Will the Green Lady appear this Halloween?
Gone are the days when the scariest thing that happened in Boyle at Halloween was a walk past a derelict King House in the hope that you might see the Green Lady! As children, we were told many stories as to how the Green Lady came about including one that she got trapped in a room full of vegetables in the former military barracks and hence why she turned green!! But unlike other menacing spirits, the Green lady is reportedly viewed as a calm, watchful presence—like a former mistress keeping order over the great house.
Other innocent happenings that took place at Halloween in Boyle are also long gone, including tying string to a door knocker and hiding behind a wall as you banged on the door, taking gates off their hinges and rehanging them the wrong way around and one not so innocent prank that is thankfully gone but probably should never have taken place – letting off a stink bomb in a phone box as someone was making a telephone call!
Viewers query Tidy Towns Adjudicators report
We were contacted by a number of people during the week following the publication here on Boyletoday.com of the adjudicators report for Boyle in this year’s Tidy Towns competition. For the record, the report was published word-for-word from the adjudicators report and was not complied by this website and any perceived inaccuracies were not of our making. Some of the viewer comments we received included: “Is the website Boyletoday.com operated by the Tidy Towns?”…….. “Why was there no mention of Church View with it’s beautiful flower baskets, the great people who set them up and keep them watered and the Park with many planted trees, plants that attract wildlife, areas for hedgehogs to hide and foxes too”……… “An Rioga is referred to as a Community Hub. That’s news to me as I don’t think the community can use it, with the exception of the Art Gallery, as it seems the top floors are let out to commercial interests”…….”The adjudicator seemed to pay more attention to St. Patrick Street than anywhere else in the town. Why was this?”.
Despite the above, it was good to see Boyle’s marks increase this year in the competition. One could contend that the marks should have increased more considering the great work the Tidy Towns group are doing in recent times keeping the town looking so well. Next year will see more improvements, especially in relation to a number of prominent derelict buildings that have recently been purchased in the town centre along with the regeneration of houses on St. Patrick Street, including those associated with the Aldi development – that should make a big difference and increase our mark once again.
The need for a Community Emergency Response Plan
The idea that we should have a “Boyle Community Emergency Response Plan” in place, arose once again over the weekend following Storm Boelo and a number of days of inclement weather. The suggestion that Boyle should have such a plan origionally came to the fore back in January 2025 following Storm Eoghan. At that time, members of the public contacted us to suggest that a plan would be great to have in place if we got another serious storm or indeed heavy snow or as one put it “when climate change leads to the Boyle river flooding our homes”. Suggestions were made at the time that there should be a regularly updated plan drawn up with a list of first responders, qualified chain saw operators, those willing to assist in an emergency, where generators and sandbags are available, a regularly updated list of the elderly and most vulnerable in our community that will need to be checked on, where emergency food can be sought, where people can stay if temporarily displaced etc etc. The suggestion was that the plan should also have a point of first contact, who would then put the plan into place and direct resources as required from a designated safe location.
One thing we have got good at here in Boyle is providing for ourselves and not waiting for others. A “Boyle Community Emergency Response Plan” would be another example of Boyle people leading the way when it comes to helping each other out in a time of need. Maybe someone will lead on this now as we approach winter 2026/27 and potentially more severe weather events……..
New speed limit planned for parts of Boyle
Boyle is one of five towns in the county that will see a new 30kph speed limit introduced in designated areas of the town in April 2027. The new limits form part of the second phase of the national speed limit review, aimed at improving safety for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users in busy town-centre areas. Roscommon County Council also plan to reduced speed limits in the vicinity of a number of schools, including periodic restrictions during school opening and closing times. At a recent Local Authority meeting, Boyle area Councillor Leah Cull voiced her concern that Felton Road and Chapel Street had not been included in the new reduced speed limit zones, citing the residential nature of both roads.
Martin’s massive fundraising challenge
Boyle fire fighter Martin Feeney is currently undertaking a massive 35 climbs of Knocknarea mountain in 28 days! For the first 21 days he will climb up and down the mountain once, the final 7 days will be a double climb, one straight after the other. Raising funds for Northwest STOP Suicide Prevention, Martin commenced his first climb on Saturday October 17th with the final climbs on Friday November 13th. According to Martin: “Northwest STOP is a crucial lifesaving service and after being involved in a fundraiser two years ago on their behalf, I learned what they do and its heartbreaking to have found out some of the individuals ringing seeking help are as young as 9 years old. North West STOP don’t receive any state funding and rely totally on fundraising, donations and corporate donations to fund their services”. You can support Martin in his fundraising effort by donating here.
Gaelic Chieftain now visible again from N4
Well done to Roscommon County Council who have coordinated the cutting back of overgrown foliage that was blocking the view of this famous landmark on the N4 north of Boyle. The issue was raised in the Boyle’d Pot last March after a number of viewers contacted us in relation to the matter. Following publication, local representatives contacted Roscommon County Council who gave an assurance that the work would be done once the nesting season was over. True to their word – the overgrown hedging and saplings have been removed and the Chieftain is once again clearly visible from the carriageway. Perhaps now thoughts might move to having the Chieftain floodlit?
Update on construction of new Boyle Library
The firm behind the construction of the new Library in Boyle – C&N Higgins Construction Ltd, gave an update yesterday on the project: “Significant progress has been made at Boyle Library since our last update, with the main structure now advanced to roof level. The latest aerial photos show the roof structure taking shape, with structural steelwork installed and timber roof framing well underway. Roof decking has also commenced across sections of the building. Located in the heart of Boyle, alongside the River Boyle, the project continues to present interesting logistical challenges, with construction taking place on a confined site surrounded by existing buildings and an active town centre. A great view of the progress being made on this new community facility for Roscommon County Council”.
News snippets from around Boyle
It’s Super Sunday in the Abbey Park in Boyle this week when Boyle Ladies take on Knockmore from Mayo in the Connacht LGFA Senior Club Semi Final with throw in at 1pm. It would be great to see a large crowd in the Park to cheer on the ladies. Advance ticket purchase here………….Keynotes Ukulele group will perform in the Old Schoolhouse Community Cafe, Ballinafad on Saturday at 11.30am…………Boyle Camera Club invite new members to their next meeting in St. Joseph’s Resource Centre on Tuesday November 10th from 8pm-10pm………..Ballinameen GAA Club annual Mass of Remembrance for deceased players, officials, members, supporters and friends of Ballinameen GAA Club will be celebrated on Sunday November 1st at 11.00am in St. Brigid’s Church, Breedogue………North & West Roscommon GAA are organising their Chris O’Dowd Lough Key Forest Park Annual Run on Sunday November 1st. Registration is available here………It has been revealed that 360 people presented to the Emergency Department at Sligo University Hospital over the course of the Bank Holiday weekend………Boyle Tidy Towns group was the recipient of €2,000 funding at the recent Tidy Towns Awards………Traditional Music Session in Cleen Hall on Sunday November 1st from 4pm-6pm. All welcome………Good luck to Kilronan Castle Hotel, having been shortlisted for two awards in the 2026 Good Food Ireland Awards. The hotel is among the finalists for the 4 star Irish Hospitality Experience of the Year and Ireland’s Hidden Heartland’s Food Lover Choice Awards……….Boyle Film Club movie night in Boyle Family Resource Centre on Saturday October 31st at 8pm……….Rick Epping (harmonica, concertina, banjo, jaw harp), will play King House on Wednesday November 4th at 2pm. A native of California and living in the West of Ireland, he has been moving back and forth between the United States and Ireland for over fifty years and has been playing the music of both lands since childhood. Rick has played with past musical greats as varied as Bluegrass founder Bill Monroe, guitarist Doc Watson, Texas bluesman Mance Lipscomb and legendary Irish accordionist Joe Cooley. Rick’s performances, which include old-time string band songs and tunes, blues and traditional dance music from Ireland and beyond, reflect the heritage passed on to him by these and many others throughout a lifetime dedicated to making their music his own. Call 087 144 4739 to book. Tickets €5…………Abbey Community College Parents Association meeting on Thursday November 5th at 7pm in the College…………Autumn Coffee Morning in Killaraght Community Centre on Sunday 1st from 10.15am – 12.30pm. Everyone welcome……….The Rosary will be prayed in Assylinn New Cemetery on Sunday at 12.30pm.
And finally…..!
A hunter walking through the jungle found a huge dead dinosaur with a pigmy standing beside it.
Amazed, he asked: “Did you kill that?”.
The pigmy said “Yes.”
The hunter asked “How could a little bloke like you kill a huge beast like that?”
The pigmy said, “I killed it with my club.”
The astonished hunter asked: “How big is your club?”
The pigmy replied: “Ah……..there’s about 90 of us.”
