Three motorcycle riders from Derby Trevor Nixon, Steve Burford and Lou Middleton stayed in Shannonbridge overnight last night and brought greeting from six angling friends who stayed in Shannonbridge for their angling holidays about 25 years ago and returned for many a year after.
So greetings to John Sandell, Ian Mc Adam, Derek Spilsbury, David Smith, Derek Cox and Steward Brooks known as "The Swoop" and hope to see you back in Shannonbridge soon.
At Mass on Sunday Father O Hanlon announced that the Pope was not coming to Ireland this year. This means that he will be missing out on the Annual Pattern in Clonmacnois scheduled for 3.00 pm on Sunday the 19th September. This day will be used as the official comemmoration of the Holy Father's visit to Ireland 25 years ago. Arch-bishop Sean Brady and several other bishops are expected to attend. Bishop O Reilly has set up a group of seven priests to organize the event. They would encourage groups to walk to the event and already The Drum Heritage Group have committed themselves to do the burial route from Drum via Ardkeenan ( The hill of crying )where the ancient burial groups caught the first sight of Clonmacnois. When they reached the River Shannon at Nure if it was dark, there was a field there where they would keen or caoin the dead corpse they carried all night before crossing the river in daylight for the burial.
The Drum Parish history book in the Shannonbridge Library has more. Extra carpark space will be required and stewards.