Memories of the Centre of Attraction
This Saturday night there is a chance for the younger folk in our community to “relive the dance hall era” when the Keith McDonald Showband take to the stage in St. Joseph’s Hall. Of course the night is not only for younger folk, it is open to every age group and no doubt there will be those of a certain vintage who will come back to the hall to relive that famous dancing years of the fifties and sixties. In between are a generation of forty and fifty something year old’s who have fond memories of the then called “Centre of Attraction” as St. Joseph’s Hall was renamed when bands appeared in the ’80’s and 90’s. Sunday night’s were spent dancing to the likes of The Bogey Boys, The Freshmen, Horslips, Tweed, The Indian’s, Joe Dolan, Brush Shield’s, Geraldine Brannigan and a band whose name will forever go down in local folklore for a particular reason- Hank Halfhead and the Rambling Turkeys! Even in that era, the old tradition of the men on one side and the women on the other prevailed. A line of testosterone pumped young fellas passed along in front of the ladies – some sitting on the back of chairs, feet on the seats, which perhaps made them get noticed easier. Out went the hand accompanied by the famous line “Are ya dancin?” or indeed the single word “dancin?”. A refusal was never met with offence – you just went along the line until your request was accepted by the next young lady. This Saturday night’s eagerly awaited Showband night may not have all the same elements of the dance hall days of the past, but a great night is definitely in store. Tickets priced at €15 are available from Una Bhan Tourism on 071 966 3033.
Local Facebook promotion
There was a great response to last week’s item on Boyle businesses and their use or non use of social media. Most emails contained constructive criticism and helpful suggestions which is to be welcomed. One of the most ardent users of Facebook to promoted their business here in Boyle – Dalys Drinks, are to be commended on their latest novel idea. This week the progressive and popular Boyle bar and music venue commenced sharing links to local Facebook pages in Boyle and the surrounding areas. They conducted a similar exercise last year to great effect and according to Dalys “received great feedback as many business/community/other pages got more likes etc and therfore more publicity”. In recent times our local secondary school Abbey College Boyle has also joined the Facebook family and with regular updates are now giving those who have no connection with the college an insight into the great achievements of the school and it’s pupils.
Harvest Thanksgiving Service on Sunday
An enjoyable evening out this time of the year is the Harvest Thanksgiving Service. This annual event is attended by local people from all denominations and will be held in the Church of Ireland, Boyle on Sunday evening at 7.30pm. All are welcome and it would be great to see a large crowd in attendance.
Air Ambulance service is a great asset
There was a time in the mid 1990’s when the sight of helicopters over the sky of Boyle was a regular occurrence. The economic downturn then arrived and helicopter travel became a thing of the past. Indeed, a sign of the times in or around 1998, when the bubble burst, was an advertisement in the Farmers Journal or all places for a Robinson 44 helicopter for sale! In recent times here in Boyle, the sound of a helicopter means only one thing – someone in our community is seriously ill and about to be medevaced out of the what has now become the unofficial “local helipad” – the Abbey Park. Such an occurrence took place on Monday last with the Air Corps tweeting later that it took 25 minutes to transport the patient from Boyle to the relevant department in UCHG. The same helicopter undertook 4 other taskings the same day as it was in Boyle including one in Wexford where they transported a trauma patient following a farm accident to hospital in eight minutes. Local Senator Frank Feighan was instrumental in getting the air ambulance service operational. Many in Boyle owe their lives to the service and can be thankful to Frank also for his hard work in getting it in place.
Are the balloons going up?
The famous question that was asked in Boyle every September morning and evening in the late eighties was “Are the balloons going up?”. At the time Boyle was home to the annual Irish Hot Air Ballooning Championship. The event ran it’s course and due to high costs among other reasons, the balloonists moved from the area to pastures new. This coming week the 46th Irish Ballooning Championships will take place Loughrea, Co. Galway from 25th -30th September. 40 teams are due to participate. While the championship moved from Boyle, perhaps it would be in order to organise a mini festival that could take place in autumn – maybe on the back of the national championships? No doubt the friendships that were forged between locals and the balloonists when they came to our town are still going strong. Unfortunately time has taken it’s toll and some, like the affable Doug Anderson, who was known to many in Boyle has gone to his eternal reward.
Boyle’d Pot thank you
Thank you to everyone who took the time to e mail, text message and contact to congratulate the Boyle’d Pot on it’s silver award win at last week’s Littlewoods Blog Ireland Awards. The Boyle’d Pot, and it’s predecessor the Boiling Pot, has been published weekly both in print and more recently online for over ten years! When the blog goes live every Friday morning, thoughts immediately move to what can be included in the following weeks offering – and living in a town like Boyle means you are never short of items for inclusion. National recognition and local acknowledgement makes the effort of compiling the Boyle’d Pot every week all the more worthwhile. Thank you.
And finally….!
Toward the end of his Sunday Mass, the Priest asked, “How many of you have forgiven your enemies?”
80% held up their hands.
The Priest then repeated his question. All responded this time, except one man, Walter Barnes.
“Mr Barnes, are you not willing to forgive your enemies?”
“I don’t have any,” he replied gruffly.
“Mr Barnes, that is very unusual.. How old are you?
“Ninety-eight,” he replied.
The congregation stood up and clapped their hands.
“Oh, Mr Barnes, would you please come down in front and tell us all how a person can live ninety-eight years and not have an enemy in the world?”
The old man tottered down the aisle, stopped in front of the pulpit, turned around, faced the congregation, and said simply,
“Thats cause I outlived every single one of those assh…s” – and he calmly returned to his seat
