Boyle’s dangerous junction raised in Further Information request
The initial public concern at the request for further information on the Aldi development seems to have settled down and the full explanation of the situation here in the Boyle’d Pot last week has helped to quell the mistruths that were circulating. But one point in the 15 items of further information that was requested from the applicant seems worth noting. Point 9 requests the applicant to “Submit a revised Traffic Impact Assessment which increases the scope of the assessment to include an analysis of the road junction with the N61. The legacy design of this junction is of poor geometry and it is considered that there will be a significant increase in turning movements at this junction as a result of the proposed development”. Surely it is not up to the applicant to come up with a solution for an already geometrically poor junction as acknowledged in the reply by the local authority? We all know, and have highlighted here many times, how dangerous the “McDonagh’s Corner” junction is. Is it not up to Roscommon County Council and or Transport Infrastructure Ireland to make this junction safe in advance of any increase in traffic, whither Aldi come to Boyle or not?
Further details on Ras Tailteann stage finish in Boyle
With a little over two weeks remaining until the 70th Ras Tailteannn international cycle race rolls into town, the organisers have made public the race manual which contains further information on the stage end in Boyle. The 170 riders from all over the world will come into Boyle from Drogheda via the Tawnytaskin junction, turning right at the Shilling Hill and sprinting up the Crescent to finish in front of An Craoibhin. Depending on speed, three approximate times have been given for the stage finish. At an average speed of 48kph they should finish at (15.14), 42kph (15.42) and 36kph (16.19). When the riders turn right at the Shilling Hill, the team cars will head straight on to St. Joseph’s Church car park on the Carrick Road. With a rolling road closure of the N61 for the finish, the organisers have asked all riders to quickly disperse and head to St. Joseph’s car park after the finish with those needed for the presentation to head to the podium. There will be more updates here on Boyletoday.com as we get closer to the event, but for now, book Wednesday afternoon May 21st off work to come to Boyle for what promises to be a great sporting spectacle.
Free ‘Child Safety Online’ event in Boyle
An free event that every primary school parent should attend takes place in St. Joseph’s Hall, Boyle next Wednesday May 7th at 7.30pm. Organised by the Community Policing Unit of An Garda Siochana in Boyle, “Child Safety Online” is aimed especially at the parents of primary school kids, using the maxim ‘forewarned is forearmed’. On the evening, tips, tricks and knowledge will be shared around keeping your kids safe online and wresting control of the ‘cyber’ in your home. The event is being held in conjunction with Hotline.ie. Child safety online is an important issue especially for parents and this evening will be ideal for parents of primary school children of all ages.
Hotline.ie is the national reporting platform for harmful or illegal content online and is a member of the Irish Safer Internet Centre along with Webwise, ISPCC and the National Parents Council.
Mick Moran, the CEO of Hotline.ie will be present on the evening accompanied by members of An Garda Síochána from the Protective Services Unit and the Cyber Crime Bureau to present and answer any questions you may have. A facility to ask ‘Anonymous’ questions will be in place and these will be addressed by the panel of experts present.
Award nominations for Boyle based business
Boyle based animation company Studio Meala is a nominee in three categories in this year’s Irish Animation Awards. The studio will hope to come out on top in Best Animated Preschool Series (up to 6 years old), Best Storyboarding and Best Voice Acting for their RTE Junior commissioned series “Doodle Girl”. The Irish Animation Awards are a biennial event, celebrating more than 2,500 highly skilled animation professionals who make and create across the island of Ireland. The awards ceremony will take place at The Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway on Saturday May 25th. Studio Meala are an award-winning, creatively-led studio specialising in high-end 2D animation and are based in the Spool Factory.
Boyle Airbnb makes top ten listing
The highly acclaimed ‘Draiocht House’ Airbnb in Boyle was recently listed in the ten Harry Potter themed houses you should visit in an article in UK magazine “House Beautiful”. The article said: “This Harry Potter Airbnb is called Draiocht House, inspired by the Gaelic word for magic. The four bedrooms in this Irish gem are themed around the Hogwarts houses, with a bright colour palette inspired by Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Other charming touches abound, including broomsticks mounted on the wall and a trolley disappearing into a wall, à la Platform 9 and three quarters. Children will love this Guest Favourite, while adults will be equally charmed by the heritage town of Boyle”.
CSO publish Boyle’s gross household income
The median gross household income in Boyle is €44,371 according to figures recently released by the Central Statistics Office. By comparison, Stillorgan in Dublin had the highest median gross household income (€99,352). Other key findings in Connacht showed the three highest income LEAs were in Galway. Athenry-Oranmore in Galway had a median gross household income of €70,629, followed by Gort-Kinvara (€70,126), and Galway City West (€68,698). The fourth highest in Connacht was the Athlone area of South Roscommon (€64,694), and the fifth was Sligo-Drumcliff in Sligo (€61,587). The LEA in Connacht with the lowest median gross household income was Belmullet in Mayo (€36,923). The figures related to 2022 – the most recent period surveyed.
News snippets from around Boyle
Boyle Golf Club’s Junior Programme restarts this Saturday for 6 weeks. It will take place from 10.30 -12.30 each Saturday……….Bake Sale and Car Wash in aid of 1st and 11th Roscommon Scouts summer camp will take place at the Scout Den this Sunday May 4th from 10am – 2pm. All support appreciated……….Boyle Sustainable Energy Community will host a “Grant Information for Homeowners” event in King House on Thursday May 8th at 7.30pm. Boyle Town Team will host the presentation from SEAI on home energy grants, free energy upgrades, one stop shops and solar PV………….What an achievement by Abbey College’s Boys 1st Year Basketball team who made history on Tuesday last by winning the national title in Tallaght beating Glenties 29-20 and being crowned All Ireland champions…….It was great to see Boyle get a mention in the May edition of “National Geographic Traveller” magazine. Lough Key and Boyle town were profiled in the article on the upper shannon. King House, Boyle Abbey and the Courtyard Market got a mention along with all that is on offer in Lough Key Forest Park………The iconic McDermott’s Castle was also recently photographed online on “Tourisme Irlande” – the official page of the tourist office of Ireland in France. The page has over 500k followers……….In an exciting development, this summer’s Night and Day Festival has announced their new Sol stage that will be housed inside the 150ft Moylurg Tower and covered in live animation by visual artist Sergey Khadzhava. It should look spectacular………Traditional Music Session in Cleen Hall Community Centre on Sunday May 4th at 4pm……..Cavetown Amenity Centre Repair will hold 12k and 6k Run on Monday May 5th with registration at 9am and event start at 10am. Entry €10; Family €20………Great to see the paving on the Plaza area on the Crescent being repointed this week by Roscommon Co Co Outdoor Staff……….International Jazz Day drew a large crowd to the Church of Ireland on Wednesday night last. Boyle Film Club, who organised the event, would like to thank “Christine Tobin and her band of musicians: Cathal Roche, Ciaran Wilde, Phil Robson, Damian Evans and Dominic Mullan. Thanks to Church of Ireland, Roscommon County and Creative Ireland for making the event possible.
Thanks also to the wonderful team of volunteers: Mick, Tarlach and Bevan who can overcome any technical issue”…………It has been a frustrating week for those using the Dublin Sligo rail line with delays each day ranging from signalling issues to anti social behaviour, bonfires near the line and the usual operational or mechanical issues. On Wednesday the delays were over 2 hours on some services………Boyle native and highly regarded Orthopaedic Surgeon John Kelly is leading the fight for an upgrade of Sligo hospital’s orthopaedic operating theatre and the hospital in general. According to John: “It feels like Sligo hospital is being downgraded by stealth and budgetary neglect. Over the last few years – we have lost cancer services, pain services and cardiac services. The lived reality for us is that we’re losing orthopaedic services. The hospital looks like it’s going to be downgraded. We want assurances from the Minister and for the Department of Health, that’s not the case”. Read more here.
And finally……!
It is the final round of the $64,000 question and only 3 remaining contestants are left, an Englishman, a Frenchman and a Hillbilly.
The question is, finish the following song title and spell the answer. ” Old Macdonald had a ____”. The Englishman goes 1st and says “estate” “e-s-t-a-t-e”.
The announcer says sorry “wrong answer, but right spelling”, meanwhile the Hillbilly is going nuts he is so excited he cannot control himself.
The Frenchman goes next and answers “Ranch”, “r-a-n-c-h”.
The announcer says sorry wrong answer but right spelling.
The Hillbilly is jumping up and down and he is so excited he almost screams.
The announcer turns to him and says “So, for $64,000 what is the answer”.
The Hillbilly answers “farm”.
“Brilliant, and can you spell it” asks the announcer?
Of course I can I can: “e-i-e-i-o”
