewed By Jean D - Old Colwyn, United Kingdom
We were staying in Ballina for a few days recently and visited the Cathedral while we were there
I am a big fan of Mary Robinson a previous president of Ireland who was born in a house opposite the Cathedral. There is a museum dedicated to her life in this house which
was unfortunately closed on the day we were there. But the Cathedral although not an ancient building is a beautiful church and very much a part of the community. While we were there,several people popped in to say a prayer..
Next door is an old abbey.
6. Tom Ruane Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 20 reviews
Reviewed By Shane M
Great park with different swings, zipline roundabout etc things for the kids to play with and to spend a nice afternoon outside. Enjoyed in a safe setting, just beside you can try a bit of football with friends basketball and tennis TRY IT OUT
7. Saint Mary's Well
Overall Ratings
5 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By preglad - New York
There seems to be some active ongoing discussion about the extent to which Mary's Well serves more as a testament to noteworthy and impressive events or a wistful bit of Shangrila or Brigadoon. The surrounding literature tends to cover all the popular base possibilities without offering a singularly emphatic interpretation of the site.
For those so disposed, all the ingredients come together in the pristine and unspoiled atmosphere of a hallowed ground, one inviting an intense spiritual engagement. For others, it's yet another generously worthwhile example of Ireland's uncomplicated yet compelling natural bounty.
I'll not share my interpretation as to why a walk toward Saint Mary's Well is worth the effort. Best to leave motivation for engaging the bucolic path to whoever finds him or herself advancing toward a hopefully rewarding conclusion.
8. Ballina Dolmen
Overall Ratings
4 based on 26 reviews
Reviewed By DonegalDanbert - donegal
Easy to find but in a built up area. The story surrounding it doesn't quite add up but do some googling before you go and make up your own mind.
9. The North Mayo Heritage Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16 reviews
Located within the curtilage of Enniscoe House is the North Mayo Heritage Centre. The centre is dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich heritage of the region. It includes a Family History Research Unit, which provides a genealogy service for clients all over the world. The centre also has a small museum of unique domestic and agricultural artifacts from North Mayo, an exhibition area and a Victorian 3 acre walled organic garden. In addition, there are a number of looped walks around the woods of Enniscoe and an ornamental garden to enjoy. If you wish to find out more or have a question, please click on the link to our website.
Reviewed By Inscribe - Sligo, Ireland
The Mayo North Family Heritage is located in the grounds of Enniscoe House, at Enniscoe, Castle Hill, Crossmolina Co Mayo Ireland. It's about 2 miles south of Crossmolina on the R315 road towards Pontoon and Castlebar and 12 miles from the town of Ballina.
Enniscoe house itself is one of the finest examplres of Georgian mansions left in the hands of the same family since 1650. It is a truly beautiful location with the most amazing views of Lough Conn and Nephin mountain.
The Mayo North Family Heritage Centre is a not for profit organisation where you can trace your ancestors who came from that area of Mayo. There are a million records of family history in the database.
There are two kinds of searches which may be carried out. The first is a known as a Single Record Search which is available to both personal callers and on-line enquiries. The second type of search is known as a Genealogical Research which is a two-stage process. The centre is staffed by local people who are both knowledgable and friendly. Visiting there is a well worth while experience.
10. Fr. Peyton C.S.C. Memorial Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 15 reviews
Reviewed By Redsionnach - Cork, Ireland
I visited here on a beautiful sunny day.
It is not difficult to find with a sat nav and it quite well sign posted.
It is located in beautiful Mayo countryside and commemorates the life of Fr. Patrick Peyton, CSC the 'Rosary Priest'.
There is a beautiful and simple Rosary Garden out the back where we spent some quiet time and a wonderfully calm, peaceful and holy chapel where a CD of Fr. Peyton praying the Rosary is on loop. It was a joy to be present in this space.
The staff are very friendly and helpful.
We could not experience the dining room as there were large groups of seniors there.
If you are around the area seek out this centre and enjoy the calm it will bring to your soul.
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