Ballina, with a population of 9,500, is the largest town in County Mayo. Built on the River Moy, one of Europe's richest salmon and trout rivers, Ballina's bridges are busy with anglers throughout the season.
The original settlement at Ballina was at Ardnaree, on the east side of the river. This site is marked by the ruins of a 14th Century Augustinian Friary, dwarfed by the Victorian Cathedral of St Muredach. In the 18th Century Ballina developed on the west side of the River Moy and is today a thriving industrial, commercial and tourist centre.
