Boyle link to new RTE documentaries
Boyle film editor Grainne Creighton is really making a name for herself in the documentary and film world, both in Ireland and the UK. Hot on the heels of her most recent documentaries ‘Anorexia, My Family and Me”, ‘Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost’ and ‘Sean’ comes her latest sole edit –‘Bad Nanny’. This new two part documentary unravels the astonishing true story of Samantha Cookes – serial scammer, master manipulator and at one point, a trusted nanny who, for over a decade across Ireland and the UK, used a revolving door of aliases including Carrie Jade Williams and Sadie Harris to weave an intricate web of lies, deceiving everyone from vulnerable families to online communities. Her story was the subject of the RTÉ podcast series The Real Carrie Jade. Bad Nanny, is a co-production between RTÉ and BBC Northern Ireland and debuts on Monday 12th May at 9.35pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player. London based Grainne is daughter of Eddie and Sylvia Creighton who run the successful and highly popular licensed premises – Creightons – in Boyle.
And in another Boyle link to an upcoming RTE documentary, local man Pete Higgins was editor on this Sunday’s “LEGACY” a new, four part documentary series for RTÉ featuring 15 historic properties owned by the Irish State which airs at 6.30pm. Pete edited the series for Telegael, under the direction of David Hare at InProductionTV who he previously worked with on series 1 & 2 of Great Lighthouses of Ireland.
The editing gene must be in the Higgins blood as Grainne’s grandad Martin was a brother of Pete’s father Noel!
Good weather brings the tourists to Boyle
The good weather last weekend saw a large number of tourists visit our town, mostly staying in Lough Key Forest Park or on boats at the Marina. A number ventured into town on Sunday to see the Connacht Final and seemed to have a good time and enjoy the local hospitality but when they went looking for sit down food later Sunday evening – there were few choices. As the summer season approaches, it would be great if the various food venues in town even took turns to have a wider number of premises remain open on the weekend and also on Monday evenings. The tourists are coming into Boyle but they are not staying due to there not being a wider selection of restaurants open in the evening time. Indeed, not having a variety of shops open on Sunday’s is also a draw back, as is King House not opening until June 1st.
Shannon Boat Rally to visit Lough Key
The 63rd Shannon Boat Rally is due to visit Boyle’s Lough Key Forest Park on Thursday July 31st and Friday August 1st. The itinerary is as follows: Saturday 26th/Sunday 27th July – Rooskey, Monday 28th/Tuesday 29th July – Drumsna, Wednesday, 30th July – Anchor out in Drumharlow Lake (weather permitting), Thursday, 31st July / Friday 1st August – Lough Key, Saturday 2nd/ Sunday, 3rd August – Carrick-on-Shannon. Entries are now open here.
Publicity for Boyle Festivals
Two Boyle festivals got a mention in Saturday’s Irish Independent Weekender magazine. In relation to Boyle Arts Festival, the article read: “In recent years Chris O’Dowd may have put his hometown on the global map by featuring it in Moone Boy and Small Town Big Story – but this long running Arts Festival has done it’s bit over the last three decades too. This year will see comedy by Jarlath Regan, music by Bad Manners, The Irish Tenors, The Fureys and more with further workshops, drama, comedy and family fun to be announced”. Night and Day also got a mention: “Lough Key Forest Park is probably already on your families must-visit list this summer, considering it is acclaimed for fun and adventure. But in June it will play host to Night and Day, which has a dedicated family zone, where you can hone your circus skills, get dancing or create some artwork to take home with you. There’s a specific family campsite too”.
Local planning permission updates
Boyle Family Resource Centre has been granted permission, subject to 12 conditions to (1) install 2 no. therapy/treatment pods, (2) retention permission to retain change of use from domestic dwelling to commercial class 8 for use as a health centre or clinic or for the provision of any medical or health services and (3) retention permission to retain change of use from domestic garage to commercial class 8 for use as a health centre or clinic or for the provision of any medical or health services and all ancillary site development works at Boyle Counselling Psychotherapy Centre, The Rectory, Military Road, Boyle.
David Reynolds has been granted permission, subject to 10 conditions, for the renovation of the rear building and first floor extension of an historic mixed-use building to create two one-bedroom apartments at St. Patrick Street.
Cooney Motors Ltd has been granted permission, subject to 12 conditions for their application to 1. demolish existing dwelling, 2. to construct new LCV testing lane on to southern side of existing building, 3. to revise site boundaries & car parking layout of existing garage forecourt and all ancillary site development works at Greatmeadow Td.,
Stonehall Developments Ltd has been requested to submit further information in relation to their application for permission and retention permission for (a) change of use from creche to residential and (b) retention of building circa 81sq.m. ancillary to residence at Aghnagrange.
Mervyn Boles has been requested to submit further information in relation to his application for the restoration and renovation works to ‘Boles of Boyle’ (RPS 00600343) rear entrances and upper two storeys. The complete conservation and reconstruction works required to deliver 7 no. separate short term rental dwellings and maintain one commercial unit at ground level. External restoration and conservation to the 2nd and 1st floor and improvement works to the existing rear entrances at Bridge Street.
News snippets from around Boyle
From May 12th-16th, work on resurfacing the Car Park Area on the Crescent will take place at night to avoid closing off parking spaces. Traffic Management will be in place to assist free flow where possible. Other improvement works will take place between 8am and 6pm also on the Crescent during the same period……..Congratulations to Boyle native Deputy Frank Feighan on being appointed Fine Gael spokesperson on Northern Ireland and UK Relations. While not a TD for this area, Frank never forgets his home town and keeps his finger on the pulse of all that is happening in Boyle, helping out whenever and wherever he can…………Fundraising quiz night to raise funds to support Victoria Walker Dance Team who are representing Ireland in Dance World Cup this Summer will be held in the Barrelstore, Carrick-on-Shannon on Thursday May 22nd at 8pm. To book your table, WhatsApp 085-261 8880……….Fitkid Connacht Showcase in the Sports Complex on Sunday May 11th at 2pm. Tickets are 10€/adult, 5€/kids, under 6 years of age free……….What a great week it was on the sporting front recently in Boyle with two All Ireland basketball titles coming to Abbey College and a Connacht Shield victory for Boyle Celtic Under 14’s……..Rambling House on Sunday 11th May at 3p.m in Tawnytaskin Community Centre. An afternoon of music, song, dance and storytelling with Gene Sheerin. All proceeds go to Mayo/Roscommon Hospice. Refreshments served and a raffle on the day. Tickets €10 available from Ann on 086-8130005 or Mary on 085-1618420 or at the door……….Vintage Carousel Fun Fair visits Results Gym car park this weekend with opening times Friday 2-7pm, Saturday/Sunday 12-7pm ……..The final event of the extremely successful King House Cultural Companions programme will take place on Wednesday May 14th at 2pm with Drama Reading The Six Mary’s by Jean Farrell. Tickets €5 on 087 1444739. Plans are already in place to run Cultural Companions again in Autumn 2025………The proposed closure of the N61 Boyle to Tulsk road that was due to take place from May 12th has now been postponed to May 19th. The closure will be in place until August 25th to facilitate the N5 road project…….Friends of Assylinn clean-up of the cemetery this Sunday May 11th from 2-4pm……….Boyle Film Club Movie Night tonight FRiday 9th at 7.30pm in Boyle Family Resorce Centre………If you are driving down the Crescent and put on your left indicator to head over Bridge Street, please make sure you turn it off before you get to the St. Patrick Street junction. Motorists coming from St. Patrick Street have said many drivers are leaving their indicators on but go out Main Street with St. Patrick Street motorists pulling out thinking the cars are going left – another accident waiting to happen at this dangerous junction.
And finally…..!
A male patient is lying in bed in the hospital, wearing an oxygen mask over his mouth and nose.
A female nurse appears and gives him a partial sponge bath.
“Nurse,”‘ he mumbles from behind the mask, “are my testicles black?”
Embarrassed, the young nurse replies, “I don’t know, Sir. I’m only here to wash your upper body and feet.”
He struggles to ask again, “Nurse, please check for me. Are my testicles black?”
Concerned that he might elevate his blood pressure and heart rate from worrying about his testicles, she overcomes her embarrassment and pulls back the covers.
She raises his gown, holds his manhood in one hand and his testicles gently in the other.
She looks very closely and says, “There’s nothing wrong with them, Sir. They look fine.”
The man slowly pulls off his oxygen mask, smiles at her, and says very slowly,
“Thank you very much. That was wonderful. Now listen very, very, closely:
“Are – my – test – results – back?”
