On last Wednesday’s outing by the Active Retirement we ended up in the Hodson Bay Hotel in Athlone. A one-day Women’s Conference was just ending and The Farmers Journal Newspaper people were distributing their re-usable shopping bags. One of the ladies gave me a bag. I should have mentioned to them about Mick Hynes’s mare and foal having being taken away some months back and they were found in a farmer’s shed down in Kerry. The farmer recognised the mare and foal from a photograph that had appeared in The Farmer’s Journal. They all lived happily ever after.

The results of the 2008 Tidy Town Competition were announced a couple of months ago. Birdhill won the tidiest village, Kenmare won the best small town, Duleek won the schools award, Westport won the large town award, Ennis won the large urban center award, Glenties won the 50^th Anniversary award and Westport was judged to be Ireland’s Tidiest Town in 2008.

How about Shannonbridge?. After a great effort the village was awarded 17 marks more than last year and the best marking to date.

Shannonbridge School is being put to good use this winter with six evening classes taking place. These include Computer Classes for beginners and advanced, First Aid, Thai Chi, Interior Design and Salsa. Heard that one of the Grannies doing the Computer class has written to Santa for a Laptop. Hope she is lucky.

Some old notes. David Mallon was here on Tuesday 3^rd ?. David is a son of Tony and Polly Mallon and they lived in Shannonbridge 43 years ago. David told us that he keeps in touch with the O Hara Family who also lived in Shannonbridge. Noel O Hara died in America but David keeps in touch with his wife Hettie and their daughters Ruth and Susan.

On Friday 12 ? Syd Shine from Athlone called in on his way to a Regatta in Dromineer. He normally travels by boat but this time they drove by car. Syd is in great form, is 88 years young and still has a magical touch on the piano. Syd of course once had his own band called Syd and The Saints and he owned The Crescent Ballroom in Athlone.

Another ex Shannonbridge person revisited from Perth Australia in August. Agnes Keogh stopped off in Shannonbridge for four days on her trip to Ireland and England.

Mention of Perth reminds me that Eamon Kelly, son of Tom and Jacinta went to Perth earlier this year. About two months ago Darren Finn who used to work in Killeens set off to Perth and link up with his friend Eamon. Darren plans to work there for a year.

Shannonbridge’s own Danny Kearns got married to his beloved Mary in Eyrecourt on 29^th August and they held their reception in Racket Hall Roscrea.

Two new items that were given to me during the summer.

- Borrow Money from a Pessimist

- They don’t expect it back.

A Very Delicate Thing !

If you speak its name

You will break it.

Any reader that uses a private plane should be interested in Aircraft Aids.

Look for them at www.trionvionics.com You will travel safer.

A visitor during the summer was seeking a photograph of the late Tommy Naughton who lived two miles up river from Shannonbridge. If you have a photograph you can forward it to him at pogmoton@aol.com

Anyone interested in a copy of Lament For The Bogs can request a copy from pjwatson@utvinternet.com

Phil and Geraldine Coulter entertained at this years Festival in Terryglass in late August.

They travelled upstream to Shannonbridge. Phil told us that it was 40 years since he was last in Shannonbridge. And he is still alive. A remarkable man no doubt.

This years Shannonbridge Mid-summer Festival in Shannonbridge featured a performance from The Tullamore Gospel Choir which was very enjoyable. It was great to hear today that they had competed in a Choral Festival in Sligo this weekend and won the competition. Shannonbridge’s own Rose Ryan is one of the members and also adds information to this site.

On 11^th August Stephen Naughton re visited Shannonbridge. Stephen is a son of Kevin and Ann Naughton and he left Shannonbridge when he was only one year old. The family lived in the house which was known as Dan Kenny’s and was located next to Rachra House Guesthouse on the river side. Stephen’s parents are both now dead.

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