Father Peter Kenny from Moore and Los Angeles was on the phone for an Easter greeting and told us that he is in good form and hopes to come home on holiday in June. He was enquiring about his namesake Patrick Kenny, America. Yesterday Patrick was in Shannonbridge with John Hardiman who is home on holidays from London and both are in top form. It was good of John to bring along the photograph of Mrs Mulvey and lucky enough our webmaster Mike was home and stuck it on this page for us. See below. The photograph was taken just upstream from the bridge, which can be seen in the background.
The death is reported of the death of famed Irish fiddle player Sean McGuire, who had a famous Ceili band and in the 1960s and 1970s he toured with Joe Burke the accordionist, and with Barney McKenna of the Dubliners.
Weather was glorious for the Easter and the flower arrangement in the church was again a work of art with about seven arrangements and the windows also decorated. Well done to Mary Kelly and helpers if any.
Easter called for a haircut so on Saturday morning I got a lift to Ballinasloe with Sister Alocoque to visit Joe Keogh, the Barber and was lucky enough to get squeezed in before lunch. Went for a walk and visited Father John Higgins who is in great form in the retirement home. Tells me that he is kept busy and celebrates daily Mass six days a week, which has a congregation of about twenty people from the locality. Recently this has doubled in size as the nuns from the nearby retirement home attend on three mornings and he goes over to celebrate Mass with them on the other three mornings. Called up to see Ciaran Flannery but he had been discharged from Portiuncula hospital. Gemma Henry is still there and please remember her in your prayers. Was lucky to get a lift home with Bishop Joe Cassidy who is in good form again.
Death occurred over the weekend of Mary Martin, mother of Marian McManus and funeral arrangements are on paper today. May she rest in peace.
Well done to the local Offaly Engineer Willie Ryan for arranging to have a skip placed on the quayside for the use of boats. On Saturday evening I noticed that it was full and straddling the top of the skip was a timber frame which I doubt came from a boat.
The Library is open again on this Thursday night 7 to 9 PM. The table quiz this week is in aid of the Alive free newspaper.
The Millennium Cross of daffodils was in full bloom for the Easter on Lamb Island upstream from the bridge.
Saint Patrick's night in Shannonbridge was marked with the removal of a First Aid kit and a Fire Extinguisher from their housing on the floating jetty.
And speaking of Patrick's Day it was great to see some of the photographs taken by Tom and Margaret Carty during their recent visit to Boston and the New York parade photos which had great views of the city and close up views of Gene and Mrs Carty and Chris Price bedecked in big hats for the occasion and looking mighty well.