Dated Monday 19^th March 2007

Rugby was big news at the weekend with the final matches in the Six Nations Championships being played. Ireland started against Italy knowing that they were four points behind France in the race. Ireland won by 51 points to 24 points. France played Scotland later on Saturday and won 46 to 19. Wales beat England 27 to 18. And so France and Ireland won four of their five games but France win the Championship by scoring six points more than Ireland. France – 155. Ireland – 149.

The Irish Cricket team caused a major upset by defeating Pakistan in the World Cup.

Sorry to hear of the death of Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan team coach.

The Rachra Syndicate horse Running Wild raced in Down Royal on Saint Patrick’s Day and finished fourth.

Cheltenham Racing last week was a disaster for the Irish with only 5 Irish winners over four days racing.

Some local birthdays recently. David Corbett celebrated his 21^st Birthday on Friday 16^th March.

Ciaran Guinan St. Ciaran’s Park had a birthday on the same day.

On St. Patrick’s Day Pat Killeen celebrated a special birthday and the two brothers from America John and Jim were home for the happy event. Our cousin John Francis Killeen from near Manchester and his two sons Oliver and Aidan travelled over to Ireland for the weekend and were around for the party night. That’s Hi Maria.

The sister Doc was telling us about a novel gift idea. The Benedictines in Kylemore Abbey are trying to restore a broadleaf forest of mainly oak and ash. Many people are sponsoring a tree in memory of a loved one or as a gift. Your tree will be registered and a certificate issued and the Benedictines will pray for the people in whose memory the tree is planted. Each tree costs 25 Euros.

The Shannonbridge / Doon Lotto Jackpot for four numbers has survived for this week and the draw takes place tomorrow night in Doon. Jackpot 18,200 Euros.

This evening William Leroy Pardy and his daughter Kareena called in on their search for the old family home. They told us that George Pardy was one of a family of 6 boys and two girls. And George went to Australia and arrived in Perth on Christmas Day 1923. George married a Mary Ann Bulfin. They had a son Thomas Henry who was born in Tullamore, a town in New South Wales. William Leroy is a son of Thomas Henry. William mentioned an address of Mullaghature and so they were sent on their way to Mrs Ryan of Mullaghature.

Later Pat told me that she went to school with the two girls Josie and Peggy in La Sainte Union School in Banagher. Their house was on the left having crossed the River Brosna on the road from Shannonbridge to Cloghan. One of the families, a William Bulfin wrote a book titled ‘Rambles in Eireann’.

The weather has been a mixed bag these past few days with wind and rain and sleet and slow and in between sunshine. There were a number of cruiser boats moving around for the long weekend. This morning a hired cruiser went aground near the ‘Cut’ a mile downstream from the village.

Birds have been feeding strong in the cold weather and consider mixing some ground nuts and seeds and making a lard cake for them. Temperature forecast is for 4C or 39F.Ferbane man Mike Keenan is competing in a Glor Tire singing competition on television and appears next Wednesday 21^st March at 10.30 and Wednesday 18^th April at 10.30 on TG4. Mike is seeking votes if you want to support him.