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’?.