The death has taken place of Father Joe Kennedy who once taught in Garbally College and who retired from parish work only late last year. He had two brothers’ priests and one is stationed in Omaha. Father Kennedy was a quiet type of man and in Garbally he featured in a verse that went like this –

In Saint Joseph’s

Father Higgins

Taught the French

To Junior ‘B

Then along came

Father Donal

With his French

Ave Marie

Started training

Burly juniors

On the good old

Juvenile

Took the post

From Father Logbook

Who just left it

With a smile.

{Father Logbook was the friendly nickname for Father Kennedy.

May he rest in peace)

Easter was very busy on the river and many Irish people enjoyed a few lovely days in their hire boats. Silverline Cruisers in Banagher had all their boats hired and many of the other operators were kept equally busy. Lucky enough the river level dropped off and this made their holiday the more enjoyable. On Sunday the level was 3.3 Metres, Monday 3.2 Metres, and today it is 3.1 Metres. Yesterday the weather was inclined to have a little light rain between the sunshine. Today it has been sunny with temperatures of 13C / 55F.

Yesterday the first groups of anglers arrived. Regular David Pickles has a group of five fishermen staying in Rachra House while another regular Roger and friends are staying with Nancy in The Old Rectory. I noticed a couple of plectrums in among David Pickles coins and he told me that two years ago he bought a banjo in Athlone. I thought that maybe he was going to use the banjo to attract fish to his swim but alas he left it at home.

Good news yesterday was the golf win by Rory Mc Ilroy from Hollywood, County Down. This sixteen year old successfully defended the West of Ireland amateur golf championship held at Rosses Point. Watch out Tiger.

The opening of Supermacs in Shannonbridge has been very successful over the past week. But there is a downside in the increase of careless litter around the village and on the roadsides out from Shannonbridge. Brian from the Barge put it nicely today when he quoted someone who said that the Irish are illiterate in two languages, They don’t understand LITTER and they don’t understand BRUSCAR..

Some bad news at the weekend when we discovered that the one baby robin that had hatched out in the WKD crate had died .She fared better last year when she nested in a Coke crate.

Got a welcome phone call yesterday from Norman and Mary Reeves from Bath to tell us that they are coming fishing in the area for two weeks with their friend Terry and will be here on 25^th May. Norman has some photos of fish catches he would like to share with this website and I explained that the Table Quiz in Killeens on next Wednesday is to raise funds to buy more space for this web so that more photographs can be shared.

Meanwhile the Table Quiz tonight is in aid of the Library funds.

It is good to hear the sound of a baby voice around the house as baby Adam and his sister Leah have stopped off for a few days while their parents take a short break.

On Easter Sunday there was a Baptism in Shannonbridge when Dara Mannion, was in the spotlight. A new baby boy for Noel and Aileen Mannion and a new brother for Ciaran and Roisin. Congratulations

The death occurred last week of Mrs Kelly who lived between Clononey and Shannonharbour. May she rest in peace.