Preliminary work commences on new Boyle Library
Extra activity and the moving in of large scale equipment was the first indication that work had commenced on the new Boyle Town Centre Library at the rear of An Rioga. An enquiry to Roscommon Co Co confirmed that “The contractor on site is setting up his accommodation facilities – formal contract signing is expected to take place next week”. It is understood the contract for the Library has been awarded to C and N Higgins Construction Ltd., Oranmore, Co. Galway. With a contract duration of 16 months, the new state of the art two storey Library will be a modern Community Library facility that will be fully accessible, flexible and suitable for the provision of innovative library services into the future. The ground floor will have an open plan with the main spaces orientated to the river and new public square with services areas at the rear of the building. The spaces orientated to the river will be glazed with floor to ceiling glazing connecting to the external spaces. The library will be clad in timber at first floor with framed windows overlooking the river. The services and utility connections for the library will be taken from connection points within the public realm areas adjacent to the library site.
While on the subject of the new Library, Boyletoday.com queried with Roscommon Co Co on the need for the contractor to close the walkway at the rear of An Rioga and they replied that the path will remain closed for the duration of the works due to the works being in very close proximity to the river and with an element of excavation to occur, the risk assessment deems that it’s is necessary to close the pathway.
Memorial car and motorbike Run from Knockvicar on Saturday
The Owen Cleary Memorial Run will take place from Clancy’s Bar in Knockvicar this Saturday commencing at 12 noon. Vintage and classic cars and motorbikes along with tractors are welcome to participate. On the day there will be family / children’s entertainment, face painters, ice cream van. Mr Chippy, BBQ, music with Conor Owens, Carol O’Dowd, John O’Dowd and DJ along with a draw on the night with numerous prizes. Registration from 10am – 11.30am is €20. The funds raised from this event will go towards two charities: North West Hospice and Ardcarne Community Childcare. Further information from John on 087 9007300.
The forgotten man of Boyle history
Next Tuesday September 16th sees the 87th anniversary of the death of an infamous son of Boyle – Jasper Tully. Jasper was born in 1858. His father George founded the Roscommon Herald newspaper a year later in 1859 and his grandfather Charles had founded the Roscommon Journal in 1828. On the death of his father, and subsequently his mother, Jasper took over the running of the newspaper and his strong nationalist views were to see him imprisoned with Parnell in Kilmainham Gaol – the first of many occasions he was incarcerated. Those who remember Jasper recalled that “The Chief” as he was known, was a difficult yet highly influential man. He was elected an MP for Leitrim South in 1892 and became a Whip in the Irish Parliamentary Party. He stood for Roscommon North in 1917 but was not elected.
He was married to a Mary E. Monson who owned the Royal Hotel. Their marriage was neither peaceful or happy and they realistically lived separate lives. One of the many stories that was told of Jasper related to a letter, addressed to Mrs Tully, arriving to the hotel some time after his wife’s death. Jasper, it was said, crossed out the address and reposted it with the wording “Not known at this address – try hell”!
Jasper, the forgotten man of Boyle history and one of the most powerful people locally of his time, died aged 88 on September 16th 1938 and is buried with his family in Assylinn Graveyard, halfway up the hill on the left hand side.
Boyle link to renowned photojournalist
An interesting documentary screened recently on BBC 4, followed the work and adventures of photojournalist Martin Parr, whose photographic projects take an intimate and satirical look at aspects of modern life, in particular documenting the social classes of England and more broadly the wealth of the Western world. There are some who may remember Martin when he lived in Boyle from 1981 – 1983 during which time he photographed extensively around the town and the West of Ireland. At the time, his wife had got a job as a speech therapist in Leitrim and they both moved to Boyle where he based himself for his photographic work. Viewers may recall one particular black and white photograph he took of Bonfire Night on Mill Road.
Martin has had around 40 solo photobooks published, and has featured in around 80 exhibitions worldwide – including the international touring exhibition ParrWorld and a retrospective at the Barbican Arts Centre, London.
You can view some of Martin’s work and find out more about him here.
No place in society for online abuse
Any right minded person would have to condemn outright, the online abuse An Tanaiste Simon Harris and his family have received in recent weeks. The abuse has one aim – to destabilise our democracy by a small section of society – and this should not and will not be tolerated.
No strangers to online abuse here in Boyletoday.com, we are regularly on the receiving end of vile comments with hidden agendas from fake Facebook accounts, with Gardai notified on a number of occasions. Three weeks ago, our town once again featured in the online racism and far right bigotry agenda. A bus carrying people from Athlone on their way to Sligo stopped off in Boyle. The passengers availed of toilet facilities and refreshments to break their journey but their movements were photographed and posted to a controversial Facebook account in Athlone with the ‘local’ person who took the photographs, and who provide the disgraceful narrative, making their identification fairly obvious by stating where they were and what they were doing at the time. Shame on them.
There is no place in society for the online abuse politicians or members of the public like those above are receiving right now.
Aldi granted more time for further information request
Yesterday (Thursday’s) news story, which was first announced here on Boyletoday.com, showed that the Aldi development on St. Patrick Street is still very much alive, with an extension being granted by Roscommon Co Co on the further information request. The development was never in doubt and efforts to portray in the media (not Boyletoday.com) that the project may not go ahead are misleading and untrue. Also, please do not pass any heed on comments on social media elsewhere from fake Facebook accounts trying to suggest that there is a problem with planning in Boyle. That is not true and in fact there were only two objections to this project – way less that any similar type development in neighbouring towns.
Further Information requests, like that requested from Aldi are common place and part of the planning process. Likewise an extension to the F.I. request is also understandable for a development of this size – one of the biggest in years in Boyle, from a commercial perspective. All the public can do now is let the planning process take it’s course and wait until January 30th 2026 after which time Roscommon Co Co will hopefully give permission for the project.
News snippets from around Boyle
Boyle Defibrillator Group is holding a church gate collection on Saturday 13th/Sunday 14th September in aid of 6 new defibrillators for Boyle. These are vital lifesaving pieces of equipment and will be placed in various locations around the town. Your support for the collection would be greatly appreciated………….Save the date – Friday 19th September at 4pm – 7pm, Boyle Family Resource Centre is once again bringing you The Community Festival of Fun in King House Courtyard, Boyle. More details next week…….“Help us preserve Roscommon’s field names! Join us in Boyle Library on Wednesday 24th September from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm for a 2 hour workshop. As part of the Roscommon Field Names Project, we would like to hear your knowledge on field names, along with the stories, meanings and memories behind them. No booking is required, refreshments provided”……….Boyle Music Hub resumes on Tuesday the 23rd and Thursday the 25th of September in the GRETB FET Centre, Boyle, F52 X580. Small group lessons in ukulele, junior and senior youth voices, guitar, keyboard, drums, band development and dj skills and techniques. For information contact Katrina at [email protected], call/text 086 031 8943……….Rory Nevin’s play “A Wee Tap” will be performed in Cleen Hall, Crossna on Sunday September 14th at 8pm…..Registration for all new and existing Ladybirds, Brownies and Girl Guides takes place on Wednesday 17th September between 7-8pm in Boyle Tennis Club……..Corrigeenroe 2K, 5K,10K fun run and walk takes place this Sunday staring at Corrigeenroe Church Grounds at 2pm……..Boyle Abbey closes for the winter this Tuesday September 16th and is not scheduled to reopen until March 2026………Sunday Roasts are back at the Lakeside Cafe in Boyle’s Lough Key Forest Park commencing this Sunday and every Sunday from 12noon……..There are so many events taking place in and around Boyle next Friday 19th for Culture Night with more details next week here on Boyletoday.com.
And finally….!
An old man, who had been a retired farmer for a long time, became very bored and decided to open a medical clinic.
He put up a sign outside that said: “Dr. Jones Clinic. “Get your treatment for €500. If not cured get back €1,000.”
Doctor Brown, who had years of medical experience was positive that this old man didn’t know anything about medicine, thought he would make some money.
So he went to Dr. Jones clinic.
Dr. Brown: “Dr. Jones, I have lost all taste in my mouth. Can you please help me?
Dr. Jones: “Nurse, please bring medicine from Box 22 and put three drops in his mouth.”
Dr. Brown: Aagh!! This is petrol!”
Dr. Jones: “Congratulations! You’ve got your taste back. That will be €500.”
Dr. Brown is annoyed and returns in a few days figuring to recover his money. “I have lost my memory, I cannot remember anything.”
Dr. Jones : “Nurse, bring medicine from Box 22 and put three drops in the patient’s mouth.”
Doctor Brown: “Oh no you don’t. That’s petrol!”
Dr. Jones: “Congratulations! You’ve got your memory back. That will be €500.”
Dr. Brown leaves angrily and comes back after several more days. “My eyesight has become weak. I can hardly see.”
Dr. Jones: “Well, I don’t have any medicine for that, so here’s your €1000 back.”
Dr. Brown : “But this is only €500.”
Dr. Jones: “Congratulations! You got your vision back! That will be €500.”
