When a sunny Saturday turns into a sad Saturday
What was a sunny Saturday turned into a sad Saturday last weekend for Joy and Norman Little on their farm in the Eastersnow area near Cavetown, just outside Boyle, when a dog (or dogs) slaughtered some of their newly born lambs. In a social media post Joy said: “These are our precious babies that we’ve sat up with at night to ensure safe deliveries, and ploughed through the muck with all through the terrible weather. We love all animals but have to warn dog walkers around the Cavetown area that their dogs must be kept on leads at all times. Everyone thinks their dog couldn’t do this…the sad fact is that someone’s did. Someone saw blood on their precious pet too”.
We have written here on many occasions at concerns that have been expressed locally about dogs running off lead in Lough Key Forest Park and around Boyle town centre and now Cavetown. If you own a dog you have an obligation to know where it is at all times and to ensure it is on a lead and under effective control if it is in a public place. Let’s hope the owners of the dog(s) that did this terrible act on the Little’s farm are found and brought to justice.
A number of top name acts to play in Boyle this summer
What a line up of top name acts are due to play in Boyle this summer…… Boyle Arts Festival has so far announced Paul Brady, Rebecca Storm, Mack Fleetwood and Stockton’s Wing with Paul Brady’s July gig sold out by last Saturday. Night and Day Festival have named high profile acts like Bell X1, Damien Dempsey, The Undertones, The 4 of Us, Cry Before Dawn and the Pillow Queens for their two day festival.
Who would ever have thought that we could have all these bands and artists playing on our doorstep? The trick of course is to get your tickets for all gigs as soon as they are announced as they are selling out fast, for what is shaping up to be a great summer in Boyle.
Green light for Boyle Whiskey Distillery
Good news during the week that planners from Roscommon Co Co have given the go ahead, subject to 18 conditions, for the change of use of part of existing mill building complex at Mocmoyne, Boyle from production of grain and maize products to a whiskey distillery (floor area 1357 sq.mtrs.) incorporating the installation of plant, together with minor alterations/works to existing building, together with all ancillary site works and services. It is understood the while it was originally intended to create a visitor attraction as part of the overall plan, the promoters feel that it is imperative that the whiskey production element of the development is up and running before any potential visitor attraction would be contemplated. In a cover letter accompanying the application the promoters say: “The distillery and the production of high quality whiskey is the main focus of the developer”. One of the conditions attached to the grant of permission requires, that prior to the commencement of the development, a qualified archaeologist shall be hired to complete a full archaeological impact assessment of St. Patrick’s Holy Well to examine the nature, extent and location of archaeological material on the site.
An opportunity to meet local election candidates
Roscommon County Council has indicated that they are providing training and support to candidates in advance of the Local Elections 2024. Like other local authorities, RCC are hosting an event in the context of the concerns of the female electorate, supporting increased participation in the political process and focusing on issues and concerns affecting women. To this effect, an evening, providing support and empowerment for women while celebrating diversity will take place on Thursday 2nd May from 7pm to 9pm in the Abbey Hotel, Roscommon Town. All local election candidates have been invited to this event, which in turn will provide a platform for candidates to hear the views of women voters and the groups they represent.
This event will be chaired by an independent moderator. There will also be a questions and answers session from an audience of invited guests which will be representative of groups affiliated to the RWN, Roscommon County Council’s Public Participation Network (PPN) and Ukrainian Support Group. This is an important event highlighting the importance of increasing the participation of women and diversity in the context of the forthcoming local authority elections.
An eye opening night in King House
For those who attended Tuesday nights ‘Mental Health and Addictions’ event in King House – it was an eye opener. Westmeath footballer Luke Loughlin told his history of cocaine, gambling and alcohol addiction, Tony O’Reilly detailed how he gambled away €10m of money that he did not have, while podcast duo Dean and Mano from ‘Lock, Stock and 2 Joking Addicts’ openly spoke of their addictions and life of crime and how they got on the road to recovery. The event concluded with a Steve Tonry chaired panel discussion with locals Dr Joe Hussey and Dr Eimear McGuire along with Sinead Raftery, Declan Cawley and Amy Kelly from Boyle FRC. Everyone in attendance spoke of how powerful and brave each speaker was as they recalled their journey. Unfortunately there were not that many young people in attendance. If they were, they would have been able to relate in particular to Luke Loughlin’s story and how sport helped him on the road to recovery from his addictions and mental health issues – maybe he will come back and address the local school someday. Tony O’Reilly did just that on Wednesday morning when he visited Abbey College to speak to some students there and tell them of the dangers of gambling and how it can ruin lives.
Boyle Family Resource Centre organised the event and they will hold follow-up drop in clinics on April 30th and May 7th from 2pm to 4pm at the Centre, where individuals can drop in to meet with Declan or Amy from the Centre without an appointment.
You can catch the Lock Stock and 2 Joking Addicts podcasts here
News snippets from around Boyle
Brilliant news for Boyle with Frybrook House now taking bookings for accommodation. This is just what we need here in Boyle – more town centre accommodation. Well done to all involved in getting the historic house to this stage and you can book your rooms here………Once the sun comes out, why do local newspaper social media posts always tell you to enjoy it as ‘it won’t be around for much longer’? With ‘journalists’ being instructed to post a number of ‘stories’ each day, the weather is an easy topic, but please don’t ruin it for everyone else with you negative outlook…………It was great to see Abbey College represented by Thomas Sheridan, Tadhg Duignan and Fionan Feely in the Schools Rowing Regatta in Co Clare last weekend. With younger people showing an interest in the sport, maybe now is the time to restart a rowing club on Lough Key………There may be additional aircraft activity over the Boyle skies this weekend with the Sligo Airport annual Fly-In due to take place on Sunday from 9am-1pm…….8th anniversary celebrations tomorrow (Saturday) at King House Tea Rooms with a Roscommon SPCA fundraiser……….The Vintage Carousel Company will be in the grounds of Results Gym this Friday (2-7pm), Saturday (12-7pm) and Sunday (12-7pm). Tickets are available here…………..Well done to the person who observed the occupants of a silver colour car illegally dumping rubbish in An Rioga car park on Monday night last and who reported the car’s registration to 1850 LITTER (548837)……………Roscommon County Council has decided to close the L10369 Road at Deerpark from 8am Thursday 25th April to 5pm Tuesday 30th April for drainage works………Buy a tea or coffee in Corrib Oil Boyle this morning (Friday) between 6am-11am and all proceeds will go to Western Alzheimers……………Darkness into Light Registration in Natural Options today Friday from 12 – 4pm…….It’s now nearly the beginning of May and nine months on from the official opening of An Rioga, but while the lights are on, the building is closed! Roscommon Local Enterprise Office are constantly advertising offices to let in the facility when the town has adequate office space. What we need, and what was origionally planned for An Rioga is a Civic Space that all the community can use and the sooner the building opens as such, the better.
And finally……!
A naturopathic doctor opens up a wellness clinic
He puts a sign outside that says ‘GET TREATMENT FOR €20 – IF NOT CURED, GET BACK €100.’ The local ‘know all’ thinks this is a great opportunity to earn €100 and goes to the clinic.
Patient: “I have lost my sense of taste.”
Doctor: “Nurse, bring medicine from Box No. 22 and put 3 drops in patient’s mouth.”
Patient: “Ugh – That’s kerosene!”
Doctor: “Congrats, your sense of taste is restored. Give me €20.”
The annoyed patient goes back after a few days to recover his money.
Patient: “I have lost my memory. I cannot remember anything.”
Doctor: “Nurse, bring medicine from Box no. 22 and put 3 drops in his mouth.”
Patient (annoyed): “This is kerosene. You gave this to me last time for restoring my taste.”
Doctor: “Congrats. You got your memory back. Give me €20.”
The fuming patient pays him, and then comes back a week later determined to get back €100.
Patient: “My eyesight has become very weak I can’t see at all.” Doctor: “Well, I don’t have any medicine for that, so take this €100.” Patient (staring at the bill): “But this is €20, not €100!!” Doctor: “Congrats, your eyesight is restored. Give me €20.
