‘Boyle is definitely on the up’ says local treasure, Sean O'Dowd
Chris O’Dowd, his wife Dawn and father Seán at a tapas evening hosted by Lovage at the Gate Lodge in Boyle last August. Pic. Courtesy of Lovage at the Gate Lodge Facebook page
One of Boyle’s most familiar faces and the man behind the hugely popular realboyle community website is among many local people who are delighted with the level of investment and progress the town is enjoying at the moment.
With the Christmas lights up and new projects underway, there is a feel-good factor in the town in the run-up to Christmas.
One of the regeneration centre-pieces is An Ríoga, a new multi-disciplinary enterprise and creative space on the site of the former Royal Hotel.
“The town developing for me is a real highlight. The year started off with the development of An Ríoga. It was a great move and at the present moment in time, there is massive work happening on the townscape such as the widening of footpaths and putting in new footpaths. Of course, the €7m being spent on a new library in the town is great news too, and Boyle is definitely on the up at the moment,” said Seán.
The “great lacking piece of the jigsaw” is the need for a hotel, according to Seán although he does say that there is a lot of good work taking place behind the scenes to see a hotel being developed in the town.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have a hotel as yet, but I have been told quietly that there is somebody with a hotel in mind. At one stage, there were four or five hotels in the town, all of which vanished with time.” Seán was originally born in Birmingham and moved to Boyle in 1947 when he six years old. Since then, he has become one of the town’s most familiar figures.
“I remember when we were going to National School, we had a geography book and it referred to Boyle as a thriving market town. That’s a long time ago but it was a thriving market town then with different aspects to it, including fair days.
“But I am delighted that Boyle is on the up with all the investment that has been sought and got, and offered,” he said.
He is quick to pay tribute to the many stakeholders who have helped to deliver that investment.
“Local politicians, the Town Team and the Chamber all have their own particular part to play in the redevelopment of the town of Boyle.” He also noted that the natural amenities in Boyle were continuing to play a big part in attracting visitors to the area.
“In Boyle as far as I am concerned, we have some outstanding locations and attractions. We have the Abbey commanding a large number of people who visit every year, Lough Key Forest Park and then we have three great lakes, Lough Gara, Lough Key and Lough Arrow, each of which have their particular attractions.
“Lough Arrow is a great lake for trout, Lough Key is synonymous with the Easter Pike Angling Festival and Lough Gara is the source of the Boyle River passes through the town and on to Lough Key,” he explains.
There is plenty to get excited about for Boyle people as the year comes to close, and from a more personal perspective, Seán is also excited about the onset of the festive season.
“I absolutely love Christmas. Christmas was always a magical time in our family. I have spent it in various parts of the world, and I am looking forward to it this year as well because I will be spending it either in Boyle or in Strandhill where I have a daughter living.” His son Chris, the renowned director and actor, has moved to London full-time with his family after spending about 15 years in Los Angeles. As always, he will also be spending time with Seán and the rest of family. “Chris is very much a family man,” he said.
One of the festive staples Seán won’t be participating in though is the Christmas dinner of turkey. Beef, pork, and fish will be among his choices instead. “My late mother always had to cook a beef roast as well. One of my favourite things my mother use to do was stuffed pork steak. We used to have it a few times during the year, but it was always definitely on the Christmas menu.” Seán has been synonymous with Boyle life for decades, a founding member of Boyle Arts Festival and a founder member of Boyle Camera Club with Tony Murphy among many of his accomplishments. He is also proud of the fact that he designed the official Roscommon crest back in the 1970s.
Through his very popular realboyle website, Seán continues to capture the live and times of Boyle, and right now, there is plenty of great news to shout about!
