Ballindine 4.23

Ballindine is a village in County Mayo, Ireland. It is located along the Western Railway Corridor, 6.5 km (4 miles) south of Claremorris. The N17 road passes through the village, carrying over 10,000 vehicles daily, and it connects to the R328 road on the south side of town. The village will be bypassed as part of the Claremorris–Tuam dual-carriageway which is in the early stages of planning.Areas of interestThe remains of a possible fort are located in a field next to the National School. Folklore states that Ballindine got its name from this fort—Baile an Daingin meaning "Town of the Fortress" and that the souterrain, just outside it, was connected underground to the ruins of the old church in Cloonmore about 2 km (1.25 miles) to the east and also to the ruins of the old church in Garryduff, 5 km (3 miles) west.Ballindine is in the Roman Catholic parish of Kilvine.Church records are held at the South Mayo Family Research Centre in Ballinrobe. Old school records dating to the 1800s are held in the present National School.Local eventsThe village has had a monthly cattle and sheep fair since the 1960s and the Ballindine September fair was well known in West of Ireland. The July fair was also called 'The Gooseberry Fair' and Ballindine honoured this tradition with an annual 'Gooseberry Festival' until 2002.Western Alzheimer's FoundationThe Western Alzheimer's Foundation which promotes awareness of the disease is headquartered in Ballindine.