Dated 23^rd March 2007

Shannonbridge / Doon GAA Lotto Jackpot of 18,200 Euros on Tuesday night was won by John Turley, Garrymore, son of Tom and Lena Turley with the four numbers he chose 5, 11, 17 and 25. Some 36 people were hot on his tail with three numbers. The new jackpot on next Monday night will be for 5000 Euros. Congratulations to John and well done.

The QVC.com shopping channel in the USA was a sell-out for the featured items from Ireland including Shannonbridge Pottery, Tipperary Crystal and the Bog Oak carvings from Ballinahowen. I heard that they were sold in less than an hour. But don’t worry for a similar promotion is to be repeated on QVC.

Last Sunday two anglers visited Shannonbridge and launched their row boat near the jetty. They then rowed across the river to the island and fished for some hours on a cold windy wet day. But they had brought along special umbrellas that gave them ample protection. When they finished fishing they rowed back and drove away. Anglers keep telling us that they never leave litter but these two unknowns left a plastic bag of rubbish and a number of bottles on the island. Just not good enough.

The weather yesterday and today has changed very much for the better with temperatures from 9 to 13C,

Their is great sudden interest in Ireland’s Cricket Team since they have won their way into the last eight in the World Cup competition. Pat was telling this evening that sometime back in the 1800’s Shannonbridge had a top class cricket team and other villages and towns around also had teams.

News today that Lansdowne Road Stadium has been granted planning permission to rebuild the stadium. Limited to three concert type events per year.

Down in Douglas Golf Course in Cork the club has decided to sell the old course in exchange for two new courses in another location and 171 Million Euro deal.

A Father McNatty from Banagher who has been ministering in England has died. May he rest in peace.

Chopin’s last piano has been located in England according to today’s paper.

Garbally College recently won the Senior Cup in rugby and George Mooney from The Doon was on the team.

Ireland plays Wales in soccer in Croke Park this weekend.

The Rolling Stones are playing ‘A Bigger Bang’ in Slane Castle on 18^th August.

Kennys Art Auctions Galway in the ‘G’ hotel in Galway takes place on 26^th March. Catalogue available on www.kennysartauctions.com

Free hearing test was offered to Shannonbridge Active Retirement this week. The people giving the test had to go away early but they said that they will come back. I said that they said that they will be coming back.

Finally I met a Canadian this evening that is on a cycling holiday in England, Isle of Mann and Ireland. He has a great interest in motor bikes and the Isle of Mann was a must.

He bought a milk round ten years ago and sold it recently. Now he has time to take a holiday. He decided to bring a bicycle and camping gear with him and he is enjoying himself. He told us that they use one litre size glass milk bottles for their milk. Some organic and special milk is packed in cartons or plastic. On his cycle trip he was astonished at the amount of items discarded in the ditches.

That Irish radio station dedicated to news can be found at 107.6 FM and it is called Newstalk.