May Newsletter

May 02, 2026

Hi everyone and welcome to our May newsletter!

GENERAL NEWS


Ballina Youth Fringe Lab: call for 15-18 year olds


Ballina Fringe Festival has secured funding to launch a brand new youth-led strand for this year's festival, and they're looking for young people aged 15 to 18 to join a Youth Council to help shape it. The first meet-up is open and informal, just a chat to see who's interested and what they'd like to make happen.

Tuesday 5th May, 5:30pm, Ballina Arts Centre.

If you know any young people in Ballina who might be interested, please pass it on. Sign-up form: https://tinyurl.com/ystmbu2u

The festival itself runs 2nd to 11th October, with the youth-led strand likely landing on a Friday/Saturday during that week. The NCF is supporting the project and we're delighted to see it getting off the ground.


Submission to the Seanad Public Consultation on Culture and Arts Infrastructure

In April, we made a submission to the Seanad Public Consultation Committee on Culture and Arts Infrastructure, drawing on our experience setting up and running the co-op over the past three years. The submission covers our origins, our legal structure, working with the council on a meanwhile-use license, membership, sustainability, and our recommendations, including enacting the Co-operative Societies Bill and creating standardised pathways for meanwhile use of vacant buildings for cultural producers.


You can read the full submission here: https://thencf.art/posts/submission-to-the-seanad-public-consultation-on-culture-and-arts-infrastructure


ARTIST IN RESIDENCE OPEN CALL - EXTENDED TO MAY 15TH

The NCF cultural co-op, 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.


More info https://ballinafringefestival.ie/open-calls/



EVENTS

FunknHard and DJ Quincy

Saturday, May 2nd / Start: 10pm


A huge night at the NCF as FunknHard and DJ Quincy make their much-anticipated return after their electric debut in March. Expect a flawless blend of deep house, soulful techno, and underground gems that will keep the floor moving from start to finish. Great music, great atmosphere, and serious energy. Don't miss one of Ballina's standout DJ nights.

MAC GIOLLA GHUNNA: Album Launch and Listening Party

Saturday, May 2nd / Start: 7pm


Pól Mac Giolla Ghunna (Paul Gilgunn) is an Irish composer and producer working across electronic, post-minimalist, and avant-rock music. His new ten-track album MAC GIOLLA GHUNNA, assembled across several years between Dublin and the Ox Mountains, is released on 1st May 2026 on limited-edition CD, download and streaming services.

Come along for a listening party and full playback of the new album. Craic agus ceol go leor. Limited-edition CDs will be available to purchase, alongside digital downloads.

More info: https://thencf.art/events/56



Styrofoam Winos (USA)

Sunday, May 3rd / Start: 8:30pm


From Nashville via the Kilkenny Roots Festival, Styrofoam Winos play Ballina on the May Bank Holiday weekend. Described as front porch Americana at its best, the trio of Joe Kenkel, Trevor Nikrant and Lou Turner met working at JJ's Market and Cafe in Nashville and bonded over a shared love of Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Leonard Cohen and dollar-bin country records.

They've just released the single Pearls from their forthcoming album Any River, out 19th June on Dear Life Records. Lou and Trevor are also members of Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band, who featured in many 2025 'Best Of' end-of-year lists.

Thanks to Abhainn Studio for the poster design.

More info: https://thencf.art/events/50


Ballina Punx May Gig 

Saturday, May 16th / Doors 9pm


Nichts are our local band on the night, you know them you love them


Local Battalion - New Wave of Irish Oi with some usual suspects


Numbskull Narrative - Trash metal Punk, 3 piece from G Town.


ADM: 10 euro (first come, first serve)

BYOB "no glass"

Open Mic

TBC  — from 9PM


Open mic night returns to the NCF in May. Sean and Joe are taking care of organising it themselves this month, so keep an eye on our website and socials for the date and poster, which will be confirmed shortly. As ever, the stage is open for music, poetry, comedy or storytelling, sign-ups on the night, and guitars (right- and left-handed) provided.

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