Lost Water : Mobile phone while driving : Sarah Jane Dunne : Did you know ...? : Freezing Monday night -6.5C : Roscommon Co Co New Headquarters : Boyle Golf Club Update - Sunday 28th December :

Lost Water

Irish Independent report: More than half of all water is being lost in leaks. In Co Roscommon 53% islost through the distribution network due to leaks or unauthorised connections
 

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Mobile phone offenced while driving

Shannonside FM report: Gardaí say their statistics for 2014 show that using a mobile phone while driving is the most common cause of the most serious road traffic accidents. 613 were recorded in Roscommon / Longford and a further 62 offences were detected in Leitrim. Inspector Fran Nicholson of Roscommon Longford Division says there’s no excuse for that behaviour as it’s incredibly dangerous.

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Sarah Jane Dunne

photo: Irish Independent [here...]

The first member of the Travelling community to take part in the Miss Ireland competition has now gone on to receive a Professional Diploma in Education from Trinity College. Sarah Jane Dunne is daughter of the late musician Pecker Dunne and her godfather is the one and only Christy Moore. She will now go to London to work as a secondary school teacher, as well as keeping up her modelling career part-time. The 24-year-old hopes that getting her degree may inspire other women from her community to follow suit.

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Did you know ...?

Boiling destroys the anti-cancer properties of vegetables. Research has shown that the standard cooking habit of boiling vegetables severely damages the anti-cancer properties of many brassicas such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and green cabbage. "If you want to get the maximum benefit from your Christmas vegetables then boiling is out. You need to consider stir-frying, steaming or microwaving them."

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Did you know 2 ...?

Carrots can help you to see in the dark. "The orange colour of carrots is due to a compound called beta-carotene," says Dr Allender. "Beta-carotene is needed to produce vitamin A, which is converted to the retinal pigment used by your eyes to detect light. One of the symptoms of vitamin A deficiency is night blindness - so you could say carrots really do help you see in the dark."

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Freezing Monday night of -6.5C

Overnight lowest temperature recorded so far was -6.5C in Mullingar, Met Eireann confirmed to Independent.ie this morning. However, the country is set to enjoy a mild end to 2014, with sub-zero temperatures being replaced by highs of up to 12C on New Year's Day.

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Roscommon Co Co New Headquarters

The first staff will be moving into the new Civic Headquarters in Roscommon in June 2015. CEO Tommy Ryan says work on-site is progressing to schedule and it’s all boding well for a Summer move.

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Boyle Golf Club Update - Sunday 28th December
	Last weekend's 18 hole was won by Paddy McLoughlin. The Christmas Scramble was won by Gary Carty.  Thanks to all who took part. Competitions this week are the weekly nine hole Monday – Saturday and a nine hole re-entry next Sunday. The Club wishes all its members and friends a Happy and Peaceful New Year.

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Boyle GAA Club Annual Quiz and Awards night

Tony Conboy, Kevin Lavin, Eugene Halligan & Martin Dolan (Club Chairperson)

We are so very lucky to have excellent sports, musical, business and recreational clubs in Boyle and each one is managed by truly dedicated members.
Boyle GAA Club scored once again on Saturday 27th December with its Annual Quiz/Awards night.
Boyle GAA wrote: Thanks to the huge crowd that turned out to support our Annual Quiz/Awards night last night. Circa 40 quiz teams faced Tony's challenging and quirky set of questions. Congrats to the quiz winners, David Kelly and his team which included Killian and Tadhg Egan (returned for the Christmas). Congrats to our award winners: Hall of Fame, Ernie Keenan : Club Person of the Year, Eugene Halligan : Senior Player of the Year, Roch Hanmore :& Junior Player of the Year, Conor Flanagan : U21 Players of the year, Joint winners Mark Goldrick and Joe Sweeney.

It's Sale time in Boyle : McAleese Collection for King House : Magees Fashion Shop, Main Street : Brogan's Pharmacy : Clarke's Bar & Restaurant : Voices from home ...

It's Sale time in Boyle...

© realboyle graphic
 

© realboyle graphic
 

© realboyle graphic

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McAleese Collection for King House

Local Government TD, Frank Feighan, has welcomed confirmation that the McAleese collection, comprising more than 60 gifts presented by Heads of State (including Barack Obama and Yasser Arafat) to Mary McAleese during her presidency, will go on public display next April at King House in Boyle. "I'm delighted that my suggestion some years back to use King House a venue for the McAleese collection will now materialise in April 2015."
"To now have some of these presentations on display at King House in Boyle will prove to be a major tourist attraction for visitors at home and abroad."
For further information, contact Deputy Feighan on 086 833 1234

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Magees Fashion Shop, Main Street

We wish all our customers a very Happy Christmas and best wishes for 2015.
Sale starts Sat 27th December at 11am.

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Brogan's Pharmacy

Closed Christmas Day & St Stephen's Day
Reopening on Saturday 27th 9am - 6pm
Emergency out of hours phone number 087 388 4208

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Clarke's Bar & Restaurant

Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th: Open for evening meals from 4pm
Monday 29th, Tuesday 30th & Wednesday 31st: Lunch from 12.30pm Evening Meals from 5pm
Thursday 1st January: Evening Meals from 4pm. Call Clarke's on 071 966 2064 to book your table.

Happy Christmas season to all our customers and we look forward to serving you all in 2015

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Voices from home ...

I had a chat with Tony Conboy. We rambled on as one does, and enjoyed the few minutes ...

Note of Thanks from Derek Caldbeck : Boyle Country Meats : Stewarts Oil : Cian Smith cheque presentations : Boyle GAA Club Update 15th December : Gentle reminders : Nativity Crib beside the bridge in Boyle

Note of Thanks from Derek Caldbeck

Thank You to all who were involved and helped promote and to those who supported the September "Folk For Hospice" Concert held in St. Joseph’s Hall in Boyle. €1,965 was raised for Roscommon Mayo Hospice which will go towards local Palliative Care Services.
• Special Thanks to Musicians -Brendan Maloney, Greg O'Donnell, Johnny Mc Glynn, Seamus Simon, James Carty, Niall Sheerin, Donal O'Connor & Bernard Flaherty . Sound - Keith Conroy & Lighting – Tom Cleary. Advertising & MC – Mike (Junior) Smith. Promotion Photography - Sean O'Dowd.

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Boyle Country Meats

* New Photos *

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Boyle TM Lights Mega Draw

Prize winners who haven’t yet received their prizes can collect them from Better Buys over the holidays.
• Dara Callaghan wrote: "A word of thanks is due to all of the businesses that sponsored prizes, the offices, shops and individuals who sold tickets and most especially each and every person that bought lines and participated in the draw. We wish you all a very happy Christmas and all the best for 2015!"
• Full list of Prizewinners ...
 

Mega Draw Committee, Cecil Draper, Brian Kelly, Dara Callaghan, Stephen Bohan, Siobhan Gallagher and Tish Golden

Bodo Funke, Cecil Draper, Tish Golden	Siobhan Gallagher
Dara Tish and Siobhan	Presidents Dara Callaghan & Alan Cooney
Click on any photo to view a larger version

For the past number of months a Boyle TM steering committee have been diligently organising the sale of tickets for a Mega Draw Fundraiser to meet the cost of a new set of Christmas Lights for Boyle. The lights have been erected all over town and look fabulous.
• Congratulations to Claudia Cretaro, winner of the first prize of 500 litres of home heating oil sponsored by Stewarts Oil, Boyle.
• Following the draw, Siobhan Gallagher thanked all of her fellow committee members with special note of thanks to Stephen Bohan, Brian Kelly and Cecil Draper. She also thanked the 35 or so volunteers who braved cold nights to erect the lights, all of the sponsors for their contributions, the media, and everyone who supported the draw by buying draw lines.
• Boyle TM is a Boyle chamber of Commerce initiative.

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Cian Smith cheque presentations

Cian Smith presented cheques to Belinda McAuley and Peggy Feely for Mayo Roscommon Hospice today and to Sean Casey for the Kyle Casey Fund. Well done Cian, you are a shining example of what one man can do for those who need support at this time. Congratulations on your recent engagement Cian ... I wish happy years ahead for Michelle and your good self.
I know I speak for many when I wish you and your family a very Happy Christmas and every good wish during 2015

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Boyle GAA Club Update 15th December

The following were €20 winners at the most recent Club Lotto Draw which was held in Wynnes;- Mary and Cathal Magee, Bernard Shannon, Ernie Keenan, Tom Conroy, Eddie Creighton and Catherine Sheridan. The house prize was won by Marie McLoughlin. The next draw will be held in Mattimoes Bar on SUNDAY night next 28th December. Team C will be in charge. The Club will hold its eagerly awaited Annual Quiz in St Joseph’s Hall on this Saturday 27th at 8.15pm.

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Gentle reminders

* This is a PERSONAL website and does NOT claim/pretend to represent or portray an official view.
* There is no person or body with a mandate to represent everyone's views.
* Site content is offered in good faith and without intention to hurt or misrepresent.
* E&OE - Errors and Omissions Excepted
* All photographs are © copyright and may not be used without permission.

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Nativity Crib beside the bridge in Boyle

Boyle Musical Society- Christmas Carols 2014 : Boyle Abbey - New office block : Roscommon Youth Orchestra in SuperValu, 20th December : GAA appeal for donors : P.McGrath Butchers, St. Patrick Street : Carols at the Farmers Market

Boyle Musical Society- Christmas Carols 2014

Once again Boyle Musical Society reaffirmed my view that its members provide us with performances that are a credit to any group in any community, anywhere! Before, during and after 7.30pm mass in St. Joseph's Church on Saturday night they delighted a large congregation with a programme of popular and lesser know Christmas Carols. BMS, through its years with Frank O'Mahoney and current musical, choreography and performance directors continues to mould together a highly talented group of performers that make us proud to have them with us. Musical Director Anne Kielty's piano accompaniment and the massed BMS choir gave superb backing to stunning solo slots from Adrian King, Darragh Beirne, Sean Maguire, Bernie Casserly, Catherine Bolger, Bertie Langton, Donie O'Connor, Brendan Reid, Josephine Carroll and Rhona Feely.
 

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Boyle Abbey - New office block

Assuming that the appearance of the new structure will remain as it is now ...
• Paddy Conlon here, a daily visitor and a big fan of your Real Boyle over 30 years. I cannot understand who was allowed to park a modern Mobile office in front of an 11th century historic building in Boyle, one of the most beautiful in the country.
• Have any of the local people who have a greater understanding of the great heritage of our buildings been consulted. How could such a carbuncle on the face of Boyle Abbey be considered never mind built.
• What planning laws allowed this to take place. It is disgraceful.
• Boyle is my home town even though I left there in 1964 but I still keep in touch daily through Real Boyle.
• Best regards to all in Boyle for Christmas ... Paddy Conlon.

Padraig Beisty wrote: Hi Sean, another brain child from the people who dreamed up the Moylurg monstrosity no doubt!

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Roscommon Youth Orchestra in SuperValu, 20th December

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GAA appeal for donors

Please help find a bone marrow match for Paul Giblin, a young man from Galway who has been battling Hodgkins Lymphoma since April 2012. Paul and his family & friends have recently appealed to the Irish public to help save his life (& others in the same situation) by increasing the number of donors on the Global registry. Despite the remarkable turnout so far, Paul has yet to find a suitable bone marrow match and must do so by January to help his chances of overcoming Hodgkins Lymphoma. The process of getting screened and entered onto the Bone Marrow Registry is very straightforward and just involves a small blood sample for testing.

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P.McGrath Butchers, St. Patrick Street

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Carols at the Farmers Market

Monica King wrote: Hi, we are carol singing this morning at the farmers market 11-1pm all proceeds towards the Brothers of Charity Outreach Services, please come along and join us even for a few minutes, its very informal and we would appreciate the support. Thanks.

Boyle Musical Society in St. Joseph's Church : Boyle Abbey's new office suite? : Better Buy / Surprises : Boyle Country Meats : St Joseph's BNS

Boyle Musical Society  in St. Joseph's Church

Over forty members of Boyle Musical Society will perform a selection of Christmas carols this evening, during the 7:30pm Mass in St. Joseph's Church, Boyle. Accompanied by BMS Musical Director Anne Kielty, this very special event will be a heartwarming start to the Festive season. The music will start at 7:15pm.

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Boyle Abbey's new office suite?

Click on photos to view a larger version

I published these photos on Facebook yesterday, and many comments were posted as a result, all expressing surprise and unease with the new building. Certainly our traditional view of the Abbey is gone, and if this is the final colour and finish on the new office block, many will be unhappy.

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Better Buy / Surprises

Better and Surprise on Bridge Street/The Crescent have a great selection of presents your family and friends will be delighted to accept this Christmas, including a cross-price-range of pre-packed Gift Baskets ... drop in and browse every day before Christmas Day ... including Sunday opening 12-6pm
 

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Boyle Country Meats

Boyle Country Meats Christmas Displays ... Order you Christmas Meats today
 

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St Joseph's BNS

photo: Michael Gilmartin

Each year the boys collect food during Advent which is distributed locally. St Joseph's BNS Parents Association held a Christmas raffle to raise funds for the school. Pictured are the boys with members of the local SVP society and members of the Parent's Association with the prizewinners.

photo: Michael Gilmartin

Scoil na nAingeal Naofa - Christmas Carols : Marians Fashions : Boyle Venture Scouts at Farmers Market ; An Oblique View - Tony Conboy - 18th December : A realboyle.com Thank You : Feelystone - museum collection : Frank Feighan Press Release : 5km fun run/walk in Rockingham : Jobs available at Stewarts Oil

Scoil na nAingeal Naofa - Christmas Carols

Pupils of Scoil na nAingeal Naofa sang Christmas Carols and acted a Nativity play in St. Joseph's Church on Thursday 18th. Congratulations to teachers, pupils and parents for a most enjoyable hour's performance. I was delighted to be one of the many on the night to capture and publish photographic memories of the occasion.

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Marians Fashions

"We are delighted to forward €4000 proceeds from our MARIANS 60th Anniversary Fashion Show between NBCRI and SLIGO CANCER SUPPORT CENTRE. Thank you to all our our loyal friends, family and customers who supported us on this night and the worthy charities on the night.
We take this opportunity to wish HAPPY CHRISTMAS and a big thank you for your continued support. Perpetua and girls at Marians Fashions"

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Boyle Venture Scouts at Farmers Market

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An Oblique View - Tony Conboy - 18th December
	Read Tony's articles on local news, national news etc Christmas Memories / Paddy McDermott / Brendan McQuillan / GAA Annual Quiz / Gaelic Games in Roscommon 1990-2014 / Bright Mind / Congratulations to Cian Smith and Michelle Garvin

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A realboyle.com Thank You ...

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Feelystone - museum collection

Feelystone have created a museum to display its collection of tools, documents and photographs associated with its long involvement in the stone business. Also on display is a quarry bar used over 200 years ago at its local quarry in Rockingham and Greatmeadow (Olberts quarry). The museum is open to the public.
• Barry Feely's “A Life in Stone” is a great success and brings back memories of old Boyle with its many stories of the people that called to their yard and passed the road. It also give a well written account of former times working the stone by hand - details of which are on www.feelystone.ie.

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Frank Feighan Press Release

Local Fine Gael TD, Frank Feighan, has warmly welcomed the news that the long-awaited new Cloonakilla National School in Bealnamullia, South Roscommon will now go to construction next year. "I’m delighted that Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan has today (Thursday) included the new school on the current school building programme and has designated it as one of 16 urgent projects which will proceed to tender and construction next year."

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5km fun run/walk in Rockingham

Majella McCrann (086 812 3594) wrote: My name is Majella McCrann and I grew up in St Patrick St. Boyle. I have a little seven year old girl with Autism. I am organising a 5km fun run/walk in Rockingham on December 28th starting at 12.30pm. The fun run/walk is to raise funds for our charity 'Rapid Prompting Method Ireland Limited', which currently involves 21 families around Ireland.

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Jobs available at Stewarts Oil

Retail Sales Assistants are required in our Boyle and Carrick-on-Shannon Filling Station Forecourts, including Convenience Store and Retail Fuel/Solid Fuel. Responsibilities will include: Operating a Point of Sale System, delivering excellent Customer Service and cover full  Forecourt services for which full training will be provided.
• The successful candidate will provide a high standard of customer service, drive sales, manage customer enquiries & orders and maintain shop shelves and stock on a day to day basis. Applicants must be flexible and be willing to work a range of shifts Monday to Sunday.
• Apply by email to: jobs@stewarts.ie, or drop in to Stewarts Oil, Mill Road, Boyle, Co Roscommon