Boyle resident’s work features in a number of ‘Best Albums of 2023’ lists
Returning Weather, the 2023 release by Boyle resident vocalist and composer Christine Tobin, features in a number of ‘Best Albums of 2023’ lists; The Irish Times; The Arts Desk; Jazzwise Magazine & JazzViews. The songs on the album are set in the countryside around Frenchpark, Boyle and Ballaghadereen and chart a journey which is part homecoming, part memoir, inspired by Christine’s return to Ireland. In her liner notes Christine says ,”The songs of Returning Weather are inspired by my return to Ireland after many years living abroad. I hadn’t planned, nor had I any idea that I was coming home. It was as if a great wave rolled over and swept me along, delivering me from city to sanctuary somewhere between Boyle, Frenchpark and Ballaghaderreen. I immediately fell under the spell of the quiet beauty of this part of Co. Roscommon, the boglands and the lakes, and was struck by the warmth of the people and how welcome they made me feel. These songs chart a journey of return, the strange romance of reconnecting with a cultural background, reshaping a sense of identity and belonging, and speak of how home and dwelling are central to our sense of self. Since coming to this landscape I feel that life is a jigsaw puzzle and I’m finally starting to fit the pieces into place. I’m hovering over the map of it all now and it’s a good feeling.” Christine and her partner, renowned guitarist Phil Robson play at The Glens Arts Centre, Manorhamilton on January 6th and at Ballina Arts Centre on January 20th. More info at www.christinetobin.org
Tractor/Truck run was a great success
Hats off to Sean Flanagan and family who were the main organisers behind the highly 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 in horrendous weather conditions and in the process, raised funds for the Irish Cancer Society and Grange and Kingsland Schools. The event gave enjoyment to the numerous drivers and their passengers along with the hardy souls who ventured out on a cold and miserable New Year’s Day.
It’s getting easier to get to the sun
One of the great benefits to living less than 40 minutes from Ireland West (Knock Airport) is the ability to hop on a plane to sunnier climates with little hassle. Now that Christmas has passed and we look towards Spring, the news that you will soon be able to fly from Knock to Faro in Portugal four times per week makes travel options that bit easier. Flights with Ryanair will commence on April 1st 2024 and operate every Monday, Friday and Saturday for the months of April and May before increasing to Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from June to November.
Derelict sites CPO’s issued
Roscommon County Council posted a number of derelict site notices around Boyle last year and thankfully, they are following through and acting further on a number of them. The local authority recently published details of it’s intention to compulsorily acquire two houses in Mocmoyne Heights in Boyle under the Derelict Sites Act 1990. The owner, lessee or occupier (except a tenant for a month or a period less than a month) of House Number 1 and House Number 2 at Mocmoyne Heights has until January 19th 2024 to submit an objection to the proposed compulsory acquisition.
Water levels rising on the Boyle River
Water levels on the Boyle river at very high at present following weeks of heavy rain. Currently the river has burst it’s banks on the Woodenbridge Road and is flooding the adjacent fields, while their is a similar situation upstream towards Lough Gara. Water level measurements provided by the OPW and measured at Abbey Terrace Bridge in Boyle show the levels rising from 0.695 on December 26th to 1.13 this morning having reached a high of 1.15 on Wednesday last.
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 nightText 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. Our 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.
News snippets from around Boyle
Dates for your diary: The Sacrament of Confirmation will be administered in St. Joseph’s Church Boyle on Saturday April 20th at 11am while First Holy Communion will be held on Saturday May 18th at 12 noon………It was great to see the Bridge in Boyle town centre get a much needed power wash on Tuesday morning last………..Some tickets, priced at €50 are still remaining for Boyle GAA club’s annual Dinner Dance in Kilronan Castle on Saturday January 20th. You can purchase online here………Good luck to Roscommon senior footballers and all who are involved from Boyle as the take on neighbours Sligo in the Connacht FBD League Quarter-final this evening Friday 5th January at the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome. Tickets must be purchased in advance here……Work has recommenced and will proceed at pace now on the public realm enhancement of Bridge Street, Shop Street and An Rioga Car Park and by summer this year, these areas will look so much better………….Congratulations to Alisha Pinchuck from Boyle who gave birth to the first baby of the New Year in Sligo Hospital at 05.12am on New Year’s Day………..We had a good laugh here in Boyletoday.com during the week when one of our generated news reports, that contained a misnamed townland, was carried soon after, verbatim, in two local media websites and associated Facebook pages. As they say “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” but if you want to copy our reports – at least take the time to check and reword them!!………..New Year restart of the local Irish conversation group in the Moylurg Room in Boyle Library on Tuesday evening next from 18.30 to 19.30.
And finally…..!
After buying a pair of talkative parrots, a male and female, the young lady found she had trouble identifying which one was which.
She called the pet shop for advice.
“It’s easy!”, said the pet shop proprietor. “Just wait until you see them mating, and then tie a white ribbon around the males neck, so you can identify him!”
The young lady watched and waited, then one day she walked into the house, and caught the parrots in furious copulation.
She promptly grabbed the white ribbon and quickly tied it around the males neck.
A few days later, the young lady put on afternoon tea for the local priest.
The instant the male parrot spotted the priest, he squawked – “Ha Ha! I see she caught you having some nookie too!!”
