Ballon
Ballon (Balana) is a village in County Carlow, located on the N80.
Ballon is a rural village in Carlow.
The traditional farmstead, winding country roads and backdrop of the Wicklow mountains are what makes this town so charming. There is huge archaeological presence in this town which includes a motte and bailey, ringfort, cashels, standing stones and holy wells. Ballon Hill is a great place to take in the views of the countryside as it is 450 feet above sea level. It is believed that this is the burial place of the king in 177AD and that the ancient games of Leinster were celebrated here.
The village is home to a number of businesses across various sectors and in 2013 the community centre was renovated at a cost of 656,000 euro and is now home to the Ballon Business and Training service.
Ballon is also home to the Altamont Gardens. This is a blend of gardens, rare trees and a lake with a walkway on over forty acres of land. Everyone that has visited the gardens have said it has a special atmosphere and that they would visit again which attracts people to the village. The organic garden is a pride to this village, this is in the local community school where people can plant different seeds from vegetables to flowers.
Along the main street in Ballon there are pubs, take-aways, shops and a cafe, primary school and creche. There are service stations at either end of the village. Also located on Main Street is “Siopa Glas” staffed by volunteers, Siopa Glas recycles donated items. Recycling is the theme of this community shop, bringing money back into the village, schools and charities.
Population is approx. 712 (2016 Census).
Local Businesses
Things to See & Do in Ballon
, Ballon Hill
Although only around 450 feet above sea level, Ballon Hill provides stunning views of the surrounding lowlands. Geologically, it is comprised of granite and covered by limestone.
Ballon Hill is an archaeological site, listed as an Irish National Monument, which sits on a low hill near Ballon village. Listed as one of the most important archaeological sites in Ireland, Ballon Hill contains the remains of late Neolithic structures and Bronze Age burial mounds.
Excavated by John James Lecky and J. Richardson Smith in 1853 to 1855, the site yielded one of the largest assemblages of pottery ever discovered in Ireland. Much of the pottery from the site is now housed in the National Museum of Ireland and the British Museum. In 1997, a donation of two polished stones and a razor knife was made to the Carlow County Museum by an anonymous donor.
Castlemore Moat: is a motte-and-bailey castle and National Monument located between Ballon and Tullow in Co. Carlow. A motte-and-bailey castle is a fortified stronghold, which was built on a mound of earth or other material and protected by a ditch and palisade. Its name derives from the shape of the structure, which resembles the head of a man or woman with a helmet. It combines the features of a hill fort and a castle. All that remains is the mound and a stone marked with a cross.
Altamount Gardens: the Altamont Garden Estate is one of the most beautiful and serene gardens in Ireland. Its formal gardens are located on a 16-hectare site, with beds of perennial flowers and ornamental shrubs that contrast beautifully with the rugged landscape. The Robinsonian-style gardens are a peaceful oasis. Inhabited by native species, as well as exotic ones like Swamp Cypress, Red Oak and Giant Redwood, the area provides visitors with an opportunity to relax while they stroll through the tranquil grounds. The gardens also feature a café, picnic tables, car park, toilets and plant sales.
Sports
Ballon GAA club was founded in 1889 and competes in the Carlow Junior Football Championship. The club had the distinction of winning the first ever County Carlow Football championship in 1889. The club grounds are in James Morris Park, Fenagh Rd, Ballon, Co.Carlow, R93 F792.
Burrin Celtic FC, founded in 1987, play in the Carlow & District Football League and their club grounds are located on the Fenagh Road, Ballon, Co. Carlow
Ballon/Rathoe Community Games and Athletic Club was established 1980.
Ballon & Community Sports Centre hosts active retirement, athletics, badminton, basketball, bingo, bowls, fitness classes and martial arts and more.
BALLON
Featured Businesses
Community Check-in & Expo
Carlow PPN invites you to host a stand at our Community Expo April 27th 2022 Save The Date Community groups! Theme: ‘The Heritage of County Carlow’ Carlow PPN Update Speakers: Eoin Sullivan, Heritage Officer, Co Carlow; Other speakers TBC Community Expo and Networking...
Carlow Pride of Place Awards 2022
Applications for the County Carlow Pride Of Place Awards are now open for 2022! To apply, please contact Emer Connors on community@carlowcoco.ie. Application closing date: May 18th 2022.
Carlow Businesses encouraged to Decorate shopfronts for Carlow’s St. Patrick’s Day Festival & Seachtain na Gaeilge
Plans are well advanced for the day’s celebrations to mark the national feast in Carlow Town on Lá Fhéile Pádraig. Potato Market and a section of Haddens Car Park, closed to traffic throughout the day, will be a hive of activity with a state-of-the-art performance...
Bodylite
Bodylite Why is shopping & supporting local business important? Shopping at locally owned businesses means more money is kept in the community because locally owned businesses often purchase from other local businesses, service providers and farms. Purchasing...
Ballykealey House
Ballykealey HouseBallykealey was transformed from a large old farmhouse built in the 1600s to the magnificent Todor Mansion that we know it today in 1830. It was constructed to the design of the eminent Carlow architect Thomas A. Cobden, who also designed Carlow...
Local News
The SETU and Springboard prospectus for the academic year 2023/24
The SETU and Springboard prospectus for the academic year 2023/24 is available now. The Faculty of Lifelong Learning at SETU have over 100 part time programmes which are flexibly designed to meet the needs of part time students combining professional and personal...
New Samaritans branch opens in Carlow
The official opening of a new local Samaritans branch in Carlow took place over the weekend. The new office is at Governey Square just across from Carlow Castle. Spokesperson Collete Shannon says even though locals in Carlow could always call them it’s important that...
Carlow Tidy Towns
Volunteers Wanted! Carlow Tidy Towns team are looking for volunteers to join them for weekly clean ups & help with various other projects around the town. If you’d like to get involved and play your part in making our town a better place, you can contact them on...
Free Summer Tours at Altamount
Altamont Gardens will be offering free Summer Tree Tours every Thursday at 12 p.m and 3 p.m, starting from the 29th of June. Come along and learn all about the spectacular and diverse trees of Altamont, including the Giant Sequoia (the largest trees in the world),...
Carlow PPN currently have 2 Representative vacancies
Are you are interested in having your community's voice heard? Carlow PPN currently have 2 Representative vacancies: Community & Voluntary seat on the Joint Policing Committee (JPC) Social Inclusion seat on the Housing, Community and Wellbeing Strategic Policy...
Volunteers Needed – Meals on Wheels
Sports First Aid Training Course
Carlow Sports Partnership are holding a Sports First Aid Training Course on Saturday 8th July 2023 (9.30am - 16.30) Location: Carlow Town Hall, Centaur Street, Carlow, R93 TK85 Booking at https://buff.ly/43xhZm4
Carlow Arts Festival 2023
With lots of events to suit all age groups and interests, visit Carlow Arts Festival | Wed 7 - Sun 11 June 2023 for full details
National Heritage Week – Open for submissions
Pass down the traditions of your community. Create an event for National Heritage Week 2023 on http://heritageweek.ie and join us in celebrating our 'living heritage'!
Congratulations to our New Carlow Rose 2023
Caoimhe (22) from Ballybit Big, Rathvilly was crowned Carlow Rose 2023 at the exciting final in the Woodford Dolmen Hotel. Daughter of Brian and Ciara (née O’Rourke), Caoimhe is a geography and English teacher at Scoil Chonglais, Baltinglass, while she’s also studying...