Bed and Breakfasts in Ballina, County Mayo

Town and Country Homes Association represent over 1000 quality approved Bed and Breakfast accommodations in every county in Ireland including Mayo and in the town of Ballina. Our  B&B's in Ballina offer comfort and value for money and you can be guaranteed of a warm welcome and kind hospitality when staying in Town and Country Homes accommodation in Ballina, County Mayo. Whether you wish to stay in town or in the country, we have a bed and breakfast in Ballina, Mayo to suit you.

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Ballina, County Mayo Bed and Breakfast Accommodation

Ballina (Irish: Béal an Átha or Béal Átha an Fheadha, lit. mouth of the ford) is the second largest town in County Mayo in Ireland. It lies at the mouth of the River Moy near Killala Bay, in the Moy valley and Parish of Kilmoremoy, with the Ox Mountain range to the east and the Nephin Beg Mountains to the west. Book a Bed and Breakfast in Ballina online for the best rates and availability.

History

The first signs of settlement on the site of the town dates around 1375 an Augustinian friary was founded. Britannica refers to the "remains of an Augustinian friary, founded about 1375". Belleek, now part of the town, pre-dates the town’s formation, and can be dated back to the late 15th century, or early 16th century. Although, what is now known as Belleek Castle was built in 1831. Ballina was officially established as a town in 1723 by O'Hara, Lord Tyrawley. 

The Belleek estate once occupied lands from the Moy River to the modern-day Killala Road. This included part of the ‘Old French Road’ which General Humbert marched on from Killala, and beside part of which in the Killala Road-Belleek area was Belleek’s reservoir – presumably destroyed in the construction Coca-Cola’s ‘Ballina Beverages’ factory; the ‘Old French Road’ is now closed off at that point, with what amount to diversion road signs claiming Humbert marched where he did not. Book your Ballina Bed and Breakfast online and receive instant confirmation.

The 1798 Centenary memorial (the Humbert Monument) was dedicated on May 11, 1898. The monument was originally sculptured by a Dublin Craftsman but in recent years it has been restored locally. The figure on the monument is not Humbert but Mother Ireland. Maud Gonne, a famous Irish woman, unveiled the monument.

The Dolmen of the Four Maols is located at the back of Ballina's Railway Station. The Dolmen dates from c2,000 B.C.E and is sometimes called locally the 'Table of the Giants'. The Dolmen is said to be the burial place of the four Maols. The four Maols murdered Ceallach, a 7th century Bishop of Connacht and were hung at Ardnaree - the Hill of Executions. Tradition says that their bodies were buried under the Dolmen. What better way to unwind after a day of sight seeing in Ballina, than to relax at one of our approved Bed and Breakfast's in and around Castlebar, Mayo.

Architecture, planning, and housing

St Muredach's Cathedral on the banks of the River Moy in BallinaThe town has some notable architecture, including the 15th-century Moyne Abbey, and St Muredach's Cathedral, which is the Cathedral Church of the Diocese of Killala. Work on the Cathedral began in 1827. The stone was quarried locally and the roof and ceiling were completed before the Great Famine (1845). The spire was completed in 1855 and by 1875 the organ had been commissioned. Outside Ballina, on a small hill to the west, stands a dolmen, thought to have been erected 4000 years ago. The only all-boys' secondary school in the town, St. Muredach's College, celebrated its centenary on 10 September 2006.

Bus

Ballina Bus Station is host to a Bus Éireann bus depot.

Train

Ballina Train Station is located on the N26 beside the bus station. Departing trains stop at Foxford before terminating at Manulla junction where commuters can connect to trains going to Castlebar, Westport or Dublin (Heuston Station). Trains to Dublin operate three times daily.

Air

Ireland West Airport Knock (Knock Airport, NOC) is about 50.7 km, or 31.5 miles from Ballina. There are nine or more services a day from the airport to London, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Dublin and Glasgow. Bus Éireann now runs a shuttle service about five times a day from the airport to Charlestown, from where commuters can get a connecting bus to Ballina. Sligo Airport is about 69 km, or 43 miles from Ballina and has two flights a day to Dublin, operated by Aer Arann.

Tourism

Ballina's location on the River Moy favours salmon fishing, and one of the best spots, the Ridge Pool, is situated in the heart of the town.

Sport

Ballina Stephenites, is one of the local Gaelic Athletic Association club teams. The name also refers to the town’s Gaelic Athletic Association grounds,James Stephens Park, so named after the famous Fenian from Irish history. Ballina Town FC are the town's soccer club, playing their home matches at Belleek Park. In basketball, Merry Monk Ballina represent the town in Ireland’s Men's ‘Superleague’.

Ballina Salmon Festival

The Ballina Salmon Festival is a 10-day festival held annually in July in the town. The festival includes Heritage Day, where most of the centre of the town is closed to traffic and the streets fill with arts and craft stalls and demonstrations of transport from days gone by. The festival finale is a Mardi Gras followed by a fireworks display. The Salmon festival for 2008 took place on the 11th - 20th July. If you plan to attend the Ballina Salmon Festival, it is advisable to book your B&B accommodation in Ballina, County Mayo.

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