Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sat/Sun 25th /26th Dec 2004 - Christmas/ Holy Family A
Tel (090) 9674125
Fax (090) 9674267
E-mail. Parishnewsletter@eircom.net

Shannonbridge
Masses: Mon @ 12 noon; Tues-Fri @ 10am
New Year's Day, next Sat, day of prayer for peace, @ 12 noon
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €448. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: A.Gunning, M.Kelly
Eucharistic ministers: Group 2
Readers for next Weekend:
Altar Servers for this week: Katie, Mary-Anne, Tara

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Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €160. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: B.Boland, A.Kenny
Readers for next Sunday: Alan Kelly
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group 4
Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: D.McEvoy
New Year 's Day - day of prayer for peace; Mass @ 10.30am
Mass on next Sun for the late Catherine & Edward Corrigan

Table Quiz in Clonfanlough Hall
Tues next, 28th Dec @ 8pm in aid of Christmas Party, which is planned for Sun 9th Jan. Please support.
Gifts Without Cost
Some gifts you can give this Christmas are beyond monetary value:
* Mend a quarrel, dismiss suspicion, tell someone, "I love you."
* Give something away-anonymously.
* Forgive someone who has treated you wrong.
* Turn away wrath with a soft answer.
* Visit someone in a nursing home.
* Apologize if you were wrong.
* Be especially kind to someone with whom you work.
* Give as God gave to you in Christ, without obligation, or announcement, or reservation, or hypocrisy. (C. Swindoll, Growing Strong, pp. 400-1)
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Ten Commandments of Home Rule
1. If you sleep on it - make it up.
2. If you wear it - hang it up.
3. If you drop it - pick it up.
4. If you eat out of it - put it in the sink.
5. If you step on it - wipe it off.
6. If you open it - close it.
7. If you empty it - fill it up.
8. If it rings - answer it.
9. If it howls - feed it.
10. If it cries - love it. (The Fight, J. White, IVP, pp. 121ff)
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Beannachtaí na Nollag agus Síocháin san Ath Bhliain do gach duine

A special word of thanks to all who contribute to the various collections during the year, and to all who help out in any way in the Church and community. It is much appreciated.

Congratulations & best wishes to Fidelma McManus and Oisín Seale, who were married recently in Shannonbridge Church.

Lorraine Mc Kenna from Pottstown sends Christmas greetings to all her friends in Shannonbridge and speaks for many as she welcomes Kate home on Sunday 19th and thanks her for bringing life in Uganda onto our screens. Hopefully Kate will continue to write here.
Lorraine wonders why more business people in Shannonbridge have not come alive on this website and let others know what is to offer in the area. Can you help sell the idea. ?
Yesterday saw the final Christmas Dinner in Shannonbridge Power Plant Canteen. Tom from The Bog Oak organised the food and prepared a top class meal for a great mix of workers and retired staff that attended.
Today is bright and sunny with a wind that is forecast to keep temperatures to 10 C or 50 F.
Jack Quinn wrote some lines on

Frosty Morning

Bare Trees
Fingered by a ghostly hand
Weird cobwebs
Lace the hedges
Crystal sounds
In startling nearness
Cheeks are roughed
By air like wine
And breath takes shape
Like an emerging spirit.

Shannonbridge Library closed last night for a Christmas break
and will reopen on Thursday 13th January at 7 to 9 pm.

Big news in Shannonbridge yesterday was the start of a new layer of tarmac stretching from Darcy's Corner to a line opposite Price's Lane for a start. Looks like a couple of inches of new surface is being added.
Death has occured in Ferbane of Mrs Devery, of Saint Cannock's Terrace and late of the Mill Yard. Mrs Devery was in her ninetees and was mother to Eamon, Padraig, Kieran and Maura. May she rest in peace.
Christmas lights and decorations seem to get bigger and brighter every year and somebody remarked yesterday that two of the brightest lit houses in his area were owned by people that never darken the door of a church.
See where Kerrill has added three local golf clubs as links under the golf section. Hopefully more will be added which may be a help for people holidaying in Shannonbridge and intending to play golf.
Todays weather forecast is for rain in the south east soon clearing and most areas like Shannonbridge will have a dry bright day with temperatures of 10 C or 50 F.
Under Weather Eye in the Irish Times recently Brendan Mc Williams mentioned that the date for D-Day was changed on account of a weather forecast provided by a family from Belmullet in Mayo. They forecast unsuitable weather for the 5th of May and so the invasion was put back to May 6th which worked out suitable as predicted by the Belmullet family.
First photographs of the new baby Aimee Robertson arrived in Shannonbridge yesterday and she is a very alert looking lassie. Colin has promised to scan one on to the Killen Bar section found under entertainment.
It looks like there will be a big gathering for the annual Christmas Dinner hosted by the ESB for the last time tomorrow in Shannonbridge Power Plant as this plant is scheduled for demolition in 2005

See that Roscommon County Council have erected a number of signs on the Ballinasloe approach road to the village and I hear that they are going to erect lighting from Gunning's Hill to the village. Over the years they have laid down a footpath on this stretch and the lighting will be very welcome.
Remember that the Library closes for Christmas on this Thursday 16th December until January 12th, so if you need a top up in your reading material come along on Thursday from 7 to 9 pm.
The Pure Mule film series used every bit of daylight yesterday to get shots of the power plant, a wedding in the church, a cemetery scene with a cemetery erected on Darcy's field beside the old water towrer and some scenes in the Park using Oliver Hilliards house and Martin Duffy's front garden with the power plant in the background. Cousin Vincent Flanagan was around all day as they were using his car for the wedding scene. Many extras from Banagher and Shannonharbour were about. The initial series will be for six episodes and a continuation based on reaction.
P.J.Sheeran from Clonulty Ballydangan has died andwill be buried in Moore cemetery today. Survived by his wife Kathleen and family. May he rest in peace.
Heard a nice story about the late Paud Dunican who was buried yesterday. Seems he undertook a fund raising campaign for Cancer Research and was due to present 50,000 Euro to the fund this week.
News today tells that the Northern Ireland Bank and Northern Bank have been taken over by a group from the north. A Scandanavian bank group in fact.
The south west gales did develop on all coasts. Today will be generally wet and windy with persistent and sometimes heavy rain over Ulster and Connacht that will spread. Some dry intervals with temperatures 10 to 12 C or 50 to 54 F.

Some recent deaths. Last week Tom Fahey, Clonburren passed away and was buried in Clonburren graveyard.
A sister of Tim Devery the accoreon player from Glebe died in Ferbane at the weekend and will be buried in Clonmacnois today after Mass in Clonfinlough.
Paud Dunican late of Pollagh and Ferbane and an ex worker in Ferbane power plant has died in Ferbane and will be buried today after Mass in Ferbane.
Mick Russell, Athlone a brother of Phil Murphy, has died at the weekend. Arrangements later.
A Miss Kelso in Ballinasloe died at the weekend.
Tom Flanagan, relic of Madge and brother of Father Benny has died in Portiuncula.
May the Lord have mercy on their souls.
Good news is that Kate Thornhill is expected home on Sunday 19th December. Kate has been in Uganda since last May apart from a few weeks sightseeing on the way home.
Weather today has a few brigh spells, but overall it will be largely cloudy, with pockets of mist at first. Mostly dry apart from some light rain and drizzle in the far West and North West this afternoon. Highest temperatures 8 to 11 C or 46 to 52 F. with southerly winds gradually freshening.
South West Gales will develop tonight and extend to all coasts and the Irish Sea overnight.
Sports and Padraig Harrington finished second to Tiger Woods in golf. In rugby there were good wins for Leinster and Munster at the weekend.
Lorraine Mc Kenna plans to come back to Shannonbridge soon.
Jack Quinn's -

The Tax Collector

Reckoning day
And Nemesis
With piercing eye
And fixed smile
In mocked fellowship
There's no escape
And net is fast
The fish is caught
The one way out
Is through the pocket.

It was announced last week that the John Player cigarette factory in Dublin will be closing down
In February 2005 with a loss of 90 employees. Manufacturing for the Irish market will be carried out in the parent factory in Nottingham.
Friday was the wedding day of Fidelma Mc Manus, daughter of Eamon and Marie from Laurel Lodge ,
And Oisin Seale from Ballinasloe. The wedding took place in Shannonbridge Church and the reception
Was held in Kinnity Castle. Congratulations to Oisin and Fidelma and hope they enjoy their honeymoon in South Africa and other places.
Last night the Active Retirement Group had their Christmas Dinner and Social in the Bog Oak with a
Large turn out that enjoyed a fine meal and some lively music afterwards.
Yesterday afternoon there was a packed Church in Clonmacnois for the annual ecumenical Carol Singing which was up to its usual high standards and was very enjoyable..
Noticed lights on in the Old Church this morning and was surprized to find a bus reversed into the door
Later and a crowd of cars and vans gathered near the Church with a film set up being prepared. There were some brightly lit boards erected outside the Church and a bunch of ribbons fluttering from over the entrance. Rose Ryan tells us that they are filming a series called "Pure Mule" which is based in an industrial town - Banagher - but using the Shannonbridge Power Plant for the industrial bit. The power plant looked fine this morning with a fine plume of smoke in the morning sun. Seems it is a summer scene they were filming as they asked Thornhills to turn off their Christmas lights. They plan to film a wedding scene at the Church and are moving to Saint Ciaran's Park where they plan to use Oliver Hilliard's house and Martin Duffy's front garden for some scenes that will use the power plant background.
Notice that the river levels have dropped well back making most banksides accessable.
The bird census continues and Starlings and Crows dominated the view this morning when the curtain was drawn. They flew away and some of the Tits and Willy Wags and other birds appeared to feed on the bird feeders. Still on the lookout for the Goldfinch which has not yet made an appearance..

On Friday night in the village hall a very enjoyable Christmas Party was held for the Senior folk with a hot meal and a present for everyone and some good music for the night. Well done to everybody for all the work and organization and fundraising.
Few new babies arrived last week. Clare Kennedy had a baby girl Alex in Ballinasloe on Wednesday and returned home on Saturday. Claire is a daughter of Joe and the late Sally Kennedy.
Mike Aine and Neal Robertson collected Aimee in Saint Peterbourg and arrived home to Limerick at the weekend where she has settled in already. Congratulations to both mothers.
There were a couple of local deaths at the weekend including Eileen Cahill, a sister of Brian Cahill's Belmont and Elizabeth Wynne mother of Donal Wynne who is employed with BNM. May the Lord have Mercy on their Souls.
Missed yesterday's Parish Bulletin but I know that there is prayer / meditation in Ard Chiarain on Thursday night at 8 pm. There is an ecumenical carol singing arranged for Clonmacnois on next Sunday.
Padraig Harrington added another second medal to his collection in Hong Kong yesterday.
Weather today - breezy at first with outbreaks of rain extending eastwards across the country. Clearance following from the west, with winds moderating. Highest temperatures 10 to 13 C or 50 to 55 F. but turning cooler later. Tonight will be dry and cold in most areas with frost and fog and a risk of icy patches. Cloud and rain may linger with temperatures +2 to -2 C.

Good to hear that Kate is on her way home. Had a Christmas card from Ciara in Sydney and hope she writes here soon. Anybody else feel like making a fool of themselves contact info@shannonbridge.net
Big news for Shannon Airport is Ryanair plans a major expansion there and will put 200 Million into a facility that will have 14 new routes to Britain and Europe flying 1.3 Million passengers in 2005 and two million within five years. See that they are already offering low low giveaways. Will have to get a ball and chain for Colin.
Midland Health Board has allotted 3,500 Euro to Shannonbridge Active Retirement group and 700 Euro to the local Community Services Group.
Noticed a new Catholic newspaper around called The Voice selling at 70 C and looks like a cross breed from The Irish Catholic and The Athlone weekly freebee.
Ritchie Brown got great support last night for the table quiz he organized in aid of Bothar. Some 25 tables took part and Ritchie had about 17 prizes for the raffle ending up with a lunch voucher for four in Brownes in Moate. Moate gave great support and a busload travelled over. Bothar have a website www.bothar.org and they send animals to Africa such as a cow at 1800 Euro, a sow at 250, a goat at 300, three hives of bees at 125 and a share in a flock of chickens at 50 Euro. They told us afterwards that they were continuing to send out animals and many farmers were raising a heifer for there cause. Last night over 600 Euro was collected.
The weather - cold and frosty this morning with icy stretches on the road. Fog will slowly lift but may linger in a few places until later. Generally dry with some bright spells. However outbreaks of rain and drizzle will develop in the north. Temperature 4 to 8 C. Some frost tonight. No wonder we talk so much about the weather. Tonight is Library night 7 to 9 pm.
Still no sign of Nancy Magee from San Diego hitting Shannonbridge. Bridie Carry was saying that the Christmas lights in Ballinahowen were beautiful.
The Budget yesterday is described in the papers as calculated and crafty with Election 2007 in mind. Usual hits like petrol, drink and cigarettes were not effected.

The table quiz tonight in Killeens at 9.30 is for Bothar , a group that raise money to buy animals such as cows, goats, pigs and fowl that are sent to poor people in Africa.
Today is Budget day in Ireland and it seems that Brian Cowen the Finance Minister has a good few shekels to spread around.
Noticed that this website has had 2272 visitors during the month of November which works out at about 76 each day. If you have a business in the area help the site become moreinteresting by making your site come alive.
The Birdwatch birdcount in gardens has started this week and will continue for thirteen weeks. Martin Burke, Gerry Casey, Mary Killeen and Tony Ellis have taken to the task of recording the numbers of the various birds in their garden. Interested in a record sheet then contact D.Killeen.
Weather forecast today is for fog widespread at first and cloudy and damp misty conditions with temperatures from 6 to 8 C or 43 to 46 F.
Val Joyce played some of the late Frank Ifield's songs last night in tribute including the hit ---"I'll Remember You". Cliff Richards has an unusual song out at the moment. He will find it hard to reach Number One for Christmas.
Finally a poem from Jack Quinn -
The Robin

Deserted
In Winter's face
A beady eye
On naked bush
In pierced armour
of puffed feathers
With sturdy patience
Awaits uncertain Spring

Surprised to get a letter and photographs from Elisabeth Bock from Vienna. The Bocks were on holiday on the Shannon a couple of months back and took some photographs of Mick and self trying to get the cruiser Zephyr untied and go for a trip to Banagher. Later that night Elizabeth took a great headshot of Louis Darcy and Martin Burke at the grocery counter. She wants us all to visit Vienna. Mentioned the letter to two Austrians working at the power plant and they said that they lived 200 Kilometres from her.
Good to hear that Aine Mike Neal and Colin arrived safely in Russia and have settled into an apartment while they await collection of baby Aimee which will probably take a week.
Arthur Hailey is dead but many of his books are available in the Library on Thursday from 7 to 9pm. This week another box of books were presented by Harry and Anne and included two by Arthur Hailey which the library did not have before.
Have a look at two advertisers on this site. The Fort Restaurant has added some photographs and more menus and information to their site and Ely House guesthouse is a welcome live addition to add to Rachra House and Ashbrook Farm in the B&B accomodation. Anybody else that wants to become alive on this site should contact Kerrill Thornhill.
Maureen Kaylor Killeen has forwarded two old photographs and wonders if there is any family resemblance. Think one of them is like my Uncle Eddie.
Bridie Carry tells us thatcigarette ash will remove hair dye from skin.

Recently a visitor to Clonmacnois was looking for the words of The Dead at Clonmacnois by T.W. Rolleston and I was glad that the team that wrote the Clonmacnois Parish Book for the millenium used it on the inside cover at the back. Of course you remember how it goes ............. In a quiet watered land, a land of roses,
Stands Saint Ciarans city fair,
Good to hear from Father Pete Kenny from Los Angeles on Saturday night. The man is in great form and is even going to come on holiday to Ireland next year.
Saturday night after Mass Fidelma Mc Manus ran through her wedding rehersal. The real Wedding is soon.
Sad news at the weekend was the death of Brid Brady nee Kelly of Rathcabbin and Sky Valley.
Brid was a sister of Shannonbridge man Sean Kelly and she is survived by her husband, son and daughter and her father and about nine brothers and sisters and. Brid was buried this morning.
May she rest in peace.
Irish rugby team had a great win over Argentina on Saturday with Ronan O Gara scoring a dropped goal in the last seconds to win by two points. Score 21 - 19.
Belmont, winners of the Offaly Intermediate hurling this year played Glenmoy, County Kilkenny in the second round of the club championships in Moystown on Saturday but the Kilkenny lads had a five point advantage at the end. Belmont team included three from this parish - Harry Kerins Clonfinlough, and John and Paul Egan from Woodbank. Any other hurlers in the parish want to join them next year ?.
Michael Green is home on holiday from Boston for a few days and is looking for a copy of Flight of The Doves. Says he cannot get a copy in America. And you thought they had everything.
Steve Nell was fishing at the mouth of the Brosna on last Friday and caught a fine 15 Lbs pike using a dead roach as bait. River level has dropped about two inches since Sunday but still lots of flood about. Weather today is forecast for mostly fine with somesunny spells with a southerly breeze giving temperatures of 50 F at best. Guess what but rain promised tonight.
Looking forward to a lecture on early Christian Monastic Site in Rahan which is scheduled for 8 pm tonight in Rahan Hall.
Parish newsletter tells of the Christmas Party planned for Clonfinlough on Sun 9th January.
Also the Annual Carol Service in Clonmacnois on Sunday 12th Dec at 4pm.
Shannonbridge GAA held their AGM yesterday and no doubt you will read about what happened in the GAA icon attached to this web.
Table Quiz this Wednesday in Killeens will be for the Bothar group from Moate who collect money and send cows and goats and hens and so on out to Africa.
Finally a Jack Quinn shortie -

The Robin

Deserted
In winter's face
A beady eye
On naked bush
In pierced armour
Of puffed feathers
With sturdy patience
Awaits uncertain Spring.

Next time you dine in The Fort Restaurant in Shannonbridge sit back and try to imagine the Sunday night about seventy years ago when a crowd had gathered for the Sunday night dance in Morans Hall as the Fort was called then, and the band consisting of Peter Guinan, Joe Mahon and ? Dooley decided they were not playing that night and went off drinking. Frank Moran solved the problem by asking one of the crowd Pat Gleeson from The Gables if he would provide the music. Pat got his fiddle and proceeded to play for five hours while the crowd danced the night away. Dancing at that time started at 10 pm and ended at 3 am. The admittance charge was 4P and Pat Gleeson earned five shillings or 60 P for his fiddling. Nowadays the Fort has been converted into a popular top class restaurant with Fergal and Linda Moran in charge. See their link on this website.
Great winning picture in this months Inland Waterways News titled "Double Parking" which shows a small cruiser moored alongside a quay wall. On second look you will see a wide old sunken boat lying underneath. The photo by Seamus Costelloe won the champagne dinner for two in the Wineport Lodge in Glasson.
Brendan Mc Williams who writes The Weather Eye on the Irish Independent gives a rhyme to help remember the order of the planets starting nearest the sun. Mary's Violet Eyes Make John Sit Up Nights. The first letters represent Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
The Green Linnet cab service Tel 086 - 1514346 which has been operating in the parish has company with the arrival of Dickies Cabs Tel 087 - 9195216. Wish them well.

The Offaly Independent in their historical round up are publishing pieces from old Dublin newspapers over 200 years ago collected by the late Malachy Moran. A piece from Faulkner's Journal 1804 tells that at noon on the 16th March 1804 the Grand Canal Passage Boat from Dublin arrived at Shannon Harbour. The boat was crowded with ladies and gentlemen of distinction from different parts of the country, andso delighted were the farmers and inhabitants of the district that the people took off the horses and drew the boat to the Shannon where it was moored for a time. Trips were afterwards made on the river and afterwards sailed into the canal and returned to Tullamore.The time occupied in the journey from Shannon Harbour to Tullamore was five hours.
Another piece has the heading 'Bernard Daly marries. From Failkner's Dublin Journal 10th Sept 1805 says Marriage: Bernard Daly, Cloghan, King's County to Miss Molloy, daughter of S.Molloy, Tullamore. ( Daly was eventually to be associated with the Tullamore Distillery ).
The forecast for rain came true last evening with medium showers for a few hours. Today is dry and sunny with temperatures in the mid fifties.
Good turnout of people at the library last evening despite the rain.
See on the local paper that 20Million Euros is the estimated cost for a Tullamore to Mullingar rail link.
Jack Quinn poem on Connemara from Through A Small Window goes -
Connemara

Untamed
Wet washed
With fleeting colour
A million walls
Of meaningless stones
The blind face
Of a whitewashed cottage
Turned to the sea
The caoning winds
Lament
And yellow gorse
Burns
Before the brooding mountain.

This morning there was the annual Mass in Shannonbridge for deceased members of the local power plant staff and a good turn out of retired staff and family relations attended. Afterwards there was a welcome cup of tea in the canteen in the plant for a chat and a time to remember.
Tony Farrell attended and was telling us that an ex plant worker - Oliver Keenaghan is recoverering well after a heart bypass operation down in a Cork hospital. Wishing him well.
Had an interesting chat with Mrs Kevin Coleman about a famous band of musicians in the village about sixty years ago. Michael Joe Reid and his sister Mary Margaret and a Tommy Sanders and her late husband Kevin were some of the members. It would be good to hear more about them. She has memories of them playing at a wedding in Brackagh many years ago.
Good turnout for the table quiz last night in aid of funding for the Seniors Christmas Party and over 400 Euro was raised with good scoring all round and two teams tying for first with 68 out of 80 correct.
Good news that the old power plant are donating their web address shannonbridge.com to this website and thank them very much for same.
Promise of more rain on the weather forecast and it is overcast but mild at present. Notice the flood has risen a fair bit on Darcy's Callow north of the village. Declan and Rose Ryan were telling us last night that the saw the new space station ? passing over on Monday night. They walked up the power station road and it passed over around 18.00 hours as predicted. On their way home they noticed a flock of curlews ? passing in the light from the street light.
Hear that Colin is going to Russia on Monday to help bring home the new baby.

Reports of a very good night last night in Maynooth where about ten people from Shannonbridge and area attented the Cluskey / Hopkins Jazz concert travelling on the new minibus service operating in the village.
The Angling Times paper are running a series of featured articles on fishing locations around Ireland and Banagher is being featured next. Shannonbridge will be featured next March. Anybody wishing to place an advert should telephone 044 (0) 1733465815 immediately to be included in the Banagher issue.
Phonecall last evening from Carmel Bhai Brisbane at 9.30 pm who was calling before going to Mass. She is in great form.
Aine Robertson the niece,part of the group going to New York today and she was delighted with the news yesterday that when she gets home from the states on Monday she will fly to Saint Peterborough in Russia with Michael and Neal to collect Aimee the newest family member.
Hear that Kate is in Zanxibar at present enjoying a break. She is due home around December 19th.
Val Joyce on Late Date last night played Anything Goes which featured the composer George Gerswin on piano and vocals which sounded great.
Weather continues to be overcast and mild but they say that rain is coming.
Got a few old pictures from cousins George and Mary showing a photo of Eddie Murray, a cousin taken at the bridge in the mid forties which was very welcome.

California calls. First message from Madeleine Toland from San Diego to tell us that her friend Nancy Magee is planning to visit Ireland this week, staying in Dublin for about four days and hitting Shannonbridge for one day or so. Then Ken Smith from Santa Barbara tells us that he has an answer to Gussie Claffey's thermometers. Ken reckons that Gus will have to take his Celsius and Fahrenheit to the Arctic and find a cool spot that will measure - 40 on both instruments. Ken enjoys Kates log of Africa and thinks she should publish the lot in a book later.
Shannonbridge will be well represented in a group of about eight ladies who are heading off to New York tomorrow on a five day shopping and sightseeing trip. They got an unbelievable bargain and hope they enjoy Thanksgiving weekend in America.
Mick Brian and Pat went for a boat trip to Banagher yesterday which was very enjoyable except that they saw one dead swan downstream from the village bridge and a lonesome mate swimming around lost.
Weather is staying mild today and tomorrow - dry and cloudy with sunny breaks and temperatures between 52 and 57 F. Unfortunately the weatherman is promising rain on Thursday.
Came across a small volume of poems published by Jack Quinn Ballinasloe in 1984 titled - 'Through A Small Window' Here is one on
- Clonmacnois -

Cowled monks ethereal
Their chant unheard
In shadowy procession
Sandles soft
On Kieran;s ground
Mute witnessed
By the mellowed stones
Speaking their timelessness
Mortals stand
In trepidation
Trembling
On the brink
Of centuries.

Friday and Saturday turned out to be very wet and the floods are creeping out on the callows once again. However the wind has gone around and the forecast is for fine dry weather for the week with temperatures in the low fifties. Gus Claffey was asking last night at what temperature reading do Celsius and Fahrenheit have the same value.
Patrick Kenny was telling a weather story from the past. Nearly forty years ago three men were in Shannonbridge for a drink and afterwards when they dropped off one of the trio at his door he invited them in. Television was new at the time and the owner of the house turned on the news and weather as he had a lot of hay cut . Paddy Mc Hugh was the weatherman and he predicted that the heavy rain would continue for the next few days. Our friend went up to the room and brough down the shotgun and shot Paddy Mc Hugh and the television set stone dead.
Martin Burke has started to feed the birds for the winter and has two bird feeders hanging on the clothes line. He reckons that the crows will not be able to get near the feeders.
The new mouse cather was tested out in the warehouse of Shannonbridge Pottery and the bait holder had a tempting array of cheese and chicken and toffee. Too tempting for the cat who smelt it and ate the lot bending the holder as well. Was the cat creating a strike warning.
Workers in Bord na Mona are staging a strike today.
Friday evening came a phone call from Kilconnell asking if Shannonbridge might field a football team to play them in a trophy annual match to be played yesterday as the team scheduled to play them had withdrawn. Shannonbridge were only able to get nine bodies willing to go so had to decline the offer.
Met a man last evening who was driving from Galway to Dublin and had decided to take the easy route by branching off at Ballinasloe for Shannonbridge, Cloghan, Tullamore, Portlaoise and Monestrevon. Wonder is he right.
Oliver Hilliard is taking prunes for his breakfast and they are working. His golf diary data collection is well underway. Yesterday he came up with the suggestion that Shannonbridge should keep in touch with the Uganda Orphanage making use of the links built up by Kate and the community and friends should make an effort to collect funds for the work that goes on. Sounds a good idea from Oliver.

Big crowd at Louis and Mairead Darcy's Station Mass on Friday evening where Father O Hanlon dedicated the house with blessings for the doors, windows, fireplaces and so on. This Thursday the Station Mass is scheduled for Thursday evening at Michael and Anne Andersons on Thursday evening and at Michael and Catherine Healy, Glebe, on Friday evening.
The table quiz this Wednesday night is in aid of this years Christmas Party for the senior folk.
See where this years church envelopes are coming on stream this week and there is an appeal to those who did not contribute last year to make a start this coming year.
Heard that Tom Ryan and John Madden had a narrow escape over the weekend when they went out on a boat at Moystown near Mickies Backwater and their boat overturned. Lucky enough they had a mobile phone to ring for help but they were in the water for nearly two hours clinging onto the boat.
Frank Guinan and Rose Glennon have two tempting weekly lottos on offer at the moment. Frank's Shannonbridge / Doon Jackpot is now 6300Euro while Rose's Moore United Jackpot is now 7,800 Euro. You takes your chances.
The death occured over the weekend of Mrs Naughton, Falty mother of Geraldine Egan. Mick was at the removal in Ballinasloe and later went to visit Mike Ledwith, Kieran Flannery, Willie Gaffey and a brother of the late Father Christy Glynn who are patients there.

Two funerals today. Very well known Ballinasloe pike angler Dan Dowd will be buried today after Mass. Tony Ellis was telling us that Dan once landed a pike weighing 42 Lbs and had it stuffed and was on display.
Philip Mooney from the Horse and Jockey, a brother of the late Jimmie Mooney has died and will be buried today in Moycarney. May they rest in peace.
Down in Kinsale County Cork today Karl Mc Coy will say the words "I Do" to start his married life. Wishing them well.
Val Joyce was playing a comedy version of The Rocky Road To Dublin sung by Des Keogh and Rosaleen Lenihan on Late Date last night and said the two were on stage in America at present and will be back home around Christmas. Gave no details of the show or theatre.
Bridie Green was telling last night that Michael Green is expected home from Boston next week.
Some snow in parts of Ireland yesterday with frost promised last night. Today is living up to the forecast of dry bright and sunny with temperatures of 45F. Tomorrow is expected to have rain and drizzle.
Kate might be interested to hear that Suzie O'Connell, who spent four years in a Moldovan orphanage won the top prize of a car valued 26,000 Euro in the 'Spirit of Ireland' awards is going to donate the prize to abondoned children. Suzie has set up her own charity called 'Outreach Moldova'. She has a '95 Fiat Punto which she will continue to drive.
Some people are talking about going to a Jazz night in Maynooth next Tuesday night. Contact Mick Killeen if interested Tel 090-9674112.
Noticed a large part of the bog past the Briquette factory on the Cloghan / Birr road has been flooded. Looks like it may be a nature reserve for wild fowl or a fish lake.
Good turnout at the Library again last night with some new faces dropping in from 7 to 9 pm.

Recent Developments or Where are they now ?
This being the 25th Anniversary of the launch of the Shannonbridge Star in 1979:- plans are underway to contact all contributors to the old Star, with a a view of having a Christmas reunion.
We have already managed to track down Star columnist and agony aunt,-"Dear Fanny".
We were rather surprised to discover that Aunt Fanny is still in business dispensing advice a quarter of a century later.
We enquired if the Celtic Tiger has influenced the problems of recent years and how do they compare with the problems of the early ' 80 - has her counselling technique changed over the years, - and would she consider sharing a sample problem with us on the world wide web.
We also asked if counselling has become more profitable these tiger days ;
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The following is the reply we received from Aunt Fanny.
Dear Der,
Thank you for your recent e-mail - Yes, that’s a lovely idea, Ide be delighted to meet all those Star gazers again and take a stroll down memory lane, - Well Der, - a lot of water went under that bridge in Shannonbridge since 1979. - I looked up the Shannonbridge web pages since you contacted me, - wow, what a change ! - the only webs we had in 1979 were cobwebs, and plenty of them, in the Star Office. The only other webs in Shannonbridge at that time were the webbed feet of Thomas Colemans geese and how they crossed the street in single file each morning and evening on their way to and from the river.
I read the reports from your globe trotting girls Ciara, Sarah and Kate, - a cyber café in Uganda, - gosh, there was nt such a thing in the White House the time we were burning the midnight oil in the Star Office.
But you know what Der, - amidst all this tiger progress human nature hasn’t changed one iota, - not even the slightest whit , - Oh the trappings would be different OK, - but basically Im wrestling with the same old chestnuts, - I really have to dig deep for fortitude these days, especially when I come across clients and discover that I counseled their parents a generation ago, sometimes for the self same old problem. This never fails to generate a feeling that one is swimming against the tide or perhaps peeing against the wind, as you might know it better. You ask, has my counseling technique changed over the years :- Yes ; - I would say so ;- I was very motherly in the 80's - Today I am very much more aggressive, - I fight fire with fire, you could say, - I regularly shake clients when Im having one to one consultations. - But all the same Ide like to think Ive still retained a small bit of that old Abraham Lincoln quality ie steel and velvet.
About the profitability of counseling thes days ;- Well Der, - lets say, Im still able to put beans on the table, - but have not been able to mix it with those movers and shakers at the Galway Races. - that’s all Im going to tell you about that, - and tell the truth you didn’t expect much more ;
About having a sample of a modern day problem, - Yes , of course ; - But nothing is simple anymore, I'll have to get client clearance, - This could take me a few days and a brown envelope. Oh, God be with those loose old days Der !
In fact I have the text of a problem here on my desk today, - Now Der its not one that will publish well, - as we used to say back in the Star days, - Because it has only one of the three vital ingredience that we identified as necessary to enable me to give a rasping sermon like reply. But we don’t have to worry about sales anymore and therefore my ethics are no longer torn between commerce and the national interest.
I will forward you a sample when I get the green light.
Thanks again Der,- looking forward to seeing you at Christmas.
Yours.
Fan -

Surprized to meet two groups of visitors from America last evening. First group were five people from the California State Univercity Long Beach California who had spent a few hours around Clonmacnois. Told us the reason they were here right now was the cheaper air travel. Just over $400 on the Internet.They are going to have a look at Clononey, Shannonharbour, Banagher, Meelick and the Clonert Trio today.
Couple from Chicago Margaret and Jon are on their fourth visit and they just do a small section each time. They had been in Clonmacnois in 1996 but called in again for a visit. Found both of them reading Irish books - one a sequel to Murphy's Bar. Promised I would look them up if ever I get to Chicago. They even promised to show the brother around the city as well. Jon plays the Bodhran and wafts about some Bodhran player he heard playing on one of his previous visits. He made no effort to join Mark and Colin and Harry who were stringing away at some easy pieces in the bar. They are going to Dublin today for a few days and Colin directed them to O'Donoghues off Merrion Square for music.
Looking at this new mouse catcher last night one person asked why had they to be killed by drowning. He reckoned that the mice should just be caught and released alive in a field or a bog or wherever. Seems that this new catcher would be capable of doing that.
The Active Retirement Group are having a Table Quiz tonight in Killeens at 9.30 for 10 pm.
Weekly library is tomorrow night from 7 to 9 pm in the Health Center.
No word from Kate or Ciara or Niamh this week.
Watched Ireland soccer team win a challenge game against Croatia on TV from Landsdowne Road last evening scoring 1 - 0. Last of their build up challenges before their next European Championship game. Damien Duff got Man of the Match.

Breda Green brought along one of the new Mousemaster catcher kits last evening which at first glance looks like a large round 10 Litre paint container with a lid. The lid turns down to provide an access walkway and at the top there is a sguare piece of plastic leading out to the bait which is on a holder near the center of the opening. This part swivels in the center and has a small weight to keep it on the level until the mouse passes the center. Then it tips over and the mouse falls into the bucket which is half full of water. End of mouse. The square piece of plastic returns to its original position. Keep an eye out for it.
The flood water seems to have receded back from the Callows and I feel there should be excellent pike fishing about.
Oliver Hilliard looks in great form after his visit to Dublin and attended the AGM of Ballinasloe Golf Club last evening. Oliver will be busy for the next few months preparing his Golfers Guide to Open Fixtures in Ireland and this diary usually becomes available in May and contains a list of golf clubs in Ireland that have open fixtures that will allow golfers to play and at a much reduced green fees.
Forecast today is to be mild cloudy and breezy with outbreaks of rain and temperature of 55F.
At Joe Dunican's funeral yesterday his mother in law Mary Glennon nee Hardiman attended.

Forgot to mention some other items about the Isle of Man. Gob ny geay means the mouth or beak of the wind which is very similar to the Irish, says I ? Seems a rough Irish translation would be gub na gaoite. They have a beer on the island called OKELLS which was tested out by Brian and Niall Grenham who gave it a very good rating. £1.90 a pint. In summer their famous steam trains are running and we saw their tracks in many locations.
Heard that Lisa Kelly has arrived home from India after a year touring the world. We missed out on not having her write an odd piece as she went along.
Funeral weekend with Joe Dunican being buried in Moore today. Yesterday Ann Hynes, Belmont wife of Sean Hynes was laid to rest. The death has occured of May Kenny, native of Clonburren who was the eldest of the Kenny family that included the late Michael, Paddy and Bina (nee Quinn). May they rest in peace.
Am thankful for a list of solutions sent on by Lorraine Mc Kenna. I now know how to fix fleas, itch, funny nails, arthritis, grease removal and about three dozen other solutions. Will post a copy of them all for you to see in the library on Thursday night 7 to 9 pm.
Sounded like summer had returned yesterday afternoon hearing Paudge Bennett playing his special type of music for a few hours. Paudge was the entertainment at a surprize birthday party for Tom Mc Evoy from Clonascra for his 70th. Many family and friends and members of the Active Retirement Group came along to wish him well on the occassion. Special guests for Toms Party were his son Des and his wife and child who had travelled from San Francisco.
Good to hear that The Santa Train is back on track again this year and you can travel by train and visit Santa's Festive Station and the children get a present. Running the weekend of December 10th, 11th and 12th 2004 from 4.30 pm on the Clonmacnois and West Offaly Railway.
Tel 090 9674450. e-mail : bograil@bnm.ie
Took a hadcold to bed for the day on Saturday and got a message that there was a man in the bar asking for me. Afterwards I found out it was Paul Kerrigan who has written volumes on Martello Fortifications and had I known I would have made the effort to see and thank him for the outline of the Shannonbridge Fortification which he kindly posted to me recently. Apologies.
Mild weather continues again today with sunshine and temperatures in the mid 50 F.
Newsletter this week has notice of a Station Mass on Friday in Louis and Maraid Darcy's home. It also has a contribution from Rev Martin Tierney on The School and Religion which is worth reading by parents especially.

Dan Jack Doheny called in on Friday and was showing Colin one of the new mousetraps that he has for sale called MouseMaster. Colin said it reminded him of one of John Price's inventions many years ago which consisted of a piece of cheese suspended over a bocket of water with a length of timber giving access to the top of the bucket . A straw was attached to the end of the timber to give access to the cheese. When the mouse travelled a distance out along the straw, the weight of the mouse caused the straw to bend down and the mouse fell into the bucket. Perry's Mill in Belmont had something similar with a length of timber on a rat run across a barrel. The timber was finely balanced and on a swivel so that when the rat reached a certain point the timber rotated and heaved its victim into the barrel of water. You can e-mail Dan Jack at danieljdoheny@hotmail.com for more information and tell him where you heard about it.
Rose was saying that half the packet of The Moore Historical Book left into the Library have been sold already. I have found it very interesting so far and I am hoping that Paddy Kenny will explain some of the background to the 14 verses of the ballad on 'The Parish of Moore' written by Paddy Donoghue and contained in the book.
Lovely postcard from Karen O'Flanagan from Dublin showing Pilgrims at Clonmacnois by George Petrie ( 1790 - 1866 ) of the Irish School.
Late Date radio program on Friday night with Val Joyce was even more special as he featured the voice of Jo Stafford and included about ten of her songs during the two hour show.

The remains of Joe Dunican who died in America are expected to arrive home tomorrow. Burial in Moore tomorrow. See papers.
The Clonfinlough Gun Club had great support for their fund raising table quiz last Wednesday night and Noel Mannion enjoyed the questions especially the geography questions. The Quiz on this coming Wednesday night will be in aid of the Active Retirement Group who have really done great activity in their first year with a number of outings and functions. Contact Kay Fitzpatrick if you would like to join the gang.
That extra hour of night has brought out many more people to the library on Thursday nights from 7 to 9 pm and last night Rose had 300 home made labels ready yo paste onto more books. The teenagers that like horses will just love a collection of books on horses donated by Sheila Ryan.
The old river is easing back down in level with the recent good weather. After a murky start and a shower this morning the sun has broken through and the forecast is for temperature of 12C or 54F.
Sorry to hear of the accidental death of Mark (Pepe) Lyons in Ballinasloe on Wednesday. Mark many years ago lived in a caravan around Shannonbridge during the famous dropout hippie period and was well known. Working on a new building behind Salmons and Gullanes in Ballinasloe erecting guttering it appears that a length of material touched an overhead line and ended his life. May he rest in peace. Two other workmates were injured.

Was part of a group of five relations that flew out to the Isle of Man - or is that Person ? on Wednesday morning for the funeral of Jack Killey who was married to Frances Killeen from Main Street Ballinasloe. Airfares to the IOM are something else. Niall Grenham got on the Internet and the best available was 160 Euro with Manx going out and 55 Euro with Aer Aran for the return journey. Think one of the airlines had a 900 Euro return fare. If you are thinking of going over then shop early on the 'net. The guesthouse owner told us that he gets a £40 sterling return fare to England by doing this. Jack's daughter Emer saved £100 by choosing to fly from Liverpool rather than Manchester.
It was the first time that I attended a cremation. The body was taken from the morgue and arrived for a funeral service in the chapel at 1'00 pm. The clergyman told us that he knew Jack and gave us a brief history of his life in the army during WW2 when he was captured and imprisoned in Colditz for a long time and also in Italy. He receieved shrapnel wounds during the war which remained with him all his life. May he rest in peace.
Met two old friends Derry and Pat who very kindly took us to the funeral in their landrover and also out to a meal on Wednesday night and to the airport yesterday morning. During these trips Derry did a kind of Paddy Kavanagh type tour and showed us the banking area and much of the TT motorbike circuit with the corners and the places on the road where the bikers fly through the air at speeds of over 150 MPH. There is a sign on the roadside that says "Say Hello to The Fairies" which is well obeyed. The island is about 30 miles long by about 20 miles wide. They have their own language which sounds a bit Irish. Was looking out for a Manx cat and when I saw a huge cat spread out in our guesthouse we asked the owners if it was a Manx cat. It turned out to be a wild cat that had settled in with them. The only Manx cats we saw were the souveneir ones at the airport. A meal out in a restaurant in Creg Ay Baa offered a fine range of starters, main courses and desserts and worked out on average at £15.60 sterling each. There are nine golf courses on the island and green fees are about £20 per day on most of the courses.

Friday night saw a great turnout in Cloghan Hall where a fund-raising night was held for Gerry Mc Cabe who was injured when he fell from a building. The popular all girls group The Biddys provided the entertainment and there were bar facilities and an auction. Heard The Biddys sing one of their songs on the radio over the weekend called Four and Nine. Four and nine, take a tip from me, never take a lady out to dine, with nothing in your pocket, but your four and nine etc.
Birthday time in Shannonbridge on Friday night for Declan Kelly's girlfriend Caroline Ryan from Cork went off very well with Declan's mother keeping everyone well fed and Sean Crehan providing the music. Caroline's parents declared they were going to buy a house in Shannonbridge after their first visit.
Saturday morning the remains of Sam Robinson from Banagher was taken from the Priory Nursing Home in Ferbane to Banagher Church for service and burial. A prayer for his soul.
On Saturday afternoon it was good to meet Father Larry English originally from Tullamore and now based in Kilkenny after a lifetimes work in the Philippine Islands with The Mill Hill Fathers. He is a brother of Phil Beary who died recently. Father Larry and some friends visited Clonmacnois where they met a group of Philipinos. So Father Larry went to speak to them and found that they were from a different island and spoke a different dialect.
Yesterday morning at Mass in Clonfinlough there was an enrolment ceremony for children hoping to have their First Communion which is planned for May 2005. Ten children enrolled.
News of the death in Chicago of Joe Dunican who was born in Cloneish and is a brother of Johnny and Brendan. There are arrangements being made to take the body home for burial. May he rest in peace.
Yesterday news of the death of Jack Kiley in the Isle of Man. Jack was married to a cousin of ours Frances Killeen from Main Street Ballinasloe. Burial takes place in Isle of Man on Wednesday. Say a prayer for his soul.
After a mild few weeks with little rain the river level is easing back that little bit. Today is promised mild and misty with temperatures of 50 to 55 F.
Glad to see our Birdwatch Shannonbridge news and to see Louise's thoughts under Entertainment after the Clonmel Song Contest win.
Got the bundle of photographs back from Irishphotosales and was talking to our webmaster about the possibility of setting up a local collection of photographs with this website or a companion site and he said it was possible but it would take time and money. Time is approximately five minutes per photo to scan it in and the money would be for extra space and an ongoing yearly charge for this space of about 200 Euro per year. Still a dream.
Sister Maura from Ard Chiarain tells us that she has a boxfull of books for the library.

Heard that the Mass for the dead and the bereaved in Ard Chiarain last night went off very well with a very good attendance.Those attending were asked to write the names of the people they wished remembered on a journal and somebody wrote the name of the mother who was killed in a car crash last week and her young daughter that survived. Father O'Hanlon celebrated.
Good news from the Library that there was a good turnout last night with a few more new members joining up. Another box of books donated by Shannonbridge Pottery.
The Shannonbridge GAA website attached are making an effort to add photographs and more news to their site and if you can help contact Conor Killeen.
Kate's website at last count has 167 photographs in minature form which open up with a click.
Kerrill Thornhill is available to help you set up your webpage on the Shannonbridge.net site.
It would be good to have more facilities come alive and stay alive.
Hope that Louise Killeen will tell us all about the Clonmel National Song Contest 2004 which was held in the White Memorial Theatre in Clonmel last night. Only heard that she won the competition with Mike Thornhill and Colin Killeen playing alongside. Tipperary Crystal presented a lovely vase to the winners to go with the thousand Euros. Check for her comments on her weblink under Entertainment but give her a bit of time. Well done Lou & Crew.
Bought a copy of John Grenham's book on Moore last evening and in the first two pages there is mention of lots of battles in Clonburren, Shannonbridge and Moore or Moytura as it was called when it was linked to Creagh. Also mentioned was the destruction of the wooden bridge at Clonmacnois and Brian Boru and his brother and the Danes and the Clonburren Motte and... that was in the first couple of pages.

Funny thing happened yesterday when I tried to explain the Blog of 11/2/04 appearing 35 times on the screen . Dont know what happened except it is a strange co-incidence that Kate mentioned on October 24th that she has a list of 35 Orphans that are seeking sponsorship. Sponsorship costs very little , if I remember rightly about the price of a Pint of Guinness a week. Wonder had the 35 Orphans anything to do with it.
Kate will tell you more if you are interested. Contact her at this website, info@shannonbridge.net.
Tuesday night there was a special Mass celebrated in Ferbane for the soul of the late Jimmy Mooney at the request of the Ferbane Bridge Club. Tonight in Ard Chiarain Prayer Centre there is a special Mass at 8 pm for the deceased and bereaved. Consider visiting the Library this evening from 7 to 9 pm and have a look at the new edition of the Moore Parish book by the late John Joe Grenham.
Tonight in the Wolfe Tone Theater in Clonmel Louise takes part in a talent competition with Colin and Mike Thornhill doing the backing bit. This was a competition where to enter you had to send in a recording of your song with 20 Euros entry fee. Ten people have been chosen and each get to sing one song. You can listen to her song on her website under Entertainment on this Shannonbridge site. Hope they do well.
This website would like more people writing on it and Mike Thornhill is going to contact one of the Shannonbridge girls in Japan and one of the boys in Wales has promised to write but hopefully not in Welsh.
Got three lovely photographs from Ken Smith in California yesterday. Also got a message that about a hundred photos of the area that were sent to Irishphotoshop.com were collected by Larry Egan from Belmont. No sign of them on their screens as yet. Talked to our webmaster on the possibility of having more photographs available to highlight the area and people.
The Table Quiz last night raised 180 Euro for the annual Seniors Christmas Party.
Some rain during the night but fine and sunny this morning. Rain is forecast for Munster and Connaught. Is that spelt rite. ?

Emily Kenny was telling us last evening that as well as the bonfire at Falty Cross there was also a bonfire in Clonburren which was mighty as all the parents dressed up as Witches and Princes and Cowboys and what have you and everyone had great craic. They evenhad their own fireworks display. Good for them.Clonburren and Cappaleitra has developed into a thriving community with almost thirty houses on that circuit around the Esker.
Last night in Lukers Bar there was a competition to measure the longest cock on the day and any shooter that was lucky enough to shoot a pheasant yesterday on the start of the pheasant shooting season brought it along to have it measured. Adain and Jason Kelly produced a pheasant with a tail length of 42 inches.
Ard Chiarain Prayer Centre, Rachrabeg invite everyone to Mass for the deceased and bereaved on Thursday night at 8pm.
The Parish Newsletter tells of a training course in acting for cameras in The Prince of Wales hotel, in Athlone on next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Phone 074 - 9126994.
Mick took Pat and Kay Donegan and Megan Costelloe on a trip downriver throught the floods yesterday and Pat was amazed at the amount of Plover that were flying around. Hope the gamesman ? that shot 16 pheasants yesterday will not hear about them.
Weather today is forecast to be cloudy with short sunny spells and lowest temperature in the Midlands of 50 F. Tomorrow has much the same with temperatures of 57 F.
Conor started a new job yesterday working with some GAA Magazine and was surprized to hear he was home this morning. Apparently his girlfriend's mother was killed last night when her car went off the road near Tuam and Conor did the needful in bringing his girlfriend home.
Hope Kate has a good journey home and looking forward to hearing

Pat Gleeson from The Gables, Moystown celebrated his 91st Birthday last Friday and he was saying that he was the weakest gosson that ever was born and that he was reared on Virol.
It turned out to be a sort of funeral weekend. Starting with a phonecall on Friday night from Michael Scotney in Peterborough to tell us that that wonderful woman who used to visit Ireland with Michael and Audrey - Eileen Walters had been found dead in her sleep in her apartment that morning. Memories of George O Neill taking her out to waltz came to mind.
On Saturday the remains of Annie Kenny late of Cloneish, and sister of Pat Joe,were taken from Dublin after Mass to Clonfad Church for Mass at 3 pm and burial in Moore afterwards.
Saturday evening the remains of Martin Mc Manus from Bermingham and Drum arrived into Drum Church. Martin is a brother of John Mc Manus from Clonburne. Yesterday the remains of Ann Grogan Ferbane were removed from the Priory Nursing Home to Ferbane. She was mother to Maura Sean Leo Tommy Michael and Seamus. May they all rest in peace.
News over the weekend that Bewleys are to close their two Coffee Houses in Dublin sounded like another death in some peoples lives.
Went to Ballinasloe on Saturday for a haircut, peanuts for the birds and called into cousin Eileen. Heard that the Barrett Hardware has been sold. Failed to get my haircut as Joe Keogh had a Sorry sign stuck on his window that he was closed Wednesday to Saturday. Suppose I was lucky enough to get my nuts and also get a lift home with Mark Donegan who was leaving two Dutch friends to the bus. The girl's brother had committed suicide and they found a map of Ireland which he had marked out in red of places that he had planned to visit. Shannonbridge was the last X as he wanted to see where Daithi Rua was born as he had heard Daithi sing a few times.
His sister and her friend decided to do the trip in memory of him and so ended up in Shannonbridge on Thursday evening. Say a prayer for his soul.
News on the paper yesterday of the engagement of our local TD Olwyn Enright from Birr and congratulte her.
Lots of fireworks and bangers last night and Patrick Kenny was telling about the woeful pile of timber that they had collected in Drum for a bonfire but they were having their own bonfire at Falty and good to hear that they were not burning any tyres.
Weather has been mild over the weekend with Saturday like a summers day. Yesterday was good but it got a bit overcast and the hour made a cod of it. Lovely moon in the sky with daytime temperatures in mid 50'ties. Birds are busy eating away and there are some lovely autumn colours around. Went down to the garden nursery in Correen on Saturday and many of the fields along the way are flooded. Mark who runs the nursery tells us that there is great fishing in flood conditions and that he was heading out on Sunday to anchor his boat on the river Suck and catch roach which of course he returns alive. Mark has a wonderful nursery for bedding plants if you are interested. Roadways near Shannonbridge are providing their own speed control with a hefty bumb at Ashbrook house and an uneven area a few hundred yards down the Clonmacnois road that is capable of throwing your car into the drain. Good to hear that Michael Green plans to visit from Boston in November. Ciara and Laura and Kate will be glad to hear that Declan Kelly has become engrossed in your correspondence and is reading the lot at present. The papers every Sunday are trying to out do each other with free CD's and Ireland On Sunday had a free Roddy Doyle book - 'Snapper' as their offering yesterday.

News of more floods in Clonmel where houses were evacuated and there was a crowd waiting at the new bridge in Enniscorty today waiting for the water to rise and cover it. Heard about a person in one of the seaside towns in County Cork who built a new house on a street that was liable to flood and he decided to raise the floor level by three blocks (about 30"). When the planning authority people saw it they ordered him to knock it down as it was not in keeping with the surrounding street. Some local floods last evening between Belmont and Cloghan. Colin took a photograph of the flood in the callows north of the village near sunset and there was a remarkable golden colour on the grass of a field that has not been used this year. Hope it comes out.
Saw on the papers yesterday that a young Doctor O'Brien from Rosemount has just been awarded 1.2 million euros to research osteoporosis. Initially he qualified as an engineer.
Conor has got a job with a GAA magazine and starts work next week. The old weekly gaa notes for this site are paying off.
Longford and Westmeath are to be rejoined as a four seater constituency for the next election.
Copies of JohnJoe Grenham's book on Moore are now available in the Library. There are some remarkable articles and photographs in the book and there is a fine colour photograph on the front cover of Lamb Island and the homeplace of Michael Mc Cann who wrote O Donnell Abu.
There are books on West Clare Railway and another on Irish Landscapes by Frank Mitchell
now available in the Library and a Book of Quotations that caught my eye as they are all based on the old Brehon Laws.
Finally plenty of rain last evening but today has turned outdry. Martin Burke tells us that the Goldfinches are back in their garden again but he has not started to feed them as yet.
Christmas is coming and the Library will have this years final night on 16th December and will re-open on 13th January. Visit it soon.

Had an enquiry from Dorothy Guinan in Boston as to how she can purchase a copy of John Joe Grenham's book on Moore, The Customes & Traditons of a Rural Community. Well if you live in America you can order your copy from Mrs Blake, Drumalga Park, Oldtown, Athlone, Ireland at a cost of $25 which includes postage. Shannonbridge people will have the opportunity of buying a copy in the Library in Shannonbridge any Thursday night from 7 to 9 pm. Cost 20 Euros.
Dorothy Guinan tells us that her Grandparents Guinan and Downey were married in Moore Church with Kenny and Naughton as witnesses. Her son has mastered the bagpipes and has promised to play a few tunes on their next visit.
Norman and Mary Smith and their two daughters were regular visitors to Shannonbridge for many years when Norman was coarse fishing. Mary tells us that her daughter Naryse has had a baby girl that was born one day early and weighed 9 Lbs. 13 Ozs. Congratulations to all.
The Wednesday Table Quiz last night in Killeens was in aid of Christmas Lights for the village and about 125 Euros were raised.
The strong winds and rain yesterday hit the south of the country causing flooding and electricity blackouts. Winds reached 80 MPH and about 80 mm of rain fell in parts of the south. Cork City Center was under four feet of water at 6 pm last night. Shannonbridge got off light with more rain and light winds. The river level has risen further with almost all of Darcy's callow upstream from the village now under water. Had three anglers from Sheffield based in Portumna call in to enquire about fishing. They are limited to the floating jetties at Shannonbridge and Clonmacnois, an anchored boat, the canal or lakes such as at Boora.
Report out yesterday says that Ireland's population has increased by one million in thirty years.
The most popular names for babies in 2003 were Sean and Emma and 30 % of last years babies were born to single mothers.

The newspapers tell that there are 90,000 new customers signing up for new electricity connections this year which gives an idea of the amount of new homes and apartments being created.
The weather forecast for today and into tomorrow is for strong winds from the south reaching up to 80 MPH and bringing flooding and rain. This forecast caused George and Mary Hogarty from the USA , who had been holidaying in the West of Ireland, to change their plans and head straight back to Dublin rather than stop off in Shannonbridge.
The series of Wednesday night Table Quizzes for the winter starts in Killeens tonight with proceeds going to some organization or charity or whatever.
The Ferbane Bridge Club members have organized a special Mass on next Tuesday night 2nd November in Ferbane Church at 7.00 pm in rememberance of the late Jimmy Mooney.
Found a leaflet in the Church on Sunday with what I think is Saint Patrick's Breastplate prayer.
Christ be with me,
Christ within me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me.

Christ beneath and Christ above,
Christ on my right hand,
Christ on my left.
Christ with me waking,
walking and sleeping.

Christ in every heart thinking of me,
Christ in every tongue speaking to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

Met a group of eight people spending the weekend on a cruiser and wearing blue jumpers with Crew 2004 Ireland stamped on. They told that two years ago they took part in a scenic trip in Australia as individuals - 2 Swiss, 1 Canadian and 5 Irish. Last weekend they had come together and hired a Silverline cruiser in Banagher and came upstream to Shannonbridge for Saturday night and went to visit Clonmacnois and almost Athlone on Sunday before returning to Shannonbridge on Sunday night. And Sean, Yvonne, Steve, Vicky, Ritchie, Adrian, Niall and Georgina, who nearly crashed the boat, are honest as they came back on Sunday night to pay for sandwiches that they had eaten the night before.
Book Launch of the late John Joe Grenham's work on Moore took place on Sunday evening and a good crowd turned up to enjoy the speeches food music and readings. Copies are available at 20Euro and it tells the customs and traditions of a rural community over many years.
The Goldcrest last week arrived safely home to Joe Burke's house in Ardnagug and Joe introduced it to his feeders which it was glad to use.
Two more gifts of books presented to the Library. One by Mary Duffy of Aughnacabe and Dublin has some lovely hardbacks such as Gone With The Wind. The other books belonged to the late Father Paddy Malone from Clare and were given in by his sister Theresa Breslin. Saw in one of this collection a book on the Famine and an account of a man that had the flesh eaten from his legs and by the expression on his face the people that found him knew that he was alive while the pigs ate his flesh. Read it for yourself. Thursday evening 7 to 9 pm.
This week the Irish Catholic has a review on Listowel and its Vicinity since 1973 by Father Tony Gaughan. The photo featured in the review shows the Pope presenting a gift to Colm O Brien who was Director of the Listowel Singers in Rome in 1989.
Weekend papers told of the death in Listowel of Philomena Beary, nee English from Tullamore, who at one time lived in The Bungalow which later became Grennan's Guesthouse. May she rest in peace.
Donal Kenny from Clonboniff and Rachel Keenaghan from Moate were married in Tubber on Friday and with a group of their friends visited Shannonbridge on Saturday. Rachel should make a great wife as she did a bit of shopping picking up a pan , saucepan, a rat-trap, a plunger for the toilet, washing powder and a packet of currants as a surprize for Donal.
Many natives home for the weekend including Niall Price from Wales who promised he will keep us updated on life in Wales.
River has swollen with a foot rise in 24 Hours over the weekend. The old jetty is flooded and there is a broad band of water out on Darcy's Callow upstream. Brian who lives on the canal barge tells us that each day he records the river level, temperature, wind direction.

Many of Kate's Kids in Uganda have written some very good Thank You letters to people that helped improve their school and orphanage in Uganda and Cary and Kerrill Thornhill have displayed a number of these in Church, shops and pubs around the village and hopefully will be able to slot them in under Kate's corner on the Shannonbridge website. Katongole Joseph and Lwandago Florence wrote the two letters that I saw and both decorated their letters with a selection of drawings.
Jimmy Lawlor and Rose have moved into Shannonbridge from their home in Clondelara and now live at the end of the Cul de Sac across from the Church. Wonder will somebody purchase their old home and renew it ?
Mary Coughlan was telling us yesterday that she is having her home re-thatched at present. Pat and herself were remembering the time when Pat and my mother used to call into Coughlans when they went collecting plums. Where is Annaghmore ? They tell me than when you branch for Belmont at Mullaghature you take the first by road to the left for Annaghamore. Pat remembers families of Robinson, Delaney, Bob Johnson and Coughlans living there then.

Looked up the Goldcrest bird last night in the Library and found it to be the smallest bird in Ireland and England. The female has a bright yellow/gold crest on top of its head like our friend of yesterday. The male has an orange crest.They may build a hammock like nest near the ground -say a yard- with plenty of feathers or they may build it high up of the ground. Sometimes it becomes very friendly and other times it becomes quiet distant. Cold weather has a big effect on their survival and many die. They like conifers.
On birds Lorraine from Pottstown tells us that she hangs out suet cakes (fat) with seeds and food in the make up and she has a woeful time keeping the raccoons from getting at the suet.
This is a Bank Holiday weekend and the local ESB / BNM golf society had one of their outings in Ballinasloe golf club yesterday. Sean Kelly won the day with 39 Points.
After more rain the Shannon level has crept up again and there is water bursting the drains in Darcy's callow near the new jetty and Darcy's field behind the Church has a bit of flooding.
Temperatures today were improved and the forecast was for 13 to 15 C or a high of 59F.
See where Kates Walk raised 5900 Euro. Her blog spots to this site are great and hopefully when she leaves there on November 2nd that she will continue to describe other parts of Africa on her way home.
Brian Cahill gave me a lift home from Ferbane last night and I found out that Hiney's corner is now one-way and you have to travel up town past the post office to join the new link road.
Doc and Dick are due home from Cyprus tomorrow and they are enjoying the holiday.

The past few nights have seen a drop in temperature and the birds are feeling the pinch. This morning Paul Dowling found a small bird lying on the ground at his workplace. Judging by its size it looked to be a young bird but a phonecall to Kieran Guinan described the bird as a Gold Crest. He said they are a small bird with two distintive markings. This one had a stripe of yellow/ gold on top of his head. Kieran recommended keeping it in a warm place for about an hour and it would be all right. Joe Burke found out they are not migratorary and is giving it a new home with bird feeders and shelter in Ardnaglug.Must remember to hang out some fat for the birds today.
Shannonbridge barracks is having a facelift carried out at present and hopefully the village will have a new Garda living here soon.
Ollie Daly was telling that Bord Na Mona have commenced drawing ash from the new power plant which is part of their contract. To satisfy environmental regulations a special area of bog out from Templedew has been prepared and made ready for the ash. Special tipping trailers will carry the ash to the pit.
Good to see Tom Daly of Blackwater and Portlaoise and his family in the village last evening. Tom was naming various families that lived on the road opposite Gerry Greene's house in Blackwater and two families of Dalys lived there and are now buried in Clonmacnois in front of the Cathedral. Tom was in Clonmacnois and as usual trimmed the grass from around the marker stone that replaced the tombstone when Clonmacnois was declared a national monument years ago.
Friend going to New York next week and intending to return on December 20th was told that the only available seats using Aer Lingus would cost 1300 Euros. So he will now fly Aer Lingus to Heathrow and with Virgin to New York and returning the same way in December at a cost of 436 Euros.
An old photograph in front of me shows a donkey and cart driven by the late Tom Coleman passing Janey O'Mearas house which was later knocked and was where Mick Murray built his home.

A sister of Mags the Hairdresser a Joe Kelly has died and the body was removed last evening from his parents home in Saint Cannock's Terrace Ferbane across the road to the church and burial took place today after Mass. Joe was survived by his parents five brothers three sisters and a number of nephews and nieces. May he rest in peace.
The radio this morning told that last night was the coldest October night for eleven years with temperatures reaching minus three Celcius.
Stopped off at Clonmacnois last evening and the approach to the carpark is beautiful with a variety of orange and red berries in large amounts and an array of autumn leaves. They say it is the sign of a harsh winter when berries are plentiful.
Conor Killeen has arrived home from London and was just in time to rescue his brother Colin whose car broke down near Tulsk on his way back from surfing in Sligo.
Seems that a jeep used in a robbery in Galway has remained parked in Shannonbridge for some days.
A patient in the hospital in Tullamore last week gave me a simple recipe for relieving pain in the neck. She said to make up a mixture of equal amounts of Poitin and Virgin Olive Oil and shake them well together. Rub from base of skull with both hands in an outward position down to the shoulder blade. Avoid the vertebrae and collar bone.
Interesting box of books from a Ragherabeg reader was presented to the Library recently and will be added to the collection for Thursday evening opening 7 to 9 pm.

A book launch of 'Moore, the Customs and Traditions of a Rueal Community'by the late John Joe Grenham will be held in Moore Hall on Sunday 24th October from 6.00 to 8.00 pm with music and refreshments and all are welcome.
Good news last evening with the arrival home of Pat Killeen after a stay in Tullamore hospital.
The radio news this morning told us that in Ireland north and south one third of all teenage deaths are suicide. The Irish Catholic tells us that in the United States there are 4,000 abortions every day. How do we compare with about 6,000 travelling to England each year for abortion.
The Sacred Heart Messenger magazine may be ordered for the year at a cost of 10.80 Euro. Contact Mary Killeen to place your order for this area.
Met the Metz Family from Germany last evening with Mam and Dad and five in family. They flew from Frankfurt (cost 980 Euro ) and hired an Emerald Starline cruiser from Carrick on Shannon and will leave the boat at Portumna. Reckon if they had surfed and booked their flights back in August they would have saved 560 Euro.
Feature on the Independent on Sunday tells us that Patrick Kavanagh the poet was born 100 years ago this Thursday. Kavanagh writes in The Great Hunger -
Men build their dreams
as they build their circles
Of friends. God is in the bits
and pieces of Everyday.
A kiss here and a laugh again,
and sometimes tears
A pearl necklace around the
neck of poverty.
Kavanagh is in the Library on Thursday night from 7 to 9 pm at least in printform.
Good to hear Ciara back on track. Still awaiting news from our girl in Japan.

The two English couples who have used Ely House as their basecamp for over a week while discovering the sights in the area and making friends set off home today with a definite promise of returning. If you would like to see Ely House, formerly Glenderham see them under Guesthouses on this site where they have placed information in the past few days. Do mention that you found them here as it is good to know if anybody is using the facility.
Met a sister of the late John Dowling of GAA fame in the Tullamore Hospital. Ester Wallace told me that her Grandmother was Annie Cummins and was married to the Lockkeeper in Shannonharbour about 1890. One night her Grandfather went to the pub for a billycan of porter
which cost 6d and on his way home he slipped off the the boardway on the lock and fell into the Grand Canal and was drowned leaving Annie a widow with seven young children. Sometime after the funeral the Canal Company loaded Annie and the seven kids along with their furniture and cow and calf and sow and bonhams and hens chickens ducks and turf onto a Canal Boat and transferred Annie to Ballycowan Lock near Tullamore. The morning after they arrived Annie went out to milk the cow and found it had been stabbed to death. It was assumed that it was done by a person that had applied for the Lockkeeper's psition and had failed to get it.
The Canal Boatmen at the time took up a collection and bought a new cow for Annie.
Ester tells us that Cummins at the time was called Kemmy and that they were cousins of Nevins who lived on an island. A sister of Annie Cummins married a Jimmy New who was a great concertina player. She also told us that her niece Yolanda Dowling aged 49 was one of the first victims of the 9 / 11 disaster at the Twin Towers as the first plane hit the building right where she was working.

Weather has been remarkably good for October with sunshine most days and rain confined to showers. River level has eased back quite a bit last week and temperatures are in mid 50 ties.
Last night Rusty Razor finished off their Tavern gig last night with a Happy Birthday to Mick Killeen who shares his birthday with Jim Killeen in Chicago and our late mother all on October 17
Met a group of the Kenny women grom Clondelara last night - Maureen, Agnes, Ita, Francie who were gathered to celebrate their sister's birthday today. So Happy Birthday to Sister Mel.
On the way to Tullamore last evening Mick and I noticed about 80 Crows perched on the telephone wires near Kelly's Pub at Mucklagh. It was a strange sight and on our way home we noticed many hundreds of crows feeding in a field in the same area. Louis Maher tells us that they belong to a Rookery in Charleville Castle a few miles up the road from Mucklagh.
Met a Lorna Quillinan from Brisbane who is here on holiday.Lorna told us that her Grandmother was a Killeen from Belmont. Told her about the late Rose who had the Post Office in Belmont.
Martin Burke tells us that his son Michael in Swindon looks into this site now and again. If Michael feels like sharing the Swindon life with the rest of us he should contact info@shannonbridge.net
JohnMcManus had an old 1930's puzzle for us yesterday morning. John hired some boys to pick stones and there were 10 or more boys and 20 or less and he paid each the same amount. In all John paid out thirty shillings and one penny. Remember there were no pocket calculators at the time so work out how many boys were employed and how much each was paid. Sounds easy.
Then Mike Robinson threw in another problem.
One hundred Euro is divided equally between a certain number of people.
How many people ? How much did each get ? Explain your answer. No more clues. That's it.
See on the Parish Newsletter that Sister Mary Mc Hugh sends thanks for the special collection taken up at Masses in the parish recently in aid of the Medical Missionaries of Mary with Shannonbridge Church Euro 554.59 and Clonfinlough Church Euro 314.01
On another Sunday the Mentally Handicapped Association of Offaly had a church gate collection that realized 172.08 in Shannonbridge and 110.10 Euro in Clonfinlough.
Confirmation next year will be held in Ferbane on 21st April 2005.

Val Joyce was reminding listeners last night that Cliff Richards was born in India on 15th Oct 1940 which might be of interest to Ken and Betty and others.
Library last evening was busy with lots of users and ably managed by Pat Rose and Emmett.
Give a look in next Thursday 7 to 9 pm.
Sign of winter maybe but the Ferbane bridge session last night had eight tables of four which is the best so far this year.
Saw on the Offaly Independent that a new statue in honour of Our Lady of the Rosary has been erected in the grounds of Clonfad Church. The statue was presented in memory of the Kinsella Family of Clonburren. Three members of the Kinsella family travelled from Boston an d Tom , Bob and Tom Junior were present for the blessing ceremony performed by Father Keane.
Weather is sunny again today with temperatures around 55F. Again rain that was promised has kept away so far.
A Kathleen O Donohue contacted this website seeking help in contacting a girl from Shannonbridge that she shared accommodation with in London in 1959 and the information is being sent on to her.Mark and Colin were joined by two English visitors last night in a very enjoyable jam session. The English men and their wives are using Shannonbridge as a base for touring around and enjoyed a great day in Galway and another in Clonmacnois. A regular Bradford fisherman and his wife called in last evening who are also sightseeing and based locally.
Orla tells us that Ciara and Sarah are enjoying summer in Sydney. Whats it like girls ?

Was expecting a downpour last evening judging by a very strong rainbow behind Oliver Darcy's house but it never came. Adain Kelly was saying that it lashed rain in Belmont seven miles up the road. More rain forecast for today but so far it is sunny and fine around54F.
Good to hear from Kate as always. The Medical Missionaries are the same as the Irish house and they know Doctor Maura Lynch. Was speaking to one of the nuns here and she promised to read Kates epistles. She also told that on Sat 23 Oct sixty volunteer ladies are travelling to Malawi and Ugandi to work voluntarily for a month. Many are nurses and they will be distributing all types of clothing, shoes, towels , bed linen etc that has been collected here.
Tonight is Library night from 7 to 9 pm in the Health Center if you can do come along and take a friend.
Tom Shea was telling me last evening that they had hatched out 13 chickens and had them in an incubator. Twelve of them were taken and one left. They were sitting having tea when they heard the chick call and found the cat with its paw through the bars of the enclosure. Interesting Tom says that wild fowl kill their young if a human handles it.
Aine is home for a few days and tells us that Mike and herself are taking Russian lessons. Must be something to do with a new family member moving into Ardnacrusha hopefully before Christmas.
Colin is home from hiking the mountains in France and his mother will be delighted with him when she sees the beard. Suppose he will be looking for sponsorship to have it shaved off.

Last evening one of the first Stations was held with a Mass in Seamus and Celine Grennans with about thirty neighbours and friends attending. The priest asked people, that have plans to have a Station Mass in their homes, to let him know so that a suitable time and date can be arranged.
Read about cheap travel. Well last night I met Heinz and Ute Steinmann and Roland and Petra Kraft from Frankfurt who are on a cruiser for one week. Enquiring what their airfare cost they said that they had booked flights with Ryan Air last August. The flight from Brussels to Dublin cost 0.99 cents plus taxes of 24 Euro each. Return flights cost 9.99 Euro each with airport taxes again 24 Euro. They were collected at Dublin Airport by Emerald Starline and are cruising from Carrick on Shannon to Portumna where they leave the boat and will be taken to the airport. They visited Clonmacnois yesterday and caught a pike measuring one metre which was nice.
Mary Burke is going to spend an evening reading all of Kates letters one of these days. Kate would have been interested in a programme on TV last night presented by Marian Finucane where she visited an orphanage in Africa. 'Fraid I missed it.
On Monday at the beginning of the Hot Water outlet culvert from the power plant three dead salmon were found on the bank. Apparently they went off course on their way upstream and when they met the surge of water at the outlet they naturally tried to jump it and landed up on the bankside where they died. Fisheries were called in and they believe that they may have been members of a travelling shoal and the Fisheries task is to reroute the other salmon. At least it is good to hear tell of salmon in Shannonbridge as nobody seems to have seen one for years.
Weather yesterday was great and it is good here today but those forecast people tell us that rain is spreading across the country. Read on yesterdays Irish Times that the feature Weather Eye reached the magic 5000 articles yesterday which is some going.

Sunday morning Sister Mary McHugh of the Medical Missionaries of Mary spoke at Mass about their missionary work and a special collection was taken up for her. After Mass I met Mrs Jimmy Green Clonfad whose husband had died on Friday and whose funeral was held over until Monday on account of the Country Fair. It worked out fine with a viewing on Sunday in Grenhams Funeral Parlour for three hours and a wake at home on Sunday night. Monday morning the remains were taken to Clonfad church for Mass with burial afterwards in Kilbegley cemetery. May the Lord have mercy on his soul.
Sunday afternoon a Fursey from Longwood called in to tell that he had come down to buy a pony but the fair was over. He was anxious to meet Fursey White on Monday as he said he had not met any other Fursey in his life. I mentioned Fursey Hanley who was a son of Garda Hanley that once served in Shannonbridge and he said he had heard of him but never met him.
The five Belgian pike anglers finished their week s fishing holiday catching 86 pike in total which was down on recent years because of the high water level. They measure their catch in Centimeters and their top ten measured 111, 104, 98, 97, 95, 95, 95, 93, 92 and 90 Cm.
Good to see Paddy Murphy from Enniscorthy around for the past few days. Paddy is a dab hand at trimming trees and says he will shape up the trees at the Health Center and at the steps when he is here again in November. Paddy was working freelance but has now joined a nursery near Enniscorthy which he tells me employs fifty people.
Looks like our mountain climbing team are home from France. Mike our webmaster told that he had an enquiry to this site looking for a website or e-mail address for Shannonbridge Pottery.
He has also added a useful link to Ed Butler's site where photographs of The Fort taken before the renovations are to be found. See links.
Last evening Doc and Brigie Kitt and myself went to visit Pat in Tullamore hospital. Brigie was telling us an interesting story about the statue of Our Lady of Clonert. Apparently her grandfather and two other men were working on the farm when the tree that had sheltered the statue was cut down and they took it to the priest. In the hospital we met Kieran Darcy Clonfinlough, Mrs Mooney from the Doon and Martin Pat Coleman who was in visiting.
Paddy Murphy was anxious to purchase a copy of the Clonmacnois Parish book that was published for the Millenium. Father O Hanlon had a copy and says there is only about a dozen copies remaining.

Friday evening the bold Father Benny Flanagan celebrated forty years in the priesthood with a concelebrated Mass in one of the two churches that he services in his parish outside Loughrea. Mick and myself were priviliged to be invited to the celebration and to a supper afterwards in the Meadowcourt hotel where there was a great array of people that had known Benny down the years. The night went very well and unfortunately we had to leave early as Mick and Mary were scheduled to catch a bus for the airport at 3.00 am in Ballinasloe to catch a flight to Italy for a week. It did not end there as Doc and Dick and myself joined about thirty others in Banagher on Saturday morning for a trip to Meelick on the River Queen. There was a strong flow on the river and James Scully was along to tell us lots of interesting pieces of information about the bridge, fortifications, farming and river life. Everybody on the trip was given a special handout on Banagher. At Meelick George the pilot docked the boat near the lock gate and we had a good look at a working lock used by about 10,000 boats each year. Afterwards we walked across the Weir Wall which has two rows of safety barriers. On the west bank we walked for a few hundred yards to reach our boat. There was an amazing display of blackberries , haws, sloes and the orange pods of the wild rose along the walk. Meelick Church was to be seen across the fields and we had a good view of the Martello Fortification on the return trip. For those not interested in the river Benny had golf or a walk in Coole Park arranged as an alternative. After the boat trip the group had lunch in Flynns Bar and went to visit Hough's Piano Bar.
Of course this was Saturday and was Country Fair Day in Ballinasloe where a large crowd were gathered for the wind up of the fair.

Met a couple from Copenhagen last evening who are on their fifth visit to Ireland. They were here two years ago holidaying on the river and this time they hired a canal narrow boat and travelled down the canal to Shannonharbour. They are permitted to travel on the Shannon between Athlone and Portumna but not onto the lakes. Today they plan to revisit Clonmacnois which they feel is a special place.
Last night the meeting for building Healthy Communities was held in Shannonbridge and a number of items were discussed including - Water supply unsafe, no resident Garda, Community Alert, Walkways, Hall, Field with Tennis court, Tidy Towns, Children, Library, Active Retirement Group, Public Transport, Village Population breakdown.
The people attending were all co-opted onto the Shannonbridge Healthy Community Group.
One of our Belgian pike anglers was saying that with reduced airfares they are able to fly to Dublin, hire a car, have Bed + Breakfast and main meal in evening, use of fishing boats for a week and all at a cost of about 550 Euros each. No wonder they are planning already to return for a week in April. Also the fishing is great with an average of eighteen pike being caught and released each day.
The weather has more or less settled with sunshine and temperatures in the mid fifties. Noticed that the water on Darcy;s field behind the Church has eased back but the Belgians say that the river is flowing fast. Tomorrow is Country Fair Day in Ballinasloe.
Heard that Ted Clifford in the Midland Camera Shop will process e-mailed photographs sent to him and that Spectra have a service in Athlone Shopping Center that allows digital camera users to feed in their chip and select and edit their photographs and print off copies in various sizes.

Wondered why the birds were not using the bird feeders and on checking it turned out that they were out of nuts. All is well again and maybe you might consider feeding the birds if you have not started already.
The get together of Active Age Groups in the Arts and Heritage Centre Ferbane is on Thursday morning commencing at 10.30am and ending at 1.00pm. Bus will pick up passengers at 10.00am outside the church in Shannonbridge and provide a door to door pick up service for passengers in rural areas. Phone 09064-54956 to book a seat. Bus will return from Ferbane at 1.00pm.
Good to hear from Father Peter Kenny who is based in California .Just recently he had to visit New York and as it happened Jim and Maureen Killeen from Chicago were visiting family in New Jersey . So they linked up and traveled by car back to Chicago.
Met some American Kinsella people last evening who had traced their family tree back to the Kinsella family from Clonburren. They live in Massetutes and it is their first time in Ireland.
Mick and Mary Killeen are off on a pilgrimage to Northern Italy next week. Hear that a number of people are away this week in France on a Shrines of France trip. And next Saturday Ireland play France in their next qualifying soccer match in the European Cup.
See that Padraig Harrington and Paul Mc ginley will represent Ireland in the World golf match in November.

Went into Ballinasloe last evening and visited Ciaran Flannery who was in great form and recalling many items from the past. Afterwards I walked from Portiuncula to Main Street and noticed that most of the stall owners were taking down their frames and displays. The fairgreen was like a ploughed field and had a pool of water after the heavy rain on Sunday. At 6.30 there was still about three hundred horses on show. Not many people about and many shops were closed. One shop owner told me that they do not open for the Fair but use the time preparing items for a Sale next week.
Mark Donegan is flying to Brussels today to join a big Irish get together of musicians and Irish living in Ghent. Wonder will he take his musical instrument of a clothes hanger and a set of spanners through Customs ?.
Ken and Betty Smith have arrived safely home to Santa Barbara and send greetings to all the friends they met. They wondered was Bridie Carry all right as they missed her for a few days. Bridie tells us that her Canadian friend Mary Marnier and herself were touring around and visiting different places. They visited Athlone and were disappointed with the atmosphere of the Raddisson Hotel. In Roscommon they enjoyed an excellent meal at The Royal Hotel. Another day they visited Keadue Carrick on Shannon Rooskey and Lough Key Forest Park. They were disappointed with Lough Key saying it has really dis-improved. In Rooskey they found the food to be delicious. A trip around the Slieve Bloom Mountains was enjoyable and they stopped off for a five star meal in Kinnity Castle where they found the staff very friendly. They also enjoyed sumptious food at The Bistro at The Five Alley on another occassion which is owned by The Guinan Family.
Our Belgian pike angling visitors were fishing again yesterday and once again caught 18 pike which were returned alive and in good condition. Today they are planning to fish the River Suck.
Dave and Paulien Kemp have returned to Idle after their holiday. Paulien is planning to visit California next month so watch out California.
Bridie Carry has good news from her mother Mary Brennan who has been in hospital for a short time. Mary is feeling well and has returned home. Bridie is proud that her grand-daughters Siobhan and Sinead played their parts on the Under 14 Ballinasloe camogie team that defeated Gort by one point in the Galway County Final.
Steve Fletcher and Family send word that they enjoyed their recent holiday in Shannonbridge and pass on good wishes to everyone. Weather fine yesterday with some showers. Today is sunny and a little breezy and temperature around 53F.
Spotted in a safari park -- ELEPHANTS PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CARS.
Saying on The Marian Finucane radio show today goes " I wish I did'nt know now, what I did'nt know then".

Shannon Gaels Under 21 Football team defeated Ferbane in the quarter -final and now play Rhode in their next outing.
Met a Belton man from Louth who was down for the Ballinasloe Fair. He was related to the late Jimmy Belton and the late Mrs Jack Price. He went to visit Prices and Moby took the two Green girls and myself for a walk to the bridge and I never found out his name or the relationships.
Recent heavy rain has caused the river level to rise and there is some flooding in Darcy's field behind the church.
Ballinasloe October Fair started with a wet Sunday and plenty of horses and people. Noticed once again that many cross channel visitors have returned for the fair. Many of them combine their visit with the Ploughing Championship last week and the fair this week. No sign of Michael and Aubrey Scott so far this year and thought they might have showed up this week.
Some Friends of Saint Lukes held a fund raising night in Killeens Bar on Sunday night comprising a bucket collection and a raffle and the venture realized 630 Euro.
The canal bridge at Clononey seems to have become a favourite crash location as about six crashes have occured there in the past three weeks.
Parish Bulletin reminds us that Sister Mary Mc Hugh will visit the Parish next weekend to speak about their missionary work. She will also be seeking financial support.
West Offaly Partnership has joined forces with Offaly Co Council, Midland Health Board, and Offaly VEC to initiate a pilot project in west and south Offaly. The steering group has provisionally chosen Kinnity and Shannonbridge as the communities to pilot this project.
The steering committee will hold a public meeting in Shannonbridge Hall on Thursday 7th Oct ' 8.30 pm . to explore the different projects that may be implemented and / or enhanced under a programme - from school and youth group activities to eldercare and social services, from environmental enhancement to adult education, from programmes for women to projects involving smallholders. All those interested should come along.
Sorry but this blog failed to publish yesterday.