Margaret Mannion from Aughnacabe was telling us today that her mother Mary Dunning is celebrating her One Hundredth Birthday tomorrow. Mary is in the Garbally Nursing Home and like the rest of her family and friends she is looking forward to her big day. Congratulations Mary and have a great day.

An article on the paper today tells about Flann O Brian’s book The Third Policeman being mentioned in a Television series in America called Lost. As the viewers went in search of possible clues some 14,000 copies of the book were sold in a week which is equivalent to about six years sales. The series starts on Irish television on 6^th February.

There is a copy of the book in Shannonbridge Library, but don’t all rush now. The same Flann O Brian wrote a great fairytale novel called At Swim Two Birds and the story was about two swans living at Devenish Island, midway between Clonmacnois and Shannonbridge.

Our local fisherman, Peter, who once was a banker, was recounting the story of a Dublin girl that went into the Bank of Ireland to change a foreign note. When the teller told her that it was only worth 74 Cents she exclaimed “And to think I gave him his breakfast as well”

Good to se two of the Polish welders, Tom and John, back in Shannonbridge after a four week holiday back home in Poland where they had snow knee deep. The other John, the taller one, is expected back this week. They work with Bridgway Engineering producing a wide range of farm equipment such as feeders, trailers, bale carriers, etc.

Glad to hear from an old angling gentleman from England Tom Coulson. For many years Tom and his wife Vicky attended many fishing Gala weeks in Ireland including the Ballinasloe Gala Week. He is fishing away and was looking for my e-mail address which of course is out of commission.

The D.Killeen who makes The Rub contacted me today. She wants to set up a website for The Rub and I directed her to our web site maker Kerrill Thornhill. Unfortunately Kerrill is away in Australia at present but I feel sure she will wait for his return. I used the Rub twice during the week to reduce swelling and relieve pain and I found it worked like a dream. No I am not telling where the swelling was. I will let you know the website number when it is gets up and running.

Today started off with some brilliant sunshine and Mick decided to ease up on the landscape gardening and went out for a few hours on the boat. While he was gone Aine telephoned from Limerick to say that they had a very heavy fog there. She also called to see Martin Burke who is recovering after an operation and will not be allowed to speak for another month. He looks fine. Mick was only gone a few mile downstream when the fog started to arrive and he had to cut the trip short as the river is 3.9 Metres and there is flood water out on the Callows.

There is a bit of re-awakening on the river this week. At least two cruisers were seen and three different groups made the trip to Shannonbridge by car and told that their boats were in mooring in Banagher and Shannonharbour.

Joe Coleman from Shannonbridge and Leeds rang last night to wish Louise the best of luck in the next you’re a Star program which will be broadcast on RTE 1 on tomorrow Sunday evening from 6.30 to 7.30 pm. Joe tells us that he can get both Irish radio and television in his home in Leeds.