No fish catches entered in the fish catch book since last report. A neighbouring town fished one of their pike competitions at Shannonbridge recently, and sorry that they did not record their catches.

Rumour that one angler caught a pike that weighed 26 lbs. All fish were returned alive.

Yesterday two French pike anglers told that they had caught 92 lbs of pike in one day recently and one big bream. Again they did not record their catches.

The river level remains at about 2.5 metres and the weir at Athlone has four gates open.

Likewise at Meelick. So there is a good steady flow of water.

John Carty from Banagher who worked on Bord na Mona has died aged 85 years and was buried on Saturday November 18^th. May he rest in peace.

The electrical supply to the floating jetty at Shannonbridge still remains unconnected.

This winter Waterways Ireland at Scariff have decided not to leave the two customary rubbish bins at the quayside at Shannonbridge. A phone call to 061-922033 promised that the engineer in charge Niall Moore would return my call. Still waiting a reply for over a week.

Noticed buttercups in bloom in Darcys Callow on 6^th November.

Young birds are busy feeding on the peanuts but there is still no sign of a goldfinch.

Someone told us that while there is natural food available they will not bother with bird feeders. We have a crow with a sore leg that has been using the back shed roof where the bird feeders are located. Funny enough the smaller birds seem to have accepted this crow.

Normally they scatter when crows swoop down.

Most popular pub names in England are 1. The Crown. 2. The Red Lion. 3. Royal Oak.

4. Swan. 5. White Hart.

Suggestion for a sign –

If We See You Smoking At The Bar

We Will Assume You Are On Fire

And Will Take The Appropriate Action.

The Revenue Commissioners tell us that there are almost 450 fewer pub licences in Ireland issued or removed last year compared to 2005.

Dick Warner who produced some brilliant series of film on the Shannon and Grand Canal and other waters stopped off in Shannonbridge last Monday.

On 20^th November Philip Treacy from Ahascragh, the hat designer, was awarded with an O.B.E. for his work by Queen Elizabeth of England.

Visiting Ireland for four days recently were Lada Dobrkouska and Pavel Novotny from Czeckislovakia. They stopped off at Clonmacnois and Shannonbridge and they were planning to visit Galway and The Cliffs of Moher. They spoke excellent English.

Pavel was the man and Lada was the lady.

Met three Americans visiting Ireland last week. Chris Saxton from Idaho and his wife Christine Doering from Frankfurt and their friend Terence Russ from Wayne New Jersey

The three were all interested in foreign coins and they were over two hours looking at a large bag of coins. They have great interest in castles, coins and Newgrange.

Some years ago somebody asked a parent how his son was getting on.

The reply went something like this –

“ He is getting on great now. He is paying for three cars, and he is walking”.

A solution recommended for descaling kettles is an equal amount of vinegar and water boiled together and used it soak the scale in the kettle for one hour after the two have been brought to the boil and introduced to the kettle.

Gemma Henry Clonellan, Ballydangan died on November 19^th. Gemma had spent 14 years in Portiuncula Hospital after passing out at Crazy Prices in Ballinasloe.

May she rest in peace.

Some 13 members of Shannonbridge Active Retirement group had an enjoyable three nights stay at Galway Bay Hotel recently.

The week before eight members qualified for Certificates after completing a computer course in Crank House in Banagher.

The newly built Athlone Town Shopping Center was opened some ten days ago. It is built on the site of the old Royal Hotel and grounds and extends into the ESB yard further back.

Ireland still awaits a new manager for the Irish Soccer Team.