Home from Japan for a short break is Niamh Quinn who travelled home with her friend Ciara Ryan last week to attend Shane Ryan's funeral. Hopefully when she returns she will share her thoughts of Japan with us all.
Notice that the Furze have started to bloom and the early colour has that fresh golden appearance.
Yesterday was Valentine Day in Ireland. Noticed the start of it on Saturday in Ballinasloe with a group of people queuing outside the florist shop. Then last night the romantic spirit broke out and the Fort Restaurant was full to capacity and all the guests were treated well with a red rose for the ladies and a complimentary drink. Was not present but Kieran and Mary gave us a great run down on the menu. The main course had a wide choice including Antelope and Wild Boar. Old Valentine added a hand by causing a power blackout from 8 to 9 in the village. And in the weekly Shannonbridge / Doon Lotto draw the first number drawn was 14 which is Valentine Day.
In the paper they report that 450 Deer are being culled in the Phoenix Park. The easiest way to reduce the number is to shoot them and they wanted to let the people know what was going on.
The Irish Times tells us that a carved replica of the Cross of The Scriptures in Clonmacnois is being created by sculptor Brendan Mc Gloin in Donegal Town using sandstone. The five-ton work has been commissioned by the Irish business community in Portland Oregon on the West Coast of the United States of America. The work commenced last November and will be completed in a year. The Cross will be taken by ship to New York and follow the old Oregon Trail to Portland where it will be erected in Mount Calvery Cemetery by Saint Patrick's Day 2006 as a Famine memorial. The original Cross was erected in Clonmacnois around 912 AD for King Flann. The woman depicted on the Cross is Mary Magdalene and there are about twenty panels to be carved. The work done so far is quite impressive.
Sad to hear of the unexpected death of Grace Josephine Dollery, Ferbane, seventeen year old eldest daughter of Philip and Imelda and granddaughter of Brian and Josephine Kenny from Clondelara, Shannonbridge. Viewing is at the house this evening with removal on Wednesday morning for Requiem Mass in Ferbane at 11 o/c and burial afterwards in Clonmacnois. May she rest in peace.
And the weather. After light frost last night, today has remained dry with the sun breaking through. Temperatures 6C to 9C or 43F to 48F. Frost again tonight with patchy rain in the West.
Keep in mind that a Healthy Communities Meeting planned for Shannonbridge Hall on tomorrow Wednesday night has been cancelled as a mark of respect to the late Josephine Dollery.
Table Quiz in aid of the Library at 9.45 pm in Killeens on Wednesday night.