Love Ballyhaunis initiative is taking off

OVER the past number of weeks the business people, voluntary groups and clubs of Ballyhaunis have gathered together to form Ballyhaunis-Go-Ballyhaunis.

The innovative project, which was launched last Saturday, Mayo Day, has been supported by Fleetwood Paints and Mayo County Council and so far the response has been more than positive.

Like many rural towns in Ireland, Ballyhaunis has been affected by the economic downturn and the scars that it has left behind and it is in a bid to promote the town the first step taken was to create an umbrella brand under which the town can organise itself.

A variation of the name Ballyhaunis, incorporating the town colours, red and black, and also a heart, was designed and there has been enormously positive uptake in the town to the project and there is a new found sense of identity within the community.

Over 50 businesses and town groupings have rowed in behind the brand and participated by having their picture taken supporting the project.

The brand has gone global and has been seen in Times Square, New York, at Sydney Harbour Bridge and at the World Cup of Racing in Dubai. Irish TV has been to town to film the project in operation.

The Farmers Journal has also requested a sit down discussion with the committee. Members of the Ballyhaunis diaspora in America have reached out and the project is to get an airing in an interview with a Ballyhaunis ex-pat in the New York Times.

Already local businesses have seen an improvement in mood and a willingness of local people to keep their business local and help their own community.

The role of Fleetwood Paints is central to the project as they have offered to co-sponsor repainting some 30 buildings around the town centre by giving them a major paint job. Local sports clubs, scouts and students from Ballyhaunis Community School will provide the willing painters. Local businesses, as well as property owners, will provide the funding for the materials in conjunction with Fleetwood Paints. Major Equipment from the town are supporting the health and safety of the project and Cashels Engineering will be providing power washers made in Ballyhaunis for the clean-up.

For further details, contact John Higgins on (086) 829 2603 or jhconsult@eircom.net, Donal Byrne on (087) 1152295 or info@bigredbarn.ie, or Evan O’Dwyer on (086) 8242724 or e.odwyer@odwyersolicitors.ie.

See also Twitter@goballyhaunis and the Facebook page goballyhaunis.