Chris O’Dowd takes to the stage at the Gate Theatre
Boyle born actor Chris O’Dowd takes to the stage in the Gate Theatre, Dublin this summer where he will star in the Irish premiere of Conor McPherson’s new play ‘The Brightening Air’. Set in a rural homestead in Ireland in the 1980s, The Brightening Air is a haunting new play about longing, magic and the fates that tear us apart. Adult siblings, Billie and Stephen, share their family home in their own semi-functional way. Until their excommunicated uncle, Fr Pierre and estranged brother, Dermot, arrive to disturb it all, awakening hidden forces with devastating consequences. The Brightening Air runs at the Gate Theatre from July 17th to August 30th 2026.
Boyle Abbey set to reopen for 2026 season
Boyle Abbey reopens to the public for the 2026 season on Friday week March 13th and will remain open until September 16th. The Abbey is one of the towns main tourist attractions but should and could have double it’s visitor numbers with a more proactive marketing campaign. This marketing, as we say each year, needs to be preplanned at least 12 months in advance, with bus tour companies enticed to include Boyle on their itinerary. Bus tours would benefit the town also where by arrangement, the tour companies could add King House to the itinerary thereby enticing the visitors into the town. There is adequate bus parking marked out on Abbey Terrace for the tour companies but this needs to be freed up from March on for tour busses that use the Abbey and are bringing visitors to the town.
Misleading statements on Boyle during Aldi discussions
As the fall out from the Aldi appeal continues, a few items that have been posted online need some clarification. (1) “Have a look at the street where Aldi is proposing to build. The street is almost empty as it stands”. St. Patrick Street has more businesses located on it than any other street in the town (with more planned) and nearly any news business that has opened in Boyle in recent times has been on St. Patrick Street. At last count, from the Bridge Street corner to Gala, there were over 30 businesses operating out of St. Patrick Street – not bad for a street “almost empty”. (2) “Boyle has lost out on so much over the years”. If we have lost out on so much how come the town has received over €20m in state funding? – New footpaths, cycleway to Lough Key, upgraded Pleasure Grounds, Calestinics Park, new surface on basketball court, An Rioga, new Library, upgrade of The Lawn, feasibility study for Courthouse, feasability study for a hotel for the town, etc – the list goes on. (3) “Boyle is dying on it’s feet”. Totally untrue. There is so much happening in Boyle in comparison to similar size towns and so much more is planned. Granted some business are suffering – but maybe that’s because their business model is wrong and the businesses are not marketing themselves properly – not because of the town.
An Comisiun Pleanala will now make a decision on the Aldi development by reviewing all documentation, including public submissions along with considering a report and recommendation from a specialised planning inspector who may conduct a site visit. Local name calling and slagging individuals allegedly associated with the appeal is of no benefit, will not influence ACP and will not encourage any person to withdraw an appeal – in fact it is unnecessary and counterproductive.
In the whole Aldi discussion, let’s not forget all the positives that are happening in our town. The multi million euro Lough Key Masterplan is still on track, albeit it at F.I. stage, numerous properties have changed hands in recent weeks which will bring new businesses to the town and bring new life to a number of town centre derelict buildings, other properties are on the market in the town centre which will provide ideal commercial opportunities for potential purchasers, work is ongoing on our new Library which will be a great benefit to the town when complete, studies are due to commence on the future use of the courthouse and accommodation needs for the town and we eagerly await planning to lodge for the multi million euro redevelopment of Kingston Hall which will give us a hotel close to Boyle town.
Support needed for St. Patrick’s Day Parade
With no Boyle’d Pot next Friday, now is an opportune time to remind people that you can support Boyle’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in a number of ways – financially, by entering a float and by attending. Without funds, the parade can not go ahead and to date there are a number of local businesses whose lack of support is fairly obvious. You can still donate here. You can also enter a float or have your group or club march behind a banner. And if you cannot do either of those, you can attend the parade with more details, times etc. here on Boyletoday.com next week.
Boyle natives U.S. appointment
A Boyle native has been appointed national U.S. Co-Convenor of the Global Irish Famine Way. Hilary Beirne who is origionally from Rathdiveen on the Carrick Road is also Chairman Emeritus of the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Foundation and Founding Director at Irish America 250. The National Irish Famine Way recently announce the appointment and plans for the expansion of the Global Irish Famine Way (GIFW) to the United States in 2026. To support and coordinate this expansion, the organization has appointed two well-known individuals from the Irish community as national U.S. Co-Convenors: Professor Christine Kinealy of Quinnipiac University, Connecticut and Hilary T. Beirne, from Boyle.
The first phase in the United States will install Bronze Shoes at key historical sites in Boston and in New York in 2026. For subsequent phases, the Co-Convenors would then invite other community-led efforts across the United Staes to participate in the expansion of Global Irish Famine Way to other locations. The U.S. Global Irish Famine Way will join the Global Irish Famine Way Canada, which was established in 2025. This initiative will be especially meaningful to descendants of the Irish Famine, and Irish America, as it will feature as part of the Irish America 250th commemorations in 2026
Imelda May and Kila added to Night and Day
One of Ireland’s most celebrated and distinctive artists, Imelda May brings her unmistakable voice, poetic songwriting, and magnetic stage presence to the Queen Medb stage at Boyle’s Night and Day Festival on Sunday 31st for what promises to be a standout performance based on her recent sell out Raised on Songs and Stories show. With a career spanning rockabilly, blues, and deeply personal contemporary folk, her live shows are renowned for their energy, intimacy, and connection with audiences.
Also added to the Queen Medb stage are legendary Irish collective Kíla , whose explosive fusion of traditional Irish music with global rhythms has made them one of the country’s most beloved live acts. Known for their powerful musicianship and infectious stagecraft, Kíla’s performance will add a vibrant, celebratory dimension to the programme and will take to the stage on Friday night of the festival.
Other new acts on the bill include: The Saw Doctors, The Boomtown Rats, Hothouse Flowers, Jenny Greene, Richard Thompson, Big Country, Paddy Casey, Soda Blonde and Cardinals.
News snippets from around Boyle
Fears that the old steel footbridge over the rail line at Boyle Train Station is set to be removed were dismissed this week following a query from Boyletoday.com to Irish Rail. In response, a spokesperson for the company said: “The bridge will not be removed. Once we complete the accessibility works in Q3 this year, the old heritage footbridge will have a gate placed at the bottom of steps and will be taken out of service but will remain in-situ”………..The Caravan and Camping Park in Lough Key Forest Park reopens for the 2026 season on Friday February 13th……..Good luck to Cian Smith and his Roscommon U20 side who will make the trip to Tuam on Wednesday March 18th to face Galway in the opening round of the Connacht Championship. Throw in is at 5.15pm……Captains Drive In (9 Hole Scramble) at Boyle Golf Club on Sunday March 8th. Shotgun start at 1pm……International Women’s Day Coffee Morning in Boyle Family Resource Centre on Monday March 9th 11am-12.30pm. All welcome……The Lough Key Legends Run on May 10th is now completely sold out……..Join Ciorcal Comhrá na Búille for an evening of Irish conversation, song and music in Dodd’s Bar and Lounge, Crescent, Boyle on Thursday 12th March from 5 to 7 p.m. Beidh fáilte roimh gach. Music by John Hoban and Gregory Daly……….The inaugural Cycle Inclusion Day for Roscommon/Leitrim will launch at 12 noon this Saturday in Lough Key Forest and Activity Park, in Boyle. All are welcome – Adults and Children. Come along for a spin on specially adapted tricycles, tandems, wheelchair trikes and side-by-side tandems. RTE will be in attendance to cover the event. These regular events are operated by CoMotion and supported by Variety – the Children’s Charity of Ireland, HSE Ireland and Department of Children, Disability and Inclusion. Fun for all and totally free of charge……..Good luck to Boyle Community Games U11 mixed Basketball team who take on Aughrim-Kilmore on Sunday morning in the Roscommon Community Games semi final in Castlerea.
And finally….!
Paddy and his two friends are talking at work.
His first friend says, “I think my wife is having an affair with the electrician. The other day I came home and found wire cutters under our bed and they weren’t mine.”
His second friend says, “I think my wife is having an affair with the plumber. The other day I found a wrench under the bed and it wasn’t mine.”
Paddy says, “I think my wife is having an affair with a horse.”
Both his friends look at him with utter disbelief. “
“No I’m serious” he said. “The other day I came home and found a jockey under our bed”.
(There will be no Boyle’d Pot next week – Friday March 13th)
