Dated 20^th November 2006

The cold weather continued relatively today with a few hours sunshine.

We have two American visitors in the village at present. Philip Montgomery is from Texas and Joseph Julian comes from Louisiana. Joseph would fit in nicely on Eddie Fitzgerald’s Irish Rugby Team. They think that Guinness is a real beer and tastes much better in Ireland. Today they visited some friends in Banagher and discovered Clonmacnois. At present they live in Austria.

Ireland defeated Australia in the rugby match at Landsdowne Road yesterday.

A sister of the late Father John Corkery has passed away. May she rest in peace.

The local supporters club are going to see their favourites Manchester United play in Manchester very soon.

Two Japanese ladies visiting Clonmacnois stopped off in the village today and told us that they will be around for a few days. Pat was reminding me that some years ago a group from Japan spent a time in Clonmacnois taking rubbings from some of the stonework as it closely resembled old Christian stone slabs found in Japan.

I forgot to tell them that Shannonbridge have an interesting selection of products with a Japanese design.

Joe Coleman from Leeds was on the phone last evening catching up on the local hot news.

If you are a golfer you might be interested to hear that Edenderry Golf Club are offering a round of golf and a three course meal on certain days at present for 25 Euros.

Another prayer from Sister Estelle Barron in Tenafly.-

Lord Jesus, in Your Word You say that if we keep your law we are like a ‘tree planted by streams of water’. Help me this day to keep your law - to love my neighbour as You have loved me, give me Your grace this day and I will praise Your Name.

The annual Christmas Party for the Parish Senior s is scheduled for 1^st December. Liam Lawton will be performing in Birr that night.

Listened to Gay Byrne yesterday on Lyric Fm and again he presented a great two hour show. He started with Ella Fitzgerald who Mary thought was Mary Lowe of the Clonfinlough family but he saved her for the wind up.

I liked the true story he told about a really wealthy millionaire from California who went on a cruise with his girlfriend and died on the cruise. When his wife heard that he was dead she married her toy boy the next day. Then they decided to go to his funeral in Florida. At that time they had their own Pullman carriage and when they wanted to go somewhere they linked up to the rail network. Which they did.

The man’s family heard of their plan and arranged with the railway company to divert them. So they ended up in Winnetka near Chicago. This led up to Gay playing a tune called ‘Big Noise from Winnetka’ that featured a strummed double base, drums and a voice sound. Somebody listening from Chicago requested a number.

Sunday 3 to 5 pm.

Look out for the ingredients of an Irish Christmas cake from about 1930 on this site soon.