Ballindine Village

Ballindine - "Baile an Daingin"- "Town of the Fortress"


We are so proud of our village.
It is lined on either side by tall trees and in the summer, it is dotted with flower beds.

We are all very thankful to the wonderful volunteers who sow and water those flowers all summer long. Well Done!

The remains of a possible fort are to be found in the field next to our school.
Folklore tells us that Ballindine got its name from this fort - "Baile an Daingin" meaning "Town of the Fortress" and that the souterrain, just outside it, was connected underground to the ruins of the old church in Cloonmore about two miles away to the east and also to the ruins of the old church in Garryduff, three miles west. Click here to see
Fort photo

The Souterrain in Logalisheen, Ballindine.

There is a colourful sculpture, "The Player", by Sculptor, Cathal McCarthy, on the Galway side of Ballindine, opposite the magnificient new Alzheimer Centre.


The Player by Ballintubber based sculptor Cathal McCarthy commemorates the life and work of Mr. Martin O'Donohue the founder of the disabled drivers association - who was also a musician and teacher of music. The sculpture comprises a brightly coloured steel structure, based on the form of an accordion. The work rises some 30 feet into the sky along the main N17 Galway road out of Ballindine.It was commissioned in 2002 by Mayo County Council and the Disabled Drivers Association. The installation of The Player was followed by much heated debate and public consultations with Mayo County Council and Ballindine residents, which resulted in the re-siting of the piece some 100 metres further along the road.



The post office in Ballindine

We have four shops, three pubs, a church, Post Office, school, Community Centre and two petrol stations.
We also have one garage and a factory.
We have two football pitches, one with dressing rooms and a stand, the other is for training and it has flood-lights.
There is an Equestrian Centre and a Golf Club just two miles away.


DDAI
The headquarters of the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland is in Ballindine.
It was founded by Martin Donoghue in 1970. Click DDAI

The DDAI is a beautiful building near our school. They are ever so kind in giving us their big hall and stage for our fundraising school concerts and many other events in the community.
Almost all of the businesses in our village are wheel-chair friendly and
the residents are now a very important part of the community.

But best of all we have a big, bright and beautiful school thanks to the wonderful efforts of our parents and all of the community in Ballindine, who helped raise funds to build it for us.

We want to tell you all about our school and the town of Balindine.
Our new school was officially opened on 14th June '02.
Would you like to find out more about it? Click New School



Ballindine Church
Do you like our church? It was built in the 1880's but it was renovated in the 1990's.
This cost over €450,000. Fr. O'Connor is our Parish Priest.
See our beautiful Stained-glass window, by Harry Clarke

Ballindine Post
A Quarterly Community Magazine
This magazines contain articles, poems, photographs (old and new) by local people and exiles from Ballindine; articles on "tracing your roots", local history, events in Ballindine and the surrounding area; folklore; local football/sports/cultural activities update; obituaries of local people or people connected to the area; articles on local people and places, of interest to young and old.

Ballindine Post by post: The magazine has been published quarterly since 1991 and is available by cheque or postal order from:
The Editor
Ballindine Post
Ballindine
Co Mayo
Ireland


We are members of Davitts football team. Our colours are black and red. The pitch is right next to our school, which is very handy for practice on Friday evenings.

Old School / Community Centre
Our old school is now a community centre. I went to school there for six years. It was badly damaged by a fire in June 2000. . It took all summer to repair it.
Find out more about our old school by
clicking Old School/Community Centre

Alzheimer Centre - Marian House
The Alzheimer Centre/Marian House is the first building you see when you enter Ballindine from the Galway side. It is one of the most beautiful buildings in our town. We are very proud of this beautiful building, but we are prouder still of the wonderful care the nurses and carers give to the patients who come to stay there.
Click on Alzheimer Centre

e-mail:ballindinens.ias@eircom.net

(Don't forget to have a look at the school re-union photos)

An old poem about Ballindine from the late 19th Century written
by a grand-aunt of Gerry Devane, Killeen. Her family name was Mullin.

1
Ireland, how sad and lonely,
I left there long ago
From that little town called Ballindine
Located in Mayo.
There are very ancient buildings there
though some are up to date
Do you remember that old school house
that stood near the chapel gate.
2
The Kelly's and the Corcoran's
They were there in my time.
They were the teachers
In that school in Ballindine.
Anne Corcoran with the pointer
Liza Kelly with the rule,
You'd have to know your P's and Q's
In that Ballindine school.
3
That Onnie Kelly's corner house
Where they sold the ale and wine
And Luke McHugh and Mike Waldron too
Took the lead in Ballindine.
Do you remember going up that wide street
To the place you visited most
And asking Mrs. Peter Burke
If there's any letter in the post.
4
Across the way stood Matt Higgins' shop
Bridie Shallow and Catherine Byrne
They were very kind people
In the town of Ballindine.
And Martin Conroy the tailor
Who made your suit complete
For his wit and humour
He never yet was beat.
5
He sure made brilliant answers
Though some would get sore
He wouldn't humble to anyone
Not even Lord Oranmore.
The Kelly's and the Carey's
They were friends of mine
The Smith's and the McQuillan's
Near the Barrack in Ballindine.

 6
Do you remember the bridge near the Brewery,
Where the train now passes by
And that old rough casted Courthouse
That held a seat for Tighe.
It was open every Friday
For people near and far
It's there they got their sentence
To serve in Castlebar.
7
Do you remember Thubber-Faugeogue,
And the step going up the wall
There was many a bucket filled right there
It was the water supply for all.
Remember the old Market Cross,
Where they weighed the oats and hay
On every fair day.
8
Do you remember O'Reilly
He worked in Hennelly's shop
He was always on the wagon
At the dot of nine o' clock.
He sure could deliver the groceries
And the people thought him fine
He had a wonderful family
In the town of Ballindine.
9
So you remember Tommie Carey
He was a man of art
He made all the neighbours' coffins
And also their carts.
Remember Jamsie Tymond
And his mother they called Maria
And Liza Keefe and Mary Anne
Who lived so close by.
10
Do you remember the two Miss Duffy's
Who lived in Carey's block
Sometimes they were short of candy
But never ran short of rock.
Pat and Thomas Kelly
They were well known too
Also Manie Hamilton
Not forgetting Johnny Rue.
11
Remember Ellie the darrier
And also Maggie Coyne
I would give the world to see them all
In the town of Ballindine.