Shannonbridge Active Retirement group had their outing in Galway from the 12^th to 15^th March staying three nights in the Galway Bay Hotel. I joined the group on Sunday after attending the Baptism ceremony for Adam Mc Evoy, Fergal and Eilis’s new baby. Monday was a free day and most people headed into the city on a blustery windy day. I visited the Cathedral and two nearby churches – one was an Augustinian church with no pews but rows of comfortable seats. Afterwards I found the County Hall and went into Courtroom 2 for an hour or so until they broke for lunch. I felt a little bit sorry for a 25 year old man who was on a charge of stealing a laptop case. Seems there was only a manual in the case and he threw it over a wall. He had 62 previous convictions and was presently serving a six month jail sentence. His marriage had broken up and his girlfriend was five months pregnant. Afterwards I visited Charlie Browns second hand book shop which is located on a street behind Kenny’s Book shop. I was almost tempted to buy a collection from various authors, poets etc compiled by Brendan Flynn, Taughmaconnell and Clifden. All the artists had performed in Cliftden in the old church. This series is guided by Brendan Flynn.

On Tuesday the sun shone for our bus trip around Connemara taking in the coast road and Maam Cross, Kylemore Abbey, Clifden and a welcome pit stop at Keane’s pub near Maam.

On Wednesday I postponed going home by travelling with Dick and Doc and their friend Norah to Claremorris where Dick and his friends had a play” Twelve Hours” entered in the Drama Festival. We had time to walk around the impressive town before having a meal in the hotel before the play. In the hotel a group of fourteen arrived into the dining room and one of them told us that they were members of a brass band from Germany who had come over for the parade in Claremorris,

Saint Patrick’s Day parades seemed to have attracted big crowds around the country and it was good to see Clara having a parade once again. Even Shannonharbour had their own parade in celebration of the feast day. It is the birthday of my sister Pat Killeen and Patricia Kenny and Paulien Kemp from Bradford to mention the few. Paulien rang on Saint Patrick’s Day and told us that she is about to set off for Africa to work voluntary in a school for some weeks. Wishing her the very best in her mission.

On Sunday a five piece brass band from France named Quint Essenz visited Shannonbridge and played in the afternoon and again that night. This band was over for the Limerick City parade and had played in Kilkenny the next day. They play more march time music and included a number of well known airs in their programme including Galway Bay. Their website is www.quintessenz.de

On Saint Patrick’s Day it was a pleasant surprise when Debra Arrett and her two children Lisa and Michael from Arizona arrived by cruiser in Shannonbridge accompanied by Patrick Vance. Michael was the one that was cured of his gym-warts some years ago when he visited Clonmacnois and washed his foot in the hollow stone once used by the monks for grinding their herbs etc.

Other welcome visitors were the three cousins from near Manchester – John Francis Killeen and his two sons Oliver and Aidan. They used Shannonbridge as a base for the week while they looked around and met their friends and cousins. Mick took them on a trip to Banagher by boat along with Jimmy and Nancy Ward. They stopped off in Banagher for lunch in Flynn’s and then went down as far as Meelick Lock before heading for home.

Weather changed in the last two weeks with a north easterly wind dropping the temperatures. The river level rose and this may have been caused by a panic in closing some of the control gates at Meelick. The first group of German pike anglers were on the river this week and had not much catch between the cold weather and the river level.

Spring cleaning started this week with Peader and Mary Allen having their pub and residence power washed and it looks good.

The death has taken place of Mary Donegan from Cavan who was the mother of Michael Donegan, the former teacher in Shannonbridge.

Also Mrs Mary Dunning, mother of Margaret Mannion, Aughnacabe.

May they rest in peace.

Couple of Irish phrases in this seasons Birr Guild Hall programme.

Anam beo meaning lively spirit and Suas an Staighre meaning up the stairs.

Colin Killeen and Niamh have arrived home safely after a tour of America.

Good to see Joe Coleman home on holiday.