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 7^th 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.