Boyle is the place to be on Saturday
Let’s hope the weather plays it’s part for the official switching on of the Boyle Christmas Lights and Tree and the visit from Santa tomorrow (Saturday) evening at 4.30pm (see story on homepage of Boyletoday.com). It is great to see this event taking place in our town once again. The last time it was held was in 2018 when a large crowd turned out to see Santa arrive on the Fire Brigade – the same mode of transport he will use tomorrow. And what a bonus it is to have top League of Ireland and FAI Cup winning soccer player James Bolger perform the switching on of the lights! James is a true hero and role model for so many.
And when all the fun on the Crescent is drawing to a close, why not wait around to see the Ballinameen Tractor Run travel through town. This is always a great spectacle with the lit up vehicles scheduled to come into Boyle at approximately 5.45.
There was a stage a few weeks ago when there was a good chance there would be no Christmas Lights in Boyle and no visit from Santa. Thanks to an energetic group of locals, a small committee was formed with haste and we now have lights and Santa is on his way. It is understood that this committee have worked so well together that there are big plans for a major upgrade of the lights in Boyle for 2025. They deserve our thanks.
New carriageway and associated items
The roadworks of the last few weeks is now a distant memory and the carriageway from McDonagh’s Corner to Corrib Oil is of the finest quality. In fact it is so good cars are now moving faster on it and causing a problem for motorists at the Bridge Street junction to St. Patrick Street. The speed ramp at the pedestrian crossing at An Rioga seems to have been reduced, resulting in cars traveling at speed down Bridge Street, catching motorists off guard at they cross to St. Patrick Street.
As predicted, the work was completed well ahead of time and thankfully the contractors immediately reinstated the gullies on the carriageway on Friday week as the rains of that evening would most certainly have resulted in flooding had they not done so so quickly.
While on the subject of the new public realm, there was a big reaction to a photograph we published last week of a car parked on the new footpath on Shop Street, blocking the pedestrian crossing. We also received a photograph of another vehicle abandoned on Main Street last Saturday with its rear on the footpath outside the former Greenan Electrical shop and its front sticking out on the road. It is understood this car was ‘parked’ here by an able bodied person for a period of time which resulted in traffic backlog on what was a very busy day in the town with the Craft Fair taking place.
It would seem the only answer now is to pressurise An Garda Siochana to start patrolling the streets of Boyle more regularly and to issue tickets to those illegally parked on footpaths and in the disabled parking space on Main Street (as they use the ATM).
Viewers concern at lack of lighting at Polling Station entrance
A viewer has been in contact expressing their concern at the low level of lighting at the Polling Station in Boyle last week. The viewer said “Were we the only ones who found the parking area and access to the Convent School dangerous, especially at night? We thought there was very little lighting and safety precautions in place when we went to vote on Friday. I’m sure it’s not the school’s responsibility but who would be in charge of securing temporary lights, etc”. We advised the viewer to contact the Returning Officer with their concerns. They did so and got an immediate response from the RO who said: “I appreciate the feedback from voters on the ground as I can’t be in all venues, so your information is valuable. I will definitely take your suggestions on board for the next election”.
Not too many happy at rates increase
Yesterday’s Budget meeting of Roscommon Co Co voted to increase the commercial rates in the county by 5%. A number or Councillors (Leah Cull, Nigel Dineen, Anthony Waldron and Tony Ward) opposed the increase but it was passed by the majority. Here in Boyle, some businesses had contacted RCC earlier this year wondering where their rates money was being spent. One letter sent to us read as follows: “I write as a rate payer in Boyle. I, along with many other ratepayers in Boyle, are very dissatisfied with the lack of basic infrastructural maintenance by Roscommon Co Co in our town. There is an marked reduction in outdoor personnel resulting in weeds growing on footpaths, litter bins overflowing, signage illegible with dirt, reduction in frequency of verge cutting, no roadside hedge cutting and a general lack of upkeep of the town. Were it not for the Tidy Town people this year, Boyle town would have looked even worse. Before I pay my rates, please advise me where my rate money is being spent in Boyle and why I should pay the same rates as other years even though there is a marked difference in the amount of upkeep Boyle is getting from Roscommon Co Co”. We are told the letter writer never received a reply to their correspondence that was sent last September.
Two Christmas events to mark in the diary
The traditional St. Stephen’s Day Treasure Hunt in aid of Mayo Roscommon Hospice takes place from 2.30pm on St Stephen’s Day at Lough Key Forest & Activity Park. Make your donation and pick up your clues outside the Visitor Centre. Gather in Dodd’s Bar afterwards to hand in sheets and debate the answers!
The Boyle GAA Table Quiz takes place this year in St Joseph’s Hall on Saturday 28th December at 7.30pm. Entry €10 per person – children half price. Test your general knowledge and enjoy a great social occasion.
How people voted in Boyle last Friday
Data released from last week’s election show how people voted in the six Boyle Abbey Primary School polling stations. Vincent Beirne (17); Cormac O’ Corcairn (37); Martin Daly (265); Dympna Daly-Finn (317); Aisling Dolan (38); Michael Fitzmaurice (355); Clare Kerrane (447); Andrew Mannion (44); Eugene Murphy (126); Martina O’Connor (36); Alan Sweeney (15) and spolied votes (1). When the votes from the forty polling stations in the Boyle Electoral Area were added, the following was the result: Vincent Beirne (70); Cormac O’ Corcairn (229); Martin Daly (1085); Dympna Daly-Finn (1451); Aisling Dolan (331); Michael Fitzmaurice (2552); Clare Kerrane (3085); Andrew Mannion (231); Eugene Murphy (2205); Martina O’Connor (139); Alan Sweeney (101).
News snippets from around Boyle
Well done to Patricia Golden and her team in King House for organising what was a very successful Christmas Craft Fair last weekend. An event of this size requires months of planning and hard work which was obvious by the sheer scale of the event and the many stalls in attendance. The Fair brought a lot of people to Boyle on both Friday evening and all day Saturday and received favourable comment from those who visited the event………The annual St. Vincent de Paul collection will take place this weekend at all Masses in St. Joseph’s Church. Envelopes are available in the Church porch and can be returned to the church at any time. Alternatively, you can donate by phone to 0818176176. All donations assist people in need in our local community and the Society’s contact number is 087 929 2627. Your generosity is greatly appreciated…………King House Tea Rooms Christmas Dinner for those living alone takes place on Sunday December 22nd……….Boyle Ladybirds, Brownies and Girl Guides Christmas Jumper Party on Sunday in St. Joseph’s Hall from 4pm-6pm. This event is strictly for children aged 12 years and under who must be accompanied by a parent. Admission €5 per child……….A date that has slipped by this week but is of major significance for Boyle and other towns is December 3rd. It was on this date in 1862 that the opening took place by the Midland Great Western Railway Company of Ireland of the railway line between Longford and Sligo……….Christmas Market in the Mayfly Inn, Ballinafad on Sunday from 10.30am to 3pm……..Christmas Craft Fair in Tawnytaskin Community Centre also on Sunday………..News this morning here on Boyletoday.com that Boyle and Sligo Credit Unions are to amalgamate will be good for the members of both organisations and especially Boyle where customers will be able to access Debit Cards and Current Accounts. They say If you don’t progress and grow, you stand still and fail. So well done to all involved in Boyle Credit Union on this forward seeing move…….Christmas Fundraising Concert in Cleen Hall, Knockvicar on Sunday commencing at 6.30pm. Proceeds in aid of Brothers of Charity, Boyle; Ardcarne Youth and Children’s Choir and Ardcarne Community Games………With a Status Orange wind and rain warning coming into place this morning for County Roscommon and all of Ireland, please take care and stay in doors if possible tonight. Chances are the orange wind warning will be upgraded to Red for County Roscommon later today with Met Eireann warning of very strong and gusty northwest winds which could result in fallen trees, damage to power lines, very difficult travelling conditions and damage to temporary structures. The warning will remain in place until 10.00 Saturday morning.
And finally….!
Two men, Kearney and O’Riordan were looking at a mail order catalogue and admiring the models.
Kearney remarks to O’Riordan, ‘Have you seen the beautiful girls in this catalogue?’
O’Riordan replies, ‘Yes, they are very beautiful. And look at the price.’
Kearney says, with wide eyes, ‘Wow, they aren’t very expensive. At this price, I’m buying one.’
O’Riordan, smiles and pats him on the back. ‘Good idea. Order one and if she’s as beautiful as she is in the catalogue, I will get one too.’
Three weeks later, Kearney, the youngest of the two asks his friend, O’Rordan, ‘Did you ever receive the girl you ordered from that catalogue?’
O’Riordan replies with a glint in his eye, ‘No, but it shouldn’t be long now. She sent all her clothes yesterday.’
