Sam Sloan from Kilcullen and his daughter and her husband and their child called in last weekend. Sam is in great form and he was telling us that he is great friends with Sean Fitzpatrick so he is well up to date with Shannonbridge news. Sam’s father was once a Garda Sergeant in Shannonbridge and the family have kept in touch with people that they knew in the village a few score years ago.

On Sunday Eric Wachdorf and three ladies from Wisconsin stopped off in Shannonbridge. Eric has been studying birds and wildlife and was anxious to buy a pair of binoculars to help see some of the Irish birds. There were a fair scattering of various small birds busy on the nut feeders in our backyard and he knew the names of them all. He borrowed some binoculars and went out to the reserved bog lake at Blackwater on Monday but was disappointed as there were not many wader type birds to be seen. He had better look at the Cliffs of Moher with the sea birds.

Had a letter from Debbie Haley from Limerick, Pennsylvania who visited Shannonbridge with Lorraine from Pottstown twice. She is working part time in a boys home and I think she needs a bottle of The Rub from Dorrie.

Saint Brigit’s Feast day is on the 2^nd February. The Irish Catholic tells us that she was born in County Louth in 453 AD. You can find out lots of more information on Brigid and other Irish saints and monasteries on the website www.catholicireland.net/monasticireland

The two co-owners of the Schoolmasters residence in Clonfinlough have both been in the area recently. They have sold the house to a family named Osmond from Kildare town and they have taken up residence. There is a local connection as Mr. Osmond is a grand-nephew of Paddy Lawless who once had a shop in Clonfinlough. Anyhow the Osmonds are very welcome to the parish of Clonmacnois.

Good to hear that some coarse fishing people are heading to Shannonbridge. George Stokes has his party piece “Fields of Athenry” all ready for the end of May. Brad and Dave, two regulars are coming for the first two weeks in June.

Glad to see that Louise got through to the next round of “You’re a Star” last Sunday. For next Sunday the remaining eight contestants are asked to sing a pop song and Louise has chosen to sing a David Bowie number called Star Man. She got a pleasant surprise this week when Colton Motors , Tullamore presented Louise with a new Ford car suitably decorated with “Vote for Louise” all around. They told her that she can keep it for as long as she remains in the competition and wait. If she wins the competition she may keep the car with their compliments. Colton’s telephone number is 0506- 21607 if you wish to contact them. Last night Louise was a guest on a local live radio program from the pub in Pullagh and I was glad that she found time to call in to the Bridge Club in Ferbane to thank the members for supporting her this far by telephoning in their votes. Visit her webpage at www.louisekilleen.com to see some of her recent clips from the You’re a Star series.

Weather has been good and fine this week with the river level easing back to 3.7 Metres.

Temperatures are being effected by clouds at night. Temperatures from 7 to 9C.