Geoff Cox, the host of Cox's Big Break television show in Melburne Australia filmed in the area yesterday. Brendan Smith from Silverline Cruisers Banagher provided and piloted one of their cruisers that took Geoff and his film crew on a river trip to Clonmacnois where they went ashore to visit Clonmacnois and film.Brendan and I took the cruiser back to Shannonbridge. Starting out the sky was overcast but had turned sunny by the time we reached Clonmacnois. So they refilmed the Shannonbridge bit with Geoff going on board and heading upstream. Met three anglers on route and they were interested in filming swans and cattle and sheep. The producer was keen to get to the Whispering Arch and did not appear to be interested in any local history along the route. They had stayed and dined in The Wineport on the previous night and were full of praise for the restaurant and amenities. Charlie Hoysted had prepared a special mug for Geoff Cox in his Shannonbridge Pottery and he was delighted with it.
Talked to a holidaymaker on the jetty yesterday morning who had dined in The Fort the night before. He enjoyed the meal and was surprized that the resturant was empty when he got there and within a short space of time it was full to capacity in a short space of time.
Our friend Leann Brady from San Francisco and her friend Richard have used Ely Guesthouse in Shannonbridge as a base for seeing around the locality. So far they have visited Clonmacnois and Galway and taken a trip on the Shannon with Colin. Paudge Bennett was playing in Killeens on Tuesday and Wednesday and Pat Corbett and Colin to an Irish Session in Main Street Ballinasloe last night. Their pace and attitude is just right - taking it easy and not rushing around.
Yesterday a group of Welsh students and teachers vsited the village Tourist Office and the Library and showed great interest in the working of both.They are based in Crank House in Banagher and were studying Rural Development. Pat Keoghan outlined the system and explained how the library has built into a 9,000 book collection in a short time. Opening hours are on Thursday from 7 til 9.
This weekend will have a Scotch flavour about it for a large group of friends who plan to attend
Karl Mc Coy's Stag Party in Glasgow Scotland. I suppose the next thing we will hear is that a gang are going to New York to do some Christmas shopping.
Good to hear from Father Pete Kenny telling us he has lost his way. That is he has failed to find this website http://www.shannonbidge.net Pass it around.