Funding announced for two local historic buildings
Two local local structures/properties have been successful in securing funding under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) that was announced yesterday (Thursday). In Boyle town, the former Bank of Ireland on Main Street that is undergoing renovation was awarded €9,000 under the BHIS, for interior/structural repair, historic window glass conservation/protection, while Rockingham Stable Yard will receive €15,000 under the HSF for repair and refurbishment of original sash windows on the internal elevation of the entrance range of the stable yard.
Great to see new faces at Tidy Town clean up
Well done to all those who turned out on the Crescent last Saturday morning for the first town clean up of the year and who also came out and again on Tuesday to plant some spring flowers. It was heartening to see a number of new members of our community join in with familiar faces from last year along with a number of hardy natives who picked up litter, cut back hedging and picked weeds in advance of this weekend’s parade. There were many messages from business owners who could not attend as the clean up was on a Saturday when their shops needed to be manned. Hopefully the next clean up will see more locals join in to get our town looking great for the summer season.
Additional pedestrian crossings planned for Boyle
After confusion in Boyle last weekend, when many thought there were plans to reintroduce the one way system, Boyletoday.com clarified the situation on Monday – the only one way proposed at present is on the link road from the Railway Station to Elphin Street.
The “Boyle Safety Scheme Plan”, under which these changes are proposed, also has plans to introduce three new pedestrian crossing on the N61 in the town along with upgrading the existing four.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland say the rationale for the introduction of the new crossings is for pedestrian safety, as people are currently crossing between cars on what is a busy roadway (the N61 that runs through the town). The crossings, they suggest, will also have the effect of slowing down traffic. They also say “The proposed design will provide a much safer environment for pedestrians and vulnerable road users in Boyle by introducing various engineering measures that will enable Elphin Street and the town approach to operate more efficiently and safely”.
Monday’s story here on Boyletoday.com has raised questions including the need for 7 pedestrian crossings in relatively short succession on a national secondary route. The new crossings at the Bank of Ireland, McDonagh’s Corner and Elphin Street along with the new one way system will all necessitate the loss of car parking spaces to facilitate line of vision or ‘sightlines’, but of most concern is the crossing at the Bank of Ireland which will reduce the carriageway to 5.5m at one point. One wonders could this crossing instead go mid way down Main Street where there is less of a road angle, thus eliminating the need for two crossings on Main Street, or put the McDonagh’s corner crossing at the Charity Shop on St. Patrick Street? Likewise, could the existing crossing on the Crescent be taken away, with the new crossing at the Plunkett Home utilised?
And further consideration needs to be given in relation to the proposed one way system and access to the train station whereby motorist will have to go to the railway bridge, stop and turn right on what is a very dangerous hill where it is near impossible to see cars coming from Greatmeadow.
The majority of people are firmly behind the new footpaths and public realm work that is currently being undertaken and receiving favourable comment in Boyle. When the western side of Bridge Street and Shop Street is complete, work will soon start on the opposite side from McDonaghs Corner to An Rioga Car park and then on the car park itself. The rationale behind the extended footpaths is also logical with more room for pedestrians and people with impairments along with having the effect of slowing traffic which should be welcome by all.
Councillors will have the opportunity to make the views of the public known on all of the above when they soon meet to discuss the “Boyle Safety Scheme Plan”.
But with the emphasis on pedestrianisation of towns growing nationwide, could the answer to Boyle’s traffic problems be what many thought was happening last weekend – the reintroduction of a one way system in the town centre!?!?
Final preparations for Sunday’s parade in Boyle
The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and associated activities takes place on Sunday with an exciting day planned for Boyle (see story on homepage of this website). We are very lucky to have a committee who has put in the time and effort to ensure we have a parade in our town, which will commence at the later time of 4pm to facilitate those who want to travel to Hyde Park. Well done also to the businesses, individuals and organisations who so far (Friday AM) have donated €3815 to the Boyle St. Patrick’s Day parade GoFundMe page. It is not too late to donate which you can do here. So on Sunday, please come out in large numbers and show your support for what promises to be a great community event.
Public consultation on N4 road project
A public consultation on the preferred route for the N4 Carrick-on-Shannon to Dromod Road Project will go on display in the Landmark Hotel on Wednesday 20th March 2024 from 12.00 noon to 8pm. The proposed route will be of interest to people from Boyle as it will commence east of Carrick Golf Club on the N4 at Drumharlow with a 5.8k bypass of Carrick to rejoin the N4 at Lisseeghan townland east of Carrick-on-Shannon. For further information please log on to www.carrickdromod.ie
News snippets from around Boyle
If you are travelling from Boyle to Castlerea, please note that roadworks will commence on N5/R361 junction in Frenchpark on Tuesday 19th March (8am-6pm, Monday to Friday) for a period of 6 weeks. Delays are expected…………Natural Options in Boyle are due to welcome members of the Connacht Rugby team to their pharmacy on Wednesday March 20th. Keep an eye on Natural Options social media for more details……….For those who are wondering why there was need to have the Armed Support Unit in Boyle for a number of recent Garda raids, Monday’s Joint Policing Committee meeting was told that an imitation firearm was recovered during the raids. Well done to all Gardai involved……….. ‘A Wee Tap’ a new play by Rory Nevin will be staged on Friday March 15th in Tawnytaskin Community Centre at 7:30pm. Tickets €10 are available from the Úna Bhán Craft Shop………….What an achievement for Conan, Brianna, Ruby and Lucy from Abbey College in Boyle who were crowned All Ireland Debating Champions last week. Well done also to their Teacher Ms. Moynihan………Members of the public are advised that Keash Hill Trail – the walk to the Caves of Keash – will be closed until May 1st to facilitate lambing season and to allow farm maintenance……….On a day that unfortunately many people associate with excess drinking, St Patrick’s Day in Boyle this year has an alternative. Music Generation and the organisers of the Boyle Parade are holding a musical event featuring 10 bands in St. Joseph’s Hall commencing at 4.30pm………Roscommon v Kerry will be live on TG4 on Sunday at 1.45pm………..Fianna Fail are reported to have selected two candidates to contest the local elections in the Boyle Municipal District. Sean Moylan from Tulsk and Aidan Sampey from Fairymount were selected at a convention in Strokestown recently.
And finally….!
Two elderly couples met up in the park.
The husbands got into a huddle.
One said, “June and I went out to a new restaurant last night and it was really great. I would highly recommend it to you and your wife”.
The other elderly man asked “What was the name of the place?”
The first man pondered for a bit and eventually said, “What is the name of that flower you give to someone you love? You know, the one that’s red and has thorns?”
The second elderly man replied, “Er, do you mean a rose?”
“Yes, that’s the one.”
He then turned to his wife and asked, “Rose, what was the name of that restaurant last night”?
