The previous weekend was fine and sunny and a good time for John Joe Sheridan from Ballysheil and now Wales to revisit Shannonbridge. John Joe was remembering working as a youth in Killeens and Johnny the pony. Drawing turf, collecting bottles and delivering goods were a new way of getting to know the area and the people for John Joe. He recalled going out shooting teal with JJ Killeen and the characters that lived around Shannonbridge at that time. If Jim wants to contact him John Joe has a code phone number when you reach England – maeodimne

On that weekend there was a memorial Mass in Moore for Annie Mulvey that married the late Jimmy Galvin Cloniffeen. Annie Mulvey was a daughter of Jack and Brigid Mulvey from the house in the trees across from Clonmacnois. Probably Columper.

At the service was Patrick Joseph Mulvey, Brighton, son of John Mulvey and grandson of Jack and Brigid. He told us that his parents lived in Scotland and had 17 children. His mother Sarah, who is 86 years, is still living in Scotland. Seamus and John Galvin, sons of Jimmy and Annie were also at the Mass. Leo Galvin son of Jack and Brigid and who now lives in Ballintubber also attended the Mass.

Tessie Coughlan, nee Greene, Lissaniskea, Belmont died on Monday 26^th June. Tessie was one of the Greene family from Blackwater and was married to the late Pat Coughlan. They had two children Donal and Patricia. Tessie had a remarkable gift at dressmaking and helped fit dresses on many a bride. At the funeral Mass Father Murray told that on his visit to the corpse house he found one of Donal’s children dancing around the coffin in a tribute to a loved Granny. May she rest in peace.

Heat Merchants Athlone had a staff outing and used a limousine bus with bar to go dining in Millars and visiting Shannonbridge afterwards. All organised by Dermot of Marketing.

On Thursday night the Shannonbridge Active Retirement Group held their party night. Members from Cloghan, Belmont, Ferbane, Pullagh, Ballinahowen, Moore, and others joined with the local group for a whale of a night. After Mass supper was served in the Community Center and afterwards D’ Boys provided the music for singing and dancing. Jim Egan from Cloghan on accordion and Tony Kenny from Ferbane on fiddle and vocals also joined in. Jim Egan was telling that his two daughters Maura, fiddle, and Eilis, accordeon, are part of "The Bridies" along with Brenda Courtney from Limerick, Michelle Mulhaire from Galway and Michael Galvin from Killarney.

The Bridies have departed for America and will be playing Las Vegas, Denver and The Milwaukee Fest among others. Will they fit in Saint Marys ? They will be back in Birr on 30^th September.

Sister Marie did not hire the limousine bus with bar for the pilgrimage walk to Clonmacnois on Saturday. But she did have excellent weather and Kieran Kelly to drive his car in front of the score or more. It was a time for remembering Captain Kelly and Joe Egan and The Holden Family and The Mannions at the butt of the hill, and the houses behind the Esker such as Claffeys, Dalys, Mc Manus, Joe Claffey, deserted Corrigeen, Brian Flannerys, Egans old home and more. One of the things that were missing was the stone walls that were a feature of the road to Clonmacnois. But some years ago the road was widened and someone from the Offaly County Council came bearing gifts. New concrete post fencing instead of the stone walls and even more. They kindly came ant loaded the old stone walls onto trucks and bore them away freely. Some patches of stone wall were saved and someday walk to Clonmacnois and observe the difference. Sad to see many of the miniature flowers that lived on the stone walls are now at ground level where the walls used to be.

Kieran Kelly provided a great service by carrying coats and jackets in his car and the welcome drink of water on the stops along the way. We visited Saint Ciaran’s Well which has been newly rebuilt but nare a sign of water in the well. Lots of wildflowers in bloom with a great mat of dog daisies at one of the stop points.

Joan and Danny Farrelly celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary at the weekend and the lovelight still is burning brightly. Congratulations and long may it continue to burn.

Couple from Tullow called into Shannonbridge on their way home from an Andre Bocelli concert in Galway City. Unfortunately the concert was cancelled due to a sore throat.

They live near the Mc Quinn family in Tullow and they knew that there was a Shannonbridge connection and so they came to see Shannonbridge. A Garda Mc Quinn was once stationed in Shannonbridge and married Vinnie Luker and they lived in Tullow.

Garda Mc Quinn is now dead but Vinnie and her children are still living in Tullow.

Weather has been sunny and warm and the forecast is for more of the same. Last evening there was the occasional drop of rain but we escaped any great rain like fell around.

Rose Ryan was telling in the Library on Thursday evening (7to9pm ) that Pat Watson was very good at the musical drama and art weekend recently when Pat came along to read some of his stories. Hopefully he will come along to the Library soon to repeat the experience. You’ll come now wont you.