Irena Mihal Ballkameni, a sporting icon with a patriotic legacy

Irena Mihal Ballkameni was born in Korçë, into a family deeply rooted in patriotic traditions. She is the daughter of Mihal Ballkameni, a well-known patriot, and the granddaughter of Spiro Ballkameni, a national fighter and close comrade of Themistokli Gërmenji.

Mihal Ballkameni was also a renowned journalist in the Korça press, a delegate at the Congress of Lushnja, and deputy director of the French National Lyceum of Korçë. He was a member of Fan Noli’s government and contributed to Albanian education by founding schools in Durrës and Pogradec. A street in Pogradec today bears his name.

Irena’s mother, Marjanthi Progri Ballkameni, was a top student in Korçë’s city school and later became a teacher in the southern villages of Albania. After 1944, she continued working in education for another three years (a total of 17 years), but sadly never received a pension.

Growing up in a home filled with books, documents, and a strong love for Albania, Irena also developed a deep passion for sports. As the youngest in the family, she witnessed and endured the consequences of her father's persecution. Mihal Ballkameni was sentenced to life in prison and was killed in Burrel prison — his crime: raising the Albanian flag and singing patriotic songs on November 28.

Despite the pain and repression, Irena showed immense courage and pursued a career in volleyball and basketball. She played for the Albanian national women’s team, although she was not allowed to travel abroad, such as to Moscow, due to her family background.

"I lived my whole life with the love of my mother and brothers," she used to say. Her brother played football in the youth teams, while Ptolemy was a basketball player.

"I started sports at the age of 14," Irena once recalled, “with coach Anthi Mele, and later Ilia George.

Her team became champions of the Republic three times in both volleyball and basketball, also winning several national cups.

After being dismissed from education, Irena worked at the textile factory until she retired.

Irena Ballkameni remains a symbol of strength, resistance, and pride, both in sports and in her unwavering connection to her patriotic heritage.

“KORÇA BOOM”