Good to Offaly golfer start off the year with a great display in his
first competition an Abu Adabi finishing fourth. This puts Shane into
the top hundred golf rankings for the first time.Position 89.
Well done Shane and keep up the good work.

The A.T.Cross staff and friends held a get together in Gullanes at
the weekend.About 150 people were expected to attend.It was a surprise
when over 350 people turned up to make it a great night .
A.T.Cross closed their pen factory in Ballinasloe too many years ago.

The anniversary Mass for the late Father Tom Ryan was celebrated in
Clonfad Church on Sunday evening.Father Tom was a popular priest
in the area where he worked until his death three years ago.

Laura Keena Shannonbridge celebrated her "21" Birthday with her
family and many friends on last Friday night.Daughter of Noel and
Ann Keena Laura is presently working in the new Tesco Stores in
Ballinasloe.Congratulations to Laura on the occassion.

At last weeks table quiz in Killeens the half-time raffle was run
in aid of the Haiti Disaster fund. It realised 364 Euros.
At the weekend Masses the congregation were asked to add a donation
for Haiti to the collection baskets. Father O Hanlon plans to only
take half of a normal weeks collection and sent the rest to Trocaire.
The pool players in Killeens are holding a Haiti tournament with an
entry fee of 10 Euros.Over 30 names have entered so far.

The Laois Kildare football teams really got warmed up yesterday
with seven players sent off.

An old Les Dawson tribute on TV yesterday had Les on a large stage
in a theater with a grand piano. He read out a note to say that
Gennie Jones was in the balcony and she is 1ll. Les proposed that
they sing Happy Birthday to Gennie and started playing the tune on
the piano.After a few lines a stage hand came over and whispered
in his ear. Les stood up and told the audience that sorry but
Gennie Jones is ill.