Ballinasloe basks in Oscar glory

THERE may be some out there who would say Ballinasloe was already on the map, but the red carpet excitement of the last few days has now ensured the town has a link with Hollywood history through its claim to the masterful Danny Boyle.Not so much a son of the town, but certainly a grandson, Boyle swept the boards at the Academy Awards with no less than eight Oscars being bestowed on his film Slumdog Millionaire.The movie – which tells the story of a young man from the slums of Mumbai growing up to be a winner on the Indian Who Wants to Be a Millionaire – won the prestigious Best Film Award and also gained a coveted Best Director prize for Boyle.