Some recent deaths including
< Louis Bartholemew Ward Taughmaconnell who was born in 1916
and died on 26th December. Known as LB Ward for short he lived
with Jimmy and Nancy Ward. LB'Ward father was James Ward
who was married to a Healy lady.They had three children
Cyril who died ten years ago, LB and Rosalie who lives in England.
Mrs Ward died and James married Rose-anne Killeen who was an aunt
of mine.Jimmy was their only child.
The funeral takes place tomorrow after Mass in Creagh Church.
May he rest in peace.

< Tony Mallon Ballyleague County Roscommon died suddenly on
24th December and is regretted by wife Polly and children
Declan David Deirdre and Diarmuid.
The Mallons lived in Shannonbridge back in the 60's when Tony
worked in the new power plant.Later the Mallons transferred to
their present home where Tony worked in Lanesboro Power Plant.
The burial took place today. May he rest in peace.

The recent cold spell and frost at night tempted a number of people
to take part in a game of football on ice .They used the thick sheet
of ice on the Callows just upstream from the village.

Donald Guinan was mentioning that small birds during this type of
cold weather often die due to a lack of water.

That fire at Christmas in St.Mel's Cathedral in Longford turned out
to b e pretty bad with some millions of Euro damage
and stained glass windows and
artefacts such as St.Mel's Crozier lost forever. Bishop O Reilly
is determined to have the building restored.

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 27th Dec2009 – Holy Family C
Tel (090) 9674125 Fax (090) 9674267
Mass times: Shannonbridge: Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12 noon, Sun;
Weekdays, 10am. Clonfanlough – Sunday, 10.30am

Shannonbridge
Masses: Next Fri is New Year’s Day – A day of Prayer for Peace. Mass on the day @ 12 noon: Adoration until 3pm
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €675. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: G.Brennan, D.Deeley, V.Hynes
Eucharistic ministers: Group 3
Readers for next Weekend: Group 3, M.Killeen, O.Costello
Altar Servers for this week: Athene, Aoife, Saul, Jack
Mass on next Sat eve for the late Bridgie, Jim & Pat Flannery
¨¨¨¨
Clonfanlough
Mass for New Year’s Day @ 10.30am
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €276. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: B.Maleney, H.Hynes
Readers for next Sunday: H.Coughlan
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group as arranged
Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: N.Egan

Beannachtaí na Nollag agus Síocháin san Ath Bhliain do gach duine
A special word of thanks to all who contribute to the various collections during the year, and to all who help out in any way in the Church and community. It is much appreciated.

I will attend the sick on next Sat
A CHRISTMAS PRAYER
Give us, Lord Jesus, the eyes of children
To see your birth with Christmas wonder.
Help us to share in the song of the angels,
The gladness of the shepherds,
And the worship of the Wise Men.
Close the door on hate,
And open the door of love, all over the world.
Let kindness come with every gift,
And blessing with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil, by the blessing Christ brings.
Make us happy to be your children,
Forgiving and forgiven. Amen.

(Robert L. Stevenson – 1850 – 1894)

Late Mrs Brigid Ryan, Mulllaghature.
Mrs. Brigid Ryan, Mullaghature, passed away during the week in her 92nd year. She is survived by her sons Eamon and Brendan, her daughters -in-law Anne and Attracta, her sister, grandchildren and other relatives. Her funeral took place on Christmas Eve in High Street.
She was a very familiar figure here in Shannonbridge, driving down to morning Mass every day in her red Nissan Micra, until very recently and afterwards shopping in the village.
May she rest in peace.

met.ie is a useful information site for weather updates in Ireland.
Last night we went to bed with frost and for 12.00 noon Mass there
was rain falling making it difficult to walk on roads and pathways.

A group of local boat enthuaisists went for a trip on the river on
Chrismas including Mick Doherty,Kieran and Noel Rock,Mick Killeen
and Ciaran Coakley.

Some of those home for Christmas from overseas include Ken Gunning
from Jersey and his sister Joanne from England,the two Rock brothers
Karl or Berty and Alan, Kate Thornhill from Nepal,Philip Egan from
Australia,Finian and Bernie Kenny from Sydney with their two children
Jack and Niamh, and Josephine Egan from London.

Tom Kelly told us that Kerrill and Angela Thornhill who are
visiting Australia have plans to visit Tom's son Aidan in Sydney
on Christmas Day.They were missing from the tradional tea and mince
pies in Thornhills last night after midnight Mass.

At the Christmas Day Mass Father Hanlon was telling about a pretty
bad fire that broke out in Longford Cathedral around 4.30am on
Christmas morning.

There has been pretty heavy frost in recent days. Aidan Kelly and
friends went shooting near Clonmacnois yesterday and found a swan
frozen in the ice at around 8.30am.They tried to rescue it
but were not able.Checking back around 4.30pm they found out that
the swan had freed itself.

Happy Christmas to you if you have logged on today

Have a listen to singer Susan Boyle at short.ieboyle
Susan appeared on the x Factor talent show on BBC a few months ago.
She ends the year as one of the biggest selling album artists of 2009
worldwide. This is old news.

The Motorway from Dublin to Galway cost 427 Million Euros.

The Irish Roots Column on Monday's Irish Times tells us that the
1911 census information is available at census.nationalarchives.ie
where there is lots of information such as who lived on your street
and names of teachers.It is a free service.
For example I was curious about the Butler Family and the name of
Mr.Butler. Choosing Kings County and Shannonbridge the Census 1911
has John aged 58, his wife Hannah aged 68 and children Michael 14,
Jack the blacksmith 11 and Bridgie aged 9 years.

Terry Wogan finished hosting his Morning Show on BBC radio last
Friday morning after some 40 years.

Recently Eleanor Cunney has been working as producer in the production
of three episodes of Ras na Ruain for TG4.Filming of the three episodes
took five weeks to complete and they will be ready for showing in
February next.

Yesterday Ursula Flanagan of Ballinasloe and Cape Cop was here.
Ursula was home for the wedding of her nephew David Flanagan in
Tubber last week to Emir Dempsey.Ursula was travelling with her
brother Lar from Moate. Both were interested in the recently
published book by Brendan Ryan about the RIC policeing in West Offaly
as a Sergeant Mc Guire who was stationed in Shannonbridge, after the
barracks in Ferbane was burned down in c 1920, was shot dead outside
an undertaker's house in the middle of the night as he knocked on the
front door and Jimmy Claffey arose to answer the knock and lit a candle
which was seen by one of the soldiers surrounding the house and who
was looking in the back door and saw the flame from the match.
The soldier fired his gun and shot Sergeant Mc Guire through the front
door.Mc Guire died a week later and was closely related to Flanagans.

A fire in Guinness Brewery yesterday was brought under control by
several units of Dublin Fire Brigade. Two members of the Fire Brigade
had to go to hospital for treatment afterwards.

Some deaths of note.
Tommy Salmon owner of Salmons Shop in Main Street Ballinasloe has died
and was buried.
Father Aidan Murray Columban Father who worked in the Phillipines and
in recent years in Kilrickle has died.
His funeral will take place in Dalgan Park tomorrow.
Father John Higgins who for a time worked in Peru and taught for many
years in Garbally College before retiring has passed away.
Father John will be laid to rest in the Clonfert Diocese burial plot
in Loughrea.
May they all rest in peace with the Lord.

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 20th Dec 2009 – 4th Adv C
Tel (090) 9674125 Fax (090) 9674267
Mass times: Shannonbridge: Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12 noon, Sun;
Weekdays, 10am. Clonfanlough – Sunday, 10.30am


Shannonbridge
Masses: Mon to Thurs @ 10am; Christmas Eve @ 9pm
On Christmas Day & St Stephen’s Day @ 12 noon.
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €520. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.Murphy, M.McManus
Eucharistic ministers: Group 2
Readers for next Weekend: Group as arranged
Altar Servers for this week: Michaela, Oisín, Andrea
Mass on next Sat eve for the late Pat Joe Kenny

¨¨¨¨
Clonfanlough
Christmas Masses: Thurs eve @ 7pm, Friday @ 10.30am
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €284. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: N.Egan, A.Rohan
Readers for next Sunday: as arranged
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Groups as arranged
Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: D.McEvoy
Mass on Christmas Day for the late Michael Kelly (Lakefield)
Sacrament of Reconciliation on Mon 21st Dec, in Clonfanlough @ 7pm, & Shannonbridge @ 8pm, preceded by a Carol Service.

In Clonfanlough Church on Mon 21st Dec some children from the Primary School are participating in a Carol Service @ 7.pm.
The children have been practising very hard for some weeks, so they would appreciate your support – and this is a good way to begin the Christmas season. This Service is not just for the children, so all are invited.
¨¨¨¨
Shannonbridge Community Library
This will be closed on Christmas Eve & New year’s Eve. It will reopen on Thurs 7th Jan. ‘A happy & peaceful Christmas to all our customers.’
¨¨¨¨
Questions people askQ. Why was 25 December chosen for the birthday of Jesus?A. The conception of Jesus at the Annunciation to Mary, nine months earlier, was an older celebration than his birthday. 25 March was a very important date, regarded as the first day of creation and the day of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Thus the conception of Jesus was linked with creation and the cross. Another reason for choosing 25 December was that this date was decreed by the Emperor Aurelian as a feast for the return of the Unconquered Sun after the mid-winter solstice. Christians put their own spin on the feast by celebrating the coming of Christ, the light of the world. (Fr O’Flynn – Intercom)
¨¨¨¨
Meaning of Christmas (Fr Andrew Greeley)
"It might be easy to run away to a monastery, away from the commercialization, the hectic hustle, the demanding family responsibilities of Christmas-time. Then we would have a holy Christmas. But we would forget the lesson of the Incarnation, of the enfleshing of God—the lesson that we who are followers of Jesus do not run from the secular; rather we try to transform it. It is our mission to make holy the secular aspects of Christmas just as the early Christians baptized the Christmas tree. And we do this by being holy people—kind, patient, generous, loving, laughing people—no matter how maddening is the Christmas rush…"

On Monday the funeral took place in Menlough of Jimmy Mitchell.
Jimmy is a brother to Maura Claffey -Gus Claffey's wife.
May he rest in peace.
I was surprised to meet a cousin of the late Aggie Craven outside
the church.He and another neighbour were telling how they often
attended the Carnival dancing in Shannonbridge and at Johnstown.

Father Jeremiah Roche who was murdered in Kenya recently will be
buried in Athea County Limerick next Sunday. Father Benny Flanagan
worked with Fr.Gerry during the year that he worked in Kenya back
in the early 1980's in the same parish.
At the Ecumenical Choir in Clonmacnois last Sunday Fr.Benny thought
that my cousin Kaye and myself had met him when we visited Kenya
at that time. Anyhow say a prayer for the dead.

Ciaran Mac Mathuna has died aged 84. Ciaran worked on RTE radio for
many years promoting Irish music and singers and bands. He married
a great singer named Dolly Mc Mahon.His funeral took place Tuesday.
May he rest in peace.

A news item on TV this week showed the floods around Gort and the
famous W.B.Yeats Thoorballylee had about two foot of water around it.

Tuesday evening two men and a woman arrived in and after a good look
around they chose three half pints of Murphy Stout. They told us
that they were from St.Peterbourg in Russia where the temperature is
Minus 22. They had visited Clonmacnois and were on their way to
Galway.No -they were not interested in buying the local Football Team.

The Angling Notes in The Irish Times on Monday 14th had a photo of
six spawning trout found dead 80 metres away from the main channel
during the recent flooding at Claregalway.angling@irishtimes.com
The writer told us that Donal and Connie Connolly of Nonaim Lodge,
Accomodation and Angling,Glann,Oughterard,County Galway, which
specializes in providing angling holidays on Lough Corrib have a new
Telephone Number 085-7364830. Their e-mail address remains the same
info@fishingcorrib.com
Of course Donal Connolly comes originally from Ferbane and Connie,
his wife comes from Shannonbridge -hence the interest.

Foinse is a free Irish language Newspaper distributed free with the
Irish Independent on Wednesday. nuacht@foinse.ie 24 pages of interest.

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 13th Dec 2009 -3rd Adv C
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: € Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: A.Ryan, L.Turley, M.Mitchell
Eucharistic ministers: Group 1
Readers for next Weekend: Group 2, C.Casey, E.Quinn
Altar Servers for this week: Caitríona, Siobhan, Sarah
Mass on next Sat eve for the late Damien Kenny

¨¨¨¨
Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €230. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: A.Walshe, R.Gunning
Readers for next Sunday: D.Norton
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group A
Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: B.Coughlan
Mass on next Sat @12noon for the late Petie & Earl Kelly
Mass on next Sun for the late Anne & Ciaran Pillion

Ecumenical Carol Service in Clonmacnois
On this Sun 13th Dec @ 4pm. Refreshments afterwards.
All welcome.
Night Prayer Vigil, Clonmacnois Prayer Centre Fri 18th Dec, starting with Mass @ 10pm; then Adoration until 3.10 am. Mass every Wed @ 7.30pm. All welcome
¨¨¨¨
Sacrament of Reconciliation on Mon 21st Dec, in Clonfanlough @ 7,30pm, & Shannonbridge @ 8pm, preceded by a Carol Service.

'Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hate. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness.' (A survivor of Auschwitz)
¨¨¨¨
Christmas Youth Retreat – Newbridge College
For 16 – 35 year olds. Inspiring talks, Workshops, Great Music,
Meeting new people, Celebration of the Christmas Season.
Just bring a sleeping bag. For more info call 01-6753690.
Visit www.youth2000.ie
¨¨¨¨
Questions people askQ. How does one explain the difference in the preaching of John the Baptist and that of Jesus? John was far more severe and promoted the fear of an impending judgement.A. There are two ways of correcting: the stick of punishment or the candy of reward for improvement. John the Baptist came from a people who expected a Messiah who would immediately rid the world of all evil and sin. Hence the need for complete renunciation of wrongdoing or else face instant condemnation. The approach of Jesus did not expect instant perfection. He put less emphasis on condemnation and more on fanning into flame the possibility of goodness hidden in people. (Fr O’Flynn – Intercom)

Words of Wisdom
'The secular mind does not always find it necessary to deny God, but it must always reduce him to a comfortable size. Above all else He must be a manageable God, who does not watch or judge.'
(William K. Kilpatrick, U.S.)
“Words of encouragement fan the spark of genius into the flame of achievement." (Wilfred A. Peterson
"Characters live to be noticed. People with character notice how they live." (Nancy Moser)

New Book - Wild Flowers of County Offaly

Attched reminder received from Amanda Pedlow, Heritage Officer, Offaly Co. Co.
Reminder - Launch of the Wildflowers of County Offaly next Monday 14th December, 8.00pm Aras an Chontae, Charlevillle Road, Tullamore, Co. Offaly‏

Reminder - The launch of the Wildflowers of County Offaly by John Feehan, published by Offaly County Council, is next Monday 14th December, 8.00pm, Aras an Chontae, Charleville Road, Tullamore. An Taoiseach, Mr Brian Cowen, T.D. has kindly agreed to perform the launch.

This substantial hardback provides fully illustrated descriptions of every wildflower in county Offaly in John Feehan's unique style.

All welcome. For those that cannot attend the book can be purchased in book shops and via www.mercierpress.ie.

Amanda Pedlow
Offaly Heritage Officer.

Liam Clancy died on Friday 4th December 2009 aged 74 years.
Liam was the remaining member of the ballad group that were known as
"The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem.He was laid to rest on Monday
in Ring County Waterford. May he rest in peace.

A Kilbeggan-15-year-old Irish Whiskey was crowned 'World-wide Whiskey
of the Year at the 2009 International Wine and Spirit Competition
Awards Banquet held in London recently.
See offaly Independent Dec 5th page 6 at their website
www.offalyindependent.ie

Tommy and Jimmy Swarbrigg were featured in 'A Little Bit of Showband'
on RTE1 shown on Sunday 6th December.
This was the 4th part in a series.

The Connacht Tribune December 4th has lots of pictures and stories
of the recent floods.
See www.galwaynews.ie

On Tuesday 8th a Chrismas Card arrived from Sydney Australia.
This card has a photograph of Martin Pat Coleman with the famous
Opera House in the background.

Mick Doherty worked in England before teriring to Kilbegley,Moore.
In England he was a machine driver and one day he found a Catalogue
of original photos from the film 'Lawrence of Arabia'thrown out in a skip.
He rescued it and took it home to Ireland.Recently he included it in
an auction at Purcells in Birr.They put a reseve of 2000 Euros on it
and it reached over 1500 at auction.

Mark who works for Shannonbridge Pottery was in the RDS in Dublin
yesterday selling pottery. Sinead Killeen (Shane's wife) was there
with some friends and they bought ten of the teapot and cup items.
A nun saw the Shannonbridge stand and talked to Mark. She was Mary
Connaughton who is a nun and a cousin of the Killeens. Pat tells me
that our grandmother was a Connaughton on my mothers side of the
family.

On Monday 30th November Kieran Hynes appeared on an RTE television
program talking about the floods and the effect it had on his
workplace at Cavanagh Windows in Athlone.The program also had some
photographs of the floods.
Shannonbridge was lucky to have a by-pass road to use during the flood.
Some houses below the Church were in danger of being flooded.So the
road was blocked while two pumps removed the water and discharged it
over the wall into a flooded field. Meanwhile traffic was diverted
by the power plant road coming out parrallel with the rail line.

It was good to see Michael Green home on a brief visit from Boston.
Michael has been in Boston now for 24 years and before he left he
worked at Cahills in Belmont.

Back to the Flood. Pat Duffy was telling us that flood water
reached Saint Ciaran's Well in Clonmacnois which is very unusual.
The article in The Irish Times with the two photographs mentioned
that Clonfert is known as Field of Miracles.
BNM estimated that some 60,000 acres of bog was flooded.
In the middle of all the floods Mary Killeen arrived in from the garden
with a Dahlia flower in full bloom and it was growing out in the open.
Try using rte.ie/player to have a look at past television programmes.

The floods have been all the news around here for weeks now.
There was acouple of photographs in the Irish Times
on Monday 30th November.One showed a flooded Emmanuelle House over at
Clonfert and the other showed Paddy Nevin walking down a flooded street
in Shannonharbour with his back to the camera.
On Friday night at a very enjoyable Christmas Party in the Hall I met
Stevie Kenny who was more or less a Flood Ruler for Shannonbridge.
Stevie walked to the river every day and used his walking stick to
record the changes in river level.Stevie told me that the highest level
was recorded at 18 Feet 4 Inches on 26th November 2009 at measuring
point just upstream from the village bridge.This measuring point runs
to the top of the quay wall and is continued up along the bridge
support wall.The flood was over the highest measuring point so Stevie
had to add 8 Inches as recorded on his stick.On Friday the level had
dropped 13 Inches from its highest point.Best drop was 4.5 Inches in
one day.
Stevie told me that the flood measured in Brackagh downstream was some
10 Inches higher than the 1954 flood.
The graveyard in Clonifeen was surrounded by flood water but the Church
was not covered.

I was mentioning to Stevie Kenny that Brendan Ryan,Ferbane has written a book
about the R.I,C. in West Offaly to be published and launched this week.
This is Brendan Ryans seventh book so far.
Stevie was telling about a Tom Dowd who lived in Clondelara.
Tom was a Wexfordman and an RIC policeman.Stevie remembered Tom Dowd
walking by his house on his way home shouting
"Hurrah for '98",
"Hurrah for Vinegar Hill".
Tom Dowd had a niece Mary Dowd who was married to Johnny Duffy from
Clondelara.

Tom Murphy,a well known fitter/welder at Ferbane Power Plant died
recently and was buried in Clonmacnois last Monday 30th November.
May he rest in peace.

Joe Lyons for many years the chemist in Shannonbridge Power Plant retired recently
and best wishes to Joe on his retirement.

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 6th Dec 2009 -2nd Adv C
Tel (090) 9674125 Fax (090) 9674267
Mass times: Shannonbridge: Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12 noon, Sun;
Weekdays, 10am. Clonfanlough – Sunday, 10.30am
Shannonbridge
Masses: Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat @ 10am, Fri @ 8pm
Tues, 8th Dec, Feast of the Immaculate Conception - a Holy Day:
Vigil Mass on Mon @ 8pm; Mass on Tues @ 12noon
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €444. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: K.Price, C.Curley, P.Anderson
Eucharistic ministers: Group 4
Readers for next Weekend: Group 1, D.Finnerty, P.Corbett
Altar Servers for this week: Athene, Aoife, Saul, Jack
Mass on Mon eve for the late Ciaran, Maryanne & Brian Flannery.
Memorial Mass for Simon McManus (brother of Eamonn & Ger) on Fri eve @ 8pm.
Mass on Sat morning for the late Denis Lyons.
Mass on Sat eve for the late Brigid & William Duffy.
Mass on next Sun for the late Elizabeth McManus.
¨¨¨¨
Clonfanlough
Mass for The 'Immaculate Conception' on Tues @ 10.30am
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €185. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.Guinan, A.Guinan
Readers for next Sunday: A.Kelly
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group E
Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: A.Rohan
Mass on next Sun for the late Mary & Ciaran Daly, & Tom Mannion
A special word of thanks & appreciation is due to the kind people who organised & facilitated the recent Christmas Parties in both Shannonbridge & Clonfanlough. It demanded much hard work by many people; but the enjoyment given and shared by the guests is its own reward!
¨¨¨¨
Ecumenical Carol Service in Clonmacnois
On next Sun 10th Dec @ 4pm. Refreshments afterwards.
All welcome.
¨¨¨¨
Shannonbridge A.R.A. Christmas Social on Wed 9th Dec @ the 'Old Fort'. Dinner,@ 7.30pm. Music by Paudge Bennet. Enquiries to 090-96-74117.
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Samaritans Christmas Concert
In the Friary Church Athlone on 9th Dec @ 8pm. Adm. €10.00. Tickets available at Music world & usual outlets.
Athlone Samaritans, situated at 3 Court Devenish, are a voluntary organisation, dedicated to befriending the lonely, the despairing and the suicidal, or anyone troubled, who needs to talk to someone in complete confidence; available 24x7 on 1850-609090.
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Clonmacnois School is collecting old, unwanted mobile phones for the charity Jack & Jill Foundation. If you have any such phones please leave them at the school.
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Ballinasloe Flower & Garden Club
Christmas Flower Arranging Demo in Gullanes Hotel on 9th Dec @ 8pm

West Offaly Training: 9th Dec, 1 day Internet & email Course - €45.
10th Dec, 1 day Introduction to Office 2007 - €45. Call 057-9152003
¨¨¨¨
Questions people ask (Fr O’Flynn – Intercom)Q. On a television programme it was claimed that Christmas was a development of the pagan cult of Mithra, a pagan god associated with worship of sunlight. Is there any reason to doubt the traditional belief that the Son of God was born at Bethlehem?A. Pagan myths lack all foundation in historical fact whereas Christianity is rooted in facts about real, historical people and geographical places. Read St Luke’s list of real people and places in today’s Gospel. The incarnation, that is the coming of God in human flesh and blood, is no imaginary myth but historical fact.

New Book on Policing in West Offaly 1814 - 1922

Book Launch - Policing in West Offaly 1814-1922 by Brendan Ryan.
A new book on the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) by Brendan Ryan, Ferbane, will be launched next Friday night at 8.00pm, in the Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society premises at Bury Quay, Tullamore. All are welcome. This important book will shed new light on a force that is often maligned (when it is not being ignored), and how it went about its policing duties in the 100 years leading up to the country's independence.
The book will be on sale at a competitive price of €15.00.

Flooding Recedes.
The river level at the bridge was down to 5.23 meters yesterday. The pumps have been turned off and the road through the village reopened yesterday after 13 days.

1911 Census Shannonbridge - RIC Barracks.
The 1911 Census shows 6 policemen in Shannonbridge - a Sergeant and 5 Constables. Their ages were 45, 44, 35, 30, 26 and 26. Their professions were given as draper's assistant, farmers sons and hardware business, all were Roman Catholics and came from Roscommon, Mayo, Westmeath, Monaghan, Quieen's Co and Tipperary NR. Interestingly, their names were not stated on the census form, just their initials. Presumably this was a "security" measure, although every one local would know who they were! Want to know more? - book launch next Friday.