The great ‘buzz’ around Boyle this past week
There was certainly a marked increase in visitor numbers to Boyle this past week, directly as a result of the Arts Festival. Everyone was talking about the ‘buzz’ around the town on Friday evening last as the good weather and of course the Boyle AC 5k, saw a large influx to the town, which had a continental feel to it, as people sat outside bars and restaurants soaking in the great atmosphere on a warm summer evening. The ‘buzz’ continued again on Saturday and stayed around for the remainder of the week. So many visitors spoke of the natural beauty of our town and how the town centre still retains it’s old world charm. One particular visitor said his wife and himself had travelled to the town from ‘down south’ as their son had a painting on display. They had heard of Boyle previously – mainly because it’s association with Lough Key Forest Park – but they did not know about the Abbey or King House and when they arrived here they did tours of both and were highly impressed. They also spoke of how lucky we were to have a beautiful river flowing right through the town. Sometimes we need a week like we have just had to make us pinch ourselves and wake up to the beauty of the town that many of us are lucky enough to call home.
Chris O’Dowd stars in new play at the Gate Theatre
Boyle man Chris O’Dowd is currently starring in Conor McPherson’s ‘The Brightening Air’ which opened at the Gate Theatre in Dublin on Wednesday night last and runs until August 30th. Chris stars alongside Brian Gleeson and Sean McGinley in this haunting new play about longing, magic and the fates that tear us apart. The story takes place ‘up around Sligo’ where 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.
Planning updates from around Boyle
The four week window to appeal the decision of Roscommon Co Co to grant permission to Coillte for the massive redevelopment of Lough Key Forest Park has now passed and thankfully no person or body has contested the decision with the final grant of permission having issued on Wednesday last. Attention now turns to the funding agencies to help make the €30m plan a reality and it is understood work is ongoing at pace behind the scenes to move this project forward.
The other big decision that is awaited locally is the Aldi development and we should know on or before August 18th if An Coimisiun Pleanala agree with Roscommon Co Co’s decision to grant permission for this much needed town centre development.
Finally, in other planning news, Aaron Sharkey received permission this week, subject to 12 conditions, for the refurbishment and change of use of the former Post Office on Shop Street to a hostel accommodation including eight bedrooms with associated communal facilities and ancillary takeaway coffee facility. Roscommon Co Co had sought further information before they made their decision to grant permission.
Criticism of weed control measures on approach roads
Roscommon County Council has come in for criticism, from a viewer who has contacted Boyletoday.com, in relation to the way they have implemented weed control on many roads around the town. The viewer said: “Shame on our local authority who have ruined the grass verges of our approach roads once again with weedkiller. Have you seen how it has burned the grass? In addition, does anyone know what form of weedkiller was used?”
On inspection it would seem that the perimeter of the grass verges has indeed been sprayed to stop weed growth, which has burned off some grass in the process. One would hope though that while it presently looks visually unattractive, the grass will grow over it in time.
National Swim Championships in Boyle on Sunday
There should be another large crowd around the Forest Park on Sunday morning as the Boyle venue hosts the prestigious Swim Ireland National Open Water Swim Championships. The event will attract swimmers from all over Ireland and competitions get underway from 9am. The local Lough Key Swim Club are to be complimented on getting this event to our town. If you are a boat owner, please be aware that a temporary Vessel Exclusion Zone will apply on Sunday morning on the Lake for the duration of the Championships.
‘Roscommon Gaa History Down the Decades’ with Tony Conboy
As part of Boyle Arts Festival, Tony Conboy along with film maker Ronan Carley, will trace the story of Roscommon GAA from its founding in 1890. The event takes place in King House at 3pm on Saturday. The format is an interview of Tony by Ronan. (Tony was the lead person with the ‘Roscommon GAA History’ first published in 1990). Ronan adds a large number of excerpts of Roscommon games down the decades beginning with the Roscommon v Kerry All-Ireland of 1962 which was the first final that was transmitted on Irish Television through to the 1980 final. He also includes numerous paper clippings of Roscommon games and players.
Tony pays special attention to Roscommon’s great decade of the forties when Roscommon won 3 Minor; one Junior and the two Senior All-Ireland of ’43 and ’44. A period when Jimmy Murray led that great team, in blue and gold, on five occasions on All-Ireland final day including replays. It is not generally recognised that it was the emergence of that Roscommon team that revitalised the games as witnessed in ’44 with the Croke Park gates being closed and the swollen crowd having to be facilitated by Micheal O’ Hehir’s broadcast being transmitted to the crowd outside.
The seventies was also a great period for Roscommon when they won four Connacht titles in a row and contested the All-Ireland of 1980. In this broad and detailed story of Roscommon GAA Games the many branches of the GAA games are referenced in what should be an enjoyable discussion.
News snippets from around Boyle
It has been announced that Fr. John Gannon, who is currently Parish Priest in Tulsk, will replace Fr. Gerry Hanly as Parish Priest in Boyle. Fr. Gerry will retire next month after 28 years of ministry in our parish……..Keash King of the Hill (KOTH) takes place on this Saturday July 25th commencing at 7pm with both a 5km and 10km route and also a 5km fun run. Each route is an individual course that traverse the wonderful countryside of Keash and takes in views of the Hill and its infamous Caves………..Deputy Kerrane and Councillor Cull monthly Constituency Clinic will be held in the Spool Factory this Saturday………… Keep you eyes skywards his weekend where there could be an increase in light aircraft activity around Boyle with the annual Tibohine Fly-in taking place on Saturday and Sunday. You can also pay a visit to the airfield (1pm-6pm Saturday and 11am-6pm Sunday) to see aircraft displays and fly-ins, family fun activities and BBQ both days. Admission €5 with all proceeds going to Childhood Cancer Ireland………An image of the Gaelic Chieftain outside Boyle, captured by Desmond O’Dwyer and featured in the 2026 RTE calendar, was used as a promo this week by RTE Weather for their photographic competition that is now in its 25th year, offering amateur photographers the opportunity to showcase and share their talent. Entry for the summer season is now open and entries can be uploaded at rte.ie/weathercomp until midnight on Sunday 26th July. What’s the chances a few images of the Hot Air Ballooning may make the cut!………. Good luck to the Roscommon GAA Ladies Minor team and all associated with it from Boyle who take on Cork on Saturday in the All Ireland Minor Final with throw in at O’Connor Park, Tullamore at 4pm………..Hats off to all associated with this year’s Arts Festival. For a small voluntary group to organise a festival of this magnitude is amazing. Well done and thank you to Patricia Golden (Chairperson), Belinda McCauley, Catriona Fahey, Irene Madden, John Nugent, Rebecca Wynne, Sharon Tighe, Julie Reynolds, Christine Kelly and Concepta McDonagh (Visual Art Co-Ordinators) and sub committee members Aine Higgins and Floriane Frazer.
And finally…….!
At the border, a man rides up on a motorbike with a sack on the rear.
The customs officer stops him and asks, “Do you have anything to declare?”
“Nothing,” the man replies.
“And what’s in the sack?”
“Sand.”
The officer inspects the sack. Sure enough, nothing but sand.
The next day, the man returns on the motorbike with another sack of sand.
Again, the officer checks it. Nothing but sand.
This goes on every day for a week.
By the eighth day, the officer has become increasingly suspicious. He sifts the sand. Nothing.
The man continues crossing the border every day. After two more weeks, the officer finally sends the sand off to a laboratory for analysis.
The results come back: nothing but sand.
Another month passes. By now, the customs officer is losing his mind.
Finally, he pulls the man aside and says, “Listen… off the record, between you and me, I promise I won’t tell a soul. But you have to tell me what you’re smuggling.”
The man looks around carefully, leans in, and whispers:
“Motorbikes”.
