On Wednesday night at the Active Retirement party in The Old Fort Pam Mc Dermott was telling me that her sons David and Dermot are based in London and are working in the construction industry with their firm named Kilnbridge. It was a great party with a wonderful dinner and music afterwards provided by Shamrock. Noticed two cameras in operation. Bridie Carry told us that she took 43 pictures and Mike Doherty was making use of his phone camera.

The Midland Tribune published two colour photographs taken by their cameraman at the Senior Citizens Party on 7^th Dec. One shows the nine volunteer ladies that organized the party and waited on table The other shows Louie Darcy, Julia Dillon, Clonmacnois and Brigid Ryan Mullaghature enjoying their meal.

The Tribune has a photograph of Michael and Maura Smith, Cloghan, cutting the cake at the Cloghan Senior Citizens Party..

The Shannonbridge GAA held their AGM recently. Hopefully they will place their notes and reports on this website for your perusal.

Funding for Terryglass Arts Festival for 13000 and Shannonbridge Festival for 6000 has been announced by the Arts Council for 2008.

The Birr Review Magazine for 2007 has been launched. It costs 10 Euros and he Editor is Michael Donegan. Bet it’s good.

Tanaiste Brian Cowen announced funding of 1.2 Million Euro for the regeneration of Shannonharbour. The views of Offaly County Council, Shannon Development and Waterways Ireland were put together in a plan prepared by West Offaly Partnership.

As you know West Offaly Partnership have been holding a series of fortnightly meetings preparing a plan for Shannonbridge.Next meeting is on Thursday night 20^th Dec.

On Thursday last three Sisters of the Lamb of God from the town of Famjeaux, France stopped in Shannonbridge. They had thumbed from Knock and were going to Clonmacnois. Later Sisters Lucie, Benedict and Alma planned to attend a Christmas Retreat in Dublin. Louise offered them a lift to Clonmacnois and she told us that they sang hymns on the journey to Clonmacnois.

Archbishop Diarmaid Martin was a guest on last nights Late Late Show and I thought he came through very good. The show is repeated on Monday I think Try and watch it.

He grew up in Ballyfermot and worked for some time in Rome before being appointed to Dublin.

Some websites that may be of interest. Shannon Region Tourism website has changed from www.shannonregiontourism.ie Their new website is part of the family of Discover Ireland websites. The address is www.discoverireland.ie/shannonregion

Other websites are www.discoverireland.ie/lakelands.aspx which covers the lakelands and inland waterways. Try www.midlandtourism.ie

Newgrange is to go global. The famous winter solstice on Dec 21/22 will be on the www.heritageireland.ie website.

John Price suggests that the sign near his house with two little children walking to school

should be updated with words. Something like -

Little Mary “Hurry up Tommy, we will be late for school “

Little Tommy “What’s the hurry Mary, sure there’s no F.N. school”

The Athlone Advertiser is a free paper and the front page this week tells of a 28-bed surgical and gynaecology unit at Portiuncula Hospital known as Saint Clare’s Ward is to close on Dec 23^rd. The reason given is due to staff shortage in other parts of the hospital.

Staff in St.Clares will be used to fill the want.

Had a phone call yesterday from Eddie Brown, the one tracing the Coughlan Family tree. Eddie wishes everyone a very happy Christmas. He is waiting to hear from Stephen Mc Neill, Athlone for help on the Coughlan’s. Eddie told me that he was able to get a read of the history of Ferbane Parish by Brendan Ryan from his local library. The history is called A Land by the River of God. We call the river The Brosna.

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