Congratulations to Simon Hynes who celebrated his 30^th 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 25^th 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.