Dated 30^th November 2006

Dublin’s Shelburne Hotel is now re-opening in January. The hotel was closed in March 2005 for an 80 Million Euro renovation and extension. The horseshoe bar and staircase have been preserved.

Patrick Kenny was telling a story that was on the national newspapers last week. Apparently a sow broke loose in Carrickmacross town and went on a wander about.

It looked in various shop windows and called into the convent where a nun fed it some bread to prevent it rooting up the plants. Then it went downtown, stopping traffic and finally stopped outside a butcher shop. Two Gardai then took control and walked it back home. A photographer was on the scene and shows the sow and one of the Gardai.

Radio Shannonside ran a competition asking for suggestions as to what the sow said.

Patrick liked a number of them and thought ‘I’m only looking for my roots ‘was one of the better ones.

Patrick reminded us that Mass on the radio Fm102 is broadcast from Moore every weekday at 10.00 AM, on Saturday at 7.00 PM and on Sunday at 11.30 AM.

Back to roots and we heard from Carol Manion who is delighted that the Half-way House at Clerhane was identified. She is also glad that Padraig Turley has a photograph of the house. She would now like to know more about the Clerhane area.

Shannonbridge Festival Committee is to get a grant of 5000 Euros from the Arts Council towards its undertakings in 2007. Last year they organised three outdoor concerts over a weekend with two in Shannonbridge and one in Clonmacnois.

The battle for the takeover of Aer Lingus stepped up this week with Ryanair buying a further 6 % of Aer Lingus shares at a cost of 88Million Euros. This brings Ryanair’s shareholding to 26.2 %.

Alan Freeman well known disc jockey on Radio Luxembourg years ago has died aged 79 years. May he rest in peace.

Forecast was for strong winds tonight but at 1.30 AM there is no sign of them yet.

Next Wednesday evening the annual Mass for ESB deceased staff will be celebrated in Shannonbridge.