Monday was a day for travelling. Colin and I set off in the middle of The Dawn Chorus for Shannon Airport to meet the brother John arriving in from America. For once we were too early and so took the advantage to have a Take Five breakfast in Shannon Airport. We were back in Shannonbridge before noon and heard that The Bargeman Brian O Meara was taking his barge up to Ballinasloe and John Mick, John Toher and I went along for the trip on a lovely sunny afternoon. We found that the barge moves along very smoothly with very little disturbance of the water. The River Suck is well marked for navigation and we only met about four boats between Shannonbridge and Ballinasloe. We were surprised at the number of anglers along the way and about five boats had been used to take them to their favoured location. There were five cars at Correen Ford.

Not a great deal of bird life apart from the Swallows flying low over the water Which Brian remarked was a sign of rain. Saw a few couples of Swans who look a bit confused as many of them were sitting on the bank side. Possibly the recent drop in the water level was the cause. At Reilly’s Ford a Crane flew up gracefully from the river side and a little further on it’s mate was sitting on a nest – again on the bank side.

There was a great view of the houses from the barge such as the new houses in Ragherabeg, Coughlan’s house on the Galway side and houses at Creggan and Correen. Coming near the Lock at Poolboy we met two Ballinasloe river people who had ran aground in their small cruiser. Brian showed his skill in manoeuvring the barge so that a rope was tied on to the smaller craft and he reversed the barge to get them afloat again.

Going through the Lock was a first time experience for me and at the inlet to the Lock the river has a bed of rock and the actual river was flowing fast there. There is a good view of The Pines and the two Churches in Ballinasloe from the Lock. Home by car for a nap.

The Active Retirement Group had about fifteen people at their Tea and Scone meeting after Mass on Tuesday morning. Sad news that Pamela Mc Dermott is in Tullamore Hospital with an ankle injury and the meeting wished her a speedy recovery.

Dates to keep in mind are the 29^th May for a Eucharistic Procession after Mass. This is the first procession for a number of years and for this year will be held in the church grounds.

Sister Maura Moran reminded us that the annual procession to Clonmacnois takes place on Sunday 11^th June.

The Active Retirements have set a provisional date of 14^th June for their member’s outing.

Weather has been very good for the past ten days or more with not a drop of rain until today. Temperatures have been mainly 13C / 55F and even warmer at times.