The Saturday feel good vibe in Boyle
The warm weather added to the brilliant atmosphere that prevailed around Boyle last Saturday and continued all week in the town. With the Arts Festival in full swing, locals and visitors alike wandered around town, calling into the various exhibitions, stopping for a chat on the street or dropping in for tea/coffee or a drink and in general, having a good time. Were it not for the Arts Festival most of these people would not have been in Boyle, so well done once again to the organisers. There most certainly has been an increase in footfall as a result of all the events that are taking place with hopefully more of the same today and tomorrow.
But when Sunday afternoon last arrived, it was a different story as torrential rain hit the town, reminiscent of another July Sunday back in 1996 when Boyle town centre was flooded out. Thankfully this time, there was no major water damage. Roscommon Co Co did come in for some criticism due to flooding in certain areas of the town, but the volume of rain was so great that it would have caused flooding no matter where it hit in Ireland and in fact we were very lucky that premises and infrastructure was not damaged this time.
Could we have a UNESCO World Heritage Site 15 minutes from Boyle?
Another great tourist asset to this area, although it is in Co. Sligo, is the Carrowkeel Passage Tombs near Castlebaldwin – 15 minutes from Boyle. The tombs are part of the greater “Passage Tomb Landscape of Co. Sligo” that took a step closer recently to securing UNESCO World Heritage status. If the application to have the tombs recognised by UNESCO is successful, this would be a major development in the tourism offering to the area and one Boyle could, and should, capatalise on. The first formal nomination team meeting for the application took place recently and brought together a cross-sectoral team of national and local stakeholders, including representation from the National Monuments Service, the Office of Public Works, Sligo County Council, Coillte, NPWS, Sligo Leader, Fáilte Ireland, Sligo Neolithic Landscapes group and the Farming Pillar. The Nomination Team will now guide the preparation of a nomination dossier and management plan for ‘The Passage Tomb Landscape of County Sligo’. The bid aims to achieve global recognition for one of Europe’s most significant prehistoric landscapes. If successful, the Passage Tomb Landscape of County Sligo would join Ireland’s existing World Heritage Sites – Newgrange, Brú na Bóinne and Skellig Michael – which would be brilliant from a tourism perspective for this area.
Boyle Celtic are on the ball
You have to hand it to Boyle Celtic – not only do they cater for hundreds of young people every week playing soccer, they are also in touch with their communities needs and the recently launched Celtic Community Hub is a great example of this. Included in the €500k project announced recently, will be a function room that can cater for up to 100 people seated. In a town that currently has no hotel, such a venue will be of immense benefit to the community. Also included in the plans are four modern male and female dressing rooms, a referees’ room, a fully equipped first aid room, a storage facility and a spectator room. Keep supporting the clubs 50/50 draw which is assisting development like this in Celtic Park.
Preparations continue for the next two big events in Boyle
Two of the next big events in Boyle will be the Summer Show and the Hot Air Ballooning Championship. Both events are currently being worked on behind the scenes by the various hard working voluntary committees. The Show will take place on Sunday August 10th while the Hot Air Ballooning Championship will be held in the Forest Park from Saturday September 20th – Friday 26th. Sponsorship is key to both events and in relation to the Ballooning, there are still a number of sponsorship options remaining. The gold, sliver and bronze options include balloon flights (weather permitting) along with other marketing opportunities. If you would like to become a sponsor, please contact Championship Director Frank Meldon on 087 6868211 or email [email protected].
What ever became of the planned footpath sweepers?
During he week, a viewer sent us a photograph of a small but effective motorised footpath sweeper doing it’s job early one morning in neighboring Carrick-on-Shannon and suggesting a similar machine would be ideal for Boyle. The suggestion is interesting as it raises the question “What ever happened to the notion of motion raised in September 2023 by then Councillor John Cummins for such a machine for Boyle and other towns in the county”.
At a local authority meeting at that time, Councillor Cummins put down a notice of motion seeking funding for the purchase of mechanical footpath sweepers that would assist in the maintenance of the many public developments that have taken place around the county. In reply, representatives from the Council said a specialised team would be introduced to keep clean the new public spaces around the county and it is understood, the footpath sweepers would be included.
Fast forward two years and it would seem there is no specalised team in place or if there is, they are not visible in or around Boyle.
News snippets from around Boyle
“Lough ‘n Loaded” is the name of the new food truck in the Caravan and Camping area of Lough Key Forest Park. Tucked away beneath the trees, the shiny Airstream Food Truck will be open 7 days per week from 8.30am-111am and 4.30pm – 8.30pm serving coffee and snacks in the morning and stone baked pizzas in the evening……..It is not too often a job opportunity like this arises in Boyle. The local Family Resource Centre are looking for a Manager who will be responsible for the overall operation of the centre. You can apply here………..The Wednesday morning Tidy Town crew did a great job this week on cleaning the cycle path from Shilling Hill down the Sligo Road………The N4 and indeed the Sligo Dublin rail line will be busy this weekend with Donegal in the All-Ireland final (There is one extra train added for the final!). Many years ago, when the All Ireland was in September and Donegal won, a yellow and green Balloon from the Hot Air Ballooning Championships that was taking place in Boyle at the time, tethered in the College Field as the last train passed into Boyle on it’s way to Sligo!………Roscommon Sports Partnership are running a 3 week Adult Kayaking programme on Lough Key on 14th, 21st & 28th August from 6pm-7.30pm. Cost: €30 per person. Entry here……..Geevagh Honda 50 Club Bike and Car Run this Sunday at 12.30pm in Ballyfarnon. Registration from 10.30am in Ballyfarnon Hall with live music after in Shivnans Bar. All proceeds in aid of Breast Cancer Ireland……..The new paved entrance to The Lawn from Bridge Street is looking great and really draws the eye from the new footpaths towards this area which will be totally transformed in the next few months……..August Summer Camp in Corrigeenroe. 5th – 8th (Tuesday to Friday). 10am – 3pm every day. Open to primary school children from all schools. Closing date Friday July 25th. Email [email protected]……..Monthly constituency clinic with Deputy Claire Kerrane and Councillor Leah Cull in the Spool Factory this Saturday……Can you believe it – this day 5 months you will be eating your Christmas dinner!!
And finally…..!
The business was not doing very well so the board, feeling it was time for a shakeup, hired a new CEO.
The new boss was determined to rid the company of all slackers.
On a tour of the facilities, the CEO noticed a man leaning against a wall.
The room was full of workers and he wanted to let them know that he meant business.
He asked the man, “How much money do you make a week?”
A little surprised, the man looked at him and said, “I make €300 a week. Why?”
The CEO said, “Wait right here.” He walked back to his office, came back in two minutes, and handed the man €1,600 in cash and said, “Here’s four weeks’ pay. Now GET OUT and don’t come back!”
Feeling pretty good about himself, the CEO looked around the room and asked, “Does anyone want to tell me what that waster did here?”
There was silence for a moment, then from across the room a voice said, “He’s a pizza delivery guy from Domino’s”.
