On the 4th of November Ivan and Mimi Ace and Nat and Kathy Goddard
from Cape Cod stopped off in Shannonbridge.Their hobby is bird-watching
and they had visited Clifden and Connemara
before coming to Shannonbridge. They visited Clonmacnois and the Boora
Parklands seeking out birds.

On November 9th Hugh Gough passed away and was buried in Cavan Town.
Hugh worked for many years for the Central Fishery Board and anglers
fishing for Coarse Fish will be familiar with a whole series of the
fishing maps that he researched and which are still available from
the CFB website.I always associate Hugh with the Rudd fish. Once some
anglers who were fishing here at Shannonbridge,
while Hugh was in the area,caught a number of specimen rudd all over
the specimen weight of 2.25lbs.At that time there were only two people
in Ireland that could positively identify a rudd. So Hugh put the fish
in a tank and brought them to Dublin for identification.
That evening he returned with the fish live in the tank and the
anglers saw their fish being released.
The present Irish Record Weight for a rudd is 4lbs 8 ounces caught by
Hugh Gough on 5th September 1996. Hopefully Peter Andrew James and
John will have good fishing lined up for Hugh and may he rest in peace.

Met Jrff Herman and his wife Maritza Umana from Costa Rica when they
visited Shannonbridge on 12th November.Jeff told us that he was adopted
and Jeff Gutierre was his name before adoption.It is Jeff's third visit
to Ireland and Maritza's first.They told us that coffee,fishing and
farming are the principal occupations.
Jeff said that coffee is not made from a bean,but coffee comes from
a red fruit that tastes like a pear/apple.A thin fruit layer covers
two seeds twined together. These seeds are roasted and then ground.
The banana trees there have an 18 month life-span.The tree leaves
five offshoots or babies at its base.
Their currency is called Colon which was named after Christopher Colon
later known as Christopher Columbus.
Their army was dissolved in 1948 and the country is smaller
than Ireland.Their health insurance is equivalent to 5Euro/month,
This covers doctor dentist hospital operations everything.
No wonder Jeff believes that they are living in Paradise.
Spanish is their language.

On Tuesday 11th a Kathleen from Dublin called to Shannonbridge.
Kathleen told us that her sister who lives in New Jersey USA is
a great friend of Marion Love, a family friend.

Somebody told us recently that Puss Sunday is the 1st Sunday in Easter.
At one time in Ireland it was forbidden to go to dances or to get
married during Lent.Not sure if there was a connection with Puss
Sunday and this.

Tina from Germany tells us that the title of the new HBA book is
Fine Lines - Clear Water. See 30 - October 2009.

Last Sunday was a special day in Perrys Mill in Belmont.As well as
the old mill being on view, a boat builder, a violin maker,and some
other artists based around the mill yard had their products on display.
Tony Kenny was on hand playing his fiddle. Keep it in mind for a visit.

Meanwhile at Clononey Castle a new owner is in the process of making
it habitable and it is good to see some light there at night.
Clononey Castle plan to have an antique Sale and Book Fair starting
on 14th December to Christmas at the Clononey Castle.

Some websites that may be of interest - www.failteireland.ie
and www.discoverireland.ie

The river level is in high flood situation at present and the water
level at the bridge is to the top of the quay-wall. Steve and Liz Nell have
been over from Sheffield for over two weeks.Steve finds that the fish are
difficult to locate with the flood.