Press Release Friday 29th January 2022:
Ballina is celebrating today with confirmation that the town’s much-loved annual Salmon Festival will make a welcome return this summer.
The Covid-19 pandemic has prevented the full hosting of the festival in the last three years but it’s all systems go for 2022, following a successful meeting of stakeholders earlier today.
Now in its 57th year, the event is Ireland’s longest running community festival. It will run this summer from Sunday, July 10 to Saturday, July 16 next.
Mags Downey Martin, Manager of Ballina Tourist Office, was at this morning’s meeting:
“We have been inundated with Salmon Festival queries and we are over the moon to be able to announce the dates today, as public health measures currently in place were removed, giving people the opportunity to plan their trip to Ballina this July.
“We know there are hundreds who plan their annual family holiday and reunions during festival week and now they can. Equally there are plenty who have never had the Ballina Salmon Festival experience, and we look forward to putting on a show for them to remember this summer.”
Martin Carr (The Junction Restaurant) and Paul Regan (Dillons Bar & Restaurant) are joint Chairpersons of the festival this year, both prominent business people in Ballina and both agreeing that this is a great time to be involved in town events.
Martin and Paul agreed that while Ballina has been working away in the shadows for the last two years of the pandemic, both gents are over the moon to now be in the position to plan a large scale community festival in Ballina in July.
Ballina Tourist Office on Pearse St will be the central hub for all festival administration activities.
Ms Downey Martin assured that the traditional festival favourites will be making a welcome return this year with the Teddy Bears’ Picnic kicking off the week on Sunday, July 10, followed by the National Heritage Day on Wednesday, July 13 with festival fireworks concluding the programme on Saturday night, July 16.
There will be lots more brilliant events planned throughout the week and the organising committee is inviting locals who may have a good event idea or would like to help out to reach out and get involved by emailing chamber@ballina.ie
This email address can also be used for general festival-related queries and there will also be regular updates on event’s Facebook page
