Last Sunday we all thought that Ireland would hang on to a slender lead against France in the first rugby international played at Croke Park last Sunday but a last minute try settled our cough. Sorry the game clashed with Gay Byrne's Sunday Miscellany last radio show on Lyric FM. Good to hear he will be back again soon.

Last Saturday Genevieve Wynne was married in Birr and the reception was held in Kinnity Castle . The bride is a daughter of Mr and Mrs Joe Wynne Arigna. Joe is a brother of Mrs Keena and he went to national school in Shannonbridge.

By the way the sale of Kinnity Castle has fallen through so you are not late yet.

Saturday was baptism day for baby Niamh Flannery, Crevagh, daughter of Seamus and Patricia and a welcome sister for Sean. Congratulations.

Welcome this week to a new family for Shannonbridge. Brendan and Mary Dee purchased Seamus and Celine Grenham's famous Bungalow B+B as a residence and the family moved in on Monday. Welcome and may they be very happy in Shannonbridge. Mary tells us that her mother is moving from Salthill and will live with them in Shannonbridge.

Good to see John and Jimmy Brown and their family from Manchester in Shannonbridge this week. The two boys are sons of the late Margaret Brown nee McEvoy and are nephews of Mary Liz Coughlan and of Shannonbridge's late Mickie Mac Evoy.

Good to see Patricia Carry and her two boys over from England for a mid term school visit.

Lots of water came down at the weekend and again yesterday. It is strange but the flood water seems to be easing back although the land is soaking Eamon Mc Manus tells us.

Temperatures are around 10C but a cold rainy day yesterday was replaced by a sunny dry day today.

On Sunday Rory from The Dublin Pike Anglers and friends were fishing on a boat at Shannonbridge. Did not hear how they fared out.

The short story writer, critic, journalist, broadcaster and seanchai Brendan Kiely has died , aged 87years. May he rest in peace.

Ned Kenny Dublin and Moore has died in Dublin. He was a brother of the late builder Michael Kenny and he was married to Dympna Kilduff, sister of P.J.Kilduff and Eileen Mc Manus. He was buried in Dublin. May he rest in peace.

Got a welcome phone-call from England during the week enquiring when the Ballinasloe Horse Fair was on this year? For your information it starts on the weekend of 29/30 September and the Country Fair is on Saturday 6^th October.

Another phone call from the cousins in Manchester to tell us that John Francis Killeen is celebrating four score this weekend and at least five of the Irish cousins are making the trip for the party on Sunday. Wishing him all the best on his birthday. And we plan to enjoy it.

Welcome home to Michael and Clare Green from Boston and their eleven year old daughter Courtney who are here for a flying visit.

Posted on behalf of Derry