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.