Monday, April 28, 2008

Shannonbridge Fishing Report dated 28th April 2008

River level is back down to allow good bank fishing. Many visiting pike anglers are using cruisers and four anglers from Belgium are staying in one of the local guesthouses and using the lake boats that are available. Good to see a number of coarse anglers arriving.

- Rene Pesgens from Holland fished with dead bait on 20th April on the River Shannon in the rain and caught four pike best measuring 101cm.Op ET gaat

- Alois Moisinga from Holland fished the Shannon on 21st April in the rain with dead bait

and had pike measuring 95, 83, and 77cm.Bit et gaat.Goannog effe door. His comment.

- On Saturday 26th April our own Gerry Casey caught his best pike ever while fishing on the Shannon on a dry and cloudy day. Using a lure Gerry had a 24 lbs pike which was returned alive.

- On 27th April Martin Lynch from Ballyboy fished at Devenish Island on a dry cloudy day and used dead bait to catch 9 pike weighing 31 lbs. All returned alive.

- Neville Hayes from Drumalga fished the Hot Water outlet on 27th April and also used dead bait to catch two pike of 4 lbs and 5 lbs which he returned alive.

- The four Belgians Paul, Johan, Roger 1, and Roger 2 recorded four days catches.

On 24th April they fished the Shannon in sunshine and showers for four hours trolling plug baits and caught 16 pike.

On 25th April they fished the River Suck in cloudy conditions for four hours using plug baits and caught 18 pike which they returned alive as they do.

On 26th April they fished the Shannon on a sunny and clouded day and again trolled their plug baits for three hours catching 14 pike. Biggest was 87 cm.

On 27th April they trolled the Shannon for four hours and caught only three pike.

- Dave Kemp from Bradford fished the River Suck on 22nd April on a fine day and used corn and maggot on a feeder to catch 15 lbs of roach and hybrids.

On 24th April he again fished the Suck in the rain and used corn and feeder to land 12 lbs of hybrids and skimmers.

On 25th April Dave fished the Grand Canal in sunshine and used a pole and corn to catch 8 lbs of roach, rudd and hybrids.

- Steve Nell from Sheffield was fishing alongside Dave Kemp and recorded three catches.

On 22nd April on the River Suck he caught 12 lbs of hybrids using a feeder and sweetcorn.

On 24th April on the Suck in the rain Steve used fresh maggot and feeder to catch 20 lbs of hybrids and roach.

On 26th April fishing in the rain on the River Suck Steve used feeder and corn to catch 17 lbs of roach and hybrids.

- B. and J.Peels from the Netherlands fished with dead bait from their boat on 28th April and caught ten pike that measured between 70 to 90 cm. which they returned alive.

- John Phillips from Wales travelled overnight to get to Shannonbridge. He tried his luck for a couple of hours at the Hot Water and had 9 lbs of roach and hybrids on maggot.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 27th April 2008 - 6thSun Easter 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
Adoration on First Fri until 6pm
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €723. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: K.Price, C.Curley, P.Anderson
Eucharistic ministers: Group 4
Readers for next Weekend: Group 6, E.Casey, D.O'Carroll
Altar Servers for this week: Ciara, Dylan
Mass on next Sat eve for the late Ciaran J. Mannion;
Mass on next Sun for the late Martin & Mary Donegan
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Clonfanlough
Mass for the First Fri will be on Thurs @ 7pm
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €202. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.Guinan, A.Guinan
Readers for next Sunday: I.McEvoy
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group D Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: A.Rohan
'Months Mind' Mass for Mary, (Cis) Shea on next Sun

I will attend the sick & housebound on next Thursday
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Meeting of Parish P.C. in Clonfanlough on this Mon @ 8pm
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We will celebrate Confirmation on 14th May in Clonfanlough @4pm
'Ceremony of Light' will be in Shannonbridge on 29th April @ 8pm.
Day of prayer & preparation for Confirmandi on Fri 9th May.
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Stroke Support Group
Meeting on 30th April @ 7pm in the Health Centre Ballinasloe
Topic: "Exercise after Stroke."
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Co Offaly Childminding Initiative
Childminder network night on Thurs 8th May in Tullamore @ 7.30pm on Childminding policies & procedures & health care.
Free information session on Childminder tax exemptions on 14th May in Birr. For more info contact Fiona on 057-9370630
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We welcome to the table of the Lord the children who are to receive Jesus, the Bread of life, in their First Holy Communion this weekend

Cian Healy Oisín Anderson David Gavin Sarah Murphy
Conor Butler Andrea Arnold Paul Rigney Siobhan Dillon
Lorcan Daly Ciaran Leonard Maria Egan Cathal O'Shea
Sarah Mannion

Friday, April 25, 2008

Jack and Charlotte Collins from Kentucky called in yesterday. They seem to be on a whirlwind tour of Ireland as they arrived in Dublin on the previous day and had visited Belfast, Newgrange and Clonmacnois and were looking for the famous bridge used in the John Wayne movie The Quiet Man. They liked the furze bushes and wondered what the fields were containing the yellow flowers of the oil seed rape.

Yesterday Geoff and Sue Prettejohn from Adelaide stopped off in Shannonbridge on their Waveline cruiser. I thought it a bit strange to see Australians on a cruiser holiday in Ireland. They told us that they had visited a holiday fair in Adelaide and had seen the Waveline brochure. As they were coming to Ireland they decided to spend a week on the Shannon. They searched out the internet for prices and chose Waveline which first caught their eye. Back home they own a flowers and plants nursery so they went on a walk to Raghrabeg to see all the wild primroses in bloom. Sorry I missed seeing them last night as there were cards to be played.

Hear that Bridie Carry, Kieran Kelly and Marie from Ard Chiarain have started a computer class in Banagher.

Looking forward to Mary Craughwell celebrating her 83rd birthday tomorrow night.

Sad news from the Robin’s Nest in the backyard. Three of the eggs that were hatched out the babies died. Kieran Guinan told us that the harsh wind from the north would kill any young birds. No news from Ned Hendricks as to how his two nests in the cavity wall are getting on.

Waiting at the Cloghan Roundabout on Tuesday evening I noticed a black car approach from the Belmont direction and took what I thought was a short cut to Shannonbridge or Banagher. But no. Cool as you like they went around on the wrong side of the roundabout and out the Tullamore road. A few minutes after that a commercial van that was parked in the car park between the Belmont and Ferbane spoke roads decided to visit Daly’s Shop. He drove right across the Belmont road and parked on the footpath facing Shannonbridge. Admittedly there was a slight drizzle of rain at the time.

Ken and Betty Smith kindly took Pat and I and our cousin Kaye for lunch in the Carlton Shearwater hotel in Ballinasloe on Wednesday which was very enjoyable. Saw an old friend Father Viv Tuohy at a table nearby and stopped to say hello. He was with another priest Father P.J.Mannion. This priest asked me if I was related to Jimmy and John Killeen, my brothers. It turned out he was in school with the pair in Garbally and he remembered Jimmy for his singing voice. The two joined us for coffee / tea and Pat told Father Mannion that she remembered him singing one of the leads in a Gilbert & Sullivan Operetta in the college and that she was sitting beside his mother. His mother had her rosary beads along and prayed right through that the son did not hit a bum note. Her prayers were answered. Father Mannion finds two papers on the internet of interest –

.Guardian.ga.net and aljazeera.net for news on the Middle East.

Lots of people dying and around here recently a spate of older people have passed on.

-Jimmy Clancy, Belmont who was a barber died last week aged 94 years.

-Mary (Mai) Blehein, Ballymacward, mother of Maureen Thornhill died on Tuesday and was buried yesterday. The priest giving the homily told us that she would be 98 in July.

- Brigid Turley nee Gavin, Derrylahan was buried today aged 93 years. She was the widow of the late Michael Turley and her son Tom Turley worked in the local Bord na Mona.

- P.J.Kilduff, Cloonshask died on Tuesday and his funeral takes place tomorrow. P.J. was a brother of Eileen Mc Manus and of Mai Kilduff who died in the recent past.

-Maura Burke aged 39 years has died in England. Maura is a daughter of Joe Burke Taughmaconnell and she married a Burke. She is a niece of Kathleen Price.

-Michael Dee from Kerry has died and is now buried. Michael is a brother of Brendan Dee who lives in what was once The Bungalow Guesthouse.

- Yesterday a Dunne man in Birr was laid to rest. He was husband to Jacqui Dunne nee Cloonan who worked in Shannonbridge Power Plant.

May they all rest in peace.

Greetings to Mark Breslin who is now in Wellington New Zealand and liking it a lot.

Weather has got a bit milder with the odd shower forecast for most days this week.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Boat in open water

Is the last frontier on Earth

Where the individual is free to go

Fore, aft, port, or starboa

Based solely on free will

Captain Seamus Garrahy from Gettysburg has his beliefs above printed on the back of his business card.

On Sunday the man from Mayo who uses the shooting range at Lumcloon frequently, called in on his way home. A northern breeze made it cold for shooting so he used gloves minus the finger covers.

He is looking forward to sowing his vegetable garden where he grows a range of vegetables including green runner beans that produce a red flower. In the glasshouse he plants sweetcorn which has to bend when it reaches the roof.

Great number of Gerry Green’s family cousins neighbours and friends attended the Months Mind Mass for Gerry on Sunday.

The weekend brought a number of regular visitors including –

Ken and Betty Smith nee Connolly from Santa Barbara,

Steve and Liz Nell from Sheffield and Creggan,

Dave and Paulien Kemp from Bradford.

Four almost regulars from Sydney called today after visiting the Orkney Islands and Scotland. William (Bill) Darcy, Harvey Rose, Fred Yakich, Ian Jacobs but without Wally Oliver called in today. On other visits they had stayed at Michael Creggs and Laurel Lodge. Locals will remember them going on the bus to Croke Park to support the Offaly hurling team and they also helped saving the sod turf.

This time they are staying in Tipperary but look out because they are coming back to Shannonbridge soon. They were wondering if there was any local football or hurling games on around. Yesterday they enjoyed Tipperary beat Galway in the hurling league final? By a couple of points.

Ken and Betty Smith from Santa Barbara are fond of travelling and they told us that when they read on this site about Papua New Guinea as related by the visiting nun they realised that they had never been to that country. When they checked out the cost of a visit there from California via Cairns, Australia they found the airfare would be 14,000 $ dollars each. I think what really put them off was Ken remembering that one of the Rockefellers had visited there and gone on a safari up the river. He went so far on the safari as at that time there were some almost savages living in that area and poor Rockefellers never came back. Is there an opening for Ryan Air one way ticket deal. Or maybe Aer Lingus might repeat their offer similar to the one last week when their computer was offering tickets to America for 5 Euros.

Michael and Nancy Doherty seem to be enjoying their time visiting Aunties in Chicago. They called in to see the brother Jim and his wife Maureen and no doubt they have been planning a little river excursion on the Shannon next month. Mick Sharry reckons that they are going downriver to see Lough Derg and Killaloe.

Michael and Nancy are due to return to Kidlawn next weekend.

It’s almost a week since Eamon Kelly set off for Perth in Australia. Before he went he told us that he was taking his football gear with him so if there is any football team in Perth interested in a knacky Gaelic footballing forward let us know and we will give you contact details.

Charlie and Penny from Bath who called in on a short visit last weekend and told us that they were friends of Dave Smith and John will be glad to hear that Dave Smith and John and two friends are coming to Shannonbridge in August on a coarse fishing holiday.

That cold northern wind for a few days has caused the land to dry out and the river level yesterday was 2.7 metres as read by Mick Sharry.

The first record of a fish catch recorded in Killeens Catch Book for this year was made by Reinhard Leiricia from Taubiug, Germany. He caught two pike of 81cm and 61cm using a wobbler. They were good.

Four people from Finland called in today after visiting Clonmacnois told us that their weather in southern Finland was warmer than our weather. And I was blaming the cold winds coming from the North causing the pike difficult to catch.

Maybe it’s for their good.

Patrick Kenny told us that there was Confirmation in Moore Church on Friday last.

Arch –bishop Neary of Tuam administered the sacrament.

One of his grandchildren must have been for confirmation as a whole gang of Kenny’s had a meal in The Fort Restaurant to celebrate.

On a ticket for Clonmacnois I notice a web address www.heritageireland.ie

The Midlands Arts and Culture magazine for Spring 2008 which is newly released is a review of the arts in Laois, Westmeath and Offaly. The website is www.offaly.ie

I noticed one of the articles has our own Daithi Rua (Dave Donegan) recalling his life in music. Daithi mentions that he is taking part in the Shannonbridge Midsummer Music Festival which takes place this year from 20th to 22nd June.

Keep an eye on Daithi on his website at www.daithirua.com Check out the Offaly.ie site to find how you can get the magazine.

Some recent deaths include the late President of Ireland Paddy Hillary and Michael Mills the one time Ombudsman and a feature writer on the Irish Times. Both were buried last week. May they rest in peace.

Today some of the Cunningham Family whose family came from Nure called in after having visited Clonmacnois in search of their family plot. They had called to Gus Claffey but his records commence in 1954. They told us that a number of the Cunningham Family had moved to Athlone and settled there. They were going to try the parish records.

Glad to get a phone call from Ed Brown from Manchester who was looking for the Shannonbridge website address. Ed has unearthed an assload of cousins in this parish. Ed plans to visit his daughter in Australia soon. He told me that his nephew is a fine swimmer and has been selected to swim in the Olympics so he is practising very hard. Hope he does well

Overheard Patrick Kenny retell one of the Mike Merrigan saying yesterday –

“Jay, I see that Pete’s black man is home”. That was how Mike described when Father Peter Kenny was home on holidays. Patrick was saying that when Pete’s Black Man is home later in the year that he will be celebrating Fifty Years in the Priesthood.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 20thApril 2008 - 5thSun Easter 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
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €501. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.McManus, C.Slattery, A.Corbett
Eucharistic ministers: Group 3
Readers for next Weekend: Group 5, C.Mannion, C.Doolan
Altar Servers for this week: Ailbhe, Aoife
Mass on next Sat eve for the late Margaret & Edward Cogavin
'Months Mind' Mass for Darren Egan on next Sun
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Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €363. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: Parents of First Communicants.
Readers for next Sunday: S.Coughlan
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group C Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: K.Kelly

First Holy Communion in Clonfanlough on next Sat @ 12 noon.

We will celebrate Confirmation on 14th May in Clonfanlough @4pm
'Ceremony of Light' will be in Shannonbridge on 29th April @ 8pm.
Pilgrimage to Rome, San Giovanni Rotondo, Assisi
15th - 23rd Sept, 3 nights Rome, 3 nights San Giovanni, 2 nights Assisi. Price per person sharing €989, including tax & insurance.
For more information please contact Fr John Naughton, Clonfert, on 9675148, or Omukhulundu wefwe omwene on 9674125.
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Proposed New Graveyard
Representatives from the Parish P.C. will meet with Reps from the Co Council and the O.P.W. over concerns that have been raised regarding the proposed new burial ground outside the Townland of Clonmacnois. This meeting will take place on 23rd April, and if you would like to make any submissions for this meeting, please contact the Chairman Larry Rohan on 087/3444216, or Fr O'Hanlon.
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Alzheimer Society of Ireland – National Tea Day, Thurs 1st May
Could you host a Tea Break with your friends, at home or in the office? And give your support to the 22,000 Carers?
There are 30, 000 people in Ireland with Alzheimer’s Disease or related dementia. If you would like to hold a tea break, contact our national office on 1800-719820 on how you can get your free tea pack, or e mail: teaday@alzheimer.ie Money raised in your area stays in your area.
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Stroke Support Group
Meeting on 30th April @ 7pm in the Health Centre Ballinasloe
Topic: "Exercise after Stroke."
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Questions people ask
Q. I think I have a vocation to be a priest, what should I do?
R. Talk about it to a priest, and pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance. Every diocese & religious order organises Vocations Days to help people to discern their calling. A vocation to priesthood is a grace given to an individual for the service of the church-community. Basic requirements of a genuine vocation to priesthood would include a desire to commit one's life to God and the service of the people, a sound faith, regular Mass attendance and prayer, the ability to co-operate with others and being willing to obey authority. (Fr O'Flynn - Intercom)

Friday, April 18, 2008

GAA
Last weekend Shannonbridge defeated county champions Tullamore in Div 1 Football League, played at Tullamore, on a score of 1-10 to 1-9. It was a welcome return to form after a heavy defeat at the hands of Rhode the previous week. Our Juniors were not so lucky going under to St Rynagh's 4-7 to 2-5.

First round of the Senior Football Championship will be against Ferbane in three weeks.

Coming your way shortly the Shannonbridge GAA Website http://www.shannonbridgegaa.com/.

Offaly Senior Footballers were defeated by Clare last weekend in Div 4 of the NFL (1-9 to 1-8). The Faithful County were already assured of promotion.

CD - Ceol 08.
Came across a good CD recently, Ceol 08, the proceeds of which go to the children's charity Barnardos. The CD consists of 16 songs in Irish by well known singers. For example Declan ORourke sings Drochdomhan Mór Alainn (Big Bad Beautiful World) and Mundy sings Cailín na Gaillimhe (no need for a translation there, just watch the Bulmers ads!). There is a lovely track by the band Slide also. They will be remembered for their brilliant gig at the opening of last year's Shannonbridge Mid-Summer Festival. The song is Ag Suil go Rinn Spainneach and is sung by Andrew Murray.
Well worth investing €13 and you will be helping a good cause.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Congratulations to Simon Hynes who celebrated his 30th birthday on Saturday. His sister Susan prepared a red book of This is Your Life containing lots of photographs and other gems of information for all to see. At the party there was a life-size standing replica of Simon.

Last Saturday the celebration continued for the wedding of Miriam Kearns and Trevor Malone and it goes on. Miriam’s uncle Kieran Kearns told us that the Shearwater Hotel in Ballinasloe had four choices of main course including Bacon and Cabbage. Kieran chose this and found it excellent.

Contestant Ronnie on the TV game show ‘Deal or No Deal’ was asked to reveal the secret of a happy marriage lasting 53 years.

His answer in two words “Yes Dear”

The Bushmills Whiskey Distillers are celebrating 400 years in existence this year.

Noticed that one of the TV channels covering the Masters golf at Augusta were using commentary from www.pelzgolf.com who have plans to help golfers soon at Killeen Castle. The fine looking statue was in the advertisement.

The death has occurred of Sam Sloan, Kilcullen. Sam was a son of Garda Sam Sloan who was once stationed in Ferbane. That Sam was married to a Rita Murray from Shrine and their children were Muriel, Noel, Sam, P.J., Frank, Raymond, Philomena and Pauline.

Sam (senior) worked in the post office in Ballinasloe with my mother before joining the new Garda Siochana.

Sam Sloan was laid to rest today. May he rest in peace.

At Mrs Renee O Carroll’s funeral on Friday I met Tommy Swarbrigg from Mullingar. Tommy and his brother Jimmy played with the popular Times Showband for years.

He told me that he stopped playing music in 1980 but got involved in night clubs and discos. For many years he organised the popular Palm Club in Hayden’s Hotel.

Congratulations to Bishop Colm O’Reilly of Ardagh and Clonmacnois on his 25th Anniversary as Bishop. To celebrate the occasion everyone was invited to a Mass in Longford Cathedral yesterday.

The Association Of Irish Festival Events has a website at www.aoifeonline.com

Plenty of sunshine around here yesterday and today. The floods have eased back but in Clonmacnois on Saturday evening there was a wedge of floodwater on the Callow land.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 13th April 2008 - 4th Sun Easter 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
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €534. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: J.Kelly, M.Killeen, A.Keena
Eucharistic ministers: Group 2
Readers for next Weekend: Group 4, S.Grennan, P.Duffy
Altar Servers for this week: Athene, Caitríona
'Months Mind' Mass for Mary Rooney on next Sat eve.
'Months Mind' Mass for Jerry Greene on next Sun
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Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €201. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: B.Higgins, D.Guinan
Readers for next Sunday: C.Coughlan
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group B Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: P.Darcy

Youth 2000 will have a Prayer Vigil from 11pm to 4am on 18th /19th April in the Prayer Centre, Clonmacnois, starting with Mass. For more information contact Helen on 086-1678027.
Pilgrimage to Rome, San Giovanni Rotondo, Assisi
15th - 23rd Sept, 3 nights Rome, 3 nights San Giovanni, 2 nights Assisi. Price per person sharing €989, including tax & insurance.
For more information please contact Fr John Naughton, Clonfert, on 9675148, or Omukhulundu wefwe omwene on 9674125.

St Ciaran's Primary School, Clonmacnois
Parents wishing to enrol their child/children in the above school are asked to contact the school (tel. 090-9674150 or 086/8125221) as soon as possible, in order to receive our information pack. A meeting for those parents will be held in the school on next Tues 15th April @ 7pm.
Meeting for parents of Confirmandi in Clonmacnois School on next Tues @ 8pm.
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Shannonbridge ARA
Member's outing to Galway on 16th April. Please give you name to Kieran or Pat.

Alzheimer Society of Ireland – National Tea Day, Thurs 1st May
Could you host a Tea Break with your friends, at home or in the office? And give your support to the 22,000 Carers?
There are 30, 000 people in Ireland with Alzheimer’s Disease or related dementia. If you would like to hold a tea break, contact our national office on 1800-719820 on how you can get your free tea pack, or e mail: teaday@alzheimer.ie Money raised in your area stays in your area.

Proposed New Graveyard
Representatives from the Parish P.C. will meet with Reps from the Co Council and the O.P.W. over concerns that have been raised regarding the proposed new burial ground outside the Townland of Clonmacnois. This meeting will take place on 23rd April, and if you would like to make any submissions for this meeting, please contact the Chairman Larry Rohan on 087/3444216, or Fr O'Hanlon.

Many thanks for your contributions to Trócaire during the recent Lenten campaign. As a result of your generosity we have sent €3,820.00 to Trócaire.

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Some new babies to look out for in the area.

Congratulations to Emily and Donie Kenny from Clonburren on the birth of their new baby girl. Grandfather Ned told us today that they have yet to choose a name that will fit in with their other four children – Lisa Marie, Edward, William and Stephen.

The Price family were out in force in Dublin last weekend for the Christening of Laura Price and Darach O’Donoghue’s son Tiernan Matthew O’Donoghue. A brother for Rionach and Aedon.

Sarah Price was god-mother for the baby and Muiris O’Donoghue became the god-father.

Today May Kilduff (85) from Cloonshask was buried in Kilbegley cemetery after Mass in Clonfad Church. May was a sister to P.J. Eileen and Dymphna. .

May she rest in peace.

Death notice on paper today of Mrs Billy O’Carroll ex Hoydens Hotel Ballinasloe.

May she rest in peace.

Brigid Kitt told us that Mike Carter once lived in Grouse Lodge. He worked for Butsons across the Shannon in Clonfert. One day Mike and another workmate named Spellman were engaged in cutting down trees and sawing them into logs. Mike noticed something strange with one tree and on investigation they found that it contained the wooden statue of Our Lady now known as Our Lady of Clonfert. This statue was hidden during the penal times for safety and is now on display in Clonfert Church.

Mike Carter was the late Norah Kelly, Shannonbridge and was a grand-uncle of Brigid Kitt. I failed to find a date for when the statue was found. Any Googlers out there.?

Brigid Kitt also told us that a Pat Kelly lived in the two storey house beside Tom Raftery Motors in Clonfad. Pat was a teacher in Mount Mellary and had six in family – Paddy, Michael John, Willie, Father Eddie, Mary and Lizzie.

The local Blackwater Bog Rail Tour has opened for the season. If you find yourself in this area consider using the facility. The one hour trip leaves on the hour so you can time to be there a few minutes before hand.

Sad to hear that Eamon Kelly, son of Tom and Jacinta has plans to emigrate to Australia next Tuesday. Eamon has chosen to go to Perth. Wishing Eamon all the very best.

Rose Ryan heard the Cuckoo on Monday 7th April. This week also saw the arrival of the first of the Swallows.

John Wilson from England told us that he also has a robin’s nest in his garden. The robin is still nesting the four eggs on top of the old fridge.

Ned Hendricks’s two bird nests in the cavity block wall are busy hatching away. They get their food from the ground outside Ned’s workshop and he is keeping a close eye on them for when they start carrying food back to the nest.

John Price was observing some crows last week. One crow picked out a stick and looked at it carefully and rejected it. The next crow did the same as did the third. The fourth crow came, grabbed the stick and flew away with it, satisfied.

Only yesterday I heard of five different Badgers killed on the road. Last night travelling from Ferbane to Cloghan Bill Owens and I saw a fine dead badger. Bill told me that he had seen two others on his way out from Birr earlier last night. Nearer Shannonbridge Mick and I saw another dead badger near Templedew and Mick had seen one that evening near Correen Woods.

Yesterday I noticed a strange lady at Mass. Afterwards she came into the shop and Mick offered her a cup of coffee which she accepted.

She turned out to be Sister Marie Lawlor, born in Crettyland, Kilkenny where her parents had a Pub.

She joined The Sisters of Lady of the Missions in 1949, and was professed in 1952.

In 1961 she was sent to Australia and was based in Perth for four years.

The same year the Lady of the Missions opened their first mission in Papua New Guinea

And Sister Marie moved there, where she worked in the Southern Highlands, the last highland to be explored.

Papua New Guinea she told me is the second largest island in the world. Located above Australia it was colonized by Britain and Germany. The upper part was colonized by Indonesia.

In 1973 Papua New Guinea got independence from Australia.

What goes on is Agriculture, Forestry, Gold mining, Oil. They rear pigs and cattle.

Capital is Moresby and on their flag is displayed The Bird of Paradise. This bird is a long coloured tailed bird which feathers were once used in Ladies Hats.

Some of the smaller islands are named Bouganville, New Ireland and Solomon Island.

Some of the original house made from a type of cane that was beaten and woven and used for the walls, remain in use. Roofs were thatched.

There are two seasons – The Wet Season and the Warm or Humid Season. They get no frost. She told me that everything grows overnight. Their main food is the Kau Kau or sweet potato which takes five months to mature.

Transport 15 seater buses in the Highlands and Toyota trucks from Japan. Boats are used on the coastline.

The Papua people are a highly intelligent people Sister Marie told me. They have fuzzy wuzzy small black curly hair

They are big into rugby.

Snakes are found in the coastal areas and their mountain dog is called A Dingy.

Some 73 different languages exist in the country. Pidgin English originated as a trade language and is now spoken all over. Sounds a bit like our mobile phone text messages.

Gut Morin – good morning.

Mi amams long lukim yu na toktok wantam yu - I am happy to see you and talk to you.

Sister Marie is now involved in pastoral ministry after having taught Catechists in school.

Sister Marie found Ard Chiarain in a book that listed Places of Reflection.

She likes the trees and walks, the self catering individual chalets, the shared chapel, and a Sister Director to accompany in prayer and reflection.

I hope she liked the coffee and thank her for sharing Papua New Guinea with me.

Find Ard Chiarain one mile west of Shannonbridge and you can write to Ard Chiarain, Shannonbridge, Athlone, Ireland. Tel 090-96-74305. E-Mail usac@eircom

Meet you over a coffee.

Sunday, April 06, 2008

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 6th April 2008 - 3rd Sun Easter 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
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €544. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: G.Brennan, D.Deeley, V.Hynes
Eucharistic ministers: Group 1
Readers for next Weekend: Group 3, M.Killeen, O.Costello
Altar Servers for this week: Megan, Michaela
Mass on next Sat eve for the late Paddy Duffy

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Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €171. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: C.Spain, C.Guinan
Readers for next Sunday:
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group A Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: N.Egan
'Months Mind' Mass on next Sun for Joe Darcy

Station Mass on Fri @ 8pm in the home of Kathleen Molloy, Glebe

We welcome into the Christian Community Oran Cox, son of Paul and Gemma, Glebe, who was baptised recently
Meeting of Parish P.C. this Mon in Shannonbridge @ 8pm.
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Shannonbridge ARA
Member's outing to Galway on 16th April. Please give you name to Kieran or Pat.
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Vocations Ireland
Will hold the annual prayer service at Clonmacnois on Sat 12th April from 6 - 7.30pm. All welcome.
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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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Pilgrimage to Rome, San Giovanni Rotondo, Assisi
15th - 23rd Sept, 3 nights Rome, 3 nights San Giovanni, 2 nights Assisi. Price per person sharing €989, including tax & insurance.
For more information please contact Fr John Naughton, Clonfert, on 9675148, or omukhulundu omwene on 9674125.
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West Offaly Training
Now taking bookings for a "Computers for Office Administrator's" course, due to commence in Banagher on 9th April.
For more info contact Carmel on 057-9152003.
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Ballinasloe Flower & Garden Club
Demonstration by Kitty Gallagher on "Spring Magic" on 9th April @ 8pm in Gullanes Hotel. Adm for non-members: €5.00
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The best things to give (Lord Balfour)
To your enemy, forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance;
To a friend, your heart; to your child, good example;
To a father, deference;
To your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you;
To yourself, respect; To God, love; and to all humankind, charity
.

Saturday, April 05, 2008

Good to see my old school pal Fran Kenny /Kefford over from London with her husband Roy Kefford. Fran is from Clondelara and is a sister to Brian, Stevie, Ita, and others.

Roy and Fran have three daughters and some five grandchildren. They have plans to celebrate 40 years of marriage next year.

Greetings to Mary and Martin Grenham from Bermingham and Moore. Martin is a brother of Michael Grenham the singer who was complaining of the echo in Moore Hall some weeks ago.

Enjoyed the fund raising tea / coffee morning in Correen Castle this morning hosted by the Monaghan Family which was in aid of the Alzimers Research.

The Millennium Cross of daffodils on Lamb Island is showing up very well at the moment.

Somebody told us that the bulbs need to be separated in October.

Mary was tidying down the garden on Wednesday and almost disturbed a bird’s nest that had four eggs in it. It was located on top of an old disused fridge. Next morning she noticed a robin in attendance.

Bill Owens told me on Thursday night that a neighbour called him to rescue a baby tit that had fluttered into her house.

On the way to the Carty viewing on Friday Bridie Carry and I saw a beautiful cock pheasant on the roadside. The sun brought out all the various colours that he owns.

Friday I found a wasp in a small coil of cable and disturbed it from its hibernation or whatever. It found itself sitting on a blue flower safe and well a minute later.

An Irish lady on holiday on a cruiser out of Williamstown told me on Friday that it has been five years since they were last on the River Shannon. She has noticed a remarkable change in many towns and villages en route. She believes that a lot of character has been taken away and she gave Dromod and Lanesboro as examples.

Glad to hear on Friday that Alan Gunning son of Seamus and Rosaleen has made copies of the interview that Pat Killeen gave on the local radio some time ago regarding the past history of Killeens Pub and shop.

Some more deaths this week including –

- John Carty, Cloneish passed away on April 2nd. John had fought an eight year fight against cancer with the help of his wife Joan and family and the doctors and nurses of Portiuncula Hospital. John worked all his working life with Bord na Mona. He was a member of the FCA for 43 years and it was in his Sergeant Major uniform that John was laid out in. His burial is after Mass on Saturday morning in Clonfad Church.

- The death has occurred of Vera Timlin, Athlone. Vera was the relic of John B Timlin who worked as an engineer at Shannonbridge Power Plant. The Timlins lived in Saint Kieran’s Park, Shannonbridge, before moving to Athlone. They are survived by three children, Grainne, Luke and Andrew. Funeral takes place on Saturday after Mass in Athlone.

- News of the death of Brendan O Brien of The Dixie’s Showband from Cork. Brendan was found dead in his apartment. He was the lead singer with the band and people link him to the song Little Arrows which remained in the charts for six months. Brendan has five children who are all living in Canada.

May they all rest in peace.

Noticed on a paper recently that President McAleese visited the city of Wurzburg in Germany on 27th March. There she paid tribute to the Cavan born monk St. Killian, who was martyred there in the seventh century. She visited St Killian’s tomb and inspected his bible and other manuscripts. Of local interest is the church in Clonmacnois that was dedicated to St. Killian as well as the name.

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Tuesday, April 01, 2008

The Irish Messenger monthly magazine can now be ordered at www.messenger.ie

The annual subscription (inclusive of postage) for EU countries and Ireland is 20.40 Euros. Cost for England is £16.80. Other countries cost $30 or 24 Euros. If you order through a local agent it costs less. Mary Killeen takes orders for the Messenger in Shannonbridge and locality.

Alec Mooney from Doon celebrated his 21st birthday recently.

Yesterday Heleni Loman from Germany / England was in Shannonbridge to celebrate her 70th birthday. Heleni is connected to the family that recently moved in to Jack Kenny’s old home in Cappaleitra village.

Today is 1st April and is associated with Fools Day. In this area it is also Paddy Kenny’s birthday and today he celebrates his 80th. Happy birthday Patrick. John and Shane Hardiman took him for a trip today from America to Shannonbridge and hopefully they will take him home again. For John Hardiman he produced a bit of magic and wrote down his exact age for him. Brad Crawford as Paddy calls him will be glad to know there were funds left in his Christmas pool to buy the trio a drink for Paddy’s birthday.

Theresa Daly phoned from San Diego on Sunday to let us know that a good friend of ours Warren Wendt had died last Friday. I have fond memories of Kay and Warren. Back in the 80’s after an operation Pat and I used to meet Kay out walking her dog called Duffie.

Coming up to Christmas we were preparing to move into an apartment as four of the Daly family where we were staying were coming home for Christmas. Talking to Kay one day we mentioned that we were moving into an apartment for Christmas. She immediately said that Warren and she and Duffie were heading out to the mid-west for the Christmas and that we were welcome to use their house. An offer we took up but an offer that remains of their kindness. Warren and Kay had planned to visit Ireland a few years ago but it was not to be. May he rest in peace.

Yesterday Tom Coonan from Geashill called in. Tom told us that he had taught school with my sister Doc in a town near Carlow many moons ago. He plans to call to see her when he is next in Connemara.

Tonight on RTE radio 1 at 10pm there is a 30 minute programme featuring the late John O Donohue, author of Ainm Cara, Blessings and other books.

Yesterday Captain Seamus Garrahy from Gettysburg and party stopped at Shannonbridge on their cruiser. Seamus told us that he met the nephew Sean Killeen in Louisiana I think and Sean told him to call. Seamus seems to be involved with Gung Ho Sauce.com in Gettysburg. Two of the ladies brought Moby for a walk and later Seamus brought him some chicken. There was no Gung Ho on the chicken and anyway Moby is a ham dog.

One of their party was very interested in battles and fortifications and had a good look around the Shannonbridge Martello fortifications and found the prison.

Seamus Garrahy left a present for Sean and one for the pub. The box contains a used gun shell containing sand from Iwo Jima which was collected by Cpl Seamus Garrahy on 14Mar07, from Invasion Beach “Green”. Boxed in a United States Marine Corps box with a picture of a group of soldiers raising the American flag on the inside.

A number of Shannonbridge Active Retirement people are heading off to the Galway Bay Hotel in Salthill on Sunday for three days. Galway has also been chosen for a one day trip on 16th April.

John Price and Louise were surprised to hear that Creagh Church was once an army church attached to Costume Barracks Athlone.

Noticed that the five day weather forecast has sunshine for every day this week. It has a bit of wind going with it yesterday and today. Rain last week has caused the river level to rise. Lapping over the old jetty downstream.