Yesterday was the Annual Carol Service in Clonmacnois held at 4pm in the only church with a roof. It also has comfortable benches and heating which was appreciated by those attending. The Dean from Athlone and Father O Hanlon led us through a series of prayers and well known hymns such as Adeste, Long time ago, Away in a manger, The first Noel, Silent night, Come, come, come to the manger, Angels we have heard on high, Joy to the world,
Afterwards Tom Moore and his staff were our kind hosts in the Visitor Center where everybody was welcomed with hot punch, Irish Coffee, tea coffee and dainties and allowed to meet old and new friends. As we walked up from the church in the near dark I heard two ladies discussing the rip off in Christmas Cards being sold for various charities with the charity getting as little as 2 % of the takings. Its an old story