Pumpkin Seeds for a "beach body"

I read this in the Irish Independent: 

• "PUMPKIN SEEDS are a major beautifying food, as they are loaded with our beauty minerals zinc, calcium, potassium and magnesium, 

as well as B vitamins and collagen-repairing vitamin C and vitamin E."

• Read the full article:
http://www.independent.ie/woman/diet-fitness/how-greens-can-get-you-a-beach-body-29308468.html

Boyle Summer Show Poster Campaign.

Aileen Madden wrote: "To celebrate the return of horse jumping to Boyle for the first time in over 30 years, we have invited all the schools in the area to enter a competition to design the poster which will advertise the 2013 show.
• The theme for the poster is ‘The Boyle Horse and Summer Show’. Paintings or drawings must be on an A4 piece of paper, they can be as abstract as desired, the only stipulation is that the artist’s name and school/contact detail is included on the back of the picture.
• All schools in the area have been contacted (junior infants to second year college)
Pictures will be collected from all schools on the 7th June or you can drop them into the Úna Bhán office on or before 7th…
• The overall winner will be notified and invited to the Show launch where the poster will be revealed, they will also be a special guest at the Show on Sunday 25th August."

Evening Shadows viewed from the Gaelic Chieftain on the N4

Too many Bank Holidays?

Well what do ya know ... it's almost the weekend again, and last weekend seems like just a couple of days ago. These short weeks are far too frequent for me as I slide ever more quickly towards an older old age. Slow down please, and let me enjoy more 'todays'!

• The 'slide' is bad enough for me, but a new film, The Bling Ring, highlights how teenagers want to broadcast their lives via a screen, rather than savouring the moment. Has this generation lost touch with reality? Sometimes kids can look like they’re living in another world. While the day whirls around them, they’re lost in their mobile phones – photographing, Tweeting, texting, emailing ...

Blue & Green

Blue & Green, that's Boyle this morning! Long may this beautiful summer weather last ...

"Little Guide to the Big House"

This "Little Guide to the Big House" is an excellent reference for anyone wishing to know more about Rockinham House. It features text an photos compiled very well by local girl (lady) Triona Mullaney Dignam. I can recommend this booklet highly and suggest you purchase a copy at any of the following Boyle locations:
• First Chapter (SuperValu), Una bhan, Abbeytown Xpress, Lough Key Visitor Centre
• It is available also in Carrick-on-Shannon at: The Reading Room, Mulveys & Priors

Boyle Musical Society: Celebration Concert last Friday

Friday 31st May: The accomplished, award-winning chorus and soloists came together for what was a truly magical and memorable musical experience. An audience of over 1,000 thoroughly enjoyed the hugely talented BMS cast as they performed big chorus numbers, gave solo and duet performances, and featured songs from Les Miserables, Oklahoma, Blood Brothers, Oliver, Chess, West Side Story, Grease, Sister Act, Jesus Christ Superstar, Sound of Music and many more. A spectacular night’s entertainment indeed!
• More photos [here...]

Moone Boy Series 2 World Premiere

Moone Boy David Rawle and Chris O'Dowd arrive at the Premiere in  Sky rickshaw

Family group with Sky executives at the Moone Boy premiere

Sky TV were sponsors for the "Cat Laugh Comedy Festival" over the weekend. There too, in the Watergate Theatre, was the World Premiere of Series 2 of Moone Boy. The theatre was packed and I believe, thoroughly enjoyed seeing Episodes 1 and 2 of Series 2. The rumour machine told me the series will be transmitted on Sky starting at the end of August. I can promise you there are some great moments and tons of laughs in Series 2.
• Photos from the Moone Boy Series Two Premiere [here...]
• Photos "A walk around Kilkenny" [here...]

Chris O'Dowd "Delighted to be here, can't wait to get in" :-)

June Bank Holiday weekend

For all of us the June bank holiday weekend (once know as Whit Weekend) holds memories. For me, I think of the great All-Ireland Fleadhs (Fleadhanna if you prefer), and in particular the ones held here in Boyle, 1960 and 1966. Basking in sunshine all those years ago, Boyle proudly and brilliantly hosted an interested, entertained, peaceful 50,000 - the largest numbers of people ever seen in the town. Oh my god!, how our world has changed since then!

Reflection

Here we are on a sunny morning in June. The bank holiday weekend has shot us forward to the fourth day of summer. It occurs to me that, like flowers, we are 'growing things' on planet earth, and we too bloom in the sunshine. If it lasts for only a short while, let's give ourselves permission for time to bask in the sun ... God knows we need it.

...Let's also wish good luck and peace of mind today to our secondary school students. The 2013 written Leaving and Junior Cert examinations will star tomorrow, Wednesday 5th June. The Leaving Certificate examinations will finish on Friday 21st June, 2013 and the Junior Certificate examinations will finish on Thursday 20th June, 2013