Good news for today is that Pat the sister is coming home from Saint James hospital in Dublin after a four week stint for a vein circulation problem. What will Margaret and Louise and ///Madeline and Elley and many others do next week now that she is gone home? They were pillars of support to her as well as all the other visitors and those that kept in touch with telephone and cards and letters and most importantly prayer. Thank you all.

Lyons Amusements which brought a fun fair atmosphere to the village last weekend for the musical weekend have now moved to Shannonharbour in time for the annual Barge Rally. Of course our barge man headed up to Lough Ree on Sunday and no river levels were taken as Brad Crawford has gone home to England. The river is still dropping slowly.

A coach load of Austrians on a pilgrimage to Ireland with their priest stayed in Knock on Wednesday night and called in to Shannonbridge on their way to Clonmacnois yesterday.

One of the ladies asked if we had any information on cruiser holiday hire and as luck would have it Oliver Hilliard had picked up a dozen brochures from Silverline Cruisers in Banagher on Monday. Will their next trip be a pilgrimage on the Shannon? Bord Failte Eireann should develop this idea. Another excuse to come to Ireland.

Met a group from Scariff in Clare yesterday who are on a cruising holiday on the Shannon. They won their trip on a Shannon Castle Line boat in a raffle during the winter and were having a great time. One of the couples was celebrating their 35^th wedding anniversary and the husband told us that he played guitar with the Swing College Band from Nenagh for years.

I read on the paper yesterday that Father Dennis Faul has died. Also heard from Jim in Chicago that Seamus Mc Evoy from Clonfert and London has died in London and will be buried in England. His father was a teacher in Clonfert and their home was close to Saint Brendan’s church. May they rest in peace.

Welcome home to Brigid Carry or Bridie after her visit to her mother and family in England. She looks well after the rest.

There was a bit of panic yesterday when a couple on a cruising holiday had the misfortune to lose the ladies purse in Shannonbridge. They searched high low to no avail and set off upstream after lunch. The lady put the squeeze on Saint Anthony before leaving and even lit some candles in the Church. Something worked. Last evening around 5 pm Laura Keena was walking past the tennis court field and found the purse.

On Wednesday Doc and I went to Dublin and missed out on the weekly exercise hour. I also missed The Summer Concert which was presented by the music pupils on Wednesday evening.

Oliver Daly told me to tell Jimmy to try Joe@arguscarhire.com

Good to see Eamon Kelly home for the weekend from London looking fine and fit. He continues to play Gaelic Football with Tara Gaels in London.

The Irish Times had a snippet recently about a small increase in vocations in the Catholic Church in Ireland. Last year 19 priests were ordained, an increase of four on 2004.

In addition, a total of 14 nuns and brothers were finally professed last year, an increase of six on 2004.

The total of priests, nuns and brothers in Ireland last year was 16,322 down by 2.6 % on the 2004 figure.

Last year there were 90 applications to enter the priesthood and/or religious life, 56 of whom were accepted as entrants, the highest number of entrants in 10 years.

Weather this week has been mostly overcast with a bit of a northerly breeze on a few days to keep one awake.

Richard Reeves has been on a fishing visit and returned home yesterday and has forwarded The Angler to be shared.