The annual general meeting of Boyle Town Team was held on Thursday last in King House and the following officers were elected: Chairperson – Ciaran Sheerin, Vice Chairperson – Aine Murphy, Treasurer – Trevor Conroy, Minutes Secretary – Brian Nerney and Correspondence Secretary – Dara Callaghan.
In his Chairperson speech, Ciaran Sheerin outlined the great progress that has been made in the town and spoke about the Team’s plans for 2026:
“Is Boyle a great place to live? Is Boyle an accessible place? Is Boyle a vibrant tourism and commercial hub? Is Boyle a place to take pride in”?
“These were the stated aims of Boyle Towns Teams input into the 2040 plan back in 2018. I have been reflecting on these in preparation for this years AGM: by most metrics Boyle is a great place to live & work, housing costs are lower than many other areas of Ireland, we are well connected in terms of train and road networks and we have a number of local and multinational firms in close proximity providing quality employment opportunities. On the other hand we know there is a proven need for more childcare options in Boyle, we see the lack of a hotel as a major blocker to our tourism and business needs, we know there are great integration and supports in place for different abled members of our community however we can always do better. We see dereliction that is stubbornly present, we see buildings lie undeveloped, unused and owners unwilling to sell the same properties.
So are we moving towards those stated goals”?
“Yes we are! An evidence-based approach would suggest to me that we are moving in the right direction. Is it perfect? Nothing ever is. Does the progress align exactly with the Boyle 2040 vision. Not always. However the key point is that we are progressing and progressing directionally correct, imperfections and all. Even more importantly progress is gaining speed. Several recent announcements are further evidence that our community, business and the state are backing Boyle”:
Aldi planning permission has been approved by Roscommon County Council.
Work has commenced on the construction of our new, modern town centre Library building.
Planning permission sought for major expansion of Lough Key Forest & Activity Park.
Initial plans unveiled for accommodation and refurbishment of Kingston Hall in the Forest Park.
Roscommon County Council announced a feasibility study for hotel accommodation in Boyle.
Funding secured by Boyle Town Team for Courthouse & Bridewell Feasibility Study.
A number of town centre properties have been renovated and are now providing much needed accommodation and modernised retail space.
Additional businesses have opened in Boyle over recent months.
“Its easy to fall into the trap of only seeing the negatives about Boyle. We all see good news peppered with the ever-present commentary of ‘yes that’s great but’ and ‘why are they spending x on this when we need y’. Of course we as members of the Town Team have a responsibility to find value in commentary whether it is negative, positive or neutral. However its important to focus on Boyle’s strengths and upsell its offerings. We know that everything flows down the path of least resistance and if a town is seen to have a negative populace that can be a real blocker and demotivator for progress. So my ask is, take pride in where you come from, acknowledge shortcomings but don’t let them take away from the great assets Boyle has to offer. Take every opportunity to be an ambassador for Boyle and help shift the narrative toward growth, pride, and possibility”.
“Reflecting on the past year, our team has experienced change with some longstanding members departing and some newer members coming on board. We thank outgoing members for their commitment throughout the years and wish them all the best for the future. Those departing team members are: Anna Roberston, Aaron O’ Connor, David Gunning, Louise Moran & Frank Geelan. We welcome new members of the team who joined us during the year: We welcome this year Erita O’ Carroll (representing town centre trading) Cllr Leah Cull (our local elected representative) and Sarah Callaghan (who will help us with our media strategy in 2026)”.
“We thank Margaret Mulligan, Ciaran O Connor, Mervyn Boles, Dara Callaghan, Brian Nerney, Aoife Roddy, Aine Murphy, Nigel Mac Aodh & Trevor Conroy for their continued participation and contributions in town team activities”.
To highlight a couple of key wins for the team in 2025:
“Successful completion of the MUGA (Multi Use Games Area) in the Pleasure Grounds, a game changing project led by Aine Murphy and ably supported by Aoife Roddy. I think we can all agree a great success”.
“Public Street Lighting from Erris to the Wooden Bridge. An excellent effort by Trevor Conroy with support from Colm Kelly and his team in Roscommon County Council. A special mention to David Connolly who kindly fitted all the lighting onto the poles free of charge as a way of giving back to the town”.
“Christmas Lights Committee Support- Nearly the entire team helped in some fashion or other, I would call out Trevor Conroy, Dara Callaghan & Aine Murphy as the main contributors to which we are very grateful for your efforts. A huge thanks to the many other members of the Team and other volunteers who helped out on cold winter mornings with traffic management and erecting the lights. Thanks to all the members of the public who donated, all who helped the switch on event and the generous businesses of Boyle who couldn’t do enough to make the Christmas lights a success”.
“Brian Nerney for his support and coordination with the council on the Lawn project & the bridge lighting. Its great to see both at advanced stages, thank you for your efforts”.
“This year seen a very successful return of Irish Ballooning Championship after a 30-year hiatus. The Town Team was involved in the planning for months to ensure a smooth itinerary and funding was in place to meet the visiting balloonists. Thank you everyone for your efforts”.
“Support to the courthouse committee: Boyle Town Team has successfully secured up to 50k euro funding for a feasibility study to determine a viable future use for the Courthouse and Bridewell complex”.
“For all the efforts not mentioned previously: thanks to all the Town Team members who supported in other areas big and small throughout the year”.
“Thank you to Leah Cull & Sean Moylan for being active representatives for our view point at council level”.
“A special thanks also to members of the council for their support during the year: Colm Kelly, Adrian Farrell, Una Ni Chuinn, Lisa Joy, Jackie Keegan, Mark Keaveney & Roscommon County Council Chief Executive Shane Tiernan, all of whom have been instrumental this year in furthering our initiatives and furthering progress in Boyle”.
“Thank you to Minister Frank Feighan, Senator Gareth Scahill, Minister Dara Calleary, Minister Jack Chambers, TD Martin Daly T.D. & Claire Kerrane T.D. for your support of Boyle throughout the year”.
“A final thank you to Patricia Golden and the team here at King House, I think we can all agree an excellent setting for this years AGM”.
2026 Focus
“With all the recent good news stories about investment in Boyle lets cover the Town Teams key focus areas for 2026:
Execute on the Courthouse & Bridewell feasibility study, complete grant draw down.
Ballooning Championship- Develop public offerings.
Continued support to Christmas lights Committee on infrastructure procurement and enhancements.
Complete ‘the Lawn’ area refurbishment in conjunction with Roscommon County Council.
Establish active social media and website presence.
“In conclusion, I invite us all to reaffirm our dedication to Boyle and its surrounding communities, approaching our responsibilities with professionalism, integrity, and a sincere commitment to the common good. When we act with shared purpose and a unified vision for the years ahead, we position ourselves to make tangible and lasting contributions to the advancement of Boyle”.
“Thank you for your continued support and engagement. I look forward to 2026 as we continue this important work with renewed resolve, measured determination, and a steadfast belief in potential”.
Ciaran Sheerin
Chairperson
