Ballinasloe (Irish: Béal Átha na Sluaighe, meaning ‘mouth of the ford of the crowds’) is a town in the easternmost part of County Galway in Connacht. It is one of the largest towns in County Galway with a population of 6,700. From 1828 to the 1960s, Ballinasloe was the terminus of the Grand Canal. Guinness Company used the town’s canal stores to store and distribute the Guinness to the midlands. The Grand Canal provided a route for Guinness barges to travel from Dublin to Shannon Harbour. The town features a public marina which was developed on the River Suck to allow traffic from the Shannon Navigation to access the town. Among the places of interest are:
The Battle of Aughrim Interpretive Centre is located in Aughrim, a village close to Ballinasloe. The centre offers insight on how three rival European Kings – William of Orange, James II, and Louis XIV – took hold of Ireland in their struggle for power, gathering at Aughrim in 1691.
Clontuskert Abbey is a National Monument, located approximately 7 km from the town. The cloister and church of the medieval priory are open-access to the public.
Hymany Way is a hiking trail between Portumna and Aughrim, following the banks of the River Shannon. The trail passes through Ballinasloe.
Kilconnell Franciscan Friary is approximately 14 km from Ballinasloe. It was founded in 1353 by William Buí O’Kelly. The medieval friary survives in good condition, with the tombs of its many of its patrons surviving inside its ruins.
The Ballinasloe Horse Fair is held annually in October. It is reputedly the oldest horse fair in Europe and dates back to the 18th century. Chiefly agricultural in the past, it is now focused on the horse, and the associated festival attracts up to 80,000 visitors. A large market typically takes place, along with a number of events, fireworks, a dog show and a fun fair beside Ballinasloe’s town theatre.
The Larry Reynolds’ Weekend is a celebration of traditional Irish music. The event has run annually since 2014, in commemoration of Larry Reynolds, a late Ballinasloe native who emigrated to the United States in 1953 and brought the east Galway style of music to Boston. The festival sees a number of traditional music performances in the different bars around town.
[caption id="attachment_243166" align="aligncenter" width="590"] 2024 Summer Olympics[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]The 2024 Summer Olympics (French: Jeux olympiques d'été de 2024), officially the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad and offici...
