There was a large photograph on the Irish Independent yesterday of a group of people running on Croagh Patrick. Included was Cathal Creggs, brother of Michael Creggs. When I met Michael this morning he told me that it was a sponsored run up and down Croagh Patrick which was held to raise funds for Osteoporosis. But this gang did not just run up and down once. Over a period of 18 hours they ran up and down the mountain nine times. Beat that Saint Patrick. So far they have collected sponsorship of over 40,000 Euro but as they say on radio the lines are not yet closed. Contact Cathal or Michael .

Michael also told me that Betty and he have decided to place their popular two story four bed roomed self catering premises beside the Health Center in Shannonbridge on the market. The Auctioneers that have charge of the sale are Remak in Athlone. It has a guide price of 300,000 Euro and the contact person in Remak is Tina. Telephone 087-6527725.

This weekend Cary Thornhill joins up with his daughter Kate to cycle from Mizan Head to Malin Head in an effort to raise funds for the Uganda Orphanage where Kate worked voluntarily last year. They will be cycling from the southern point in Kerry to the northern point in Donegal. Watch out for them mid week and consider sponsoring them. Seems every Euro is worth ten in Uganda.

Best wishes to Father Paul Keane who is retiring. Father Keane has been ministering in Moore and Clonfad for about fifteen years and he retired on his 75^th birthday. He celebrated a God sent evening Mass every Sunday evening at 7 pm and last Sunday as he said farewell he told us that his replacement was also going to continue the Sunday evening Mass.

Heard that John Rosney of the ‘One to One’ group has been lucky in the scratch card business and recently appeared on The Winning Streak television programme where he won 37,000 Euros. The best of luck to him in his win.

Mary Burke told us that Kilroes of the Lockhouse were cousins of the Kilroes mentioned here recently.

Good to see Mike Winrow back fishing in Shannonbridge after a seven year break. He enjoyed a good ten days of fishing.

Another visiting angler Mick Wright was enquiring if we remembered Bob Cotterill and Len Scott who were constant visitors to Shannonbridge for years. Mick told us that about a month before he came over Len Scott’s daughter telephoned him to let him know that her Dad had died. May he rest in peace.

Ray Walshe from Clonlyon Belmont has temporarily stopped producing mushrooms and has started selling garden teak furniture including table’s chairs benches garden-lights and flower pots from his premises in Clonlyon and offers Free Delivery. Tel 086-8289982.

Wishing him luck on his new venture.

Attended a very enjoyable Mass of Thanksgiving for Canon Sean Cunney on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee in the Priesthood in The Hodson Bay Athlone and was delighted to meet the clan especially the San Diego representatives of Doug, Rita and Megan. Tried to write down Father Sean’s Grace but did not catch it all……………. Lord as You once Blessed the Loaves and the Fishes,

Lord Bless the Cooks and the Dishes,

And as … ?

The sudden death of Joe Flannery about ten days ago came as a shock. Joe or Little Joe lived in Banagher almost directly across from Hough’s Pub. He attended the Shannonharbour Barge Rally on July 3^rd and by midweek Mrs Hough noticed that his van had not moved. She phoned around and contacted the Gardai. He was found dead in the house and is buried in High Street.. May he rest in peace.

Val Joyce was giving out saints feast days on his radio program as is normal. I paid more attention when he mentioned Saint Killen’s feast day as July 1^st. By coincidence a letter and photographs arrived from a German couple who visited here and Clonmacnois in May and told that they were living very close to Wartburg where the cathedral there is dedicated to Saint Killen.