Ballon – a beautiful village where local businesses thrive

 BALLON is a beautifully-situated village where the Blackstairs and Wicklow Mountains provide a dramatic backdrop to lush green fields and traditional farmhouses.

The village itself is thriving with small businesses, all locally owned and run by families. In some cases, the companies, such as Lucy Nolan’s monument and headstone business, have been there for generations.

Lucy Nolan & Sons is a family-run business, providing a high-quality service in monumental works and fireplace sales. They have generations worth of experience and knowledge, passed down from generations.

Indeed, Thomas Nolan (1847-1932) was the first-known member of the Nolan family to practice the trade in Ballon. He was involved in producing monuments and general masonry for the building trade and farm work. Thomas was born on Ballon Hill in 1847 and little did he realise it at the time, but when he set up his stonemason business, he was establishing a company that would be passed on from one generation of the Nolan family to the other, right up to present day.

Ballon is known for its stone work as can be seen in the walls of the historic Ballykealy House.

It’s a historic gem known for creating exceptional experiences. Set on stunning grounds that date back to the 19th century, the beautifully-restored Ballykealy House provides the perfect backdrop for any occasion. Whether it's a leisurely Sunday lunch, a special family gathering, or a fairy-tale wedding, Ballykealey House offers something unique. Their Sunday lunches, crafted from the finest local ingredients, have become a cherished tradition. For special occasions, the elegant interiors and expansive gardens provide an unforgettable setting, while weddings benefit from the venue's blend of historic charm and modern luxury. Ballykealey House ensures that every event is as memorable as its surroundings.

Signature Hair Salon works closely with the event organisers in Ballykealy House, especially when it comes to weddings. Wedding parties can have their appointment in the salon or in Ballykealy so it’s an ideal set up. The salon is a family-run business, owned by Les Hannaford and managed by his daughter Linda. They specialise in all aspects of colouring and also do a beautiful 12 week blow-dry, hair extensions and a six-week split end recovery treatment. “We are blessed though as our clientele is all ages. We have a lot of regulars who love to come in for a chat and some laughs,” said Linda.

Signature Hair Salon is open Wednesday through to Friday from 9.30 to 5 and Saturday from 9am to 5pm.

Everyone likes to look their best and it’s a special business that manages to create its own community of customers. One such company is Halo Beauty & Tanning which was set up by beautician Helena O’Connell Byrne ten years ago. She offers a full range of beauty and tanning treatments such as skin care, manicures, waxing and tanning, using the very best of products such as Vitae Liberatae and Dermalogica.

“We have a fantastic client base, it’s nearly like a family for us here. It’s lovely,” said Helena.

Another business is Zerafa’s Centra, post office and service station, on the outskirts of the village. It’s right beside the busy N80 so they have a huge passing trade as well as a very loyal local base. The shop itself is jam-packed with freshly-made sandwiches and sweet treats as well as a full deli and hot counter. There’s also delicious coffee and great food offers so it’s really a one-stop shop if you’re on the road or if you live in the locality.

Also just outside the village itself is another very well-known and respected business that was set up by a local family. The highly-esteemed Ballon Meats was founded in 1977 by the Salter family. With a focus on service and a commitment to providing only the highest quality meat products, the company is steeped in both the rural way of life and meat-processing excellence.

The Salters have been farmers for generations – it is ingrained in their way of life.

They have grown from a small factory to a world-class meat processing plant, situated on an extensive five acre site. They have the capacity to process large quantities of high quality product and are well established as one of Irelands’ leading quality meat suppliers.

The plant was built beside the family farm in Ballon, in the shadow of Mount Leinster. It’s ideally located in a region of Ireland renowned for farming and livestock farming in particular. And, of course, it’s surrounded by beautiful, green fields and gentle rolling countryside that surrounds the perfectly-appointed village of Ballon.

Back in the village itself, there are some wonderful food options, not least Café de Mode.

A family-run business with tasteful décor, Café de Mode offers customers a relaxing environment in which to enjoy a varied menu, from gourmet sandwiches to light bites, baked potatoes, homemade pancakes, scones, sweet treats and award-winning coffee.

The café is within easy reach of Altamont Gardens so is an ideal spot for some tasty brunch or lunch before or after a visit to the historic gardens. The popular café was the winner of Carlow’s Hidden Gem award in 2018 from Carlow County Chamber, the winner of Best Café in Leinster in 2017 from the Restaurant Association of Ireland and was a Rural Enterprise Champion 2018 with Carlow Local Enterprise Office. Definitely worth a stopover when out and about in Co Carlow!

Just up the road is Jimmy’s Takeaway, which has become a bedrock of tasty, fast-food in the area. Fresh, local and homemade since opening its doors in 2006, the takeaway in Ballon has been more than just a place to grab a meal – it's been a cornerstone of the community. As a family-run takeaway, they’ve brought their passion for fresh food to Ballon, serving dishes made from scratch. They serve a variety of meals ranging from burgers, fish and chips to battered sausages, all the way to pizzas and kebabs to cater for everyone’s taste. Their fish is coated in homemade batter made every morning, their pizza dough is freshly prepared and their kebab bread is baked on the spot, in-house.

“What makes us special is the strong connection we've built with our customers, many of whom we've known for years and have seen grow up. The people of Ballon have been incredibly supportive and friendly, making our work a true joy. We’re grateful to be part of this community and look forward to continuing to serve with the same passion and dedication for years to come,” said Musa Kaya, manager.

One of the most recently-established businesses is Ballon Pharmacy, which was set up by pharmacist Fadi Almasri in 2020. Fadi chose the village of Ballon as the location for his pharmacy as he could see a gap in the market and knew that the local population needed a chemist that was easily accessible to them.

“We provide a very important service to the local community here,” said Fadi. “We’re very well stocked and that’s one of the reasons why we have customers coming even from beyond the village of Ballon. We are extending our services to include treating people with certain infections and by extending prescriptions for up to a year. They are very important services for our customers.” It's a show of strength in the community that many of its business not only endure through some hard times but that they grow and thrive, thanks to local people buying locally and supporting them.

McAssey Butchers and Food Market have been doing business in the village for nearly four decades now. Michael McAssey started the business 39 years ago, when he established a butchers shop which went from strength to strength, thanks to his loyal customers. Michael’s butchers shop went so well that 20 years ago he extended the business to incorporate a food market. It's been thriving ever since, even when the small corner shops in many villages across the length and breadth of Ireland have been swallowed up by big, multi-national supermarkets. Michael reckons that the secret to his success is Ballon’s location and his loyal customers.

“Ballon is just a great community. There’s good employment here with some great companies in the area. We have a very loyal customer base and, above all, it’s a lovely area to live and work in,” said Michael.

Fadi from Ballon Pharmacy agreed.

“Ballon has a close community, where everyone knows each other and helps each other. We have a great community here,” said Fadi.

Never was a truer word said!