BALLYBAY ACTION GROUP
Following a well-attended meeting on Wednesday 22nd January it was decided to hold a public meeting on Wednesday 12th February in the Ballybay Civic Offices (above the Library) at 7.00pm. The aim of the meeting is to get all the groups in the town and surrounding areas to come together to access public funds (huge amounts of money are available from various agencies such as Leader and Clar) The long term goal is to apply for funds for a Community Hub which is available to ALL local Voluntary groups. We really need all local groups to attend this meeting but more importantly we need people from the community that are not involved but would like to get involved in the community. No elections will take place at this meeting, so nobody will leave as a committee member. Please consider attending this meeting, EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY IS WELCOME
Congratulations to Jayne Drury (St. Brigids and Our Lady's, Castleblayney) and Katie Duffy (Latton and Ballybay Community College) who were members of the Ulster Post Primary School team which won the All Ireland Inter-provincial tournament last Saturday. Jayne impressed at left half back which she played in all four games while Katie stared in midfield and also played in all four games. The girls will be presented with their Ulster All Star awards in Kelly's Inn on Friday 23rd february.
In October 2017 local brother and sister Jason and Joanne Wylie ran the Cardiff Half Marathon and Dublin Marathon in aid of Drumkill Day Care centre, Three Mile House. The 39.3 miles (63.2 km) ran by each of them raised a total of 2750 euro. They would like to thank everyone who kindly sponsored them and are delighted that this money will go towards the Monaghan Branch of the Alzheimers Society of Ireland to help fund their transport services, community home help, the day care centre and respite care.
The Ballybay Wetlands Center is an impressive multi-purpose venue set in the heart of co Monaghan with seeping views of the surrounding wetlands.
Monaghan State of the Art Food Incubation Unit based at Ballybay Enterprise Park, Carrickmacross Road, Ballybay, Co Monaghan was officially launched on the 19th March 2015.
The Unit is now available to rent at very competitive rates and flexible leasing terms.
Ballybay Chamber of Commerce was set up in 2014 shortly after the Town Council in Ballybay was abolished. It’s aim is to generate more business and activities in the town. To date a number of successful projects have been run by the Chamber of Commerce including the Ballybay Town Vouchers Scheme which was launched Christmas 2014, St. Patrick’s Day Parades and Oktoberfeast 2015. 
Recreation Facilities in the town include the following:
The Lough Major and the Coachman Walk:
Also as a year round refuge for a wide spectrum of waterfowl and wildlife.
The Ballybay Regeneration Committee was established in May 2015 and is administered by the staff of the Ballybay-Clones Municipal District. The success of any community depends on the community itself as initiatives need to start at ground level. 
It would appear that Ballybay (meaning, “The Mouth of, or Approach to, the Ford of the Birch Trees) may have developed due to its location at the ford over the Dromore River at Corrybrannan where the outflow from the adjoining Lough Major narrows and makes its way down stream, through a clump of Birch Trees, to the lake lands of Derrynaloobinagh, Annaneese and Derryvally. It flows westwards, forming the Dromore River which connects to the Erne at Butlersbridge, Co.Cavan. Historically this ford may have been the nearest and most convenient crossing point on the Dromore River for all types of traffic.
The area around Ballybay had many physical attractions for the foundation of a thriving linen business. The soil was well suited for the cultivation of flax, the climate favoured weaving and bleaching, bog and woodland provided abundant supplies of fuel and every townland had gravel pits and quarries, providing material for building the mills. But, over and above all these resources, there was an abundant supply of free waterpower to drive the mills. On the little stream, which flowed from the lakes at Carrickatee and Creeve, there sprang up fourteen linen processing mills.
Emily Leslie French died in 1884 and her son, Robert Charles succeeded to the estate. He died suddenly in London in 1904. He was succeeded by his only surviving son, Henry Edward John Leslie (1890-1966). The eldest son, Theodore Norman had been killed in action in the Boer War. Henry was a member of the British diplomatic corps, stationed in Rome and later in the United States. He was involved in the difficult and lengthy negotiations with tenants for the revision of rents and later with the Land Commission on the sale of the land. After the death of his parents and when his duties permitted, he had always spent his vacations at Ballybay House and he had indicated that he intended to reside here after his retirement. He never married and so was the last of the Leslies at Ballybay House.
The institution of the Ballybay Town Commissioners held its first meeting in 1871 with the membership consisting of bank representatives, business people and others who had an interest in progressing the town’s commercial and economic well-being. In a short time, plans were formulated to provide a town water supply, street lighting and waste disposal. A town rate was struck to partially finance the running of the authority. Thomas McSherry was elected as Town Commissioner.