Visitors might like to make note of the fact that Ireland is about to changeover speed limits from Miles Per Hour to Kilometres Per Hour starting on January 20th. There is a special website available for further information under www.gometric.ie
The papers had the story over the Christmas that over 100 people a day are still exchanging old Irish money at the Central Bank in Dublin, three years after the Euro was introduced.
There is £310 Million still missing. Ten million came in last year. If you have some old money and want to change it over then send it by registered post to Tellers Section, Central Bank of Ireland, Dame Street, Dublin.
That new word TSUNAMI arrived over the Christmas. Brian on the canal barge at the new jetty wonders what would happen if the area if the quaywall at Athlone gave way.
Cousin Frances and her daughter Emer from the Isle of Man this year spent Christmas with the Grenhams in Creagh and they organized a lovely Mass in the house for the late Jack Kiley, Franes' husband. Over a welcome cup of tea afterwards the celebrant John Killeen Toher told about a young Polish priest that was working in an American parish. One year he went to visit Rome and met some friends that arranged for him to concelebrate Mass with the Pope in his private chapel. After the Mass the Pope took down a box and gave each of the co-celebrants a Rosary Beads as a present. The young Polish priest asked the Pope if he would pray for his bishop. The Pope took another Rosary Beads from the box and gave it to the priest telling him to give the Beads to the Bishop and tell him to pray for himself.
John Kinlough from London was home for Christmas and visited Shannonbridge. He was telling that he visits Mickie Larkin and that Mickie is in great form. Larkins lived where Stevie Kenny's house is situated. Mickie Larkin has been in London for many years and suffers from very poor sight. He visited Shannonbridge in the last couple of years.
Which reminds me that over the Christmas I spoke with Hugh Gough from Cavan whose sight has disimproved greatly in the past few years. Hugh worked with the Fisheries and about thirty years ago took on an enormous task of reseaching and producing fishing maps for river and lakes around Ireland which are still popular and used by fishermen around Ireland today. Remember that when Hugh was in the Shannonbridge area working on the maps he volunteered one evening to give a talk on fishing to a group of children and adults. He invited questions afterwards and some child asked Hugh where was the best place to fish and Hugh replied "where some English fisherman has been fishing". English visiting anglers generally feed the fishing area with meal and worms and maggots etc and fish come to the party.
Hugh was telling me that his favourite water in Ireland is Killykeen Lake just outside of Cavan town. He has not been at Killykeen for over two years as his friend that used to take him out to Killykeen is now on dialysis. Lets hope somebody brightens his new year and takes Hugh to Killykeen.