Notes by Dermot 14.04.2009.

Congratulations to Mark Pillion of Clonfinlough and Paula O Neill from Kiltimagh who were married in Kiltimagh on Saturday 4th April and arepresently on their honeymoon in Orlando and New Mexico.
Ted Mc Evoy was in Shannonbridge again recently. He is writing a book on Bord na Mona and is interested in photographs of events and people connected with Bord na Mona. Please forward photographs to tedmcevoy@btinternet.com with details .
Regular visitors to Shannonbridge Dave and Paulien Kemp from Bradford and Steve and Liz Nell from Sheffield are spending the Easter in Shannonbridge. Dave and Paulien’s daughter Catherine joined the Kemps for Easter. Catherine told us that her brother Michael is working in Poland. On 6th April Kieran Pat Devery originally from Leharrow, telephoned from Mayo where he is spending Easter with his good wife Ann. He told us that he was speaking with his brother Sean in America, who told him he had been speaking with Jim Killeen in Chicago. So he decided to ring up and get some fresh news. Larry Malone and his wife Barbara nee Mc Cormack from Avril Park NewYork have been re-visiting Shannonbridge. This time they brought their daughter Nancy along with her husband Arthur Ng and their two daughters Spencer and Taylor Ng. Larry told us that it was his third visit to Ireland. They had visited Donegal and Sligo before visiting Clonmacnois, where they stayed in Kajon House. Spencer and Taylor are both gifted piano players and played a few tunes for us. Larry is interested in the Malone Family Tree. If you have any information on The Malone Family you can contact him at LBM7@verizon. Met some friends of Mark Flynn and Linda Devlin at the weekend. Both from DublinThey told us that Mark and Linda are getting married on 29th May and are having their wedding reception in The Fort Restaurant in Shannonbridge. Expect to see more of them around as they got the idea while on a boat trip on the Shannon. On Good Friday I heard that a group of about thirty people were planning on visiting Clonmacnois. Most of this group are attending a type of history and archaeology two year night class in Roscommon under the umbrella of UCG. Our local man Christy Cunniffe was along for the day so what better way to spend a Good Friday?. Over fivehours in sunshine we had a good look at Clonmacnois, The Nunnery and Clonfinlough Stone. A most enjoyable day having a closer look On Easter Sunday Father O Hanlon announced that morning Mass would beat 12.00 on Monday and at the usual 10.00am for the rest of the week.It was a surprise to find an almost full church for an Easter Monday and I had to ask the obvious question “Has He Risen”. But I had forgotten about Alice Egan’s 90th Birthday and a special concelebrated Mass started the day. Afterwards there was a Birthday Dinner in The Fort Restaurant. After the Mass Jimmy Anderson from Rhode came over to say hello. Jimmy is married to a Keegan, a niece of Alice Egan. Jimmy first met me in Rhode Power Station when with seven others we went to learn practical work on running a power station. I was surprised that Jimmy was able to name most of the eight including Bosco Muldoon, Tony Mc Teague, Dennis O Grady, Vincent Lennon, Terry ODriscoll, Oliver Keenaghan and Bosco Gleeson.Glad to hear from Martin Bertram from England who used to come fishing to this area many years ago with his parents Harry and Dot. I was sorry to hear that his mother Dot died from cancer some years say.Please say a prayer for her soul. Sonny Ward, ex Premier Aces is joining North To Alaska for an EasterMonday Music in Killeens tonight.