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.