Sorry to hear of the death of Joe Wynne, a brother of Mrs Keena, while I was away in America. Oliver Darcy was telling us that Joe lived with the Keenas for a number of years and went to school locally. During the holidays Joe worked drawing stones under contract to the Offaly County Council during the building of the road to Clonmacnois and he borrowed a horse cart from Darcys as the rate paid depended on the cart size.

Also missed the death of Margaret Temple nee Kenny from Clonburren. Margaret and her husband Michael had been living near Athlone. May they rest in peace.

More recent deaths this week occurred with the passing of Martin Boland Ferbane who was injured during a skiing holiday about ten years ago and has been in a coma in Tullamore hospital since.

The death occurred in Tuam of the well known Galway Footballer Sean Purcell and his burial was at the end of August.

More recent deaths were those of Mrs Tom Bannerton of Ard Mhuire and Dunlo Street who was about eight weeks short of 100 years and was buried today. Kathleen Doolan, nee Carroll from near the Blueball was also buried today .Kathleen was well known in the Shannonbridge area and was related to the Darcy family. Another recent death was that of Tom Kelly from Clonulty who was buried last Wednesday. Rest in peace.

The Galway Races was held over three days this week and what do you do when Shane Killeen telephones home with a tip for a horse. Worse still when the horse is named Rose of Killeen and its owners are the Killeen Castle Stud Syndicate.

Well you back it of course and of course it wins at 10 / 1 odds.

Congratulations to two of our local boys who have celebrated their 21^ST Birthdays recently. William Keena, son of Noel and Anne celebrated ten days ago and Shane Kelly son of Sean and Mary Kelly celebrated his birthday last weekend.

Today is an important day in European soccer qualifying rounds and Ireland have a crunch match against France in Landsdowne Road later this evening.

Michael Traynor from Tara County Meath was on holiday on the Shannon for a few days recently and enjoyed the fine weather and the relaxation. He told us that he had bought an old antique gramophone player recently and wondered if anybody around might have some 78 Records in good nick which they might be willing to sell. He is contactable at 086 – 2607417. Tara is in the news recently as there are plans to build a highway through Tara where the High Kings of Ireland once reigned

Records he tells us can vary in price from three Euros up to twenty Euros.

Saint Ciaran’s Feast day falls on September the 9^th and Mass will be celebrated in Clonmacnois that evening. See Parish Bulletin for times and also for details of Pattern Sunday on the 18^th September.

Great to see Noreen Kitt and her husband home on holiday and in time to celebrate her mother’s 80 th birthday last week.

Bridie Carry told us that her husband Charlie is on holiday with their daughter Patricia in England for the past couple of weeks and is enjoying himself.

Recent news is the Post Office in the village is finding a new home in Moran's Shop and wishing Linda and Dara all the best with their undertaking.

The weather had been brilliant for a number of days and Mick Killeen took advantage of it to take Tom and Margaret Carty for a trip to Banagher on Monday. On Tuesday the sun was shining again when he took some of Mick and Nancy Doherty family who are visiting from England on a trip to Shannonharbour.

Today has been overcast and there was a promise of rain for today and tomorrow. Temperature yesterday was forecast for 70 F in the midlands. The river level is low and it is good to see a number of anglers in the village this week.

Brian and Dympna Carroll have repainted their Ely House Guesthouse and it looks marvellous.

On last Sunday a Pike fishing Match was held at Shannonbridge. It was organised and stewarded by the Irish Federation of Pike Angling Clubs and 65 anglers fished and caught a total of 130 pike. The fish were weighed when caught by thirty eight sets of weighing scales and all the fish were returned alive. Anglers were allowed to fish four miles upstream or downstream from the village bridge in a five hour match.

Winner was John Shaughnessy with 8 fish weighing 40 Lbs 12 Ozs.

Second was Godfrey Donoghue with 16 pike weighing 35 Lbs 12 Oz.

Third was Alan Hensley with 9 pike weighing 30 Lbs 7 Oz.

Fourth was Joe Coleman with 11 pike weighing 29 Lbs 3 Oz.

Fifth was Roy Keyes with 5 pike weighing 24 Lbs 3 Oz.

Competitions like these are used to select a team of five to represent Ireland in International Matches.

If you would like to fish their competitions contact Ray Bergin (086) 2627621

Good to see the Active Retirement Group back to their Tuesday morning meeting after Mass at 10.00AM. They enjoyed their visit to Belvedere House in Mullingar recently and are already planning another trip very soon.