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Ep 87---

In towns like Boyle, a post office was never just a place to buy stamps or send parcels. It was where news arrived before phones ever rang, where pensions were collected with a handshake and a chat, and where generations crossed the same threshold week after week. The red brick building on Shop Street stood quietly at the centre of it all, watching the town change while somehow staying the same.

For decades, people stepped inside carrying letters, savings books, worries, and good news. Behind the counter for the past few decades stood a familiar face who saw Boyle through its busiest days and its quietest moments, through the shift from handwritten envelopes to digital screens, from queues at the counter to a changing world outside the door.

Today both Florence and I are sitting down with the last postmaster of the old Post Office, Paul Forde. This is a conversation about community, memory, and a place that meant far more than its walls ever suggested. Because when a post office leaves a building like that, it’s not just a relocation. It marks the end of an era in the life of the town.

You’re very welcome to the Voices of Boyle. This is episode 87 with Paul Forde.

If you'd like to see some photos of the final day of business with Paul and customers, then please 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 86---

Ever wondered what it’s like to grow up with a magical playground as your backyard…and then devote your life to healing and helping others?

In this episode of the Voices of Boyle, I sit down for a chat with the remarkable Maria Liddy for an inspiring and personal conversation.

From memories of childhood in Lough Key Forest Park, through life’s challenges and transformation, to her work as a family constellations facilitator and death doula, Maria opens up about the moments and insights that shaped her life.

Check out the resource section of this post to find out how you can get in contact with Maria.

Hope you enjoy the episode and have a great Sunday!

Check out the full blog post to accompany this episode: https://www.voicesofboyle.com/marialiddy

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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 85---

In this heartfelt chat with David Cryan, we dive into:

Growing up in Clunloo and memories of old Boyle

Wild nights, pub culture, and local stories

Life-changing moments and resilience after his accident

Honest advice for the next generation

Tune in for laughs, nostalgia, and genuine wisdom!

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

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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 84---

In this episode of The Voices of Boyle, I’m joined by my good friend, Georgette Marshall.

Georgette is the creative force behind Craic and Crackle. She grew up in the countryside in Somerset and her story has taken her through travel, adventure, and eventually to building a life here in Boyle.

We talk about her love of making things by hand, how her passion for sewing led to creating handmade sauna hats from her home, and the joy of seeing those pieces become part of the local wellness scene.

We also chat about community, friendship, and what it’s like to settle into a small town that’s quietly evolving with new energy and creativity. It’s a really lovely conversation about following creative urges, supporting local makers, and finding home in Boyle.

I hope you enjoy it!

Visit the full blog post for this episode on our website - https://www.voicesofboyle.com/georgettemarshall/

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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 83---

Welcome to another episode of the Voices of Boyle!

We're joined by Colin & Aethel Beirne for this one.

Highlights from this episode:

- Aethel’s move from rural Galway to city life, adventures in America, and her journey to settling in Boyle

- Colin’s childhood memories growing up in Termon, the outdoor games that shaped local youth, and the changing face of Boyle over the years

- Stories about iconic Boyle shops, street leagues, and legendary disco nights

- Insights into community, friendships, and what makes Boyle so special to raise a family

- The town bridge and the hot air balloon festival

- Lulu the Thai rescue dog’s journey to her forever home

Make sure you tune in for some laughs and memories.

Whether you’re Boyle born or a blow-in, this episode celebrates all the little things that make our hometown unique.

Check out the blog post to accompany this episode for photos:
https://www.voicesofboyle.com/colinaethelbeirne/

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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 82---

Carlo sits down with Martha Higgins, a writer from Keash, Co. Sligo, who has just published her debut novel Hiding from the Heart. Martha grew up on a small farm in the 1960s, went to secondary school in Boyle, and has lived a wide and varied life since, including two years in South Africa during the transition from apartheid.

In this conversation she talks about farm life in Sligo, her vivid memories of Boyle as a market town, her writing journey and the discipline it demands, the story of her debut novel, and her next project: a historical fiction based on the life of Jimmy Gralton, the only Irish man ever deported by his own government. She also talks about walking the length of Ireland, five days in the Sierra Nevada, and her deep belief in the importance of spending time in nature. A thoughtful, wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation.

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

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 81---

Florence sits down with Dorothy Shannon, the woman behind King House Tea Rooms in Boyle, just as the cafe approaches its tenth anniversary.

Dorothy grew up on a farm in Ardcarne near Cootehall, went to secondary school in Carrick-on-Shannon, and spent years working in catering and hospitality across England, Ireland and beyond before a friend mentioned there was a restaurant going for lease in Boyle. She talks about taking on King House in 2016, the purple and green chairs she walked into, the challenge of going out on her own for the first time, the decision to do a degree in environmental science just in case, and how nine years later she cannot imagine doing anything else. A warm conversation about community, homemade food, loyal customers, and what a cafe can mean to a town.

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

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.