Tommy Henshaw, one of The Two Tommies music makers from Athlone has died and was buried yesterday. Tommy wanted no tears to be shed over him but to play some music for him. And this they did as over thirty Henshaw family members and friends gathered in Coosan Church to sing the Mass and his favourite song Athlone Town. Tommy played the Banjo and harmonica and was a member of that same Henshaw Family that play the Midnight Mass in Coosan on Christmas Eve. Some years ago Billy was telling us that they had 27 musicians and singers in the group. Silent Night how are you? May he rest in peace.

Two Spanish visitors in Clonmacnois told that they had come to Ireland with Ryan Air for six days and the return fare was 100 Euros each. They had plans to visit Galway and then do the Ring of Kerry and into Cork before catching their plane in Dublin.

A catchy announcement on the Connacht Tribune tells us that over 50 % of Dioxin Emissions arise from backyard burning. It reminded me of the reply from John Maxwell, a supervisor in Lanesboro Station. One of his crew rushed up to him one Monday morning to tell him that they had unloaded 1032 wagons of peat on the Sunday, which was a new record. Maxwell looked at him and said “ Not good enough”

Good news that Paddy Kenny and family will be coming home from Sydney for Christmas.

More good news is the wedding of Martina Ryan and Albert Leonard sometime before Christmas.

A film which is currently being filmed is making its way west and will reach Shannonbridge around December 16^th. They require some extras and if you are interested text Anne at 087 235 8642.

Our editor was telling us about a week ago that he was toying with the idea of having a photograph section on this site where photographs might be shared. Hope he toys a bit more on it. Mass today was for Jack Butler, the late village blacksmith. It would be great to be able to go to this photographic section and see what he looked like for those that never met him.

Also noticed on the Connacht Tribune that the famous Kenny Bookshop in High Street are holding a relocation sale of books and artwork worth 5 Million Euros starting yesterday. Their e-mail is queries@kennys.ie

Josephine Patricia or Tees Coughlan had an interesting rhyme on Tuesday morning that went like this –

A kiss, a smile, a fond goodbye

And he is gone.

A wink, a smile, another boy

So life rolls on.

No man you know

By outward show

Although he may attract

You never know,

What’s in the shell

Until the nut is cracked

Father Peter Kenny has an interesting message on his Christmas card this year.

Hopefully he will send it to info@shannonbridge.net and we can share it.