Congratulations to Liam and Genine Fallon on the birth of their baby girl Christina Sarah.

Also birthday greetings to twins Joseph and Robert Carry on their fourth birthday from their grandparents Charlie and Brigid.

Wedding bells will be ringing in Clonfinlough Church on Saturday 2^nd September for the wedding of Michael Camplisson and Denise Loonham. Michael hails from Belfast and of course Denise is the daughter of Dennis and Mary Ann Loonham from Clonfinlough. May the sun shine bright for the occasion and may they have a great day.

Time is running out for our Val Joyce who has been presenting a two hours plus late night radio show for years. A new broom in RTE has swept Val clean. Thank you Val for many many wonderful hours of music and enjoy your forced retirement.

Midlands Radio 3 seems to be getting fond of Shannonbridge for August.

After Ricey Scully’s live two hour show from Killeens Bar last Thursday the 24^th August from 10 to 12 pm the same station are having a live broadcast on tomorrow morning Friday 31^st August commencing at 9.30 am and going on until about noon.

I presume you can listen to it on the radio in many counties and on their website www.midlands103 .com

Just heard that Brendan Scanlon is in Shannonbridge and must go and say hello to him.

There are bits of squally rain showers around today.

Mick Killeen and Brian O Meara have headed off to Portumna on Brian’s barge.

Padraig Turley sent on the following. If you can help him with the poem contact him and maybe let the rest of us know as well. DK

I was listening recently to the John Creedon show. He was doing a piece on what he called local songs. What he meant was songs made up about events in local area e.g. sporting events, political events, contrary people etc etc. This jogged my memory and I recall as a young boy my grandfather Michael Claffey of Clerhane and Tom Gaffey of Clerhane used to sing such songs about the Bloomhill area. There ware many and I can only recall one verse of a song that Tom Gaffey used to sing. It was about a Bailiff or Gamekeeper called Hanrahan who had squeaky shoes. It went thus:-

Be God a man,
Says Hanrahan,
They are such rogues
They can hear me stale upon them
With the whistling of my Brogues.

I wonder does this ring a bell with anyone. Hanrahan might have worked on the Mooney Estate in Doon. I would love to hear from anyone who might be familiar with this or any similar songs. My email address is pturley1@eircom.net

Mick Fleming from Rhode and Paul ‘The Gizmo’ Glennan stopped off in Shannonbridge today. Mick is a son of Christy Fleming who served as a Garda in Shannonbridge in the late fifties. He was transferred to Portarlington for a period before being appointed a Sergeant in Rhode where he remained until he died in 2001 from cancer. At the time of his appointment Christy was one of the youngest sergeants in the Garda Siochana. While in Portarlington he met Nora Kelly and married her. They had two boys Mick and Stormy Norman and two girls Chantelle and Elaine who died

Mick and the Gizmo were on their way back from a stag weekend for Norman who is getting married in Croghan next month..

Today Monday I was glad to meet Annie Price that was our neighbour and her daughter Lesley who are on holiday this week from England.

Many thanks to Padraic Turley for sending on the tribute poem to his aunt Sister Monica which was composed by her friends in religion as a celebration for her 90^th birthday.

If there are images in this attachment, they will not be displayed. Download the original attachment

Sr. Monica

1916-2006

In nineteen sixteen, great events did abound,

At Easter in Ireland new freedom was found;

A little while later in August that year,

Annie Claffey was born amid smiles and good cheer.

Too ra loo, too ra lay, Congrats to our Annie who's 90 today.

To Mam and Dad Claffey, in Clerhane in the bog,

Their family was special, for them they did slog,

To make life worth living for their pride and joy,

That was Myra and Annie and Joseph, their boy.

Too ra loo, too ra lay, Congrats to you, Annie, you're 90 today.

Annie travelled to school on 1^st Class every morn.

Her bike was her life-line - Free Travel was born;

Clonmacnoise was the seat of her learning back then,

'Twas far from the end as you later will ken.

Too ra loo, too ra lay, Congrats to you, Annie, you're 90 today.

At school she was taught her 3 R's and much more

At home she was taught by her Mam the home chores;

And when she was older, of Clerhane had her fill,

Mam let her go to Uncle Pat at Bloomhill.

Too ra loo, too ra lay, Congrats to you Annie, you're 90 today.

The years flew in quickly -'42 came along,

The Lord called to Annie, she didn't go wrong;

To Gallen she went with a song in her heart,

'Twas there that her work on far missions would start.

Too ra loo, too ra lay, Congrats to you, Annie, you're 90 today.

Soon Sister Monica, since that was her name,

Set sail on a ship and to Scotland she came,

Further studies she did with a Cert, stylishly,

An expert was dubbed in what she'd learned at Mam’s knee.

Too ra loo, too ra lay, Congrat to you, Sister, you're 90 today.

Expert in Home Ec. To Kildonan she roamed,

And later in Freetown she there made her home,

In various places her part she did play

But `twas in the North she was destined to stay.

Too ra loo, too ra lay, Congrats to you, Sister, you're 90 today.

The 60's were ending, of school she'd hr fill

She then took on nursing, looking after folks' ills,

She worked in the Clinic, to her bribes were flung,

She even was offered a pail-full of dung!!!

Too ra loo, too ra lay, Congrats to you, Mona, you're 90 today.

Her gifts they were many, plant life played a part,

Gardens and flowers are close to her heart,

She tended them well and awards came her way

For beautiful gardens she tended each day.

Too ra loo, too ra lay, Congrats to you, Mona, you're 90 today.

She left the West Coast for her homeland once more,

St. Vincent's in Dublin then opened its door;

She worked for the sick who went there in a throng,

The friends that she made were to last her life-long.

Too ra loo, too ra lay, Congrats to you Mona, you're 90 today.

She has special loves in her life, we can tell,

And Padhraig, her nephew, she thinks is just SWELL;

Paul and Padhraig can make her heart soar,

Whenever they come with a knock at her door.

Too ra loo, too ra lay, Congrats to you, Mona, you're 90 to day.

Mona, your mind is so active and clear,

We trust `twill be so for still many a year,

The crosswords enjoy as the paper you read,

At them you're a wizard, to this we concede.

Too ra loo, too ra lay, Congrats to you, Mona, you're 90 to day.

90 years young we all wish that today,

All joys and all graces may come now your way;

May the Lord who thus far has blessed you from above,

Continue to give you His joy, Peace and love.

Too ra loo, too ra lay, Congrats to you, Mona, on this special day.

Lord, for everything that has been

Thanks

For everything that will be

yes

Shannonbridge Fishing Report …Dated 28^th August 2006

Generally good fishing weather last week with the occasional rain. Many anglers speak of how clear the water is and maybe some additive to groundbait might make it more murky.

River levels remain low as in previous weeks.

Frank Sherlock from Birr fished the River Suck on the 24^th August and on a sunny day used lures to catch three pike that averaged 6 lbs. Next day he fished on the River Shannon and fishing with a dead perch bait he caught a pike weighing 18 lbs. Good fishing was his comment.

Brothers Rob and Mick Peake were in Shannonbridge last week and were disappointed with their fishing. Their comment was ‘worse in 25 years’

They did fish a number of swims which never pays off unless someone else has done the work of prebaiting by fishing the swim the week before.

Rob recorded catching tench, bream and roach while fishing the River Suck at Ballyforan in sunshine on the 23^rd August. On 25^th August Rob fished the Grand Canal at Pullagh and had a mixed bag of fish using float and caster.

Mick Peake had his best day at Pullagh on 25^th August in the rain when he caught tench bream roach and skimmers.

Garry and Brian Smith from Ballyduff fished the River Shannon at the local power plant on 13^th and 23^rd August. They did not record their full catches but left in three photographs. One was off a 6 lbs tench caught on sweetcorn. Second was a double figure pike that went for a dead roach bait. The third photograph was of a 5 lbs tench also caught on sweetcorn.

Tom Carty from Shannonbridge fished under the bridge and used a 28 gram Toby lure to catch a double figure pike which he returned alive.

Rafael from Birr / Poland fished at the power plant yesterday and caught a 70 cm pike while fishing with a lure. He lost a much much bigger pike in the same swim.

Youngsters Craig Burke 14, and Sean Burke,9 years fished near the village bridge yesterday and used worm and maggot to catch 10 perch and a few roach. Not big enough was their comment..

Maggie Brien met Loretta Birch, nee Moran this week. They were school chums but have not met for 62 years. Aint that something.

The Wolf Family from Long Island are on holiday on a cruiser on the River Shannon at present. They travelled down the river from Carrick –on-Shannon and enjoyed the trip across Lough Ree and the town of Athlone. They had an enjoyable visit to Clonmacnois and we hope Shannonbridge. They had hired bicycles and used them to get to the Bog Rail Tour about three and a bit miles from Shannonbridge.

On Saturday the Cassidy Clan had a re-union with about 180 members of the family coming together to meet and chat and visit graveyards and old homesteads. That evening they attended a special Mass in High Street Church with many of the family taking active parts in the celebration. Afterwards they had a banquet in The Fort Restaurant in Shannonbridge. Some Trojan work had been put into the re-union by Mary and Tony Cassidy. No doubt this will be an annual event and so it should be.

Seven cruisers from Portumna arrived in Shannonbridge on Sunday carrying some 41 people from Australia. They were mostly from Adelaide and Sydney and are on a two week cruise on the River Shannon. They picked up their Emerald Star Line hire boats at Portumna and plan to journey upstream and onto the River Erne where they will leave their boats at Belturbet.

They told us that for the two weeks previous they had been in South Africa holidaying at Makutsi Springs.

After their stay in Ireland they are off for two weeks to Croatia.

The two people I met were Richard Dix and Chris Edwards and they were interested in trying out the wonderful shower units cared so well by Des Finnerty.

The whole trip is being organised by Derek and Anne Crichton from Sydney.

I got a surprise when I met Derek and Anne later on Sunday night as their faces were very familiar. And so they should as a couple of years ago they had called in and they remembered a drink associated with the pub – Hot Chocolate and Rum. They enquired about Louise whom they had met and maybe had some e-mail contact. Anyhow they are gone off with a copy of her CD recording so look out Australia not to mention the upper Shannon. Great to meet Derek and Anne again, and thank you for including Shannonbridge as one of your stop off points.

The brother John has been home for a time but one of his parishioners died on Friday so he is flying back to New Jersey in the morning for the funeral. We lost out on four days for a good reason.

Some GAA news. First Roscommon Minor Footballers had a great semi-final victory over Meath on Sunday. Then Mayo Seniors took on mighty Dublin in Croke Park and looked badly beaten when falling seven points behind early in the second half. But they earned a place in the Senior All Ireland with a great recovery and winning by a single point.

Ricey Scully is a well known name on local radio and for a number of weeks he has been bringing his recording equipment to various towns and villages in the Midlands of Ireland.

On this Thursday August 24^th the Ricey Scully Show will be recorded live in Killeens Bar in Shannonbridge. A number of musicians will be performing and Mick Killeen has a team lined up for Ricey to interview.

The show will be broadcast on Midlands 103 from 10 to 12 pm. It will also be broadcast live on www.midlands103.com

The death has occurred of Michael Kennedy, Bloomhill and Athlone. His funeral takes place to Clonmacnois tomorrow Wednesday 23^rd August after Mass in Clonmacnois. He was a brother of Joe Kennedy, car salesman in Birr. May he rest in peace.

Shannonbridge footballers were defeated in a crunch match this evening by a Banagher / Cloghan team. The defeat may mean that they will go from senior to intermediate.

Last Friday evening the annual Mass was held in Teamphaill or Cloniffeen. Steve and Colm Kenny and Kieran Kelly and others had done a great job in tidying the old graveyard for the occasion. Some fifty or sixty people attended and the Mass was concelebrated by Father O Hanlon and Father John Killeen who was home on holidays from America. Prior to the Mass a rosary was recited while the two priests went around to bless the graves of what were mostly still born and un-baptized babies that were buried there.

Teamphaill is situated to the left of the roadway leading to the hot water outlet from the power plant and the remains of a small churchyard located there. A number of years ago a small group set about developing this area with the co-operation of the land owner Steve Kenny. The walls of the old church were tidied up and an altar and shelter are now in place. All around are a number of unmarked stones in memory of those buried there.

After the ceremony there was a very welcome cup of tea and food available in the village hall for anyone attending the Mass.

Met a couple from Glendalough on Monday who are on a type of pilgrimage to Clonmacnois and this area in general. He is a Laois man and she was born in Kildare but they have been living near Glendalough in Wicklow ever since they got married. They decided to make a visit to Clonmacnois and today they visited the Nunnery and Clonmacnois and had a look at the bridge at Shannonbridge and the Fortifications. Tomorrow they plan to visit Meelick Church, Clonfert Cathedral, Emmanuel House of Prayer and Meelick Church as well as Shannonharbour and Banagher and the Bog Rail Tour and Shannonbridge Pottery Works etc.

Perhaps the idea might be used and sometime a group from Shannonbridge might arrange to visit Glendalough or some such place.

It was great to see Maggie Brien from Bristol and originally from Raghrabeg arrive in the village for a few days visit. She is accompanied by her son Ken and daughter Fran. She is in great form and was having a long chat about old times with Alo Moran. The brother in Chicago will want to know her number which is ommc-raecemo. That is in Bristol and she will be around for a number of days yet.

Rubbish seems to be a growing problem in Shannonbridge. The usual industrial skip that had been supplied for holidaymakers on the river was abused recently and filled with a three piece suite and some old carpet. Six bins were provided instead and that has been increased to twelve. These are for the use of people holidaying on the river and it begs the question ‘will they also be abused’?.

Shannonbridge Fishing Report ….. Dated 21st August 2006

Weather has been a little colder and many days were described as overcast. The river levels remain near to minimum. Holiday anglers are scarce resulting in less pre-baiting of the favoured swims. The hot water from the local power plant has been producing but an overhaul is planned for the next five or six weeks. This will mean no hot water.

Ivan Vandevren and Etienne Goemaere from Belgium fished the last two days of their holiday (14^th and 15^th August) at the salmon run at Meelick. Ivan had 7 kg of hybrids on the first day and 6kg on his last day using maggot and caster on a feeder.

Etienne had 6kg of hybrids using feeder maggot and caster on the first day. On his last day he caught 2kg of hybrid and a 5kg pike while using feeder maggot and caster and dead bait for the pike. There were lots of pike in the swim in attacking form.

Youngsters Christopher Bookless and Ciaran Kenny from Moore fished the Hot Water on the 17^th August and caught 47 perch using float and worm. Some of the perch were massive and they returned them alive.

On 18^th August George Hersee Athlone / Dublin fished the Hot Water in sunshine and used legered worm and sweetcorn to catch two tench weighing 5 lbs 14 Ozs and 4 lbs 11 Ozs with roach and hybrids making a great days fishing.

George’s friend Mary O Grady from Dublin fished alongside and caught two tench weighing 4 lbs 10 oz and 2 lbs 9 Ozs with others. This was Mary’s first time fishing.

On the same day young Christopher Bookless and Ciaran Kenny returned for another day at the Hot Water. This time George Hersee took an interest in the two boys and set up their floats and tackles properly. Christopher fished with float and maggot and caught a tench, rudd,roach,and some hybrid as well as his perch. Ciaran Kenny used maggot and float and caught his first tench. Two happy boys and many thanks to George Hersee for his help.

On the 19^th August John Gleeson from Tipperary went pike fishing along the banks of the River Shannon and used a jerk bait to catch 16 pike that averaged 4 lbs. He was also attacked by some big perch.

Madeleine and Louise from Shannonbridge fished the River Suck on 20^th August in sunshine and used worm and maggot to catch three skimmer bream and roach and perch.

Then they saw a bull in the field so fishing was abandoned for the day.

Shannonbridge Fishing Report….Dated 14^th August 2006

Generally the river level remained low but rose from 2.1 Metres to 2.2 Metres on Sunday 13^th August.

Young Peter Brady from Naas used a lure to catch his first pike on 7^th August while fishing on the River Suck in sunshine. He released the fish alive.

Billy Shearer from Peterswell, Galway fished on the River Shannon on the 9^th August on an overcast day and used plug baits to catch four pike all were released alive.

Fifteen year old Aaron Black from Dublin fished the Shannon in sunshine on 7^th August and using float and maggot he caught four pike, six roach, six perch, seven hybrids and an eel. No trout yet was his comment.

James Bagnall from Wrexham fished the Hot Water at the Shannonbridge power plant on 8^th August and on an overcast day using maggot and feeder had a good day fishing catching three tench, two bream and rudd.

Martin and Richard Downey from Dundalk fished the Hot Water on two days. On 9^th August on an overcast and windy day Martin used worm and maggot to catch two tench and some good perch which he found to be entertaining.

Richard used corn and maggot and caught some pound size rudd and roach for a good days fishing.

On the 11^th August which was blustery and overcast Michael used maggot, corn and groundbait to catch rudd, pike, roach and hybrids which he described as shy fish.

Richard used maggot and worm to catch tench to 4 Lbs, perch and hybrids. He asks ‘where’s the bream’

John Hodgins from Cloghan celebrated his 21^st birthday on the 12^th August by fishing in overcast conditions downstream from the village bridge. He used his favourite lure to catch four pike – 12 lbs, 7.5 lbs and two jack pike as well as eight perch with the best a two pounder. Nice birthday present for John.

Father and young son Ryan and Garry Smith from Ballyduff fished the Hot Water on the 13^th August and used swimfeeder, corn and maggot to catch six tench, best 6 lbs, hybrid to 1.5 lbs and roach and skimmer bream.

Regular Belgian visitors Ivan Vandevren and Etienne Goemaere fished the Grand Canal at Pullagh on 11^th August in sunshine and used the pole, maggot and caster. Ivan had 4 Kilograms of a mixed bag, mostly roach and Etienne had 3 kilogram’s of mostly roach.

On the 12^th August they fished on the River Suck in overcast conditions using feeder, maggot and caster. Ivan caught 5 kilos of a mixed bag of roach and hybrids while his friend used the same tactics to catch 4 kilos mixed bag of mainly roach.

They commented that on the River Suck the fish were feeding for two hours and then the swim went dead. Any theories?

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 13th Aug 2006 - 19th Sun B
Tel (090) 9674125
Fax (090) 9674267
E-mail. clonmacnoispn@eircom.net
Shannonbridge
Masses: Mass @ 10am Mon, Thurs - Sat; Wed @ 9am. Tues 15th Aug is the feast of the Assumption of BVM, a Holy Day. Mass for the feast on Mon eve @ 8pm & Tues @ 12 noon
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €520. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.Moran, M.Murphy, M.McManus
Eucharistic ministers: Group 3
Readers for next Weekend: S.Grennan, S.Quinn
Altar Servers: Darragh, Graham, Megan, Ciara, Amy
????
Clonfanlough
Feast of the Assumption, on Tues is a Holy Day. Mass @ 10.30 am
This Mass will be said for the late Pádraic Devery
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €282. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: J.Egan, B.Dolan
Readers for next Sunday: C.Coughlan
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group 3
Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: N.Egan

Annual Pilgrim Prayer in Clonmacnois
This Sun 13th Aug from 5.30 - 6.30pm. All welcome
Cloniffeen Burial Ground
We hope to have Mass and special prayers there on Fri next,
18th Aug @ 7.30pm. All welcome.
????
Shannonbridge Active Retirement Association
S.A.R.A will have an outing to Galway on Wednesday 16th August 2006. Interested parties should give their names to any member of the Committee as soon as possible. The Bus will be leaving from Shannonbridge @ 9:30 sharp.
????
Clonmacnois Parish Pilgrimage to Knock
Sun 3rd Sept; a bus will go from the Parish as usual. The Fare will be €25. per person, and this will include Morning & Evening meals. If you wish to travel, please give your name to Darran Finnerty or Teresa Rohan ASAP.
????
Knock Novena: 14th – 22nd August
Twice daily: - 3pm & 8.30pm
????
Feast of St Ciaran – Pattern Day
We will celebrate Mass for the feast of St Ciaran, Sat 9th Sept in Clonmacnois @ 7pm. Pattern Day is Sun 10th Sept; Mass @ 3pm
????
Pilgrimage to Fatima - departing 19th September
7 nights, Full Board / en Suite, Hotel Avenida, Guided Tours.
Fare: €699.00 plus Insurance €25, if required.
Spiritual Director, Fr John Naughton, Eyrecourt
With Lauri Duffy Travel, specialists in Pilgrim Tours to Fatima.
For more details phone Nuala on 090-9674158
????
Lough Derg
Places are still available for One-day Retreats on selected dates during Aug & Sept. Cost: €25. Includes boat fare, coffee and light lunch. Reservations are essential. Tel. 071-9861518

Helplink South, Athlone
Provides telephone alarms designed to help the elderly and disabled. If you are 65 or over and would like your name to be submitted for a grant please contact Helplink South on 090 -6445081

On Friday evening everything seemed to come right for the annual open air Mass in Clonmacnois cemetery for the deceased. Some of the local papers told of the event beforehand and people came from many a big area. Fathers O Hanlon and PJ Fitzpatrick blessed the graves while the Rosary was recited. Even the amplification was spot on and after Communion a voice was heard remarking ‘there was just enough’. There was a similar open air Mass on Monday evening in Glebe cemetery. Glebe is a bit like our local Cloniffeen graveyard.

I noticed that the film ‘The Flight of The Doves’ which used Shannonbridge as one of the locations is now available on DVD and costs 10 Euro. Columbia Pictures have a www.cthe.co.uk on the cover.

My sister Doc was telling about a pilgrim Mass last Sunday on Maimeam Mountain in Connemara when those attending climbed up the mountain to the altar site where Mass was celebrated and there was tea and a picnic afterwards. Maimeam translates as the path of the birds.

Speaking of birds John Monaghan was telling me recently that at Mc Keown’s sandpit mid way between Shannonbridge and Ballinasloe sand has been placed to cover off the sandpit as one travels from Ballinasloe. This year birds have used this as a nesting place.

The young neck ringed dove was on our shed roof on Friday and I noticed it kept its ground when the other birds were disturbed in their feed.

Becoming Jane, a film about Jane Austen’s life Starring Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy has just finished filming in Ireland. A lavish ball from the 18^th century was recreated in Charleville Forest Castle near Tullamore. Due for release next year.

Mick Kinsella, ex ESB was in Shannonbridge on his boat today. Mick looks right well and told us that he keeps his boat at Lowtown and uses the canals and the River Barrow more than the Shannon.

In The Midland Tribune of 2^nd August Jonathan Fanning has an article bannered ‘Shannonbridge Native earns Top Award’. He tells about John and Freda Sheehan and their new award winning restaurant in Killarney. It is adjacent to Killarney golf course and is aptly named ‘Par 4’. Recently it clinched the coveted Leading Restaurant Award.

Freda is a daughter of Louis and Mairead Darcy of Templedew and well done on winning such a great award.

Had a little rain this Tuesday afternoon and temperatures are have dropped back somewhat.

At the end of July Ramon Alcalde from Catalonia was in Shannonbridge. When I enquired what part of Spain Catalonia was situated Ramon said that it was not in Spain. Catalonia is Catalonia according to him and they have been seeking independence since the 1400s.

Ken and Betty Smith forwarded an information pack from a Uganda couple that were successful in the USA and have organised help for Uganda. They were surprised that our Kate Thornhill was able to achieve so much during her stay in Uganda.

In recent weeks there has been much use of the waste collection wheelie bins at the riverside. For years a big industrial skip was a great help but this has now been replaced by wheelie bins. The last skip arrived on a Friday evening and on Saturday morning it contained a three piece suite and a heap of used carpet.

Michael and Mary Kate Horan from Connecticut are presently on holiday in this area. Michael is from Clonaderrig and Mary Kate is a Flannery from Crevagh.

Met a family of Mc Cauleys who were enjoying a cruise on the Shannon last week. Rita told that the family lived in Belfast until the Troubles started in the north, when the family of eleven moved to Dublin. Rita herself now lives in Orland Her friend Tenley Hibbard came along for the trip.

It was great to have Eamon and Tony Killeen and Corey from California stop by while on a mini European holiday last week. The first evening Colin took us on the boat for a late evening visit to Clonmacnois. Corey caught a good sized perch which was returned alive. Next day in beautiful sunshine we took the boat downstream to Banagher but caught no fish. Before departing Eamon visited his great-grandfathers resting place in Clonburren Abbey which was very well maintained.

On Friday Father Rory Deane from Wexford and Port Aransas Texas came along with my cousin John of Togher whom he knew as a priest in Texas. After Mass Father Rory had a good chat with Jim Rodgers with whom he once played with on the Wexford football team. He wished to see Father Sonnie Kinlough’s grave so off again to Clonmacnois. He noticed the tombstone of Father Patrick Lane and commented that a Father Pat Lane taught him Irish in school in Wexford. And it was our Father Pat Lane. There were so many priests in the diocese at the time that the Bishop farmed them out to other dioceses and Father Pat Lane was loaned to Wexford. Father Rory gave me a few little poems. One is in the Fishing Report this week. The other goes as follows –

Last night I held

A little hand

So tender and so sweet

I thought my heart

Would surely break

So wildly did it beat.

No other hand

I ere had held

Such joy to me did bring

As the hand I held last night

Four Aces and a King.

Shannonbridge Fishing Report…Dated 7^th August 2006

The river level remains at a low level with just a few short showers last week.

Wayne Pitt from Newport, South Wales fished the harbour in Shannonbridge on August 2^nd in the sun and wind and used a small spinner and he also float fished with 4 red maggots as bait. He landed a four pound pike, 4 perch to 3 lbs and 8 roach to 2 lbs.

A nice quiet afternoon until the boats came in and spoiled it.

Ten year old Tara Naomi G-Jones from Germany fished the River Shannon on 3^rd August on a sunny day and used an imitation pike lure to catch her first pike which measured two feet.

Teenager Daniel Devery from Ballinahowen fished from the jetty at Clonmacnois using float and worm and caught 20 roach all over a pound weight.

His friend Eugene Boland 15, had no rod but fished alongside Daniel using a piece of line, a wine bottle cork as a float and hook and worms and caught 14 fine roach all over a pound.

Paul Burt from Sevenoaks, Kent fished the Hot Water stretch on a dull 4^th August and using a swimfeeder and sweetcorn he caught four tench weighing about four pounds each.

Mick Burt also fished the Hot Water on the same day and used the swimfeeder and corn approach to catch 6 tench weighing 3 to 4 lbs each. Mich also caught some small bream.

Rory Mc Allorum of the Dublin Pike Anglers fished on the River Suck on 5^th August camped by his swim. In the dawn hours he used a feeder and maggot on a SIZE 8 hook and caught 50 lbs of small bream and roach. Not bad he says. He also had a pike rod set up and used a legered dead bait to catch two low doubles and a 4 lb pike. His friend David Hughes also fished the Dawn and used feeder, corn and maggot to catch 30 lbs of small bream and roach.

K. Conroy and friends from the Midland Region fished what they call “The Cusack Stand” at Clonmacnois on 5^th August in very humid and breezy weather. They used Jerks to catch six pike with the best one weighing over 10 Lbs.

On Friday a Wexford footballer / angler Rory Deane was in Shannonbridge and passed on a fisherman’s prayer which goes as follows –

The Fisherman’s Hope

God grant that I may

Live to fish

Until my dying day

And when it comes

To my last cast

I then most humbly pray

That in the Lords

Safe landing net

I am peacefully asleep

And in his mercy

I be judged

As big enough to keep.