Dated 4^th December 2006

On Friday night the local ladies organised a Mass, dinner and dance in the village hall for the senior citizens. There was a good turnout for the Mass at 6 PM celebrated by Father O Hanlon with an anointing option afterwards. Then it was down to eating with a fine meal prepared by Fergal Moran and his Fort staff. A Christmas cake cooked by Catherine Curley was sliced and enjoyed with a cup of tea. Santa Claus arrived with a present for everyone and then the tables were put away in readiness for the music and song and dance until the midnight hour. The band played a great selection of hits from the sixties on and several people sang a song or two. My favourite performer was Margaret Kelly.

Well done to Liz Duffy and her merry band for organizing the evening and the preparation of the hall. Bridget Kitt was telling us that John Kelly an uncle of hers was responsible for the beautiful woodwork in the gallery of the old church and it looked very well on Friday night. John Kelly emigrated to America and his son, also a John Kelly was a judge, and he was in charge of the Louise Woodward child case in America. And Bridget’s grandfather was called ….. You guessed it JOHN.

Tom and Margaret Carty were at the party and Margaret had a tip for a horse called Polish Worker in Lingfield which won at 20 to 1. Her selection for Sunday was Killeen in the 2.35 race at Fairyhouse. But gale force wind ( Force 11 ) and rain arrived on Saturday night and the race meeting was abandoned after two races.

In the Leinster club football final played on Sunday Moorefield from Kildare defeated Rhode from Offaly.

Theresa Breslin arrived home from a visit to Australia New Zealand and America in time to partner Ann Mc Guckian in an important annual bridge tournament in Mullingar on Sunday. Well done Theresa and Ann on winning the Gleeson Trophy which qualifies them for the All Ireland.

Some local deaths. Evelyn Egan nee Egan from Five Alley and Clondelara died on Friday and was buried in Clonmacnois on Sunday. Evelyn is a sister of Alice Egan Clondelara.

Joseph Coughlan Eyrecourt was buried in Meelick on Sunday. He is survived by his wife Mary, children, mother Nellie (Lucas) brothers and sisters. Joseph was a son of the late Dan Coughlan.

Kevin Naughton Cappatagle has died. Kevin and his family once lived in Kenny’s old house in Shannonbridge where Jim Rodgers house now stands. During their time in Shannonbridge Kevin worked with Bord na Mona and tragedy befell them when a young son ran out on the street and got hit with a car and died.

News on Sunday of the death of Paddy Kenny brother of Martin and Jack who live in Cappaleitra. Paddy lives over around Clonfert area. May they all rest in peace.

The winds have brought rain and flooding and some fallen trees and branches. No doubt the river will rise further.

Fishing on the stocked trout lake near Cloghan has gone into a closed season for three months.

Ferbane Bridge Club now has their own web page where results and news are posted regularly. http://homepage.eircom.net/~ferbane_bridge/

The Sacred Heart Messenger is an interesting monthly publication and they have an offer going at present which you might be interested in. If you subscribe now and get a gift subscription for a friend at HALF PRICE plus a free copy of Living Prayer 2007.

Cost in Ireland and EU countries is 18.60 Euros. For other countries the cost is 22 Euros or $25.60 dollars. This includes postage. You can e-mail sales@messenger.ie

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Long ago the Messenger was a favourite with the ladies as its distinct red cover was often used as rouge or lipstick.