Boyle Kayak Launch System in awards final
The accessible Kayak Launch System that was installed in various locations around Lough Key in Boyle last year is shortlisted for an award at tomorrow night’s All Ireland Community and Council Awards which will be held in Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork. The project is listed under the ‘Most Inclusive’ category and is up against strong competition from Fingal, Carlow, Wicklow and Leitrim.
The Kayak Launch Deck and Floating Swim Dock was initially installed at the Doon Shore, with other Kayak launches installed at the River Head at Wooden Bridge and at Lough Key Forest Park (which was unfortunately damaged during the recent storm). €199,800 was allocated by Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys for the Canoe/Kayak ‘Easy Launch System’. The application for the development was made by Roscommon County Council with support from Boyle Town Team.
Speaking ahead of the awards ceremony, Lisa Joy, Tourism Officer of Roscommon County Council said the project greatly enhanced tourism amenities at Lough Key: “This project demonstrates the importance of providing accessible tourist amenities, connecting the area to Boyle in a new and exciting way, utilising the natural amenities Lough Key and Doon Shore have to offer”
IPAS residents had been involved in many local activities
There was shock and surprise in Boyle during the week when word filtered through that the IPAS building on Green Street was to close. Rumours had been circulating over the weekend, but as always, Boyletoday.com requested a statement from Roscommon Co Co to ascertain the facts before publication, and they responded promptly on Tuesday evening.
The residents of the building have now been moved to another centre, which is a shame considering how well they had integrated into the community of Boyle over the past 15 months. Indeed, a number were visibly emotional on Friday last as they bid goodbye to their adopted town, with some saying they hoped to return when circumstances change.
Many of the 14 men who resided on Green Street got involved in numerous activities and had regularly given of their time to local organisations and were among the first to volunteer on the Tidy Town’s clean ups at various times during their stay here. Others had sought and gained employment. Local people who took the time and respect to get to know the residents of the building have nothing but praise for them and they are wished well in where ever life now brings them.
Built Heritage grants for a number of Boyle properties
The former Grehan’s music shop in Boyle has been awarded €20,000 under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme for historic window conservation and protection. Further down the street, another premises also called Grehan’s has been awarded €6,000 for ‘shopfronts’.
Also in Boyle, Carrigard House is to receive €5,000 for roof repair, structures and coverings including lead work under the scheme. Rockingham Stable Yard will get €14,000 for historic window/glass conservation/protection while Boyle Federal Church is to receive €6,000 for historic window glass conservation/protection along with external joinery repair. In addition to the funding provided under BHIS, owners and custodians will have to commit to the projects from private sources.
New short term rental plans for Boyle
Boyle could be in line for much needed short term rentals with planning being sought by Mervyn Boles for permission for a development at Boles of Boyle on Bridge Street. The development will consist of the restoration and renovation works to Boles of Boyle rear entrances and upper two storeys. The complete conservation and reconstruction works required to deliver 7 separate short term rental dwellings and maintain one commercial unit at ground level. This will include all the necessary internal conservation/restoration and renovation works to the existing structure and fabric for the provision of the proposed development. External restoration and conservation to the 2nd and 1st floor and improvement works to the existing rear entrances.
Join the Boyle St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Boyle’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2025 is fast approaching and the organisers would like you to be part of it! You can become involved by getting creative with a float, showing off your community spirit by dressing in green, helping out by becoming a volunteer or just dancing to the music and enjoying the fun. The organisers say they are relying on the support of the public to make this event bigger and better every year. If you’d like to help keep the tradition alive, please consider donating to the GoFundMe page here
News snippets from around Boyle
It was comical to see an article online and in the print media during the week highlighting how “Dublin had zero hours of sunshine in the past seven days”! Imagine of they lived in this part of the country!……… Boyle Summer Show committee are seeking volunteers. if anyone is interested, please call 0872783778 or send an email to [email protected]……..This Sunday’s 11.30a.m. Mass will focus on the Confirmation pupils. All pupils and their parents are asked to attend……….Contributions are currently being sought for a publication on Lough Gara that will be released later this year. It will be a compilation of written pieces ranging from the archaeology of the lake to some fishing stories. Please contact [email protected]……. ‘Boyle One Voice Singers’ first meet up will take place this Thursday 27th February at 7pm in Family Resource Centre. People from all backgrounds, nationalities and cultures are welcome with no auditions…….Very bad flooding reported this morning (Friday) around Boyle and the North West in general, following heavy overnight and early morning rain, but a clearance will spread from the west later……..It was reported during the week that a Buzzard was shot and injured near Elphin. Could this be one of a family of Buzzards that regularly orbit The Plains area and who nest in a known location on the east of Boyle?……….Once again the street lights are not working in certain parts of the town with the result that it is very dangerous for pedestrians. The lights were out of order following the recent storm but came back on for a few days and are now gone again. Electric Skyline has been notified……….The restoration of a derelict cowshed in the former Rockingham Estate into a contemporary family home will feature on Sunday night’s ‘Great House Revival’ TV programme on RTE 1 at 21.30……….With over 1000 homes and businesses losing power for a period of time yesterday (Thursday) and further stormy weather on the way, particularly on Sunday, people are understandably anxious of what lies ahead and if power will be lost once again, and if so, for how long this time………Interesting to note that to date 62% of the respondents in our online poll on the right of this page, answer ‘yes’ to the questions “Should consideration be given to introduce a one way system on Bridge St. and Main St. in Boyle”?
And finally….!
The Brownes were unable to conceive and decided to use a surrogate father to start their family. On the day the surrogate was to arrive, Mr. Brown kissed his wife goodbye and said, ‘Well, I’m off now. The man should be here soon.’
Half an hour later, just by chance, a door-to-door baby photographer happened to ring the doorbell, hoping to make a sale.
‘Good morning, he said, “I’ve come to…”
“Oh, no need to explain,” Mrs. Browne cut in, embarrassed, “I’ve been expecting you.”
‘Have you really?” Said the photographer. “Well, that’s good. Did you know babies are my specialty?”
“Well that’s what my husband and I had hoped. Please come in and have a seat.”
After a moment she asked, blushing, “Well, where do we start?”
“Leave everything to me. I usually try two in the bathtub, one on the couch and perhaps a couple on the bed. And sometimes the living room floor is fun.”
“Bathtub, living room floor? No wonder it didn’t work out for Harry and me!”
“Well, none of us can guarantee a good one every time. But if we try several different positions and I shoot from six or seven angles, I’m sure you’ll be pleased with the results.”
“My, that’s a lot!” gasped Mrs. Browne.
“In my line of work a man has to take his time. I’d love to be in and out in five minutes, but I’m sure you’d be disappointed with that.”
“Don’t I know it,” said Mrs. Browne quietly.
The photographer opened his briefcase and pulled out a portfolio of his baby pictures. “This was done on the top of a bus,” he said.
“Oh, my God!” Mrs. Browne exclaimed, grasping at her throat.
“And these twins turned out exceptionally well, when you consider their mother was so difficult to work with.”
“She was difficult?” Asked Mrs. Browne.
“Yes, I’m afraid so. I finally had to take her to the park to get the job done right. People were crowding around four and five deep to get a good look.”
“Four and five deep?” said Mrs. Browne, her eyes wide with amazement.
“Yes”, the photographer replied, “And for more than three hours, too. The mother was constantly squealing and yelling I could hardly concentrate, and when darkness approached I had to speed up. Finally, when the squirrels began nibbling on my equipment, I just had to pack it all in.”
Mrs. Browne leaned forward. “Do you mean they actually chewed on your, uh .. . . .equipment?”
“It’s true, yes. Well, if you’re ready, I’ll set-up my tripod and we can get to work right away.”
“Tripod?”
“Oh yes, I need to use a tripod to rest my Canon on. It’s way too big for me to hold for very long.”
And with that – Mrs. Browne fainted.
