Christmas Day turned out glorious with temperatures of 12C / 54F and Clonmacnois was well worth the visit. Noticed on the way there that the river level had eased back and Brian of The Barge tells us that it is 3.24 Metres this Tuesday. I noticed the Egan headstone was very clear and the Futcher family may be interested in the wording.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, Have mercy on the soul of

Kieran Egan, who died on November 27^th 1896, aged 65 years.

And his wife Annie Egan nee Kelly, who died on March 4^th 1912, aged 81 years.

Their son Martin Egan died December 7^th 1905, aged 48 years.

Ellen Egan, nee Kelly died April 1926.

Glad to hear that the Futcher family in New Jersey have met up with my brother John.

John was on the phone over the Christmas and is happy that the work on the parish center has turned out very well and they used it for evening Mass on Christmas Eve. He reckons that about 85 % of parishioners attend church for Christmas Day.

Back home it was good to see so many people home for the holiday. Chris Price, Paddy Kenny from Sydney, John Hardiman from London, and Brendan Carty from London. Brendan was telling us that he flew over on Saint Stephen’s morning and got the bus to Ballinasloe. He flew Aer Lingus and the flight cost One Euro return with airport taxes costing 30 Euros.

Yesterday Michael Mc Cullagh and his son Damian stopped by after visiting Clonmacnois. Damian told us that he lives in Greece and has a website filled with information about Ballinasloe. It is under www.ballinasloe.org

The official Chamber of Commerce website for Ballinasloe is under www.ballinasloe.com Have a look at both of them.

Michael Mc Cullagh played a great selection of tunes on the piano for a bus load of Dublin people who were staying in The County Arms Hotel in Birr for the Christmas and had just paid a visit to Clonmacnois. I was amazed that for most of the group it was their first time to visit Clonmacnois.

The father of baby Joshua Connolly from Belmont told us yesterday that his daughter is undergoing her operation on January 17^th. Say a prayer that it will be a success.

Joe Kennedy from Birr was visiting Shannonbridge today and stopped off in Shannonbridge to bring tidings. Joe is in great form and enjoying the garage business working with his son Michael. His daughter Clare contacted him on the mobile phone and she has promised to make the trip from Shinrone to Shannonbridge.

Today our papers tell us that Roy Keane played his first game for Glasgow Celtic yesterday and got a warm welcome. Former Liverpool player Michael Owen returned to Liverpool after a stint with Real Madrid to a mixed welcome.

George Best grave is still attracting 1000 visitors daily.

Wishing David Fitzpatrick and Dympna Quinn all the best for their wedding day on this Friday. January 30th.

Met Tees Coughlan in the church this morning and asked her if she had any more old sayings. She hit me with a bucket with this one.

“What did one ear say to the other ear”?

“Between you and me we need a haircut”

Point taken as people are startng to say that I look like Charles Laughton. Joe Keogh here I come.

Did I mention that Martha Mc Dermott , Banagher won The Golden Years Festival in Ard Ri Hotel Waterford in a singing competition and won a beautiful Crystal Vase.

Also that Nan Galvin, nee Mulvey died in London recently. Nan was married to the late Jimmy Galvin, Cloniffeen and was a daughter of the late Mr and Mrs Jack Mulvey , who lived across the river at Clonmacnois.`May she rest in peace.