Oral History CDs Launch.
Was at the launch of the most recent batch of oral history recordings for Co. Offaly last Friday, by the Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society in Tullamore. Local people who's reminiscences are now recorded are Pat Killeen and Kieran and Eilish Kelly. Also included are Mary Ryan, the last resident left in the townland of Curraghbee and Seamus Claffey of Ferbane. Copies of these recordings are being placed in the Irish Universities for future research and of course they are also available at OHAS, Tullamore. Extracts from the recordings are broadcast each Saturday evening at 6pm on Midlands Radio 3.

GAA.
Mixed fortunes for Shannonbridge in the league last weekend. Our Seniors were beaten by Walsh Island on a score of 2.13 to 0.10. Looks as if Walsh Island could be on the way back to former glory and the line up of the Intermediate Championship will be interesting with Doon and St Bridgids also looking for a quick return to senior status.
Our Juniors recorded a good win in the Div.4 League by overcoming Rhode by three points - 1.12 to 1.9.

The weather forecast for the next five days according to The Irish Times has bits of rain shown for nearly every day. Pray that they have got it wrong.

Met two ladies from Hanover on last Friday who told us that Killeens Bar and shop is featured in a book called Lautlos which is the German word for silence. According to Anja Kopp and Karen Wiemexer the principal in the book is not a murderer as somebody had told me previously. They regard him as more of a hero. He still carries out a series of murders in Germany and plans his next move from the pub in Shannonbridge.

The author of the book is Frank Schatzing and it was worth writing up the name of the book and author and hanging it up for display.

Teesh Coughlan comes up with some funny sayings at the Tuesday get together of the Shannonbridge Active Retirement Group after Mass on Tuesday morning. Last week it went like this –

Old and Cold

And Hard

To Lie With

Good to see Mike Winrow on holiday last week and visiting Shannonbridge wit his mother and father and sister. They are based in Woodford but have no fear. Mike and his fishing friend Chris Mather have plans to come on a fishing holiday later in the year.

On Friday evening Harold Holding and his wife Kay visited Shannonbridge to celebrate Harold’s birthday.

And he met many of his old Shannonbridge school pals including Tom Carty, Mick Mannion, Oliver Darcy, Pat Duffy and Mick Killeen. Harold grew up in Cloniff which is the hill about 1.5 miles down the Clonmacnois road. He now lives in Mullingar. Harold was sorry that he missed meeting Jim and Maureen Killeen from Chicago but looks forward to meeting them when they come over in August.

Another welcome visitor home for the weekend was Dermot Burke from England. Dermot is son of the late Martin and Mary Burke.

There has been a movement of gravel from the sand pit opposite the New Houses across from the church. Apparently the weight of sand has caused cracks to appear in the high retaining wall. I have not heard what the finish will be.

Good to see the brothers and cousins from America home for Colin and Niamh’s wedding.

Some local deaths include –

Eileen Mc Cann nee Murphy, Templedew and of Garbally Jewellery Ballinasloe who was buried in Rathfarnam on Saturday past.

Tom Killeen, from New Road Clara has died Tom was reared in Falty Moore and worked in Shannonbridge and Ferbane Power Stations. Tom was married to Jo and they had a son and daughter. Regretted by his sisters and brother Padraig Tom was also laid to rest on Saturday in the Monastery Cemetery.

- Peg Rock, Clonfinlough, wife of Andy Rock died on Friday and was laid to rest in Clonmacnois after Requiem Mass today. Peg had three daughters.

Mrs Dermot Staunton, Creagh died on her 88^th birthday. Her burial took place today in Creagh Cemetery.

May they all rest in peace.

Shannonbridge Fishing Report dated 26^th May 2006

The river level today reads 2.26 metres on gauge at Shannonbridge. Heavy rain on one night last week.

Lots of wind on Sunday and again today. Clouds of peat swept up by the wind causing an nuisance.

Many anglers did not record their catches last week. Some committee members from the King of Clubs visited the area at the weekend fishing and taking photographs.

Local reported seeing some dead fish on the shore near Clonmacnois.

I questioned whether it was a good idea putting a lot of tench in a keepnet at this spawning season and lost some good catches from two anglers as a result.

-Cyril Godbold from Ipswich fished on the Shannon and Suck in overcast conditions on 20^th May using maggot, sweetcorn and dead roach to catch mixed bag of bream roach perch and pike.

-Steidl Guathar from Eichstutt fished the Shannon on 19^th May using wobbler to catch two pike of 60 and 65 cm. He enjoyed the day.

-Terry Daley from Yorkshire fished the Shannonbridge floating jetty bay on 19^th May using feeder and maggot to catch 8 hybrids weighing one pound each. Good fishing says Terry.

-Gloria Mason from Cannington Summerset fished the Suck on a fine 20^th May using feeder and maggot to catch two tench of 3.5 lbs and 5 lbs with lots of bits. Her best day so far.

-Terry Archibald from Doncaster also fished the Suck on 20^th May and used a lure to catch his biggest pike yet. It weighed 19 lbs and was returned alive.

- Young Philip Fischer from Dauchingen fished on the Suck on 20^th May and used a dead fish to catch his first pike that measured 49 cm.

-Kevin Boltz from Bristol fished on the Shannon on 20^th May using feeder and maggot to catch 25 lbs of roach. No bream says Kevin.

-Robert Tilley also from Bristol fished on the Grand Canal on 16^th May and used pole and sweetcorn to catch 29 lbs of bream and tench. Best bream weighed 4 lbs.

-Graham Shadwell from Tholey fished the Shannon on a cloudy 22^nd May and used feeder and maggot to catch 35 lbs of hybrid and roach.

-Trevor Tarraut from Basingstoke fished alongside Graham on 22^nd May and used feeder and maggot to catch 43 lbs of hybrid and roach.

--Henk van Zon from King of Clubs fished the Hot Water on a sunny/good 25^th May using feeder and worm to catch two tench around 6 lbs each.

-His friend Jan van Scheidel also fished the Hot Water yesterday and used feeder and worm to catch 6 tench weighing 25 lbs. Beautiful tench and a nice afternoon fishing.

-Thei friend Pierre Brusgeesl also went to the Hot Water and caught 8 tench using a Canon 40D. Good spot.Nice camera.

-Godfrey Mackley from England fished the Suck on a sunny windy 25^th May and used feeder and maggot to catch 25 lbs of a mixed bag. Wind caused problems.

Wedding.
A big congratulations to Colin Killeen and Niamh Houlihan who were married last Saturday.

Bird Watch.
Ger Casey reports four or five pairs of Great Crested Grebe on the Shannon, upriver of Clonmacnoise, last week.

Bike Rally.
Lukers, Shannonbridge was a Mecca for motorbike enthusiasts last weekend when over 350 bikers attended a rally organised by the local An Ri Dubh Motorcycle Club. The night, complete with live bands was a great success and it is hoped to make it an annual event.

Late Kieran Feighery, Shannonharbour.
Sad news of the unexpected death of Kieran Feighery, Shannonharbour. Kieran, who was in his early forties, will be laid to rest tomorrow after 12 oclock mass in High St. May he rest in peace.

Shannonbridge Fishing Report 19^th May 2008

The water level on Monday 19^th May was 2.24 metres at Shannonbridge. I enquired from Waterways Ireland last week if they had this height information available on their website and was told it was too dangerous to put this information on their website. Say a prayer for them.

A good week weatherwise with lots of sun and no rain. Reports that fishing went off when sun came out.

- Tony Bryon from Doncaster fished the Grand Canal on 10^th May in sunshine using maggot, worm and sweetcorn. First day he had 6 lbs of roach,

- Shane Collinson from Doncaster fished the Grand Canal on 10^th and 11^th May in sunshine,

First day he caught 30 lbs of roach, tench and skimmers. Lot of weed flowing through.

Next day he had 25 lbs of tench, bream, an odd rudd and one eel. Pre baited the swim.

-Miss Lena Ruckabeile, aged 14, from Scronbuch, Germany fished the Shannon at Clonmacnois on 14^th May in the sunshine and used a wobbler to catch three pike measuring 75 cm.- Gavin, Dave and Barry from Montgomeryshire AA fished the River Suck on 14^th May on a hot and sunny day, using maggot, caster, worm and spinner to catch roach, bream, pike and perch. No weight or number given.

-Desmond Mace from Nottingham fished a Backwater off the Shannon on 14^th May in good weather using maggot and groundbait to catch 70 lbs of bream to 6 lb.

-Tony Murphy from Ballinasloe fished the Hot Water on 15^th May in sunshine using maggot and sweetcorn to catch 11 roach, one 2 lb perch and two tench that weighed 4.25 lbs each.

Nick Price from Gort fished the Hot Water on an overcast 9^th May using sweetcorn and maggot to catch 2 tench and 1 bream. The bream was caught at dusk.

- Joe Coleman and four friends were on their first cruiser holiday last week. They enjoyed the weather and the beautiful location. They saw a Tornado forming one day and commented that there were not many people around. Tony used a Sink and Draw method using dead bait and caught four pike in the 6-7 lbs range.

-Paul Reynolds from Drogheda used the same method and caught 11 pike with best of 10.5 lbs.

- Tom King Clogherhead caught 3 pike all weighing about 5 lbs.

- Noel Donnelly from Drogheda caught 2 pike both about 11 lbs.

John Doyle Jun. from Carrickmacross used lures and caught 9 pike, best weighing 6 lbs.

-Paul Cahill from Balbriggan, Dublin also used a lure to catch 12 pike in 7 days. Excellent fishing and surroundings says he.

Back on the bankside Paul Tottman from Hampshire fished a Backwater on overcast 18^th May using maggot sweetcorn and feeder to catch 9 tench that weighed 40 lbs

-Nick Hillier from Hampshire fished a Backwater on 19^th May in overcast and windy conditions. He used maggot and feeder to catch 14 bream that weighed 70 lbs.

-Brenda Archibald from Doncaster fished at Shannonbridge on overcast 19^th May and used a feeder and maggot to catch a brown trout that weighed 1.5 lbs. It had pike teeth marks showing.

- Terry Daaley from Yorkshire has been fishing on the Grand Canal and River Suck from his small canal boat. His best day on the canal was on 10^th May fishing float and maggot in sunshine he caught 10 tench to 4 lbs best and one 2 lbs bream. For a five day stint on the canal he caught 30 tench and 80 roach, bream and perch.

- Terry Daaley fished for 5 days on the Suck he also used float and maggot to catch a mixed bag of some 200 bream, roach and perch. He found an amount of fish concentrated in the dead end mooring harbour at Ballinasloe.

- Pat Meere from Cork fished the River Brosna on 18^th May using small nymphs to catch some nice brown trout. He enjoyed the day.

Backwaters are fishing well and lots of tench are being caught at the Hot Water stretch at Shannonbridge but are not written in the Catch Book at Killeens so I have no details.

-

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 18th May 2008 - Trinity Sun 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: €471. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: G.Brennan, D.Deeley, V.Hynes
Eucharistic ministers: Group 3
Readers for next Weekend: Group 3, O.Costello
Altar Servers for this week: Ailbhe, Aoife

Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €281. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: B.Maleney, H.Hynes
Readers for next Sunday: D.Norton
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group B Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: N.Egan

Clonfanlough Social Group will have a special Remembrance Mass for the deceased members and friends of the group.
It will be on Fri 23rd May @ 7.30pm in the Hall.
Everybody is welcome, and light refreshments will be served.

We celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi on next Sunday
We hope to have a short 'Corpus Christi Procession' after the 12 noon Mass on the day, & conclude with Benediction.

Umbra Clothing Collection -Supporting education of poor children
Collection of all types of clean, dry, ladies, gents, & children's clothing, also bed linen, curtains, towels and shoes.
Fri 23rd May in Carpark @ Shannonbridge & Clonfanlough Halls.
Please bring items for collection before 12 noon.

HB Ice-cream Sun in aid of Down Syndrome Children
Sun 18th May in Ferbane GAA Pitch, 1 - 5pm, plus 1994 Co final rematch, Shannonbridge V Ferbane @ 3pm.

Co Offaly Childcare Committee
Will hold a Rainy Day Activities Workshop on 21st May in Tullamore.
Cost is €15. Annual Parent's Seminar will take place on 14th June in Tullamore Court Hotel, 10 - 4pm. Cost is €20.
For more info & booking contact Tracey on 057-9135878.

Co Offaly Childminding Initiative
Free information session on Garda vetting for Childminders in Athlone on 22nd May @ 7.30pm. Call Fiona on 057-9370630.

Kipa Imara
Congratulations & God's blessing on the following children who received the Sacrament of Confirmation last Wednesday.
Seán Milner, Ciara Casey, Christian Brazil, Merrick Daly,
Francis Guinan, Aaron Healy, Edward Keena, Laura Keena,
Gavin Maleney, Nicola Molloy, Steven Mannion, Ian Rocke,
Colleen Fitzgerald, Shauna O'Shea, Aisling O'Shea,
Jack Egan, Ronan McEvoy, Niall Higgins, Michael O'Shea,
Seán Hynes, Sophie Downey, Tara Mannion, Sarah Byrne,
Catherine Guinan, Megan Costello, Siobhán O'Riordan.

Many thanks to all those who made any contribution to the celebration of Confirmation & First Communion; to all who played a part in preparing for & in the celebration of the Liturgy, and to all those who provided the refreshments.

GAA.
Shannonbridge Junior footballers got their JFB Championship campaign off to a great start with a four point win over Rhode, at the away venue, on a scoreline of 1-10 to 0-9. Well done lads. There will be a break for a number of weeks in the Senior Football Championship action due the the county team's involvement in the Championship.

Corncrakes.
Still waiting to hear my first corncrake here. Only three reported up to yesterday - at Shannonbridge, Banagher and Clonburren.
Was on the Isle of Iona, Scotland, last weekend, home of St Columba's monastery foundation and where the Book of Kells was written. Two persons buried in the graveyard there are MacBeth (of Shakespeare fame) and John Smith (1938 - 1994), Tony Blair's immediate predecessor as leader of the British Labour Party. Heard five corncrakes, loud and clear in the middle of the day; one was calling from a roadside vegetable garden! Just like old times.

Some Belgian visitors gave us a brochure of Na Fir Bolg festival which takes place in Vorselaar on June 27, 28 and 29. Find out more information at www.folkfestival.be

Maybe some musician or group might be interested in taking part in the festival this year or next year.

Another rhyme for the pub was presented today by Bill Rock from Mucklagh.

You Could

If You Would

But You Wouldn’t

Now You Would

If You Could

But You Cant

The great good weather for the past two weeks has meant for me a change of shirt. The summer shirts lack pockets and so there is no place to store my stationery provided by the Shannonbridge and Moore Lotto slips.

Anyhow this morning Mass was celebrated for the late Sister Agnes Kenny, Clondelara and Fiji Islands. Sister Agnes died in the Fiji Islands in the past two weeks and was buried there. As a youngster she was known as Patricia and had a pet name Trish.

She became a Sister of Cluney nun some 60 years ago. Her niece Carmel visited her in Fiji and she took her to the graveyard and showed her where she wished to be buried.

May she rest in peace.

At 3.55 today a Clergyman stopped outside and enquired of a visiting angler where the Confirmation was taking place. I told him it was scheduled for Clonfinlough Church at 4.00pm. Hope the Bishop made it on time.

Yesterday two men from Crank House called with posters for The Dawn Chorus Walk on Sunday 18^th May at 4.30 am. This year the walk is scheduled for the Boora Heritage area.

Plan to meet in the car park, which can be found by turning right at Boora Church as you travel from Cloghan towards Tullamore.

On 1^st May Aisling Corbett daughter of Noel and Marie Corbett, Shannonbridge married Paul Mc Kay from Clontuskert. The ceremony took place in High Street Church with Father Frank Murray and Father Michael Finneran officiating. The reception was held in The Shamrock Lodge. Congratulations to them both.

On 10^th May David Carty was married in Naas. Wishing them all the very best.

Number of enquiries about accommodation in the area recently.

Here are the Bed and Breakfast houses in operation –

-Vera Carty at Ashbrook Telephone 090 96 74166

- Brian and Dymphna Carroll at Ely House Telephone 090 96 74205

- Patti Corbett at Rachra House Telephone 090 96 74249

- Eamon and Marie Mc Manus at Laurel Lodge Telephone 090 96 74189

- John and Kay Brennan at Kajon House Telephone 090 96 74191

Self catering available at Killeens Telephone 090 96 74112

“ “ “ at Laurel Lodge.

Ard Chiarain self catering units operated by Ursuline Sisters for personal retreat etc

Contact Sisters at 090 96 74305

Pat Joe Claffey, aged 92 years, brother of Stephen and Seamus has died and was buried in High Street on Wed 30^th April. May he rest in peace

Jane Galtress, nee Mooney, Doon, has died in England. Burial will take place of her ashes in Clonmacnois on 31^st May. May she rest in peace.

Congratulations to Gerry and Lucy Quirke Shannonbridge on the birth of their baby daughter Ruth.

Congratulations to Mikey and Clare Cunney on the birth of their son Brendan.

Maeve Craughwell 93 told us that she and her sister Eileen Meaney 90 share the same birthday.

How many years have Kieran Coakley and Mary Kelly acted as quiz masters for the weekly winter series of table quizzes in Killeens.? This was the final question at this year’s final quiz. The answer is 15 years.

At the May Bank Holiday past I went along to Ballyvaughan in County Clare with Dick and Doc to attend the weekend law school.

This year the theme was titled East meets West – A Clash of Cultures Find out more about it at www.burrenlawschool.org

The variety of lectures and approaches was interesting. John Hume sang a few songs.

He sang Danny Boy and explained that it was a mother’s song for her son who had emigrated during the Great Famine.

On the Monday we went to visit John O Donohue’s grave at nearby Fanore.

Paddy Kavanagh the tour guide called in recently with a group of Hungarians.

Paddy told us that all they were interested in was Clonmacnois. Apparently some of the monks from Clonmacnois brought their message to Hungary.

On 22^nd April I wrote to Sinead O Reilly at the Offaly Arts Office asking her to have a look at this web and wondered if it would be possible to provide funding so that photographs might be included. No funding available.

In the last few days John Kinlough has visited the area. John is a son of the late Frank Kinlough who died 24 years ago this week. John has set up a website for the Kinlough Family and the address is johnkinlough@hotmail.com

He gave me an old Shannonbridge School photograph showing a line up of the two teachers and 88 students dated about 1930 to 1932.

Alice Egan identified about ten of the children and the teachers John Lane and Miss Mc Dermott so far. Pity that it cannot be shown here but have a look at the Kinlough web.

On 8^th May met two couples from the Czeck Republic who were on a cruiser holiday on the Shannon. Pavel and Jane Dupal and Milan and Alena Pisa were really enjoying their holiday. They had bicycles on their boat and so were able to visit places a little away from the river such as The Bog Rail Tour, Clonfert, and Meelick etc.

They were also fishing and had caught a few medium sized pike.

Colin Killeen and Niamh Houlihan are getting married on Saturday in Abbey Duniry near Portumna. It is great to see the cousins getting together. Brendan and Eileen and sons Colin and Kevin are over from New Jersey. Jim and Maureen are here from Chicago and John arrived on Monday. Eamon arrives tomorrow and Siobhan and three companions plan to arrive on Friday.

By coincidence Tom Mc Donnell from Dublin rang yesterday looking for Jim and Maureen’s phone number as Tom and his wife Dympna fly to Chicago today.

John got little rest after his flight as Mick and Jim and Maureen and himself headed down to Oughterard on Monday night. On Tuesday they visited Innismore and saw the church dedicated to Saint Ciaran of Clonmacnois. Today was golf in Ballinasloe.

Shannonbridge Fishing Report Dated 13^th May 2007

-On 29 / 04 Andy James and Tony Holt, Huddersfield fished Mickie’s Backwater in the rain using poles with maggot worm and caster. They caught 18 lbs of hybrids and roach with nothing over a pound.

- Next day they fished the Hot Water at Shannonbridge on a fine day with downstream wind using heavy stick floats at 4 feet. They caught 50 lbs of roach to a pound and odd hybrid, perch and rudd. Hardly fed – fish were there spawn bound.

On 1^st May Andy and Tony fished on the Brosna in the rain using stick float with maggot and caster to catch 50 lbs of roach and the odd hybrid with two lovely rudd for 1.5 lbs.

Next day A and T fished at Correen Ford on the Suck in warmer but windy conditions using stick float and topper float to catch 36 lbs of mainly roach with the odd hybrid. Pacey but nice 7 foot depth. Hard – preferred single bait.

-Bradford regular Dave Kemp fished on the River Suck on 29 / 04 in showers, using a legered dead bait to catch a pike weighing 24 lbs. Ooh La La was his comment.

Next day he again fished the River Suck using corn and worm with a feeder and caught 34 lbs of hybrids and skimmers.

-Steve Nell also fished the Suck on 29 / 04 and used feeder and maggot to catch 13 lbs of hybrids and roach.

-Kevin Bekooij party on cruiser fished the Suck on 07 /05 using worms and caught 40 large eels and 4 pike. Think they were night fishing.

- Marcin Zodachi of Polska- Club fished on the Shannon on 08 / 05 in sunshine using a stick float to catch a pike measuring 90 cm. Nice ? ? ? was his comment.

-Niklas Price Gort Galway fished the Hot Water on 2^nd May in sunshine using sweetcorn and feeder to catch 5 lbs tench and 15 lbs of roach. His first tench this year.

- Mattaras Compes , from Vienna fished on the Shannon on 9^th May in sunshine using a wobbler/lure to catch 6 pike measuring about 60 cm. Great experience says Matt.

-Young Paul Cahill from Chapel Gate fished the Shannon on 10^th May in sunshine and used a lure to catch three pike weighing 8, 6, and 3 lbs. The 8 pounder fought for a good 10 minutes. All returned alive.

--Regular visitor John Phillips from Wales has completed his two week visit. Found conditions very cold and windy at first with no big fish showing until the second week.

)n 29^th April John fished at Correen using maggot catching 42 fish all under a pound for a 17 lbs bag.

Next day he fished Clonfert Backwater using maggot to catch 12 lbs of bream and roach with one 5 lbs pike.

On 2^nd May John was at Correen using maggot to catch 9 lbs of fish including a 2.5 lbs bream.

On 3^rd May John fished at Shannonharbour and caught 12 lbs of bits on maggot. He caught three pike – one on maggot.

On 6^th John was back at Correen using dead bait on a windy dry day catching 3 pike with best weighing 11 lbs.

On 8^th May John fished 100yards below Correen Ford on a windy day using maggot to catch 14 lbs of bream /roach and using dead bait to catch a 7 lbs pike.

On 10^th May John fished Correen above the island, on a cloudy windy day using maggot / worm to catch 10 lbs bream / roach, and using dead bait to catch two small pike of 3 lb and 5 lbs.

On 11^th May John fished at the Culliagh Boathouse using worm and maggot to catch 12 lbs of bream / roach and he caught two bream to 5 lbs. He plans to return the same time next year.

-Barry, Dave and Gavin from Montgomery Angling fished Shannonbridge Harbour on 11^th May in sunshine using red and white maggot and worm to catch a mixed bag of bream, roach, perch and hybrids. Comment – good day, water very clear.

-Tony Murphy Ballinasloe fished the Hot Water on a windy 1^st May using mixed maggot to catch 25 fish rudd hybrid and perch.

On May 11^th Tony again fished the Hot Water and caught 15 roach and two tench one sized 1 X 1.5 lbs and 1 X 2 lbs.

-Jurgen Johter from Freiburg fished the Shannon at Shannonbridge on a sunny 11^th May and used dead flies to catch a pike of 1.09 Metres , 27 lbs weight.

-Three Nottingham anglers fished on the Backwater on 12^th May in sunshine using sweetcorn and maggot. Desmond Hall had 20 lbs of tench and bream. Young Shane Starr caught 10 lbs of roach and bream. Harry Starr senior had an 80 lbs bag of bream and tench with both bream and tech over 5 lbs.

Remarkable patch of fine sunny weather has dropped the river level to 2.35 Metres and giving welcome heat to the water for spawning fish. The first visiting Corncrakes have arrived with two heard on the Callows near Banagher and one at Shannonbridge in Borannagh Callow / island near where River Suck joins the River Shannon.

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 11th May 2008 - Pentecost Sun 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
Mass on Wed for the late Sr. Agnes Kenny, who died in Fiji.
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €472. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.Moran, M.Murphy, M.McManus
Eucharistic ministers: Group 2
Readers for next Weekend: Group 2, N.Duffy, E.Quinn
Altar Servers for this week: Athene, Caitríona
Mass on next Sun for the late Dessie & Sonny Keena

Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €187. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: N.Egan, A.Rohan
Readers for next Sunday: L. & A. Devery
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group A Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: D.McEvoy

Station Mass on next Fri @ 8pm at the home of E. & P. Egan, Clonlyon

We will celebrate Confirmation on 14th May in Clonfanlough @4pm

Clonfanlough Social Group will have a special Remembrance Mass for the deceased members and friends of the group.
It will be on Fri 23rd May @ 7.30pm in the Hall.
Everybody is welcome, and light refreshments will be served.

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.

Ballinasloe Flower & Garden Club
Talk on 'Tender Plants in Irish Gardens' by Paul Maher in Gullanes Hotel on Wed 14th May @ 8pm. Adm for non-members is €5.00.
Grower's competition: 'Vase of Mixed Herbaceous Plants.'

Youth 2000 will have a Prayer Vigil from 11pm to 4am on 16th / 17th May in the Prayer Centre, Clonmacnois, starting with Mass. For more information contact Helen on 086-1678027.

Build Character . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jim Rohn

"Character is not something you were born with and can’t change like your fingerprint.
Character is built by how you respond to what happens in your life. Whether it’s winning every game or losing every game, getting rich or dealing with times, you build character out of certain qualities that you must create and diligently nurture within yourself. You've got to look for those things in your heart and in your gut. You’ve got to chisel away in order to find them. Just like chiselling away the rock in order to create the sculpture that has previously existed only in your imagination."

The Irish Wheelchair Association will hold a Church Gate Collection on next weekend. The funds raised will help to provide essential services for people with physical disabilities in Co Offaly.

GAA.
Our senior footballers had a great win in the first round of the championship last night when they defeated Ferbane by 2-9 to 0-9. Well done to all concerned and here's looking forward to a long and exciting summer!
The junior game v Rhode was not played and will probably be next weekend.

Painting Exhibition.
An excellent display of paintings by local artists held in the hall today. The standard was a credit to all exhibitors. This is an initiative of the Shannonbridge Active Retired Assoc. and hopefully the painting will continue.

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 4th May 2008 - Ascension Sun 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: €565. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: A.Ryan, L.Turley, M.Mitchell
Eucharistic ministers: Group 1
Readers for next Weekend: Group 1, D.Finnerty, P.Corbett
Altar Servers for this week: Megan, Michaela
Mass on next Sun for the late Mary Kate Higgins

Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €275. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: A.Walshe, R.Gunning
Readers for next Sunday: A.Kelly
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group E Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: B.Coughlan


Shannonbridge ARA will hold an 'Exhibition of Art & Cake Sale' in the Hall on Sun 4th May after the 12 noon Mass.
Garda Pairic Farrelly will give a talk on Safety in the Hall on Tues 6th May, @ 10.30am. All welcome.
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Clonfanlough Social Group will have a special Remembrance Mass for the deceased members and friends of the group.
It will be on Fri 23rd May @ 7.30pm in the Hall.
Everybody is welcome, and light refreshments will be served.
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We will celebrate Confirmation on 14th May in Clonfanlough @4pm
Day of prayer & preparation for Confirmandi on Fri 9th May.
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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 wefwe omwene on 9674125.
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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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Car Boot Sale on Sat 10th May In Ballinasloe Showgrounds.
Gates open @ 8.30am. All proceeds in aid of Rehab.
For more info contact Michael on 087-2254211.
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Tidy Towns Shannonbridge
A 'Clean-up' of the Village will begin on Wed 7th May @ 7pm.
Assembly at the Church, all volunteers welcome!
Please bring along work tools with you.
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"The secret of a good life is to have the right loyalties and hold them in the right scale of values." (Norman Thomas)

"Everything has its wonders, even darkness & silence, and I learn whatever state I am in, therein to be content." (Helen Keller)