Vikings are Coming to Killaloe!

Prepare yourselves, Killaloe! Next weekend, the home of Brian Boru will witness the arrival of 60 Vikings, ready to descend upon our historic town.

🚢 Viking Ship on Display
The Vikings will sail into Killaloe and moor their majestic ship on the pontoon. The ship will be lit up at night, creating a stunning visual spectacle. Visitors are welcome to come aboard and explore the ship, with opportunities for trips on both Saturday and Sunday.

🍻 Friday Night Pub Raids
The weekend of Viking festivities will kick off on Friday night with a thrilling raid on the pubs in Ballina and Killaloe. Watch out for these Norse invaders as they bring their unique brand of entertainment and camaraderie to our local establishments.

🗡️ Interactive Viking Shows
Throughout the weekend, the Vikings will be putting on interactive shows, giving everyone a taste of what life was like during the Viking era. A highlight will be the display of a replica Viking sword found in Lough Derg—an incredible piece of history brought to life.

🔥 Torch-Lit Parade & Fireworks
On Saturday night, join the Vikings for a spectacular torch-lit parade through the village of Ballina. This fiery procession will culminate in a breathtaking fireworks display, lighting up the night sky in true Viking fashion.

Don’t miss this extraordinary event, where history comes alive in Killaloe. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or just looking for a fun and unique experience, this Viking invasion promises to be an unforgettable weekend.

See you there!

From 5th – 7th July, over 60 Vikings are going to descend on the twin-towns of Killaloe & Ballina, the birthplace of Ireland’s Greatest High King, Brian Ború.

We are delighted to welcome Lakes Viking to Killaloe-Ballina, and we hope you will come along to their village in Cathedral Quay on Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th July. They will also bring along their 40 foot replica Viking ship and are offering people the opportunity to get on board.

Enjoy chatting with our visitors and experience a range of exhibits including; a replica of a Viking Sword found in Lough Derg; Tablet Weaving, Needlework, Weapons and Armor,  Weapons, Leatherwork, Birds of Prey, Runes, Toys and Jewelry, Face-painting,  Storytelling, Carving, Coins, Music, and more…….

Come along about 2pm to watch some battle re-enactments.

We are also hoping that some local children will come along and “battle the Vikings” to make sure they don’t take over our twin towns! (Approx 3:30pm & 4:30pm)

 

 

 

 

After a two year break, we are delighted to announce that this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade will take place on Thursday 17th March 2022.

The parade will start from Ballina GAA complex at 2:30pm, travel through Ballina, across the bridge, finishing in the Green in Killaloe.

All local businesses, clubs and individuals are encouraged to take part on the day.

PLEASE NOTE: For insurance purposes, all entries must register prior to taking part.

Prizes will be presented on the day for the best floats. A prize will also be presented to the business or home with the best dressed window in Ballina & Killaloe.

For further details or booking, please contact 087 261 5406 or e-mail: info@feilebrianboru.com

WORKSHOP WINNERS
1st Prize – FAMILY CLAN PASS FOR 5 to WEST LAKE AQUA PARK WITH ICE-CREAM/HOT CHOCOLATE FROM WEST LAKE COFFEE -Lena, Harvey & Killian McMahon
2nd Prize -FAMILY CLAN PASS TO LAKESIDE LEISURE CENTRE – Annabel & Andrew Anoop
3rd Prize – MILKYMOO ICECREAM FOR 4, HEANEY’S COSTCUTTER – Cian & Adam O’Hora
WILD CARD WINNERS
1st Prize – FAMILY CLAN PASS FOR 5 TO LAKESIDE LEISURE CENTRE SWIMMING POOL – Cathal Monaghan
2nd Prize (joint winners) – BOX OF SIX MUFFINS EACH FROM BLESS CAFÉ – Maxime & James Howard
COLOURING COMPETITION
WINNER – PIZZA FOR 2 IN PONTE VECCHIO – Jack and Femke Schregardus
Thanks to everyone who entered our photographic competition – we receievd some amazing photos, which made the judge’s job quite difficult.
Congratulations to the Winners !!!
U’16 Photography competition: 
Winner:
Patch Curtain Age 12

Mirror reflection of St. Flannan’s Cathedral

Adult Photography competition: 
Scenic shots in our locality:
“In the Spotlight” Lough Derg from Tountinna by Amy Heyerman
Nature:
“Looking for the magic in every moment” by Patrick Ryan

Wildlife
:
Family of Swans by Brenda O’Connell
Buildings & Structures: 
“The Bridge” by Annagh Roache
Feile Brian Boru 2019 is almost upon us and we have another jam-packed programme of events this year.
Events include: Feile Fireworks; Fly-Boarding displays; Traditional Family Fun Day – Archery, Games, Mini-Zoo; Strut Your Mutt Dog Show; Walks, Talks and Guided tours; Photographic Exhibition; Kayaking, Sailing, Canadian Canoe Races; 
Shannon Swim; Pond Dipping; Workshops for all – Art, Drama, Gardening, Natural Skincare; Mobile Theatre; 
Fuinneamh Drum; Brass Band; Beat on the Street; Craft Fair; Farmers Market, and much more…….
Printed programmes will soon be available in local shops and businesses and our full programme is now available on our website www.feilebrianboru.com

Despite the rather risky weather, hundreds of people lined the streets for the 2019 Ballina/Killaloe St. Patrick’s Day parade and the organising committee would like to say a huge thanks to all those who helped make the day such a success.

  • Inspector Morgen O’Donoghue, Sergeant Annette Ryan and members of the Killaloe Gardaí for their excellent work in ensuring the safe and successful running of the parade
  • The Killaloe Coastguard Unit for their fantastic display of their services
  • Killaloe Fire Brigade
  • Our group of drummers who led this years’ parade, St. Patrick and our Piper Brian O’Connell
  • All the voluntary clubs & organisations, individuals and businesses who put so much work into preparing their floats for the day –

Ballina GAA Club; Ballina/Killaloe RFC, Birdhill FC, Birdhill Tidy Towns, Ború Tri-Club; CarPal, Derg Credit Union; Derg Credit Union; Fergus Collins Construction; Irish Taekwondo Academy, Killaloe 5th/22nd Scout Group, Kieran Scullane Home Improvements; Kilbane Tractor Run; Killaloe Garden Hire; Lough Derg FC, My Next Adventure; Smith O’Brien’s GAA and Vintage Tractor driven by John Bowman

  • We would also like to say a huge thank you to all the floats who continued from the Green to Lakes Nursing Home to entertain the many residents who were getting into the spirit of our feast day
  • Killaloe/Ballina Community and Family Resource Centre for their continued support,
  • Our sponsors, without whom the running of such a successful parade would not have been possible:

Main Sponsors of this year’s event: Tipperary County Council and Technopath Clinical Diagnostics.

  • Allied Irish Bank, Birdhill Tidy Towns, Brian Ború on the Hill, Car Pal, Collins Pharmacy Ballina, Derg Credit Union, Farrell’s SPAR, Fergus Collins Construction, Fine Rags, Flanagan’s on the Lake, Gooser’s Bar & Restaurant, Grogan’s Pharmacy & Optician’s, Harry Brann Auctioneers, Irish Taekwondo Academy, Kieran Scullane Home Improvements, Kilbane Tractor Run, Killaloe Garden Hire, Killaloe Post Office, Larkin’s Gala, Lough Derg FC, McKeogh’s Hardware, Scoop’s Ice-Cream Parlour, The Lakeside Hotel & Leisure Centre, & Walsh’s Bar.
  • The dignitories who attended the parade and those who were present on the reviewing stand – Councillor Fiona Bonfield, Councillor Phyll Bugler, Timmy Dooley T.D, Fr. James Grace, Councillor Mattie McGrath, Inspector Morgen O’Donoghue, Fr. Tom Lanigan-Ryan, Councillor Tony O’Brien

We would also like to thank the following who, due to other commitments, were not able to attend on the day – Cllr. Joe Cooney, Councillor Ger Darcy and Sadie Scanlan.

  • Mike McGrath Haulage for providing the reviewing stand for the parade
  • Killaloe Flowers for beautifully decorating the reviewing stand for the celebrations
  • Ballina Engineering who kindly provided our steps for the reviewing stand
  • Mike McKee for providing the PA for the day
  • Killaloe/Ballina Community and Family Resource Centre for their continued support,
  • Ballina GAA for use of the complex,
  • The parade stewards & all those who helped out with the preparations on the day
  • Our volunteer photographers who did a great job capturing the parade – Dennis Kennedy and Robert Fairfield

We would also like to congratulate the winners on the day –

Best Overall Float: Fergus Collins Construction;

Best Business Float: Killaloe Garden Hire;

Best Topical Float: Birdhill Tidy Towns;

Best Comical Float: Lough Derg FC;

Best Club Float: Killaloe 5th/22nd Scouts;

Special Merit Award: The Irish Taekwondo Academy

Best Dressed Window: Collins Pharmacy, Ballina

We look forward to seeing you for Féile Brian Ború 2019 which this year will take place on the later dates of from Wednesday 17th – Sunday 21st July.
Follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Feilebrianboru) to get updates on this years’ festival.

Photo Credit: Denis Kennedy

We are delighted to announce that this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade will take place on Sunday 17th March 2019.

The parade will start from Ballina GAA complex at 2:30pm, travel through Ballina, across the bridge, finishing in the Green in Killaloe.

All local businesses, clubs and individuals are encouraged to take part on the day. All entries must complete a St.-Patricks-Day-parade-application and return to the committee.

Prizes will be presented in the following categories –

  • Best Overall Float
  • Best Business Float
  • Best club/voluntary group
  • Best Comical Float
  • Best Topical Float
  • Special Merit Award

A prize will also be presented to the business or home with the best dressed window in Ballina & Killaloe.

For further details or booking, please contact 087 261 5406 or e-mail: info@feilebrianboru.com

A huge thank you to all those who came along to the unveiling of our two plaques outside Killaloe Library yesterday morning.
These pieces were commissioned by the Féile Brian Ború committee, which grant assistance from the Heritage Council, and work began on them during Féile Brian Ború 2018 in July.
The first sculpture depicts  Sinann – the Goddess of the River Shannon.
Under the experienced tutorage of Mark Wilson, Artist and Blacksmith, this piece was planned and prepared by the Circle of Friends group based in Killaloe/Ballina Community & Family Resource Centre. The group came together yesterday to unveil this plaque, showing the team effort that went into researching, planning and preparing this wonderful piece of art. Group member Harriett Moore then read a story which explained how Sinann became known as the Goddess of the Shannon.
The second piece depicts the Salmon of Knowledge and this piece was worked on during Féile Brian Ború 2018 in July. 
This piece was unveiled by Ailish Conacur, the granddaughter of the late historian, Seán Kierse.
Seán himself unveiled a copper sculpture which again was commissioned by the Féile Brian Ború in 2014 to commemorate the millennial anniversary of the death of King Brian Ború at the Battle of Clontarf.
We felt it very fitting to have Ailish unveil one of our plaques and we would like to thank her and her family for being a part of the day.
We would also like to thank all those who were involved in this project – Mark Wilson & team; Circle of Friends Social Group; staff of the Killaloe/Ballina Community & Family Resource Centre; Deirdre Scanlan who provided musical entertainment on the day and the Killaloe Library for allowing us to mount these pieces of art in a perfect location in our beautiful twin-towns.
Both plaques will be permanently mounted outside Killaloe Library in the coming week or two, which is the perfect location on the bank of River Shannon. We hope you will enjoy them for years to come.

From Wednesday 1st July – Sunday 5th July 2015, experience a variety of fun activities including, historical guided tours, a stunning Fireworks display over the river Shannon, Traditional Craft Experience, Animal Magic with their amazing display of animals, Strut your Mutt Fun Dog Show, Children’s Art Competition, Art exhibitions & displays, Street Theatre, Live Music, Table Quiz, Farmers Market, Shannon Swim, Canoe Polo and much, much more!

Féile Brian Ború 2015 Highlight – Legends of Irish music & song The FUREYS will play LIVE in concert in The Lakeside Hotel on Sunday 5th July. Renowned for their hit songs ‘I will love you’, ‘When you were sweet 16’, ‘The Green fields of France’, ‘The old man’, ‘Red rose café’, ‘From Clare to here’, ‘Her father didn’t like me anyway’, ‘Leaving Nancy’, ‘Steal away’ have been entertaining audiences worldwide for 37 years. Their emotive songs stir many emotions….tears and laughter, sadness and joy. A FUREYS concert  is always a night to remember. Tickets €20. For further information and tickets, contact The Lakeside Hotel T: 061-376122.

Féile Brian Ború 2015 – Fun for all the family guaranteed!

Follow us on Facebook for regular updates- www.facebook.com/FeileBrianBoru

Check out our website – www.feilebrianboru.com

E-mail: info@feilebrianboru.com  

The VIKING LONG BOAT will be arriving into Ballina Jetty at 7pm tonight. Head on down to see them.

We are delighted to launch the new Feile Brian Boru website.

You will see signs throughout the site that the Feile is increasing in scale and ambition as we move towards 2014.

This has been made possible by an expanding team of professionals giving their time to advise and assist with all aspects of the event.

If you would also like to be involved, please get in touch and you can be part of a truly inspiring community collective effort.