Ballinahown
The Modern History
1990 – 1999
Throughout the 1990s, Ballinahown Village saw significant infrastructural and communal improvements. Stone walls were constructed, and the local grotto was moved and rebuilt. Essential services like the underground placement of telephone cables were implemented. The decade also focused on enhancing green spaces with the establishment of Clonmacnoise Garden, planting of new whitethorn hedging and the maintenance and development of church grounds. A state of the art underground recycling system was also installed. Additionally, communal facilities like the Community Hall received substantial upgrades, including roof repairs, new stone facing and cobble lock pathways installed.
1990 – 1999 Stone Walls Built
1990 – 1999 Grotto moved and rebuilt
1990 – 1999 Church Grounds upgraded
1990 – 1999 School – Trees cleared
1990 – 1999 Telephone cables placed underground
1990 – 1999 Whitetorn hedge planted
1990 – 1999 Parocial House – Grounds maintained and upgraded
1990 – 1999 Trees planted on Athlone approach road
1990 – 1999 New curbs placed in carpark
1990 – 1999 Clonmacnoise Garden created
1990 – 1999 Hall Roof repaired
1990 – 1999 Hall Porch stonefaced
1990 – 1999 Cobblelock installed
1990 – 1999 Playground – Bushes and brambles cleared and grass sown
1990 – 1999 Millenium Fountain Installed
St. Colmcille’s Church
Ballinahown Grotto
Restored Stone Wall
2000 – 2009
The turn of the millennium brought further enhancements to Ballinahown, starting with the installation of the Millennium Fountain in 1999. The early 2000s saw the development of accessible community spaces, including a sculpture trail and a nature trail in 2002 and significant upgrades to the community hall to improve wheelchair accessibility. These years were pivotal in developing recreational and cultural spaces for community engagement. From 2005 to 2009, Ballinahown focused on expanding its recreational infrastructure. The new playground opened in 2005, with subsequent additions like playground information signs on flora and fauna and biodiversity along with an art and culture trail in 2009, enriching the village’s cultural landscape. The village also saw the installation of a Pergola in the Community Carpark, a forge sculpture erected, the installation of the community polytunnel and native willow planting in the Woodland Trail. The village also earned its first Tidy Towns Bronze Award in 2009, a testament to the community-driven efforts of the village.
2000 Wheelchair access to community hall
2002 Nature Trail Established
2002 Sculptue Trail Developed
2003 Community Lotto Began
2003 Community Hall extended
2003 Forge Sculpture Erected
2003 Community Notice Board Installed
2005 Playground Opened
2005 Pergola installed
2009 Playground Signs Installed
2009 Art and Culture Trail Established
2009 Clonmacnoise Garden
2009 Recycling Area Introduced
2009 Won 1st Tidy Towns Bronze Award
One of the Sculptures along the Sculpture Trail
The Ballinahown Pergola
Community Recycling Centre
Fountain
Ballinahown Playground
2010 – 2014
During this period, Ballinahown continued to develop its environmental and recreational facilities. The community transitioned from annual planting to perennial planting in 2010, enhancing the sustainability of local green spaces. There was a focus on improving recreational facilities in this period also. New community features included the introduction of a community walking track in 2012. Bike stands were installed around the village and the village celebrated the opening of a mini library. In addition, this period saw the introduction on water butts on buildings in the village. A wildlife audit was conducted to get a better understanding of biodiversity in the area and a Butterfly Garden was developed. Developments in this period fostered a stronger community spirit while promoting environmental awareness. Ballinahown celebrated a Bronze Medal in Tidy Towns.
2010 Perennial planting began
2010 Box hedge and trees planted on Clonmacnoise Road
2010 Water Butts Introduced
2010 Community Defibrillator
2011 Bike Stands Installed
2011 Wildlife Audit
2011 Tea Rooms Opened
2012 Community Walking Track Completed
2012 Information Panels Installed
2012 Mini Library Opened
2014 Development of Butterfly Garden
2014 Bird and Bat Boxes Installed
Butterfly Garden Panorama
Mini Library
Perennial Planting
Walking Track
2015 – 2019
These years were marked by a continued emphasis on biodiversity and community involvement. The upgrading of the carpark, the establishment of a fairy trail, the installation of a bull sculpture and market space alongside the significant development of a biodiversity park highlighted the community’s commitment to environmental and artistic initiatives. During this period, the village marked the centenary of the 1916 Rising by establishing a 1916 Centenary Garden. The garden features native trees planted in honour of each signatory of the Proclamation, alongside the Irish tricolour, the Proclamation itself, and dedicated timber commemorative plinths for each signatory. The timber plinths in this Centenary garden are the actual louvres from the spire in our parish church in Ballinahown Village. They were constructed in 1902 and replaced in 2016. It seemed fitting that they find a new home in our Centenary garden as they were over a hundred years old and part of our village history. Like the other elements in this garden and our village ethos, we have worked with old materials to create a new story for the future. The village’s achievement of a Silver Tidy Towns award in 2016, underscored the ongoing dedication to community and environmental excellence which culminated in Ballinahown representing Westmeath in Pride of Place in 2019.
2015 Willow Planting in Woodland Trail
2015 Community Composting Area Established
2015 Community Polytunnel Erected
2015 Long Term Plan 2015 – 2018
2015 Community Herb Garden Established
2016 Fairy Trail Established
2016 Sli na Habhainn walkway opened
2016 Won 1st Tidy Towns Silver Award
2016 1916 Garden Opened
2016 Community Orchard Planted
2019 Biodiversity Park Opened
2019 Bull Sculpture Installed
2019 Carpark upgraded
2019 Pride of Place
2019 Amphiteathre Built
2019 2030 Vision Document Developed
Centenary Garden
Community Market
Bull Sculpture
Amphitheatre
2020 to Present
The most recent developments have focused on sustainable and smart infrastructure. The 2030 Vision Document, commissioned by Ballinahown Community Development, set a forward-thinking agenda for the development of the village. This vision was complemented by upgrades like LED Christmas lights, upgrades to the walking track lights, a comprehensive water management plan, a biodiversity action plan, the installation of a community apiary, the development of the village website, the installation of new bug hotels, the development of a new Tranquillity Garden and the installation of swales and water gardens around the village. This period saw the development of a state of the art all-weather milti-game Astroturf complex. Recent installations such as the pedestrian activated solar lights and a comprehensive tree survey highlight ongoing efforts to blend heritage with modernity for a sustainable future. The village’s achievement of the 1st Tidy Towns Gold Award in 2023 and subsequently representing Ireland, and winning gold, in the European competition of Entente Florale, celebrated its continued commitment to excellence in community planning and sustainability. 2024 saw Ballinahown win its first ever national award for Ireland’s Tidiest Village.
2020 Moved to LED Christmas Lights
2020 Apiary Installed
2021 Clonmacnois Road Junction realignment
2021 Website
2022 Biodiversity Plan Commissioned
2022 Bike Week
2023 Won 1st Tidy Towns Gold Award
2023 Water Management Plan Comissioned
2023 Water Gardens installed in carpark
2023 Upgrade of gas heating system
2023 Replacement of Walking Track lights
2024 Represented Ireland in Entente Florale
2024 Roadside planters installed
2024 Pergola Updated
2024 History of Ballinahown Project Installed
2024 Pedestrian activated solar lights installed
2024 Sli na Habhainn walkway surfaced
2024 Bug Hotels Installed
2024 Swales developed
2024 Tranquility Garden Developed
2024 Tree Survey Completed
2024 Historical photograph display initiated
2024 Catering Kitchen installed in hall
2024 Heritage Week Event – Church
2024 Display Cabinet Ballinahown Chalice
2024 Won Gold Medel in Entente Florale
2024 Won first National Title in Tidy Towns – Ireland’s Tidiest Village
Tranquillity Garden
Swale
Apiary
Bug Hotel
Moving forward, Ballinahown Village is dedicated to continuing its commitment to community development with a focus on sustainability and biodiversity, ensuring a healthy and vibrant environment for generations to come.