Some recent deaths of note in the area.

Patrick Gaffey, Clerhane, son of the late Pat Gaffey died on Monday 19^th September was a brother of Brian and Maria. Patrick and Maria had come to live in Clerhane when their late father built a new home here some years ago. The Requiem Mass was celebrated last evening and cremation takes place today.

Johnny Murray, Oldtown, Athlone and Kelso Garage, Ballinasloe died in University Hospital, Galway on Wednesday. Remains will be removed from his home this evening with funeral after Mass tomorrow.

The death has occurred of Myra Madden, nee Lynch in Galway. Myra was a teacher in Shannonbridge about 25 years ago.

May they all rest in peace.

Tidy Towns results for Shannonbridge and other towns and villages are available under www.tidytowns.ie Have a read on what the judge has to say about the village and where we gained the nine marks. Shannonbridge is listed under County Offaly.

Bridie Carry tells us that her daughter Patricia has found a satellite photo of Shannonbridge under a googleearth website..Have a look .

On Tuesday it was reported that an unknown angler caught 17 tench at the Hot Water outlet but the unknown turned out to be Cliff Myatt. See next weeks fish report.

Thirteen active retirees from Shannonbridge went to Galway last Wednesday for the day.

The bus arrived in Eyre Square at 11.00am and we agreed to meet at 3.00pm.Most of the group were bent on shopping and looking around. I went to have a good luck at the Cathedral and enjoyed the stone building, windows, large Stations of the Cross and the small chapel of perpetual adoration which had about thirty people at prayer. Afterwards I found the Regional Hospital where a Nora Murray is a patient. Father Paddy Murray was telling me early in the week about her, Seems that my mother and her father were first cousins. She was in intensive care and not allowed visitors. Thought that Johnny Murray was in the same hospital but alas that day he was dying in the other hospital.

Afterwards I visited Kenny’s Bookshop for the first time and found it fascinating with a small area dedicated to books and paintings with cleverly worked signs luring one to the next floor and again to the third floor. Was not able to find a painting signed by Dorothy Cunney Gilbert. Reading the paper when we got home I was surprised to read that Kenny’s are to close this shop and intend to open a premises to display the paintings somewhere near the Docks. It appears that most of the book sales are over their website at present. Sorry I forgot to note the address but try kennybools.ie or com.

Then I visited a fishing tackle shop on Shop Street. Had a good chat with the owner who brought me out to show the pedestrianised street and the five inch square blocks laid on sand. He thought that they were a disaster and that many a lady in high heels had taken a tumble while walking on these blocks. The centre of the street has been reset in cement. When I asked him what was happening in Eyre Square, which looks like a bombed out area he told me that a contractor had been given a contract to carry out an update to Eyre Square but after having a few workers there for a while the contractor pulled out at 4.00am taking his gear and leaving the place looking a mess.

The owners son explained all the wild duck etc feeding in peace on the River Corrib. The local gun club buy these birds every year and release them on the Corrib in the city. After a while they get fed up with city life and find refuge on some lake or pond in the area. I suppose our kind sportsmen then shoot them. Was surprised to hear that he has often used the new rifle ranges built on the bog between Cloghan and Tullamore.

Next a visit to a very fancy looking souvenir shop and was delighted to see a lovely display of Shannonbridge featured on its own stand just inside the door. Charlie Hoystead says that the shop is called The Treasure Chest.

The bus set off for an hours visit to Spiddal at 3.00pm. On arrival I found a pub with a food served sign displayed and I asked a man smoking outside the door if they served tea or coffee. He said that they did and to go in and he would be with me in a minute. Typical old fashioned pub with a long bar and three dividers. Two televisions were in operation at either end with different programmes. Some years ago Poitin was sold legally and when I enquired if he had Poitin for sale he told me to come back nearer to Christmas. When I explained about the legal product with 30 % proof one of the customers assured me that their Poitin was 100 % proof. The mug of tea was tea.

The bus stopped at Standuns shop for a short while. This is a shop dedicated to tour buses. Bridie Carry fitted on a blue cardigan and looked into the mirror but later she said she bought a red coloured one.

On to Flannerys Hotel for an arranged dinner at 6.00pm which was served promptly and was very welcome. During the meal our bus driver Patsy Naughton from Taughmaconnell was telling us about a patient in Saint Brigit’s Mental Hospital who had the habit of standing inside the wall of the hospital and casting an imaginary rod across the road alongside and then reeling in. Another big cast and a slow reeling in. A woman passing along the footpath stopped and asked him what he was doing. I’m fishing was his reply.

“And do you fish all day she asked”?

“No Mam ” he replied “in the evening I go down to Staunton’s Pub for a few pints”.

She passed on and after a few yards she felt sorry for the fisherman and she went back and gave him a few bob and asked him had he caught many today.

“No Mam” he replied “You are the first one today”

The annual Ballinasloe Fair and Festival takes place over nine days this year and commences on October 1^st.

Met Mary Ann Molloy who is married to Edward Frase and live in Maryland USA. Mary is doing some research for her family tree. Mary Ann is a daughter of the late Peter Molloy, Clonfinlough and her mother was Delia Bridget Naughton relations of Naughtons Garage Ballydangan.Peter Molloy died in 1975 aged 83 years. Mary Ann had four brothers Martin, Peter, Kieran and Edward.

Met two couples from Durban South Africa this week who are enjoying a sightseeing trip around Ireland for the first week and a leisurely cruise on the Shannon with a cruiser this week. The family name Rea is of Irish origin.