Thursday, July 30, 2009

The Irish Times Wednesday July 29 has a picture of O'Rourke's Tower and the Cross of the Scriptures
at Clonmacnois alongside an article "Locals fear impact of Clonmacnois heritage status.See irishtimes.com
A public information meeting took place last evening at the Athlone Springs Hotel on the Tuam road.
Some 300 people attended the meeting and after some twenty or more questions and statements were raised
the meeting broke up when a speaker representing the farmers said that he had heard enough and was going home.
Most of the meeting stood up and walked out of the meeting.
The one thing that I liked about the meeting was the spelling of Clonmacnois by those making the presentation.
Cluain = gathering of mhic = sons of Nois = Nois without the "e".
Anyhow it is a good photograph to have a look at.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

www.mywaterways.com is a new website being developed by Geraldine Wilson and Niall Galway
Waterways I think is the organisation set up by the private boatowners but check it out for yourself.
Geraldine gave us two gems to share -
"If you live in an igloo, dont put in underfloor heating"
And one that she found up in Dromod upstream lately
"Sure there is great drying out
When its not raining"

In the Irish Roots column in the Irish Times yesterday John Grenham tells us that on the Irish Times
under Irish Ancestors there is a helpful service.
Check it out on irishtimes.com on yesterdays paper.
A horse called Mount Welcome won a race in Wexford last week. It was called after the school where Patrick Kenny
got his education. The horse was owned by a syndicate ROS-OFF, trained by J.Rothwell and jockey was J.Baites.
The Ros is an abbreviation for Roscommon and Off is for Offaly. It won at 14 / 1 odds.

Declan Green arrived home from Boston on Friday looking right well and like Lorraine Mc Kenna he tells me that
he reads The Irish Times each day on the internet.
Lorraine contacted me to say that she had seen photographs of the 300 ft red and white chimney at Shannonbridge
Power Plant being demolished. Rte.ie/news were along for the fall and later Mick told me that there was a man
in the bar that wanted to see me. It was Kieran Mulooney and a cameraman. They had already interviewed our Swiss
friend Paddy Steiger outside. Paddy told them that he was confused. He had been coming to Shannonbridge for some
thirhy years and now he will be lost without the chimney. Paddy is an artist and I wonder what memory he will create.
It was shown on last Friday's news on RTE.
Lucky enough there were many people with cameres around. Ken and Betty Smith from California were holidaying
in the village and Ken obliged in taking a photo series of the fall. There was a light mist falling and he took shelter
at Prices hall door. Ken was in luck as it fell to his right. Hopefully the series will be available on this web.

Brian De Courcey was in Shannonbridge recently and told us that he was living in Ahascragh but was born in Cleggan.
This was only a few days after the two brothers had walked through Shannonbridge on their charity walk for
Woens Aid. Brian was interested in the walk and the Cleggan connection. Wonder if the brothers passed Rossadilisk
House near Cleggan which is owned by Brian.

The Connacht Tribune newspaper is at www.galwaynews.ie
The Galway Races started yesterday and runs until Sunday. Heard the trainers and jockeys make comment that
the going was soft. One said that it was sandy and would dry. The other contradicted him and said it was pure bog.

John Hardiman is home from England for a break and tells us that the old swivel bridge now re-erected on quayside
at Shannonbridge was a cast metal bridge created by Thomas Rhoded in his Dublin foundry. Thomas had a brother Cecil
who discovered Rhodesia now Zimbabee. Rhodes and Rhodesia.OK

Also at the Greally funeral was Paddy Fallon from Glenamaddy. Paddy worked for Williams Shop in Belmont, now Cahills
for four years back in the 60's.
There were enough working there at that time that they had their own football team.

Congratulations to Carmel daughter of P.J. and Catherine O Rourke and John Ferris, Kilcock who were married
in High Street Church on 24th July. The happy couple visited Shannonbridge the following day for some photographs
by the riverside.

Michael Kelly, son of the late Peter and Annie Kelly was on holiday from Newcastle on Tyne and called to Shannonbridge.
Michael's father Peter operated a butcher shop in the building that now houses Supermac. Michael comes on holiday
to Ireland every year and he has a marvellous recall for names of families and people of Shannonbridge and the surrounds.
Michael has two sisters Catherine, living in Italy and Rita who lives in Carlow.
Tuesday 26th July
Ballinasloe have a number of interesting websites including -
>www.ballinasloe.com look under discussion form and they welcome contributions. The Web Cam camera that shows
views of Main Street and Saint Michaels Square was presented by Gerry Stronge and has not worked recently
is available on this web. Gerry Stronge promised me today that he will try and get it working real soon.
> Michael Breathnach told me that www.ballinasloearts.com has just recently been set up.
>www.ballinasloeactiveretirement.com have their own website and the walkers group went walking in Boora Parklands today
and stopped in Shannonbridge on their way home.
John Boland will tell you all about it on their website soon. They go a walking every Tuesday and plan to walk
in Garbally Demense and Portumna Forest Park and the Cliffs of Moher soon. Read their website.
> fadofado.com is a heritage site.

Lorraine Mc Kenna from Pottstown Pennsylvania asked in an e-mail to me last week why
the Ballinasloe web has not been updated for weeks.
Gerry Stronge advises her to look under discussion form.
Yesterday I telephoned Ballinasloe Chamber of Commerce about the website.
A"very helpful" girl told me that the Chamber were setting up a website to promote Ballinasloe.
Of course she never heard of any other websites that I mentioned.
Hope their website has a handle on their Chamber and that they get to use it.

Wishing the best of luck to golfer Shane Lowry and his new caddie Dermot Byrne as he plays in the Silesia Open
in Czechoslavakia this week and in the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron USA next week. Beware of the Tiger.

Cork City soccer club face extinction after High Court issues winding up order todays paper tells us.
They must raise 100,000 Euros before Friday.

Last Saturday I lost what I had wrote as I left to go to Clonmacnois for the Blessing of the Graves Mass.
Earlier on Saturday Dr.Michael Greally son of Annie Price and the late Joe Greally was laid to rest in
Clonmacnois after Requiem Mass in Shannonbridge. Michael was 42 years old. May he rest in peace.
Annie's sisters Vera (London),Ethel (Tralee),Eileen (Dublin) and Lucy (England) attended.
Kieran Pat Devery and his wife Anne from near Westport and London attended the funeral.

Pray for a good friend of mine Lee Blinmann San Diego who has died. Some eleven of his unique Christmas
Cards are hanging in Killeen's kitchen. May Lee rest in peace.

RTE Nationwide television program recently featued Camcloon National School on its hundreth birthday.
Mary Glennon nee Hardiman aged 104 and one of the original pupils was interviewed.

Last Tuesday some 38 Active Retirees from Portumna travelled upstream from Banagher to Shannonbridge
on The River Queen passenger boat operated by Silverline Cruisers Banagher. They had sunshine for a
good gander around Shannonbridge. Their bus collected them to take them for a meal on their way home.
One Portumna lady told us that she had never been in Clonmacnois. She promised to right her wrong and
return for a visit.

An old parishioner Sister Monica, a sister of the late Joe Claffey celebrates her 93rd Birthday on 1st August.

Met Joe Burke Ardnaglug recently and he told us that his daughter Aoife was married last week. Congratulations.

Christy Cunniffe from Clonfert and some friends are hoping to have a presentation on Callow People.
These are the families that lived on the callow land beside the River Shannon and their houses were subject
to flooding. They lived with the floods using a raft type timber flooring and bricks to raise the level of
the fire in their open fireplace.
Anyhow Christy is looking for photographs of those Callow People.
If you have any photographs you can e-mail them to Christy. Use chriscun@eircom.net for the carrier.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 26th July 2009 -17 B
Tel (090) 9674125 Fax (090) 9674267
Mass times: Shannonbridge: Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12 noon, Sun;
Weekdays, 10am. Clonfanlough – Sunday, 10.30am
Shannonbridge
Masses: Each day @ 10am
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €542. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.McManus, C.Slattery, A.Corbett
Eucharistic ministers: Group 1
Readers for next Weekend: Group 6, E.Casey, D.O’Carroll
Altar Servers for this week: Oisín, Michaela

¨¨¨¨
Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €160. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: N.Egan, A.Rohan
Readers for next Sunday: A.Kelly
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group A
Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: K.Kelly
Mass on next Sun for the late Brian Hunt

Parish P.Council Meeting
Mon @ 8pm in Shannonbridge

Questions people askQ. I read your answer why the Church is against pre-marital sex. But is there any better way of preparing for eventual marriage than living together to find if the couple are compatible?A. You seem to be blind to the fact that there is a much higher rate of break-up among couples who cohabited before marriage than among those who did not. It is very likely that couples who did not cohabit before marriage had stronger religious beliefs and developed a spirit of self-sacrifice in their relationship. These factors are hugely important in strengthening the bonds of a mature relationship. (Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM) ¨¨¨¨
World Heritage Status Bid for Clonmacnois
Following a meeting in Clonfanlough Hall, many showed an interest in attending the Public Meeting in the Athlone Springs Hotel on Wed 29th July @ 7.30pm. It is arranged that a bus will leave from Clonfanlough Church @ 6.45pm; then picking up passengers @ Clonmacnois School & Shannonbridge Church to facilitate those who wish to travel on the evening. There will be no charge for this.
'Your views will help to shape the final plan'.
The IFA will hold a meeting in Clonfanlough Hall on next Tues @ 9pm concerning the above.
¨¨¨¨
Youth 2000 plan to have their Summer Festival at Clonmacnois from 13th - 16th August. The theme will be 'Know that the Living God is among you'. Visit www.youth2000.ie or call 01-6753690
They are also looking for volunteers to host some of the priests & religious, who will be attending the Festival.
They also seek helpers on site for a variety of tasks.
Bishop Frank Caggiano from Brooklyn Diocese will be the main speaker. He is considered to be inspirational.
For more info call 086-3025442 or 01-6753690.
¨¨¨¨
Diocesan Pilgrimages
Knock: Sun 6th Sept; Clonmacnois: Sun 13th Sept
¨¨¨¨
Congratulations & felicitations to Fr John Killeen, Shannonbridge, who celebrates the Golden Jubilee of his Ordination to the priesthood this year. Ad multos annos!
Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 26th July 2009 -17 B
Tel (090) 9674125 Fax (090) 9674267
Mass times: Shannonbridge: Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12 noon, Sun;
Weekdays, 10am. Clonfanlough – Sunday, 10.30am
Shannonbridge
Masses: Each day @ 10am
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €542. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.McManus, C.Slattery, A.Corbett
Eucharistic ministers: Group 1
Readers for next Weekend: Group 6, E.Casey, D.O’Carroll
Altar Servers for this week: Oisín, Michaela

¨¨¨¨
Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €160. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: N.Egan, A.Rohan
Readers for next Sunday: A.Kelly
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group A
Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: K.Kelly
Mass on next Sun for the late Brian Hunt

Parish P.Council Meeting
Mon @ 8pm in Shannonbridge

Questions people askQ. I read your answer why the Church is against pre-marital sex. But is there any better way of preparing for eventual marriage than living together to find if the couple are compatible?A. You seem to be blind to the fact that there is a much higher rate of break-up among couples who cohabited before marriage than among those who did not. It is very likely that couples who did not cohabit before marriage had stronger religious beliefs and developed a spirit of self-sacrifice in their relationship. These factors are hugely important in strengthening the bonds of a mature relationship. (Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM) ¨¨¨¨
World Heritage Status Bid for Clonmacnois
Following a meeting in Clonfanlough Hall, many showed an interest in attending the Public Meeting in the Athlone Springs Hotel on Wed 29th July @ 7.30pm. It is arranged that a bus will leave from Clonfanlough Church @ 6.45pm; then picking up passengers @ Clonmacnois School & Shannonbridge Church to facilitate those who wish to travel on the evening. There will be no charge for this.
'Your views will help to shape the final plan'.
The IFA will hold a meeting in Clonfanlough Hall on next Tues @ 9pm concerning the above.
¨¨¨¨
Youth 2000 plan to have their Summer Festival at Clonmacnois from 13th - 16th August. The theme will be 'Know that the Living God is among you'. Visit www.youth2000.ie or call 01-6753690
They are also looking for volunteers to host some of the priests & religious, who will be attending the Festival.
They also seek helpers on site for a variety of tasks.
Bishop Frank Caggiano from Brooklyn Diocese will be the main speaker. He is considered to be inspirational.
For more info call 086-3025442 or 01-6753690.
¨¨¨¨
Diocesan Pilgrimages
Knock: Sun 6th Sept; Clonmacnois: Sun 13th Sept
¨¨¨¨
Congratulations & felicitations to Fr John Killeen, Shannonbridge, who celebrates the Golden Jubilee of his Ordination to the priesthood this year. Ad multos annos!

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 19th July 2009 - 16th Sun B
Tel (090) 9674125 Fax (090) 9674267
Mass times: Shannonbridge - Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12noon Sun;
Weekdays, 10am. Clonfanlough - Sunday, 10.30am
Shannonbridge
Masses: Each day @ 10am
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €398. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: J.Kelly, M.Killeen
Eucharistic ministers: Group 4
Readers for next Weekend: Group 5, C.Mannion, C.Doolan
Altar Servers for this week: Siobhan, Caitríona
¨¨¨¨
Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €235. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: A.Walshe, R.Gunning
Readers for next Sunday: I.McEvoy
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group E Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: P.Darcy
Mass on next Sun for the late Kieran Kelly

Blessing of Graves
Mass with the Blessing of graves in Clonmacnois on Sat 25th July @ 7pm. This will replace the evening Mass in Shannonbridge.
In Glebe on Mon 3rd Aug @ 7.pm
Questions people askQ. Why must we have so many interruptions at Mass like standing, kneeling, shaking hands etc.? I would much prefer a quiet, uninterrupted Mass.A. Silent worship is wonderful in its own place, but the celebration of the Eucharist is a community prayer, which recognises the presence of the Lord, not only in the consecrated host but also in the gathered community, in the word and in the mission to go out in love and service. ‘Though there are many of us we form a single body, because we all have a share in the one loaf’ (1 Cor. 10:17). Sharing responses, gestures and movements with others is recognition of Christ in the body that is the community.(Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap)
¨¨¨¨
World Heritage Status Bid for Clonmacnois
Following a meeting in Clonfanlough Hall, many showed an interest in attending the Public Meeting in the Athlone Springs Hotel on 29th July @ 7.30pm. It is proposed that a bus will leave from Clonfanlough Church & Shannonbridge Church @ 6.45pm on the evening to facilitate those who wish to travel.
'Your views will help to shape the final plan'.
¨¨¨¨
Youth 2000 plan to have their Summer Festival at Clonmacnois from 13th - 16th August. The theme will be 'Know that the Living God is among you'. Visit www.youth2000.ie or call 01-6753690
They are also looking for volunteers to host some of the priests & religious, who will be attending the Festival
For more info call 086-3025442 or 01-6753690.
¨¨¨¨
Knock Summer Youth Festival - 23rd - 26th July
"You are the Light of the World." 18 - 35 years - €70 - Free buses.
For more info visit www.knockshrine.ie/youthfestival
Call 094-9375035, 094-9388100 or 087-6927850.
¨¨¨¨
Interested in Training & Working in Care?
A 6 month full-time FETAC Level 5 "Healthcare Support" course will start in Birr soon. Suitable applicants may qualify for a FAS allowance; age 18 plus. Call 057-9123940.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Shannonbridge Fishing Report ..dated 20th July 2009.
Cliff Mynard from Halifax West Yorkshire enjoyed his second week fishing holiday in Shannonbridge.
He has plans to return in September without his wife but with a fishing friend.
> On 4th July Cliff fished the River Suck in mixed weather, using red maggot to catch 17lbs hybrids
including three two pounders.
> On 5th July Cliff again fished the Suck on a bright day using red maggot and sweetcorn
to catch 18lbs of roach and hybrids. Good sport.
> on 6th July Cliff fished the Grand Canal on a sunny day using red maggot and casterto catch 24lbs
of roach and rudd and five tench best 3lbs. Hook size 12 and 14.
> On 7th July Cliff again fished the canal in sunshine catching 22lbs rudd, perch, tench and bream.
The tench was 3lbs and there was one 4lbs bream.
> On 8th July Cliff had sunshine and fished the Suck and Canal using red maggot and caster
for a 37lbs total of hybrids and bream. Five bream in the 4 to 5lbs range.
> On his final day Cliff fished the Shannon for three hours in mixed weather again using
red maggot and caster to catch 6lbs of roach. Enjoyable. Wait until September.
> On 11th July Peter Sekoranja from Austria fished the Shannon in mixed weather
using wobler to catch pikes which he returned alive.
> On 11th July local angler Aidan Kelly fished the Shannon in mixed weather using a rowboat and spinners
to catch 14 pike with best 16lbs. Returned alive. Aidan spotted seven mink on the journey
from Shannonbridge to Clonmacnois during early morning fishing.
> On 12th July Aidan Kelly went coarse fishing on the Shannon in mixed weather using a worm
to catch 40 roach, hybrid and perch. Best perch weighed 0.5 lbs.
> Pip and Jean Firmin from Nierst, Scotland have finished a two week holiday in Shannonbridge.
> On 10th July Pip fished on the Shannon in overcast conditions to catch a 4.5lbs tench on worm.
> On 12th July Pipfished the River Suck using a Lamprey eel to catch a 9lbs pike.
> On 13th July Pip fished the Shannon in the rain using worm and sweetcorn to catch a nice mixed bag of
perch roach and hybrids. Four mink crossed a drain two metres from where he was pitched.
> Local anglers Tom Carty and his grandson Thomas fished from their anchored boat twice this weekend.
On one day they caught 19 perch and one roach. The other day they had 14 perch and one 5lbs pike.
Today Monday I met an angler who has been night fishing on the River Suck with his brother in law.
He reported good bags of mainly hybrid and roach. Their catches reached the third ring on their
keepnets. Using sweetcorn fishing was good until 1.00am and from 4.00am. They heard the splash
of big bream which scared the swans but failed to hook the big bream.
Now they are going to concentrate on some tench fishing in that area.

A notice has been circuled today of the plan to knock the two concrete chimneys at the old
Shannonbridge Power Station. The demolition is scheduled to take place on Friday 24th July @ 11.00am.
One of the chimneys is the one with the lights and painted in red stripes.

Note that The Connacht Tribune is www.galwaynews.ie In yesterdays Connacht football final
Mayo beat Galway by a whisper.

On Sunday 19th July met a mother and daughter who are visiting the country.
Carol Nyholm's father was a Nash from Collinstown in Westmeath who emigrated to USA in 1920.
Carol married her husband who is of Finnish background.
Mary her daughter married a Carstensen whose family are Danish.
Carol lives in California and Mary and her family live in Denmark.
They have been using Bed and Breakfast accomodation as they travel around and last night stayed
with Brian and Dymphna Carroll in Ely House in Shannonbridge.
They were delighted to see the house where Mr Nash emigrated from in 1920 and to have met the cousins.

Another couple who are holidaying in Mount-Shannon travelled to Shannonbridge this morning
to visit The Clonmacnois and West Offaly Bog Train and were disappointed. They visited Clonmacnois
and enjoyed that visit.


The Clonmacnois Youth Festival 2009 is scheduled to take place at Clonmacnois area from 13th to 16th August.
Under the Youth 2000 Ireland banner it promises to be a lively 4 day festival with workshops,
concert, inspiring talks, great music and prayers. Visit www.youth2000.ie
They have circulated an appeal for help in preparing the site for the event and they would welcome help
from many skills and people. See notice in church porch.
They are also looking to offer to house visiting bishops priests and speakers coming to the festival.
The festival has free buses and no cost - devotion only.
The Youth 2000 office in Dulin telephone 01- 6753690


Stephen and Rebecca Brown from California who visited Shannonbridge recently wrote to say that they enjoyed their visit. Elva Mary Killeen was Stephen Brown's mother.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Wednesday 15th July Jon Anderson and his wife Marilyn nee Matylinsky from Reno Nevada stopped by.
the Anderson came from Denmark originally. Jon plays Saxaphone and has been a member of the same group for 17 years.
Their group is called "Guitar Woody and The Boilers" and they have a website called
guitar-woody.com
Their signature tune is called Its Always Something.
When Mick Killeen produced a saxaphone Jon said that he had his own mouthpiece with him in the car.
Marilyn told us that she is a librarian in Sparks, which is four miles from Reno.
On their travels they came to Longford and found that Sparks is twinned to Longford. Students from the banjo class
in Sparks are visiting Longford in September.
Marilyn.s grandmother was a Byrne who was born in Drumlish
Her grandfather was an Ivors from possibly Roscommon.
The Andersons have been to France on four occassions but this is their first trip to Ireland.

Wednesday 15th July Last evening Eddie and Brian Cranmer walked in to Shannonbridge.
They had walked from Cleggan in Connemara and were walking to Cleggan Road in Dublin where they live.
At Ballinasloe they branched off the main route heading for Shannon-harbour.
They plan to finish their walk to Dublin by walking alongside the Grand Canal.
Their walk is in aid of the charity Women's Aid which was founded in 1974.
Women's Aid work is mainly a helpline for women that have been molested or sexually abused.
They have collected 1,200 Euro to date, mainly through the website www.clegganchallenge.wordpress.com
Eddie and Brian have travelled with small backpacks containing camping tents.
They play the guitar and gave it a rattle after Paudge Bennett had finished.
Rory Green befriended them and offered them a place to pitch their tents.
Wishing them the best of luck in their fund-raising for Women's Aid.

The brother John from New Jersey arrived home yesterday. He finds it easier to travel to Dublin Airport
and catch a Citylink or Bus Eireann bus from the airport door that drops him in Ballinasloe.
After a few hours sleep he was up to hear the music and have a look at the late night filming
for "Pure Mule".

Wednesday 15th July Swiss artist Paddy Steiger arrived in Shannonbridge with two writer friends
Manuela and Kdtjd for a few days break in Grouse Lodge. Paddy and Manuela are frequent visitors
to the area.

Met a party from Malta on a cruiser holiday yesterday 15th July. They had booked their holiday
with the group that operate Emerald Starline. It was a bit unusual to meet people from Malta
on a cruising holiday. They told us that they had gone on a cruising holiday with the firm last year
on the continent and had enjoyed it. So this year they were enjoying a boating holiday in Ireland.
They live in Valetta and they told that a soccer team from Valetta was playing in Dublin this weekend.
They had plans to go to that game and also the Real Madrid v Shamrock Rovers game.
They were disappointed to hear that the tickets for the Real Madrid / Rovers game sold out in five minutes.
One of the men had Irish connections. A Irish lady called Stone married into the family but he had no details.
Bet they are enjoying being away from the Malta heat which was 39C yesterday.

On Wednesday Christina Mueller and Marianne Jackels from Prague visited Shannonbridge with their husbands.
Christina told that she last visited Shannonbridge in 1986 and it was her friends first visit.
Good to see them returning after so long a time.

Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Eric Dilworth from Ard na Ri, Clonmacnois
on the birth of their baby daughter Sarah Jane last week.

Glad to see Eamon and Katherine Lyons pay a brief visit to Shannonbridge this week looking so well.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Shannonbridge GAA Junior Football Championship.

Shannonbridge played a draw with St. Rynaghs in the Junior B Football Championship at Shannonbridge today. Scores were SBr 0.7 St. Ryn. 1.4.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Early Sunday morning six fine birds from The Park decided to have breakfast uptown and arrived at Killeens.
They had a simple breakfast of muesli and fresh fruit and caught the eye of our regular visitors by their dress.
They all wore a peculiar colour of dark green coat and their heads and necks were a mixture of fresh orange
and reds. Mary served the muesli rough fashion on an open tray and they selected fresh fruit from the nearby
apple trees.
The wild birds that feed on the rooftop restaurant and the nut feeders were in a tizzie.
We enquired where they normally ate and where they lived and were told that they eat at Guinans in the Park
and normally stay with them.
The six love birds stayed about four hours before flying back to base.

Had two different groups call today Sunday enquiring how to get to the Bog Rail Tour which alas is closed.

Sweden and Ireland and Ryanair were united this week as two groups from Sweden stayed with Kay and John
in Kajon House near Clonmacnois.

A retired priest Father Kenny was covering the weekend Masses and will be with us again next weekend.
Today he told us that his father was born in Glebe and went to help his uncle and aunt in Lusmagh.
There he met his wife and settled in Lusmagh where Father Kenny was born.
Father Kenny spent most of his priestly life teaching in schools in Ireland and England and is now retired.

The Offaly Independent is a free paper and some headlines from the edition of 12th July include -
> Teenager bit part of stranger's ear off
> Offaly eager for Obama visit
> Ten jobs a day lost in Offaly during June.
> Appeal to farmers to attend upcoming Organic Walks.
> Eighteen pharmacies in Offaly to withdraw from HSE drug schemes.
> Offaly sees 41% drop in IDA backed jobs since 1999.
> Get your glad rags on for Birr Vintage Week and Arts Festival.
> One in four children now born outside marriage in Offaly.
> Anger in Kilbeggan as Credit Union shuts its doors.
> Lough Boora and Kinnitty pyramids feature in new book.
> Pig racing in Tullamore.
> Youth Festival set for Clonmacnois 13-16 August.
> Offaly house prices fall by 5.7%
> EU report ranks Ireland 6th safest country in Europe for road safety.

Friday, July 10, 2009

On Friday enening 10th July, Mats Anderson and Kerstin Allvin from Sweden came to visit.
They had read about the Clonmacnois and West Offaly Railway and were disappointed that it was not operating.
They thought that the railway was connected with Clonmacnois.
They tried to visit Clonmacnois but the office had closed.
Mats and Kerstin were in Ireland for two weeks, driving around the country and staying in Bed and Breakfast houses.
Some of their comments included -
> They found that Ryanair flights were cheap
> Bed and Breakfasts were better away from the main tourist hotspots.
> The full Irish Breakfast provided sustanance for most of the day.
> Ireland is expensive due to the strong Euro versus their Krona.
> They liked the Irish pubs.
> They found many filling stations were closed.
> Many houses were for sale.
< They noticed many dogs wandering around in Ireland.
> They wondered why all the different colours flags were being flown.
> They commented that in Sweden mixer units have replaced the two hot and cold taps on handbasins.

Tomorrow they are off to visit Newgrange. Hopefully they will have a look at the village bridge from the quayside
and make a second attempt to visit Clonmacnois before they depart.
Shannonbridge GAA Senior Football.

No luck for Shannonbridge in the first round of the Senior Football Championship, on Wednesday evening at Tullamore, when they were defeated by Shamrocks on a scoreline of 0-12 to 0-10.
On 6th July two oldtime regular visiting anglers called in. Their last visit was the year before the Foot and Mouth
outbreak. They were staying now in Tarmonbarry and came back to this area to have a look at some of their old fishing
favourite spots. They were disappointed that there seemed to be no access to Bullock Island near Shannonharbour.
Where the entrance gate once hung their is now a row of wire and cord.
Ray Dutchie from Banagher told me that the land inside the gate belongs to three different landowners.
Some years ago somebody stole the gate and they decided then to just put wire in the opening. They open the wire
to gain access when required.

On the Late Date radio program recently they played As Time Goes By. Afterwards the host told us that Sam
the piano player was Jody Wilson, the boss was Humprey Bogart and the lady that came into the joint was
Katherine Hepburn. Think that is what he said. Here's looking at you kid.

Yesterday 9th July Stephen and Rebecca Brown arrived in Shannonbridgewith their son Sean Patrick and their daughter
Therese Marie. They are from Cotati, California and Sean and Marie had been playing with the Santa Rosa Youth Orchestra
during a trip to the Continent of Europe. Afterwards the four visited Paris London and Ireland for very short visits,
On Wednesday morning they arrived in Dublin and hired a car and ended up in B+B in Ballinasloe.
Stephen asked his host if there were any Killeens around as his mother was a Killeen.
So they were directed to Shannonbridge. They had never heard of Clonmacnois or Saint Ciaran or Saint Killeen or even
Saint Brendan. So of with us to Clonmacnois to see the video and look around for a time. We had a glimpse of the bog
from near Pat Duffy's house and came back to Shannonbridge to see the bridge. As it happened the boat rally from
Lough Derg was arriving and convered canal barges were three deep along the quayside. Then Vinny arrived on his
bicycle from High Street via Clonmacnois. The two Brown children both play soccer and Vinny was/is a soccer coach.
So after lots of soccer we walked down the street, Then Marie told us that she played the fiddle. We resurected the
house fiddle but she was happier with her own which Sean fetched from the car at the quayside.
Marie plays a neat bit of what I call Cajon music - similar to George Kaye and The Smokey Mountain Ramblers
of some 30 years ago. I was told that it was Appelation Sound not Cajon. Anyhow it was good.
Stephen told us that his forefather a Killeen emigrated to USA in 1842. There are two unknown layers and then
a Laurence Killeen. Laurence had a daughter Elva Mary Killeen and her son was Stephen's father.
My sister Doc arrived soon after the Browns and after being introduced Doc said that Stephen looked a lot like our cousins
The Foleys.
Sean Patrick plays the double base and by coincident Doc learned the double base and only recently bought
a double base instrument.
The Browns had to catch a flight in Dublin Airport at 4.00am so hope they travelled safe. WE DRIVE ON THE LEFT SIDE.

Some years ago a film series "Pure Mule" was filmed in Offaly including Shannonbridge. The people in RTE intend to show
the original series over the summer months. Recently additional material has been filmed and on Wed 15th July they plan
to film a funeral scene inside and outside Shannonbridge Church from 5.30pm to 10.30pm. Filming on road area outside church
from 11.30pm to 1.30am. Filming in the Water Tower field from 1.30 to 4.30.
John Price was remembering that the first time they filmed they hired lots of locals as extras and he got a speaking part.
The location was beside the river and he had to look up and say "I think there's something coming" At that time they were
paying 72Euros per day but it was taxable
Good to see Tony Ellis and his daughter Caroline on a visit to Shannonbridge yesterday 9th.
Oliver and Patricia Keenaghan from Ferbane revisited Shannonbridge this week.
They told us that their neighbour in Delvin Park Peggy Mc Guire has become a
Great-grandmother with the birth of Calum Mc Cormack, a new baby for Mark and Emer.
Congratulations to all.
Many people have had burglar alarms fitted in their neighbourhood and as we were talking Oliver's mobile
notified him that his alarm had operated. They reckoned that it was the cat that had
entered through an open window. Anyhow end of visit and they returned home to check.

On 10th July Peter and Gillian Biss and their friend Richard Hewitson arrived in Shannonbridge
on the Holleran Family Tree search. In Mountshannon they found the house where Tommy Holleran lived.
Tommy Holleran came to Shannonbridge years ago and lived in the house that is now Supermacs.
He married Rose Claffey, a sister of Mike Claffey,
and they lived in the cottage at Templedew. Rose Claffey lived in a house
down Price's Lane, down behind the old church. They had five children -
> Gretta who married Johnny Lyons Templedew House and they went to work at a Mullingar stud farm.
> Lilian was married and lived in Ballinasloe and is deceased.
> Kathleen worked for some time before going to England. Gillian Biss is her daughter.
> Billy died in 2001 and is buried in Clonmacnois with his parents, where the family recently
erected a new memorial stone to their memory.
> Jack was the youngest and he emigrated to England and he is now dead.
Tommy Holleran died 14th November 1963 aged 86 years.
We took a nostalgic trip to have a look at the old Holleran homes but failed to locate
the ruins of the Lyons home as it was raining.
Gillian was wondering what Templedew translated into.
Master Lane called the area Teamphall Dubh or The Black Church. Dubh is black and teamphall is church.
There is the remains of an old church in that area where Mass is celebrated yearly butthat area
is known as Cloniffeen.
Anyhow best of luck to Gillian on her search.

There was horse racing at Roscommon racecourse on Monday and Tuesday. There was thunder and lightning
in Shannonbridge on Monday afternoon and heavy rain but none in Roscommon.
Anyhow Mick waited until Tuesday evening to go racing.
A horse bred in Ballygill, Taughmaconnell owned by Martin Donnellan and trained by Adrian Sexton
won the 8.00pm race at odds of 14 / 1.

Silverline Cruisers are offering people the chance to visit Clonmacnois each Sunday in July /August
on the "River Queen" a 50 seater passenger boat. Departing Shannonbridge @ 14.00hrs and departing
Clonmacnois at 15.45hrs. The trip takes one hour and costs 8 Euro one way and 12 Euros return.
Children cost 5 Euro and 7 Euro. See www.silverlinecruisers.com

The Parish Priest of the neighbouring Moore Parish Bishop Cassidy has resigned and the occasion
was marked at Masses in Clonfad and Moore this week. Wishing him well in his retirement and good
to hear that he plans to live in nearby Ballinasloe.

Shannonbridge Tourist Office opened this week under the charge of Alona Rock. Tel 085-8323262.

On 7th July Joe Burns, New Jersey and his brother William Burns, Florida stopped off in Shannonbridge.
They are sons of the late John Byrne who was born in Stirabout Hollow near Cloghan in 1875.
Their mother was a Mary Barnville who owned a pub in Birr.
They told us that the Grandparents Byrne are buried in Clonmacnois. The family donated a window
to Shannonbridge church in the 1960's.
The Byrnes are related to the Temples of Shannonharbour, the O'Donoghues Glue Pot Pub in Ballingarry,
to Dooleys in Birr and the Leary Family.
William was last home 50 years ago but Joe is a regular visitor. They promised to update us.

Sunday, July 05, 2009

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 5th July 2009 - 14th Sun B
Tel (090) 9674125 Fax (090) 9674267
Mass times: Shannonbridge - Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12noon Sun;
Weekdays, 10am. Clonfanlough - Sunday, 10.30am
Shannonbridge
Masses: Each day @ 10am
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €493. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.Murphy, M.McManus
Eucharistic ministers: Group 2
Readers for next Weekend: Group 3, M.Killeen, O.Costello
Altar Servers for this week: Megan, Andrea
Mass on next Sat eve for the late Winifred & Hubert Darcy
¨¨¨¨
Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €262. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: B.Higgins, D.Guinan
Readers for next Sunday: A.Coughlan
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group C Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: D.McEvoy

Blessing of Graves
We hope to have Mass with the Blessing of graves in the 'New Cemetery' in Clonmacnois on Sat 25th July @ 7pm.

Mass in Prayer Centre Clonmacnois every Wed @ 7.30pm


Youth 2000 plan to have their Summer Festival at Clonmacnois from 13th - 16th August. The theme will be 'Know that the Living God is among you'. Visit www.youth2000.ie or call 01-6753690
¨¨¨¨
Knock Summer Youth Festival - 23rd - 26th July
"You are the Light of the World." 18 - 35 years - €70 - Free buses.
For more info visit www.knockshrine.ie/youthfestival
Call 094-9375035, 094-9388100 or 087-6927850.
¨¨¨¨
Interested in Training & Working in Care?
A 6 month full-time FETAC Level 5 "Healthcare Support" course will start in Birr soon. Suitable applicants may qualify for a FAS allowance; age 18 plus. Call 057-9123940.
¨¨¨¨
Important Notice on World Heritage Status Bid for Clonmacnois

Following a public meeting in Clonfanlough last September a group was set up to put pressure on the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government (DEHLG) to arrange for a proper consultative process regarding the World Heritage Status Bid for Clonmacnois.
As the group has now secured this consultative process it has disbanded.
However they would like to draw your attention as to how this consultative process is proceeding and to encourage all groups and individuals in the area to engage in the process. Leaflets are available in the church and at the offices of Clonmacnois Visitor Centre.
DEHLG HAVE ANNOUNCED THAT A PUBLIC MEETING WILL BE HELD IN ATHLONE SPRINGS HOTEL ON 29TH JULY 2009 @ 7.30PM – CONFIRMATION WILL BE IN FUTURE PARISH BULLETINS AND LOCAL PAPERS AND WE WOULD ENCOURAGE YOUR ATTENDANCE.
"Your views will help to shape the final plan."

Thursday, July 02, 2009

Best of luck to Shane Lowry the Offaly golfer who plays in the French Open which starts today.
Shane also plans to play in the Scottish Open during the following week.

The weatherman seems to have found his blue pen as the forecast for the next five days contain
plenty of ///// in blue with only some sun showing tomorrow and Monday.

Last Sunday Timmy Devery celebrated his 90th birthday in the retirement home in Birr.
Timmy is from Glebe and is well known for playing the accordeon. For many years Timmy and the late
Joe Hickey with the Bodhran were special guests for Paudge Bennett at Paudge's Wednesday night session
in Shannonbridge. Happy Birthday Timmy.

Yesterday Mary Smith nee Lawlor and her parents Andrew and Mary Lawlor paid a visit to Shannonbridge.
All are related to the Killeen Family. Mary was recalling spending her teenage summers in Shannonbridge
as a forerunner to her sisters Ann and Geraldine. They all look very well. Mary tells me that she is often
mistaken for Geraldine which she takes as a compliment.
Fishing Report ....dated 2nd July 2009.
Some river level readings at Shannonbridge since last report include -
2.42 metres on 10/6/09, 2.38 metres on 11th June, 2.34 metres 0n 12th June, 2.37 metres on 13th June
2.24 metres on 23rd June, and 2.28 metres on 1st July 2009.

- Thomas Carty, Dublin caught 12 good sized perch on 21st June float fishing with worms. Best 1.75lbs.
-Gerry Casey, Moore fished the River Shannon on 21st Juneon a dry clear day catching four tench all over
4lbs each and two small trout.Gerry reckons that the tench were spawning. Is there a spawning order size ?
- Shane Kenny, Moystown fished a backwater off the Shannon on 19th June using a Condom lure to catch
30 perch and 14 pike.Some pike were attacked by larger pike while being played by Shane.
- Bill Speakman, Leigh, Lancashire, fished the Shannon on a sunny25th June using maggot to catch
nine bream and two tench for a weight of 26lbs total.
- Mario Barbagua from Milan, Italy fished in the rain on 30th June for pike using a Jig.
Mario caught 7 pike which he returned alive. The best fish measured 1.04metres. Five pike were lost.
- John Cliff and Nick Brierley from York were fishing in Shannonbridge this week.
On 28th June they fished Correen Ford in the rain using maggot and corn to catch 100 lbs of roach and
hybrids between the the three.
On 30 June the Brierleys fished a Shannon Backwater on a warm showery day using maggot and sweetcorn
to catch a 70lbs total bag that included three tench (2 x 5lbs and 1 x 4lbs.) a good days fishing.
- On 1st July the trio returned to Correen Ford on a warm rainy day and used maggot and corn to catch
30lbs of roach and hybrids. They found that the cocktail with the single corn was not as effective in
catching hybrids as on their previous visit. Casters were popular.
They noticed some sores on the roach.
- James Kelly, Moore fished the River Suck on 27th June trolling a Big 'S' from his boat in overcast conditions.
James caught two pike (1 x 12lbs and 1 x 14lbs) which he described as big fighting fish.

Enquiring from Paddy Kelly, Moore, how his favourite large drain was fishing for trout it was sad to hear him say
that it is badly silted and in a poor state of health. This was a drain that Paddy often caught brown trout
in the two to four pounds range over the years. The size of the drain protected them from pike attacks.