A busy Easter weekend lies ahead
There was a great buzz around Boyle last Saturday. The amusements had set up base in Result’s Gym car park, the Holiday Fair was in full swing in King House and the Courtyard Market attracted it’s usual mix of locals and visitors alike. It was also heartening to see the visitors, armed with brochures from the brilliant Holiday Fare in King House, sitting in sunshine outside the various cafes throughout the town – it was like old times again!
And this weekend should be no different – (maybe with a bit less sun). Once again there is lots to do in Boyle and the general area. The Pike Angling Festival makes a welcome return to Lough Key, King House opens it’s doors for the summer season, Boyle Abbey is also open and Lough Key Caravan Park is reporting strong bookings for the holiday weekend. Add in the Afternoon Tea event on Monday in Tawnytaskin Community Centre and numerous other local happenings and events and there is certainly something for everyone this Easter weekend in Boyle.
Help needed for Sligo Road clean-up
A few weeks back a number of locals got together one Sunday afternoon and undertook a major clean up of the Crescent area, cutting back hedging, weeding the flower beds and picking up litter. It made a big difference. Next Thursday evening (21st) something similar is being organised by Boyle Tidy Town committee. This time attention turns to the Sligo Road in the first of a number of Spring Clean ups that will take place in the town. Meet up is at Boyle Celtic Football Grounds at 7pm. Bags and some gloves will be provided but please bring your own gloves if possible. The more that turn out – the easier the job will be and the quicker the work will be finished.
Castle to Cave Camino passes near Boyle
If you are travelling near Ballinafad or on the Ballymote Road this Saturday, please take extra care as there will be a large number of walkers in the area, participating in the Eastern Harps organised ‘Castle to Cave Camino’. The walkers, including a number from Boyle, are sure to enjoy beautiful scenery on the 35k looped walk that will see them travel through Aughanagh, Ballinafad , Bunnadubber, Limnagh Bog, then crossing over the R295 and continuing over by Derrygola, Dernaskeagh and back to Keash.
Local connection to Sligo murder
Events in Sligo during the week have shocked every decent person in the country. Two murders and an attack on an individual that could all be related are something you see in a TV drama, not in a town half an hour away. From a local perspective, and as documented on our news story on the murders, the late Aidan Moffit was known to many in Boyle. A number of years ago, Aidan worked a few days per week from the Bank of Ireland branch in Boyle for Bank of Ireland Life and dealt with a large number of local people with whom he remained friendly after he left the Bank to set up his own company. As an avid Roscommon GAA follower, Aidan was a regular at the various inter county games and often spoke to other football followers from Boyle, of his time here. Some members of his family are also well know in Boyle. The events of the last week are unbelievable, most especially for the families of Aidan Moffit and Michael Snee, whom we keep foremost in our thoughts this Easter weekend.
At last – cheaper rail and bus fares
This blog has consistently highlighted the high cost of rail travel in Ireland. Expensive train fares have resulted in the train being used mainly by students and OAP’s as the cost of a day trip, and especially a family ticket, was considered very expensive by the majority. But thankfully that has all changed now due to reductions made under the Governments ‘Cost of Living’ initiative. A quick look on Irish Rail website shows that a return tickets from Boyle to Dublin Connolly next Tuesday will cost an acceptable €24.75. It now makes sense for a person travelling to the city on their own to take the train as the cost of diesel has made the round trip around €30. Bus Eireann has also reduced their prices under ‘Cost of living’ which is also welcomed.
New sculpture trail will be a welcomed addition to the town
The new Boyle sculpture trail (details on the homepage of Boyletoday.com) will be another welcomed addition to the town. The trail forms part of the Destination Towns upgrade of the Pleasure Grounds and the lane to the side of King House and is funded as a separate element under Fáilte Ireland’s Developed and Emerging Destination Towns Capital Investment Programme and led by Roscommon Co Co and Boyle Town Team. Up to six sculptures will be commissioned representing the history, story and community of Boyle and will be installed in various locations: At the newly developed tiered area in the Pleasure Grounds, along the river, so as to respond to the Steinway Grand Piano in the Main Salon in King House – the window of which overlooks the Pleasure Grounds; The Children’s Playground located in the Pleasure Grounds; The Sports Pitch located in the Pleasure Grounds; Boyle River – to be located close to the Pedestrian Bridge and Boyle History & Heritage – at 2 locations – one along King House Lane and one in the Pleasure Grounds.
The ongoing enhancement works to the Pleasure Grounds includes widening and resurfacing of existing footpaths, construction of paved areas, provision of increased landscaping as well as upgrade of existing landscaped features, enhancement of existing foot bridges and railings, construction of terraced seating, the provision of street furniture and the creation of the above detailed Sculpture
Trail.
And finally…..!
A male patient is lying in bed in the hospital, wearing an oxygen mask over his mouth and nose.
A female nurse appears and gives him a partial sponge bath.
“Nurse,”‘ he mumbles from behind the mask, “are my testicles black?”
Embarrassed, the young nurse replies, “I don’t know, Sir. I’m only here to wash your upper body and feet.”
He struggles to ask again, “Nurse, please check for me. Are my testicles black?”
Concerned that he might elevate his blood pressure and heart rate from worrying about his testicles, she overcomes her embarrassment and pulls back the covers.
She raises his gown, holds his manhood in one hand and his testicles gently in the other.
She looks very closely and says, “There’s nothing wrong with them, Sir. They look fine.”
The man slowly pulls off his oxygen mask, smiles at her, and says very slowly,
“Thank you very much. That was wonderful. Now listen very, very, closely:
“Are – my – test – results – back?”
