1. First of all, it’s The Na
2. If you lived down the Quay you were considered posh and that was that
3. This lane was where the magic happened
Where the boys from Muredach’s would head after school to wait for the Convent girls.
4. Getting chips and a chocolate sprinkled ice from Cafollas was the ultimate Saturday treat
5. Unless you were firmly in The Junction camp
6. And Supermacs was reserved ONLY for after nights out
Very few people have been seen in there in daylight.
7. The Salmon Festival was the highlight of everyone’s summer
An excuse to be hanging around down the town! Finally.
8. And the fireworks on Mardi Gras night were legendary
9. Spotting Jack Charlton on the street was never not exciting
He had a house in Ballina, don’t you know. Fond of the fishing is Jack.
10. And the opening of a Penneys was a seminal moment for Ballina
And such a NICE Penneys too. With escalators!
11. Putting on your finery for the Bonniconlon disco, held in a quasi-barn
12. Then eventually trying your luck in Longnecks
13. The town was divided into two parts: Stephenites supporters and Ardnaree* supporters
*Pronounce it ‘Aaarn-ree’ for a more authentic Ballina experience.
14. Having to drive to Castlebar to go to the cinema, a local annoyance that went on for far too long
STATE.
15. ‘Jaws’ is a perfectly reasonable insult
“Would ya go way from around me, BIG JAWS.”
16. And “Aaahhh nicks” can mean just about anything at all
Annoyance, surprise, mocking…
17. Getting charmed by Joseph the Ice Cream Man
18. And ‘bush lushing’ as a standard Saturday night activity
You going down the canal? Or perhaps the ABC Park?
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