North Mayo town to host Women’s Mini Marathon and Fleadh Cheoil this May Bank Holiday weekend
Ballina is shaping up to be the place to be this May Bank Holiday weekend, with the return of the West of Ireland Women’s Mini Marathon alongside Mayo Day celebrations and the start of the Fleadh Cheoil Mhaigh Eo.
The 2026 West of Ireland Women’s Mini Marathon will officially be launched this Friday afternoon at St Mary’s Secondary School in Ballina, ahead of the 10km race which takes place on Sunday, May 3.
Now entering its 17th year, the popular event is organised by Mayo.ie in partnership with the Western People and Mayo Sports Partnership.
It was held in Castlebar each year from 2010 to 2019 before moving online for two years due to Covid restrictions.
Since returning to the roads in 2023, the race has alternated between Ballina and Castlebar, with the north Mayo town once again set to host for 2026.
The decision to bring the event back to Ballina has been warmly welcomed by members of the Ballina Municipal District, particularly as it coincides with Mayo Day festivities.
Head of the Ballina Municipal District, Declan Turnbull, confirmed that weekly planning meetings have been underway since before Christmas to ensure the smooth running of the event.
Cllr Michael Loftus said he was delighted to see the marathon return to the town and thanked the volunteers and council staff who work “above and beyond the call of duty” to make the day a success.
Cllr Marie Therese Duffy also welcomed the news, highlighting the year-round work involved in delivering large-scale events.
Not everyone was celebrating, however, with councillors in the Castlebar Municipal District expressing their disappointment. Cllr Donna Sheridan said she was sorry to see the “Castlebar event” leave the county town.
15-year-old Freya Renton stole the show in 2025 as she ran to victory in a remarkable time of 35:59 and became the event’s youngest-ever winner.
The Westport AC athlete finished just ahead of her twin sister Holly, who placed fourth on the day.
Ballina will be the place to be over the Mini Marathon weekend, with the May Bank Holiday also marking the beginning of the Fleadh Cheoil Mhaigh Eo on Saturday, May 2.
The eight-day event will see the streets of the north Mayo town filled with the sound of traditional Irish music, as musicians, dancers and visitors come together to celebrate.
Mayo Day also takes place on Saturday, May 2, with celebrations happening across the county under this year’s theme, ‘Mayo - The Connected County’.
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.