Area Code 96 – Ballina
The phone area code for Ballina is 96 (international format +35396). Browse local exchange codes (NXX) and carrier assignments below.
📞 Exchange Codes (NXX) for Area Code 96
Select a central office code to view local carrier data and detailed information
📍 Geographic Location of Ballina
Geographic Overview
The +353 96 dialing code is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the town of Ballina, located in County Mayo on the west coast of Ireland. This area code covers Ballina itself and the surrounding rural communities, including nearby villages such as Crossmolina, Killala, and Moygownagh. Geographically, the region lies along the River Moy, with Ballina serving as a commercial and cultural hub for North Mayo.
Dialing Formats
When calling a landline in Ballina from within Ireland, subscribers must dial the national trunk prefix 0 followed by the area code and the local subscriber number. The complete national format is (096) XXX XXX, where the local number typically consists of six digits. For example, a local Ballina number might be presented as 096 123 456.
For international callers, the Irish country code +353 replaces the leading zero. Thus, the same number would be dialed as +353 96 123 456 from outside Ireland. It is important to omit the trunk prefix '0' when dialing from abroad.
Caller Instructions
- Local callers (within Ireland): Dial 096 followed by the six-digit subscriber number. For example, to reach a business in Ballina, you would dial 096 123 456.
- International callers: Dial your country's international access code (e.g., 011 from the US/Canada, 00 from most European countries), then 353, then 96, and finally the six-digit subscriber number. Example from the US: 011 353 96 123 456.
Regulatory and Technical Notes
The +353 96 code is part of the Irish national numbering plan administered by ComReg, the Commission for Communications Regulation. It is a geographic code, meaning that the tariff for calls to this number is typically lower than calls to non-geographic numbers, and it is tied to the physical location of the exchange. However, with the advent of number portability, a subscriber may retain their 096 number even if they move to a different geographic area, although this is less common for landlines.
There are currently no overlay codes for the Ballina area; the 096 code serves the entire region without additional area code changes. When dialing within Ireland, the area code is always required, even for local calls, as part of the national dialing plan.
For businesses and residents in Ballina, the 096 code is an integral part of their local identity and is used for both voice and fax services over the PSTN and VoIP networks.