IN the 98 years of Ballina Rugby Football Club we've had many memorable moments, but few can rival what we're about to experience this weekend.
On Sunday, our wonderful club grounds host the Connacht Junior Cup final and the Connacht Junior Plate Final. This is a very proud occasion for our club and is testament to the wonderful development work which has made Heffernan Park one of the finest club grounds in the country.
Over the past two weeks we have also hosted the Schools finals in a hugely enjoyable manner and the reaction from all involved has been heart-warming.
The club finals on Sunday will bring huge crowds to Heffernan Park and we send our very best wishes to all involved.
HISTORIC
However, an even bigger occasion awaits all of us tomorrow, Saturday, in Castlebar. For the first time in history, Connacht will play in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, the home of Mayo GAA.
The sold-out game will bring 25,000 fans into the famous stadium for the biggest rugby event ever to take place in Mayo. This is hugely significant for everyone who dreamed the rugby dream over the decades and Saturday will be a hugely enjoyable occasion for many people who never thought they'd see the day.
From a Ballina RFC viewpoint, it is a wonderful moment for Willie Ruane the CEO of Connacht Rugby and Gavin Duffy, Coach and Player Development Manager - two men who wore the jersey with great pride and now play a huge role in driving the province forward on all fronts.
Many more from our club have helped drive the Connacht brand to new heights over the years, but one man in particular stands out.
Dave Heffernan has played more than 200 times for his province and will be a very proud man running out onto MacHale Park, a patch of grass where he father, Ivan, wore the green and red of Mayo on many occasions.
Dave has been a wonderful ambassador for Ballina RFC over the years and we know how much tomorrow will mean to him and all the family.

It promises to be a very special weekend at home and in Castlebar - and we cannot forget all who have gone before us and paved the way for these two wonderful occasions. The light that never went out will burn particularly brightly this weekend.