Dated 29^th Jan 2007

Many papers continue to have tributes to the late Jimmy Murray of Roscommon.

So we asked Pat Killeen to name the team of 1943 / 44. She rattled off the following –

Jimmy and Phelim Murray, Willie and Larry Cummins, Doc Callaghan, Jack Mc Quillian, Frank Kinlough, Donal Keenan, Brendan Lynch, Ownie Hoare, Bill Jackson, Bill Carlos, Boland, Neanry, Fallon.

At that time Pat remembers 25 people from the Shannonbridge area that used to cycle to Roscommon town to see the team play. They travelled via Curraghboy and stopped off for tea and refreshments at Butlers as Mrs Butler was a sister of Elizabeth Killeen, Pats mother. Some of those that biked it were – Tom and Berty Johnson from Woodbank,

Bill Coughlan Cloneish, Eric Luker, Pee Burns, Kevin Coakley, Kieran Turley, Martin Egan, Michael Devery, Bill Maher, John and Augustine Egan, Johnny Molloy, Joe Claffey, Willie Ryan, Paddy Kenny Raghrabeg, Kieran Mulvey Jimmy Hassett teacher. Three women cycled –Phyllis Kinlough, Pat Killeen and Elizabeth Killeen.

My mother was interested in the Murrays as she was a first cousin of their father John S. Murray. Shannonbridge was proud to have Frank Kinlough playing. Regretfully most of the panel are now deceased but I read where Brendan Lynch was remembering training with Jimmy Murray and how strong he was.

Friday I met two brothers from Athlone Jim and Padraig Daly. Jim told us that he now lives in Greystones after playing Clarinet with the National Symphony Orchestra for 25 years, and teaching with the Royal Irish Academy for 34 years.

Padraig worked with Post and Telegraphs and later Telecom. He worked on the erection of the first telephone line from Ballinasloe to Shannonbridge. Prior to that the Shannonbridge postmaster Christy Cooke had to get connected to Belmont, Ferbane, Cloghan, Banagher, Clonfert, Eyrecourt Lawrenstown and finally Ballinasloe I presume.

The Daly Brothers were talking about the evenings lengthening and had a saying about Three Cock Steps on a Dunghill, or an hour extra daylight. Saint Brigit’s Day February 1^st was connected up with the saying I think.

The February issue of Irelands Own has the words of the song Paddy Works On The Railway which was sung so well by the late Ta Mitchell.

The February issue of The Irish Messenger includes a feature on Irish Gardens by Christopher Moriarty and this month he is writing about Birr Castle Gardens.

On Friday evening in Clonfad Church Archbishop Cassidy celebrated Mass for Father Tom Ryan who got sick recently. Say a prayer for his recovery if you will.

On Thursday February 8^th about 30 people from Shannonbridge and around are taking a bus and heading off to a concert in The Concert Hall in Dublin. Singing is Matt Munroe Junior, who will be singing songs made famous by his late father. Bridie Carry assures me he is a good singer.

Birds are really hungry at present and Tony Ellis was telling us today that he uses a bird tables to feed the birds that are not able to use the bird feeders. It has a roof and is designed to keep crows and jackdaws and magpies away.

Moby our dog got a haircut and nail job today. As usual he had to be dragged out to the back shed to his fate gamily resisting with all four paws in brake formation.

Kieran Guinan tells us that the local Bog Rail Tour Office is open once more for bookings. Telephone 090 96 74114 and select the correct option. Tours are expected to start in the first week of April.

Croke Park in Dublin is now equipped for floodlit matches and I read today that the first floodlit match will be played next Saturday evening between Dublin and Tyrone Gaelic footballers. All 82,000seats have been booked for this National League game.

Both Irish Rugby Internationals V France and V England are also sold out.

Two Irish Soccer Teams V Wales and Slovenia are limited to 76,000 due to UEFA rules.

Need I say it -they are booked out.

Met a busload of students and teachers from Elon University in North Carolina who were on a historic trip around Ireland and were on their way to Clonmacnois. Last year a different class visited.

Two deaths in the area. Dolores Preston, nee Flannery, of Esker Banagher and Australia has died . Funeral to Clonmacnois on Tuesday.

Nellie Coughlan, nee Lucas, late Clonfert Callows and Eyrecourt has died. Burial on Monday. May they rest in peace.

Weather forecast for Sunday was cloudy but dry 11 C. Monday cloudy but dry 10C.

Tuesday has rain promised in south east and 11C. Flood water remains high.