Parts of Boyle in study area for ‘Powering up the North West’ project
A number of households in the Boyle area received an A4 handout last week from Eirgrid advising that parts of Boyle are in the study area for a new 220kV electricity circuit under the ‘Powering up the North West’ programme.
According to the company “A new 220 kV electricity line is needed to connect Flagford substation in Roscommon with Srananagh substation in Sligo. This work is being planned alongside upgrades to an existing 110 kV line between Flagford and Sligo. Together, these upgrades will strengthen the electricity grid in the region, helping to keep power supplies secure and support future growth”.
The company added: “Our team has identified a route corridor to host the new lines associated with this option which is red shaded area in the map here. This corridor has been established to keep the replacement Flagford to
Srananagh line as close as possible to the existing alignment. It will not always be possible to follow the existing alignment as changes to the landscape since the original construction of this line may pose obstacles”.
Going on the above it would seem the preferred area is to the east of Boyle and close to Lough Key and Lough Arrow.
Public consultations are now taking place in relation to the project with the nearest being in the Bush Hotel in Carrick on Wednesday October 15th 11am-6.30pm.
Submissions can be made in person, at the information events, online or by post and the deadline for submissions is 5pm on Tuesday 25 November.
Is your defibrillator in working order?
There is great work taking place behind the scenes to get a number of additional defibrillators located around Boyle town. Fundraising is on going and can be supported here.
Indeed we are lucky that we already have a number of defibrillators in Boyle, but are they all in working order and does everyone know where they are?
Defibs are only as efficient as the batteries that power them. Just like any other piece of life-saving equipment, such as a smoke alarm or carbon monoxide monitor, it’s essential to make sure that they always fully operational and ready for use and kept in good working order in case you need to use it to save someone’s life.
If you ahve a defib on your premises or in your club, maybe take a minute today to check the battery is working and also that the public know where it is and how they can access it.
Craft Makers sought for King House Christmas Craft Fair
King House is delighted to announce that the annual King House Christmas Craft Fair is back this year. The organisers want to hear from craft makers interested in showcasing their produce at the Craft Fair that takes place on Friday 28th November (5pm to 9pm) and Saturday 29th November (10am to 5pm).
The organisers say “We are proud to support local and small businesses and our Christmas Craft Fair plans to offer inspirational ideas for gifts, decorations, treats and much, much more. A high level of interest is expected, so don’t delay if you would like to book a space, contact [email protected] or call 087 144 4739 to request a Booking Form and T&C’s”.
‘A Week to Remember’ – a reflection on the Hot Air Ballooning Championship visit to Boyle
The Manager of Lough Key Forest and Activity Park Dermot Beggan recently posted ‘A Week to Remember”, reflecting on the week the Hot Air Balloons returned to Boyle:
“As Manager of Lough Key, I can honestly say this past week has been one for the books. After more than 30 years, the skies above our park came alive with colour as we hosted the Irish Hot Air Ballooning Championships — and what a magical sight it was”.
“From the moment the first baskets and burners went up, there was this buzz in the air. Each day felt full of anticipation: would the winds be kind, would the weather hold, and would the crowds arrive? And arrive they did — in their thousands! Seeing families, friends, and neighbours gather to watch the balloons was just incredible”.
“What really got me, though, wasn’t just the balloons themselves (though they were absolutely stunning), but the smiles on everyone’s faces. Kids gazing up in awe, adults reliving memories from decades ago, grandparents pointing out their favourites — moments like these are why we do what we do”.
“Of course, hosting something this big wasn’t without its challenges. Parking, traffic, and crowds were no small feat to manage, and our team worked tirelessly to keep everything safe while still letting people enjoy the magic. I’m so proud of our Lough Key staff, who handled it all with patience, professionalism, and plenty of good humour!”
“A huge thank you also goes to the Irish Hot Air Balloon Association. Your dedication, professionalism, and support for the community made the whole experience seamless. To all the pilots and crews — thank you for sharing your skill and your passion with us. You really made this event unforgettable”.
2And of course, to the spectators, supporters, and sponsors — you made this week what it was. From patiently waiting through no-fly announcements to cheering as the balloons finally lifted off, your energy and enthusiasm brought this event to life”.
2Looking back, this week has been about more than just balloons. It’s been a celebration of community and shared memories. Lough Key has always been special, but seeing it as the backdrop for something so magical reminded me why we love this place so much2.
“As for the future? Well… let’s just see where the winds take us”, Dermot concluded.
Helpful advice in advance of Storm Amy
As we batten down the hatches in advance of Storm Amy later today, Met Eireann has issued the following helpful advice on how to stay safe in winter weather:
- Stay up-to date with the forecast and the warnings for your county on met.ie, the Met Éireann app or Met Éireann socials (@meteireann).
- Check in with your local authority and emergency management stakeholders (Irish Coast Guards, Gardaí, etc) via their websites and social channels to see how your area will be/is affected.
- Ensure your mobile is phone is fully charged to enable communication in advance of the event and keep local emergency numbers in your phone.
- Keep a small amount of food, medical and water supplies in case it’s dangerous to step out of the home.
- While on the road in strong winds, beware of fallen trees or other debris and high sided vehicles, particularly when overtaking. If you are driving a high sided vehicle, try to anticipate exposed sections of roadway where winds will be stronger.
- ESB Networks is highlighting the dangers posed by fallen live wires and advises the public and the emergency services to stay away from fallen cables and to report such cases immediately. ESB Emergency Services can be contacted at 1800 372 999.
- You can monitor powercheck.ie in regards to power restoration times
- Advance planning for flooding: You can consult the OPW flood maps, which show areas that may be at risk of flooding based on historical data (see www.floodinfo.ie).
- Stay away from coastal areas during the period. Remember the advice from the Irish Coast Guard: “Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry”.
- Don’t try to walk, cycle or drive through flooded areas, the depth of the water can be deceiving.
Remember: As little as 150mm of fast-flowing water can knock you off your feet and 300mm of fast-flowing water can move most cars off the road. - “Be Winter Ready”: Follow recommendations before, during and after the event on gov.ie – Be Winter Ready (www.gov.ie)
- You can also keep up-to-date here on Boyletoday.com where we will publish any relevant information throughout today in relation to the storm.
News snippets from around Boyle
Eagled eyed viewers may have seen local lad Conor Hamill Junior feature on the O’Neills website, modelling apparel and international sports wear for the company. Ten year old Conor is a 4th class pupil at Abbey Primary School and has also appeared in the Vodafone commercial and had a supporting role in ‘The Velveteen Rabbit ‘ on Apple TV………..The weather should have settled down for Sunday’s Terry Fox Run in Boyle with a 2pm start time from St. Joseph’s Hall…………Enjoy an afternoon of music in the beautiful surroundings of King House on Wednesday October 8th at 2pm with Hannah Clohessy. Performing on their Steinway piano, Hannah will share a selection of much loved songs through piano, guitar and vocals. Although not a regular performer, Hannah is fresh from the Electric Keys stage at this year’s Electric Picnic and may be familiar to local audiences from appearances at the First Thursday Club in Dodd’s Crescent Bar. Tickets priced €5 available from 087 144 4739………..Dates for your diary: Confirmation will take place here in Boyle Parish on Saturday 25th April 2026 at 11a.m. First Holy Communion will take place in Boyle Parish on Saturday 23rd May 2026 at 12 noon. Registration will take place in the near future………Boyle’s Lough Key featured once again as a backdrop on last night’s weather forecast following the 9pm news………..With winter and the flu season fast approaching – if not here already – the HSE is advising staff that Covid and flu vaccines are now available. In Boyle, there will be a walk-in clinic for all health care workers in Boyle Primary Care Centre on Monday October 6th from 2.30pm – 4.30pm……….Deposit/Return bins have been installed by Boyle Tidy Town Wednesday morning crew in the Pleasure Grounds, The Crescent, Canal/Marina and Scholar’s Corner where you can return empty bottles and cans. Thanks to all who installed them and David Greene who along with Councillor Leah Cull sourced the bins and Brian and Jackie Kelly, Betterbuys for supplying chains and locks for the bins……..Rural towns like Boyle will wait with eager ears on Tuesday next, for details on the signaled measures that will should be announced in the Budget to tackle vacancy and dereliction in towns across the county. Boyle Town Team has been making regular representations to the various Ministers that have visited Boyle, on the need to further incentivise the eradication of dereliction that is blighting Boyle and every rural town throughout Ireland……….Looking back, weren’t we so lucky with the weather for the week of the Hot Air Ballooning Championship!
And finally…..!
The telephone company needed to hire four more telephone pole installers and the choice came down to two from Poland and two Irishmen.
So the boss met both teams and said “Here’s what we’ll do. Each team will be installing poles out on the new road for a day. The team that installs the most poles gets the job.”
Both teams headed right out.
At end of the shift, when the two Polish guys reported back, the boss asked them how many they had installed.
They said it was tough going but they’d put in twelve.
Forty-five minutes later, Paddy and Mick came back in, totally exhausted.
“Well, how many poles did you guys install?” said the boss
Mick wiped his brow and sighed, “Myself and Paddy got three in. ”
The boss gasped, “Three? Those two Polish blokes put in twelve!”
“Yeah,” said Mick, “but did ya see how much they left sticking out of the ground”.
