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.