Social clubs, sports results, massage courses at Ballon
From Monday 1 July, an over-60s morning will take place on Mondays at Ballon Business and Training Centre
AT 21 Ben Ward, Ballintrane was, at 21, the youngest candidate seeking a seat on Carlow Co Council in last week’s local elections and, following a hard and thorough canvass of the Tullow local electoral area, secured 704 first preference votes, which increased to 1,177 by the 12th count, sufficient to secure him the fourth seat at the first time of asking. He becomes only the 11th candidate to be elected to the councilo from the parish of Ballon/Rathoe.
It was an impressive outing by the student, who was running for Fine Gael and locally replaces the retired John Murphy as the party’s representative. Ben is son of Conor and Ashling Ward and is grandson of Sean and the late Lily Edmonde, Graiguenaspidogue. His family has traded as Wards Greengrocer and Health Store in the Square, Tullow for over 25 years.
Ben went to primary school in Ballon, played soccer with Burrin Celtic, played GAA with Burrin Rangers and even spent some time volunteering in Siopa Glas for his Gaisce award. He recently won the young persons award at Carlow Co Council’s Pride of Place, for which he was nominated by Ballon Improvement Group.
Unfortunately, as one new candidate arrives another has to make way and in this case it was Ben’s fellow parishioner John McDonald (FF), who was first elected in 2019. John secured 362 first preference votes, which was down on the 430 he received in 2019. He had reached 478 votes by the time he was eliminated on the tenth count.
Billy Nolan, the third candidate from the area, has been contesting elections for close on 50 years. He received 323 first preference votes and had amassed 588 by the time he was eliminated on the 11th count, down on the 399 first preference votes he received in 2019.
There was no joy for Ballon when they contested the Carlow JFL division 3 final against Leighlinbridge on Friday 7 June at Netwatch Cullen Park, the local side losing 1-8 to 1-15. Both sides were seeking their first silverware in many years, the eventual winners having waited 21 years, while Ballon last tasted success in 2014.
From the off, Leighlinbrigde, who topped the table following the league stages, were in attacking mode and by the interval had established a 0-11 to 0-3 interval lead, Liam Brennan, Evan Corr and Fionn McCaffrey raising the three flags for Ballon.
Ballon upped their performance after the break and Sean Tracey was denied an early goal by the brilliant Leighlin goalkeeper. He did, however, get a three-pointer when a free was delivered to the edge of the square and the ball ran loose with Tracey getting the final touch. Any hope that the goal would be the start of a Ballon comeback were quickly dashed when Leighlin added a similar score at the other end. Despite the losing margin of seven points, this was a reasonable performance by Ballon and they, hopefully, can raise their game when the championship comes around.
Team: Cian Byrne, Josh Fernandez, Lorcan Doyle, Ciaran Lewis, Donnacha Murphy, Fionn McCaffrey 0-2, Myles Hutton. Jimmy Carroll, Paddy Byrne, Brendan Fanning, Cory Kelliher, Dan O’Connor, Kevin Maher, Evan Corr 0-4, Liam Brennan 0-2. Subs: Sean Tracey 1-0, Johnny Maher, Adam Deacon, Conor Kearney, David Wilson.
The national U13 rounders féile took place at the centre of excellence in Fenagh on Sunday 9 June with Cuchulainn Rounders club taking its place among the six elite clubs taking part. The Ballon-based side won their two group games against Glynn-Barntown and neighbouring club Fenagh to advance to the semi-finals. The boys played Swords, Co Dublin in the semi-final and in the closest of games they advanced to the final, where they met Co Wexford side Raheen. As in all competitions, there can be only one winner and Raheen took the spoils and the gold medals. Every Cuchulainn player had excellent plays, between batting and catching. An exceptional achievement to reach the final on their first competitive day out this season.
Team: Fionn Waters, Padraic Hogan, Ethan Rooney, Shane Raleigh (capt), Ciarán Redmond, Glenn Cantwell, Brian Donald, Eoin Farrell, Jack Nolan, Liam Dowling, JJ Bolger, Jonah Rooney.
Ballon/Rathoe U14 quiz team took part in the national finals in the Watershed, Kilkenny on Saturday 8 June. The quartet of Cathal Bailey, Jack Nolan, Sean Halligan and Aidan Fanning, who were representing Carlow for the second successive year, failed to get among the honours. Thanks to Caroline Byrne for training the team.
In swimming, Ciara Reynolds competed in the U14 butterfly event, where she swam a PB, Ethan Rooney contested in the U14 butterfly event and the U13 squad of Ciara Reynolds, Alice Bailey, Kate Somers and Darcie O’Connor performed well, but no medals this year. All are eligible to compete again next year.
Ballon/Rathoe AC held its 32nd open sports on Monday 3 June 3 at James Morris GAA Park. This was only the second sports since covid and the club had a great response from local clubs. Barrow Valley AC won both the overall and best club in relays perpetual cups.
Local winners were ‒ girls: Eileen Radford (1, U6 60m), Piper O’Neill (2 U8 80m), Winnie Rooney(1, U10 100m), Isabella Blanche (1, U12 100m and long jump), Molly Farrell (1, U11 300m), Bay Power (2, U13 600m). Kate Zerafa (2 U12 long jimp), Jill Malone (2, U14 600m), Lucy Malone (1, U15 800m), Sophia Blanche 1 U14 long jump), Rudi Jordan (2, U15 shot putt).
Boys: Fionn Redmond (1, U7 60m), Jack Rooney (1, U9 turbo javelin), Liam Rooney (2, U11 turbo javelin), Jacob Cummins (3, U11 100m), Jay Farrell (3, U12 600m), Cameron Codd (1, U13 100 and 600m), Jon Slattery (2, U13 600m), Jack Ryan (1, U13 100 and 2, U13 600m), Ethan Finnegan (2, U13 100m), Harry Lawlor (2, U13 100m), Cathal Bailey (1, U14 long jump and 3, U14 100m), Patrick Bienko (1, U15 100m), Charlie Callis (1, U16 100m).
The annual cemetery Mass will be held in Rathoe on Friday 5 July at 8pm and Ballon’s will be held on the following Friday, also at 8pm. Parishioners are asked to prepare graves and look after those in need of attention.
From Monday 1 July, an over-60s morning will take place on Mondays at Ballon Business and Training Centre from 10am to noon. Come along and make friends over a cuppa. Have a chat, bring your knitting, do a crossword – whatever you like to do. Just drop in – no booking needed, €3 cover charge, tea and coffee provided. Contact BBTS on 059 9159447.
Twelve reams took part in the table quiz in Joe Doyle’s on Sunday 2 June in aid of My Canine Companion autism service dogs. The winning team was Gillian Nolan, James Foley, Alex O’Brien and Martin Kelly. The quiz was organised by Cuchulainn Rounders club.
New courses starting soon at Ballon Business and Training Centre include a smart device/tablet course on Monday 24 June from 10.30am to 12.30pm for six weeks; Menopause and the sacred pause workshop, Saturday 29 June, 10am to 12.30pm; Companioning another at the end of life workshop, Friday 5 July, 10am to noon; Indian head massage, Saturday 6 July, 2-4pm; massage demonstration, Tuesday 9 July, 10.30-11.30am; and Art with Alice, Tuesday 9 July, 2-4pm, four weeks. Phone 059 9159447 or email ballonbts@gmail.com for further details and bookings.
The numbers drawn in the Ballon GFC lotto last week were 13, 19, 24 and 26 and there was no jackpot winner. The next jackpot will be €6,700.
