Welcome to BallinrobeLithuania.com, and welcome to Ballinrobe, the capital town of Ireland’s Lake District – where Ireland meets Lithuania. Ballinrobe, a town in Co. Mayo, in the west of Ireland, has become the unofficial hub of Ireland’s Lithuanian community.

Why? Well, it all started with one Felix Waitkus. When his plane made an emergency landing just outside Ballinrobe in 1935, the world’s media descended. Many years later, the lure of Ireland’s Celtic Tiger economy drew many Lithuanians to Ireland, and those who came to Ballinrobe were pleasantly surprised to discover it was the very town where their national hero had landed.

The link started by Waitkus’ chance landing was revived. In 2007, a Felix Waitkus Memorial was erected at ‘The Mound’ (at the entrance to the scenic Bower’s Walk) in Ballinrobe. Lithuanian Ambassadors, Government Ministers, and hundreds of Lithuanians have come to Ballinrobe to remember Mr Waitkus, and to meet up with their fellow countrymen and women now living in Ireland.

This site is dedicated to furthering these links. Ballinrobe and Co. Mayo says Céad Míle Fáilte (100,000 welcomes in Ireland’s native tongue) to all Lithuanians, and we look forward to deepening our ties in the years ahead.

This site is produced and maintained by Ballinrobe Tourism Committee

Labas, broliai ir sesės:) sveiki atvykę į Airijos ežerų sostinę Ballinrobe- čia Airija susitiko su Lietuva:) Ballinrobe yra Mayo grafystėje, vakarinėje Airijos pakrantėje. Šį kraštą pasirinko lietuvis lakūnas Feliksas Vaitkus, kartojęs legendinį Dariaus ir Girėno skrydį per Atlantą.

Mayo gyventojai išsaugojo drąsaus lietuvio atminimą ir sveikina visus lietuvius, atvykusius į Ballinrobe!