The Dragon Boat Club Ballina, located in County Mayo, was honored with the Sport Award at the 2025 National Lottery Good Causes Awards. The ceremony took place on October 18, 2025, at Killashee House Hotel in County Kildare, hosted by Marty Whelan. Each category winner received €10,000 in recognition of their contributions.

Established in 2023, the Dragon Boat Club Ballina is a volunteer-led organization that utilizes dragon boating to support individuals affected by serious health challenges, including cancer and life-limiting conditions. With over 100 members, the club fosters physical activity, emotional resilience, and community spirit through various activities such as Pilates, exercise sessions,digital telling, creativity programme, wellbeing and meditation and participation in festivals. The club’s inclusive approach has profoundly impacted members’ health and connectedness, creating a welcoming space for people from all walks of life.

The club’s success was further bolstered by part-funding from the National Lottery, which enabled the purchase of a second dragon boat. This expansion has increased access to the sport and deepened its impact, including the organization of a regatta race that unites paddlers and volunteers from across Ireland in celebration of community and connection .

The 2025 National Lottery Good Causes Awards celebrated various organizations across Ireland for their outstanding contributions to community life, heritage, health, and sport. Other notable winners included Kinaffe Community Garden (Mayo) for Health & Wellbeing, Irish Whale & Dolphin Group (Clare) for Heritage, and AkiDwA (Dublin) as Good Cause of the Year.

For more information about the Dragon Boat Club Ballina and their initiatives, you can fill out the form below:

You can also call us on 086 238 5542