Tag Archives: 50 years

Ballina Riverside Pool has made a big splash to mark its 50th anniversary by unveiling its future plans for solar panels to cut its expensive electricity costs. This heated 25-metre outdoor pool opened its doors for the first time during the August Bank Holiday weekend in 1974. There was a carnival atmosphere at the pool on Saturday with pop and rock music provided by DJ Vinny as well as refreshments organised by Lisa O’Sullivan and Mary Collins Cora Scanlon won a season family pass for the pool in 2025 worth about €1,800. Pool Co-ordinator, Paddy Collins has been a constant presence at the pool, which is managed by Tipperary County Council but is run by a local committee. “It is great to keep any community project going for 50 years. Living beside the River Shannon, every child should learn how to swim,” he said. Back in the early seventies, there was no playground or astro-turf all-weather training area as the …

FLEADH Nua’s legacy of showcasing the very best of traditional music, song, dance, storytelling agus Teanga ársa na nGael in Ennis over the past five decades is to be quite literally be etched in stone. This year’s Fleadh Nua, running from May 25 to June 3 marks the Golden Anniversary of the festival’s arrival in Ennis back in 1974, and organisers have planned some very special events to mark this momentous occasion. These include the unveiling of a specially commissioned commemorative stone created by sculptor Mike McTigue celebrating 50 years of the Fleadh Down in Ennis opposite Clare Museum in co-operation with Clare County Council. Chairman of Fleadh Nua’s organising committee Frank Whelan tells us they are very excited to have a lasting monument to Fleadh Nua’s huge contribution to the cultural life of the county town. The 50th Fleadh down in Ennis promises an exciting programme of events planned to mark the Golden Anniversary with Frank saying, “We are …