A busy few days of cycling in Boyle
A busy few days of cycling lie ahead in Boyle, with the annual Lough Key Classic Sportive this Sunday, followed by the stage end finish of An Ras Tailteann International Cycle Race on Wednesday. Between both events, there will be nearly 320 cyclists in the town over the next few days.
With fine weather forecast, over 170 cyclists, will participate in the 123k and 80k distances for the Lough Key Classic on Sunday morning, which takes in a figure eight loop around Boyle. This route facilitates a mid cycle food stop in the grounds of King House which will be at it’s busiest between 11am and 12 noon. In addition, over 60 marshals, Gardai, medical backup and catering crew will be in attendance on the day to ensure the smooth running of the sportive. The event HQ is in the Sports Complex where riders will commence and finish. If you are attending 11.30am Mass on Sunday and entering or exiting from the Abbeytown side, please be aware of cyclists on that section of roadway and also all around the town and area from 9am until approximately 2pm. This event has become so popular that entry will be capped so if you are planning to participate, it is best to now register online here to avoid disappointment on Sunday.
On Wednesday, An Ras Tailteann finishes in Boyle. To have a stage end of such an iconic event in our town is a great honour. Over 150 cyclists, 45 team cars and race personnel will converge on the town anytime between 2.30pm and 4pm – depending on wind direction/speed. Parking restrictions will be in place in Boyle from 10am on the day with the riders entering the town from the Sligo Road and travelling via Military Road and Bridge Street to the finish on the Crescent. The public are encourage to come to Boyle on Wednesday 21st to see this event and to give the riders and their entourage a big Boyle welcome. (Final details on Boyletoday.com next week).
Plans for local Community First Responder group in Boyle
Local man Anthony Ryan is to be commended on his current efforts to get a Community First Responder scheme set up for Boyle and the surrounding area. Community First Responders (CFR) are volunteers who are trained to attend certain types of emergency calls in the area where they live or work. Their aim is to reach a potential life threatening emergency in the first vital minutes before the ambulance crew arrives. Their role is to help stabilise the patient and provide the appropriate care including CPR & defibrillation, until the more highly skilled ambulance crew arrives on scene to take over the treatment. Anthony quite rightly feels the town would benefit greatly from such a scheme. If you are interested and can help Anthony, please contact him on [email protected]
Wandering dogs around Boyle
Another item that we have been asked to highlight is the number of domesticated dogs left wandering around Boyle. Once upon a time you only had a family dog if you had a garden large enough to let them play about in and if you brought the dog out town, you did so on a lead. Not anymore and Boyle now has a number of dogs roaming freely as if the town is their back garden. This is causing concern to the many who have a fear of dogs and is most likely not helping with another problem that we have to encounter daily here in Boyle – dog poo lying on our footpaths.
Boyle’s long tradition in Community Games
What could be deemed a ‘Right of Passage’ for many young people in Boyle and all across Ireland is participation in Community Games. For years Boyle has had a long tradition with the Games. The town’s involvement in the competition goes back to 1973 when a committee was set up with Barry Feely as Chairman, Mary Travers as Secretary and Marie Burke as Treasurer. Other committee members at the time included Sister Rita, Frank Geelan, Padraig Callaghan and Declan Lynagh. Locals who won national titles in Community Games over the years included Michael Cox, David, Raymond (RIP) and Brendan McLoughlin, Michael Finn, Catherine and Aisling Dolan, Mark Grimes and Ruth Cox along with a number of local teams who won various relay events.
After a break of a few years and the work of an new energetic committee, Community Games is back again in Boyle with the track and field events taking place this evening (Friday 16th) in the Abbey Community College field with registration from 5pm. And with an evening of sunshine promised, it would be great to see as many local children as possible come out to the event. Registration form available here
Resurfaced Crescent taking shape
The resurfaced Crescent area really looks great and the work is being done in a super fast time by the contractors – Roadstone Ltd. The weather has assisted in the project being completed ahead of time. Businesses and householders on the Crescent had advance notice from the contractor advising of day time work and night time work (on certain nights). When lined out and when planting takes place by the Tidy Town group, the Crescent area will be vastly improved and compliment the public realm work on Bridge Street.
News snippets from around Boyle
Summer wine tasting in Daly’s Drinks, Bridge Street, Boyle on Thursday May 22nd at 7.30pm. Tickets €20 with booking essential………It’s hard to believe, but it was 18 years ago last Wednesday since then Minister Mary Coughlan officially opened the revamped Lough Key Forest and Activity Park……..Boyle Community Childcare group are moving into the next stage of creating a local community childcare service and they need passionate voices at the table. If you care about affordable, accessible and quality childcare for Boyle and want to help shape a space that supports families in the community, you are invited to join their voluntary committee. Please email [email protected]………..There was a great group of Tidy Town volunteers out on the Crescent yesterday evening to have the area looking well in advance of the Lough Key Classic and Ras Tailteann stage finish. Thank you to everyone who assisted……..More favourable publicity for Boyle Airbnb and Harry Potter themed “Draoicht House” when it was named “One of the best Harry Potter Themed hotels or Airbnb” by minitravellers.co.uk. Read more here………The flag at Boyle Garda Station has flown at half mast all week following the tragic death of Garda Kevin Flatley in the line of duty last Sunday. The late Garda Flatley’s father is from Ballinlough in West Roscommon………..’Laugh Out Loud’ Comedy Workshop for Young Creatives in King House on June 7th. Comedian Cathal Shanagher will guide you through all the tips and techniques you will need to enter the world of comedy. Learn about improvisation, performance, self-expression and the art of humour.
Junior Comedy Crew (ages 9-12) will show you the ropes with character play, improv exercises and fun storytelling to spark creativity. Teen Comedy Club (ages 13-18) will feature stand-up basics, character development, comedic timing and collaborative sketch writing followed by an open mic night to showcase your new talents. Ages 9-12yrs & 13-18yrs. Booking Essential. Email: [email protected]………Clean-Up of Assylinn Old cemetery this Sunday May 18th from 2-4pm. Please bring your own tools……….Saturday Story Time in Boyle Library at 12 noon………The 130 young footballers who took part in the primary school blitz yesterday morning in the Abbey Park were blessed with good weather with the Park looking glorious.
And finally….!
A man calls Irish Rail sounding very frustrated.
“I am sick and tired of your online system” he said.
“What is your problem sir?” asks the call taker.
“Well I have been trying to buy a return ticket to Dublin for over an hour now and I am getting rightly peed off” said the man.
“And what part of the process is your problem with?” the call taker asks again.
“It keeps asking me ‘where do you want to go” said the man
“So I click the icon that says ‘Home’ and every time I do, it makes me start all over again”
