Restaurant opening hours raises concern
Once again, not having a wide range of restaurants open early week in Boyle is causing problems. Boyletoday.com was contacted by an accommodation provider during the week and the following is an extract from their email: We have a house full of paying guests tonight and yet again, especially considering we are in July, there is only one place open to eat on Tuesday night in town. So, as usual, back to Carrick on Shannon our guests will go. Many have to regularly go over to Carrick from Boyle for an evening meal and they like what they see, and state they like the choice there, and Boyle sadly is losing this business. Please raise this point again. Our business is open 7 days a week for guests during the summer but we are embarrassed when we can’t find them a place to eat. There’s a lot of people walking around town as we write this, so the people are here”.
This problem raises its head every year and needs to be addressed urgently if we are to keep and increase the tourism market in Boyle. For June, July and August restaurants need to be open 7 days per week or come to an arrangement that a rota system between the various establishments operates on quieter days like Monday and Tuesday. The formation of a ‘Restaurant Association’ in the town may also be of assistance but until that is formed, it is vitally important that more restaurants open on Monday and Tuesday evenings or everyone will lose out in the long term.
Lining out car parking spaces in Boyle
Two areas around Boyle that could do with the benefit of parking lines are St Joseph’s Church and St Joseph’s Hall. While St. Joseph’s Church car park is so big it is seldom full, having lined our parking would most certainly be of benefit – especially when large funerals take place. The area around St Joseph’s hall is regularly used if the Crescent car park is full or if there is a funeral in Mahon’s Funeral Home. Again, having dedicated lines would be of great assistance and would eliminate the ‘abandoning’ of cars that currently takes place.
The rising cost of the printed word
In an age of free news and greater internet connectivity, one wonders what the traditional print media are thinking as they continue to price themselves out of the market. Nearly every newspaper – local or national is suffering from falling circulation and to counteract the decline, the powers that be in such establishments seem to believe that increasing the cover price of the publications will garner increased revenue! What they do not seem to understand is that an increased cover price will lead to a further decrease in circulation as consumers turn to free news and the downward circulation spiral continues with the inevitable outcome for the newspaper industry. Locally the Leitrim Observer newspaper was the most recent to increase its price. It took a massive 30c jump last week from €2.50 to €2.80! The Roscommon Herald currently costs €2.70 while the Sligo Champion is one of the “cheapest” at €2.50.
Increasing Abbey Visitor Numbers
Boyle Abbey is one of our main tourist attractions and one that unfortunately is not reaching its full potential when it comes to visitor numbers. The addition of the glass facade on the northern end of the building which was the subject of criticism initially, is a structure that has now ‘grown’ on people and could in fact assist in getting more visitors to the 800 year old building. The glass corridor was initially erected at the Cistercian abbey to shield the unique blend of Romanesque and Gothic architecture from the elements. It has often been suggested that the glassed off area could also house some form of museum or artifacts relating to the Abbey. During its €2m renovation and conservation in 2011 it is understood numerous artifacts were discovered around the Abbey perimeter which one assumes are now in storage in the National Museum. Were they to be brought back to Boyle and displayed in this section of the Abbey, they would become a major tourist attraction.
Boyle looks brighter than ever
It could be the case that Tidy Town judges have already visited Boyle to view the town for the 2019 competition and if we do not increase marks this year, then something does not add up. The town is currently looking good, aided to in no small way by the many businesses who have beautiful hanging baskets and door display’s added to their premises. The local Tidy Town committee have planted the base of the approach signs to Boyle and new planters, courtesy of Boyle Town Team and Boyle Chamber of Commerce, are soon to be placed at the recently paved Shambles area. But pride of place most go to the shrubs and plants on the Crescent. This area is looking better than ever before thanks to the Tidy Towns and the business people on the Crescent who maintain the planting. The flowers brighten up the town and look great as one ascends the Crescent. We most definitely should rise up in points in the 2019 Tidy Town competition.
And finally….!
Patrick’s pregnant sister was in a terrible car accident and went into a deep coma. After being in the coma for nearly six months, she wakes up and sees that she is no longer pregnant. Frantically, she asks the doctor about her baby.
The doctor replies, “Ma’am, you had twins – a boy and a girl. The babies are fine, however, they were poorly at birth and had to be christened immediately, so your brother Patrick came in and named them.”
The woman thinks to herself, “Oh suffering Jesus, no, not my brother. He’s a clueless idiot.”
Expecting the worst, she asks the doctor, “Well, what’s my daughter’s name?”
“Denise”, says the doctor.
The new mother is somewhat relieved, “Wow, that’s a beautiful name, I guess I was wrong about my brother. I really like Denise.”
Then she asks, “What’s the boy’s name?”
The doctor replies, “Denephew.
