DISCOVER BALLINASLOE
Ballinasloe (Irish: Beal Atha na Slua, meaning Mouth of the Ford of the Hosts) is a town in the eastern extremity of County Galway in Ireland.
The town developed as a crossing point on the River Suck, a tributary of the Shannon. The Irish placename — meaning the mouth of the ford of the crowds — reflects this purpose. The latter part of the name suggests the town has been a meeting place since ancient times. A new public marina has been developed on the river in recent years that allows traffic from the Shannon navigation to access the town.
The patron saint of Ballinasloe is Saint Grellan, whom tradition believes built the first church in the area at Kilcloony. A local housing estate, the branch of Conradh na Gaeilge, and formerly a school are named after him.
 OCTOBER FAIR AND FESTIVAL
Every October, Ballinasloe is host to the ancient annual October Fair. Chiefly agricultural in the past, it is now focused on the horse. The Ballinasloe Fair is one of the oldest horse fairs in Europe; bathed in history it dates back to the 1700s.
Today the ever popular fair is still held, along with a festival that attracts up to 100,000 visitors from all over the world. The town also boasts a successful summer festival called An tSuca Fiain.
TRANSPORT & ECONOMY
Ballinasloe railway station opened on 1 August 1851. The main Dublin to Galway transport artery, the N6 road, passes through the town, which is also served by the Dublin–Galway railway line. From 1828 to the 1960s, Ballinasloe was the terminus of the Grand Canal.
The biggest local employers are Portiuncula and St. Brigid's hospitals. From its establishment in 1936 to 2003, the Dubarry shoe manufacturing company was based in the town. The American pen manufacturing company A. T. Cross had a factory in the town for many years as did electrical components company Square D.
SPORT IN BALLINASLOE
Ballinasloe itself harbours successful and historically rich soccer, golf, and rugby clubs, whilst also containing the Duggan Park Gaelic Athletic Association grounds. Gaelic games are perhaps the most deeply entrenched and most popular sporting culture in the town, most of all in its surrounding hinterland.
The local GAA clubs are Ballinasloe GAA (incorporating St Grellan's Gaelic football club and Ballinasloe Hurling Club) and Ballinasloe Camogie Club.
From Wikiepdia, the Free Encyclopedia
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