Locked toilets cause annoyance at Doon Shore
The revamped Doon Shore was a hive of activity during the recent good weather with hundreds of adults and children enjoying the popular amenity. But one viewer who got in touch with us was not too happy. They wrote: “We really had a great time at the Doon Shore today, but unfortunately the new toilets were under lock and key. There were two port-a-loos on site, however they were totally unusable. It’s so unfortunate, how is this allowed to happen at such a busy time? The facilities are there and yet can’t be utilised, forcing people to ‘go’ elsewhere and causing so many other problems”.
Boyle natives link with President Kennedy’s Funeral
This year marks the 100th anniversary since the Defence Forces Temporary Provisions Act 1923 provided for the establishment of an Irish Military College. The Military College is responsible for the provision of training and doctrine to the leadership, management and combat units of the Defence Forces.
Commandant of the Cadet School in the Military College for ten years after it’s establishment was Boyle native Cyril Mattimoe. Lt. Colonel Mattimoe was also the Military Assistant to the U.N. Force Commander in the Congo 1962-63.
The Boyle native was also involved in another high profile event during his service in the Irish Army.
In 1963, Mattimoe was then Cadet Master Lieutenant at the Curragh Camp in Kildare. When he got a call to his home at 9.30pm on Saturday 23rd November, little did he know what lay ahead. On the line was The Chief of Staff General McEoin who enquired were his cadets on leave. Colonel Mattimoe responded that they were on day pass to which the Chief said ” You have a busy few days ahead of you. Your cadets are providing a guard of honour at the funeral of President Kennedy. You fly out at 3.30pm tomorrow in the plane with President de Valera”.
The request had come from the late President’s wife Jacqueline Kennedy who said her husband had been so moved when he saw the 36th class of army cadets, under the guidance of Lt. Colonel Mattimoe, perform their silent drive at the grave of the 1916 Rising leaders at Arbour Hill during his visit to Ireland in June 1963, that she would like if they could perform at her late husbands funeral. Following the funeral, the cadets returned to Ireland as conquering heroes.
Lt. Colonel Mattimoe was a noted historian and penned many publications including ‘North Roscommon – It’s People and Past’. After retirement he holidayed regularly in his small caravan at the Woodenbridge in Boyle. He died on 23rd March 2003, a few days shy of his 90th birthday.
Installation begins of touch screen information points
Work has commenced this week on the installation of two touch screen digital information points in Boyle. They will be located at the front of the Royal Building on Bridge Street and in the grounds of King House. The information points will be link to relevant tourism related websites to provide visitors with up to date information on what they can see and visit when in Boyle.
We have commented previously here in the Boyle’d Pot on the need for Boyle to become a digital smart town. These information points are a start and hopefully more digital information developments will follow locally.
Viewer believes grass should be let grow around Boyle
Our article last week on grass cutting prompted a viewer to get in contact with us suggesting ‘There is too much lawn around Boyle’ and requesting the grass remains un-cut. “I’ve just read your article about the grasscuting…
I understand that it is important to promote Boyle and surrounds but I also think the tourists should rather be educated on why the grass is left longer instead of “pleasing” their eyes by cutting it. It is important to use every bit of available space for biodiversity. There is too much lawn around as it is. On the other hand, the tourist might be well enough informed and might even appreciate the longer grass knowing that Boyle is looking out for the environment and is doing it’s bit for climate change. So please don’t cut the grass where it could be left a bit longer only to please a tourist. A tidy roadside without litter would be much more important”.
News snippets from around Boyle
Coffee lovers now have another venue to visit in Boyle. ‘Shoot the Breeze – Kate’s Cafe’ has opened in the grounds of Results Gym serving great coffee and snacks. It compliments the recently opened ‘Paul’s Retro Eats’ which is adjacent to Shoot the Breeze. Give them a try, you won’t be disappointed………….Two events in Boyle tomorrow Saturday as part of Cruinniu na nOg. Artist Martin Heron will guide participants through the steps of working with the unusual medium of scrim tape to create a “scrim sketch” of their own from 1.30pm-3pm and 3-4.30pm. To book, please email the participant’s name(s) and age(s) to [email protected]. Workshops are aimed at children 9 years and over. At 11am DAS Academy Performances will take place in King House with no booking required. …………No Bingo in Boyle until Tuesday June 20th due to refurbishment work being undertaken in St. Joseph’s Hall…….Boyle’s Lough Key Forest Park and the upcoming Night and Day festival got further favourable publicity last Saturday in the Irish Times……..Well done to all associated with getting Community Games alive again in the town. 30 young Boyle athletes competed in the Roscommon Community Games athletics county finals in Ballyleague last Sunday with a number going forward to represent the county in the Connacht finals in August…….Yet another signalling issue added to by a technical issue saw yesterday evenings 17.10 train service from Dublin that serves Boyle delayed by over an hour.
And finally…..!
The boss wondered why one of his most valued employees had not phoned in sick one day.
Having an urgent problem with one of the main computers, he dialed the employee’s home phone number and was greeted with a child’s whisper. ” Hello ? ”
“Is your daddy home?” he asked.
” Yes ,” whispered the small voice.
May I talk with him?”
The child whispered, ” No .”
Surprised and wanting to talk with an adult, the boss asked, “Is your Mommy there?”
” Yes .”
“May I talk with her?”
Again the small voice whispered, ” No .”
Hoping there was somebody with whom he could leave a message, the boss asked, “Is anybody else there?”
” Yes ,” whispered the child, ” a policeman “.
Wondering what a cop would be doing at his employee’s home, the boss asked, “May I speak with the policeman?”
“No, he’s busy “, whispered the child.
“Busy doing what?”
“Talking to Daddy and Mommy and the Fireman ,” came the whispered answer.
Growing more worried as he heard a loud noise in the background through the earpiece on the phone, the boss asked, “What is that noise?”
“A helicopter ” answered the whispering voice.
“What is going on there?” demanded the boss, now truly apprehensive.
Again, whispering, the child answered, ” The search team just landed a helicopter .”
Alarmed, concerned and a little frustrated the boss asked, “What are they searching for?”
Still whispering, the young voice replied quietly… ” ME!!.
