Ballina Town Map

Discover Ballina, Ireland

Ballina invites you to explore Ireland's Salmon Capital, where the River Moy meets Killala Bay in County Mayo's stunning landscapes. This historic Georgian market town in Connacht province offers rich heritage from the 1798 French invasion, world-class salmon fishing on the legendary Ridge Pool, and authentic Wild Atlantic Way experiences just 257 kilometers from Dublin. Use our free downloadable Ballina map to plan your visit—from the extraordinary Jackie Clarke Collection spanning 400 years of Irish history to medieval abbey ruins, forest walks through Belleek Woods, craft whiskey tastings, and award-winning restaurants celebrating local produce. Whether you're visiting for the renowned Ballina Salmon Festival, exploring Belleek Castle's fossil collection, or cycling the Monasteries of the Moy Greenway to 15th-century ecclesiastical sites, Ballina serves as your gateway to North Mayo's coastal beauty and cultural treasures.

Download Ballina Map (PDF)

[Download Ballina Map (PDF)]

Navigate Ballina with ease using our comprehensive town map, available for instant download. Perfect for both mobile devices and printing, this map highlights the River Moy's famous fishing spots, walking routes through Belleek Woods, key attractions including the Jackie Clarke Collection and Belleek Castle, dining locations, accommodation options, and parking areas across both riverbanks. Plan your journey through Ireland's Salmon Capital with all essential locations marked for convenient offline access.

Things to Do in Ballina

The Jackie Clarke Collection
Explore Ireland's most important private history archive with over 100,000 items including an original 1916 Proclamation, Wolfe Tone's French cockade from 1798, letters from Michael Collins, and rare books dating to 1642. This beautifully restored Victorian bank building on Pearse Street opens Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm with free admission and features interactive touchscreens, a Green Flag heritage garden, and eight exhibition galleries chronicling 400 years of Irish history.

Belleek Castle & Marshall Doran Collection
Tour this 1825-1831 Gothic Revival castle featuring one of Ireland's finest assemblages of Jurassic fossils, medieval weapons, and armor. Daily guided tours (11am-4pm, €8-10) showcase Grace O'Malley's four-poster bed, the Spanish Armada Bar crafted from shipwreck timber, and the last wolf shot in Connaught, set within 1,000 acres of Europe's largest urban woodland.

River Moy Salmon Fishing & Ridge Pool
Watch anglers work Ireland's most prolific salmon river from viewing platforms along Cathedral Walk, or book your own fishing experience on waters producing 29% of Ireland's rod-caught salmon. The Ridge Pool in the town center ranks among the world's most famous fishing spots, visible from walkways year-round.

Connacht Whiskey Distillery
Visit County Mayo's first working distillery in 150 years for grain-to-glass tours (Wednesday-Saturday) showcasing award-winning single malt Irish whiskey, Conncullin Gin, and Strawboys Poitín production, concluding with tastings in the Mullarkey Bar.

Enniscrone Beach
Just 13.7 kilometers away, this Blue Flag 2024 beach offers 5 kilometers of golden sand, Atlantic surfing, seaweed baths at Kilcullen's Seaweed Baths (operating since 1912), coastal walks, and the Bartragh Island loop at low tide.

Killala Round Tower & Cathedral
Visit the 12th-century round tower and 17th-century St. Patrick's Cathedral 14 kilometers north via the Monasteries of the Moy Greenway, plus heritage trails exploring the 1798 French invasion sites where General Humbert landed.

Walking & Cycling Routes

Monasteries of the Moy Greenway (14km, 3-4 hours walking/1-2 hours cycling)
This three-stage route connects Ballina to Killala through Belleek Woods, visiting 15th-century Rosserk Abbey and Moyne Abbey—two of Mayo's most impressive ecclesiastical ruins with late Irish Gothic architecture. Stage 1 covers 2.5 kilometers through ancient forest (easy), Stage 2 follows 6.5 kilometers on-road to the abbeys (moderate), and Stage 3 completes 5 kilometers through wetlands rich with bird life (easy). Ballina Bike Hire provides bicycles including electric options.

Belleek Woods Nature Trail (4km loop, 1 hour)
Wind through mixed woodland showcasing Norway Spruce, Scots Pine, Beech, Oak, and Ash with opportunities to spot badgers, foxes, herons, kingfishers, and otters. The moderate-difficulty trail passes the Ice House, mausoleum, and red squirrel sanctuary within Europe's largest urban woodland along the River Moy.

Coastal Loop: Ross Strand to Lacken Beach (various distances)
Create custom coastal walks connecting Ross Strand (16.7km from Ballina), Lacken Strand, and Kilcummin beaches, with options ranging from 3-15 kilometers along Atlantic clifftops and golden sands.

For comprehensive trail maps and detailed routes, visit Discover Ireland Walking Trails or Visit North Mayo.

Annual Events & Festivals in Ballina

Ballina Salmon Festival (July 12-20, 2025)
Ireland's longest-running community celebration enters its 61st year with 9 days attracting 200,000+ visitors. Heritage Day (July 16) transforms streets into a market town of 100+ years ago, while the Heyco Moy Swim—Ireland's oldest river swim—takes place July 19. Daily events include Crinniú Na Mbád (Gathering of the Boats), agricultural shows, vintage cars, 5K runs, busking competitions, and grand finale fireworks.

Bonniconlon Show (August 4, 2025)
Ireland's second-largest agricultural show draws 30,000+ visitors with a €60,000 prize fund featuring livestock competitions, vintage machinery, equestrian events, food producers, and traditional rural life demonstrations.

Food Fleadh Ballina (September)
Celebrate Mayo's culinary excellence with cooking demonstrations from acclaimed chefs, artisan food producers, craft beer and whiskey tastings, farmers market stalls, and family entertainment throughout the town center.

Other Voices Music Festival (December)
This intimate music festival brings acclaimed Irish and international artists to unique venues throughout Ballina, with free street performances, pub sessions, and ticketed concerts showcasing emerging talent alongside established musicians.

Samhain Abhainn Halloween Celebration (October 31)
Experience spooky woods walks through Belleek Forest, ghostly storytelling, traditional Samhain rituals, children's costume parades, and atmospheric illuminations celebrating ancient Celtic traditions.

Where to Stay and Eat in Ballina

Ballina offers accommodation ranging from historic castle hotels to riverside boutique properties. The Ice House Hotel provides award-winning boutique sanctuary with spa facilities on the River Moy banks. Belleek Castle Hotel delivers authentic castle accommodation with the award-winning Library Restaurant and Jack Fenn Café serving freshly-baked goods and local seafood. Mount Falcon Estate—a Victorian Gothic manor on 100 acres—features the Kitchen Restaurant with Head Chef Tom Doyle's progressively protein-focused menu using in-house dry-aged beef. The Ballina Manor Hotel and Great National Hotel Ballina offer 4-star accommodations in central locations.

Crockets on the Quay earned Michelin Eating Out Guide 2014 recognition, serving traditional bar food with restaurant dining overlooking the River Moy and Belleek Forest. Brennan's Lane Restaurant features Chef Jonathan Keane's cooking with nearly 20 years' experience in an exposed brick, open-plan kitchen. Quay West offers varied menus from pub grub to fine dining with signature chocolate, almond, and orange cake. The Merry Monk in nearby Lacken operates its own vegetable and lamb farm, sourcing locally for over 23 years.

International options include Love Lee's authentic Chinese cuisine and Everest Restaurant's Indian/Nepalese dishes. The Post House wins praise for seafood chowder, brown bread, and buttermilk pancakes with bacon. Traditional pubs like The Cot and Cobble, Breathnach's, An Sean Síbín, and An Bolg Buí provide authentic Irish atmosphere with fireplaces, live music, and ample bar food menus.

Nearby Town Maps

Explore the surrounding North Mayo region with our detailed town maps:

• Killala Town Map – 14km north in County Mayo, connected via Monasteries of the Moy Greenway
• Foxford Town Map – 15km south in County Mayo, famous for Foxford Woollen Mills
• Crossmolina Town Map – 18km west in County Mayo, gateway to Lough Conn fishing
• Castlebar Town Map – 34km southeast in County Mayo, county town with Museum of Country Life
• Westport Town Map – 56km southwest in County Mayo, Georgian heritage town and Croagh Patrick base

Return to our complete Ireland Town Maps collection to discover more destinations across the Wild Atlantic Way.

Contact & Map Attribution

Map courtesy of MyGPSTools.com — compiled by MyGPSTools. For more information about our mapping services and to explore Ireland's best destinations, visit our About page.

Whether you're casting for salmon on the legendary Ridge Pool, exploring 400 years of Irish history at the Jackie Clarke Collection, cycling through medieval abbey ruins, or experiencing the vibrant 61st Ballina Salmon Festival, Ballina directions lead you to authentic North Mayo experiences where Georgian heritage meets Wild Atlantic Way adventure. Download your free Ballina map today and start exploring Ireland's Salmon Capital.