Planned Sports Centre – another piece of good news
There was further good news for Boyle on Wednesday last as details were made public of plans to develop a section of the Termon Lands into a Sports Centre. That a group in Boyle has the energy and willingness to take on such a development is testament to the new found sense of pride and belief that now exists in our town. Linking the development up to the new cycle path that will conclude/ start (depending on which way you look at it) from the Royal, past The Lawn and up to the Termon Lands is also an excellent example of joined up thinking by the group. The reopening of the Assylinn swimming area, the installation of fishing stands along the river and the construction of an all weather running track in association with all the other sports facilities will make this one of the biggest pieces of infrastructure to be constructed in Boyle in recent years if it proceeds. But a number of hurdles need to be crossed before it can commence, – including raising the necessary finance that will be required from a match funding perspective. But with all the clubs and the people of Boyle behind the project – anything is possible and everything can be achieved.
Further changes at local newspaper
Another link with the past was severed this week when local newspaper the Roscommon Herald ceased a 160 year old tradition of being delivered by local van drivers from the town of Boyle. It is understood that the newspaper, which heretofore was delivered to Boyle from it’s printers every Monday night for distribution around the county, now arrives out of town for delivery by a contracted national distribution company. It follows a number of changes in recent years to the newspaper that first commenced operation in Boyle 160 years ago this year. It is now produced in Cork where all accounts are also handled and printed in Dublin. It is understood a number of local drivers have been affected by the most recent move.
The future looks bright for Boyle football
The great win by Abbey College boys junior team on Tuesday last augurs well for the future of football in the town. Every couple of years or so a group of young footballers emerge that have the skill and comradery that sees them work well together as a team. This current group of players are an example of this and if they stay together we could yet see further glory for Boyle on the playing fields in both gaelic and soccer.
Boyle businesses in awards final
It is great to see a number of Boyle licenced premises and restaurants being nominated in the 21 various categories for the 2019 Irish Restaurant Awards. As this blog has said many times, we have some of the best businesses in the country here in our town and as such they deserve to be recognised for all their efforts. The Irish Restaurant Awards showcase the true talent that Ireland’s hospitality industry has to offer by acknowledging outstanding performers in the sector. Growing steadily from its humble beginnings back in 2009, the awards are now a five-month long process consisting of online public nominations, judging panels, mystery guest inspections and regional and national events. The Connacht awards, which will hopefully include some Boyle recipients, will take place on Tuesday March 26th in the Radisson Hotel in Sligo.
Parking mindsets need to change
A regeneration plan for Carrick on Shannon town centre seems to have run into problems. The main area of concern for traders in the town is the reduction in on street parking. The provision of a 105 vehicle car park just off the Main street does not seem to have allayed the fears of the traders with many calling for the €2.9m upgrade to now be scrapped. But it would seem the local authority are moving ahead with the plan following the an order this week for the CPO of land known as ‘Flynn’s Field’ for the car park.
Rural traders all over Ireland seem to feel that on street parking, or more to the point – parking right outside one’s premises- is their right, but that is not the case. Here in Boyle we have numerous town centre car parks which remain unused as business owners and staff park outside their place of employment. If those same places were left for customers, either in Boyle or in other towns, there would be no parking problems. There needs to be a change of mindset in relation to parking – not just where you park but also the use of cars in town centres. The long term aim should be to get more cars out of town centres to reduce pollution and allow pedestrians to move more freely.
Best wishes to the Smith family tonight
TG4 should have record viewing figures around Boyle this evening as the Smith family accept the Dermot Earley Award in recognition of their contribution to the GAA at the Presidents Awards Dinner in Croke Park. The Smiths are deeply immersed in the football and social life of the town and their native county and are highly respected the length and breadth of Roscommon and further afield. They are wished an enjoyable night from all in Boyle.
And finally…..!
A young doctor had moved out to a small community to replace a doctor who was retiring. The older doctor suggested that the young one accompany him on his rounds, so the community could become used to a new doctor. At the first house a woman complains, “I’ve been a little sick to my stomach.”
The older doctor says, “Well, you’ve probably been overdoing the fresh fruit. Why not cut back on the amount you’ve been eating and see if that does the trick?”
As they left, the younger man said, “You didn’t even examine that woman? How’d you come to the diagnosis so quickly?”
“I didn’t have to. You noticed I dropped my stethoscope on the floor in there? When I bent over to pick it up, I noticed a half dozen banana peels in the trash. That was what probably was making her sick.”
The younger doctor said “Pretty clever. If you don’t mind, I think I’ll try that at the next house.” Arriving at the next house, they spent several minutes talking with a younger woman. She said that she just didn’t have the energy she once did and said, “I’m feeling terribly run down lately.”
“You’ve probably been doing too much for the Church,” the younger doctor told her. “Perhaps you should cut back a bit and see if that helps.”
As they left, the elder doctor said, “I know that woman well. Your diagnosis is almost certainly correct, she’s very active in the church, but how did you arrive at it?”
“I did what you did at the last house. I dropped my stethoscope and, when I bent down to retrieve it, I noticed the priest under the bed.”
