Raffled a basket of Easter Goodies over the weekend which realised 306 Euro for the Missionaries of The Sacred Heart - African Aids project. Thanks to everyone that supported the raffle. The winner was a Paddy Fox with a mobile phone address. Noticed the name Wallace on the chart on Thursday night and on enquiry it turned out to be a son of Henri Wallace that worked on the building of the original power plants in Shannonbridge over forty years ago. Henri married a sister of Ciaran Kelly, the Ceili Band man. His son told us that Henri is in great form and living outside Athlone.
Easter brought many visitors to the village both on land and on water. It was good to see Ken and Betty Smith and their daughter Linda from Santa Barbara take a week to visit family and friends. Unfortunately the week ends today, but they have plans to stop by again in September. Last night they noted that they missed the quiz for Uganda last week and left a generous donation for the orphanage. Linda had her own pet shop in California for years and when she saw Moby, she told us that Lowlamd terriers are subject to skin problems and she recommended Lipiderm either in capsule or liquid form. Speaking of Moby, yesterday morning he was basking in the sun outside the door, when suddenly he spotted his hairdresser coming out from Morans shop across the way. Quick as a flash he headed off to his favourite hiding spot, as he is not fond of haircuts or washing. But he had a ball walking with a number of visiting children over the weekend.
Other welcome visitors for Easter were Noel Sloane and his daughter Dervilla who were visiting family and friends in the general area.
Derek Evans in the Irish Times angling notes yesterday features a photograph of Alan Steward holding a pike weighing 46 LB. Caught in Oaks trout fishery in Derry, which if ratified will be a new Irish Record. River pike are fitter and so do not weigh as much as those caught in a lake. Yesterday our own Steve Nell had a go pike fishing near his home on the River Suck. Using a dead roach and fishing on the bottom he caught a beautiful pike that weighed 24 LB. 12 Ounces. He weighed it and returned it alive after taking a photograph on his digital. He promised you a copy.