Enjoyed the house station at Dick and Doc's in Oughterard last week. They have about 35 houses in their area and everyone was invited. Some 22 people accepted and the evening started with Confessions when Father Willie Walsh arrived about 7.30pm. Mass followed with everybody within spittin distance of the priest. Afterwards we had tea and sandwiches and /or a drink and chatted until 11.00 when the gathering dispersed. Was talking to one of the neighbours Louie Corbett and was asking him if he was any relation of Pat and Tom Corbett from the famous Aughrim Slopes Band. He never heard of them. He once had Corbetts shop in Galway and he is a very fresh 94. Louie plays the Cello and he is attending a Philosophy course in Galway Uni. at present travelling with Doc, who at one time played a Cello, I think.
Good to hear that Ken and Betty and their daughter Linda from California are hitting Ireland for a week at the end of March.
Some fifteen members of the Shannonbridge Active Retirement Group are having a three day break in the Galway Bay Hotel. It sounds a great deal with a sight seeing bus provided and music dancing and a table quiz at night. Hope they are well geared up for the table quiz in Killeens on Wednesday night which is the yearly fundraiser for the Social Services and Sister Alacoque in Ballinasloe.
Belated Happy Birthday to Mrs Tess Coughlan on her big big O birthday last Saturday. It was a great celebration with friends and family having a meal in The Fort and the celebrations continued in the house that evening / night and into Sunday. Bridie Carry missed out on the fun at the weekend. It turned out that a Godchild William was receiving his Confirmation in Birr on Saturday and Charlie and Bridie went to Birr for the weekend with Paul and family. Hear that twelve year old William cannot wait to go to Secondary school as he is mad about chemistry.
Neal Robertson won a weekend holiday for two in Paris in a raffle recently and is taking his parents Michael and Aine along. His sister Aimee has decided to stay in Shannonbridge while they are away.
The Library session this week is on Thursday night from 7 to 9 pm. Try and come along.
Attended the Stations of The Cross last evening and almost twenty people attended. Father Frank has a neat presentation and if you want to attend next week check the newsletter.