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27 Jan 2026
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27 Jan 2026
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Action from a previous West of Ireland Women's Mini-Marathon.
COUNCILLORS in north Mayo have expressed delight that the West of Ireland Women’s Mini Marathon will be returning to Ballina in May.
Hundreds of people are expected to take part in the West of Ireland Women’s Mini Marathon which returns to Ballina and takes place on May 3.
The location of the mini marathon has been a controversial subject in recent years with councillors in Castlebar aggrieved that the event has been taken away from the county town.
The Women’s Mini Marathon had been held in Castlebar since its inception in 2010 but the race moved to Ballina in 2023 as part of the town’s Three hundredth anniversary celebrations. It was considered such a resounding success that it remained in north Mayo in 2024 but returned to Castlebar in 2025.
The event was considered a huge success in Castlebar with local councillors calling for it to remain there but it has been confirmed it will return to north Mayo.
Speaking at the monthly meeting of the Ballina Municipal District, Declan Turnbull, Head of the Municipal District said that preparation for the event over the May Bank Holiday Weekend has already begun and is looking forward to it returning to the banks of the Moy.
The return of the race to Ballina was welcomed by a number of councillors who expressed confidence that it would be a huge success.
READ: 195 vacant or derelict Mayo properties back in use through Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant
Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Loftus joked that Ballina should now be the home of the mini marathon and complimented local staff for making sure it returned.
“I am delighted to hear the mini marathon is coming back to Ballina. I won’t say it is the home of the mini marathon because I will get in trouble but I am delighted to see it back. I know the work that was done over the years in relation to it was tremendous with a lot of volunteers getting behind it which is fantastic. The staff here in the council went above and beyond the call of duty to make sure it was a success as I know they will do again for this year,” he said.
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