Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 30th March 2008 - 2ndSun EasterA
Tel (090) 9674125 Fax (090) 9674267
Mass times: Shannonbridge - Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12noon Sun;
Weekdays, 10am. Clonfanlough - Sunday, 10.30am


Shannonbridge
Masses: Each day @ 10am
Adoration on First Fri until 6pm
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €646. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.Moran, M.Murphy, M.McManus
Eucharistic ministers: Group 4
Readers for next Weekend: Group 2, N.Duffy, E.Quinn
Altar Servers for this week: Ciara, Dylan
Mass on next Sat eve for Frank Coleman & family deceased
Anniversary Mass on next Sun for Andy Lestrange
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Clonfanlough
Mass on First Fri @ 7pm
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €522. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: Joey Rigney
Readers for next Sunday: C.Norton
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group E Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: D.McEvoy
Anniversary Mass on next Sun for Michael J. Molloy

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday
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Mass in Prayer Centre, Clonmacnois on Wed next @ 8pm
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Remembering Pope John Paul 2
A Retreat for young adults (18 plus) sponsored by Youth 2000 in St Joseph's College Summerhill 4th - 6th April.
Donation only; food / simple accommodation provided.
For more info & booking see www.youth2000.ie
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Invitation to St Mel's Cathedral, Longford
'This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the Ordination of Bishop Colm O'Reilly as Bishop of this Diocese. To mark his Silver Jubilee, there will be a Mass celebrated on 13th April @ 3pm in St Mel's Cathedral. This Mass also begins our year of prayer for Vocations. All the people & priests of the Diocese are invited to attend this occasion, ending with light refreshments in the Temperance Hall.'
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Co Offaly Childminding Initiative
Will host "Read with Me Week" , to promote the importance of books in the development or pre school children. "Read with Me Sessions will take place over two weeks in Birr, Edenderry and Tullamore libraries.
Childminders & parents who wish to take part or want more info on any aspect of childminding call Fiona on 057-9370630.
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Cowboy 10 Commandants
1. Just one God.
2. Honor yer Ma & Pa.
3. No telling tales or gossipin’.
4. Git yourself to Sunday meeting.
5. Put nothin’ before God.
6. No foolin’ around with another fellow’s gal.
7. No killin’.
8. Watch yer mouth
9. Don’t take what ain’t yers.
10. Don’t be hankerin’ for yer buddy’s stuff.

On Easter Sunday Mick Doherty from Kidlawn had an 11 lbs pike while trolling from his cruiser using a Flying ‘C’ as a lure. Fish was returned alive.

Good to see Brendan Carty, Mary Bermingham and her friend Noreen home for Easter.

Enjoyed watching an hour long special on Showband singer Joe Dolan of The Drifters Showband on Easter Monday night on RTE. Joe died on Saint Stephen’s Day 2007.

Heard on Mastermind on Monday that The Corncrake is a landrail bird.

On Monday The Irish Grand National was won by Hear The Echo. The horse was priced at 33 / 1 and won by twelve lengths. Trained by Mouse Morris and owned by the Ryan Air boss Michael O Leary. The trophy was presented by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and as the commentator Bertie has been used in many Ryan Air adverts. But everything went well. Hear the Echo reminded me of the recent fun night in Moore Hall and I was sure Patrick Kenny would have a wager on The Echo as he played that role in Moore.

Sad to say Patrick does not back horses on Easter Mondays.

Some recent deaths include –

- Mrs Tumulty from Gorth, Moore, who was buried just before Easter.

Mrs Tumulty’s daughter Mary works in Joe Murray’s Hardware in River Street, Ballinasloe.

- On Easter Sunday Tommy Derrane the Ballinasloe plumber was playing bridge at the Galway Bridge Congress. Tommy and his partner had defeated two slam hands and while playing the third hand Tommy got a turn and died.

- Mrs Kenny of Kenny Bookshop and Art Gallery has died this week. Funeral tomorrow.

- Anne Kearns sister of Seamie and Kieran has died. Viewing this evening in her sister’s house near High Street. Removal tomorrow morning for Mass in High Street Church with burial afterwards.

May they rest in peace.

This afternoon a lady came in looking for hot water bottles. She and five family members are on a cruiser on the river and the temperature went to – 4 last night. We found one bottle after a search.

Shannonbridge GAA club are in the process of setting up their own website .Located under www.shannonbridgegaa.ie it will have up to date news, a memory lane and a photo gallery. Contact Jason Mahon or Roger Ryan if you have any photo’s or stories or whatever.

Yesterday there was rain, sleet and hailstones and dry patches. Today there was sunshine for most of the day. Flood level has eased back but the river is level with the top of the old jetty downstream of the quay. Glad to see the Millennium Cross of Daffodils in bloom on the Lamb Island just upstream from the bridge.

Birds continue to be hungry and the peanuts are being gobbled up.

Great to hear that the Fas people are cleaning up some of the walls in the village.

Today they cleaned the wall leading into the Parish Hall. There is a Tidy Town’s meeting tonight in the hall.

GAA
Both Shannonbridge teams were out of luck in this weekend's league games. In Division One we were defeated by Ballycumber on a scoreline of 2.14 to 0.11, while in Division Four our second team lost out to a strong Tullamore side by 3.13 to 0.3

Offaly Senior hurlers completed their league campaign with a spirited performance against Clare yesterday, eventually losing by two points, 1.18 to 2.13. Unfortunately, this means that Offaly will be playing in Division Two next season with Laois, Antrim, Westmeath, Kerry, Carlow, Down and either Dublin or Wexford. All will play in one group, with one team only being promoted.

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 23rd March 2008 - Easter Sun A
Tel (090) 9674125 Fax (090) 9674267
Mass times: Shannonbridge - Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12noon Sun;
Weekdays, 10am. Clonfanlough - Sunday, 10.30am



Shannonbridge
Masses: Mon @ 11am; rest of the week @10am
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €647. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: A.Ryan, L.Turley, M.Mitchell
Eucharistic ministers: Group 3
Readers for next Weekend: Group 1,D.Finnerty, P.Corbett
Altar Servers for this week: Ailbhe, Aoife
'Months Mind' Mass on next Sun for Eugene Sheehy
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Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: € 365. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.Claffey, B.Coughlan
Readers for next Sunday: A.Coughlan
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group D Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: B.Coughlan

Many thanks for your contributions to the SIA (Emigrant) Fund.
Because of your support we have sent €500. 00 to the fund

A VERY HAPPY & PEACEFUL EASTER TO EVERYONE!
Many thanks to all those who made any contribution to the celebration of the Holy Week ceremonies; to all who played a part in preparing for & in the celebration of the Liturgy, and to all who encouraged us by their attendance & co-operation.
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Questions people ask
Q. What happened at the Resurrection? Is there any evidence of a massive explosion of light or anything like that?
A. There are no accounts of the actual happening, nor of any wondrous sights or sounds. Scripture has two sorts of story. First we get accounts of the women discovering that the tomb was empty, a fact that amazed them. Then we read accounts of the encounters of the Risen Lord with various disciples. Perhaps, the greatest proof of the resurrection was the transformation of the terrified and confused disciples into dynamic preachers who inspired thousands to believe in Jesus.
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What does the word ‘Easter’ mean?
The word Easter derives from ‘Eostre’, the pagan goddess of Spring
Easter Sunday nowadays is the first Sunday after the first full moon following the Spring equinox – 21st March; therefore, it can fall as early as 22nd March or as late as 25th April.
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Message from RTE Radio 1
Medium Wave (MW) will close permanently on Mon 24th March.
If you listen to Religious Services (e.g.Sunday Mass @ 10am), you will need to retune your radio to RTE 1 FM, between 88.2 and 90.0 MHz, or to LW 252. For more info visit www.ie/staytuned
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Shannonbridge Tidy Towns Meeting
Next Thurs in the Health Centre @ 8pm. All welcome.
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Co Offaly Childminding Initiative
A 2-day Childminding-in - the - home Course will begin on 5th April in Tullamore. For more info call Fiona on 057-9370630.
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"I object to violence because, when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary, the evil it does is permanent". (Mahatma Gandhi)

Glad to hear today from Declan Ryan that Rose and he had added some notices.

Then I started doing on a spring-clean on my shirt and jacket pocket to remove the reminder bits written on Shannonbridge and Moore United weekly Lotto stubs.

Some might be of interest.

On 8^th March Tom Carty kindly took me along to Moore Hall to ‘A Night of Comedy’

Presented in two parts, beginning with The County Final between Clanna Gael and Na Piarsaig. A great match.

The Echo featured famous singer Michael Grenham complaining to the hall manager Padraig Egan about the echo in the hall. Padraig said there was no echo and Michael bet £20 that there was. Padraig went off to get advice. Along came Patrick Kenny and Michael told him about the bet. He asked Patrick to be The Echo and explained what he had to do. Back came Padraig and Michael started proving there was an echo in the hall. Everything Michael said Patrick repeated from his hiding place.

Padraig was almost convinced but tried it out himself saying-

‘I know where you can buy a bottle of whiskey for £2.’

The Echo came running out shouting ‘Where, Where, Where’

Crime line was a feature on giving a urine sample. The nabbed husband got his wife to fill the bottle. The result showed that he was five months pregnant.

The Three Tenors had Liam Curley, Tom Costelloe and a Muppet singing away to their hearts content.

Second half had a brilliant Acupuncture Irish Style featuring Patrick Whelan, Padraig Egan, Michael Grenham, Marcella Grehan and Maura O Brien.

Then The Three Tenors followed by The Hospital Scene which featured

Patrick Kenny, May Greene, Mary Flynn and Marcella Grehan. Just brilliant as Patrick would say.

At Gerry Greene’s funeral Mall Father O Hanlon asked everyone to remember about Gerry. I remember when the Lotto was started up and the Jackpot was 500,000 Euros.

After some years this was increased to One Million. In the pub one night somebody asked what you would do with a million pounds which was a great amount of money at that time. Someone said if they won that they would give 100.00o to each of their children.

Gerry Green said that he would have nothing left if he did this. Gerry had ten children and suddenly one million was broken into small pieces.

After the funeral on Saint Patrick’s Day (17) I was telling Ned Hendrick about my memory. Then I remembered that when Ned first came to work in this area it was for Gerry Green. Ned remembers that his first day in this area was on Saint Patrick’s Day 1954 when he came to Greens farm.

Ned told me that the two little holes in the cavity block wall in his yard are being used at present by two Blue Tits that are setting up nests there. He is amazed at the speed at which they fly into the hole.

Today our neighbour Alo Moran has a special birthday as he hits the four score.

So Happy Birthday Alo. Noticed his sister Rita Kenny in the village on Sunday.

Rita was married to Willie Kenny, a brother of the late Johnny Kenny from Cloneish.

On Sunday Peggy Byrnes arrived home after three weeks in Sydney in great form and with a wonderful tan. She was lucky to meet her stewardess sister Sally in Sydney.

Banagher held its first Patrick’s Day parade last Sunday since its last parade 46 years ago.

Everything went very well and hope they keep up the tradition.

In Ballinasloe Barry Quinn told us that they had a good parade. I enquired was the town Brass and Reed Band playing and was surprised to hear that they disbanded a few years ago.

The Irish Times have a service where you can choose a FrontPage from The Irish Times going back to 1859. See www.ireland.com/frontpage for details.

Athlone Community Radio is on 101.6FM.

Last Friday on The Late Late Show Sonny Knowles (75) was featured singing a song.

In his early days Sonny played with Earl Gill and later The Pacific Showband.

Joe Darcy was a brother of the late Father Ned Darcy.

Glad to hear that my Saturday night friend Mary Craughwell won at Bingo in Saint Mary’s Hall Athlone this past week. She plays Bingo twice a week and keeps telling us that she never wins. Now we know.

After Mass on Sunday last for the late John Joe Egan, Woodbank, his son Eamon Egan told me that I had won the ‘Where’s That’ competition in the Inland Waterways News (www.iwai.ie) The picture showed part of the old cast metal iron swing bridge at Shannonbridge with the name Thos Rhodes Engineer in stand out relief.

News from across the bridge tells us that Roscommon County Council

-Plan to erect four more roadside lights. ( two for year 2007 and two for year 2008)

-Plans to resurface the roadway.

- Erect new signage at Naughtons.

Glad to meet Marly and Edith Miller from Vermont on their recent visit. For Marly this was his first trip to Ireland but Edith had been here twice before.

Glad to hear that friends Ken and Betty Smith will be heading this way in a few weeks from now.

The Radio Eireann medium wave band is going off the air real soon but should be available on FM or whatever. A letter in today’s Irish Times tells of a disgruntled Belfast listener who has difficulty picking up the new service line and now fears that he will not be able to hear Sunday Miscellany on a Sunday morning. Promise to give you the new wavelengths soon.

Flood has crept back up again. Lots of primroses and daffodils in bloom and the chorus of birds heard from the neighbouring gardens while at Darren Egan's viewing on Tuesday evening was out of this world.

Recent Deaths.

Some recent deaths in the Shannobridge area:
Jerry Greene, Blackwater Lodge, passed away last week after a long illness and was buried in Clonamcnoise on Saturday last.

Joe Darcy, Clonmacnoise has died and his funeral to Clonmacnoise was on Monday last.

The death also occurred of Mary Rooney (nee Curley), London and Creevagh. She was a sister of Martin Curley, Creevagh. After requiem mass in Shannonbridge yesterday her funeral left for Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim where her late husband was also recently interred.

Margaret Caulfield Senior, Belmont, has died at the great age of 98 years. She was Mother of Ann Kelly, Clonmacnoise. Her funeral is tomorrow, Thursday, in High Street.

Finally, sad news of the sudden death of 21 year old Darren Egan, Shannonbridge. He will be laid to rest tomorrow in Clonmacnoise.

May they all rest in peace.

Bookies Shop.
The recently opened bookmakers shop in Shannonbridge has now closed again!

St Ciaran,s Youth Club - Table Quiz Wednesday 26th March.
Great to see a functioning youth club in the parish again. They are wished every success. A fund raising Table Quiz in Killeen's, Shannonbridge, takes place next week on Wednesday 26th March. Lets support this worthy cause and help get the club off to flying start.

Easter Date

Easter is early this year - 23rd March. In fact, it is within 24 hours of its earliest possible date.
Easter is calculated as the Sunday immediately after the first full moon that occurs on or after the 21st of March.
This year the full moon actually occurs on the 21st - Good Friday.
The earliest possible date for Easter would be 22nd March.

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 9th March 2008 - 5th Sun Lent A
Tel (090) 9674125 Fax (090) 9674267
Mass times: Shannonbridge - Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12noon Sun;
Weekdays, 10am. Clonfanlough - Sunday, 10.30am

Shannonbridge
Masses: Mon - Fri @ 10am
Mass for Feast of St Patrick, next Sat 15th March @ 12 noon
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €526. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.McManus, C.Slattery, A.Corbett
Eucharistic ministers: Group 1
Readers for next Weekend: Group 5, C.Mannion, C.Doolan
Altar Servers for this week: Megan, Michaela
Mass on next Sun for the late John Joe Egan & Margaret O'Shea
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Clonfanlough
Mass for Lent on Mon @ 7pm
Mass for St Patrick's Feast on Sat @ 10.30am
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €340. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: B.Kilduff, E.Kilduff
Readers: St Patrick's Feast, D.Norton; Sunday, H.Coughlan
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group D Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: B.Coughlan
Mass on nest Sun for the late Francie Devery

Celebrating St Patrick in 2008
Next Sun is Palm Sun, the beginning of Holy Week.
Since the days of Holy Week & Easter Week take precedence over all feasts & solemnities, the feast of St Patrick must be transferred this year. Normally, the feast would be moved forward, but in order to keep the feast as close as possible to the traditional date (17th March), Saturday 15th March was chosen. Thus the liturgical observance of St Patrick will take place on 15th March.
Will this be a Holyday of "Obligation"?
No. The general rule is that when a Holyday is transferred, then it is not of "obligation". It remains, of course, a solemn feast, best celebrated by attending Mass on that day.
This occurred last in 1913, and will not happen again until 2160!!
However, some may remember the year 1940, when St Patrick's day fell on Palm Sunday.
Feast of St Joseph (normally celebrated on 19th March) will be solemnised on Friday 14th March, in Ireland only.
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Meeting of Parish Pastoral Council
Mon @ 7.30pm in Clonfanlough
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First Penance for First Communicants
Next Tues in Clonfanlough Church @ 7.30pm
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Meeting of Members of BOM of all local schools
Next Thurs @ 8pm in the Girl's School, Ferbane
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Youth 2000 will have a Vigil Service from 11pm to 4am on 14th - 15th March in the Prayer Centre, Clonmacnois, starting with Mass. All welcome to pray for the renewal of faith & evangelisation of Ireland. For more information contact Helen on 086-1678027.
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Co Offaly Childminding Initiative will hold an information workshop for intending Childminders on 26th March @ 7.30pm in Tullamore. Cost, €5 per person. Call Fiona on 057-9370630
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Shannonbridge GAA Club will hold a Church Gate Collection on 15th -17th March in aid of Conradh na Gaeilge Language Fund.
This is a national collection.

Paddy Kavanagh, the guide and leader was in the village today with a couple from Rome. I asked the lady how she had come in contact with Paddy and she told me that she found him in The Lonely Planet. Is that another name for Athlone?.

Another couple from Wisconsin were on a castle trip seemingly as they had come from Westport and were going to visit Clonmacnois, Birr Castle and then go on to Kilkenny. I thought that they might have come over with Rip Dwanny’s group to Castledaly Manor but they said not. They told me that Rip had a fine hotel and restaurant in their home town. They preferred the freedom of doing their own look about than organised bus tours.

Heard that a number of cars and trailers were parked at the bridge from Michael Doherty, so I went up to have a look. There were six pike anglers that had come over from the Merseyside with three cars and their own fishing boats and engines on trailers.

Phil Lewis caught two pike of 11 lbs and 8 lbs fishing with drifted herring from an anchored boat.

Sean Ness from Widle ? had a pike weighing 16 lbs using herring while fishing from an anchored boat at 25 feet depth of water.

All three fish were caught on the Shannon and returned alive.

The river gauge today was 3.37 metres and most of the flood has gone off the Callows.

Had a phone call from the cousin Frances in Manchester today telling us that she is in good form. She was with our other cousins John Francis and Inge and there is a chance that John Francis and his son Aidan will be over around Saint Patrick’s Day.

What promises to be a night of comedy comes to Moore Hall next weekend.

The poster advertising the event call it A Night of Comedy featuring

Patrick Kenny, May Greene, Marcella Grehan, Mary Flynn and many other acts.

It takes place on Saturday and Sunday night and commences at 8pm.

Three charities will benefit from the proceeds. Admission is 10 Euro and OAP’s and Children are 5 Euro.

When I asked Patrick Kenny if there was a complimentary ticket going with the two posters displayed in Killeens, he told me he was sorry but all the tickets were bought up two months ago. So what’s a guy to do?. Go to Moore Hall on Sat /Sun night at 8pm and pray you get in and enjoy yourself.

Yesterday morning we awoke to snow falling. It was soft snow and melted away quickly.

In the afternoon I met a couple who have purchased Jack Kenny’s old home in Cappaleitra village and are in the process of cleaning and redecorating. The girl mentioned that she was a good friend of Mary and Kevin O’Brien and asked about Mary’s mother Teesh Coughlan. This morning after the Active Retirement Group meeting Teesh told me that Mary knows the girl well and her mother in Coosan but she just cannot remember their names. Must have something to do with age as Teesh tells me that her birthday is tomorrow and so Happy 83 Birthday Teesh.

Walking down to Ned Hendricks’s house last week I noticed that the foundation stone for the old school has been preserved on the wall in front of the three houses built on the site.

It reads as follows -

Shannonbridge National School Founded by Rev. F. Duffy P.P. AD1866.

So I looked at the school that closed last year. The stone there reads –

Oliver Plunket National School 1940.

The founder Father Pat Higgins is not mentioned

Mothers Day has become a special day of celebration in Ireland as is befitting and Fergal Moran from The Fort Restaurant told us that it is their busiest Sunday of the year. This year The Fort had to arrange three lunch sittings to cope with the demand.

Fishing has got a start in the past two weekends after the flood has almost receded from the Callow land. Gerry Casey and John Gleeson have been out pike fishing on both weekends. The first weekend Gerry had a fine pike that weighed 16.5 lbs caught on dead bait and released alive. On Saturday 1^st March Gerry and John fished upstream and John hooked a fine brown trout that weighed 8.5 lbs. Bait used was a dead mackerel This fish was also returned alive. River level on last Wednesday was 3.45 metres.

Hope that John and Gerry will take part in two pike competitions being organised – one in Northern Ireland and the other in Leitrim Details are available at website www.anglingireland.net There is a limit to 240 anglers fishing from a lake boat with two anglers per boat.

Family tree search today. Annie Norton from Clonmacnois emigrated and got married in Bournemouth to Donal Eaton. They had four children – Denise Forway, Helen Kurlapski, Dawn Harvey and Eddie Eaton. Eddie died in 1997. Denise is over here in Ireland and looking up information on the family. Today she is visiting Clonmacnois and calling to see Gus Claffey who has the record of grave allotment for the cemetery. Denise mentioned the Merrigan Family and that her mother is pictured in a book. Wishing her well in her search.

The birds are hungry judging by the nut feeders that would normally last a week are now half empty after two days. So keep them in mind.

The book Cool Metal – Clear Water tells the history of the old trading barges on the Irish Canals and is published by The Heritage Boat Association www.offalyhistory.com

The front cover shows the 61M Barge berthed at the warehouse at Shannonharbour.

Thirteen men are around the barge and three on the bankside. P.J. Carroll tells us that one of the men on the barge was his late uncle. The book notes the history of each barge and the owners. There are many pictures of the barges and even one of the early horse drawn barges. Copies are available locally or through the website above.

About ten days ago one of the Hungarian group that visited last year in connection with the Statue of the Madonna and Child that was taken out of Ireland by Bishop Walter Lynch of Clonfert, for safety during the Cromwellian period, and is presently in the basilica of Gyor in Hungary. A six day pilgrimage to the shrine in Gyor, and an Irish Festival and excursions to Budapest, Lake Balaton, Bratislava and Vienna takes place from 12 – 17^th July 2008. Further details from Mary Kelly: Pilgrimages Abroad, 64 Middle Abbey Street, Dublin. Telephone 01-8731444.

When they were last here I asked their photographer Szabo Bela (Hungary) www.belafoto.hu to try and get a photograph of the village bridge at Shannonbridge showing all 16 stone arches and the main navigation arch. The returned member had a photo about 18 inches wide taken from the front of the car park at The Fort Restaurant and it shows all the bridge and the water tower next to the school is visible behind many of the village buildings. I tried to contact Szabo by e-mail asking to make the picture available for you to see. I don’t know if he speaks the same Hungarian as we do.

On 28^th February Doc and Dick took me to an information day at Tullamore Court Hotel

Organised by Heritage Council of Ireland www.heritagecouncil.com that covered a range of items such as –

-Grants process, applying for funding, Grant drawdown.

- How to extend the Life of a Thatched Roof.

- The repair of Slate roofs.

- Bats and buildings.

- Traditional Farm Building Grants.

- Discussion.

Lunch and all facilities were taken care for by The Heritage Council.

I found it a most interesting day as many of those attending had old houses or buildings

Or Bats that they wanted to preserve. There are grants available. See website.

For me the talk on Bats and buildings given by Ferdia Marnell from National Parks and Wildlife was the outstanding part. The guidelines are available at www.npws.ie and are titled Bat Migration Guidelines for Ireland. The girl at the seminar reception table told me that they have lots of interesting books in their Rothe House headquarters in Kilkenny and has promised to make up a parcel for Shannonbridge Library. Good to hear as this is Book Week for libraries. Visit Shannonbridge Library on Thursday from 7 to 9pm in The Health Center and do it soon.

On Sunday 24^th Feb Peggy Byrne flew to Sydney to visit Johnny and Violet Coleman and I’m sure many more Shannonbridge and Irish people over there. Peggy has a sister working with British Airways which she used. Sally normally flies the London to Los Angeles route but the week before Peggy flew Sally was asked to do the London Sydney trip on the Saturday. She agreed. Peggy flew on Sunday. They were almost on the same flight. No doubt they will meet in Sydney. I remember that Sally was on the flight when I first went to San Diego for an operation. She was good to know on that flight and helped make it more comfortable for Pat and myself.

Last weekend was a great weekend for The Kerins Family. David rang his mother Anne on Friday night 29^th February to tell her that his girlfriend Gemma Moore from Ferbane had used the Leap Year privilege and proposed to him. Anne was busy preparing a surprise Hen Party for daughter Miriam Kerins. Miriam is engaged to Trevor Malone Belmont and they plan to be married in the new Clearwater Hotel in Ballinasloe on 10^th April. The wedding and reception will take place in the hotel.

Danny Kerins is engaged to Mary Devery from Clonfert and they have arranged their wedding for 29^th August with reception in Racquet Hall Roscrea. Looks like Anne is going to have a busy year.

The Irish Times is celebrating its 150^th Anniversary this year and have changed their font and added many more features. Including some extra price charges. Their web site remains www.ireland.com

Noticed a report on Wed 27^th that President Mary McAleese was in the German city of Wurzburg, where she paid tribute to St Killian, the Cavan born monk martyred there in the 7^th century. She visited St Killian’s tomb and inspected his personal bible, as well as other manuscripts which contain some of the oldest written examples of the Irish Language. Of course Killian was in Clonmacnois and a church was dedicated to him there.

Some recent deaths include Paddy Mooney, Wexford, and a brother of Eileen in Garbally Jewellers. Paddy was a frequent visitor to Shannonbridge and applied his knowledge in trimming trees around the village. May he rest in peace.

On Monday3rd March Maureen Macken from Drum was laid to rest. Maureen is survived by her husband Bill and three sons. May she rest in peace.

Last week a niece of Babs and Gladys West called in and lent us a collection of old post cards put together by Babs West. Some are dated 1907 and I noticed two ‘Greetings from Three Rivers’ sent by the late Father Sonnie Kinlough. The sister Gladys collected stamps and so many of the stamps are missing. During the Second World War one had to get permits to send mail. So many of the cards were stamped ‘Permit Granted’

Babs West was a music teacher in Ballinasloe and her sister lived in Sligo.

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 2nd March 2008 - 4thSun Lent A
Tel (090) 9674125 Fax (090) 9674267
Mass times: Shannonbridge - Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12noon Sun;
Weekdays, 10am. Clonfanlough - Sunday, 10.30am

Shannonbridge
Masses: Each day @ 10am
On First Fri there will be Adoration all day until 6pm
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €667. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: J.Kelly, M.Killeen, A.Keena
Eucharistic ministers: Group 4
Readers for next Weekend: Group 4, S.Grennan, P.Duffy
Altar Servers for this week: Ciara, Dylan
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Clonfanlough
Mass on the First Fri @ 7pm
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €311. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: B.Kenny, M.Lantry
Readers for next Sunday: L. & A. Devery
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group C Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: A.Rohan
Mass on next Sun for the late Mary & Michael Kelly

Prayer Centre Clonmacnois
Will celebrate its 10th Anniversary on Wed 5th March with Mass @ 7.30pm. The main celebrant will be Bishop Colm O'Reilly.
All welcome.
Ardagh & Clonmacnois Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2008
27th May - 1st June - 5 nights - fully inclusive Price, €679.00.
Booking forms available now for the pilgrim section from
Joe Walsh Tours 8/11 Lower Baggot St, Dublin 2.
Tel: 01-2410810 / 2410800
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Projects for the Parish
We are planning to add a porch at the side door of the Church in Clonfanlough, to extend the car parking around the Church, to make a car park opposite Clonfanlough Hall; also to build a wheelchair-accessible toilet at Shannonbridge Church.
If there is anybody in the Parish willing and able to undertake these works please let us know. Plans for pricing will be available shortly
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MOVE - Men overcoming violence
"are currently running a programme. For more info contact Cyril on 090-6472174 or 086-1721564".
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Co Offaly Childminding Initiative
An information session on Tax exemption will take place on Thurs 6th March in Tullamore. For more info call Fiona on 057-9370630.
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Fashion Show in aid of Ard Scoil Mhuire, Ballinasloe
Wed 5th March @ 8.15pm in Shearwater Plaza Hotel. Adm €15.
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Dochus Nasamu Children's Home
Used clothing collection for homeless orphans in Kenya, Mon 3rd March, at Shannonbridge Hall car park, between 9-12noon.
For more info call 087-6890995.
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A new Christian
We welcome into the Christian Community Amelia Roche-Ikhimioya daughter of Nicola & Isaiah, who was baptised last weekend.
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St Joseph's Penny Dinners wish to express their thanks for your support in the recent Table Quiz. The proceeds were €110.
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"Every time you smile at someone, it's an act of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing". (Mother Teressa)