‘There are two of those bombs at the back of our house’
The historical link between Boyle and the Old IRA will be the subject of an exhibition that will open this Saturday afternoon in King House. Barry Feely and his committee have put in many months of hard work in compiling local artifacts and memorabilia from the 1914 – 1922 period. One interesting item on display is the Ballinameen Bomb. While having a discussion with Ernie Keenan one day, Barry mentioned his plans for the exhibition and his search for items of interest. In passing Ernie, replied ” That reminds me, there are two of those concrete bombs lying in the field at the back of our house in Dooneeen out in Ballinameen”. Two bombs in Ballinameen – not your every day occurence! You can see one of “Ernies bombs” on display at the exhibition which runs from Saturday 26th March to Saturday 2nd April in King House in Boyle.
Public Defibrillators needed in Boyle
While there are a number of defibrillators around the town of Boyle, trying to access one in an emergency can pose a problem. Many clubs and organisations have defibs in their possession but they are only available when the groups meet or there is an event in progress. This is a serious matter and one that needs urgent attention. Boyle and District Angling club are responsible for having the soon to be fitted defib installed at the Garda Station for which they are to be congratulated. It is understood a list of those who can use the device will also soon be put in place at the same location. While it is great to have this new installation, it may be no harm to have an additional device fitted at a central place like the Courthouse for those, and there are some, who do not know where the Garda station is in Boyle.
Boyle is the place to be this Easter weekend
While we are still only getting over St. Patrick’s weekend, Easter seems to have arrived way to quickly. But what a busy Easter weekend it is shaping up to be here in Boyle. Today, Good Friday which was once a day when nothing happened, is a busy one in town (see events section). Then we have the annual Pike Angling Festival which starts tomorrow and continues Sunday and is sure to attract a large crowd. Even if you are not interested in fishing, a trip to the Doon Shore over the two days is always an enjoyable outing with the banter and craic in full flow both days on the shoreline. On your way home from Doon on Sunday (and if around Easter Monday), why not pay a visit to Tawnytaskin Community Centre for some high tea. And don’t forget to call to King House from Saturday to see the 1916 exhibition with some great old photographs and memorabilia. Once again Boyle is the place to be this Easter weekend.
Making local news of an international story
While Tuesday’s news from Brussels sent shock waves all over the world, a story here on Boyletoday.com brought a local angle to the global atrocity. In the midst of all the fear and worry in the Belgian capital, Boyle man Conor Feighan took time out to tell his local website how an early morning meeting resulted in him taking a different metro to his office thus avoiding one of the bombs. Conor is a local lad who has done well for himself and who loves nothing better than a trip home to see his family and friends in Boyle. (Some will remember a tall young Conor filling cones in his shorts in “Franks shop” a few short years ago!). Along with Conor, there are many more Boyle connections to Brussels and Belgium and our thoughts were also with those local families on Tuesday last. On a national media level, our Brussels story was used by an Irish website who contacted us after publication requesting permission to use the content. Of course we were delighted to allow this. It makes a change from the usual daily occurence of seeing our stories plagarised each morning, within minutes of them appearing here on Boyletoday.com, in what has now become a comical exercise. But as we said before ” Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!”
And finally…!
An solicitor arrived home late, after a very tough day trying to get a stay of execution, for a client.
His last minute plea for clemency had failed and he was feeling worn out and depressed.
As soon as he walked through the door at home, his wife started on him about, ‘What time of night to be getting home is this? Where have you been? Dinner is cold and I’m not reheating it’.
It seemed to go on and on.
Too shattered to play his usual role in this familiar ritual, he poured himself a glass of whiskey and headed off for a long hot soak in the bath, pursued by the predictable sarcastic remarks as he dragged himself up the stairs.
While he was in the bath, the phone rang.
The wife answered and was told that her husband’s client, James Wright, had been granted a stay of execution after all.
Wright would not be hanged tonight.
Finally realising what a terrible day he must have had, she decided to go upstairs and give him the good news.
As she opened the bathroom door, she was greeted by the sight of her husband, bent over naked, drying his legs and feet.
‘They’re not hanging Wright tonight,’ she said.
He whirled around and screamed,
`FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WOMAN, DON’T YOU EVER STOP!’
