Ballyphehane has a proud tradition of community activism, with its efforts to provide services to its own lauded by the city and state. Every night of the week, locals come together to learn new skills or practice old ones, to support each other and to have fun. Clubs and associations in Ballyphehane fall into three main categories: sports, community services and arts and culture.
The Attridge Irish Music and Dance Group’s programme incorporates lots of aspects of Irish culture, including set dancing; O’Brien’s Irish Dancing caters for competitive and non-competitive dancers; in Donna’s Dance Studio, young people can get involved with drama, dance and singing; the Wolfe Stage School also offers the chance to perform, holding 3 to 4 shows annually; children from 2 years up can learn ballet, modern, freestyle or hip-hop dance at the Footdreams School of Dance.
The Brownies and Girl Guides meet weekly in Ballyphehane Community Centre to learn new skills and have adventures!
There is plenty of music in Ballyphehane too. The Ballyphehane and District Pipe Band has been on the go since 1980. Its mission is to bring pipe and drum music to the people of Ballyphehane and surrounds, and for their members to get enjoyment from the music and camaraderie of the band. Club Ceoil has been going for almost a decade in Ballyphehane, teaching traditional music to the young people in and around Ballyphehane.
Ballyphehane/Togher Community Development Project tackles exclusion and inequality by organising support services such as their community education programme; Ballyphehane Action for Youth and the Youth Café look out for the young people of Ballyphehane; Read Write Now is an adult literacy group, Ballyphehane Meals on Wheels provides a vital service to the older members of our community.and the Ballyphehane Community Centre serves as a hub for all the people in Ballyphehane.
Other groups in and around Ballyphehane include the Retired People’s Network; the Tea and Coffee Morning Group; Ballyphehane ICA/Women’s Art; Community Arts and Crafts Initiative; Friendship Group Ballyphehane; Horgan’s Buildings Residents Association; Ladies Club Ballyphehane; Lough Community Association; Lough ICA; Over 55s Ballyphehane; Snippet’s Drama Group for Older People and Treasa Art Group Ballyphehane.
Of course, this is nowhere near an exhaustive list of clubs and associations, but just a taste of all the positive and inclusive activity in Ballyphehane!
