Surprised on Saturday night when Seamus Gunning told us that he was surprised to read about the people that Eddie Browne was looking for information about, as one of them Helen White R.I.P. was his Grandmother. Seamus is to contact Eddie Brown as they are related. Seamus was telling us that he is also related to the late Father Tommie Daly who was based in Christchurch New Zealand. Father Tommie was always telling funny stories. One that Seamus remembers was about the man that went to the doctor as he thought he had something in his throat. The doctor examined his throat with all kinds of gadgets and concluded that there was nothing there. Our friend told the doctor that there must be something in it as two farms had passed over it.

The six Bridgway welders from Poland – Thomas, John, Rafael, Tom, Mark and Jurek have just gone home to Poland for Christmas and will spend about a month with their families. Hope that they have a very Happy Christmas.

Edward Hogarty was telling us that his sister Fiona Canning and her husband Frank and two sons Sean and Eoin are spending Christmas in Melbourne with John and Christine Hogarty and their children Jorja and Max. Hope that they have a great time and they too are going to stay for a month.

Congratulations to Shannonbridge Football Club member Damien Brazil who has been selected as Offaly Referee in Gaelic Football for 2007 by a panel of about six sportswriters in the county. They did not mention his loyal team of four umpires, but they are also part of a great service to football in the county.

Paul Fay Bookmakers opened their doors for business in Shannonbridge this week. The new office is located where Ritchie Brown had the post office and shop, formerly Fitzpatricks. Wishing them well on their venture.

On Sunday’s Gay Byrne FM radio show on Sunday afternoon a listener texed Gay at 51554jazz to remind us that on 16^th December 1944 Glenn Miller died. For next weeks show Gay is inviting listeners to text in something that evokes a memory of Christmas.

He asks you to keep it short.

A request today on the radio for Mr and Mrs Blehein, Ballymacward, who celebrated

71 years of marriage today from their friends in Shannonbridge. Maureen Thornhill Shannonbridge is one of their family. Congratulations on your achievement.

The river level was at its highest for this year on last Friday at 4.8 metres. On Sunday it was 4.44 metres and on Monday it was 4.4 metres. It continues to ease back but Brian tells us that lots of rain is forecast at the weekend.

Next meeting of the Shannonbridge Development Plan has been rescheduled to Wednesday 16^th January at 8 pm sharp.

Tragic fatal accident to 30 year old Michael Hughes, Banagher at the weekend in Dublin.

After attending a party he tried to make his way to a flat in Harold’s Cross. There was a security coded lock on the main door. He got through this all right but before he got into the flat a man attacked him with a garden shears and stabbed him some 80 times.

The suspect had sought physiatrist help three times the previous week in two hospitals.

Say a prayer for Michael and the Hughes Family and Friends. May he rest in peace.

The European Parliament has lambasted the Irish Government for neglecting to protect about seven species of wild birds including the kingfisher, corncrake and the sandwich tern.

Weather was good today and another two strings of Christmas lights were erected in the

village. The normal lights in St. Ciaran’s Park and the green area opposite the church are also working. Countrywide Christmas lights are accounting for some 2 % of electricity generated and there is an appeal to use more friendly bulbs as some bulbs use five times of electricity than the friendly ones.