Today is national ‘Make Way Day’
Today Friday September 26th is “National Make Way Day” – a day that is very relevant here in Boyle where we regularly have to deal with cars parked on footpaths and on double yellow lines.
“Make Way Day” is a national campaign that brings the disability community and wider public together to highlight the obstacles faced by people with disabilities in the shared public spaces we all use. Led by the Disability Federation of Ireland, in partnership with voluntary organisations, this campaign is about awareness, action, and change. The organisers are asking everyone to get involved by spotting and sharing everyday obstacles such as:
✅ Cars/vans parked on footpaths
✅ Bicycles blocking pathways
✅ Sandwich boards, bins, or barrels left on footpaths
✅ Uneven or broken pathways
How to take part:
1. Take a clear photo of the obstacle.
2. Provide the location + a short description of the impact.
3. Email your photo to [email protected]
An Garda Síochána will also hold a national enforcement operation – ‘Operation Enable’ on the same day with the objective of this to pro-actively target parking on footpaths and in disabled bays. In conjunction with Roscommon LEADER Partnership, the Community Policing Unit members of An Garda Siochana will be participating in co-ordinated walks in Boyle, Strokestown, Ballaghaderreen, Roscommon and Castlerea to support this campaign, to actively engage with communities and raise awareness of this important issue which causes serious inconvenience to people with disabilities.
Questions raised over commercial vacancy figures
Information from Geo Directory released yesterday states that Boyle has one of the highest commercial vacancy rates in the country. The figures also show a high commercial vacancy rate in neighbouring Sligo, where a well known businessman has suggested there may be major inaccuracies in the figures. Finbarr Filan from Sligo BID said that when they delved into the figures in the last report he allegedly found that 50% of the commercial premises listed as derelict in Sligo were in fact occupied, including his own building!
Of course there are those in certain sections of the local media who relish the opportunity to show Boyle in a negative light, but based on what is being said in Sligo – and even though we have a number of vacant premises – it is best not to get over excited at the new found fame Boyle has received in the report.
A busy and informative Saturday in Boyle
Boyle was a busy spot on Saturday last. Many had come to town for the Hot Air Ballooning Championship, the Courtyard Market and a cultural event that was taking place in St. Joseph’s Hall. Others were in Boyle for a gathering titled “Rebels Across the Pond” – “an event celebrating courage, truth, history and philosophy from multiple perspectives with a focus on solutions for the future” according to the organisers. They said it was “not political” but “draws upon the experience of people from across the Atlantic who have been brave enough to speak out publicly before and since the COVID era to share their stories and visions for the future for all of us”. The location of the event was not made public in advance, as according to the organisers: “We have too many active nutters that would cause us trouble if they can”.
There were a handful of local people at the event, along with some controversial and outspoken figures from across the country and further afield, resulting in a peaceful protest taking place on Saturday evening outside the venue where the event was being held. The protestors in attendance carried posters calling the event “Fascist” and suggesting that “Racists are not welcome in Boyle”.
In a week when Boyle and surrounding area was photographed and video in all it’s glory, what a shame that one of those who attended last Saturday’s “Rebel Across the Pond” posted a video on ‘X’ of Lough Key Forest Park – a facility enjoyed by every single person – with the caption: “A reminder of how this beautiful island of Eire belongs to the Irish”.
Ballooning Miscellany
Boyle was most definitely the place to be this week when the 53rd Irish Hot Air Ballooning Championship took to the skies from our jewel in the crown – Lough Key Forest Park. Below are a few notable observations from the week:
- “What can I say other than “wow”. Easily one of, if not the, most picturesque flight I’ve done in 20 years” – a quote from one of the balloonists following Tuesday morning’s flight over Lough Key.
- The number of people who came to the Park for the event was unprecedented. Even though there was no flights on Saturday evening and Sunday – and this was well publicised, thousands flocked to the Park and with the car parks full, they parked along the entrance roads and even on the N4, creating gridlock. Not everyone was understanding when car parks filled up with some marshals getting verbally abused which is totally unacceptable.
- Armed with knowledge gained from this year, a more manageable traffic plan needs to be put in place for next year. Maybe park and ride from Boyle which might get the visitors to spend additional time in the town on the return journey?
- Any potential hotel developer or accommodation provider thinking about locating in Boyle would have seen how they could have a full house on a week like this. People travelled from all over Ireland to see the Ballooning Championship with numerous visitors saying they would have booked in to a hotel or some form of accommodation (chalets/pods?) in Boyle for a few nights if there was more available in the town. Maybe someone who visited will see the opening and pick up on the idea!!
- On Monday, a person googled “Will I get to see Hot Air Balloons in Boyle today”? . They got, and then published, an AI generated overview saying: “You will not get to see the hot air balloons today because all flights have been cancelled due to weather conditions with a ‘No Fly’ decision confirmed for this morning’s flight and all flights for the rest of the week are also expected to be cancelled”. Shortly after, the Balloons took off and flew Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday AM and PM. The AI generated post was subsequently deleted!
- From a pictorial point of view, the general Boyle area must be one of the most photographed in Ireland this week! Indeed Lough Key and the Balloons featured as a back drop on both RTE and TV3 weather forecasts and also on an RTE news piece. Unbelievable publicity for our small town.
- If ever there was an example of ‘thinking outside the box’ it was evident this week. Nearly all the Balloon crews stayed in the general Boyle area, either on boats in the caravan park or in Air BnB’s. Not bad for a town with ‘no accommodation’!
- Local restaurants in town also benefitted and provided organised meals on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evening for the Balloonists who all enjoyed the hospitality in the restaurants and bars of Boyle.
- There was some concern locally when a survey aircraft hurdled across to the east of Boyle on Sunday afternoon around 13.50 last at 200 feet! Many mentioned the Irish Aviation Authority Navigation warning that was in place for the week but that warning did not mean that Boyle was a ‘no fly zone’. The notice requested pilots, during the normal course of navigation, to avoid overflying Lough Key Forest Park from Saturday 20th to Saturday 27th September 2025 between 0600 UTC to 0900 UTC and 1530 UTC to 1830 UTC daily.
- An event like this is a great reminder to those who call Boyle ‘home’, of how lucky we are to live in an area of such scenic beauty, with Lough Key Forest Park right on our doorstep.
- After such an enjoyable week of weather, fun and flying, a big thank you to all the Balloonists and crew who came to Boyle, the local people who organised the event, the Gardai and the marshals. Let’s hope we get to do it all again in 2026.
A time to plan for Boyle’s future
Autumn has moved in and winter is just around the corner and with it comes the chance to plan for our towns future. Those with an entrepreneurial streak should be looking at what types of business Boyle needs going forward, especially when the Lough Key Masterplan is completed and a few other anticipated developments announced that will copper fasten the economic life of our town and compliment our status as a tourism destination providing many opportunities for related businesses to commence, grow and flourish.
Apart from the need for additional accommodation, going forward, it is vitally important that consideration is given to the town having a wider choice of evening venues serving food all week, especially during the summer season. It is most disappointing to see families walking around Boyle, especially on Monday and Tuesday evening, looking for somewhere to eat and most places closed or no venue serving the type of food they require.
Now is the time for civic bodies to start making a general “wish list” of what services we need in Boyle and approaching those who are in business or who would like to set up in Boyle, to encourage them to fill the voids that currently exist. We can no longer wait for it to just happen.
News snippets from around Boyle
Boyle Church of Ireland Harvest Festival Service takes place this Friday 26th September at 7 p.m. Guest Preacher Very Reverend Dean William Morton, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin. Everybody welcome……….Celebrate National Public Libraries Open Day on Saturday in Boyle Library with a Puppet Theatre with Jay Ryan………Enjoy a celebration of Irish Music this evening in King House with Veronica Barrett’s “The Ballad of Mary Spain” plus music by Piper Cross Band. This free event runs from 7.30pm – 9.30pm with booking essential on 087 1444739……….Well done to Boyle Basketball Club’s Sophie Beirne and Grace Healy who have been chosen for the Basketball Ireland U-15 Connacht Academy…….Hopefully clubs and organisations in town are currently looking at holding a table quiz, a race, a swim, a golf scramble, a football tournament, a 5-aside match, a tennis tournament, a darts competition, a pool competition, a bake sale, a Christmas jumper day, a concert or any other type of fundraiser in aid of lighting up Boyle for Christmas. Funding is needed now as new lights need to be purchased in advance. Any ideas – please contact [email protected]. In addition the Lights GoFundMe page is now open for donations here…………..New DJ Skills and techniques program called TECH, for 12-19 years old in Music Generation Boyle Hub on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The program is led by Musician Educator Harry Bouchier aka DJ ELLIOT. For information contact Katrina at [email protected] or call text 086 031 8943……….Disruption a plenty on the Dublin Sligo rail line this week with reduced capacity on some services on Tuesday and services suspended between Maynooth and Broombridge for a long period on Wednesday morning due to a ‘signaling issue’………The 28 day performance insight of Boyletoday Facebook page shows we had an unbelievable 2,207,215 views with Monday last recording 368,193 views on the page!
And finally….!
Mick appeared on ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ and towards the end of the show he had already won €500,000.
“You’ve done very well so far” says the show’s presenter, “but for a million euros you’ve only got one life-line left, phone a friend. Everything is riding on this question. Will you go for it?”
“Sure,” said Mick. “I’ll have a go!”
“Which of the following birds does NOT build its own nest?
a) Sparrow
b) Thrush,
c) Magpie,
d) Cuckoo?”
“I haven’t got a clue.” said Mick, ”So I’ll use the last lifeline and phone my friend Jimmy.”
Mick called up his mate, and told him the circumstances and repeated the question to him.
“Jeepers Mick” cried Jimmy. “That’s simple – it’s a cuckoo.”
“Are you sure?”
“100% sure.”
Mick hung up the phone and said: “I’ll go with cuckoo as my answer.”
“Is that your final answer?” asked the presenter.
“Yes it is.”
There was a long, long pause and then the presenter screamed, “Cuckoo is the correct answer! Mick, you’ve won 1 million euros!”
The next night, Mick went round to Jimmy’s to buy him a drink.
“Tell me, jimmy? How in God’s name did you know it was the Cuckoo that doesn’t build its own nest?”
“Sure doesn’t everyone know a Cuckoo lives in a clock” answered Jimmy!
