Ballina, County Tipperary

Ballina (Irish: "Béal an Átha") is a village that lies on the River Shannon in County Tipperary, Ireland. It is a very scenic area on the eastern shore of Lough Derg.

It is a 'twin-town' of Killaloe, in County Clare, on the west bank of the lake. The two towns are joined by the bridge in the picture.

For a long period of time, there was no traffic control system present on the bridge. While it was possible for cars to pass each other, it was difficult for HGVs and cars, and impossible for two HGVs, to pass. This led to the introduction of a traffic light system which, while leading to delays at peak times, has generally improved traffic flow. There are plans to build a new bridge downstream, as the existing bridge is preserved and cannot be widened.

In December 2006 North Tipperary County Council sought tenders for a 'design and build' contract for the new Shannon crossing [http://www.tipperarynorth.ie/services/roads/ShannonBridge.htm] .

The annual Brian Boru Festival takes place in early July each year. A joint celebration between the two towns of the ancient High King of Ireland, Brian Boru, it involves many community-based activities including a hurling match between the teams from both towns.

ee also

*List of towns in the Republic of Ireland

The 2006 census revealed Ballina had a population of just under 1900.