Daly, M.D., Francis Thomas

On June 4, 2009 at the age of 80, Francis “Foss” Thomas Daly, M.D. (formerly of County Offaly, Ireland and Towson, MD) of Punta Gorda, FL and Marshfield, WI died peacefully at his daughter’s home. He was preceded in death by his parents – Francis and Mary (nee Keena) Daly, and his beloved wife, Geraldine Leonore Daly. He is survived by his siblings, Dr. Brendan Daly of San Diego, CA, Dr. Margaret Daly-Murphy of Los Angeles, CA, and Dr. Noel P. Daly of Dublin, Ireland. He was devoted father to Dr. Francis Thomas Daly, Jr. of York, PA, Brian Patrick Daly of Olney, M.D., and Dr. Linda Marie Daly-O’Neill of Marshfield, WI; and father-in-law to Karen Daly and Dr. Dermot O’Neill. He adored his four grandchildren: Jared Eamonn Daly, Brianna Kathyrn Daly, Finn Morgan O’Neill, and Niav Keena O’Neill.

Foss’s life started from humble beginnings in County Offaly, Ireland. With the encouragement of his family, especially his sister “Gret”, he studied and was accepted to the Royal College of Surgeons, in Ireland. He graduated from medical school in 1953, and then worked in England for a year before traveling to the states. He interned in Delaware before completing his residency in Johns Hopkins’ affiliated hospitals in Baltimore, MD. It was there that he met and married his cherished wife, “Geri”. Foss and his wife raised their three children in Balitimore. He had a large medical practice there. Foss was a firm believer in education, sitting medical boards in internal medicine, cardiology, and geriatric medicine and renewing his degree before retiring. He encouraged his children and grandchildren to also strive to be their very best. He remained passionate about his homeland of Ireland, and hoped in his lifetime he would see his country without political unrest. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends. In Lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Dr. Francis Daly’s name to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America. Services and interment private. Arrangement by the family owned Mitchell-Wiedefeld Funeral Home, Inc. in Baltimore, MD.

Fishing Report dated 8th June 2009
River levels in metres taken by Barry Crawford at the gauge upstream of village bridge.
2nd June level 2.7, Saturday 6th June 2.6, Sunday 7th June 2.56, Monday 8th June level was 2.5 metres.
Lots of good sunny days since last report.
-Norman Davies, Birmingham on River Suck 1st Junehad 30lbs hybrids using a feeder.
-Norman had 16lbs of roach and hybrid on 31st May fishing pole and maggot. 'Suck keeps getting better'
- Norman had 25lbs of roach on the Inny on 25th May with float and maggot. They were gone next day.
-John Longstaff Manchester fished River Suck on 1st June and caught roach, bream, perch and roach/bream hybrid.
-E.D.Godbold,Ipswich fished a backwater using maggot and sweetcorn to catch 106lbs of five types of fish.
-Bernard Robinson fished the Hot Water on 3/6/09 using worm/caster to catch 60lbs of tench. Some over 6lbs.
-Eamon Maher,Athlone fished Long Island on 5/6/09 trolling dead perch to catch 3 pike of 4, 6.5 and 10lbs.
Eamon also caught a perch weighing 1.25lbs. All fish returned alive.
-Three visitors De Sutepper, Croughs and Beerneart fished the Shannon on 5/06/09 using Bulldog lures and
caught 12, 6, and 9 pike respectively. Many more were missed. Fish caught were returned alive.
-Keeth Perry, Mountshannon fished Lough Derg at end of May using spent gnat to catch 5 brown trout weighing
about 2lbs each. Fish were all caught before dark.
-Tom Carty Dublin/Shannonbridge used float and worm to catch 6 perch.
-Tom Carty Jnrbeat his grandfather by catching 7 perch on float and worm
-Their friend young Sam Mc Mahon, Dublin caught 6 perch using float and worm.
The 19 perch weighed 10.5 lbs.
-Ray Walshe, Clonlyon fished Lough Ree on 3/6/09 fly fishing a spent gnat to land a 3.5lbs brown trout.
-Yesterday 46 members of the Irish Pike Anglers ran a competition in Shannonbridge.
149 pike were caught and released. Best fish 16 lbs.Best bags 30-13, 30-12,27-12 and 21-10 in lbs/ounces.
- Yesterday the Athlone Pike Anglers had a competition based at Clonmacnois 4 miles upstream.
No news of results of that match.

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 7th June 2009 - Trinity Sun B
Tel (090) 9674125 Fax (090) 9674267
Mass times: Shannonbridge - Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12noon Sun;
Weekdays, 10am. Clonfanlough - Sunday, 10.30am
Shannonbridge
Masses: Each day @ 10am
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €427. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: J.Kelly, M.Killeen, A.Keena
Eucharistic ministers: Group 2
Readers for next Weekend: Group 5, C.Mannion, C.Doolan
Altar Servers for this week: Megan, Andrea
Mass next Sat eve for Thomas & Mary Coleman & family deceased
¨¨¨¨
Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €216. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.Loonam, A.Egan
Readers for next Sunday: H.Coughlan
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group D Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: P.Darcy

We celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi next Sun, with a short procession after the 12noon Mass. You are invited to take part, and a special welcome to the 'First Communicants'.
Prayer Centre Clonmacnois
Second Anniversary Mass for Fr Paddy Kenny will be celebrated on next Wed 10th June @ 7.30pm. All welcome.
¨¨¨¨
Shannonbridge Tidy Towns Meeting
In the Health Centre, on Mon 8th June @ 9pm. Volunteers are badly needed to do some work; so please come along and help make our Village beautiful! All welcome.
¨¨¨¨
Eucharistic Congress 2012
As we indicated last weekend the Bishops have asked us to take up a special Collection on next Sun to build up a Fund to meet the costs of the Congress. Special envelopes are available today.
¨¨¨¨
CO Offaly Childminding Initiative will host a coffee fun morning for Childminders/children and those who are interested on Thurs 11th June in Jumpin Jacks Tullamore. Call 057-9370630
¨¨¨¨
Youth 2000 plan to have their Summer Festival at Clonmacnois from 13th - 16th August. The theme will be 'Know that the Living God is among you'. Visit www.youth2000.ie or call 01-6753690.
"The Priests" will give a special performance at the 02, Dublin on Mon 22nd June. Call 01-7755800.
¨¨¨¨
Questions people askQ. Would it make any difference if I believed in one God without the complications of three divine persons?A. It would matter hugely. By neglecting the doctrine of the Blessed Trinity you would miss the revelation of the inner life of God as revealed in the teaching of Jesus, far advanced beyond the Old Testament. Nor could one understand the divinity of Jesus, nor the sacrifice of Jesus in offering himself freely to the Father, nor the sending of the Holy Spirit, nor the movement of the Mass which is going to the Father, in and through the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap ¨¨¨¨
"God Speaks" billboards as seen in America.
(1) Do you have any idea where you're going? - God(2) Will the road you're on get you to my place? – God
(3) We need to talk. - God(4) Let's meet at my house Sunday before the game. – God

GAA news from Jason Mahon

Division 1 football league – Saturday 30^th May

Shannonbridge 1-07 Gracefield 5-08.

Team: D Corbett, S Flannery, T Mahon. M Darcy, K Flannery, N Price, P Maloney, J Egan, J Kelly (1-04), A Kelly, W Keena, E Egan (0-1), K Kelly (0-1), P Deeley (0-1) & P Kelly.

Subs. R O’Connor, R Ryan, M Maloney & C Kenny.

Division 3 football league – Sunday 31^st May

Shannonbridge 1-06 Ballycumber 2-11.

Team: D Corbett, D Hogan, S Flannery, A Gunning, C Kenny, T Mahon, C Coughlan, R Walshe, P Kelly, M Kilduff, A Kelly, R Ryan, G Quirke, C Finn & E Egan.

Division 1 football league – Wednesday 3^rd June

Shannonbridge 0-3 Rhode 3-19

Shannonbridge were over-whelmed by a full strength Rhode outfit this evening and on this showing, Rhode will be hard to stop on their way to successive Dowling cups as they tore apart a very weak Shannonbridge effort from the first blow of the Dinger Walsh’s whistle.

Indeed they led by 2-05 to 0-2 at the interval, hardly missing an effort on target as Shannonbridge struggled to get the ball forward with any momentum at all, although they did record 6 wides in the first period.

Rhode picked up in the 2^nd half where they left off in the first, With attack after attack wielding many scores from all angles, Niall McNamee and Anton Sullivan doing most of the damage.

Teams:

Shannonbridge; D Kelly, S Flannery, W Keena, M Darcy, K Flannery, C Cougglan, P Maloney, J Ryan, J Egan, A Kelly(0-1), J Kelly, E Egan(0-1), K Kelly,, R O’Connor and P Kelly.

Subs: M Maloney, D Turley(0-1), D Corbett & C Kenny.

Rhode: R Heavey, D Murphy, S Sullivan, J Kilmurray, C Heavey, B Darby, E Byrne, A Brereton, A McNamee, J Coffey, R Malone, G O’Connell, A Sullivan, P Kelleghan & N McNamee.

Wedding bells.

Shannonbridge GAA wish to congratulate Michelle Mahon Clonfanlough & Ciaran Kenny from Boora on their recent wedding.

We wish them all the best for the future.

Best wishes.

Shannonbridge GAA would like to wish Sinead Moylan-Ryan all the best in the upcoming local elections. Sinead is of course the wife of Shannonbridge footballer John. So for everybody in the parish, get up and vote for Sinead!!

Good Luck

Shannonbridge GAA would like to wish all those who are doing their Junior and Leaving cert exams in the coming days. The very best of luck.

Festival Launch

The 4th Shannonbridge Midsummer Music festival

Will be launched tonight in Killeen’s in Shannonbridge at 7pm

Music by Rahan Comhaltas

The Shannonbridge Midsummer Music Festival June 25th to 28th

www.myspace.com/shannonbridgefest



Highlights include

Thursday 25th at the Old Fort

Mary Coughlan supported by Daithi Rua



Friday 26th at the Old Fort

Freddie White supported by Daithi Rua



Saturday 27th at Clonmacnoise

Midland Youth Orchestra

Followed by BBQ, Groomsmen and Strawboys at the Quay



Sunday 28th on the Green

Jazz and Street Theatre



Programme launch at 7pm in Killeen’s

For more information contact 086 2647719

Journey Man

Another one from John Mc Manus, Clonburren

Journey Man

One evening of late from Bandon I strayed

Bound for Clonakilty I was making my way

In Ballinascorthy sometime I delayed and I wet my old whistle with Porter

I scarcely had travelled a mile out the road when I heard a dispute in a farmers abode with the son of a landlord an ill looking toad and the wife of a poor tenant farmer

Hurray for the bold tenants wife I cried

Your as bad as your daddy who lives the other side

No national land league will pull down our pride while its able to bear every storm


With ma faghta mo thuasla mo slainte


Todays paper tells of the death of the horse trainer Vincent O Brien

who died on 1st June 2009 at his home in Kildare aged 92 years.

He was widely regarded as the finest racehorse trainer of the last century.

In his retirement he spent time in Kildare and in Perth Australia, where

his wife came from.

May he rest in peace.

I saw on the SB News that you were at the bungalow feeding the birds. We have several nests around the house. In front we have a pair of house Finches that have built a nest under the eaves on the porch. I looked and there are 3 eggs in the nest. In the rear we have Finches on the back porch that have built a nest on top of one of my speakers which is up under the eaves. We play music over the speaker in the evening when we are out there and I thought it wouldn't be a good idea for them to build there, so when I saw them starting to bring in nest material I tried discouraging them by balling up a wad of heavy duty aluminum foil and stuffing it between the ceiling and the speaker. I thought they would chose another spot and carry on. But no, they pecked away at the foil for several days and cleared a hole large enough to build a nest. I figured if they were that resourceful I would forego the music until they raise their family.
We also have 2 well hidden nests of Mockingbirds in our shrubs in the back. I see them darting in and out of the shrubs but they are very thick and I don't know exactly where the nests are. When their chicks hatch it is an adventure tending my tomatoes and oranges since they fly up and peck at the back of your head to chase you off. Years ago I discovered that if you put a mask on that has eyes backwards they can't figure where to safely attack and leave you alone. I always say a little prayer that my next door neighbor isn't looking when I do that. This is a Black Phoebe that sits on the edge of our pool and every now and then appears to leap in for a swim. Actually he is feeding on flying insects that have landed in the pool. He is a flycatcher and I guess he figured it takes less energy than chasing them all over the place. We have hummingbirds constantly at our 2 feeders. Also in the neighborhood we have scrub jays, cedar waxwings, barn owls, an eagle, mourning doves crows and many others.
We look forward to seeing you soon.
GB, Ken

Today we are enjoying the third day of a promised six days of sunshine. Barry Crawford has arrived and he told us
that the temperature reached 26C yesterday.
Brad has just gone to the riverside below the Fort hoping to catch the bridge floodlit by the setting sun.

River levels are topics of conversation locally and with visiting anglers.On May 21st the level was 3.6 metres.
On Saturday 23rd May level was 3.53 metres.On Monday 25th May level was 3.45 metres.On 27th May it was 3.33 metres.
On 28th May level was 3.27 metres. On Monday June 1st the level was 2.9 metres.
Local angler Ray Walshe fished for trout on Lough Ree twice. On 24th May using a spent gnat Ray caught three brown
trout that weighed 2.6 lbs, 2.79 lbs and 3.02lbs. On his second visit he used a Cardinal Wolf fly and caught a trout
weighing 3 lbs 10 ozs. Ray caught all his fish between 8.00 and 10.00 at night.
- Chris Compton Cheltenham fished the Grand Canal on 22nd May in the rain using a bunch of maggots for a 33 lbs catch
that included 11 tench. Good fun and bites.
-His brother Mike Compton fished the Grand Canal on the same day and caught 4 tench and two bream on the feeder.
- Steve Nell from Sheffield fished the Grand Canal on two days.On a sunny 22nd May he caught 12.5 lbs of hybrids
and one tench weighing 2 lbs 12 ozs. Steve fished on a sunny and windy 25th May and used maggot and corn to catch
14.5 lbs of 5 tench and hybrids fishing late in the evening.
- An Athlone angler Dons fished at the Hot Water on 30th May and used double white maggot to catch a 2 lbs perch
-Bernard Hook of the Cullingworth Eight arrived in Shannonbridge today after fishing Killeshandra.
He had two good catches of bream and tench there while night fishing weighing 110 lbs and 79 lbs. Bernard told
us that the fish did not start feeding until after 3.00 AM in the night / morning.

Yesterday Ted Tuke arrived on his barge named Heron after travelling from Dublin.
The Heron was once one of the Celtic Cruisers narrowboats that operated out of Tullamore.
Ted reckons that the lockgates out as far as the 13th lock are in poor condition and require maintenance.
He is looking forward to when the Royal Canal becomes fully navigable. Ted reckons that many British people will come
to Ireland to do what is known as The Triangle. Using one canal to reach the Shannon and to return by the other canal.
Where they start from is not important. Ted found that The Heron performs better on the river than the canal due to
deeper water levels.

On Monday 25th May there was a good photograph of Peter Grenham, publican and undertaker, Ballinasloe talking to canvassers
outside Peter's Pub in Main Street,
Ballinasloe.

The death has occured of Paddy Wynne, Drumshanbo and late of Arigna. Paddy is survived by his wife, son and daugher.
His sisters were Mrs Eileen Keena, Aughnacabe and Maureen in Arigna. His brother Este lives in England.
May he rest in peace.

Wexford defeated Offaly in championship hurling at the weekend scoring 2 - 17 to 0 - 16.

Here a week ago was Don Murray from Greystones and originally from River Street Ballinasloe. Don had travelled up from Portumna on a cruiser and was met
by his brother Joe. About 1992 Don took part in a canoe trip from Lough O'Flynn, the source of The River Suck,travelling
down to the mouth of the river where it meets The Shannon at Shannonbridge.

James Taylor was telling us that a nest of Blue Tits have set up home on John Powers boat in Shannonharbour.
John had plans to name his boat Goldcrest after Irelands smallest bird. The boat is at a standstill at present and
name plans may also be altered. Wonder what will be the new name ?

'Its safe to sow spuds while you can see out through the ash tree' they say.
Today I met a man who had just reaped a crop of silage. Nowadays it is packed into a bag and makes for easy transport.
Met John Mc Manus this morning and he has an old song which hopefully he will share with us soon.

On Saturday I went to feed the robins and was surprised when two young robins came a picking. The parents seem to have
lost interest in carrying the food.
On Yesterday after Mass a chaffinch came to pick up some bread crumbs and went away. An older robin came and went for
a drink in the boat parked in the garden. No sign of the younger robins.
Today an older robin and one younger robin came along. We had run out of maggots over the weekend and they were only
mildly interested in a bread and cheese meal specially prepared. They picked at some older pickings and the older robin went
for another drink in the boat. Barry Crawford has taken over feeding duties and he has a cute camera so I hope to see
some good photos of birds in the garden.

Ken and Betty Smith have sent an e-mail on their bird life in their garden in California.
Hopefully I will be able to post it on this page soon

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 31st May 2009 - Pentecost Sun B
Tel (090) 9674125 Fax (090) 9674267
Mass times: Shannonbridge - Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12noon Sun;
Weekdays, 10am. Clonfanlough - Sunday, 10.30am

Shannonbridge
Masses: Fri-Sat @ 10am; Rest of week Eucharistic Prayer Service. Adoration on First Fri until 5pm
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €638. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: G.Brennan, D.Deeley, V.Hynes
Eucharistic ministers: Group 1
Readers for next Weekend: Group 4, S.Grennan, P.Duffy
Altar Servers for this week: Oisín, Michaela
¨¨¨¨
Clonfanlough
Mass on First Fri @ 7pm
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €274. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: B.Kilduff, E.Kilduff
Readers for next Sunday: D.Norton
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group C Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: N.Egan
Mass on next Sun for the late Willie & Paddy Kelly

Many thanks for your contributions to the Holy Land Collection, which came to €720.00
From the Office of the Bishop
"Eucharistic Congress 2012
In 3 years time we will celebrate the Eucharistic Congress in Ireland, with Dublin as the host city. Some will remember the great public celebration of our faith at the Eucharistic Congress of 1932.
The Eucharistic Congress of 2012 will be quite different, but it is our hope that it will help to renew & strengthen our faith in the Eucharist. While the Congress will be celebrated in Dublin, the entire country will stand to benefit by it.
It is necessary to build up a Eucharistic Congress Fund to meet the costs of Congress 2012. To do so a Special Collection will be held on the Feast of Corpus Christi (14th June this year), and on the following two years throughout the country. I would be most grateful for any contribution you can afford."

"The Ryan Commission Report
This Report has made painful reading for everybody. However, we must recognise that is important that the truth has come out. Now is the time for all to make a commitment to resolute efforts to ensure that now and in the future children do not suffer the kind of pain that they endured in the past."
¨¨¨¨
CO Offaly Childminding Initiative will host a coffee fun morning for Childminders/children and those who are interested on Thurs 11th June in Jumpin Jacks Tullamore. Call 057-9370630.
West Offaly Education Project will hold Awards Nights for all course participants in Sept. Participants will be notified.
Dóchas Nasamu, which funds an orphanage in Africa, will have a Clothes collection at the Carpark at Shannonbridge Hall on Tues 2nd June between 9am - 12noon. Call 086-8689377.
Youth 2000 plan to have their Summer Festival at Clonmacnois from 13th - 16th August. The theme will be 'Know that the Living God is among you'. Visit www.youth2000.ie or call 01-6753690.
"The Priests" will give a special performance at the 02, Dublin on Mon 22nd June. Call 01-7755800.
kkkk
Many of the priests of the Diocese will be on Retreat this week.

We wish all our examinees the guidance of God's Spirit.

John Mc Manus Clonburren as promised has forwarded some verses on The Cuckoo and The Corncrake.

The Cuckoo

1)

In April first she comes

In May she sings all day

In June she changes her tune

In July she prepares to fly

In August go she must

2)

The Cuckoo is a fine bird

She sings as she flys

She brings us good tidings

She sucks small birds eggs to make her voice clear and when she cries Cuckoo the Summer is near.

The Corncrake

The Bee

The Bat

The Butterfly

The Cuckoo and the Swallow

The Corncrake put up his beak and bid them all good morrow.

From: John Mc Manus, Clonburren

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 24th May 2009 – Ascension B
Tel (090) 9674125 Fax (090) 9674267
Mass times: Shannonbridge: Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12 noon, Sun;
Weekdays, 10am. Clonfanlough – Sunday, 10.30am

Shannonbridge
Masses: Each day @ 10am, except Tuesday @ 9.30am;
Thurs @ 8am – Bord na Mona pre-production Mass.
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €500. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.Murphy, M.McManus
Eucharistic ministers: Group 4
Readers for next Weekend: Group 3, M.Killeen, O.Costello
Altar Servers for this week: Siobhan, Caitríona
¨¨¨¨
Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €247. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: B.Kenny, M.Lantry
Readers for next Sunday: A.Kelly
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group B
Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: D.McEvoy

Clonfanlough Social Group will have a special Remembrance Mass for the deceased members and friends of the group.
It will be on Fri 29th May @ 7.pm in the Hall.
Everybody is welcome, and we will have a cup of tea and a chat afterwards
¨¨¨¨
Shannonbridge ARA Annual Outing
Tuesday 26th May, to Strokestown House & Gardens, and Lough Key Forest Park. Bus will leave at 10am from the Parish Hall.
If you wish to travel, call 9674117 or 9674169.
¨¨¨¨
Global Day of Prayer – Sun 31st May in Clonmacnois
‘Praying for the Nation, praying for the World.’ 3-5pm.
All welcome.
¨¨¨¨
Stroke Support Group
Meeting on 27th May in the Health Centre Ballinasloe @ 7pm.
The theme will be ‘Smoking Cessation’ with Mary Diskin.
¨¨¨¨
Offaly Local Development Company
Invites applications for a 7 month full-time FETAC Level 5 “Healthcare Support” course starting late June in Birr. Suitable applicants may qualify for FAS funding.
For more info call 057-9120000.
¨¨¨¨
Knock Summer Youth Festival
“You are the Light of the World.” 23rd – 26th July.
For more info call 094-9375035 / 9388100, or 087-6927850.
¨¨¨¨
PTAA
Members who may be entitled to receive Silver or Gold pins or “The Father Cullen Medal” should contact any of the Pioneer Committee during the coming week.
¨¨¨¨
Irish Cancer Society.
Will hold its annual Church- gate collection next weekend.
¨¨¨¨
‘Ag Críost an síol, ag Críost an fómhair, in iothlann Dé go dtugtar sinn.’

John Mc Manus was here yesterday and is in fine fettle. I was telling him about the Cuckoo poem from Ned Murray.
John has a different version and will send it on to be posted here.
I was telling John about the Kinsella and Morrison/Kenny families in Boston with Cappaleitra connections.
John said that the original Kinsella home was in Cornveagh which means The Turn of The Deer.
Cappaleitra was known as The Horse Park. Capall being the Irish for a horse.
John was telling about an old prophecy that told that a blck pig would run from Athlone via Cornaveagh,
cross the River Suck, and cross the River Shannon. John reckons that this prophecy is now fulfilled
with the trains bearing peat to the power station in Shannonbridge.
The turn below John Mc Manus's house was called Bearnagairbh ( gairbh and mairbh ? latter means dead)
meaning 'Pathway of the Dead'. Path used when bringing coffins to Clonmacnois.
Good sunshine on Friday and Saturday. Yesterday I was sitting for a time in the Bungalow garden
feeding robins with red maggot, caster and strawberries. Red maggot was most popular with two sets
of robins bringing food to two nests about twenty yards apart.
A family of four young blackbirds were busy feeding on the lawn while a parent kept watch.
The only nest box erected in this garden is strung to a large tree and a famil of yellow tits
are in residence. Noticed what looked like a pair of pidgeons and a couple of white butterflies about.
Many songbirds were a singing and I was sorry that I did not know the different sounds.
Leonard Cohen returns to Dublin in July and the three days tickets were snapped up. an extra concert
has been added but after Leinster won the final of the Heineken Cup in rugby today 19 - 16 these will
probably also go fast.
Some deaths include
Martin (Marty) Mulvey from Lowtown, Athlone.
Thomas Young Fardrum, Athlone father of eight children including Michael Young who worked in power plant.
May they rest in peace.

Last weekend Edward 'Ned' Murray from Creganaharna, Taughmaconnell stopped by with his friend Vinny Fennell.
Ned had a four liner about the Cuckoo that went -
In April she comes
In May she sings all day
In June she changes her tune
In July she flies away.

There is a marvelous chorus of different birds touting their songs around.
It was sad to hear today that some unmindful person on the road past Clonmacnois
chose today to cut their hedges.

Visitors to Clonmacnois today were two Murphy brothers from Athlone with family and friends.
They emigrated to England in the 1950's but come home regularly.
One of them told us that he lives in Windsor. One of their daughters has a pub in England and
she told us that many pubs in England are turning part of the building into a shop.

The Shannonbridge Active Retirement Group had an outing to Boora Parklands last week and enjoyed
the visit very much. They plan to visit Lough Key Forest Park and Strokestown House on another
outing scheduled for next Tuesday.

David Marcus ex Irish Press died last week aged 84 years. May he rest in peace.

Today's news tells us that Shane Lowry has made the decision to turn professional in the golf world.
Glad to hear that he visited some schools yesterday including Clonmacnois.
Wishing Shane the very best in his new career.

The level of the river and the flood situation are talking points this week.
On Monday 11th May the level was 3.34 metres in sunshine.
On Monday 18th May the level was 3.4 metres.
On Thursday 21st May the level was 3.6 metres.
On Tuesday there was extremely heavy thunder showers of hailstones and rain.

Some fish catches recorded include
-Craig Tidswell from Bradford caught a perch weighing 2.75lbs while fishing dead bait at The Hot Water on 15th May.
-Stein Akinson from Mayo fished the Hot Water early on 15th May and caught 7 tench using sweetcorn in the rain.
-Terri Brannerso from Grimsby fished the Grand Canal on 12th May and caught four tench using worm and reds. Ccught
in the morning with the best fish weighing 3 lbs.
-Mick Smith from Grimsby fished the Grand Canal the next morning and used worm and reds to also catch four tench.
-Daws Brown from Shropshire fished the Brosna and Grand Canal on 16th May in variable weather using feeder and pole
to catch 70 lbs of fish that included 17 tench to 5lbs plus rudd and hybrids.Fishing all day.
-Tom Small from Shropshire fished the Brosna and Grand Canal on 16th May with pole and feeder catching 15 tench,
best 5lbs plus roach and hybrids for a 90 lbs bag weight.
-Kevin Barmann from Wicklow fished the River Suck on 16th May in bad weather using dead bait to catch pike
weighing 16lbs and 14lbs. His comment was 'No Fight from the fish'.
-Ray Walsh from Clonfinlough fished Lough Ree on 13th May in mixed weather and caught a 2.5lbs trout on a fly.
-Pat Dunning Ballydangan was trolling with a pike spinner in early May and caught and released a salmon of 3.5lbs.
-Mike Pichler from Austria fished the Shannon on 18th May, wet and windy,and used a wobbler to catch 7 pike to 71cm
which were returned alive.
-Ruud Spoon from Holland fished the Shannon on 19May in wind and rain using a plug bait to catch 6 pike best 85cm.
-A\sling Joyce from Scariff County Clare fished on Lough Ree on an overcast 20th May to catch her first ever fish
a pike that weighed 2.5 lbs. Returned alive.

Al Morrison Boston who has connections with the Kenny families in Kidlawn and Clonburren has made contact
with Tom Kinsella Boston and Clonburren connections. Al had a visit from Father Peter Kenny recently and
he told me that Jim Killeen Chicago telephoned Father Peter while he visited.

Great golf victory in the Irish Open for 22 year old Shane Lowry at the weekend. Shane Lowry is from Clara
in Offaly and comes from a great Gaelic football family, with his father Brendan and his two uncles winning
All Ireland medals with Offaly over twenty five years ago. Congratulations and well done Shane.
A young girl from Clonmacnois School was in yesterday to buy an Irish Tri-colour flag. She told us that Shane
was to visit the school.
Todays paper tells that Shane will make a statement tonight on his plans for the future. Whether he will turn
professional and when. Lots of family and friends had a wager on his winning and the Paddy Power bookmakers
are said to have lost about one million on his win. Runner up to Shane was Robert Rock from England.
Here on Sunday and watching the golf was John Shanahan from Ferbane and now living in Cork. John is a son
of the late Louis Shanahan, one of the whiz quiz team from Ferbane who died ten years ago.

The Pilgrim Road from Kilgarvan to Clonmacnois runs through the bogland and was a track of stone boulders.
I was sorry to hear that last week that when clearing away bushes and scrub from the bog some of the stones
were moved by the machinery and dumped with the other waste. By coincidence the title of the recent RTE
programme recently was titled "Stories of the Stones". The end of the road is near Saint Ciaran's Church
in Clonmacnois.

Yesterday Monika Krumscheid was in a party of holidaymakers on the river that visited Shannonbridge.
She took along a December 2005 Boote Magazine www.boote-magazin.de that has a story about the River Shannon.
On page 52 there are a number of photos including a photograph of part of the bridge and support structure
taken from downstream, one of Mick Killeen and another of Bridie Carry and myself perched on two stools
behind the shop counter. They waited on to hear Louise Killeen and Lorraine Devery and Mark Donegan play
their music.

Today Martin and Petra Schwavs from Bavaria arrived by car from Donegal. They first visited Ireland in 1981
and Martin remembered that I was sick that year. More or less since then they have visited Ireland each year.
They stay on land one tear and take a boat on the river the next year. They were unable to wait to hear
Paudge Bennett tonight as Mary Burbage owner of The Ferry Inn in Portumna is celebrating a special birthday
and they were on their way to join the celebration. Martin was enquiring about Timmy Devery the accordeon
player and the late Joe Hickey the bodhran player. Timmy is an uncle of Lorraine and is in the retirement home
in Birr.

New Zealand expect to see 'Trish Duffy and her mother and her aunt paying a visit there next week to visit
Patricia's other aunt.

Some recent deaths.
- Kathleen Rooney Drumalga,nee Glynn and relic of the late Michael has died.Family include Tommy, Yvonne,
Noreen and Gabrielle.
- Doctor Stanley Hewitt, retired, Ballinasloe has died.
May they rest in peace.

Patrick Kenny, America was telling the story of a holidaymaker going into a shop for a newspaper.
"Is it yesterdays or todays you want"?
"Todays of course"
"I'm sorry but you will have to wait until tomorrow".

The Irish Times on Monday 11th May page 20 has an article headed Public urged to listen out for rare bird.
It is about corncrakes but is an associated press piece and deals mostly with the UK.
They had 480 calling birds or males in 1993 when the RSPB launched a recovery programme for the bird.
In 2003 the calling birds numbered 832.

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 17th May 2009 -6 Easter B
Tel (090) 9674125 Fax (090) 9674267
Mass times: Shannonbridge: Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12 noon, Sun;
Weekdays, 10am. Clonfanlough – Sunday, 10.30am

Shannonbridge
Masses: Each day @ 10am, except Tues @ 9.30am
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €447. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: A.Ryan, L.Turley, M.Mitchell
Eucharistic ministers: Group 3
Readers for next Weekend: Group 2, C.Casey, E.Quinn
Altar Servers for this week: Athene, Aoife

¨¨¨¨
Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €249. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: J.Egan, B.Dolan
Readers for next Sunday: A.Kelly
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group A
Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: B.Coughlan
Anniversary Mass for Peg Rocke on next Sunday

Meeting of Parish P.C. this Mon in Clonfanlough @ 8pm
Clonfanlough Social Group will have a special Remembrance Mass for the deceased members and friends of the group.
It will be on Fri 29th May @ 7.pm in the Hall.
Everybody is welcome, and we will have a cup of tea and a chat afterwards.
¨¨¨¨








We welcome to the table of the Lord the children who received Jesus, the Bread of life, in their First Holy Communion this Sat.

Saul O’Carroll Sophie Gilson Jack Ryan
Shauna Mannion Bryan Rohan Aoife Rigney
Tara Kennedy Kevin Flynn

¨¨¨¨
Catholic Identity Card
'if you are proud to proclaim your identity as a Catholic you might like to carry an Identity card, stating that you are a Catholic, and in the event of an accident or emergency, please contact a priest.'
These cards are available from info@ www.world priest.com
Call 01-2314600 or 086-868190785
Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 17th May 2009 -6 Easter B
Tel (090) 9674125 Fax (090) 9674267
Mass times: Shannonbridge: Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12 noon, Sun;
Weekdays, 10am. Clonfanlough – Sunday, 10.30am

Shannonbridge
Masses: Each day @ 10am, except Tues @ 9.30am
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €447. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: A.Ryan, L.Turley, M.Mitchell
Eucharistic ministers: Group 3
Readers for next Weekend: Group 2, C.Casey, E.Quinn
Altar Servers for this week: Athene, Aoife

¨¨¨¨
Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €249. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: J.Egan, B.Dolan
Readers for next Sunday: A.Kelly
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group A
Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: B.Coughlan
Anniversary Mass for Peg Rocke on next Sunday

Meeting of Parish P.C. this Mon in Clonfanlough @ 8pm
Clonfanlough Social Group will have a special Remembrance Mass for the deceased members and friends of the group.
It will be on Fri 29th May @ 7.pm in the Hall.
Everybody is welcome, and we will have a cup of tea and a chat afterwards.
¨¨¨¨








We welcome to the table of the Lord the children who received Jesus, the Bread of life, in their First Holy Communion this Sat.

Saul O’Carroll Sophie Gilson Jack Ryan
Shauna Mannion Bryan Rohan Aoife Rigney
Tara Kennedy Kevin Flynn

¨¨¨¨
Catholic Identity Card
'if you are proud to proclaim your identity as a Catholic you might like to carry an Identity card, stating that you are a Catholic, and in the event of an accident or emergency, please contact a priest.'
These cards are available from info@ www.world priest.com
Call 01-2314600 or 086-868190785

Ted McAvoy as you can read below are looking for interesting stories about the bog or trains or power stations.
Hello Derry

You should keep your Killeen's diary up! It makes good reading.

You might remember Sue and I - doing the history etc of Bord na Mona's railways. I was wondering if you'd put

the word about and see if anyone comes up with some interesting stories about working for BnM - problems, weather, jokes anything really.

Photos, however faded, of bog machines, trains, power stations would be very welcome.

We'll be over again in July and, this time, we can stay at Killeen's for the music and still have a few drinks because our host, Sean Kelly at Mucklagh, has offered to pick us up and take us home.

all the best

Ted & Sue McAvoy

GAA La na gClub.
A part of it's 125th year celebrations, last Sunday was designated as club day throughout the country and Shannonbridge GAA Club played their part. A barbecue was organised in Killeens Pub on Friday night. A very successful children's sports day was held on Sunday, with plenty of football, sunshine and refreshments and medals awarded at the end of the day. Well done and thanks to the organisers.

Birds in Central Ireland - Fourth Mid-Shannon Bird Report 2004 to 2007.
This excellent publication, compiled and edited by Stephen Heery, Eyrecourt, has just been published. It is a census (and much more) of the wild bird population in the Shannon area for the period in question. It details trends in bird population and lists recorded sightings, particularly of rare birds. Sponsored by Bord na Mona, ESB and by County Councils of Offaly, Roscommon, North Tipp and Galway, the book is priced at €8.00.

Motorcycle Rally.
All roads lead to Shannonbridge this Saturday for the 3rd Annual Bike Rally, organised by the local An Ri Dubh Motorcycle Club. Based at Luker's Pub, the event, which was agreat success last year, will feature live bands and a barbecue.

Dawn Chorus.
Bird Watch Ireland are organising an outing to hear the dawn chorus of wild birds this Sunday morning, leader is David Watson of Bird Watch Ireland. So why not pop along to the venue - Kinnitty Castle on Sunday morning at 4.30 AM.

Belmont Hurling.
Belmont were unsuccessful in their first SHC game last Sunday going down to Birr on a scoreline of 3.15 to 1.13. Next game is on Sunday next, against Sier Kieran in Kinnitty at 6.00pm.

The local election posters must be all erected by now, with every good vantage pole adorned
with some candidate appeal poster or other. Today we thought that some canvassers had gone astray
when eight German men arrived by boat with Andreas Abraham, Lord of Roscommon as their leader.
One of the party told us that a son of Andreas had purchased one square metre of land and the title
Lord of Roscommon. He promised to have some potholes attended to in Clonfad, Clonburren and
in Patrick Kenny's America. For the next few weeks politicians will be promising anything.
Andreas even has a pub back in Germany with an e-mail that goes lordofroscommon@gmx.de


Good to see Ritchie Browne back in Shannonbridge today. He is doing a Spring Clean on his premises.
Ritchie works in the family pub at Doon.
This morning while removing some well withered leaves from the lawn a robin appeared and got busy
picking up what had been revealed. There are lots of birds singing from all corners at present.
Dara Moran must have an odd look at this site in Belfast as he was on the phone this week enquiring
if the robin that was building a nest in a 7 UP crate in the store had hatched yet.

As usual each night so far for the month of May there are large crowds attending the special Masses
held at 8.00pm in Our Lady of Clonfert Church. Just down the road a short distance Saint Brendan
the Navigator lies at rest and his Feast-day is on May 16th.

I notice that Daithi Rua is scheduled to be on a tour of England from 13th March until 20th May.
Keep track with his progress at his website daithirua.com Daithi was planned to tour with Moya Brennan.
Her web is moyabrennan.com

The Irish Times have a help facility with ancestry information at www.irishtimes.com/ancestor

Father Sean Cunney was in Shannonbridge today and he told that he almost won a car for a Hole in One
at a golf charity day recently. The ball missed the hole by a whisker. He reckons he was nearest but
he did not get the car. The Irish Open starts today in Baltray and Father Sean was telling us that a
nephew of his, Dermot Daly lives near Baltray. When he tried to join the club some time ago they asked
Dermot what handicap he was playing off, he said three or four. A form was immediately placed before him
and he was asked to 'sign here'.
Only heard yesterday that John, Christie and Jorja Hogarty in Geelong Australia also have a Max in their
line-up. Is there something final in the chosen name?.

The promised rain has started falling lightly today with a bit heavier on Friday and a bit heavier still
on Saturday. The five day forecast diagrames have lots of \\\\ for the next four days with sunshine
on the fifth day. Hope that they get it wrong.

Garry Bird if you are reading this Sean is looking for your e-mail.

Yesterday a group from the Eyrecourt and District Angling Club held a fishing match on the Hot Water Stretch.
I have no report of weights caught but an onlooker saw lots of roach being caught.
Today two anglers ? in a camper tried more or less to take over the stretch. Leaving their gear in various
positions while they pike fished. Three visiting anglers gave up and retreated to the Grand Canal where they
enjoyed fishing and sunshine.
The river level at mid-day today was 3.34 metres which was slightly up on last Tuesday reading.
I notice what looks like a gadget to supply electricity erected beside the water guage at the riverside.
Presumably this sends the information on river levels to the office in charge. I wish that this information
was more readably available to river users and other interested bodies.
Today was another sunshine day with a steady wind blowing. A good water flow at the bridge side.
With the wind and high level of the rivers last week fishing was difficult and nobody recorded catches.

Today a Bracken Family from Massachussets stopped by. On a previous visit they had visited
The Heritage Office in Tullamore based in The Irish Mist reception. Then the people there had been
most helpful and had traced ancestors that emigrated to America in the 1840's. They even found where
they got a mention in some American newspapers after they arrived.
I mentioned the late Jimmy Bracken, who drove the Lumley's bread van during the bread rationing after the war.
They had an Uncle Jimmy in their family but I think he lived in America.

Today I had an e-mail from a Tom Kinsella from Boston USA who would like to contact The Morrison Family
from Boston that were in Shannonbridge last year seeking information on the Kenny Family.
Tom wants to contact them and seeks an e-mail address which I have mislaid. Hopefully they read this and
contact this web.

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 10th May 2009 - 5th Sun Easter B
Tel (090) 9674125 Fax (090) 9674267
Mass times: Shannonbridge - Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12noon Sun;
Weekdays, 10am. Clonfanlough - Sunday, 10.30am
Shannonbridge
Masses: Each day @ 10am
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €531. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: K.Price, C.Curley, P.Anderson
Eucharistic ministers: Group 2
Readers for next Weekend: Group 1, D.Finnerty, P.Corbett
Altar Servers for this week: Megan, Andrea
Mass on nest Sat eve for the late Sonny & Dessie Keena
¨¨¨¨
Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €209. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: Parents of First Communicants
Readers for next Sunday: I.McEvoy
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group E Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: A.Rohan

Station Mass on next Fri at the home of P. & H. Darcy @ 8pm

First Communion
We will celebrate this Sacrament in Clonfanlough on Sat @ 12noon
Clonfanlough Social Group will host the annual Summer Social in the Hall on 29th May starting with Mass @ 7.30pm
¨¨¨¨
Congratulations & best wishes to Michelle Mahon & Ciarán Kenny who were married last weekend in Clonfanlough Church.

We welcome into the Christian Community Rían Claffey, son of Donal & Paula, who was baptised last Sunday.
¨¨¨¨
Aware, helping to defeat depression
Public Lecture on 'Mental Health Recovery', followed by Questions & answers, on Mon 11th May @ 8pm by Mary Hughes.
Venue: Bridge House Hotel Tullamore. All welcome.
Refreshments served, and there is no Adm fee.
¨¨¨¨
Ballinasloe Flower & Garden Club
Demo by Margaret Walsh in Gullanes Hotel on Wed 13th May @ 8pm. Comp: Basket Arrangement. Adm for non members €5.00.
¨¨¨¨
Gatekeeper Community Education Programme
Final 3 nights will run on Thurs 14th, 21st, 28th May in the Heritage Centre Ferbane.
Topics to be covered: Substance Awareness; Bereavement & Loss; Adolescent Development & Parenting.
This Programme is free of charge and open to all. For more info call Michelle on 057-9351392 or Josephine on 057-8664513
¨¨¨¨
Questions people ask (Fr O’Flynn – Intercom)Q. What did Jesus mean when he said, ‘You are pruned already by the word I have spoken to you’?A. The vine needs a springtime pruning to lop off the wild, fruitless branches, and a later pruning which favours the final development of the richest clusters of grapes. Applied to the followers of Jesus, the first pruning refers to those who cut themselves off when they did not accept the word of Jesus that he would give us his flesh to eat and his blood to drink. Peter expressed the faith of the true disciples: ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the message of eternal life’ (John 6:64-68).

Recently RTE had some historical programmes involving Clonmacnois. RTE keep these programmes available on a file.
I asked Padraig Turley of Clerhane and Dublin how to get access to these programmes and I will paste his reply here
Hi Derry,
To get Secrets of the Stones and the second programme More Secrets of the Stones, You Google rte.ie,
then when the Homepage comes up, you will find an icon on the right side marked RTE Player,
you then click on this icon and a calendar will come up. The date of the programme was the 4th May,
so you click on the 4th of may, then a list of all the programmes for that day will come up,
so all you have to do is click on the programme you need in this case the Secrets of the Stones,
and the programme will start. It last 52 minutes and is vey good, a fair portion of the programme
is devoted to Clonmacnois with Heather King making a contribution.
See Rangers beat Celtic today, it is always a bit tricky when the Pope leaves Rome!!!
Kind regards,
Pádraig

Tommy Flynn late of Drum and Taughmaconnell has died and was buried today in Taughmaconnell
after Mass in Drum Church. Tommy was married to Marie Henry of Clonfinlough, daughter of the
late Jack and Mrs Henry. May he rest in peace.

This weeks Connacht Tribune tells us that Dr. Joseph Cassidy is retiring as Parish Priest of Moore.
He is being replaced by Father Michael Molloy, who is currently the Parish Priest in Roundfort,
County Mayo. Wishing Archbishop Cassidy a happy retirement and glad to hear that he is staying
in the neighbourhood.

The river level at 20.00 hours today was 3.2 metres. There was a strong southerly wind blowing.
Five day forecast is for rain tomorrow and sunny periods for the following four days.

Had a phonecall today from a John Killeen from Manchester who told me that his grand-father had
emigrated to England in 1912. This John had been looking at the photographs on the Killeen site
attached to this blog. He thought that there was a family resemblance to a person behind the bar.
He is planning on coming to Ireland and to visit Shannonbridge.

Can you remember a red double-decker London bus going around Ireland some years ago advertising
Tayto Crisps.? This week the owner of that bus was on a holiday on the river with his brother and sister.
He showed us a photograph of the bus and he in his potato costume.
They had hoped to visit the Bog Rail but were disappointed that it has stopped operating.
They visited Shannonbridge Pottery and the girl bought eleven jugs as well as other items.
Theirs was the boat that went aground at Clonmacnois earlier in the week. They were after
leaving the Clonmacnois jetty and the strong wind blew them aground.

Good to see that the library continues to get lots of books donated and Rose and Pat were
busy last evening adding them to the collection.
The Library is open every Thursday evening in The Health Center from 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm.

Padraig Turley tells me that Geordan Murphy plays for Leicester not Gordan Darcy.

The Irish Golfers Guide to Open Fixtures is available by post from
Irish Golfers Guide, 8 Saint Ciaran's Park, Shannonbridge, Athlone, Ireland.
Cost of the publication is 12 Euro or equivalent.

Kieran Guinan (he was the driver of the Bog Rail Tour train) told us that
he has seen about ten baby wild duck on Curraveigh Bog on 5th May.
Kieran reckons that they will be heading for the River Shannon very soon.

Yesterday Mr and Mrs Doblet Chojnousha and their daughter stopped off in Shannonbridge
while on a holiday on the River Shannon. They had read the book Lautlos and
had stopped off to check the pub and grocery described in the book.
After their trip on the river they plan to holiday for a week in Donegal.
Mrs Chojnowsha told us that this is her 14th visit to Ireland.

Good to see Father P.J.Fitzpatrick back home today to offer Mass for all the dead.
He is stationed in Gowna, about ten miles from Cavan Town.
Pat and Mai Duffy attended the Mass in Clonfert Church last evening.
They said it was packed with people and they like many others had to stand
for ninty minutes.

Chelsea played Barcelona last night in the Europeans Champions Cup semi final.
They scored a great goal and it looked like they would be meeting Manchester United
in the final. Like the Duffys they stood their ground for over 90 minutes but then
in the 92nt minute Barcelona scored and their away goal won the match.

Lorraine Devery told us that she has been in contact with the Devery Family in
America who are seeking information on their Family Tree.
Lorraine is awaiting copies of birth certificates from the USA.

The Galway Volvo Ocean Race Festival takes place from 23rd May to 6th June 2009.
Visit www.galwayvolvooceanrace.com for more details.

Talking to a lady today and she told me that mice are fond of bluebottle flies as
she has observed them catching flies in a glasshouse. She also reckons that
weedkiller sprays have a harmful effect on bees.

The Irish Golfers Guide to Open Fixtures for 2009 has rolled off the print presses
and presently its editor Oliver Hilliard is as busy as an unsprayed bee
flitting around the golf courses of Ireland and other outlets delivering
what is also known as The Green Book of Golf. Golfers can save themselves a tidy sum
by choosing to play a course with an open fixture as the green fees are greatly reduced
on such days.

Today the river level at the village bridge reads 3.3 metres. This has dropped slightly
in recent days. There is a strong southerly wind blowing.
I noticed that a lone swan was swimming around probably wondering what happened to her
nest and three eggs which were located at the point of Lamb Island two weeks ago.
Alas they went away with the flood. Did I mention that I contacted people and left a
phone message about this swan's nest when the river started to rise. Somebody returned
my call on the Monday and I told him about the concern for the swan, the corncrake,
anglers and boat owners and river users. He told me that this year they have a raft for
the corncrake. Hope it is not named The Ark.
Last weekend a holiday cruiser moored on the jetty wall below the bridge was blown over
onto the quayside. Today another holiday cruiser went aground on the Suck River.
Boat owners believe that some more markers are required on the windy stretches.


Some of the anglers from Tadley and Basingstoke that fished this area last week have
recorded some of their catches.
Graham Shadwell fishing the Shannon, had 30 lbs of roach and hybrids using a feeder in wet and wind.
" " " " " " next day with same swim and methods had 56 Lbs roach. Best 2Lb 3 Oz.
" " " " " on his last day caught 35 Lbs of roach on the float in 3.5 hours.
Young Paul Portman Basingstoke had 20 Lbs of roach on the feeder one day.
" " " " on another day used the pole to catch six tench in the six pounder range.
Paul's best tench weighed 6 Lbs 2 Ounces.
Johnny Priest from Basingstoke used a stick float to catch 65 Lbs of roach.
Peter Howes Basingstoke caught eleven bream one day on the feeder that weighed 40 Lbs.River Shannon.
" " " used a float to catch 35 Lbs of roach on another day, while fishing the Shannon.
Ross Simms Basingstoke had 30 Lbs of roach on the float one day fishing the Shannon.
Graham Simms Basingstoke fished the Shannon and had a 35 Lbs bag of roach on the float.
This party arrived to near perfect river levels on Friday but the rains rose the river every day for them.
Peter Howes writes a weekly angling column in the North Hampshire Gazette.

On Monday 27th April I attended the Brendan Ryan lecture on The R.I.C. in West Offaly
which was held in the Offaly Historical Society premises in Bury Quay,
Tullamore.Brendan is planning on producing a book using the facts and information
which he has gathered.
There are lots of interesting items on display in the premises and a reprint
of The Irish Times dated 7th June 1979 caught my eye. Titled Ruins -
all that remain of once proud Shannonharbour.
The Irish Times website has a digital archive which contains editions from
the last 150 years. Check it out at www.irishtimes.com/archive

Sean Hogarty has arrived home after visiting his son John and family in Australia.
Sean told us that John checks this web regularly and wants to know why there is not
more updates. Hopefully with the new update more information and news
will be added.
Anyhow the river level has risen some four feet in the past two weeks.
This is a nuisance for anglers and farmers and boat people and birds
and animals etc.

Last weekend there was an interesting three days at the Burren Law School
in Ballyvaughan in County Clare. The coarse was on Arts & The Law and
some very interesting lectures and walks were on the programme.
Check it out at www.burrenlawschool.org
On Sunday morning we attended Mass in Fanore and afterwards visited
the grave of John O Donoghue who wrote Ainm Cara and Requiem. The
graveyard is about three miles south of Fanore Church.
There is an interesting CD of Ainm Cara now available showing lots of
views of the Clare and Connemara landscape which John liked.

Leinster beat Munster in the semi-final of the Heineken Cup in rugby
and qualified to meet Leicester in the final in three weeks time.
Ray Walsh tells me that Irishman Gordan Darcy plays for Leicester.

Shannonbridge Active Retirement group visited Ballycumber on 2nd May.
They have plans to visit Boora Parklands on 12th May, Pullagh on 14th May,
Cloghan on 21st May and they are having their own party in Shannonbridge
on 18th June before closing for their summer break.

Mary tells us that some young thrushes with 09 numberplates have commenced
feeding on the shed roof. Louise met a robin hopping into the store last
week with nest building material in her mouth. This year she has chosen to
nest in a 7Up tray. Hopefully this will be a warmer location than last years
which was on top of a fridge in the outdoors. At that time a cold north
wind killed the four young chicks.

Wild mink that escaped from mink farms years ago are breeding strong
and causing a nuisance . This week I heard about a man that had a special trap
set near the river. It was tied to a tree and he had culled a number
of mink. One day he went to check the trap and found only the rope.

Golfing Slang of the week on todays Irish Times is called
THE RYANAIR - refers to an approach shot that has a perfect flight,
looks great in the air but lands miles away from where it was supposed
to.

Local elections are scheduled for early June and the first of the
posters for candidates were pinned up last week in Shannonbridge.
John Leahy, Independent wins the poster race.

Next weekend The Kelly Clan will be in this area, visiting Clonmacnois
and having a feast in The Fort Resturant.

Peter Howes and a party of seven anglers visited Shannonbridge last week
and stayed at Laurel Lodge guesthouse. The river level was fine on arrival
but rose pretty smartly. They know the waters well and were not unduly
disturbed having many fine catches. It was great to hear one of the
boys tell how he had caught six tench all over 6 Lbs on one day.

Philomena Garvey, the Irish golfer has died. Also Sister John, from
the Convent of Mercy Ballinasloe has died. Sister John for many years
was in charge of the orphanage. At her funeral on Sunday somebody told
that some years ago when she was celebrating a special birthday or
something ten of the orphans that she had cared for, flew home from
America for the event.
May they rest in peace.

May First around this area means that May has commenced and with it
the month of devotion to Our Lady of Clonfert. There is Mass and devotions
in Clonfert Church each day.

The Corncrake has arrived in Shannonbridge.

Two corncrakes were heard calling on Friday night, 1st May, in Burranagh and Moran's Island. Unfortunately the present cold showery weather and the height of the river are not very helpful.

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 3rd May 2009 - 4th Sun Easter B
Tel (090) 9674125 Fax (090) 9674267
Mass times: Shannonbridge - Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12noon Sun;
Weekdays, 10am. Clonfanlough - Sunday, 10.30am
Shannonbridge
Masses: Each day @ 10am
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €475. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.McManus, C.Slattery, A.Corbett
Eucharistic ministers: Group 1
Readers for next Weekend: Group 6, E.Casey, D.O'Carroll
Altar Servers for this week: Oisín, Michaela
Mass on next Sat eve for the late Stephen Daly
¨¨¨¨
Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €256. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: K.Kenny, A.Kearns
Readers for next Sunday: C.Norton
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group D Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: K.Kelly

Clonfanlough Social Group will host the annual Summer Social in the Hall on 29th May starting with Mass @ 7.30pm

Many thanks for your contributions to the Trócaire Lenten Campaign which came to €3,850.00
Volunteers Needed
At present we are seeking people to help out in a number of different ways: as ministers of the Word, in Music & Singing, as Eucharistic ministers, in helping with finance (counting the various collections as they occur).
We also invite people to host the Station Masses, as many areas have been without Stations for some time.
If you are willing to do any of the above, please let me know, or inform any member of the Parish Pastoral Council.
¨¨¨¨
Aware, helping to defeat depression
Public Lecture on 'Mental Health Recovery', followed by Questions & answers, on Mon 11th May @ 8pm by Mary Hughes.
Venue: Bridge House Hotel Tullamore. All welcome.
Refreshments served, and there is no Adm fee.
¨¨¨¨
Please support 'Alzheimer's Tea Day, 7th May.
For more info call 1800719820, or see www.teaday.ie
¨¨¨¨
Questions people askQ. Every now and then I think I have a vocation from God to be a priest. What should I do about it?A. Talk about it to a priest, preferably one who knows you, and pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance. Every diocese and religious order organises Vocation Days to help people to discern their calling. A vocation to priesthood is a grace given to an individual for the service of the church-community. Basic requirements of a genuine vocation to priesthood would include a desire to commit one’s life to God and the service of people, a sound faith, regular Mass attendance and prayer, the ability to co-operate with others and being willing to obey authority. Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
¨¨¨¨
A True Friend William Arthur Ward
"A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strengths; feels your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit; recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities."
Divine Resources Oswald Chambers
"God regenerates us and puts us in contact with all his divine resources, but he cannot make us walk according to his will."

Marie Keating Mobile Information Unit will visit Portiuncula Hospital Ballinasloe on 7th May from 10.30am - 4pm. A nurse will be present to speak in confidence to both men & women on the detection and prevention of the key cancers.

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 26th April 2009 - 3rd Sun Easter B
Tel (090) 9674125 Fax (090) 9674267
Mass times: Shannonbridge - Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12noon Sun;
Weekdays, 10am. Clonfanlough - Sunday, 10.30am








Shannonbridge
Masses: Each day @ 10am
Adoration on First Fri until 5pm
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €437. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: J.Kelly, M.Killeen, A.Keena
Eucharistic ministers: Group 4
Readers for next Weekend: Group 5, C.Mannion, C.Doolan
Altar Servers for this week: Caitríona, Siobhan
Mass on next Sat eve for the late Mae Rocke, Nancy & Michael
¨¨¨¨
Clonfanlough
Mass for First Fri on Thurs @ 7pm
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €200. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: E.Egan, A.McEvoy
Readers for next Sunday: A.Coughlan
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group C Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: P. Darcy

I will visit the sick & housebound on Friday.

Volunteers Needed
At present we are seeking people to help out in a number of different ways: as ministers of the Word, in Music & Singing, as Eucharistic ministers, in helping with finance (counting the various collections as they occur).
We also invite people to host the Station Masses, as many areas have been without Stations for some time.
If you are willing to do any of the above, please let me know, or inform any member of the Parish Pastoral Council.
¨¨¨¨
Vocation Sunday - 3rd May
The annual Prayer Service will take place in Clonmacnois on Sat eve,2nd May @ 5pm. The Theme will be 'The call of all the baptised to follow Christ'. All are welcome to attend & join in.
On Sun, 3rd May there will be an Open Day at Maynooth Seminary.
All those discerning a vocation to the Catholic Priesthood are welcome. It will start @ 2.30pm and end with Mass @ 5pm.
For more info visit www.maynoothcollege.ie/seminary.
¨¨¨¨
Stroke Support Group
Meeting 29th April @ 7pm on 'Gentle Arm Exercises.'
¨¨¨¨
Aware, helping to defeat depression
Public Lecture on 'Mental Health Recovery', followed by Questions & answers, on Mon 11th May @ 8pm by Mary Hughes.
Venue: Bridge House Hotel Tullamore. All welcome.
Refreshments served, and there is no Adm fee.
¨¨¨¨
Knock Summer Youth Festival - 23rd - 26th July
"You are the Light of the World." 18 - 35 years - €70 - Free buses.
For more info visit www.knockshrine.ie/youthfestival
Call 094-9375035, 094-9388100 or 087-6927850.
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Catholic Identity Card
'if you are proud to proclaim your identity as a Catholic you might like to carry an Identity card, stating that you are a Catholic, and in the event of an accident or emergency, please contact a priest.'
These cards are available from info@ www.world priest.com
Call 01-2314600 or 086-868190785.

Lecture: Law Enforcement in West Offaly 1800 - 1922.

Offaly Historical Society are hosting a lecture on the above subject, by Brendan Ryan (Ferbane), in their premises at Bury Quay, Tullamore on Monday next, 27th April at 8.15. This lecture will focus on the police force during that period, the RIC (Royal Irish Constabulary). Admission is free, with a cup of tea afterwards.

Golf.

Well done to Gerry McManus and Brian McCoy who took Gold and Silver at the Shannonbridge golf outing to a windswept Athlone on Wednesday.

Some years ago a group of divers had a look at the underwater bridge crossing the River Shannon at Clonmacnois.
It runs from in front of the main gate of the castle and is roughly 1,000 years old.
From the information that they gathered they were able to re-construct a model of the bridge.
Last evening Doctor Mark Holley, underwater archeologist, based near the Great Lakes in Michigan arrived in
Shannonbridge.The OPW have invited Doctor Holley and another underwater biologist to have a look at the
underwater bridge at Clonmacnois. They will be using Sectar Scan Sonar to view what remains underwater.
No diving will be required.
Earlier the team have looked at five crannogs on Lough Ennell.
Doctor Holley had looked at these crannogs some twenty years ago and has noticed some change.
He told about working on an ancient city in Greece that had become submerged after an earthquake and
is now covered in ten feet of sea water.
Doctor Holley works with the Nautlic Marine Group.

Met a German visitor yesterday looking for a CD tape of Louise Killeen.
He told us that she is well known in Germany.
If one uses Google.D to rearch for Louise Killeen he told us that there is lots of information.

This morning a couple from Wellington New Zealand arrived in Shannonbridge.
The man was an engineer and had come to see The Bog Rail. Alas the train trip is not running this year.
I directed them to Clonmacnois instead.

This evening Michael Heenan from Christchurch paid a return visit to the area.
Michael was last here during the World Cup. He has good Irish family tree with Grandparents
called Monaghan and O'Farrell. Michael told us that he also was planning on visiting The Bog Rail
on this visit. He is a reader of this website and was surprised to hear that the Bog Rail Tour
is not running this year.
Michael is now retired but works part time at the car-park of a gambling casino.
They have recently installed coin meters at the entrance to the car park and the tips have been badly effected.
He has been on a visit to Newgrange and was very impressed with their tour guide.
She told them to stop talking and listen as they were visiting history.
Michael promised to write about his visit to Ireland and share it with us on this site.

Sister Maura from the Ursulines Ard Chiarain at Terrys Hill has returned from a brief visit to Kenya.
While there she brought some money to help children with their education. This money is donated weekly
at the meeting of the Shannonbridge Active Retirement Group. Sister Maura's arrival was just in time
as they were almost out of food. Some of the youngsters wrote thank you letters to S.A.R.

After five days of sunshine it looks like the old rain is about to return.

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 19th April 2009 -2nd Easter B
Tel (090) 9674125 Fax (090) 9674267
Mass times: Shannonbridge: Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12 noon, Sun;
Weekdays, 10am. Clonfanlough – Sunday, 10.30am


Shannonbridge
Masses: Each day @ 10am
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €656. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: G.Brennan, D.Deeley, V.Hynes
Eucharistic ministers: Group 3
Readers for next Weekend: Group S.Grennan, P.Duffy
Altar Servers for this week: Aoife, Athene
Mass on next Sat eve for Kieran J. Mannion & family deceased.
Mass on next Sun for the late John J. Egan & Margaret O’Shea
¨¨¨¨
Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €498. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.Devery, A.Kelly
Readers for next Sunday: A.& L.Devery
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group B
Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: N.Egan
Station Mass on Fri eve @ 8pm at the home of G.& J. Rigney

Meeting of Parish P.C. on Mon @ 8pm in Shannonbridge
This is divine Mercy Sunday
‘Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his love has no end.’
¨¨¨¨
Pilgrimage to Poland; 23rd – 30th September 2009
4 nights in Krakow, 3 nights in Warsaw, visiting Religious & Historical places of interest, including the Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy and the tomb of St Faustina, as well as the Black Madonna of Czestochowa (biggest Marian Shrine in Poland).
We will also visit the birth town of the late Pope John Paul 2 and the one time home of St Maximilian Kolbe, who sacrificed his life for a fellow inmate of the notorious Concentration Camp of Auschwitz, which will also be part of our itinerary.
There are also many other places of great interest.
Spiritual director is Fr John Naughton; Tour leader is Nuala Power.
For more info or for booking forms call 090-9675148,086-3038267.
You may also call Pilgrimages Abroad Office on 01-6359300.
Price per person sharing: €969, (including tax & insurance)
¨¨¨¨
Commitment Fr Mark Link
There are people in this world, some you might even know, who realize that they are going to make only a microscopic dent in the problems of the world. But they also realize that the worse evil is to do nothing because they can do only a little.… Their commitments make us ask ourselves, "What have I done in the past to get involved? What am I doing in the present to make a difference? What ought I do in the future even if it makes only a microscopic dent in the problems of the world?"
¨¨¨¨
West Offaly Education Project
Will run a 4-week Digital Photography Course for Beginners in Clonfanlough Hall starting on Wed 22nd April from 7.30-9.30pm.
For more info contact Michelle or Jolene @ 057-9351392
¨¨¨¨
Co Offaly Childminding Initiative
Will host a Childminder Information Seminar on ‘Old Fashioned Play’ on Sat 25th April , 10am – 1.30pm, followed by lunch, in Tullamore; cost €15.00 per person. This is open to Childminders & intending Childminders. For more info call 057-9370630.

Lovely sunshine on Saturday and Sunday. Testing.

Shannonbridge GAA Lotto.

Congratulations to Shane Flannery (Creevagh) and Valerie Gorman, last week's winners of the local lotto - €4,600 - well done!.

Garda Shane Kelly.

Also congrats to Shane Kelly (Shannonbridge) who was one of three Offaly recruits in the recent passing out parade at Templemore. Shane is now based in Ashbourne.

Church Building.

The building of the new toilets at the church in Shannonbridge are proceeding at pace and should be finished shortly.

Book Launch.

The launch of the reprinting of Dr. John Feehan's classic study of the Slieve Bloom area "The Landscape of the Slieve Bloom" takes place in Kinnitty Castle next Monday 20th April at 8pm. The book is a study of the natural and human heritage of the area and was originally published in 1979. It will be officially launched by Dr. Pat Wallace, Director of the National Museum.

Notes from Dermot 18.04.09.

Yesterday John Coughlan from Clonfert was telling me that while working near Clonfad Church he saw his first swallow this year. His nephew Padraig Coughlan was with him and he told us that he heard the Cuckoo on 14th April over near Woodford. Talking to Frank Henry, Clonfinlough last night, he told me that the swallows are back in Clonfinlough since early last week. Frank says that they are up in the clouds. The level of the river has risen in the past week; some say up to a foot. Paddy O Halloran, 80, from Clonbur, near Cong is a sheep farmer. He owns three small islands on Lough Conn and has sheep on these islands. At this time during lambing season some relatives from Oregon come to Ireland to help Paddy with the lambing. Today five of the cousins on their way to Clonbur after visiting the Cobh Immigration Center and the Rock of Cashel stopped by in Shannonbridge. One of the cousins Cindy Holmes told me that she had never heard of Clonmacnois but had a good look at the village bridge. I persuaded them to take a visit to Clonmacnois. I told her that a Tom O Holleran had once lived at Templedew one mile from the village. ThisTommy came originally from County Clare. He married a Rose Claffey and they had five children Lily, Kathleen, Gretta, Billy and Jack. Kate Thornhill is home after spending some time in Central America. On the Aer Lingus flight home she watched the Ireland Waterways as her inflight entertainment and was interested to see Clonmacnois and shots of Shannonbridge. The cameras showed Killeens Pub and people in the back lounge including some of Kate’s family. Some months ago The Philadelphia Enquirer had a story titled “Lookingfor cousins, finding Ireland” written by a Kathleen Healy for the Enquirer. There was a picture of the writer’s mother with a barrow load of turf sods taken on the Bog Rail Tour. My brother in New Jersey gets the Enquirer daily and he e-mailed a copy of the story. At a meeting one morning I showed the copy to a group.This week I was surprised to hear that one of the group had made contact with the women in the article and had spoken to them twice in the past week. They are cousins. And the American cousin told her Irish cousin that she looked like other family members. No photographs had been forwarded but the Americans had come up with a picture thanks to a Google search

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.

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 12th April 2009 – Easter Sun B
Tel (090) 9674125 Fax (090) 9674267
Mass times: Shannonbridge: Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12 noon, Sun;
Weekdays, 10am. Clonfanlough – Sunday, 10.30am

Shannonbridge
Masses: Mon @12noon; Rest of week @ 10am
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €493. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.Murphy, M.McManus
Eucharistic ministers: Group 2
Readers for next Weekend: Group 4, S.Grennan, P.Duffy
Altar Servers for this week: Megan, Andrea
Mass on next Sat eve for the late Edward & Margaret Cogavin
Mass on next Sun for the late David Macklin
¨¨¨¨
Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €253. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: K.Norton, H.Darcy
Readers for next Sunday: D.Boland
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group A
Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: D.McEvoy
Mass on next Sun for the late Jim Dolan

We welcome into the Christian Community Seán O’Shea, son of Niall & Sinéad who was baptised last weekend.
A VERY HAPPY & PEACEFUL EASTER TO EVERYONE!
Many thanks to all those who made any contribution to the celebration of the Holy Week ceremonies; to all who played a part in preparing for & in the celebration of the Liturgy, and to all who encouraged us by their attendance & co-operation.
Toradh na Páise oraibh; Mac na hÓighe slán!
¨¨¨¨
West Offaly Education Project
Will run a 4-week Digital Photography Course for Beginners in Clonfanlough Hall starting on Wed 22nd April from 7.30-9.30pm.
For more info contact Michelle or Jolene @ 057-9351392
¨¨¨¨
Gatekeepers Community Education Project
This programme will cover a range of topics, including Positive Mental Health, Suicide, Depression and Self harm. It will run for 6 Thursday nights , starting on 23rd April, in the Heritage Centre Ferbane. It is free of charge and open to all.
For more info call 086-8157850, or 057-9351392.
¨¨¨¨
Pilgrimage to Poland; 23rd – 30th September 2009
4 nights in Krakow, 3 nights in Warsaw, visiting Religious & Historical places of interest, including the Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy and the tomb of St Faustina, as well as the Black Madonna of Czestochowa (biggest Marian Shrine in Poland).
We will also visit the birth town of the late Pope John Paul 2 and the one time home of St Maximilian Kolbe, who sacrificed his life for a fellow inmate of the notorious Concentration Camp of Auschwitz, which will also be part of our itinerary.
There are also many other places of great interest.
Spiritual director is Fr John Naughton; Tour leader is Nuala Power.
For more info or for booking forms call 090-9675148,086-3038267.
You may also call Pilgrimages Abroad Office on 01-6359300.
Price per person sharing: €969 (including tax & insurance)
¨¨¨¨
Coffee morning & cake sale in aid of Belmont & Offaly Chernobyl Children’s Fund in Hineys, Ferbane on 16th April & 10.30am

Many thanks to all who supported the recent Table Quiz, which
raised €175.00 for Church flowers.

Notes by Dermot, 5.4.09.

Con Lyons was here on 26th March 2009 and told us that his mother MaryTheresa Lyons, wife of the late John Lyons of Leharrow, Shannonbridge,died recently on 10th February 2009 in her family home in Ballinrobe,County Mayo. The late John Lyons was a brother of Geraldine Mc Manus,wife of the late Tommy Mc Manus of Leharrow.
The Irish Catholic dated 26th March www.irishcatholic.ie has aninteresting article on Paul’s first letters. Paul used collaborators to help in his response and a secretary to write down his words as Paul spoke. He had to be trained in shorthand. ‘’Quick as speech is, the hand is quicker’’ Before the tongue stops the hand has finished.The article describes how the short-hand copy was written with a pointed metal rod on a shallow wax filled wooden form roughly the size of a page. When the wax work was finished and the rough draft approvedby Paul, the scribe prepared two clean copies, one to be sent, the other to be retained for Paul’s archives. It describes the paper that was used and the pen and the ink and the cost. Words were notseparated, no punctuation or capital letters. Have a look at their web.
Stephen Brady is celebrating his 80th Birthday on Wednesday 8th April.On next Monday Alice Egan will be celebrating a special birthday.
Pat Joe Guinnessy was telling us that on the www.ballinasloe.comwebsite a camera shows shots of Main Street and Saint Michaels Square.Pat Joe makes use of it when his children are coming home by bus. Hecan see them getting off the bus outside of Kellers and then goes to collect them.
In a recent Under 20 All Ireland Rugby Quarter Final between Buccaneers and Lansdowne Conor Higgins Clerhane, Owen Doolin Shannonbridge, Joe Kenny Mullaghature, Rory Walsh and Lorcan Walsh Clonlyon were included on the Buccaneers panel and four of them played. Lansdowne had seven of the Irish Under 20 International team playing with them. Lansdowne won the match 30 points to 10 points.
Ciaran Flannery of Clerhane and Athlone was buried on Saturday 28thMarch in Clonmacnois. May he rest in peace.Coming out from the funeral the field opposite Cluain Chiarain hadmany daffodils in bloom. Kieran Darcy once lived there. The house is long gone but the flowers bloom on. The same day the funeral took place of Martin Ryan in Moore. Martin was a brother of the late Willie Ryan and of the late Mrs Pat Flannery of Crevagh. May he rest in peace.Yesterday the funeral took place of Alo Mc Namee, Delvin Park Ferbane and he was laid to rest in his native Tubberdaly near Rhode. Alo worked in the ESB and was involved in the organisation NITRO orNational Income Tax Relief Organisation. After hearing Father Declan Coyle telling on The Late Late Show, how in a typical week working in Manila he would attend to about six funerals of Manila children Alo was moved to action and with a few friends met Father Coyle and found a fund to help. They got colleagues in the ESB to make a small weekly contribution. Declan Coyle gave assurance that this money would be used to help the Manila Children.At the funeral Mass yesterday Declan Coyle was happy to tell that some 400.000 Euros have been collected to date. One of Alo’s hobbies was flying a small plane based in the Birr airfield. Remember when a friend took him for a flight some months ago during his illness Alo broke a wrist when trying to fly the plane May he rest in peace.
Good to see Michael Green home from Boston to attend the Memorial Massfor his late father, Gerry who died about one year ago.

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 5th April 2009 – Palm Sun B
Tel (090) 9674125 Fax (090) 9674267
Mass times: Shannonbridge: Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12 noon, Sun;
Weekdays, 10am. Clonfanlough – Sunday, 10.30am
Shannonbridge
Masses: Mon-Wed @ 10am
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €529. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: A.Ryan, L.Turley, M.Mitchell
Eucharistic ministers: Group 1
Readers for next Weekend: Group 3, M.Killeen, O.Costello
Altar Servers for this week: Oisín, Michaela
Mass on next Sat eve for Michael Kelly & sisters deceased
¨¨¨¨
Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €213. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.Kelly, K.Kelly
Readers for next Sunday: H.Coughlan
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group as arranged
Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: B.Coughlan
Mass on next Sun for Michael J. Molloy & family deceased

PENITENTIAL SERVICE: Monday 6th April Clonfanlough: 7.pm; Shannonbridge: 8pm
Confessions also possible after the Good Friday Ceremonies

HOLY WEEK CEREMONIES
Holy Thursday: Mass of the Lord’s Supper with a Vigil of Adoration afterwards:
Shannonbridge: 9pm; Clonfanlough: 7pm

Good Friday: Celebration of the Lord’s Passion:
Shannonbridge: 7.30pm; Clonfanlough: 5pm
Also in Shannonbridge @ 3pm: STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Good Friday is a day of fast and abstinence.

Holy Saturday: Easter Vigil and Mass:
Shannonbridge: 9pm; Clonfanlough: 7pm
Please bring a candle for the Renewal of Baptismal Promises

Please bring your Trócaire offerings to the Ceremony on Holy Thurs or Good Friday
¨¨¨¨
Our Lady’s School of Evangelisation Knock
Empowering young men & women for life;
ü Thinking of a Gap Year? Want a Career Break?
ü Looking for More Meaning in Life?
ü Discover the Special Plan God has for you’
Now Recruiting for Sept ’09: 18 – 35 yrs olds.
Participants on the OLSE Programme may also avail of the opportunity of a Diploma in Pastoral Studies from NUI Galway.
Open Youth Day – last Sun of every Month, April, May, and June.
For more info call 094-9388245 or 087-2351294.
Visit www.olseknock.com
¨¨¨¨
Ballinasloe Flower & Garden Club
Demo by C. White Naul in Gullanes Hotel on 8th April @ 8pm
¨¨¨¨
Many thanks for your contributions to the Lenten Alms, €960. This money is used by the Diocese for promoting Catholic Education (training & payment of Catechists etc), and supporting ‘Accord’ (Marriage preparation programmes etc) and ‘Cura’ (counselling in crisis pregnancies etc)




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