New walk/cycle trail is proving popular
A popular walk/cycle trail over the Christmas was the new off road path on the top of the Curlew Mountain. The path is relatively new and indeed not many know about it, but from those who used it over the last few days, it received a lot of favourable comment – with one exception – why does it stop once you come to the county boundary with Roscommon? The path commences at Ballinaboy near Ballinafad and meanders in front of the forest to Garrow and stops abruptly when once gets to the Roscommon border. Hopefully, Roscommon Co Co will follow the great work of the their counterparts in Sligo Co Co and bring the path across the remainder of the mountain and down to Boyle town.
Tractor/Truck run was a great success
Hats off to Sean Flanagan and family who were the main organisers behind another successful Tractor/Truck Run that visited Boyle on New Year’s Day. Organising an event that saw nearly 90 tractors and trucks travel in convoy from Kingsland to Carrick and onto Boyle is no mean feat, but well known builder Sean and his band of trusted helpers did just that and in the process, raised funds for the National Breast Cancer Research Institute and Western Alzheimers. The event gave enjoyment to the numerous drivers and their passengers along with the hardy souls who ventured out on a cold New Year’s Day.
January can be a tough month for many
Unfortunately, Christmas, New Year and the dark days of January can be tough for many. Anxiety, stress and thoughts of the year ahead can overwhelm people, but help is always available and talking to someone – a friend or even a stranger – can ease the burden you may be feeling at present.
As we start a new year, try and surround yourself with people who make you happy and begin to cut ties to those who do not, bring your focus to what you can control in your own life, ask for help when you need it and do not be afraid to seek professional mental health treatment.
Below are some numbers that may be useful if you are finding it tough at present:
Samaritans: Freephone 116123
Childline: Freephone 1800 666666
Textabout it is a free, 24/7 service, providing everything from a calming chat to immediate support for your mental health and emotional wellbeing. Free-text HELLO to 50808 for an anonymous chat with a trained volunteer, any time
Pieta provide a range of suicide and self-harm prevention services. Freephone 1800 247 247 anytime day or night Text HELP to 51444 (standard message rates apply).
North West STOP cater for all age groups and all our services. They provide a counselling service where you can safely talk about loss, stress confusion, conflicts and other pain in your life. They are also able to provide services whilst waiting to be seen by the HSE. Call 0818 444 000
Boyle Family Resource Centre. 071 966 3000
Roscommon Safe Link offers information, support and counselling to women and men. The service is available to those who experience domestic violence and to those who have experienced domestic violence and abusive situations in the past. Please call 071 9664200
You can also visit www.yourmentalhealth.ie for information on how to mind your mental health, support others, or to find a support service in your area. You can also call the Your Mental Health Information Line on 1800 111 888, anytime day or night, for information on mental health services in your area.
Concern grows in relation to future use of An Rioga
There is growing concern in the area at the planned future use of the upper floors of An Rioga building. Regular viewers will recall a letter we published recently in relation to the announcement of the rental of the first floor of the building to a private enterprise. In the last few days the Chief Executive of Roscommon Co Co said the local authority also hopes to have the upper floor rented this year to another company. The news has raised many questions among the public as to the use being made of a tax payer funded building that was initially planned as a Civic and Interpretative Space. On viewer has sent a letter to another media outlet in relation to the recent announcement they published, and it reads as follows: “Just saw the article about the upcoming rental of the new An Rioga building in Boyle. Is this not a public building funded by Roscommon County Council and paid for by the residents of Boyle in their taxes? It is of course great to hear about new jobs in Boyle but where will the new staff live? We have a big lack of houses in Boyle and we have quite a few already finished office buildings that have been empty for years and yet the council want to create another office space! What about the use of a public building for the local people for such thinks like meeting rooms for different clubs in the area? What about other social needs – maybe a young person’s centre, a creative space or a place for older people to meet and use for yoga and other pursuits to promote health and movement in the older generation? And if An Rioga is used for commercial business where will the money from the rent be spent? I really feel a meeting should be held for the residents of Boyle to decide what to do with this public funded building”.
Two new books of local interest
Two books of local interest were published just before Christmas. ‘Going Home’ by Catriona Byrne is a fictional story set primarily in Boyle and the surrounding area amidst the many tourist attractions on its doorstep. It explores the journey of starting over again with very little resources in a rural area and facing the challenges and joys of new beginnings. Paperback copies are available in Una Bhan Gift Shop, Londis and Ardcarne Garden Centre. It is also available on Amazon.com in both paperback and e-book version.
‘Rosie’s Happy Place’ by Boyle resident Trudy Callaghan is an enjoyable appreciation of Boyle as seen through the eyes of Rosie the Robin. Rosie starts her journey on Main Street and visits the many attractions around the town in an enjoyable and light hearted trip.
News snippets from around Boyle
Boyle native Francis Gaffney and his good friend and Corrigeenroe visitor Brendan Glesson both appeared in an enjoyable TG4 programme on Sunday night last titled ‘Farewell to Hughes’. If you missed the programme, you can watch it again here……..The new footpaths and road resurfacing on Bridge Street and Shop Street came in for favourable comment from the many visitors home for Christmas. The visitors were also delighted to hear that work will commence early in 2025 on an upgrade of ‘The Lawn’…………Clean up of Assylinn Cemetery on Sunday January 12th at 2pm. Gloves and bin bags provided………A power outage on Thursday morning affected 688 customers in Boyle……….Registration is now open for ‘Understanding your child’s unique sensory needs’ workshop which will be held in Boyle on 20th and 27th January. Hosted by local business Empower OT you can book a place now on [email protected] or WhatsApp 0838489667………….If you need to visit Sligo Hospital ED, please be aware that face masks are now mandatory due to the high level of flu that is currently circulating in the community…………It was great to see so many Boyle businesses keeping it local when it came to Christmas nights out. Along with the various restaurants, catering was also provided in a number of bars for local companies who did not want to leave town for their celebrations.
And finally….!
A heavy gambler at the races had lost every bet.
Then he noticed a Priest step onto the track and bless one of the horses before a race.
Lo and behold the horse won.
Next race the Priest stepped onto the track and blessed one of the horses.
The gambler, who was not a regular church goer, dashed for a window and placed a bet on the horse.
Even though it was a long shot, the horse won the race.
He collected his winnings and waited to see which horse the Priest would bless next.
He bet big and it won.
As the races continued the Priest kept blessing long shots which all won.
The gambler made a dash to the ATM, withdrew everything and waited for the Priest’s blessing to tell him which horse to bet on.
The Priest stepped onto the track and blessed an old nag that was the longest shot of the day.
The Priest blessed the eyes, ears and hooves of the horse.
The gambler bet every penny he had.
He watched dumbfounded as the horse came last.
In a state of shock, he went to the Priest and said ‘Father! What happened?
All day you blessed horses and they won.
Then in the last race, the horse you blessed came last.
Now I’ve lost everything’.
The Priest nodded and said. ‘Son that’s the problem with not attending Church, you can’t tell the difference between a blessing and last rites’.
