On Monday 27th April I attended the Brendan Ryan lecture on The R.I.C. in West Offaly
which was held in the Offaly Historical Society premises in Bury Quay,
Tullamore.Brendan is planning on producing a book using the facts and information
which he has gathered.
There are lots of interesting items on display in the premises and a reprint
of The Irish Times dated 7th June 1979 caught my eye. Titled Ruins -
all that remain of once proud Shannonharbour.
The Irish Times website has a digital archive which contains editions from
the last 150 years. Check it out at www.irishtimes.com/archive

Sean Hogarty has arrived home after visiting his son John and family in Australia.
Sean told us that John checks this web regularly and wants to know why there is not
more updates. Hopefully with the new update more information and news
will be added.
Anyhow the river level has risen some four feet in the past two weeks.
This is a nuisance for anglers and farmers and boat people and birds
and animals etc.

Last weekend there was an interesting three days at the Burren Law School
in Ballyvaughan in County Clare. The coarse was on Arts & The Law and
some very interesting lectures and walks were on the programme.
Check it out at www.burrenlawschool.org
On Sunday morning we attended Mass in Fanore and afterwards visited
the grave of John O Donoghue who wrote Ainm Cara and Requiem. The
graveyard is about three miles south of Fanore Church.
There is an interesting CD of Ainm Cara now available showing lots of
views of the Clare and Connemara landscape which John liked.

Leinster beat Munster in the semi-final of the Heineken Cup in rugby
and qualified to meet Leicester in the final in three weeks time.
Ray Walsh tells me that Irishman Gordan Darcy plays for Leicester.

Shannonbridge Active Retirement group visited Ballycumber on 2nd May.
They have plans to visit Boora Parklands on 12th May, Pullagh on 14th May,
Cloghan on 21st May and they are having their own party in Shannonbridge
on 18th June before closing for their summer break.

Mary tells us that some young thrushes with 09 numberplates have commenced
feeding on the shed roof. Louise met a robin hopping into the store last
week with nest building material in her mouth. This year she has chosen to
nest in a 7Up tray. Hopefully this will be a warmer location than last years
which was on top of a fridge in the outdoors. At that time a cold north
wind killed the four young chicks.

Wild mink that escaped from mink farms years ago are breeding strong
and causing a nuisance . This week I heard about a man that had a special trap
set near the river. It was tied to a tree and he had culled a number
of mink. One day he went to check the trap and found only the rope.

Golfing Slang of the week on todays Irish Times is called
THE RYANAIR - refers to an approach shot that has a perfect flight,
looks great in the air but lands miles away from where it was supposed
to.

Local elections are scheduled for early June and the first of the
posters for candidates were pinned up last week in Shannonbridge.
John Leahy, Independent wins the poster race.

Next weekend The Kelly Clan will be in this area, visiting Clonmacnois
and having a feast in The Fort Resturant.

Peter Howes and a party of seven anglers visited Shannonbridge last week
and stayed at Laurel Lodge guesthouse. The river level was fine on arrival
but rose pretty smartly. They know the waters well and were not unduly
disturbed having many fine catches. It was great to hear one of the
boys tell how he had caught six tench all over 6 Lbs on one day.

Philomena Garvey, the Irish golfer has died. Also Sister John, from
the Convent of Mercy Ballinasloe has died. Sister John for many years
was in charge of the orphanage. At her funeral on Sunday somebody told
that some years ago when she was celebrating a special birthday or
something ten of the orphans that she had cared for, flew home from
America for the event.
May they rest in peace.

May First around this area means that May has commenced and with it
the month of devotion to Our Lady of Clonfert. There is Mass and devotions
in Clonfert Church each day.