An idea that could work in Boyle
A novel idea currently taking shape in Galway, that will see a digital corridor developed in the city, could work well in Boyle. A company called Magnet Networks will install the service which provides WiFi coverage along Shop Street and William Street. Future phases will complete a digital corridor from Spanish Arch, up Shop Street and onto Eyre Square. Local businesses along the route have allowed Magnet Networks to install access points on their premises, providing seamless connectivity within the city centre. The project will be financed by giving local businesses the opportunity to sponsor the WiFi by placing an advertisement on the login page, with a promotional offer sent to each person after they log in. For example, if a local restaurant sponsored the WiFi, they would be able to send out a coupon at a set time to everyone who has logged on that day giving them 10% off. Could something similar happen in Boyle? It most certainly could and having free wifi in the town centre would be another first for the town and a great addition.
Boyle Calendar of Events
Following on from the success of the Lough Key Triathlon on Sunday last, some people have suggested a Calendar of Events for Boyle. Indeed Boyle Town Team tried to produce a calendar last year but it proved difficult obtaining the information from so many organisations. We have such an amount happening here in Boyle every year that it is a shame the events are not compiled electronically and in brochure format. From the Christmas Markets to Toughest Muckers, Lough Key Classic, Arts Festival, Rock the Clock, Triathlon….. the list is extensive and there is something on very month throughout the year. Maybe another attempt at getting a 2018 Boyle Calendar of Events could be revisited.
Losing out on Bus Tours
Information to hand shows that Boyle will not feature next year on the 2018 CIE Tours International itinerary. Currently visitors who spend two nights in Kilronan Castle visit the Abbey on Day 8 of the Scots Irish 15 day tour. For 2018, the visitors will again stay in Kilronan but Day 9 will bring them to the Arigna Mining Experience and onto Carrick on Shannon to “enjoy some free time in the historic town of Carrick on Shannon, situated on the River Shannon”. Boyle looses out but the question has to be asked – “Who tried to keep CIE Tours in Boyle?” and “Were they incentivised to visit Boyle?” You will find the tour, along with many others, came to Boyle of their own making without any approaches. This blog has written previously of the need to meet tour operators at least a year in advance to get them to include King House and Boyle Abbey on their itinerary. We also need to have bus parking on Military Road and have incentives in place to reward drivers for stopping off in our town. If we continue as we are, we will see a lot more tours bypassing Boyle for other locations rather than stopping off in our town.
Cannonball Run this Sunday
The Cannonball Run will pass by the town on the N4 this coming Sunday morning as the super cars make their way from Rosses Point to Kilkenny via Mullingar. Efforts were made, to no avail, last year to get the cars to stop off in Boyle which, it it were successful, would have resembled the great Friday afternoon many years ago when the World Rally Championship paid a visit to the town, stopping off on Abbey Terrace. The nearest the cars will come to Boyle this year is the N4 but elevated sites like the bridge into Rockingham should make for fine vantage points.
The Bats are back in Boyle again
In recent weeks, this blog has heard of a number of incidence of bats entering houses where windows were left open. Here in Boyle, we are no strangers to bats. The protected animals were not flavour of the month here back in 2005 when concerns about the Lesser Horseshoe Bat was put forward as an objection to the €150m “eco tourism resort” planned for Lough Key Forest Park. The bats were also mentioned more recently in an objection to the extension to the Marina in Lough Key and the effect the night time lights would have on them. In that case, the planning permission was granted. So if you have a bat in your room- don’t kill it, or you will be committing a crime. Instead open the door or window in the chosen room and turn off the lights, except for something very dim. Turn off outside lights that are near the open door or window and hopefully he or she will fly out.
And finally…..!
A middle-aged couple had finally learned how to send and receive texts on their mobiles.
The wife, being a romantic at heart, decided one day that she’d send her husband a text while she was out of the house having coffee with a friend.
She texted:
“If you are sleeping, send me your dreams.
If you are laughing, send me your smile.
If you are eating, send me a bite.
If you are drinking, send me a sip.
If you are crying, send me your tears.
I love you.”
The husband, being a no-nonsense sort of guy, texted back:
“I’m on the loo. Please advise.”
