Time 01.30 AM on 1^st January 2007

Yesterday a friend of Linda Smith from California Pat Mullett and his wife and sister in law called to say hello. Pat works for Applebee’s Neighbourhood Grill and Bar in Florida and knows Linda through work. Linda’s parents Ken and Betty have holidayed in Shannonbridge a number of times in recent years. Mrs Mullett and her sister are from Galway and have not lost their accents. They were limited in time and had never been in Clonmacnois. So they got a brief look at the indoor display and the video and hopefully they will have time for a walk around on their next visit. There was a strong wind blowing which was audible above the commentary in the visitor video room. There was a fantastic amount of white waves showing on the River Shannon and the flood lands.

Mick got a present of a very interesting book called Vanishing Faces in Ireland.

It has a number of chapters showing photographs of people and telling their story. Rory Kilduff Ballinasloe is featured and he tells the history of his family working with leather making saddles and britchens and winkers etc for the horse pony and donkey. He tells about the effect the coming of the motor car had on the trade and how in his father’s time there was a workshop at the rear of his Main Street premises where up to twelve people were busy in the old days. Rory is now retired and enjoying life with his wife Maura.

He book also features the story of Pat Gleeson of the Gables – a house built for The Lestrange Family. Pat lived out his life with his sister Mrs Ryan at Mullaghature. He tells of his schooldays and going to school to Master Matt Rigney in High Street. Matt Rigney lived in the house directly across from Killeens Bar. Pat Gleeson tells of another teacher who taught the Gleeson children classical music on the violin. Later Pat discovered that Irish traditional music was more popular with people attending house dances and there was great demand for his music. Pat died a couple of years ago but his story and some pictures live on in this collection.

The Daily Mail on Wednesday has a story and photograph of the two couples from Galway who set off last June intending to cycle to Australia in time for Christmas.

The photograph shows Louis and Nora Brennan and Norman and Bertie Quinn with their bicycles and riding gear and baggage on Bondi Beach in Sydney. They cycled more than 14,000 kilometres through 15 countries to get there. From Salthill they hit Shannonbridge, UK, Holland, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. They flew over Iran and Iraq and cycled through India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. By sea to Indonesia and on to Darwin in November. There was still 1,600 kilometres of cycling before they reached Sydney just before Christmas. Well done.

Another Jobsite being advertised is www.recruitireland.com which may be of interest.

Some people that have holidayed in Shannonbridge in previous years might note that there has been a change in the telephone numbers. Here are the numbers of the Bed and Breakfast in the area –

1. Ashbrook Farm John and Vera 090 96 74166
2. Ely House Brian and Dympna 090 96 74205
3. Laurel Lodge Eamon and Marie 090 96 74189
4. Kajon House Kay and John 090 96 74191
5. Rachra House Pat and Patti 090 96 774249
6. Killeens Self Catering Bungalow 090 96 74112.

Presumably you drop the first 0 when you get into Ireland.

Finally a very happy 2007 to everyone.