Ballina R.F.C. is a rugby union club in Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland. The club is affiliated to the Connacht Branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union and plays in the Connacht J1A League since being relegated from the All-Ireland League at the end of the 2023-24 season.[1]
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| Full name | Ballina Rugby Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Union |  IRFU | |
| Branch | Connacht | |
| Founded | 1928 | |
| Location | Ballina | |
| Region | County Mayo | |
| Ground | Heffernan Park (Capacity: 1,000) | |
| Chairman | Alan Rowe | |
| President | Ed Gunning | |
| Coach | Brian McClearn | |
| Captain | Gary Kavanagh | |
| League | Connacht J1A | |
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| Official website | ||
| www | ||
The name of Heffernan Park, where the club plays its games, is taken from the grandfather of Dave Heffernan.[2]
Prominent figures
editSeán Murphy was the club's first president, and he served 25 years for the club. He helped the club get its own grounds and a clubhouse back in 1978.
Gerry O’Donnell served a season as president of Connacht rugby (in that season Connacht won the pro 12.) and was a president of Ballina as well. O'Donnell died in 2023.
Honours
edit- Connacht Senior League: 5.5
- 1928-29, 1929–30, 1950-51 (shared), 1952–53, 1991–92, 2021–22
References
edit- ↑ "All-Ireland League Men's Divisions – Play-Off Details, Ups & Downs". irishrugby.ie. 6 April 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ↑ Kelly, David (27 December 2024). "'Gaelic was my first sport and David Brady my hero' – Dave Heffernan hopes Mayo GAA roots can inspire Connacht". Irish Independent.
The great Ivan Heffernan Snr's name is so embedded in Ballina RFC lore that they named their pitch after him.
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