Ballina is the largest town in County Mayo in the Republic of Ireland. It lies at the mouth of the River Moy near Killala Bay, in the Moy valley, with the Ox Mountain range to the east and the Nephin Beg Mountains to the west. Ballina is in north Mayo, in the province of Connacht.

Tourism, attractions

Ballina's location favours salmon fishing, and one of the best spots, the Ridge Pool, is situated in the heart of the town. The highlight of the tourist season occurs in early July when the Ballina Street and Arts Festival takes place. Thousands travel to Ballina for the various events which include Heritage Day, International Night and the Mardi Gras Parade & Fireworks display.
The main hotels are Ridge Pool Hotel, Downhill House Hotel, Downhill Inn Hotel, and Belleek Castle Hotel. Mount Falcon Hotel just outside the town is due to reopen in June 2006. While the town also has a number of B&Bs, more adventurous accommodation can be found at Belleek Caravan and Camping Park