Only one month until public realm upgrades are completed in Boyle
While it had been anticipated that work would commence post Christmas on the ‘Boyle Traffic Safety Scheme’, the contractors moved into place on Tuesday morning last, much to the surprise of residents and businesses on Elphin Street. Later on Tuesday, following enquires from Boyletoday.com, official notification of the commencement was issued.
On Elphin Street, there will be changes to the junction opposite Trojan as one heads to and from the Train Station. But one has to question the danger in having to travel towards Greatmeadow and turn right to access the train station (as the slip road will be one way), that is unless there is some plans to upgrade this junction at a later stage. At the best of times, this is a blind hill.
Further down the road a new pedestrian crossing will be installed – opposite the Plunkett Home. As one heads down town, the pedestrian crossings on the Crescent, opposite An Rioga and at the Post Office will receive upgrades. Two new crossings will be installed on Main Street while a build out will be constructed in the hatched area outside Sloans to eliminate illegal parking. This will make such a difference as the abandoning of cars in this area has resulted in tail backs all around town on occasion. The work on Elphin Street is scheduled to conclude on Friday November 1st and work on Main Street will commence on Monday November 4th. The Main Street element of the project will involve work in the evenings or at night for a period of 2-3 weeks to minimise disruption to businesses and traffic.
Once all the ‘Safety Scheme’ is complete, further restrictions will come into place from November 18th as the resurfacing of Bridge Street, Shop Street and An Rioga car park will commence. Details of the traffic management plan for this will be available here on Boyletoday.com closer to the date.
Advice to motorists as deer rutting season takes place
Motorists around the general Lough Key area and along sections of the N4 are being advised to drive with caution as the deer ‘rutting’ season takes place. The rutting season occurs between October and December every year when male deer compete against each other to gain a female’s attention. At this time of year, deer collisions peak as many of the animals cross roads seeking new territories. The highest risk of collisions is between sunset and midnight, and the hours shortly before and after sunrise. Deer signs are in place at locations along the N4 and side roads where the animals are known to be active and are likely to cross. There are also large concentrations of deer on the Curlieu Mountain, The Plains and in the Corrigeenroe and Knockvicar areas where motorists are advised to drive with caution.
Retiring Minister was a good friend to Boyle
One Government Minister that has left her mark on Boyle is the soon to retire Minister for Rural and Community Development and Social Protection – Heather Humphreys. Minister Humphreys took the political world by surprise last week when she announced that she would not contest the upcoming election. No stranger to Boyle, the Minister has visited the town on so many occasions with good news, that she is on first name terms with many in Boyle. Her close working relationship with Deputy Frank Feighan also helped Boyle secure unprecedented levels of funding under her tenure. Minister Humphreys had a great love of rural Ireland and indeed Boyle and she said this on many occasions when she came to town to announce her departments support for a number of projects – on last count, close on €16m! As she takes a well deserved break from political life, we thank Minister Heather Humphreys for all she has done to make Boyle, and indeed rural Ireland, a better place and let’s hope her successor has the same belief in areas outside Dublin as she had.
Business opportunities abound at present in Boyle
There are so many business opportunities around Boyle at present. The former Drumanilra Farm Kitchen site on Elphin Street is on the market giving rise to a number of possibilities including what was origionally planned for that location – a boutique hotel. On Shop Street, the three storey Post Office building is also for sale (tenant unaffected). This building, in a prime location, close to the soon to be constructed new Library and upgraded An Rioga car park, also has many potential uses. A Bar/Restaurant with a 7 day licence that housed the former ‘Yomari’ restaurant on the Crescent has also come on the market. According to the selling agents: “The property comes equipped with a fully kitted-out kitchen that previously operated as a restaurant, offering significant potential for food service and events. The interior layout provides ample space for a lively bar atmosphere with seating for customers, creating a welcoming and functional environment. Located in a bustling area of Boyle, this property benefits from regular foot traffic and is ideal for those looking to establish or expand their hospitality business”.
Concern at cars taking up casual trading spaces
Casual trading on the Crecent in Boyle has been a bone of contention, for some people, for a number of years now. In fairness to Roscommon Co Co and our local Councillors, they did try and regulate the situation with the implementation of Casual Trading Bye Laws in January 2020 when nine of the twenty eight spaces on the Crescent were designated for casual trading. The spaces were marked out and a number of rules and regulations passed including “A person shall not park a vehicle in the Casual Trading Area during allocated trading hours”. Unfortunately this part of the law is not being adhered to and this was evident in particular last Saturday when all of the nine spaces were occupied by cars when traders arrived early to set up their stalls. The results was casual traders taking up other parking spaces on the Crescent leaving traders and motorists irate at the situation. Perhaps a sign should be erected adjacent to the nine spaces to inform motorists that they cannot park there in the allocated hours, which for reference are Thursday to Saturday inclusive between the hours of 8.00am and 6.30pm.
News snippets from around Boyle
If you have recently retired or are planning to soon retire, there is an interesting event taking place next Wednesday in Boyle Family Resource Centre. From 11am – 1pm there where there will be a variety of different stands in the Centre with various pieces of information that may be of assistance……..Halloween Disco including fancy dress, face painting, games, scary story time in Ballinameen Community Centre, tonight Friday 25th 6.30pm – 8pm……..It’s now 3 years since the out of use street lights at the former National Irish Bank and the Pleasure Ground/ Lower Marian Road were notified to Electric Skyline and still they have not been replaced. Both of these areas are important junctions so you would assume priority should be given to reinstating them……..Best wishes to popular Boyle man Cian Smith who has been selected as the new Roscommon GAA U20 football manager for 2025. Cian’s appointment is subject to ratification at the next full meeting of the County Committee………Next Wednesday’s at 2pm Cultural Companions Concert in King House features Boyle native Lenny Chen. Known for his expressive playing and deep musicality, Lenny will present a captivating selection of well-known classical pieces, showcasing his skill and passion for the piano, offering an afternoon of beautiful and memorable music. Admission is only €5 followed by tea/coffee. Bookings on 087 1444739……..One wonders will the organisers of last weeks circus return to Boyle to take down the numerous posters they have placed on poles and building windows around town………..Google Street View car was seen in Boyle for a few days last week………What a pity there was not a bigger representation from the larger clubs around Boyle at last Friday evening’s performance of the “3.30 at Cheltenham”. It was a powerful performance with a strong message on the honest realities of gambling addiction……..Brighter mornings and darker evenings lie ahead with the clocks going back by one hours on Sunday morning at 2am…………Boyle now has an outreach service for victims of sexual violence. The service was launched in Boyle Family Resource Centre on Tuesday last and will be available every Tuesday at the Centre by appointment………….Abode Wellness will host their next Run Club on Saturday, 26th October at Lough Key Forest and Activity Park. It’s a social run at a relaxed, conversational pace (approx 7min/km), and there’s also the option to walk if you’d like. Meeting at Lough Key Cafe, 10:15am. Distance: 5KM loop around the park. Coffee afterwards at the Cafe. Everyone welcome to join…….Boyle Camogie Club Cake sale will take place in St. Joseph’s Resource Centre this Sunday from 12 noon until 2pm……It was great to see Lough Key Boats, King House and Lough Key Forest and Activity Park represented at a recent Failte Ireland Workshop in Athlone where the attendees presented their offerings in one-to-one meetings with 27 Irish Tour Operators……..Sunday Carvery commences in the Lakeside Cafe in Boyle’s Lough Key Forest Park this Sunday 12 noon – 3pm……..Good luck to all the Boyle Athletic Club members – Mark Reilly, Maurice Gannon, Patricia McCormack, Sheila Cunningham, Marian McGovern, Nance Hayden, James Sheridan, Cathy Weston, Shane McCarthy, Sinead McQuaid, Carmel Goldrick, Mary Moran, Noel Scally, David Greene and Sean Ballantyne along with all others who are participating in this weekend’s Dublin City Marathon.
And finally….!
An Irishman and an Englishman walk into a bakery.
The Englishman steals three buns, puts them in his pocket and leaves.
He said to the Irishman, “That took great skill and guile to steal those buns. The owner didn’t even see me.”
The Irishman replied, “That’s simple thievery. I’ll show you how to do it the honest way and get the same results.”
The Irishman then called out to the owner of the bakery and said, “Sir, I want to show you a magic trick.”
The owner was intrigued so he came over to see the magic trick.
The Irishman asked for a bun and then proceeded to eat it.
He asked two more times and after eating them the owner said, “OK my friend. Where’s the magic trick?”
The Irishman replied, “Go over and have a look in the Englishman’s pockets………!”
