Dated 16^th April 2007

Some sport results to start. An Irish horse Silver Birch won last Saturday's Aintree Grand National at odds of 33 / 1

In the Irish Grand National the winner was Butler's Cabin trained by J O Neill, owned by JP Mc Manus and ridden by A P Mc Coy.

Chelsea beat Blackburn 2 -1 to advance to the FA Cup final where they will meet Manchester United.

Offaly footballers drop to Div 4 next year after losing to Roscommon.

Offaly Senior hurlers now drop to Div 2 after losing to Limerick 6 -20 to 1 -18.

Offaly Under 21 Footballers were defeated by Laois on Saturday 0 -16 to 1 – 10

Dublin Senior Footballers drop a division after their recent defeat by Kerry.

National Football League Div 1 semi final

Donegal 1 -13 Kildare 1 – 11.

Mayo 2 – 10 Galway 1 – 12.

National Hurling League Div 1 semi finals

Kilkenny 2 -22 Wexford 2 - 7

Waterford 1 – 19 Cork 1 - 16.

Liverpool v Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final.

Manchester United beat AS Roma 7 – 1 in their second leg of the champion's league semi-final. Now play AC Milan.

Joe Lyons from Banagher won the West of Ireland Golf Championship.

In rugby there was a shock when French and English clubs stated they would not be competing in the Heineken Cup in 2008 but they have had a second think and things are safe for now.

In five days at Easter 52 cyclists rode from Malin Head in Donegal to Mizan Head in Cork some 450 miles in five days. All in aid of the Mick Turley Spin for the Irish Cancer Society. Mick was born in Garrymore near Shannonbridge and lived in Athlone. He died from cancer in March 2006. The family organised the bicycle trip and a number of fund raisers as a thanks for Mick's Palatial Care. Many thanks to all who helped out.

About a week ago a couple from Cork called in to enquire about a Grehan who married a Wise or Wyse from near Shannonbridge. Now living in Cork.

The water quality in Galway has been getting a lot of bad publicity lately.

The Art Beat cartoon in a recent Irish Times shows two witches watching a boiling cauldron with –

"Eye of newt,

Leg of toad,

Drop of Galway Water.

Recently Father Tony Cummins celebrated 75 years in the priesthood with a Mass in Kilconnell Church . Father Cummins was born in Kilnadeama near Loughrea.

Great to hear that many caravanners are discovering the great amenities being offered at The Glebe Caravan Park Clonfinlough.

Heard a radio program about ten days ago that was all about Flann O Brian author of The Third Policeman, At Swim Two Birds, The Hard Life and An Baol Bocht. Unfortunately for me the program was in Irish.

Andy L'estrange, Shannonbridge died on Easter Sunday morning and was buried in Knockdrin near Mullingar.

Paddy Kiernan, Belmont and late of Shannonbridge ESB power plant has died and was buried in High Street Cemetery on Saturday. The Lad has gone home to God.

Michael J. Molloy from Glebe died on April 9^th and was buried in Clonmacnois.

Johnny Hart the cartoonist that created BC and The Wizard of Id has died.

May they rest in peace.

Over the Easter a son of Phelim Walls, the piano player from Athlone, called in with his wife and children.

The river levels have dropped back to normal after over three weeks of dry weather. The colder evenings have kept the water cooler

Many of the goldfinches that were using the bird feeders for weeks seemed to have found more natural food.

The last of the old Lanesboro Power Plant was scheduled for demolition last Friday. I met some asbestos handlers who were visiting Shannonbridge to have a look at Shannonbridge Station. Last Friday there was a retirement party for Pat Treanor the manager of Shannonbridge / Lanesboro generating stations.

Posted on behalf of Derry.