Ballingarry Tidy Towns was established in 1988 by Mary Mc Geeney. The first project undertaken by the committee was the creation of a Picnic Area where there was formerly a halting site. The combined efforts of local volunteers and a FÁS Scheme produced one of the most attractive picnic areas in the county. Old walls were restored and new ones built on all approaches to the village. A concerted effort was made to reduce litter and to make Ballingarry a nicer place to live in.

From 1991 to ’94, fundraising Barn Dances were held on the Estate of Morgan and the late Rita Cahalan. As its reputation grew, the Barn Dance was moved to Joe and Kathleen Cleary’s yard where it was held for eight further years. Much planning and work went into the annual staging of the event and as the years went by, it became the highlight of the Summer, not just for locals but for the entire Midlands. Ballingarry played host to such notables as Aslan, The Wolfe Tones, Mickey Harte, Honesty, Bog The Donkey, Lightning Strikes, Royal Flush, Big Generator, Race-Me-Sister, The Paddies, Silk and of course the unforgettable Shane McGowan.

The proceeds from the Barn Dance were used to enhance the village; trees and shrubs were planted, summer bedding plants were put in, grass was cut with the new mower purchased from the proceeds or our annual event. Every year the hard work paid off as a few extra marks were awarded to the village. In latter years the Barn Dance was run by the combined efforts of the Tidy Towns Committee and Knockshegowna GAA Club.

Although the Barn Dance was discontinued, the work of the Tidy Towns Committee continues on.