The Cheltenham Racing Festival started on Tuesday 16th March.
I watched the first race on TV.For many days the Paddy Power Bookmakers
had placed large adverts with their money-back offer on bets on any
other horse in the first race if Dunguib won the race. Dunguib was the
4 to 9 favourite in that first race. Dunguib finished third.

The countryside remains a burnt brown colour due to the frost and lack
of rain recently. The five day forecast has rain predicted for four of
the next five days.If night temperatures rise there will be many happy
lambs running around.

One farmer who is feeding some grain to their animals told us that many
birds are also chasing the grain including five hen pheasants and one
happy cock.

Seven of the so called 'Fishermen' were back fishing on
the floating jetty for Patrick's Day and several boat owners had to
chase them off their boats.One owner saw a keepnet with almost
three rings of coarse fish and pike in the catch. Another owner came
to the church after Mass to ask what can be done about this illegal
carry on by this bunch.

Yesterday some eight Americans arrived in Shannonbridge using Carrig
Coaches and guide.They were mostly Harrington Family from Idaho.
Brianna Harrington told us that her sister Katie is attending school
in Saint Patrick's College in Carlow and that the rest of the family
had come over to visit her.Their forefathers had emigrated to America
and worked in the copper mines many years ago. Brianna told that her
name is the feminine version of Brian. John Milroy from Chicago was
also on the party and his family have Clare background.
They had visited Clonmacnois on a lovely sunny morning and were on
their way to Galway. One of the ladies had 'Book of Famous Irish Pubs'
as her guide and was collecting autographs as she went.
Noticed photographs of the late Jimmy Hennessy outsite the famous
thatched pub in Ferbane and one of Hough's Pub in Banagher.

Saint Patrick's Day is Pat Killeen's Birthday and family and friends
gathered in Portiuncula Hospital today to celebrate the occassion.
It was great to see one of the staff wheeling around a trolley and
glasses and bottles of Paddy Whiskey for the patients to celebrate
our national feastday.

George Brent the actor was George Nolan and his family lived in
what is now Nicky Nugent's the Butcher. His son Brian and daughter
Susanne carried the surname Brent and Susanne has written a number
of books - do a Google search on them.Thanks to Lorraine Mc Kenna
for her message on George's birthdate last Monday.