Storm Eowyn Miscellany
- As we slowly get back to some form of normality following Storm Eowyn, the damage that it inflicted on our community is becoming more evident each day. Rockingham, as we locals call the Forest Park, really took a hammering. There are trees down everywhere and in some places it looks like a bomb hit, with large tracts of forestry levelled by the hurricane force winds. Mature trees – some that withstood the test of time for over 100 years, succumbed to the storm. It will take a long time to get the Park back to normal and Coillte has requested the public to not enter their forests as they clear storm damage.
- In fairness to Roscommon Co Co personnel, they were out as soon as the red warning lifted, cutting a path through fallen trees on national routes and key roads for vehicles to travel. Providing access was their priority and when they had this done, they came back to do a more thorough clean up. But one has to wonder why the local Fire Brigade were not utilised to help the Council personnel in the aftermath of the storm? They were available and on call and would have been of great assistance in the clean up operation.
- Some homes and businesses are still without power with ESB and their colleagues from overseas doing all they can to restore the network, but the damage is so severe and unprecedented that some locally may even be without power into next week. Our community once again rallied following the storm with Boyle GAA club opening their clubhouse for showers, phone charging, hot water etc. Boyle Family Resource Centre and Mo Chairde, who relocated to the Boyle Training Options, did likewise.
- One wonders why wasn’t there one central ’emergency support hub’ established in Boyle following Storm Eowyn. Granted facilities as listed above provided some assistance, but one official central hub, open all day and evening would have been a great benefit to those in the area without power and water. Many have suggested that An Rioga would have been an ideal location for this, but unfortunately it is no longer a community space for the people of Boyle and is leased out by Roscommon Co Co/Local Enterprise Office to commercial operations.
- While it was great to see An Taoiseach visit County Roscommon on Tuesday, why was Boyle not included on his itinerary? There are many, many people without power or water in this area who are suffering badly. Surely An Taoiseach’s department should have been briefed with this information well in advance of planning for his trip to the county. (An Taoiseach visited Castlerea, Ballaghaderreen and Kiltoom in South Roscommon).
- As a result Storm Èowyn, a lot of property was badly damaged and in need of repair. An Garda Siochana are asking the public to please be aware that there might be bogus tradesmen who will try to benefit from this. Please note the following advice: if someone calls to your house offering services, ask for ID, note their details, if you don’t know them or didn’t call them – don’t let them in, fit door viewer/chain/video doorbell, lock the back door and if unsure, please contact your local Garda station.
- In light of all we have learned from the two most recent storms and considering extreme weather events are going to be part of our lives going forward, should we consider devising a “Boyle Community Emergency Response Plan” to deal with such events in our town?
Progressive Family Resource Centre moves forward
The purchase of The Rectory by Boyle Family Resource Centre as reported here on Boyletoday.com last Monday is yet another progressive step for the organisation. We have outlined previously the great work Boyle FRC undertakes in the community and the economic benefit it brings to the town from all that use the facility. Now the Centre has taken a big step forward by purchasing The Rectory building and has secured funding for it’s upgrade. We are so luck to have a facility like the Family Resource Centre in our town and the many thousands of people who have benefitted from it’s services will attest to that.
Living Well Programme takes place in Boyle
The Living Well Programme will commence in Boyle on March 26th. Living Well is for those living with a long-term health condition and is a free 6-week self-management programme for adults with chronic or long-term health conditions. It gives you the skills and confidence to live well with your condition. Living Well is a self-management resource centre evidence-based self-management programme originally developed at Stanford University. It is for people aged 18 and over and suitable if you are living with a long-term health conditions or caring for someone with a long-term health condition. Living Well is not suitable if you have significant memory or learning difficulties. The Boyle programme will take place every Wednesday from 2 – 4.30pm in the Family Resource Centre commencing March 26th and concluding April 30th. To book your place, please contact Liam Glidea on 086 0142675 or [email protected].
We are a great bunch of innovators here in Boyle
We really are a great bunch of innovators here in Boyle. For a town without a hotel – we can have a dinner dances (Kilronan Castle). For a town without a cinema – we have a film club and for a town without a swimming pool – we have a swim club! All of the above go to show how you can easily overcome obstacles with a bit of “thinking outside the box”. Likewise, there are many who bemoan that there is nowhere to eat in Boyle, yet we have a number of venues with fine food. There are those who say we have nowhere to hold social events, even though there is space in the Hall, King House and the many lounges attached to licenced premises in the town. And chances are, those who complain at what we don’t have, are the very ones who do not support the venues or the businesses locally that we do have.
News snippets from around Boyle
Another landmark town centre property has come on the market in Boyle. The former Mullaneys building and latterly ‘Conroy’s on the Corner’ is on the market with ‘price on application’. The property is advertised as a “licenced premises with Residential Accommodation in the heart of Boyle Town. Excellent development potential. Former Public House with 7 day licence. Residential accommodation upstairs on two floors (Requires modernisation). Yard to rear”. More information from Cian Smith, Smith Auctioneers or here……….The Boyle to Frenchpark road is set for an eleven day closure from February 10th for the construction of an underground cattle pass. The closure will continue until Friday February 21st with a suggested diversion via Tulsk. You can see the diversion and location of the work here………..This Saturday, Boyle Basketball Club’s U14 girls will host Donegal Town Basketball Club, Cavan Eagles Basketball Club and Athlone Basketball Club & Academy for a competitive tournament in the Sports Complex commencing at 12 noon. Please drop in at some stage during the day to support the event………..Magical storytelling with Helen McSharry in Una Bhan Craft Shop this Sunday from 2-3pm for children aged 5 to 8. Give your little ones a magical experience with talented writer Helen McSharry. Dive into the world of magic and make unforgettable memories together. This event is free but please call 071 966 30 33 to reserve your place as numbers are limited. All children must be accompanied parents/guardian for the duration of the event……….A copy of Abbey Primary School Admission Policy and Application Form in respect of admissions for the 2025/26 school year is available to download at www.scoilboyle.ie or on request by emailing [email protected]………….Ballinameen GAA Club annual awards night will take place this Sunday, February 2nd in Fitzpatricks Bar, Grangemore. Awards will be presented for Club Person of the Year, Adult Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Hall of Fame. Club members can vote for their Club Person of the Year. Also on the night, the second 50/50 draw will take place. Music and refreshments………….No doubt Boyle native Deputy Frank Feighan must be bitterly disappointed he was not elevated to the position of Junior Minister in Wednesday’s announcement. Frank had his eyes on Rural and Community Development portfolio and he would have been an ideal person for the post, but it was not to be………..It will be tomorrow (Saturday) before Barna Recycling collect the wate and recycling bins from a number of customers in Boyle. They were due to be collected last Tuesday morning. No reason for the delay has been given…………The Boil Water Notice for the Boyle Regional Water Supply Scheme is still in place.
And finally……
A man moves into a nudist colony.
He receives a letter from his grandmother asking him to send her a current photo of himself in his new location.
Too embarrassed to let her know that he lives in a nudist colony, he cuts a photo in half but accidentally sends the bottom half of the photo.
He’s really worried when he realizes that he sent the wrong half, but then remembers how bad his grandmother’s eyesight is, and hopes she won’t notice.
A few weeks later he receives a letter from his grandmother.
It says, “Thank you for the picture. Change your hair style ……….it makes your nose look too short.”
Love Grandma
