The Republic of Ireland soccer team defeated Croatia 2 – 1 in the game played at Croke Park last evening. Croatia scored in the first minute and team captain Robbie Keane scored both the Irish goals.

The Irish rugby team play Italy in Rome on Sunday and trainer Declan Kidney is using the same starting team as played against France last week. Match starts at 1.00pm Irish time.

The radio news today told of the death of playwright Hugh Leonard aged 82 years. Hugh’s best known play was ‘Da’. He wrote a popular weekly column in the Sunday Independent. Some thirty years ago Hugh owned a cruiser on the river and was a frequent visitor to Shannonbridge. May he rest in peace.

Had a phone call today from Ed Brown from England. Ed has been tracing the Coughlan Family Tree as his mother was a Coughlan. He is still searching for a copy of the book by Brendan Ryan called ‘A Land by the River of God’.

The Moore Foroige Club produced an interesting pamphlet a few years ago. They had a page of an interview with Patrick Kenny about cutting the turf and making the hay and churning and making the butter. Funny but he told them as he remembered those times and there are no funny additions.

There is a reprint of an interview with Patrick’s father, the late Willie Kenny from the Athlone Observer of September 1985. Look for Celebrating 100 years of Life in Moore.

Found a Name Origin Card on the name Liam. Here is what it says-

Shortened version of

William which

originated in Ireland

where the name is very popular.

A true man, bursting

with energy and life

force, he makes the most

of what comes his way

and uses his talents to

the full.

You can’t go wrong with

this man.

Another card tells –

Liam meaning

‘desiring protection’

Does not always admit to

his true feelings

He is a commanding Figure

His ability to plan ahead

Is legendary.

Weather has continued to be bright and sunny with frost at night.

Rain is forecast for the weekend.

A sign that summer is nigh came in an e-mail yesterday from an angler in England looking for bait supplies for his holiday in The Harbourmasters Guesthouse in Shannonharbour starting on February 28^th.The biggest bait (maggots and worms) distributor in Ireland delivers twice a week from Easter to October.

Both the River Shannon and Suck have a high winter flood but there are places to fish. Our visitor will hopefully enjoy good fishing on the Grand Canal.

Yesterday at 11.00pm a controlled explosion was used to demolish Boiler 1 in Shannonbridge Power Station as part of the demolition of the old plant. There was a fog in that area and all that was heard was a muffled noise.