Agnes Butler nee Greene, Moystown, Shannonharbour has died and was laid to rest in High Street cemetery on 1^st November after Requiem Mass. Her remains were laid out in her son John Butler’s home in Belmont which is almost directly across from the old railway station. Among the many mourners were her sisters Lily and Josie.

May she rest in peace.

Joe Grenham, Creagh husband of the late Bernie died on Tuesday 28^th October and his burial took place on Friday 31 October in Creagh cemetery after Mass in Creagh Church.

At the burial I was talking to an old school pal John Bohan who told me that Val Martin and Joe Grenham and he were a regular partnership at the weekly Seniors golf outing on Wednesdays at Ballinasloe golf club.

May he rest in peace.

On Monday two female travel writers visited Clonmacnois and stayed overnight in Ely House guesthouse. Their host Brian Carroll told them about the Moneygall connection with Barack Obama. Moneygall near Roscrea has many premises decorated in support of Obama and the two ladies were seeking out roadmaps on how to get to the village.

After Obama’s victory today Brian Cowen our Taoiseach congratulated him and invited him to visit Offaly where his forefathers came from.

The last Tuesday in October was the coldest October day in Ireland since 1948.

What is this global warming we are hearing so much about?.

Mike Sharry and his boat have arrived back in Shannonbridge after a lengthy voyage downstream. He was held up in Portumna last week as the 100 year old swing bridge was replaced by a new structure. Mike was hoping to be the first boat to pass through the new swing bridge but he had to settle for second slot.

The family of the late John Carty Clonfad held a fund raising Fancy Dress night in Millars of Ballydangan recently in aid of the Oncology Unit in Portiuncula Hospital where John was a patient on many occasions. The night was a great success and raised over 4000 Euro on the night. Donations since then have raised the total to over 5000 Euros.

A very sincere thanks from the Carty Family to all who supported.

Sister Marie of the Ursuline Sisters in Ard Chiarain, Raghrabeg told the Shannonbridge Active Retirement meeting that she had found someone who can make use of used stamps for the missions. So a box was placed in Killeens bar inviting people to donate stamps. I was surprised to get a letter from Bernice Kelly from Moate this week with loads of old stamps. Bernice told me that she had visited the pub and saw the stamp appeal. Like me she was wondering what they do with the stamps. Sister Marie told me that a Kiltegan priest friend had found an outlet for sale of the stamps. Only this weekend this priest called to Ard Chiarain and the back of his car was full of used stamps. Have you a bunch of old Christmas cards somewhere in a box with old stamps attached. You can send them direct to The Kiltegan Fathers, Freshford, County Wicklow Ireland or to our local Ursuline Sisters.

Two organisers from the King of Clubs fishing competitions were in Shannonbridge last weekend. The 2009 King of Clubs will be held in May and based in Birr. Their competition for wheelchair anglers will be fished at Donamon in Roscommon

The angling notes on Monday’s Irish Times irishtimes.com and angling@irish-times.ie

Has information on the new plans for fisheries in Ireland.

Last Sunday Joe Flanagan, 85 from Tullamore visited Shannonbridge while his family visited Clonmacnois. Joe told us that he often came to Shannonbridge with the late Jimmy Bracken on Lumley’s bread van. Joe worked for another Tullamore bakery called English but on his Saturday day off he went on the delivery run with Jimmy Bracken.

Joe now lives in Chapel Lane in Tullamore and is as bright as a button.

John Kinlough London posted me a copy of an obituary from Camden New Journal from a 30 November 2006 titled ‘Tributes to happy and courageous Michael’.

The story of Michael Larkin born in Shannonbridge (where Stevie Kenny’s house now is) and lived in Primrose Hill until his death in 2006 at the age of 86 years.

Read the full story at http://www.thecnj.co.uk/camden/113006/obit113006_01.html

Thanks to John Kinlough for forwarding the copy.

Weather has become mild these past few days with fog an odd night and little rain.

The river level has dropped a little.

Two people have mentioned recently that Thomas Rhodes who cast the swing bridge at Shannonbridge in the 1840’s had a brother Cecil who was in the mining and exploring fields and who went to Africa. Is it possible that Rhodesia was named after Cecil?

Ken and Betty in California have a golfer friend who intends coming to Ireland in March on a golfing holiday. He was interested in The Golfers Guide to Open Fixtures known as the Green Book. This book is chock full of information on open fixtures for golf courses all over Ireland and the information is compiled researched and published by Oliver Hilliard Shannonbridge. Oliver has items included up to end of March in the 2008 Green Book. He says that many golf courses organise their open days from April through the summer and autumn. Anyhow a copy of the Green Book is on its way to Santa Barbara.