The Irish Golfer’s Guide to Open Fixtures which has been compiled by Oliver Hilliard is now being circulated to various golf clubs and outlets and is a must for any visiting golfers or for the home golfers that like to play around. By listing the open fixtures from golf clubs all over the country in a diary order a golfer is given a choice each day that will save a substantial amount of money.

Some recent deaths include Martin “Doc” Carroll who was the lead singer with The Royal Blues Showband at one time and later came to live in Athlone.

Ellen Mulvey, Cloniff, Ballydangan whose funeral took place yesterday after 11.00 AM Mass in Moore. The funeral Mass was broadcast on the Moore Parish radio which can be found on 102 FM.

Laurie Ward, nee Blundell Ballinasloe, relic of the late Kevin Ward has died and her funeral takes place today.

Tom Tumulty, Tanvey, Moore has died and his funeral is tomorrow in Moore.

May they all rest in peace.

Good to see Peter Howes and his merry fishermen over for a fishing holiday. This year Peter leads a party of 21 anglers who will stay with Vera Carty, Nancy O’Hara and Dympna O Carroll. Last evening one of the younger members of the group caught a pike at the Hot Water Stretch that weighed just over 20 Lbs.

Many years ago some German friends purchased the former home of John Walsh the teacher in Clonfinlough / Clonmacnois. The house is near Clonfinlough Church and has been advertised for sale this week by O’Meara auctioneers with a price guide of 325,000 Euros. The Winkel family assure us that they will continue to holiday in this area.

Weather today is forecast to have sunny intervals with temperature reaching 13C / 55F.

Martin Burke was telling us that he saw a Jay Bird on Tuesday looking lovely with blue and black feathers.

The Shannonbridge Active Retirement Group were part of a large crowd that turned up at Kinnity Castle yesterday on invitation to spend an afternoon at the Castle. The group meet every Tuesday morning after Mass at 10.00 AM in the Community Center housed in the Old Church, Shannonbridge.

No sign of the Corncrake as yet but we did receive a poem about The Corncrake from a local man.

The Corncrake

It is that time of the year again

When I up and leave

To live down by The Shannon

And enjoy its grassy fields.

I love Boranna Callow

I go there every year

To hatch my clutch

To sing my song

It is there I have no fear.

Dear Farmer, spare me as before

And instruction does take heed

As my call is getting weaker

I am a dying breed.

Please open down the middle

And give me a chance to run

To someone else’s meadow

Where we can have our fun.

To locals and to visitors

You all may come along

Just bring your tapes and cameras

To hear me sing my song.

Like the Cuckoo and the Swallow

I will return again

To that village by the river

With all my feathered friends.