Too many buildings in Boyle are being ‘sat on’
In Boyle town centre, we have so many buildings owned by so many people, lying idle for so many years that it really is now a hindrance to the town’s progress and is holding Boyle back. These buildings have been left idle for so long that total refurbishment will be a costly exercise, such is their state of disrepair. A six town Government led survey a few years back, (which included Boyle), found that there are a number of reasons why such buildings are lying idle – family disputes, lack of funds, planning issues, inheritance problems and on occasion, the fact that the properties have been handed down through so many generations that the current owners couldn’t be bothered to do anything with them and are just ‘sitting’ on the properties. If that is the case – and we have plenty of derelict properties in Boyle that fall into this category, then why not put them on the market, accept a fair price and allow someone else to develop the buildings or sites? Surely a sense of civic pride added to commercial reality has to come into play at some stage?
There are plenty of external investors circling the town at present who have funds to hand and see the great opportunities that exist in Boyle and would snap up these properties at a realistic price. But if the properties are not developed or put on the market, they will remain as they are and Boyle town centre will continue to be blighted by dereliction for the foreseeable future.
More picnic’s in the Courtyard please!
Those who attended last Sunday evening’s ‘Picnic in the Courtyard’ in the grounds of King House were all in agreement on the great location King House is for such an event and how enjoyable an evening out it was in the centre of Boyle. While the sun shown, the wind whipped up as the evening progressed which took away from what was an otherwise great event. Food stalls from Lovage at the Gate Lodge, the Bazaar and Packs BBQ kept the audience well fed and music by ‘Postcard from Duke’ and ‘Tradalac’ kept the feet tapping. Full marks to all in Discover Boyle and King House for the effort they put in to making the ‘picnic’ such a success. More of the same please for the summer months…….
Car parking on the Cycleway
A viewer has made contact with us to raise the issue of parking on the Lough Key to Boyle cycleway. Last Saturday the viewer and their family went for a cycle on the facility but on more than one occasion they had to leave the cycleway and move out on the road due to cars blocking their path. Previously, we have highlighted cars parking under the ‘No Parking’ sign on the cycleway just past the flyover after the First Gate of Rockingham and also in front of the ‘Do Not Park Here’ sign at the cross over of the cycle path past the Beech Walk, but parking on the route in residential areas is a new one. Please be considerate when parking your cars near the cycleway, do not park ON the cycleway and do not block the entrances to the cycleway in the Park, in case emergency services need to gain access
Keeping the ‘pleasure’ in the Pleasure Grounds
The piece last week on the Pleasure Grounds upgrade drew a lot of positive comment from a large number of viewers who look forward to the facilities reopening in the next few weeks. Some also raised the thorny question of a name change for the facility considering the connotations the ‘Pleasure’ aspect of the name may have for our tourists!! A number of years back, after similar comments were made about the name, this website published a poll to see what people thought of a name change and World War 3 nearly broke out! The comments the suggestion drew would lead one to believe that the name ‘Pleasure Grounds’ will most likely remain in place for the foreseeable future, with a bit of explaining to be done to our tourists on the historical reason it received this name!
Boyle Arts Festival is approaching fast
Boyle Arts Festival is fast approaching with a full festival programme of acts, events and workshops planned from July 14th to 23rd. Last year the Festival committee were lucky to have received support from The Arts Council, which allowed them to run a very restricted festival without having to seek sponsorship locally. However, this year the committee say the success of the festival will be dependent on local financial support in the form of sponsorship and donations. The committee felt that a Go Fund Me page would make it a simpler process for people to donate and they hope that members of the public and local businesses will consider contributing to this fundraising effort as has been the case in the past. Boyle Arts Festival is one of the premier festivals in the country and attracts a large crowd to the town every year it has taken place. Your contribution to this years Festival would be greatly appreciated. You can donate here
Promoting Boyle to the national and international market
It was encouraging to see representatives from Boyle’s Lough Key Forest and Activity Park participate in Failte Ireland’s recent networking event in Athlone. The purpose of the event was for accommodation, attraction and activity providers in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands to learn more about the breadth of experiences that are on offer in the region, as they work side by side to develop a strong cross-selling culture across the destination. The Forest Park was also represented earlier in the year at ‘Meitheal 2022’ – Failte Ireland’s largest annual global travel trade fair. Attendance at events like these is vitally important if our tourism attractions are to prosper.
Many years ago, Gerry Mattimoe and Vincent Regan along with the late Martin Mitchell travelled annually to trade fairs in the UK, outlining what their respective pub, hotel and bed an breakfast facilities could provide to the English fisherman. The result was a busy April/May every year as fishermen came to the town to sample what the three men had sold them. This, along with what the representatives in the Park are doing, is the exact type of marketing that is needed to get Boyle’s name copperfastened on the tourism map.
And finally….!
A crusty old Marine Sergeant Major found himself at a gala event hosted by a local liberal college. There was no shortage of extremely young idealistic ladies in attendance, one of whom approached the Sergeant Major for conversation.
“Excuse me, Sergeant Major, but you seem to be a very serious man. Is something bothering you?”
“Negative, ma’am. Just serious by nature.”
The young lady looked at his awards and decorations and said, “It looks like you have seen a lot of action.”
“Yes, ma’am, a lot of action.”
The young lady, tiring of trying to start up a conversation, said, “You know, you should lighten up. Relax and enjoy yourself.”
The Sergeant Major just stared at her in his serious manner.
Finally the young lady said, “You know, I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but when is the last time you had sex?”
“1955, ma’am.”
“Well, there you are. No wonder you’re so serious. You really need to chill out! I mean, no sex since 1955! She took his hand and led him to a private room where they got more than friendly.
Afterwards, panting for breath, she leaned against his bare chest and said, “Wow, you sure didn’t forget much since 1955.”
The Sergeant Major said, after glancing at his watch, “I hope not; it’s only 2130 now.”
