Ballina, Ireland
Ballina-tion of a Good Time (Mostly Rain-Dependent)
"Where the Moy Meets Its Match"
Official Coat of Arms
A shield quartered by the River Moy, bearing a leaping salmon eternally just out of reach of a fisherman's net, flanked by two hurleys crossed in quiet aggression, beneath a spire from St. Muredach's Cathedral pointing accusingly at the sky. The motto beneath reads, roughly translated, 'We Have a Very Good Fishing Festival, Actually.'
TripAdvisor Review
★★★☆☆ 3/5
"Came for the salmon fishing on the River Moy, stayed because my car got stuck behind a tractor for twenty minutes on the way out. The town itself is grand, lots of nice pubs and a cathedral you can see from basically anywhere, but if you're not into angling or hurling you'll run out of things to do by lunchtime on day two. Locals were sound though, and the chipper by the bridge is genuinely excellent."— Gerald Fenlon, Athlone
Property Listing
Charming riverside residence in vibrant Mayo market town, moments from world-class salmon fishing and the majestic twin spires of St. Muredach's Cathedral! Enjoy the gentle sound of the Moy, the buzz of festival season, and easy access to Sligo, Westport, and absolutely nowhere else of note within forty minutes.
Twinned With
Bass Harbor — Both towns build their entire identity around fish that are, frankly, better at escaping than the locals are at catching them.
Supporting Evidence
Ballina hosts the annual Ballina Salmon Festival, and the town sits at the mouth of the River Moy, one of Ireland's premier salmon fishing rivers, making it a genuine pilgrimage site for anglers from across Europe.