Ballela
Ballela is a small village and parish in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is about east of Banbridge, located on top of one of the many drumlins that are common in the county. There are a number of prehistoric ringforts near the village.
Name
Ballela is within the townland of Ballooly, which was historically spelt as Ballyely. It is believed that these three names all come.Sport
have been played in the Ballela area for some time, and hurling was first played in the area in 1901. The first County Down Senior Hurling Championship win for Ballela Hurling and Camogie Club came in the 1936 final played in Castlewellan against Kilclief. Further titles were won in 1937, 1940, 1941, 1948, 1951 and 1952. New playing fields, meeting rooms and changing facilities were developed during 2005 and the pitch was officially opened in 2007.The club, which won the county junior championship in 2015, is among the most successful Down hurling clubs and has the fifth most senior county hurling titles behind Portaferry and followed by Leitrim Fontenoys.