March Newsletter
March 04, 2026
Hi everyone and welcome to our March newsletter
REMINDER OF NEW MEMBERSHIP RULES
Just reminding you once again of our new membership rules were approved at the AGM last November. Full details on how to become a member—or how to renew your membership—are available on our website: https://thencf.art/members
There are two types of membership: simple member and full member. Full members have the right to vote and to book the space.
GENERAL NEWS
NEW STAGE IN THE SPACE
A huge thank you to all the volunteers who helped build out the new stage, especially Colm, Steve and John Kilroy builders. Work is ongoing with more improvements to come but this is a great first step.
WEBSITE
We're launching a new website where members can "do stuff". Jokes aside the aim is to gradually remove the admin bottleneck that exists currently and make cross member communication easier. You can try it out by going to https://beta.thencf.art/passwords/new and resetting the password for whatever email you used to sign up. Feedback / contributions welcome.
COLLABORATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT
Many thanks to Rebecca for organising the joint workshop with the Mayo rollers last Thursday and Jonathan for representing theNCF. The main purpose of this meeting was to set out the initial goals for the project, exploring how the two groups might collaborate and gathering information and ideas. The process will continue over the next few months with the end result being a masterplan for our group which we can use for future funding applications. We will update the project page as we move forward https://thencf.art/projects/collaboration-for-sustainability. If you wish to be more closely involved please contact us at info@thencf.art.
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE OPEN CALL
The NCF cultural co-operative, in partnership with Ballina Fringe Festival, invites applications from visual artists based in Ireland or Europe for an artist residency in Ballina, County Mayo. This residency is funded by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and supports an LGBTQ+–related visual arts residency.
The residency offers an opportunity for a visual artist to spend time in Ballina developing new work or research that engages with LGBTQ+ themes, lived experience, histories, or futures. Artists are encouraged to approach this openly and critically, and proposals may be personal, political, social, or experimental in nature.
You have another month to apply!
More info here
CATHAOIRLEACH'S AWARDS 2025
The NCF has been nominated for one of Mayo County Council’s Cathaoirleach’s Awards 2025.
The winners will be announced at the Awards Presentation Evening taking place on Thursday, March 5th 2026, in Breaffy House Hotel, Castlebar, Co Mayo.
EVENTS
Apartheid Free Zone IPSC Coffee Morning
Saturday, March 7th — From 10:30 am till lunchtime
THENCF is proud to join the Apartheid Free Zone initiative.
To celebrate we’ll be hosting a coffee morning with our IPSC comrades.
Free tea and coffee for all / donations for Palestinian causes accepted / open to members and non-members alike.
Rural Hate + support
Saturday, March 7th — 9PM
For their first shindig of 2026, the Ballina Punx are delighted to welcome Rural Hate to the NCF for their debut in town.
They’re leading the charge for the ‘New Wave Of Galway Hardcore'…check out their debut release here:
https://ruralhate.bandcamp.com/album/rural-hate
Support on the night from Thickos (your guess is as good as ours but it’s punk and from Galway so it’ll be all good!), hometown stoner punks Nichts and repping the youths we have the return of Displaced.
Venue opens at 9…
music k/o about 9:30 (ish)
Door pressure: €10
BYOB
NO BIGOTS, NO GLASS, NO GODS, NO MASTERS
DJ Quincy & Friends
Saturday, March 14th — 10PM
Join DJ Quincy and a special guest DJ (TBC) for a night steeped in deep house and soulful techno. Expect a warm atmosphere, solid grooves, and a dancefloor that feels like home. Let the music take you away for the night — you just show up, we’ll bring the vibe.
Doors: 10PM/ €10
Accidental Music Club #2
Friday, March 20th — 7:30 to 10:30 PM
The second edition of Accidental Music Club. A new sound improvisation meetup at theNCF. Everyone is invited to bring along non-musical objects and explore sound-making together through listening, experimentation, and playful collaboration. There's no musical experience needed — just curiosity and openness.
Hosted by Jonathan Crean.
Free event.
Tea & coffee will be provided!
Open Mic
Saturday, March 21st — from 9PM
Open mic night returns to the NCF! Whether it’s music, poetry, comedy, or storytelling, the stage is open for you. Sign-up begins at 9PM, and performances start at 10PM. Guitars (right- and left-handed) will be available. The evening will be hosted by Seán Gorman and Joe Clarke — come along for a relaxed night of creativity, fun, and community spirit.
Free event.