Taking to the back lands to avoid traffic
A viewer has been in contact with us to highlight a new traffic route in Boyle that is most concerning. The person wrote: I was walking along the laneway next to the river at the rear of Main Street, where Riverside Studio is located, when a small van turned into the laneway having come down past the library and proceeded with some speed along the laneway, resulting in me having to take evasive action by stepping into a gate way. It appears the driver was dodging a traffic hold up on Main Street. This practice is extremely dangerous, when looked at in hindsight. What would have happened if a person stepped out of one of the buildings just as this smug looking driver was passing, at considerable speed”?
Another area where this also happens is along Eaton Lane at the rear of St. Patrick Street where cars turn down by the Spool Factory, at speed, to emerge at Lovage so they can beat the traffic queue at the junction of McDonagh’s Corner. This mainly takes place before 9am in the morning and like the maneuver highlighted above, is a very dangerous piece of driving.
Boyle is one of the safest place in which to live
There are some people who would like you to think that Boyle is not a safe place in which to live anymore – when in fact the opposite is the truth. Break-ins, like the ones that took place last weekend, are happening in every town and village in Ireland – this week it was Boyle/Carrick/Gurteen – next week somewhere else will be hit – unfortunately spates of crime like these are part and parcel of life all over Ireland, and indeed the world right now, but until those responsible are caught and brought to justice, finger pointing by association is not acceptable in Boyle or any other civilized society.
Figures provided last year to Roscommon Joint Policing Committee prove that Boyle is one of the safest places in which to live in the county and that is still the fact. Nothing has changed that makes Boyle any more dangerous to walk around than it was when those figures were made public. Granted, we do have some small petty crime and vandalism that is allegedly being undertaken by some locals and which Gardai are endeavoring to nip in the bud, and there has also been some break-ins in late 2023 that have been linked to a Dublin gang, but Boyle continues to be a safe place in which to live, despite how some people will use last weekend’s crimes to push their own agenda.
Plans for Cultural Quarter encompass the aim of Boyle 2040
There are many developments in the pipeline for Boyle in 2024, both commercial and residential. Planning permission is currently being sought for a number of the developments especially on Main Street and along the laneway at the back of Main Street (should this ‘lane’ get a new name that will reflect it’s future prominence?). The Boyle 2040 Plan envisaged the redevelopment of this area or the ‘Cultural Quarter’ as it is referred to in the plan: The overriding aim is that the entire riverside and Main Street area acquire a sense of cultural and historical significance which augments the overall offer within a truly mixed-use quarter with culture at its core. The envisaged new focus of cultural quarter facilities will be a new pedestrian focused riverside area. It is envisaged that a diversity of future uses, visible life and active frontages along the banks of the Boyle River within the Cultural Quarter will ensure the urban community develops a strong sense of identity and cohesiveness”.
Thankfully those who have submitted planning for this area (and who as a result are investing in our town) are encompassing the aim of Boyle 2040 as stated above. This fact will hopefully aid planning permission issuing without delay so these developments can proceed.
For those who would like to read the Boyle 2040 plan, it is accessible here
A Community Hotel may not be the best idea for Boyle
During the discussion on the importance of hotels in Ireland on The Tonight Show on TV3 on Wednesday last, the loss of a hotel in Boyle and how it has affected the town was mentioned by Town Planner Tom Phillips. Tom, who has local knowledge, is indeed correct but the idea discussed on the show of a community hotel may not be the best route for a town like Boyle to follow.
This mention on national news of a Community Hotel idea will no doubt now awaken the keyboard warriors in Boyle to recommence plying the worn out mantra “Boyle needs a hotel”. We all know Boyle needs a hotel but as stated so many times in this blog over the years, it is not that easy to build a hotel. Be assured, there are many people making every effort possible to get one in Boyle, but hotels don’t just pop up overnight, they will only be built if they are economically viable and chances are very few accountants would advise any developer to build a hotel in any rural town in Ireland at this point in time and indeed very few Banks would fund such a venture – but in Boyle the situation is different and a strong economic case can be made that a small 20 bedroom hotel will work in our town. We can only keep trying……..
News snippets from around Boyle
Saturday night’s Boyle GAA Dinner Dance in Kilronan Castle promises to be an enjoyable night out. Well done to all involved in organising this event………..Shame on the person who wrote anti-Semitic graffiti on the wooden hut along by Boyle canal, but credit to the local person who went down to the hut on Tuesday and cleaned it off……….Boyle Credit Union AGM takes place on Thursday 25th January at 8.30pm. Members can register online at www.boylecreditunion.com or email [email protected] before Wednesday………Respect for our national flag should ensure the ripped and damaged tricolour currently hanging off a building on Bridge Street is removed…………Fr. Frankline who was in St. Joseph’s Parish in Boyle last year while completing his studies and who was newly ordained last September in his home country will be celebrating the 7.30p.m. Vigil Mass on Saturday 20th in St. Joseph’s Church. There will be refreshments served afterwards in the Resource Centre……………..Lough Arrow Christmas Day Swim will hold a table quiz on Saturday night in the Mayfly Inn commencing at 9pm. Tables of 4 €40. Raffle and refreshments on the night with all money raised going to the North West Hospice…………It would be great to see a large crowd at Celtic Park this evening (Friday) as Boyle Celtic take on joint league leaders, Ballaghaderreen FC. Both teams are level on 15 points each but Ballaghaderreen have a game in hand so it’s a vital game for Celtic to win. Kick off is at 8pm and the club would love to see a large number of supporters in attendance………..Once again, Sligo Co Co showed up their neighbouring counterpart on Thursday morning by providing updates from 7am on road conditions etc following overnight snow…………’Spring into Health’ Herbal Medicine event in Ardcarne Garden Centre this Sunday with booking available here.
And finally…!
A drunk man stumbled and fell down on a subway next to a priest.
The man’s shirt was stained, his face was cut and his clothes were all torn. He opened his newspaper and began reading.
After a few minutes the man, slowly twisted around and turned to the priest and asked, “Father, would you know what causes arthritis?”
The priest replies, “My son, it’s caused by loose living, being with cheap, wicked women, drinking too much alcohol, contempt for your fellow man, sleeping around with prostitutes and lack of good hygiene.”
The drunk muttered in response, “Well, I’ll be damned” and then returns to his newspaper.
The priest, thinking about what he had said, nudged the man and apologised.
“I’m very sorry. I didn’t mean to come on so strong. How long have you had arthritis?”
The drunk answered, “Oh I don’t have it at all, Father.
I was just reading here that the Pope does.”
