The Chairperson of Boyle Town Team Ciaran Sheerin has been reflecting on another successful year, noting that in 2024 Boyle Town Team secured €238,749 in State aid, which he said “is most welcome”.
Mr Sheerin explained: “The funds will go towards several projects that will benefit the town, some which commenced in 2024 and others on which work will commence in 2025. They include: Improvement works to The Lawn area; Installation of a Calisthenics Unit, Multi Use Games Area and new Public Lighting in the Pleasure Grounds”.
He also welcomed the €1.2m awarded during the year to Moylurg, Rockingham under the Just Transition fund that will go towards the design and planning stage of the larger Lough Key Masterplan. He said this plan will have a major economic benefit to Boyle when it goes ahead – doubling visitor and employee numbers in this national park.
“Work is now nearly completed on the public realm enhancement of the Bridge Street and Shop Street areas of the town and early 2025 should see this project closed out. We are actively liaising with Roscommon County Council in relation to additional public realm works on St Patrick Street and the Crescent area to compliment the Bridge Street/Shop Street project”.
Mr Sheerin highlighted the great work undertaken by the Town Team in supporting the courthouse committee with future planning and also the support given to the Christmas Lights committee in fundraising and organisation.
He also detailed the involvement the Town Team had in the Global Rossie Day last May along with the large financial support the Team provided towards the Tidy Towns.
Near the end of 2024, the Team were instrumental in getting a number of way pointing signs erected throughout the town which will be of great use to tourists in 2025 who want to navigate through Boyle to see all it has to offer.
The chairperson extended “huge thanks” to Lisa Joy, Tourism Officer with Roscommon County Council who led this project and was also pivotal in the grant application for the Lawns Area.
The Town Team were also involved in the production of the Moving West TV programme that positively showcased Boyle.
Ciaran thanked the Town Team executive and members for their support and assistance throughout the year. He also had a word of thanks to the executive of Roscommon County Council and in particular Adrian Farrell who oversaw the public realm work in Boyle and who kept in constant contact with the Team.
In conclusion, Mr Sheerin highlighted how appreciative he is of the great work of all the voluntary organisations working to make Boyle a better place.
“We are very fortunate to be blessed with very active volunteer bodies who give selflessly of their time, from sporting groups to cultural and charitable groups, tidy towns, etc. I very much appreciate the selfless time given by the people of Boyle for the community benefit”.
Looking forward to 2025, he highlighted some of the key focus areas: “We plan to launch the Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) for Boyle early in 2025. This plan has been drawn up following several meetings with members of the public and it will feed into the Boyle 2040 plan which is our masterplan for the ongoing redevelopment of the town”.
He also noted that the National Hot Air Ballooning Championships are returning to Boyle this year. He added that a focus in 2025 will be on supporting people/volunteers with a view to maximising the potential there is for platforming events in the town into the future.
