Ballinasloe Béal Átha na Sluaighe
—  Town  —
Saint John's Church, Ballinasloe
Coat of arms
Ballinasloe Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 53°19′39″N 8°13′10″W / 53.3275°N 8.2194°W / 53.3275; -8.2194Coordinates: 53°19′39″N 8°13′10″W / 53.3275°N 8.2194°W / 53.3275; -8.2194
Country	Ireland
Province	Connacht
County	County Galway
Dail constituency	Galway East
EU constituency	Ireland North West
Elevation	65 m (213 ft)
Irish Grid Reference	M854307
Website	www.ballinasloe.com

Ballinasloe (Irish: Béal Átha na Sluaighe, meaning "ford mouth of the hosts")^[6] is a town in the easternmost part of County Galway in Ireland.

Name and history[link]

The town developed as a crossing point on the River Suck, a tributary of the Shannon. The Irish placename — meaning the mouth of the ford of the crowds — reflects this purpose. The latter part of the name suggests the town has been a meeting place since ancient times. The patron saint of Ballinasloe is Saint Grellan, whom tradition believes built the first church in the area at Kilcloony. A local housing estate, a GAA club, the branch of Conradh na Gaeilge, and formerly a school are named after him.

October Fair and Festival[link]

Every October, Ballinasloe is host to the ancient annual October Fair. Chiefly agricultural in the past, it is now focused on the horse. The Ballinasloe Fair is one of the oldest horse fairs in Europe; bathed in history it dates back to the 18th century. Today the ever popular fair is still held, along with a festival that attracts up to 100,000 visitors from all over the world. The town also boasts a successful summer festival called An tSúca Fiain.

Economy[link]

The biggest local employers are Portiuncula and St. Brigid's hospitals.The Dubarry shoe manufacturing company has been based in the town, although manufacturing at the plant ceased in November 2004.^[7] The American pen manufacturing company A. T. Cross had a factory in the town for many years as did electrical components company Square D.

Transport[link]

Ballinasloe railway station opened on 1 August 1851,^[8] and is served by the Dublin–Galway railway line. Once a notorious bottleneck on the old Galway to Dublin road, on 18 December 2009, the town was officially bypassed for the first time, when the M6 motorway opened as an upgrade to the N6. From 1828 to the 1960s, Ballinasloe was the terminus of the Grand Canal. A new public marina has been developed on the river in recent years that allows traffic from the Shannon navigation to access the town.

Local Media[link]

A number of newspapers circulate in the Ballinasloe area, such as Connacht Tribune, Athlone Topic and the Roscommon Herald. As Ballinasloe sits on the border between two counties it is served by 2 local radio stations, Galway Bay FM and Shannonside FM. Local radio from other neighbouring counties such as Midlands 103 and Tipp FM are well received in the area. National stations in the area include RTE Radio 1, 2FM, RTE Lyric FM, Today FM, and 4FM.

Sport[link]

Ballinasloe itself harbours historically rich soccer, golf, and rugby clubs, whilst also containing the Duggan Park Gaelic Athletic Association grounds. Gaelic games are perhaps the most deeply entrenched and most popular sporting culture in the town, most of all in its surrounding hinterland. The local GAA clubs are Ballinasloe GAA (incorporating St Grellan's Gaelic football club and Ballinasloe Hurling Club) and Ballinasloe Camogie Club. Ballinasloe also has a proud boxing tradition and has two resident boxing clubs Emerald ABC and Ballinasloe and District.

Schools[link]

In Ballinasloe there are three national schools (Scoil Uí Cheithearnaigh, Creagh National School and Scoil an Chroí Naofa) and two secondary schools (St Josephs College Garbally and Ard Scoil Mhuire).

Culture[link]

Ballinasloe is home to Galway recording artist Milan Jay. He has so far released one studio album entitled "Mellow Funk" in Dec 2009. "We Believe in Drawing the Dole/Sono" has been the biggest hit to date featuring plays on BBC 6 Music and 2XM as well as numerous Irish stations.

Twin towns[link]

Chalonnes-sur-Loire, Maine-et-Loire, France. Since 1988.

Annalistic references[link]

From the Annals of Lough Cé:

• LC1114.3. A hosting by Domhnall Mac Lachlainn to Rath-Cennaigh, when Eochaidh Ua Mathghamhna, with the Ulidians, came into his house, and Donnchadh Ua Loingsigh, with the Dal-Araidhe, and Aedh Ua Ruairc, with the men of Breifne, and Murchadh Ua Maelsechlainn, with the men of Midhe. They all proceeded across Ath-Luain to 'Dun-Leodha (the original name of Ballsinasloe) where Toirdhealbhach Ua Conchobhair, with the Connachtmen, aud Niall, son of Domhnall Mac Lachlainn, with the chieftains of Clann-Conaill, came into his assembly.

See also[link]

• Ballinasloe Town Council
• List of towns and villages in Ireland

External links[link]

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Ballinasloe.

• ballinasloe.com: Ballinasloe Town website with up-to-date local news and information on the town for visitors and residents alike
• ballinasloe.org: An independent site with articles on Ballinasloe's history as well as a tips on genealogical research.
• Tourist Information for Ballinasloe: Provides information on Ballinasloe's attractions, activities and businesses.

References[link]

v t e Places in County Galway County town: Galway Towns Athenry Ballinasloe Ballygar Carraroe Claregalway Clifden Dunmore Glenamaddy Gort Headford Loughrea Mountbellew Moycullen Oranmore Oughterard Portumna Tuam Villages Ahascragh Annaghdown Ardrahan Aughrim Ballinderreen Ballyconneely Ballymacward Ballymoe Ballynahinch Barna Barnaderg Bealadangan Bullaun Camus Carnmore Castleblakeney Castlegar Clarinbridge Cleggan Clonbur Coalpits Cornamona Corofin Costelloe Craughwell Cregmore Eyrecourt Furbo Garrafrauns Inverin Kilcolgan Kilconnell Kilkerrin Kilkieran Killimor Kilronan Kinvara Laurencetown Leenaun Letterfrack Lettermore Lettermullen Maam Cross Maum Menlough Milltown Monivea Moylough New Inn Newbridge Recess Rosmuc Rossaveal Roundstone Skehana Spiddal Turloughmore Williamstown Woodford Townlands Attymon Ballynahown Derrymullan Hollygrove Kilclooney Killagoola Kinvara Lissagurraun Meelick Muckanaghederdauhaulia Oldthort Tulrush Baronies Aran Athenry Ballymoe Ballynahinch Clare Clonmacnowen Dunkellin Dunmore Galway Kilconnell Killian Kiltartan Leitrim Longford Loughrea Moycullen Ross Tiaquin List of townlands in County Galway Category:Mountains and hills of County Galway Category:Rivers of County Galway Category:Geography of County Galway