This evening Ireland play Czechoslovakia in a friendly soccer game at 7 pm and afterwards there is a benefit table quiz night for the childrens music lessons in Killeens at 9.45 pm.
"If you take too long deciding what to do with your life,
You'll find out you've done it"
George Bernard Shaw.

Today the local Active Retirement Group take to the river. The plan is for half the group to travel downstream to Banagher on Mick Killeen's cruiser and meet the other half there for tea and coffee.Then the other half will make the return journey.Weather is sunny with a little breeze and hopefully it will keep fine for them. If interested contact Kieran Kelly or Kay Fitzpatrick.

The Shannonbridge / Doon weekly Lotto Jackpot has fallen two weeks in a row with Liam Keena taking the Biggie at over£10,000 and on last Monday night Michael Ryan Snr from Doon won the replacement pot of £5000.
The next jackpot will start at £2000 next Monday night.

Ken Smith is cruel. At the Sawgrass golf tournament at the weekend not alone was he hoping that Padraig Harrington would win but he was praying Adam Scott would fall in the water. God is fair and only let Adam's ball fall in.
See on this week's Irish Catholic that John Bruton is one of the new occassional writing pool.Dana or Rosemary Scallon got an award on SAINT PATRICK'S DAY.

Mick Priest and Maeve Murphy were in Shannonbridge for the weekend having a break from their guesthouse operation in Monaghan. They fished the Hot Water and then realized there was no hot water as the power plant is not working until the years end. They fished off the new jetty and caught some roach. Got one run on a deadbait for pike. Mike and the late June Priest were well known visitors to Shannonbridge for many years.

Shannonbridge GAA Notes

by Conor Killeen

The Bridge bite Brach

Senior football League


Shannonbridge 2-16
Brachnagh 1-9
After losing to Shamrocks last week in the league, shannonbridge came back to beat Brachnagh on their home soil on Sunday morning last.

This may have been a comprehensive win for the bridge but they will not be getting too carried away with the result, as Brachnagh were missing a couple of key men.

Shannonbridge were rock solid throughout with Packie Brazil a big presence as always in goal. Trevor Mahon was very dominant in all aerial battles at full back, while John Ryan seems to be settling well into the centre back roll.

The Shannonbridge midfield pairing of Conor Killeen and John Egan were dominant throughout but will have to tighten up on their tackling and passing which some times left a lot to be desired.

Up front all forwards did well with David Corbett playing very well and showing far more aggression in his game from last Sunday week.

The Shannonsiders will face St Bridget's in the first round of the championship on the Bank holiday weekend.

Team P Brazil,W Kenna, T Mahon, D Turley, K Flannery, J Ryan, M Darcy, C Killeen, J Egan, D Finn,A Kelly,D Corbett, D Claffey, P J Kelly,F MacEvoy subs P Deeley, M Maloney, S Kelly
Well done Ferbane Schools

Ferbane Schools Traveled to Ballyhaunis to take on Mayo side lackencross on Saturday last . Despite been a very neutral venue For the Offaly Men they still managed a to hammer the local side.

Ferane now face Bandon of Cork in the vocational School's football All-Ireland final. The Rebel men are believed to be strong contenders but that has not stopped these men from frying big fish before.

Shannbridge had seven players on this team and the club wish them the very best in the All-Ireland final.

Congrats to Lotto winner
Shannonbridge club wish to congratulate Liam Kenna on winning our Lotto jackpot. The Lotto Jackpot has begun again @ €5000. Good luck to all players.

Pleasant surprize today when an e-mail arrived from Madeleine Toland from San Diego who apparently picked up my name and address somehow.
Madeleine was a nurse in the hospital in San Diego when I was a patient there in the mid eightees and was very kind to Pat and I. Apart from Christmas cards it is good to have another means of contact.
Two other California friends Ken and Betty Smith plan to use Cregg's self catering for three weeks in September so Moby our dog will be delighted to have walks.

Belarus time once again. This year 47skilled volunteers from Athlone Shannonbridge and area are going to Balarus to carry out work on an orphanage that caters for 134 children. Carrying the flag for our area are John Mitchell and Billy Duffy both from Clondelara.
The work they will carry out in their week there includes - installing 56 double glazed windows, 92 bunk beds and furnishings such as blankets sheets pillows etc, 24 door frames and doors, new toilets for the orphanage, a new kitchen and extraction unit, roof repairs,new tiling, plumbing, lighting, paint, heating, wallpapering and floor covering.
How can one help ?. Presently tickets for a raffle are on sale at £20 each for a raffle that will take place on Sat 10th April at the Shamrock Lodge Hotel Athlone and are available from Billy Duffy tel 087-7925392.
Every trade will be represented in the group and all 47 people are paying their own airfare and insurance and the work is all voluntarily.
If you cannot help them financially at least say a prayer for their success.

Mentioned recently that a number of potholes had appeared on a favorite walk to Raghrabeg. Frank and Dora Guinan were telling us at the weekend that Oliver Daly had carried out repairs and the roadway looks much improved. Well done. Has anybody a few buckets of Tarmacadam ?.
Few cruisers appeared at the weekend and the bus group from Castledaly Manor seem to have extra numbers each week with most of their guests from Wisconsin including a good piano player yesterday.

Lookout for Brigie Cassidy who plans to spend Easter in Shannonbridge with Martin and Mary Burke.
Best wishes to Mark donegan, Shannonbridge, painter and decorator, who has just set up in business and may be contacted at 0863081610.
Interesting website number on this week's Parish Newsletter described as an inspirational website gently reminding viewers of the presence of God in their lives. Look up www.theinterviewwithgod.com
Glad to see Father Frank has started to tell us about the parish in Kenya which means so much to him and an overall view of life there.

Good to hear that St.Sarans qualified for the schools All Ireland football final by beating Lackenstown(Mayo) scoring 4 - 15 to 0 - 22 points.
Even betternews that the team featured seven from the parish Shane and Kieran Flannery, Alan Gunning, Kieran Coughlan, David Corbett, Rory O'Connor and Paul Deeley.

Oliver Hilliard tells us that he has given the data for his Irish Golfers Guide to Open Fixtures to the printers and expects the first run in about ten days time. Oliver has made his collection of Open Days for golf courses all over the country where people can play at a much reduced greenfees.

The Irish Catholic is a weekly newspaper distributed by Mrs Catriona Slattery tel - 09-09674293 that costs 80 cents. Recently a number of new writers have been introduced in addition to the old favourites which makes it even better value for money.

Random thoughts from a recent visit to Kenya.

Recently, I paid a return visit to my parish in Kenya in the company of a retired Primary School Principal, called Joe.

Kenya as you may know is in East Africa divided almost equally by the equator north and south. Hence there is always equal day and equal night. Kenya is about seven times the size of Ireland. It is divided into seven provinces and then into about forty districts - something similar to our provinces and counties. It is bordered by Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda, Lake Victoria, Tanzania and the Pacific Ocean to the east.

Its capital is Nairobi, a city of about three million inhabitants. Other important cities are Mombasa on the coast, Kisumu on Lake Victoria, Nakuru and Eldorete. Our destination was Misikhu in western Province. This is situated near the slopes of Mount Elgon, not far from the Ugandan border, about two hundred and eighty miles from Nairobi. More later……..

Shannonbridge Library hold their AGM on Thursday 1st April
in The Health Center at 9.00 pm after the weekly opening from 7 to 9pm.
Your presence will be welcome.

Watch out for the new footpaths on the road to the power plant and the zebra crossing where the road reaches the street at the church as work is planned to commence in the next couple of weeks.

Yesterday the Irish Independent had an article dealing with the cost of education and two undergraduates were asked to keep a weekly budget.The girls Jenny Murray from Palmerstown and Edel Turley from Offaly were photographed and their balance sheets shown.
Edel of course is the daughter of Tom and Lena Turley from Garrymore and is on her final year in college.

About 30 active retirement members from Ferbane travelled to Shannonbridge yesterday for their annual coffee morning in Ard Chiarain with the Ursulines and stayed for a few hours.
The Shannonbridge Active Retirement group met at 2.30 pm in the community center for a few hours and are planning a trip on the river possibly next week.

Last night the table quiz was in aid of Ludwar a village in Kenya which is more or less twined to a group in Moore. Fifteen tables turned out to support the cause and £490 was gathered beween the quiz, raffle and donations.
The quiz next week is in aid of the children learning music every Wednesday evening and there are plans to record a CD.

Shannonbridge GAA notes

by Conor Killeen

Senior Football league

The Rocks roll over Bridge

Shamrocks 1-11
Shannonbridge 0-8

Shannonbridge traveled to Rahen on Sunday morning last to take on Shamrocks in what proved to be a disappointing day for the bridge.

Shannonbridge opened their account when Kieran Flannery carried the ball from corner back to to score a fine point. That was to be the only score from play from the bridge in the first half.

As Shamrocks got to grips down the middle Shane Monaghan scored three points from play in the first half.

The bridge did not show the same type of fighting spirit which former teams have shown but will hopefully rediscover a tougher attitude as the Championship approaches very shortly.

There were some very good performances on the day from an in form Willie Kenna and John Ryan showing great drive and determination at centre back.

Team P Brazil, W Kenna, C Kenny, K Flannery, N Price, J Ryan, M Darcy, J Killeen, J Kelly, R Browne, D Claffey, D Finn, F Macevoy, PJ Kelly, H Kearns Subs C Killeen, A Kelly, D Corbett, P Egan.
Well done St Sarans
Shannonbridge GAA Club wish to congratulate St Saran's Ferbane on winning the Connaught senior Rugby title for the first time on Tuesday week last, when they beat Sligo Grammer in the Show grounds in Galway.

This is a great achievement by Ray O'Loughlin and Co. who started Rugby in the School only thirteen years ago.

Senior League
Shannonbidge will face Bracknagh on Sunday afternoon @ 12 pm. in bracknagh, Brachnagh are in Shannonbridges Championship group for the coming year and this should be a good test for the Bridge.

Library opens as usual on Thursday night from 7 to 9pm. You are welcome.
Mr and Mrs Cunniffe Clonfert presented two boxes of books to the library yesterday which belonged to their late daughter Margaret who died last year.
Mrs Cunniffe was a Spellman and she was trying to figure out the route they used in getting across the river and into the village (beside post office) and what houses were on the library site (forge) and where Janey O Meara (Murrays) and Flynns lived(opposite library).
The library is thankful for these additional books.

Rose Ryan lent me a pricelist from P.& H. Egan, Ltd Tullamore dated January 1948 with the prices in Shillings / Pence per dozen.Here are a few samples-
Minerals = 3/4 per doz. Soda Water = 7/0 . Guinness Large XX = 13 /6
Ginger Wine = 30/0. Powers Whiskey = 265/0. Brandy 376/6. Port 156/0.
Altar Wine= 92/0. Small Soda Water=2/0 per dozen.
Egans had their main base in Tullamore and operated 15 pubs and shops in the Midlands as well as owning Dooly's Hotel in Birr. They were involved in shipping tea wine and brandy and were wholesale bottlers,malsters,provision merchants,corn buyers,builders providers,hardware,sawmills,ironmongery,furniture,seeds and manures,growers and exporters of certified seed potatoes.
Their nearest outlets were Ferbane and Banagher and were in direct competition with D.E.Williams in many towns and services.

For people interested in birds there is an amount of hints advice and information to be found under www.birdwatchireland.ie in regard to birds, nestboxes, gardening for birds,bird tables and cats and dogs.
Have a look for yourself and you can download and print off what you fancy.

Best wishes to Rosaleen Glennon and her sister in law Mavis Glennon who are taking a three week break in America. They plan to spend a week in New York and a week in Boston and a third week on a Cruise Ship.
Moore Soccer Club will miss Rosaleen as she is one of their best promoters of their weekly Lotto.

A new guitar man drifted into town yesterday to work at the building of the new power plant and all the old singalongs got an airing last night.Somebody once said that the biggest credit card in the world is a guitar case and there is a lot of truth in it.

The Shannonbridge / Doon weekly Lotto Jackpot was won last night by Liam Keena who collects a cool £10,200 for selecting the four winning numbers.
Congratulations to Liam.

Postcard from Colin Wollaston who is on holiday in China sends greetings to all and thanks Bridie Carry for her letter.Colin is a regular visitor to Shannonbridge for coarse fishing and lives in Wollaston in England.
Colin may be interested to hear that Tony Ellis caught a pike on Lough Ree recently weighing over 18 lbs and Tony's friend Mick Maye caught a 14 lbs pike at Shannonharbour. Both fish were released alive and well.

The weekly Table Quiz in Killeens on Wed 24th March is in aid of funding for the Ludwar Village in Africa and starts at 10pm.
The quiz on Wed 31st March is in aid of funds for the Recorder music group.

Sunday turned out to be a mixed day for the Price family.While Laura Price's new baby was scheduled to be baptized in Dublin Ethel Price and her family were preparing to lay Ethel's husband John Counihan in his final resting place in Inch County Kerry. May he rest in peace.

Noticed an attractive notice offering Piano Lessons for all ages in the Clonmacnois / Shannonbridge area.
If interested contact 086 - 3671774
The music lessons for recorder, tin whistle and clarinet continue
on Wednesday evenings.

Heard that Saint Brigid's Hospital in Ballinasloe has 200 acres for sale with half of it zoned land.
Patrick Kenny was telling about the man that went to Confession and confessed that he stole timber. Was there much asked the priest ?.
Enough to build a bird house was the answer.
Say three Hail Marys for your penance.
And is there more asked the priest?
There was enough to put a new roof on the house.
I see said the priest and is there more ?
There was enough to put a new roof on my brother's house.
Did you ever hear of a Novena asked the priest ?
No said the confessor but if you have a drawing for it I have the timber.

Alo Moran celebrated his birthday on Saturday night.

The Parish Newsletter had A Love Letter yesterday that went -
A young lad is writing a love-letter to his beloved;
"I love you so much. I would go through fire and water for you.
I would climb the highest mountain, swim the widest river.
So I'll come tomorrow evening if it's not raining"

Among the group from Castledaly Manor that visited Shannonbridge yesterday was Donald Wheeler from Sheboygan ( Indian for Thundering River ). Donald is the owner of The Map and Globe Exchange dealing in maps, charts, globes, atlases, travel books and guides etc. His first time in Ireland and is enjoying the visit.
With strong winds and rains over the past few days the Shannon has turned into a Sheboygan in its own rite and has begun to flood onto the callows.

The parish Active Retirement Group have a meeting on next Wednesday @ 2.30 pm with a guest speaker.
Also on Wednesday the Ferbane Active Retirement Group are having their Coffee Morning in the Ursulines Ard Chiarain from 10.30 am.
Ard Chiarain will have Reading and Prayer with the Bible for Lent, on Wednesday nights,March 24th, and 31st from 8pm - 9 pm.
The Holy Hour is in Ard Chiarain from 8pm - 9pm Thursday Night March 25th.
On Friday night in Shannonbridge Church the Stations of The Cross will take place at 7 pm.

Cousin Jimmy Ward was telling us that a cousin of his showed him a cutting from a local paper many years old that listed the attendace at the funeral of his cousin's mother. The list had the names of about 100 men but no women.
Peggy Byrnes was walking up the village on Saturday night when she heard the sound of Drums and music and wondered what was happening. She was witness to Sarah Price on the drums with Louise and Colin Killeen on strings
working out in Prices Parlour. Is Sarah thinking of taking the drums with her on her world trip with Ciara Finn next month ?

What is it like in Kenya ? Father O Hanlon has agreed to give us his read on a number of subjects about life there starting soon in this spot.

Father O Hanlon presented two copies of the Clonmacnois Parish book to the Library last week and on Thursday night both books were taken out on loan. Watch out for the AGM of the Library in the next couple of weeks and consider coming along to give the venture moral and maybe practical support.

Visiting home for the weekend was Ann Marie Keohane who is based in Edinburgh. Both Ann Marie and her boyfriend Jerry Moon found flying with Aer Arann into Galway Airport very suitable and Liam told us it only took just over an hour - well 70 minutes- to get home to Shannonbridge. People tell us they use it to get to Dublin - 30 minutes and avoid all the traffic hassle and parking.

Former residents of Saint Kieran's Park - Joe and Marie Melia and Paddy and Joan Daly made the trip from Athlone on Saturday night for an early Mother's Day meal in The Fort. Yesterday the Fort had three lunch sittings to cater for the Mothers. Glad to see Peggy Maguire Ferbane was one of the celebrants.
Next Saturday the Industrial Heritage Association of Ireland hold their AGM in The Fort at 11 a.m. After formal business is concluded members of the IHAI will study the Shannon Navigation system and visit Blackwater Works and the Dalton Artefacts Center at the Power Plant.
Membership of IHAI is £20 and lunch for members attending is £10.

Only heard over the weekend of the death of Tommy Smullen from Rhode who was of a well known traditional music family and was a brother of Mai Egan in Cloghan. May he rest in peace.

The annual Pioneer Dance was held in Clonfinlough Hall on last Saturday night with music by the Evergreens. Pioneers are a group of people that decide not to drink and take a pledge not to indulge. They also say a daily prayer for the sake of indulgence. A person attending the dance described the band as the same as last year and those attending the dance were the same faces as one would see at the Pattern. An absence of clergy was noted as this annual function was strongly supported by Father Michael Campbell while he was based in Ferbane.

Lily Flannery tells us that English angler Jeff Widdowson and his four brothers have come on fishing holidays for about 25 years basing themselves at Haydeds Hotel.Jeff came twice a year as well as holidaying in Spain. Jeff died on 10th December last and this week his wife family and friends arrived in Haydens to carry out Jeff's last wishes which were to bury his ashes in The River Shannon which they did.
May he rest in peace.

The Irish Times have lots of information about Saint Patrick including a quiz on their website at ireland.com. This is free as is the build up for the Ireland v Italy rugby match tomorrow. Have free services on accommodation, flights, ancestory etc and news headlines.

Ashling Egan sends greetings to everyone and is looking forward to visiting in the summer with her two boys Aedan and Jacob from New York. Ashling is a daughter of Margaret Egan Athlone and of the famous Martin Egan of Aughnacabe and Athlone.
Greetings also from Joe Gironda from New York.
Ken and Betty Smith from Santa Barbara send greetings and Ken tells us that Betty's mother Ma Connolly from Main Street Ballinasloe also had her birthday on Saint Patrick's Day and if she were alive would now be 107 years.

Carmel Bhai (Mc Namara) was on the phone from Brisbane sending greetings to all and birthday greetings to Pat. She tells us that she tunes into this web frequently. Wish there was more news to tell.
Visited Father John Higgins in the priest's retirement home in Ballinasloe last Saturday and found him busy preparing a sermon. Jokingly I said he should buy Bishop Joe Cassidy's book and he turned over These Might Help which is a wonderful collection of suggestions and ideas for each Sunday based over a three year cycle and every priest should have a copy. Father Higgins is in fine form and he was pointing out the new building close by which is being built for Portiuncula retired nuns.

Was I hearing correct last night when an advert on the radio advertising a concert invited us all to come and hear the great songs of Johnny Cash ----
sung by his brother. ?
Good to hear Karl Rock on the phone yesterday speaking from Cork where
a certain Sharon was the queen in Berty;s Parade yesterday. Rumours of tinkling bells in the air in 2005 ?

John Killeen was singing the praises of Kieran Sheehan, Fiona Murphy and Eileen Patterson who staged a wonderful concert in Cherry Hill New Jersey this week. They are scheduled to perform in Dublin in May and the brother Jim and Maureen in Chicago are arranging to be in Dublin for that concert.
Maureen has been babysitting for Brendan and Eileen in New Jersey and am assuming she was at the concert.

Good to hear from Father Pete Kenny of Moore and currently Los Angeles where he is happy working in a parish with a lot of parishioners of Phillipine origin.Tells me he has plans to visit San Diego soon. Was surprized he did not know Father Colm Conlon but he says he will track him down right away.

A glorious sunny Saint Patrick's Day and a day for Pat Joe Kenny Garrymore, Patricia Kenny Saint Kieran's Park, and Pat Killeen Shannonbridge to celebrate their birthdays. Saw Pat Joe Kenny's sisters Agnes and Madge called to visit their brother.

Yesterday was the start of Hot Food at Moran's new Gala store where a tempting selection of food was on offer.You can have a takeaway fry in a neat package and lots more.

Signs of summer with some visitors around. Group of pike anglers from Liverpool crossed over on the fast ferry and hired a cruiser at Carrick-on -Shannon reaching Shannonbridge yesterday after experiencing heavy waves on Lough Ree. Fished in the river out from the old jetty and had some pike the best one weighing 15 lbs caught by Kevin Murphy deadbaiting. The Brisbane angler is still around and Mark Donegan seems to be marking his card for him.
Two people from Florida Ryan Allfrey and Charlene Buckeye stayed over in B+B last night and plan to see Clonmacnois and a number of other places worth seeing in the area today . Ryan was taking his father's advise and drinking the Guinness.
Saw on yesterday's paper that there was a Marching Band Parade in Limerick on Sunday with many bands from America. Lorraine Mc Kenna's friend and her woodwind band were not amoung the prizelist.

This morning local projects were visited by an inspector regarding their application for West Offaly funding. Included were The Library, The Lockhouse Visitor Center, Teamphal Graveyard and Fishing access and amenities. They had already visited ten others when they got to Shannonbridge. Pauric Boland the local co-ordinator for our area was enquiring how Shannonbridge Tidy Towns were doing and saying that with a bit of push we might even win the competition. Think he was a bit surprized that there was no application for funding or had we gone to sleep.

Margaret and Tom Carty had just arrived down from Dublin and were telling us that they had visited Pat Duffy in the Blackrock Clinic after having heart surgery and that he was in great form and was gone home. And to prove it in walked Pat and May. Pat has taken to walking and non alcoholic beer and is looking just mighty.
The local GAA club had a very enjoyable meal and dance in Haydens on Saturday night with the popular North To Alaska group providing the music.
Mickie Mac would have been in his element .
Phone call from a son of Martin Brien at the weekend.He was staying in Ballinasloe and was hoping to take some photographs of the old family home.It is very well presented at present as Aidan Carry has done a great amount of work there in preparation for building a new house on the site.
Watch out - Aidan's mother is off to England in a few days time to visit her mother and daughters Helen and Patricia and their families.

Met an Australian from Brisbane with his Irish girlfriend looking for trout fishing yesterday.Seems she met him while on a world trip and he has come this way. After talking to a few people he is now going to have a go at the pike as trout are very scarce in the river.
Cora Kelly was telling us that her children Mark and Lisa are both on world trips and somewhere around Australia and New Zealand. Good for them and hope they get to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day in style. Lisa might do a bit of a dance if she is asked. Their mother and neighbour Patti Corbett are weekly attenders at the dancing session in Ballinahown Hall on Tuesday night with lots of set dancing.

The two secondary schools in Ferbane Saint Joseph and Saint Saran have amalgamated and it has been decided to hold a reunion of all past pupils of both schools to celebrate the school's contribution to West Offaly.
The reunion will be held on Sat 1st May. Contact 090-6454548 for details.

The last of the Flannery Family from Crevagh was laid to rest on Saturday in Daingean. Katie Farrell was a sister of the late Jimmy and Pat Flannery and Molly Kelly, Nelly Flynn, Margaret Little and Bessie Kelly.
May she rest in peace.

Lorraine Mc Kenna is nuts about the new Shannonbridge Birdwatch see Wednesday Mar 10. She also has seeds and lard cakes and lots more on her mind. Let Dec and Rose deal with her.
Lorraine tells us that Sally Piacentino who is Godmother to her son Joe is heading to Ireland and plans to march with the Woodland String Band in Dublin on Saint Patrick's Day and She claims Sally does not play an instrument.She lives in Cherry Hill as if that explains anything.

Library has a couple of span new prints of the Clonmacnois parish millenium book courtesy of Father O Hanlon. Also in the local history section is The Drum Heritage book with information on the Funeral Route from Ardkeenan to Clonmacnoise. In 1998 the Drum Heritage Group had a Commemorative Walk to Clonmacnois on Sunday 20th Sept and a souvenir brochure used then will be added to our History section shortly.
The Shannonbridge Library are anxious to add old editions of The Moore News to their Local History section. Can anybody help out with this ?

Best wishes to Gerry Casey's Gardening Services offering to restore and rejuvenate lawns, trees, shrubs, hedging and pruning. They offer landscape construction with patios, paving, water features and timber features as well as a complete maintenance service. Thats what it says on his fliers and business cards and you can contact him at 087-6677481. Tell Gerry you heard about them on this website.

Richie Browne the new Postmaster was telling yesterday that one of his Lotto customers had five numbers in the Wednesday Lotto which was worth £1544 and another ticket had four numbers which was worth £59.
Richie and his brother are both interested in the Library and promised to call in on Thursday evening between 7 n 9pm.

Martin Burke tells us that two trushes are regular visitors to their feeding table and on Wednesday he observed one trush gaily dancing up to the feed but a robin spotted him and drove the poor trush away. The two collared doves that Rose wrote about below nest in trees situated between Devines and Burkes gardens.

Weather news for Ireland is available on The Irish Times web under ireland.com.After a glorious few days the promised wind and rain has arrived.
Ken and Betty Smith in California tell us that temperatures in Santa Barbara and San Diego are in the mid eighties and water is scarce. Santa Barbara have twined with Dingle so they will all be over for The Dingle Regatta.
Glad to see that the local papers used the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Press release on the few bob they got from the table quiz in Shannonbridge some weeks ago. Hopefully other people will organize other fund raisers for this worthy cause.

Great to see the start of Birdwatch Shannonbridge from Rose and Dec below.
Rose was in a group of six at a short library meeting last night (30 minutes).
Hopefully more will attend the AGM coming up shortly. A few more people are needed to share the operation of the Library during the time it is open on Thursday evenings from 7 to 9pm.Feel you would like to help ?- then drop in for an hour any Thursday evening and see what is involved.

Wednesday is a busy day with the Active Retirement Group coming together for a quiz at 2.00pm. There is a Library meeting scheduled for 8.00pm in the Health Centre, and a Reading and Prayer with the Bible for Lent in Ard Chiarain also at 8.00pm.
At 7.30pm there is a Mass of remembrance for those bereaved through cancer in Saint Brigid's Hospital Ballinasloe. Later at 10.00pm there is the weekly table quiz in Killeens. Fit them all in.

The postman brought a parcel containing a Daily Boxed Calendar featuring an Irish photograph for each day of the year. For June 21st there is a snap of Mick sitting on a stool behind the bar talking to a customer.
Colin was telling us that Louise entered one of her songs for the Eurovision and got a letter back this week telling her that although her song was not selected for the Irish entry it was in the last 25 songs from which the song was chosen.You can hear it on her website attached.

Moby took me for a walk last evening and remarked on two bright new Litter Bins painted green with Litter Bin and Bruscar (the Irish ) painted in white. On top is a special container for cigarettes.A welcome addition. The older bins in contrast need some brightening up. Moby also remarked on the amount of careless litter on the bridge and beyond.There is a need for someone to take a glove and a carry bag now and then when going on a walk.

Mary Kelly tells us that a new Push Mower has been bought for Shannonbridge Tidy Towns and she hopes to give it a run in the Park this evening. Is this the start of something ? Who wants to push or trim or prune or paint or weed or think ?

Tomorrow starts the ongoing report of what is happening in the bird world as seen by Dec and Rose. Other contributions are welcome. Lorraine Mc Kenna in Pottstown wonders what the Falcons are feeding on and wonders if it is Corncrakes ?

A sign of summer yesterday with the arrival of an Emerald Starline cruiser with Michael Cryan from Leitrim village and Jim Wallace and Mick Drew from Mullingar on board. They certainly picked a great week weatherwise with temperatures in the mid fifties. Cryan and Wallace have pubs in Leitrim village and Mullingar and it was their first venture on the river which they are really enjoying having it all to themselves.

Some weeks ago the Wednesday table quiz in Killeens was in aid of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, Western Road, Cork and raised £246 for their work in South Africa.
They tell us that twenty Euros will care for an orphan for a month. Anyhow to let other people know Father O Connell has written to the local papers to acknowledge the money. Hopefully others may run an event in aid of their cause such as a car booth sale, sponsored walk or fast, finger food party,dog walking etc. Think about some idea yourself and do your bit for Lent. Let us know how you get on.
Their e-mail number is mscpromotion@eircom.net

Best wishes to Pat Duffy Clonmacnois who is recovering from an operation in the hospital in Blackrock. May tells us he is doing fine .Expect Tom and Margaret will call to see him during the week.

Paulien Kemp from Bradford phoned at the weekend enquiring all about Shannonbridge and everyone around. She is off to New York to celebrate her birthday on 17th March. Dave and herself have just returned from Vietnam and Taiwan and missed their chance to book some cheap ferry tickets to Ireland but have no fear they are coming.When in New York I wonder will she see the smash Irish play that has just opened there called EDEN. Don't worry Paulien it is not all Biblical but a shortened version of Edenderry.My brother John and friends went to see it last week and enjoyed it. He now knows the name of every pub in Edenderry.

The Mass on TV yesterday was from Ballinahowen Church with Father Aidan Ryan the Celebrant. The local Youth Choir were featured and young local musicians.
Playing cards in Portumna yesterday a lady asked Jim Mooney and myself where we were from.When we said Shannonbridge she wanted to know if Pat Killeen ever got married. Both of them were in school in Banagher years ago. She now lives in Loughrea and her name is Angela Leahy.

Ard Chiarain Prayer Centre have a Reading and Prayer with the Bible for Lent, on Wednesday nights, March 10th, 24th, and 31st, from 8pm-9pm.The Holy Hour is from 8pm-9pm Thurs Nights, March 11th, and 25th.

Happy Birthday to one of our youngest viewers Nathan Henry in Westport who celebrates his first birthday tomorrow from your Aunt Marie.

A Library meeting has been arranged for next Wednesday evening at 8.00pm in The Health Center. Consider attending or tell your friends.

Sarah Anne Bennett celebrates her 21st Birthday this weekend and hope she has a wonderful party.

Reminder that National Tree Week runs from 7th to 13th March.
The Active Retirement Group met after Mass yesterday and had a cup of tea, a chat and a game of Bingo. Look at the parish bulletin at the weekend as a quiz is scheduled for next week and we hear that it will start at 2.00 pm.Give it a try.

Raghera Beg, The Old Street and the Ballinasloe Road near Shannonbridge are the locations chosen for three more new houses. Roscommon local councilors and County people should have a closer look at the roadway into Ragherabeg and to the Old Street and beyond. In a short time over twenty houses may be built in the area and houses mean votes.Improving these road surfaces might help your chances of a vote. Walkers would also welcome any improvements in these areas as they have become popular safe walkways.

Bridie Carry tells us that Lorraine Mc Kenna from Pottstown Penns USA has just written to her to say that the Mc Kennas are not coming to Shannonbridge this year due to the strong Euro v Dollar. She is still not happy about the Fitzpatricks not being in the village and next time she feels she would like to come in the Spring or September. Do'nt worry Lorraine Kaye and Liam are just a nice walk away and Kay told us that she looks forward to your return and will have you out for a meal in her house.

The Shannonbridge GAA have a Dinner Dance arranged in Haydens Hotel on Friday 12th March. Music by North To Alaska.Tickets from any Committee member.

Death has occured of Patsy Kinsella of Correen and formerly Cappaleitra. See paper for details of removal this evening and burial tomorrow. May the Lord have mercy on his soul. He is survived by his sister Margaret Corcoran to whom we offer our sympaties.

Oliver Hilliard has set a working target for going to print on March 15th with The Irish Golfers Guide to Open Fixtures for April 2004 to March 2005. He is just waiting for information from the last handful of clubs as usual.

Margaret Carty and Tom were in Shannonbridge over the weekend and on March 1st she heard the Cuckoo four times. Martin Burke claims it was a pidgin.

A text message from Darren Finn to his sister Ciara tells briefly that the 14 Skiers from Shannonbridge are in a lovely resort in Austria and having a good break. Hope that is not arms and legs. Darren fell flat on his face when out skiing. Not much more room in text box.

That newly formed Active Retirement Group seem to be really ACTIVE and have a meeting scheduled on Wednesday after 10am Mass in the Community Center and so if you feel like coming along you will be very welcome. Tell a friend

Some staff past and present came together for a meal and a talk and reminesce about Shannonbridge Power Plant over forty years in operation and a number of people shared their thoughs. The one that struck me as the best was a bearded retired member telling about working on the original construction and coming to work one morning after a rather late session. His workmate had prepared a room and a mug of tea for him to help him for the day. The engineer came looking for him and asked his mate where he was. He got the usual waffler of "he might be gone to the toilet or etc".
The engineer persisted and said I know he is in there can't I see him. The mate replied "I'm afraid Mr Perkins if you want to see him you will have to go through me.
Mr Perkins gave up the search.

The Irish Blood Transfusion invite you to give blood in the Emerald Ballroom Ballinasloe on Tues and Wed , 2nd and 3rd March from 4.30 pm to 8.30pm.

The old power plant in Shannonbridge ended production yesterday after almost forty years supplying electricity.The building of the new plant alongside is progressing well and will start producing 150 Meggawatts of electricity by the end of the year.
This finish of production means that no hot water will be going into the Shannon and lots of tench, roach, rudd, bream, hyrids not to mention anglers will miss this.
The good thing is the fishery people have looked at the Hot Water fishing amenity and are working on a plan to make it easier to find and have more room for anglers to use when the larger amount of Hot Water comes on stream.

Trocaire is used by the Irish Bishops to do their bit for the third world.And your bit helps so every household gets a cardboard Trocaire box for putting in the odd coin or note during Lent. To boost the fund a table quiz will be held in Killeens on this Wednesday night 3rd March.Teams of four assembling around 9.30pm. Form a team or come alone.All will be fitted in and enjoy a good night for charity.

The Parish Newsletter yesterday has an article on Laughter and the first line has a quote from Victor Borge that says"Laughter is the closet distance between two people"
The local power plant is about to stop producing electricity and a new Human Resources manager Enda Powell is busy helping staff decide on what to do. Shannonbridge Power Station workers are renowned for putting a nickname on every new comer to the staff and so the Human Resource man is Enda Career. Nice one.
Good to hear Father O Hanlon making use of his recent trip to Kenya using atrick used by the Zulus in catching ring tailed monkeys.These monkeys are popular with Zoos and they also are very fond of melon seeds.So the Zulus cut a hole in a growing melon just large enough for the monkey to get his hand into and grab a handful of seeds.With his paw full of seeds he is unable to get out his hand.So along come the Zulus and sell the monkey to the zoo. The story was used to remind us of temptation.This reminds us that our Parish Priest has promised to write a number of short accounts on life in Kenya as he saw it. Look forward to them.

Father Michael Campbell Abbeylara and late of Ferbane had the sad task of burying his brother Joe in Dromod over the weekend.Sympathies to Father Michael and the Campbell family and may Joe rest in peace.
Maisie McEvoy nee Lucas known affectionately asGranny Mac died on February 24th and was buried yesterday.Maisie lived in Ballinakill Eyrecourt and was from a family of ten.She also had a family of ten to which we offer our sympathy and say a prayer for her soul.

On Saturday morning Shannonbridge looked a bit like Haiti with the amount of Garda everywhere including a police boat on the river.It was all revealed later when two coaches arrived with a motor bike escort bringing a group of European parliament officials to lunch in the Fort Restaurant having visited Birr Castle and Clonmacnois as part of their outing to Laois / Offaly. Good to see them using the facility and the ones that did not travel missed out as a magnificent feast had been prepared.

Recent frost and no rain recently have caused the Shannon floods to ease back to almost summer levels causing many anglers to have a try over the weekend. Gerry Casey had a pike in the bay where the new jetty is but hopes to do better when the fish are more settled. An angler from near Shannonharbour called in to tell us that he had caught two pike 10 pounds and 12 pounds weight and selected a few lures from which he carefully removed the price tags in case the pike or the wife might see them.