John O'Hara is driving north Mayo community ambitions

THE power of a council cathaoirleach may just be ceremonial to some, chains and trips away.

Still, it is hard to ignore the significance of the three previous cathaoirligh coming from the Ballina Municipal District - Seamus Weir, Michael Loftus and now the first Fine Gael cathaoirleach, John O’Hara, of Mayo County Council since Cyril Burke over a decade ago.

Ballina has ambition.

Mayo County Council's new cathaoirleach spoke about supporting foreign direct investment in his opening address.

The town already plays host to Coca-Cola, Telus International and Hollister, yet the Salmon Capital seeks further capital to finance its well-defined ambitions.

An orbital route to end the traffic congestion connecting the Foxford Road side of the town to the Crossmolina Road and an increase of pedestrian routes, but one point that comes to the fore now as it did at the end of last year’s council term is Ballina’s hopes of hosting the All-Ireland Fleadh.

A motion was supported by councillors last year to pursue this. Still, with the Bonniconlon Show man himself at the helm, the likelihood of Ballina hosting the international event becomes more likely.

John O’Hara is a major supporter of traditional music and knows how to run a successful community event.

The Bonniconlon Show is known nationwide and it is in no small part due to the ability of O’Hara, who was chairman of the agricultural showpiece.

All sitting councillors in Ballina will be in support of the plans but Mayo County Council CEO Kevin Kelly made it clear in his statements during the previous term that if Ballina hosts the fleadh it will mean money coming out of the pot for councillors in other parts of the county.

No doubt it will be a bone of contention for councillors outside the Ballina Municipal District.

The money spent on the Mary Robinson Centre drew criticism from RTÉ and Westport councillors, but Peter Flynn, now set to run the rule over the books of Mayo County Council’s audit committee alongside Al McDonnell, will add an interesting narrative over whether or not Ballina gets the chance to put its name forward.

The Moysiders will not just have fellow councillors and the top table to compete with, there is also the tough task of proving your town is worthy of hosting the Fleadh Cheoil.

A select few members of the ardchomhairle inspect the applicant towns and the locations that have been proposed as competition venues before coming to a final decision several weeks after the preceding fleadh, usually in September. Wexford is set to host in 2024 and 2025.

The All-Ireland Fleadh attracts over 500,000 visitors and generates in the region of €60 million to the local economy.

Once a town has been chosen to host the fleadh, it undertakes to host the festival for two consecutive years.

However, Comhaltas has the right to deny any successful town the fleadh for the second year if poor venues and organisational problems are demonstrated on the town's first year of hosting.

It’s a lot of work, plenty of cash, but as was seen in Mullingar, the financial return for the wider business community is well worth the investment.

Ballina is rumoured to be targeting the hosting of the 2027-2028 All Ireland Fleadh.

Watch this space.