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Boyle Community Notes Week beginning 29th
April. 2008
Correspondent: Úna Bhán
Tourism, 071 9663033, unabhan2@eircom.net
ALPACA SPINNING
A spinning demonstration, a teddy bear’s picnic, ram racing
and straw diving for prizes are just a few of the activities laid on for Bank
Holiday Monday weekend at Tullyboy Farm, in Croghan, near Boyle. New to the
farm are four alpacas, who join Moses the llama, as some of the farm’s more
exotic creatures. Alpacas, which originate from South America, are kept for
their soft superior quality fleece and on Saturday, Sunday and Monday (May
3rd-5th) local spinner Louise Cole will be at Tullyboy Farm with her spinning
wheel, demonstrating the art of spinning alpaca wool. Also new to the farm this
season, alongside a lots of animal babies, are chicks, ducklings, piglets and
Connemara Pony new born foals. Family visitors can pet many of the animals and
can enjoy a horse ride and enter a colouring competition while they are there.
Visitors to the farm, which has been open to the public since 1992, can also
enjoy the spectacle of ram racing – which involves hungry sheep chasing one of
the farm helpers who runs ahead with a bucket of feed! A free picnic is included
in the admission price for anyone bringing their Teddy to join the Teddy Bear’s
Picnic. Tullyboy Farm activities get under way on Saturday, Sunday and Bank
Holiday Monday at 2pm until 5pm. More details are available from 071
9668031.
JOHNNIE’S BACK!
Back by popular demand, after sell out
performances attended by people from all parts of the region, comes ‘Johnnie’
performed by Crossna Dramatic Society. For just one night, on Saturday, May
3rd, anyone who missed the play the first time around gets another chance to see
it. All proceeds for the evening will be donated to local charities. ‘Johnnie’,
a comedy in three acts by PG O’Dea, is set in rural Ireland in 1953. It is a
story of love, intrigue, busted buttons and the envy of a legacy. As before, the
performance will be in Cleen Community Centre, Knockvicar. Doors open at
8.30pm, with curtain up at 9.15pm. Admission is €10 with special rates for
families accompanied by children. Come early to avoid disappointment. Contact
Judy Byford on 086 1566441 for more details.
THREE YEARS OLD
Boyle
Farmers’ Market celebrates its third birthday this Bank Holiday weekend. Special
activities have been laid on to mark the occasion. The market has continued to
grow into what the Bridgestone Irish Food Guide described as “…one of the big
food success stories of the North-West” since it first opened on April 30th
2005. Every week, come rain or shine, up to 20 different producers set up their
wares in the courtyard in front of King House, from 10am until 2pm. To mark the
birthday market, there will be music from a local singer and animals and
chickens, including hens and piglets, on display from various stallholders. The
market now boasts two meat stalls, a wet fish stall, organic fruit and
vegetables, home made jam and cakes, farmhouse cheeses, home baked breads and
buns, bedding plants and herbs, plus French crepes to eat alfresco, and many
other produce and crafts. Everyone is welcome; admission is free and there is
ample free parking nearby.
BOAT CLUB
Members of Boyle River Boat Club have
a busy Bank Holiday weekend planned. First off is a Blessing of Boats at Boyle
Harbour at approx. 3.30pm on Saturday, May 3rd, followed by refreshments and a
barbecue. On Sunday, May 4th, members sail in convoy to Cootehall for skiing on
Drumharlow Lake, followed later that evening by a sing-song and refreshments.
Bank Holiday Monday sees everyone cruising home. Anyone wishing to join the
club is welcome to come along.
POKER
Four of a Kind Poker are holding a
Texas Hold'em tournament in aid of the Back to Boil Festival Weekend (August 1st
to 3rd). The tournament will take place on Friday, May 2nd in the Moylurg Inn
at 8pm. Sharp. Entry fee will be €30 (€10 rebuys for 90 minutes). Please come
and support!
UFO CONFERENCE
Boyle woman Betty Myler is preparing for
another international UFO conference later this year. Plans are well underway
for the conference in the Bush Hotel, Carrick on Shannon, on September 27th and
28th.
MINI MARATHON
Roscommon Mini Marathon will be on Monday, May 5th,
starting at Hannon’s Hotel, Roscommon. The event is organised by the Carers
Association to raise funds and awareness for its members who look after
seriously ill children, frail older relatives or other incapacitated members of
their families. Participants are being encouraged to run, walk, toddle, crawl,
amble or waddle the 10km route. The fun starts at 3pm.
CURLEW WALKERS
The
next outing of Curlew Walkers is a Bank Holiday weekend trip to the West of
Ireland, meeting at Louisburgh Church at 11am on Saturday May 3rd. This is a
social weekend with walks and climbs in the area led by Eugene Griffin. For more
information about the Curlew Walkers, who meet throughout the year at least
twice a month for walks and climbs around the area and beyond, contact Club
Chairman Philip James on 086 3353000.
DRESS UP
‘An Afternoon with the
Kings’ is the latest living history event at King House in Boyle. On May Bank
Holiday weekend, visitors to King House can step back in time to the 18th
century as they explore the building and meet guides dressed in period costume
This takes place from 12 noon to 5pm on Saturday May 3rd, Sunday, May 4th and
Monday May 5th. Normal admission rates apply. Meanwhile, a Friends of King
House scheme has been set up to offer members exclusive benefits and inclusion
in social events. By becoming a Friend, you can play a vital part in securing
the future for King House and supporting the community. Organisers want to show
the locals that by becoming involved there is a lot more to King House than just
a mere tourist attraction. Be informed, educated and entertained in the
peaceful ambience of King House and the nearby Pleasure Grounds. Amongst the
many benefits of becoming a Friend you will receive discounts at the restaurant,
Una Bhan Craft Shop and King House merchandise. Our aim is to inspire you and
play a vital part in the future of King House. Details can be found on
www.kinghouse.ie or Tel: 0719663242.
YOUTH DRAW
Anyone can join Boyle
Celtics youth draw, which recently began a new season, by contacting one of the
committee or in particular Eddie 0862574257 and Richard 0868323322. Entry is
€120 for the year paid by cheque / cash or we have a direct debit form for €10
per month. The monthly prizes are €200 1st prize, €100 2nd prize and 4 x €50.
This draw is the lifeblood of the club and we thank everyone who has supported
us in the past.
BOOK CHOICE
‘The Grass is Singing’ by Doris Lessing is the
book choice of Boyle Library Book Club, which meets next on Thursday, May 8th.
The club meets for an informal discussion at 6.45pm in the Town Council Room of
Boyle Library. New members are welcome. Contact Matthew Gammon at the Library
for more information on 071 9662800.
DAWN CHORUS
Celebrity ornithologist
Eric Dempsey will guide a Dawn Chorus Bird Watch at Lough Key Forest Park on May
10th. This promises to be a breathtaking experience, and a unique opportunity to
experience the beauty of nature and birdsong, in the wonderful environs of Lough
Key Forest Park. The day’s events start at 4.30am at the Visitor Centre. From
there, participants will position themselves in the woodlands to experience the
dawn chorus. Eric Dempsey will be on hand to identify the birds as, one by one,
they join together to form nature’s most wonderful symphony. By 6.30am the
singing will have finished and everyone will head to the visitor centre for an
early breakfast. This will be followed by an illustrated talk by Eric on the
dawn chorus, explaining why and how birds sing, why some birds sing earlier than
others, and why birds sing at dawn and dusk. The cost is to be confirmed, but
will be around €20 - €30, depending on the number of participants. For more
information call 086 0421423.
ART EXHIBITION
Once again, it is the time
of year to remind all local artists, new artists and those under 25 that it is
time to be thinking of your entry for BAF '08 Open Exhibition.
The
exhibition runs from Friday 25th July until Friday 1st August, throughout the
Boyle Arts Festival. Entries will be accepted in any medium, to a maximum of 3
per person. Last year’s exhibition was well supported as always and many works
were sold. We anticipate another excellent show, exhibits for which, will be
selected by a panel. Handing-in of entries will be on Friday 27th June 4pm to
6pm and Saturday 28th June from 4pm to 6pm in Church of Ireland, Parochial
School, Military Road, Boyle (opposite Family Life Centre). Conditions of Entry
are available from the Úna Bhán Tourism office. If you have any queries about
the forthcoming exhibition, you can ring 071 96 63033 between 9am and
5pm.
ORGANIC GARDENING
There are still a few places available on the
organic horticulture course at Croghan Organic Garden. Two sessions are
available, both on a Wednesday. The afternoon course runs from 2pm until 4pm
and the evening course is from 6.30pm until 8.30pm. Both courses are led by
organic gardening expert Klaus Laitenberger and are open to complete beginners
or improvers, indeed, anyone interested in increasing their knowledge of growing
vegetables and fruit the organic way. Ring Bill or Jill on 071 9668963 for more
information.
CAMERA CLUB
Love is the subject for the next motivational
exercise for members of Boyle Camera Club. Photos will be reviewed at the Club’s
monthly meeting in King House on May 14th. The Club now boasts 64 members and
meets every second Wednesday evening for discussions and an exchange of
information. The May meeting will feature a talk about the paparazzi from
former UK daily newspaper photographer Peter Wilcock, who is now based in
Sligo. New members are welcome. Log on to www.boylecameraclub.com for details,
or follow the links on www.realboyle.com.
BOYLE NOTES
If you would like us to include your local news or
information in the Boyle community and social notes for all the local
newspapers, contact Úna Bhán Tourism Cooperative, in the grounds of King House,
Main Street, Boyle. We compile information for seven local newspapers in the
Boyle area and our news appears on the Boyle website: www.realboyle.com . Please ring 071 9663033
or email: unabhan2@eircom.net (check
by telephone that your message has arrived), or call in to the Ùna Bhán Craft
Shop, next door to the King House Restaurant. Please include a contact number
for us to get further details if necessary. All types of local news items are
welcomed. The deadline for all items is lunch time on Wednesday for the
following week’s papers.
Did
You Know?
Úna Bhán Tourism can offer you a complete office service: typing, photocopying,
laminating, binding and CVs. They can also fax documents for you. Call in to the office in
the grounds of King House or ring 071 9663033 for more information.
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