Boyle, County Roscommon
Encyclopedia
Boyle is a town in County Roscommon
, Ireland
. It is located at the foot of the Curlew Mountains
near Lough Key
in the north of the county
. Carrowkeel Megalithic Cemetery
, the Drumanone Dolmen
and the popular fishing
lake
s of Lough Arrow and Lough Gara
are also close by. The population of the town was 3000 in 2010.
between English
and Irish forces was fought in the Curlew mountains during the Nine Years' War, between an English force under Sir Conyers Clifford and a rebel Irish force led by Aodh Rua Ó Dónaill. The English were ambushed and routed while marching through a pass in the Curlew Mountains
, The English forces suffered heavy casualties. Losses by allied Irish forces were not recorded but were probably minimal. The Queen's principal secretary, Sir Robert Cecil, rated this defeat (and the simultaneous defeat of Harrington in Wicklow
) as the two heaviest blows ever suffered by the English in Ireland.
Boyle suffered considerable hardship during the famine years (1847-49). The following quote from the novel Woodbrook is one example: A retired herd, Mick Maxwell, speaking to Thompson about his grandfather during the famine, related the following:
'when his grandfather, the only man strong enough, brought fifty and sixty corpses on a barrow, one by one, two miles from Cootehall near his home to the graveyard at Ardcarne, and the people were lying dead by the roadside with green on their mouths, where they had been eating grass.'
But life improved after the famine years. By 1851, Boyle market had wheat, oats, oat-meal, potatoes, bacon, beef, lamb and mutton on offer.
The market also sold material for making clothes, including hackled flax, yarn and hide. Slater's directory by 1881 reported the town had a dispensary, a loan fund, and free schools for the children of the poor. One was financed by Colonel Edward Robert King Harman of nearby Rockingham estate . By this time (the 1880s), along with three banks, three hotels and two newspapers, Boyle also had a post office, 40 grocery shops, 25 pubs (sixteen of which were also groceries), 12 bakeries and an assortment of businesses including fire insurance companies, booksellers, ironmongers and hardware stores, butchers, an auctioneer and valuer and churches for both Protestants and Catholics. .
but originally by the Connaught Rangers who fought bravely and with honour until, while in India
, they heard of the atrocities being committed back in Ireland by the 'Black and Tans
' and mutinied. The other rooms in the house are used for temporary exhibitions and these are open to visitors, usually at no extra charge. In The Kings of Connaught exhibition visitors are led through a series of tableaux and encouraged, with interactive pieces, to experience life as it was in the house and in the locality. The displays, ranging all over the floors, cover four main themes: The Kingdom of Connaught (from the earliest recorded times showing the importance of the clans and their kings), The King Family (meet the families who lived in the house from Sir John King who came to Boyle in 1603 to the fascinating accounts of life, both for the family and the staff, at Rockingham Estate, now Lough Key Forest Park
), the Restoration (a room has been left partially-restored so that visitors can see the fabric of the house and with the aid of photographs and models see the skill and craft employed in the building and restoration), and The Military Usage (from 1788 to recent times).
The Cistercian abbey was founded in the 12th century under the patron
age of the local ruling family, the MacDermott
s and is one of the best preserved in Ireland. It was colonised from Mellifont in 1161. The building of the chancel and the transepts with their side-chapels probably began shortly after this date, though the lancet windows in the east gable were inserted in the 13th century. There is a combination of rounded and pointed arches in the transepts and crossing. The existing large square tower formed part of the church from the beginning, though it was raised in height at a later stage. The five eastern arches of the nave and their supporting pillars were built at the end of the 12th century, and have well-preserved capitals typical of the period. Although built at the same time, the arches of the northern side of the nave are different in type, and have differently shaped columns and capitals. The three westernmost arches in the south arcade which have leafed and figured capitals, were built after 1205, as was the west wall, before the church was finally consecrated in 1218. Nothing remains of the cloister, but on the eastern side there are two doorways of c.1200, now blocked up. On the west side there is a two-storey gatehouse, which acts as an interpretative centre. The rest of the buildings surrounding the cloister are largely 16th or 17th century. The Abbey was one of the most important in Connacht, and was invaded by Richard de Burgo, Maurice Fitzgerald, and Justiciar, in 1235. In 1659, the Cromwellians occupied the monastery and did a great deal of destruction. Though mutilated during the 17th and 18th centuries when it was used to accommodate a military
garrison
, Boyle Abbey
is one of the best preserved structures of its type, and attracts many thousands of visitors per year. A restored gatehouse
16th/17th century vintage houses an exhibition. The Abbey is now a national monument in state care and admission is currently free while restoration work is being carried out.
There is a Sile na Gig hidden above one of the central Romanesque arches in Boyle Abbey. It can be seen from ground level, just at the top of the column, where the arch begins.
Forest Park], a parkland area that has been revitalised by an addition of a Visitor Center and Activity Facilities, including Boda Borg, a puzzle solving activity centre which is a Swedish concept originally unique to Ireland
but now has locations in Sweden
and plans to expand Worldwide. The park covers 800 acres (3.2 km²), and was formerly part of the Rockingham estate. This was the seat of the Stafford-King-Harman family who at the end of the nineteenth century "owned" over 30000 acres (121.4 km²) in north County Roscommon
and County Sligo. Rockingham House was designed by Nash in the early eighteen hundreds for the English landlord John King. It was remarkable due to its dome front and 365 windows.
Rockingham House was suspiciously destroyed by fire in 1957, after which it was taken over by the Irish Land Commission. Declared as unsafe in 1970, it was demolished. We can still see the remnants of the house in the park to this day such as its two 'tunnels' (which allowed the staff to unload provisions from boats and bring them to the house unseen). These tunnels are still accessible to this day. The Moylurg Tower which will give you a spectacular view of the lake, was built on the original foundations of Rockingham House.
In the town park, known locally as the Pleasure Grounds behind King House stood a statue of William of Orange
, this was pulled down and destroyed by locals in 1945 with the base of the statue remaining there to this day, reflecting the turmoil of that era of Irish History.
There are many interesting islands on Lough Key. Castle Island is a well-known visual icon of this area. Trinity Island contains the ruins of a chapel, linked to the Cistercian monastery in the town. There are two trees growing on the island with interlinked branches, said to mark the graves of Una Bhan Mac Diarmid and Tomás Láidir Mac Coisdealbhaigh
, two ill-fated lovers, celebrated in the poem Una Bhan.
The 5-arch bridge across the Boyle river close to the Abbey, known as Abbeytown Bridge. Also built in the late 12th Century, it could well be the oldest surviving stone bridge in Ireland. It has been widened but still carries a 5-ton load.
The Drumanone Dolmen is just west of the town. It is a site of Irish and indeed European historic archaeological significance. Find it by taking the R294 for 5 km (3.1 mi) from Boyle. Continue under an overhead railway bridge and, on your right, there is a gate into a field. This field is privately owned and one should seek permission before entering. The dolmen should only be accessed with care via the gates at the railway crossing provided by Iarnrod Eireann. (For directions, see http://www.unabhan.net/drumanone%20dolmen.htm)
opened on 3 December 1862. Boyle lies on the railway line
from Dublin to Sligo
, and the N4 Dublin-Sligo main road
skirts the town. The town is linked to the River Shannon
navigation system via the Boyle canal, the River Boyle and Lough Key
.
The town was once on the N4 national primary road
from Dublin to Sligo but was bypassed in 1999. It is connected to the N4 by the R294 regional road
(which also connects it to Ballina, County Mayo
) and the N61
national secondary road
which links Boyle to Athlone via Roscommon
.
, writer Patrick Chapman
, Suffragette and women's rights campaigner Margaret Cousins, physician Robert Cryan
, and hometown of actor\comedian Chris O'Dowd
, ancestral home of Ryan W. Sharkey.
The writer John McGahern
grew up near Boyle and Boyle is mentioned in several of his books. In his novel The Dark
, a scene is played out in the dining room of the Royal Hotel, overlooking the river.
Serving President of Ireland, Mary McAleese
, has a holiday home near Boyle, as does Emmy-winning actor Brendan Gleeson
.
John Carty
is an Irish traditional musician. He plays fiddle, tenor banjo, tenor guitar and, occasionally, the flute. He is very interested in the North Connacht traditional music style. Born in London, Carty now lives in Boyle, County Roscommon. In 2003, he was declared Irish television station TG4’s 'Traditional Musician of the Year'.
The UFO society of Ireland was founded in Boyle by the late Betty Meyler. Considered a UFO hotspot, Boyle hosts annual events on the subject (contributions to this section welcome)
County Roscommon
County Roscommon is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the town of Roscommon. Roscommon County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It is located at the foot of the Curlew Mountains
Curlew Mountains
Viewed to the west travelling north, dominates the surrounding lakes of the north Roscommon and Leitrim countryside. Situated between Boyle, and Castlebalwin, the Curlew Mountains oversees the north Connacht countryside....
near Lough Key
Lough Key
Lough Key is a lake in Ireland. It is located in the northwest of County Roscommon, northeast of the town of Boyle. The lough's name is believed to come from Cé, a druid; the lake was formed over his grave.-Derivation of name:...
in the north of the county
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
. Carrowkeel Megalithic Cemetery
Carrowkeel Megalithic Cemetery
Carrowkeel is a Neolithic passage tomb cemetery in the south of County Sligo, near Boyle, County Roscommon. An Cheathrú Chaol in Irish means 'the Narrow Quarter'. Circumstantial Carbon 14 dating places the tombs at between 5400 and 5100 years old, so that they predate the Pyramids on Egypt's Giza...
, the Drumanone Dolmen
Dolmen
A dolmen—also known as a portal tomb, portal grave, dolmain , cromlech , anta , Hünengrab/Hünenbett , Adamra , Ispun , Hunebed , dös , goindol or quoit—is a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of...
and the popular fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
s of Lough Arrow and Lough Gara
Lough Gara
Lough Gara is a lake in County Sligo, Republic of Ireland.-History:Lough Gara was known in ancient times as Loch Techet, but the O’Garas, during their ownership of the Coolavin district from about the thirteenth century, renamed the lake “Loch Uí Ghadhra”. The first documented reference appeared...
are also close by. The population of the town was 3000 in 2010.
History
On 15 August 1599, the Battle of Curlew PassBattle of Curlew Pass
The Battle of Curlew Pass was fought on the 15th of August 1599, during the campaign of the Earl of Essex in the Nine Years' War, between an English force under Sir Conyers Clifford and a rebel Irish force led by Hugh Roe O'Donnell. The English were ambushed and routed while marching through a pass...
between English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Irish forces was fought in the Curlew mountains during the Nine Years' War, between an English force under Sir Conyers Clifford and a rebel Irish force led by Aodh Rua Ó Dónaill. The English were ambushed and routed while marching through a pass in the Curlew Mountains
Curlew Mountains
Viewed to the west travelling north, dominates the surrounding lakes of the north Roscommon and Leitrim countryside. Situated between Boyle, and Castlebalwin, the Curlew Mountains oversees the north Connacht countryside....
, The English forces suffered heavy casualties. Losses by allied Irish forces were not recorded but were probably minimal. The Queen's principal secretary, Sir Robert Cecil, rated this defeat (and the simultaneous defeat of Harrington in Wicklow
Wicklow
Wicklow) is the county town of County Wicklow in Ireland. Located south of Dublin on the east coast of the island, it has a population of 10,070 according to the 2006 census. The town is situated to the east of the N11 route between Dublin and Wexford. Wicklow is also connected to the rail...
) as the two heaviest blows ever suffered by the English in Ireland.
Boyle suffered considerable hardship during the famine years (1847-49). The following quote from the novel Woodbrook is one example: A retired herd, Mick Maxwell, speaking to Thompson about his grandfather during the famine, related the following:
'when his grandfather, the only man strong enough, brought fifty and sixty corpses on a barrow, one by one, two miles from Cootehall near his home to the graveyard at Ardcarne, and the people were lying dead by the roadside with green on their mouths, where they had been eating grass.'
But life improved after the famine years. By 1851, Boyle market had wheat, oats, oat-meal, potatoes, bacon, beef, lamb and mutton on offer.
The market also sold material for making clothes, including hackled flax, yarn and hide
King House
Roscommon County Council, recognising the historical, architectural and cultural importance of King House, began the restoration project in 1989. Using skilled artisans and local craftsmen employing traditional techniques and materials, all three floors and the basement have been restored. Of particular note are the main entrance gallery with its tripate windows and original fireplace, the extensive vaulted ceilings on all floors and the main salon which is in use once again as a venue for recitals and banquets. Since 1788, when the King Family moved to Rockingham, the house has been used as a military barracks - recently by the Irish ArmyIrish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
but originally by the Connaught Rangers who fought bravely and with honour until, while in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, they heard of the atrocities being committed back in Ireland by the 'Black and Tans
Black and Tans
The Black and Tans was one of two newly recruited bodies, composed largely of British World War I veterans, employed by the Royal Irish Constabulary as Temporary Constables from 1920 to 1921 to suppress revolution in Ireland...
' and mutinied. The other rooms in the house are used for temporary exhibitions and these are open to visitors, usually at no extra charge. In The Kings of Connaught exhibition visitors are led through a series of tableaux and encouraged, with interactive pieces, to experience life as it was in the house and in the locality. The displays, ranging all over the floors, cover four main themes: The Kingdom of Connaught (from the earliest recorded times showing the importance of the clans and their kings), The King Family (meet the families who lived in the house from Sir John King who came to Boyle in 1603 to the fascinating accounts of life, both for the family and the staff, at Rockingham Estate, now Lough Key Forest Park
Lough Key Forest Park
Lough Key Forest Park is an 800 hectare park on the southern shore of Lough Key, 40 km south east of Sligo town and 3 km east of Boyle in the Republic of Ireland. Formerly part of the Rockingham estate, it is open to the public....
), the Restoration (a room has been left partially-restored so that visitors can see the fabric of the house and with the aid of photographs and models see the skill and craft employed in the building and restoration), and The Military Usage (from 1788 to recent times).
Boyle Abbey
Patrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...
age of the local ruling family, the MacDermott
MacDermott
MacDermott is a surname, and may refer to:*Ambrose MacDermott, Bishop of Elphin from 1707 to 1717* Cormac MacDermott* G. H. MacDermott* John MacDermott, Baron MacDermott* Sean MacDermott...
s and is one of the best preserved in Ireland. It was colonised from Mellifont in 1161. The building of the chancel and the transepts with their side-chapels probably began shortly after this date, though the lancet windows in the east gable were inserted in the 13th century. There is a combination of rounded and pointed arches in the transepts and crossing. The existing large square tower formed part of the church from the beginning, though it was raised in height at a later stage. The five eastern arches of the nave and their supporting pillars were built at the end of the 12th century, and have well-preserved capitals typical of the period. Although built at the same time, the arches of the northern side of the nave are different in type, and have differently shaped columns and capitals. The three westernmost arches in the south arcade which have leafed and figured capitals, were built after 1205, as was the west wall, before the church was finally consecrated in 1218. Nothing remains of the cloister, but on the eastern side there are two doorways of c.1200, now blocked up. On the west side there is a two-storey gatehouse, which acts as an interpretative centre. The rest of the buildings surrounding the cloister are largely 16th or 17th century. The Abbey was one of the most important in Connacht, and was invaded by Richard de Burgo, Maurice Fitzgerald, and Justiciar, in 1235. In 1659, the Cromwellians occupied the monastery and did a great deal of destruction. Though mutilated during the 17th and 18th centuries when it was used to accommodate a military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
, Boyle Abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
is one of the best preserved structures of its type, and attracts many thousands of visitors per year. A restored gatehouse
Gatehouse
A gatehouse, in architectural terminology, is a building enclosing or accompanying a gateway for a castle, manor house, fort, town or similar buildings of importance.-History:...
16th/17th century vintage houses an exhibition. The Abbey is now a national monument in state care and admission is currently free while restoration work is being carried out.
There is a Sile na Gig hidden above one of the central Romanesque arches in Boyle Abbey. It can be seen from ground level, just at the top of the column, where the arch begins.
Lough Key Forest Park
Situated just off the N4 is http://www.loughkey.ie/Lough KeyLough Key
Lough Key is a lake in Ireland. It is located in the northwest of County Roscommon, northeast of the town of Boyle. The lough's name is believed to come from Cé, a druid; the lake was formed over his grave.-Derivation of name:...
Forest Park], a parkland area that has been revitalised by an addition of a Visitor Center and Activity Facilities, including Boda Borg, a puzzle solving activity centre which is a Swedish concept originally unique to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
but now has locations in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and plans to expand Worldwide. The park covers 800 acres (3.2 km²), and was formerly part of the Rockingham estate. This was the seat of the Stafford-King-Harman family who at the end of the nineteenth century "owned" over 30000 acres (121.4 km²) in north County Roscommon
County Roscommon
County Roscommon is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the town of Roscommon. Roscommon County Council is the local authority for the county...
and County Sligo. Rockingham House was designed by Nash in the early eighteen hundreds for the English landlord John King. It was remarkable due to its dome front and 365 windows.
Rockingham House was suspiciously destroyed by fire in 1957, after which it was taken over by the Irish Land Commission. Declared as unsafe in 1970, it was demolished. We can still see the remnants of the house in the park to this day such as its two 'tunnels' (which allowed the staff to unload provisions from boats and bring them to the house unseen). These tunnels are still accessible to this day. The Moylurg Tower which will give you a spectacular view of the lake, was built on the original foundations of Rockingham House.
In the town park, known locally as the Pleasure Grounds behind King House stood a statue of William of Orange
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
, this was pulled down and destroyed by locals in 1945 with the base of the statue remaining there to this day, reflecting the turmoil of that era of Irish History.
There are many interesting islands on Lough Key. Castle Island is a well-known visual icon of this area. Trinity Island contains the ruins of a chapel, linked to the Cistercian monastery in the town. There are two trees growing on the island with interlinked branches, said to mark the graves of Una Bhan Mac Diarmid and Tomás Láidir Mac Coisdealbhaigh
Tomás Láidir Mac Coisdealbhaigh
Tomás Láidir Mac Coisdealbhaigh, Irish soldier and poet, fl.1660's.Tomás Láidir Mac Coisdealbhaigh was a member of the Costello family of north Connacht who lost their lands in the Cromwellian confications of the 1650s. He was a descendant of Sir William de Angulo, who died in 1206...
, two ill-fated lovers, celebrated in the poem Una Bhan.
Boyle Arts Festival
This renowned Festival is a highly regarded event, considered the best small-town arts festival in Ireland. The Summer event is now in its 21st year and has established an impressive reputation for excellence. The festival has been the winner of several national awards and welcomes new and innovative contributions. Events include a major art exhibition of works by contemporary Irish Artists, Classical and Traditional Music, Poetry, Drama, Lectures and Childrens events.Places of interest
The Drumanone Dolmen is just west of the town. It is a site of Irish and indeed European historic archaeological significance. Find it by taking the R294 for 5 km (3.1 mi) from Boyle. Continue under an overhead railway bridge and, on your right, there is a gate into a field. This field is privately owned and one should seek permission before entering. The dolmen should only be accessed with care via the gates at the railway crossing provided by Iarnrod Eireann. (For directions, see http://www.unabhan.net/drumanone%20dolmen.htm)
Transport
Boyle railway stationBoyle railway station
Boyle railway station serves the town of Boyle in County Roscommon, Ireland.The station opened on 3 December 1862....
opened on 3 December 1862. Boyle lies on the railway line
Rail transport in Ireland
Rail services in Ireland are provided by Iarnród Éireann in the Republic of Ireland and by Northern Ireland Railways in Northern Ireland.Most routes in the Republic radiate from Dublin...
from Dublin to Sligo
Sligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
, and the N4 Dublin-Sligo main road
Roads in Ireland
The island of Ireland, comprising Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, has an extensive network of tens of thousands of kilometres of public roads, usually surfaced. These roads have been developed and modernised over centuries, from trackways suitable only for walkers and horses, to...
skirts the town. The town is linked to the River Shannon
River Shannon
The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland at . It divides the west of Ireland from the east and south . County Clare, being west of the Shannon but part of the province of Munster, is the major exception...
navigation system via the Boyle canal, the River Boyle and Lough Key
Lough Key
Lough Key is a lake in Ireland. It is located in the northwest of County Roscommon, northeast of the town of Boyle. The lough's name is believed to come from Cé, a druid; the lake was formed over his grave.-Derivation of name:...
.
The town was once on the N4 national primary road
National primary road
A national primary road is a road classification in the Republic of Ireland. National primary roads form the major routes between the major urban centres. There are over 2,700km of national primary roads. This category of road has the prefix "N" followed by one or two digits...
from Dublin to Sligo but was bypassed in 1999. It is connected to the N4 by the R294 regional road
Regional road
A regional road in Ireland is a class of road not forming a major route , but nevertheless forming a link in the national route network. There are over 11,600 kilometres of regional roads. Regional roads are numbered with three digit route numbers, prefixed by "R" A regional road in Ireland is a...
(which also connects it to Ballina, County Mayo
Ballina, County Mayo
Ballina is a large town in north County Mayo in Ireland. It lies at the mouth of the River Moy near Killala Bay, in the Moy valley and Parish of Kilmoremoy, with the Ox Mountain range to the east and the Nephin Beg mountains to the west...
) and the N61
N61 road (Ireland)
The N61 road is a national secondary road in County Roscommon, Ireland, linking the N4, N5 and N6 national primary roads.-Route:Starting at Athlone , the road goes Northwards to Knockcroghery, Roscommon, Tulsk , and ends just North of Boyle at the N4....
national secondary road
National secondary road
A national secondary road is a category of road in Ireland. These roads form an important part of the national route network, but are secondary to the main arterial routes which are classified as national primary roads. National secondary roads are designated with route numbers higher than those...
which links Boyle to Athlone via Roscommon
Roscommon
Roscommon is the county town of County Roscommon in Ireland. Its population at the 2006 census stood at 5,017 . The town is located near the junctions of the N60, N61 and N63 roads.-History:...
.
People
Boyle is the birthplace of actress Maureen O'SullivanMaureen O'Sullivan
Maureen Paula O’Sullivan was an Irish actress.-Early life:O'Sullivan was born in Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland, the daughter of Roman Catholic parents Mary Lovatt and Charles Joseph O'Sullivan, an officer in The Connaught Rangers who served in The Great War...
, writer Patrick Chapman
Patrick Chapman
Patrick Chapman is an Irish poet, writer and screenwriter, born in 1968. His poetry collections include:* Jazztown, * The New Pornography Patrick Chapman is an Irish poet, writer and screenwriter, born in 1968. His poetry collections include:* Jazztown, (Raven Arts Press, 1991)* The New Pornography...
, Suffragette and women's rights campaigner Margaret Cousins, physician Robert Cryan
Robert Cryan
Robert Cryan was an Irish medical doctor, professor of Anatomy and Physiology at the Catholic University in Dublin, Ireland, as well as a lecturer on anatomy and Physiology at the Carmichael School of Medicine in Dublin-Medical career:...
, and hometown of actor\comedian Chris O'Dowd
Chris O'Dowd
Chris O'Dowd is an Irish comedian and actor. He is best known for playing Roy Trenneman in British sitcom The IT Crowd...
, ancestral home of Ryan W. Sharkey.
The writer John McGahern
John McGahern
John McGahern was one of the most important Irish authors of the latter half of the twentieth century. Before his death in 2006 he was hailed as "the greatest living Irish novelist" by The Observer.-Life:...
grew up near Boyle and Boyle is mentioned in several of his books. In his novel The Dark
The Dark (McGahern novel)
The Dark is the second novel by Irish author, John McGahern. It was published in 1965.-Plot introduction:The novel is set in Ireland's rural north-west, and it focuses on an adolescent and his emerging sexuality, as seen through the lens of the strained and complex relationship he has with his...
, a scene is played out in the dining room of the Royal Hotel, overlooking the river.
Serving President of Ireland, Mary McAleese
Mary McAleese
Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...
, has a holiday home near Boyle, as does Emmy-winning actor Brendan Gleeson
Brendan Gleeson
Brendan Gleeson is an Irish actor. His best-known films include Braveheart, Gangs of New York, In Bruges, 28 Days Later, the Harry Potter films, The Guard and the role of Michael Collins in The Treaty...
.
John Carty
John Carty (musician)
John Carty is an Irish traditional musician. He plays fiddle, tenor banjo, tenor guitar and occasionally the flute. He is very interested in the North Connacht traditional music style.He was born in London, Carty now lives in Boyle, County Roscommon....
is an Irish traditional musician. He plays fiddle, tenor banjo, tenor guitar and, occasionally, the flute. He is very interested in the North Connacht traditional music style. Born in London, Carty now lives in Boyle, County Roscommon. In 2003, he was declared Irish television station TG4’s 'Traditional Musician of the Year'.
The UFO society of Ireland was founded in Boyle by the late Betty Meyler. Considered a UFO hotspot, Boyle hosts annual events on the subject (contributions to this section welcome)
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
- Market Houses in IrelandMarket Houses in the Republic of IrelandMarket houses are a notable feature of many Irish towns with varying styles of architecture, size and ornamentation making for a most interesting feature of the streetscape. Originally there were three, four or even five bays on the ground floor which were an open arcade. An upper floor was...