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Ep 82---

This week on the Voices of Boyle, we’re delighted to have the wonderful Martha Higgins on for an honest, nostalgic, and insightful chat!

🕰️ Take a walk down memory lane as Martha shares:

Her childhood growing up on a small farm in rural Sligo

The strong bond with neighbours and how the community helped each other, especially during haymaking season

Fond memories of Boyle as a vibrant market towns...shops, fairs, the magic of Christmas, and classic dances

The inspiration behind her debut novel "Hiding from the Heart" and her writing journey

Fascinating stories about Jimmy Gralton, his legacy as an Irish rebel, and Martha’s next book project

Life lessons from walking the length of Ireland, living abroad, and surviving the challenging Covid era

The healing power of nature and the importance of looking up from our phones to appreciate the beauty around us.

Check out the full blog post to go along with this episode: Click Here

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If you’d like to be on the show or if you know someone who would like to chat with us, then drop us an email at ( info@voicesofboyle.com )

Thanks to Brendan O' Dowd for creating and recording the musical piece for the podcast.

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Ep 81---

Today’s guest is Dorothy Shannon and we talk about all things King House Tea Rooms.

Dorothy grew up between Ardcarne and Cootehall, and talks about her vivid memories of coming into Boyle as a child – the turkey market, the buzz of the town, and the shops that she loved to visit.

Travel opened her world up when she was younger, feeding her love of food, flavours and the joy of creating a variety of dishes from scratch. Catering and hospitality always felt natural to her, so when the chance to take over King House Tea Rooms came up nine years ago, she trusted her gut and grasped the opportunity with both hands.

Since then, Dorothy has turned the café into a place known for homemade food, local ingredients and a feeling of genuine welcome. For her, the tea rooms are about community as much as cooking – a space where people meet, chat and keep the heart of Boyle beating.

In this episode, she reflects on her journey to where she is today, the people that make her job so rewarding and her plans as the café heads towards its ten year anniversary.

Check out the full blog post for this episode here - https://www.voicesofboyle.com/dorothyshannon

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If you’d like to be on the show or if you know someone who would like to chat with us, then drop us an email at ( info@voicesofboyle.com )

Thanks to Brendan O' Dowd for creating and recording the musical piece for the podcast.

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Ep 80---

On this episode of Voices of Boyle, Florence and myself chat with Anna Marie Jehorek. Anna shares her story of her deep connection to Boyle—despite being born and raised in the U.S.

Her family roots reach back to Croghan and she reflects on her fond memories of visiting Boyle since the 1980s, as well as the friendships and traditions that shaped her affection for the area.

It was a result of these visits that Boyle became the backdrop for her two novels.

From travel inspiration and pen pal letters with her grand uncle, to Irish dancing championships and her recent foray into podcasting, the conversation with Anna Marie is packed with stories of heritage, creativity, and the enduring magnetism of Boyle. We hope you enjoy the episode.

See the full blog post to accompany this episode: https://www.voicesofboyle.com/annamariejehorek

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If you’d like to be on the show or if you know someone who would like to chat with us, then drop us an email at ( info@voicesofboyle.com )

Thanks to Brendan O' Dowd for creating and recording the musical piece for the podcast.

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Ep 79---

Paul recently completed an epic endurance swim....the full length of the River Shannon, clocking in at a staggering 230km over just eight days! In this conversation, Paul chats with me and about how he prepared for the challenge, the training and sacrifices along the way, and what it really took (both physically and mentally) to push himself mile after mile in the open water.

From prepping with early morning swims in freezing winter conditions, to assembling a support crew (and even squeezing in family time with his new baby!), Paul opens up about the highs, lows, and unforgettable moments. Plus, it’s all for a great cause.....raising vital funds and awareness for the Northwest STOP Suicide Prevention charity.

If you need a dose of motivation, a reminder of the power of community, or just want to hear an incredible local story, you’ll love this episode!

Link to donate to the NorthWest Stop Charity - Click Here

Blog Post - https://www.voicesofboyle.com/paullittle

Join us on:

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If you’d like to be on the show or if you know someone who would like to chat with us, then drop us an email at ( info@voicesofboyle.com )

Thanks to Brendan O' Dowd for creating and recording the musical piece for the podcast.

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Join us on:

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If you’d like to be on the show or if you know someone who would like to chat with us, then drop us an email at ( info@voicesofboyle.com )

Thanks to Brendan O' Dowd for creating and recording the musical piece for the podcast.

Send us a text

Ep 77---

For episode 77 we have Sean Nicholson for a chat that’s heartfelt and full of laughs. Sean takes us back to his childhood at the foot of the Curlew Mountains, growing up in a house steeped in music, stories, and a fair bit of mischief.

From there, the conversation meanders through rambling houses, lively sessions, and unforgettable characters, before following Sean to London in the 1980s and 90s, where the Irish community and music scene brought both challenges and adventure.

Along the way, Sean talks about learning his first instruments, playing in bands, life abroad, and the characters you’d meet gigging in Irish pubs. We also hear about brushes with fame, lessons learned, and his later involvement in creative projects back home, including the ‘Oh No Somalia’ charity album.

It’s a lively trip through memory, music, and community....told with all the wit and warmth of one of Boyle’s own.

Enjoy!

Check out the full blog post that accompanies this episode:
https://www.voicesofboyle.com/seannicholson

Join us on:

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If you’d like to be on the show or if you know someone who would like to chat with us, then drop us an email at ( info@voicesofboyle.com )

Thanks to Brendan O' Dowd for creating and recording the musical piece for the podcast.

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Ep 76---

Welcome to episode 76 of the Voices of Boyle. I'm delighted to be joined by Seamie Carr for this one...a true Boyle native whose stories will transport you straight back to the town’s lively days of the 1980s and 90s.

From flying down hills on car bonnets and staging epic war games in the Pleasure Grounds, to marbles, conkers, and Halloween penny bangers...Seamie paints a vivid picture of a childhood full of adventure and community spirit.

Seamie chats about his family's history including tales of his father’s time in America and running the legendary Carr’s pub...to Seamus’s own journey across the Atlantic, where he studied motorcycle mechanics before finding his way back to Boyle.

This one’s packed with nostalgia, local legends, and a real love for the town.

Check out the full blog post for this episode - https://www.voicesofboyle.com/seamuscarr/

Join us on:

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If you’d like to be on the show or if you know someone who would like to chat with us, then drop us an email at ( info@voicesofboyle.com )

Thanks to Brendan O' Dowd for creating and recording the musical piece for the podcast.

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Ep 75---

From East End London to Ballyfarnon and Boyle, this one is packed with memories, a bit of mischief and making things happen.

📌 Joe chats about:
• Born in England → moved to Ballyfarnon in 1994
• National school days
• Starting in St. Mary’s in 1998, later Abbey Community College
• Teenage discos, selling cans on the bus, and early entrepreneurship
• MBNA in Carrick from July 2005, later Avant Money
• DJing from 2006, karaoke nights, and Rag Week stories
• Super Sunday sessions around town
• Taking over Mattimoe’s after a coin flip, opening in December 2016, closing New Year 2022–23
• Rock the Clock nights, fireworks on the bridge, and community craic
• Boyle Celtic Reserves memories and coaching the under-6s
• Covid’s stop–start on pubs and family time
• Setting up LuxuryWeddingSupplies.ie

Check out the full blog post for this episode over at: https://www.voicesofboyle.com/joeryan

Join us on:

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If you’d like to be on the show or if you know someone who would like to chat with us, then drop us an email at ( info@voicesofboyle.com )

Thanks to Brendan O' Dowd for creating and recording the musical piece for the podcast.