Met three ladies from Philadelphia who are on a fast five day tour of Ireland. Suggested that they visit Clonmacnois and they never heard of it. They had heard of Pottstown but did not know Lorraine Mc Kenna.

Big news of the week in the village was the knocking of the two houses adjacent to Nugent’s Butcher Shop. The owner has plans to build four apartments on the site.

The house next to Nugents was once home to Manus O’Donnell, the teacher,

Sergeant Joe Flood and his wife Minnie, the Cunningham family who moved to Ragherabeg, Jim and Rose Coakley and family, Frank and Mrs O’Shea, who moved to Clonfinlough, and Tom and Mrs O’Shea who now live in Clonburren.

Some of the people that lived in the adjoining house were the Denny Hayes family,

Now in Kilkenny, Jim Higgins, teacher who moved to Killiegh and died a few years ago,

And the late Bill and 'Babs Gleeson.

Perhaps other people know of other families that lived there and which we can record.

Weather has turned a little colder with wind and rain in recent days which caused the river level to rise four inches in one day. Temperature 8C / 46F to 10C / 50F on one d

Bit more warmer and sunnier at present but the wind remains.

Colin and Niamh took the boat out for a week on the river and were mostly on Lough Ree and on the river downstream to Meelick so far.

Tonight at 8 pm there will be a special Mass in Shannonbridge for the late Pope John Paul 11. Still no news on any plans to commemorate his visit to Clonmacnois in 1979.

The Dockerys in Ferbane had a popular drapery shop in Ferbane for many years .John Dockery died many years ago and the death notices in to-day’s Irish Times tell us that his relic “Babs” Dockery has died in Dublin aged 97 years and will be buried in High Street graveyard tomorrow after Mass in Dublin. Remains expected to arrive for 2.30 pm Saturday.

The English Grand National will run a little bit late tomorrow to cater for the wedding of Camelia and the Prince. This morning the TV’s were tuned to the funeral of the Pope.

Shannonbridge Potteries are busily turning out mementoes of the wedding and of the late

PopeJohn Paul 11.

The table quiz in Killeens on next Wednesday night is in aid of flowers for the Church funds and starts at 9.45 pm.

Try and come to the Library on next Thursday night 7 to 9 pm.