People
Ballaghaderreen becomes the town of ‘Céad Míle Fáiltes’
In mid 2017 The EROC (Emergency Reception and Orientation Centre) opened and Ballagahderreen welcomed over 200 Syrian refugees.
Ballaghaderreen extends welcome to Syrian Refugees
In 2017 the Government announced that the unused Abbeyfield Hotel in Ballaghaderreen would be used as an Emergency Reception Orientation Centre (EROC) for war torn Syrian Refugees. The town came together to ensure that these Syrian Refugees would get a warm reception and every effort was made to ensure that their stay in Ballaghaderreen would be a positive experience for all.
Local clubs – GAA, Soccer, Community Games and Foroige supported the integration of the new families. Volunteer came together to organize an array of events from knitting clubs, fun days and outing, for the new arrivals.
This work resulted in the community of Ballaghaderreen receiving an award from the People of the Year Awards in April 2018 for its welcoming response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis. These awards are given to people who “bring joy and light to the lives of others or have supported others in their darkest hours”. In 2017 Ballaghaderreen Foróige Club took the top prize at the Aldi Foróige Youth Citizenship Awards, which saw 2,300 young Irish people showcasing their efforts at fostering community spirit. Ballaghaderreen Community Games and Ballaghaderreen GAA also received special awards for their engagement with the new families. The families stay in the EROC Centre for a period of time,before they are resettled throughout the country but Ballaghaderreen will always stay with them.
Local clubs – GAA, Soccer, Community Games and Foroige supported the integration of the new families. Volunteer came together to organize an array of events from knitting clubs, fun days and outing, for the new arrivals.
This work resulted in the community of Ballaghaderreen receiving an award from the People of the Year Awards in April 2018 for its welcoming response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis. These awards are given to people who “bring joy and light to the lives of others or have supported others in their darkest hours”. In 2017 Ballaghaderreen Foróige Club took the top prize at the Aldi Foróige Youth Citizenship Awards, which saw 2,300 young Irish people showcasing their efforts at fostering community spirit. Ballaghaderreen Community Games and Ballaghaderreen GAA also received special awards for their engagement with the new families. The families stay in the EROC Centre for a period of time,before they are resettled throughout the country but Ballaghaderreen will always stay with them.
SOME RENOWNED PEOPLE FROM BALLAGHADERREEN
- Anne Deane, nationalist, businesswoman and philanthropist
- John Blake Dillon, writer, politician, and founding member of the Young Ireland movement
- James Dillon, politician, and Leader of Fine Gael
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Matt Molloy is an Irish musician, from Ballaghaderreen. Considered as one of the most brilliant Irish musicians, his style that adapts piping techniques to the flute has influenced many contemporary Irish flute players.
During the 1970s, Molloy was a member of The Bothy Band and its successor, the re-founded Planxty. He joined The Chieftains in 1979. - John O'Gorman, piper
- William Partridge, participant in the 1913 strike and 1916 Rising
- Brian O'Doherty, writer, artist, art critic and academic
- Andy Moran Mayo Legend, National League winner and record appearance maker
- SeanieMc Former Roscommon captain and multiple Connacht Title winning player
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Dubhglas de Híde (Douglas Hyde) (nom de plume “An Craoibhin Aoibhinn”) was the first President of Ireland from 25 June, 1938 to 24 June, 1945.
He was born on 17 January 1860, in Castlerea and grew up in Frenchpark, Co. Roscommon. He was Co-founder and First President (1893-1915) of the Gaelic League, the national movement for the revival of the Irish language. He died on 12 July 1949. Age 89. He is buried in Portahard, Frenchpark. - Garry Hynes is an Irish theatre director from Ballaghaderreen. She was the first woman to win the prestigious Tony Award for direction of a play. She is a co-founder of the Druid Theatre Company with Mick Lally and Marie Mullen in 1975 after meeting through the drama society of U.C.G. where they studied. She was Druid's artistic director from 1975 to 1991, and again from 1995 to date. Hynes directed for the Abbey Theatre from 1984 and was its artistic director from 1991 to 1994,[1] and also the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Exchange, Manchester, the Kennedy Center and the Royal Court Theatre, London.
- Patsy McGarry was born in Ballaghaderreen and educated in St. Nathys. He is the Religious Affairs correspondent with The Irish Times. He succeeded Andy Pollak as editor in the mid-1990s. He also is the commissioning editor for articles which are published in the paper's Rite and Reason column every Monday. McGarry also writes occasionally on social issues for the newspaper.
