News has been announced of the death of John Doherty who was once Minister for Justice. He had a brain haemorrhage while holidaying in Donegal some days ago. He will best be remembered for the famous phone tapping of reporter’s telephones many years ago. May he rest in peace.

The Doon / Shannonbridge Lotto Jackpot will reach 4000 Euros for the next draw on Monday night.

It was good to have Michael Burke and family over for a week holiday and there was a serious amount of fishing carried out. He was home to see Shannonbridge play in very windy conditions against Pullagh on Friday evening and earn another draw. Martin Burke told us that it took him 150 Minutes to get from Shannonbridge to the ferry port in New Ross and he was held up in a traffic jam for longer than that when he reached England.

Interesting letter on the paper recently from John O’Halloran from Tullamore who was horrified that Superquinn were advertising the fact that they had sold the first wild salmon caught on the River Nore. He continues by criticizing the Irish Government policy of allowing drift netting at the mouth of our rivers. The number of wild salmon caught by rod and line continues to drop off and why is the drift netting allowed to continue?. Get my drift.

Over the Bank Holiday weekend it seems somebody stole a car belonging to Tara Fox on Saturday night from outside Farrell’s house. On Sunday night two rods were stolen from the back of Killeen’s Bungalow belonging to a Hemming's party.

Next Tuesday the Shannonbridge Active Retirement group head for Kilkenny for a days outing with a stop at Stradbally on the way. A brother of Kay Fitzpatrick has agreed to come along and provide music and song for the journey. The group will host a stop over for about fifty Active Retirees from Tuam a week from Saturday.

Enjoyed a very pleasant fiftieth wedding anniversary Mass for cousin Andy Lawlor and his wife Mary from Four Roads about a week ago. Afterwards a reception was held in Athleague and it was good to see all his sisters and brother present and also the Bestman and Bridesmaid who were witnesses to the wedding 50 years ago.

A teenager from Moore called in at the weekend looking to buy a book and she took a book that was not required in the Library as it had duplicates. She sounded to be very interested in the Shannonbridge Library and promised to come along some Thursday night from 7 to 9 pm.

The Irish soccer team play the Faroe Islands tomorrow night after playing a 2 - 2 draw with Israel on last Saturday night.