Reimagining Ballina's Laneways: A Creative Approach to Climate Resilience

Based in Ballina, Co, Mayo, 'Cascade' aims to see how the laneways of our historic town centres can adapt to cope with increased rainfall from climate change in a way which also makes these shared public spaces more socially cohesive and beautiful. 'Cascade' refers not only to the water that flows down the buildings lining these laneways, but the capacity-building which will ripple out through communities as they create connected trails of climate-resilient, cohesive spaces that celebrate water. It is one of 43 projects funded by Creative Ireland’s Climate Action Fund II, which is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications and the Department of the Taoiseach.

Spring 2024

In March we held our first ‘Storymapping’ workshop in the Mary Robinson Centre, where we gathered stories, experiences, and insights from Ballina’s residents. We wanted to understand how people interact with their town - how it has changed over time, which areas they like or avoid, and how the weather, especially rain, influences where they choose to go or stay. This workshop was an important first step in understanding the relationship between people, place, and water.

The following day, we held a place-based activity in Dr. Kathleen Lynn Lane. Here, we surveyed the lane in detail, capturing data on its physical condition, while also gathering the views and experiences of residents, business owners, and passersby. We discussed how the lane is currently used, or misused, and envisioned its potential for transformation. As we observed the lane, the connection between water and the urban environment became clear. We saw how water ‘cascades’ down buildings, forms puddles, and soaks into the surrounding stone - creating a natural habitat for ferns and moss, and highlighting both the beauty and challenges of the town’s infrastructure.

Questionnaire  

In addition to our workshops and surveys, we also conducted a town-wide questionnaire. Residents shared their thoughts on how Cascade could help them take action on climate change, and what areas of Ballina they believe are most in need of improvement. Here's a little of what you told us -

StoryMaps

The Cascade team created 'StoryMaps' signs and quote posters, each featuring a QR code that links to a series of activities along our laneway trail. These 'Storymaps' summarise the insights we’ve gathered from residents so far, and are displayed throughout Ballina’s laneways. To compliment the above, we created an outdoor exhibition showcasing heritage and contemporary case-studies where water management has been integrated into urban fabric.

We’ve installed post-boxes, inviting people to share their stories about the lanes or suggest improvements. These contributions will be collected until October 2024, and will play a key role in shaping a negotiated plan for the future of Ballina’s laneways.

Summer 2024

Our engagement continued during the July Co-Design Workshop, held as part of the Ballina Salmon Festival. Here, residents came together to share their ideas, hopes, and dreams for the laneways. We explored ways to make these spaces more welcoming and social, while also considering how to future-proof them against the impacts of climate change. The day was filled with discussion, creativity, and community spirit, featuring a public session with local decision-makers on participation and democracy, live music from Nessa Music, and a graffiti workshop for youth led by local artist Emma Donoghue.

Autumn 2024 

In September, the creative spark spread among younger residents. At the Mary Robinson Centre’s ‘1.5’ Festival, artist Alice Dixon led activities that tapped into a youthful vision of Ballina’s future, asking the young people (and their parents) what they’d like to see in the town’s laneways. They shared some fantastic concepts as they sketched, wrote, and even built their ideas out of coloured clay.

Later that month, students from St. Muredach's Secondary school joined forces with key community stakeholders to brainstorm solutions that blended artistic flair with practical design. These innovative ideas were incorporated into a set of graphic sketches created by ACT and showcased in an exhibition during the Ballina Fringe Festival. From urban pocket forests to sensory rain chains, the sketches show a strong commitment to using nature-based solutions and artistic practices to respond to climate challenges. Attendees informally inputted to these early stage designs, telling us which ones they liked and how they could be improved further.

People also voted online for their favourite idea online - you can see the sketch ideas here.

February 2025

In February we held a workshop with Moyne College, St. Mary’s Secondary School, and key local stakeholders to discuss the ideas for making Ballina’s laneways more resilient, active and beautiful places to be. The students helped to evaluate ideas we’d received in previous public workshops and made suggestions to improve them further. During our afternoon session key stakeholders and project partners worked through the feasibility of each solution. On the basis of this workshop, the Cascade team met to design a laneway installation that will show how water can become a sensory and beautiful component of public space.

May 2025

Cascade was delighted to take part in the 'Eco-Gathering' at the iQ Ballina, held as part of the Mary Robinson Climate and Nature Conference 2025. The event generated strong interest in the project, sparking valuable conversations with members of the public, conference delegates, and fellow community groups. It was a fantastic opportunity to share ideas, exchange experiences, and build connections around climate resilience and sustainable placemaking.

Cascade works to transform public spaces and also ignite a wave of community engagement:

• Diverse Participation: Engaged in hands-on workshops, with many people returning for multiple events.
• Creative Outreach: Storymapping and co-design workshops, coupled with interactive exhibitions, connect residents with the project’s vision.
• Innovative Ideas: Community-driven proposals such green walls, water play features, and permeable laneways are set to inform future design solutions.
• Digital Engagement: With hundreds of website views and an active Instagram community, the projects reach continues to grow.

Looking forward  . .

In 2025 the Cascade team will bring the laneway demonstrator installation to life over the summer months, host 'making' workshops, and develop a negotiated plan that captures the collective vision for Ballina’s lanes. 

How will you find out what happens with this project? Please keep up to date with Cascade news and events via www.subscribepage.io/cascade and www.instagram.com/cascade_ballina. Cascade will also have a space in Ballina library with information available throughout the project duration.

For more detailed information on the project please see here.

The Cascade Project Team are: Orla Murphy, Sarah Cotterill, Philip Crowe, Rebecca O’Malley from UCD Centre for Irish Towns; Mayo CoCo Councillor Mark Duffy and Kevin Loftus from Ballina Greenest Town and artist Ríonach Ní Néill. Ballina Greenest Town is a local initiative that aims to support Ballina to become Ireland's Greenest Town, led by Cllr Mark Duffy and Kevin Loftus. All team members are remunerated for their work on this project.

Contact Details: If you have any further questions about the project, please feel free to contact me: Rebecca O’Malley Email: [email protected]