Shannonbridge

Monday, August 10, 2009

Shannonbridge GAA

Senior Football.
Our Senior footballers have finished bottom of their group and now face a relegation playoff to retain their status. A good performance against Shamrocks, which resulted in a two point defeat, was followed by a loss to Ballycumber, last week, on a scoreline of 1-9 to 1-15. Last night's final group game ended in a very heavy defeat at the hands of county champions Rhode.

Junior Football.
The Junior B team top their group, after two rounds, with a draw against St. Rynaghs and a win against neighbours Doon. Next game is against Erins Rovers at Pollagh on Sunday next at 12 noon.

Sunday, August 09, 2009

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 9th Aug 2009 - 19th Sun B
Tel (090) 9674125 Fax (090) 9674267
Mass times: Shannonbridge - Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12noon Sun;
Weekdays, 10am. Clonfanlough - Sunday, 10.30am
Shannonbridge
Masses: Mon, Tues, Thurs @ 10am, Wed, @ 9.30am
Sat is the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady – a Holy Day;
Vigil Mass on Fri @ 8pm; Mass on Sat @ 12 noon
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €505. 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.
Mass on next Sun for Edward & Annie McManus & family deceased
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Clonfanlough
Mass for the Feast of the Assumption on Sat @ 10.30am
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €265. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: C.Healy, T.Milner
Readers for next Sunday: H.Coughlan
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group C Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: B.Coughlan

Diocesan Pilgrimages
Knock: Sun 6th Sept; Pattern Day Clonmacnois: Sun 13th Sept
Sun 6th Sept; a bus will go from the Parish as usual to Knock. The Fare will include a morning snack & evening meal. If you wish to travel, please give your name to Darran Finnerty or Teresa Rohan ASAP.
In recent years the numbers going by bus have declined, which makes it difficult to sustain in a viable manner.
We make a special appeal to people to travel by bus with the group from the parish, as this has been a long-time tradition in the parish, and it would be a shame to have it end. Young people are particularly welcome.
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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
They are also looking for volunteers to host some of the priests & religious, who will be attending the Festival.
They also seek helpers on site for a variety of tasks.
Bishop Frank Caggiano from Brooklyn Diocese will be the main speaker. He is considered to be inspirational.
For more info call 086-3025442 or 01-6753690.
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Questions people askQ. I did a weekend programme called the Enneagram which I found very helpful in understanding myself and others. But now somebody tells me it is against our religion as it comes from a non-Christian source. A. I also found the Enneagram very enlightening. The fact that it originated among Sufi (Islamic) mystics does not make it bad or dangerous. The Old Testament writers used pagan sources for their stories of creation and the flood. Jewish religious feasts were developed on the foundation of earlier pagan festivals. Similarly, Christians took the pagan celebration of mid-winter as the time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Saint Patrick referred the pagan fire of Spring to the rising of Christ. God’s presence is not confined to Christians! (Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap)

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‘BreastCheck will be offering free X-rays to women aged 50 -64 years in the Offaly area from the 12th Aug. Women will receive an appointment by post. For more info call 1800-454555.’

Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Climate Camp in Shannonbridge

We have been contacted by Ian Clotworty about an upcoming 'Climate Camp' event in the area -
http://www.climatecamp.ie

You are probably already aware of the Climate Camp taking place in the coming weeks near Shannonbridge. I, one of the organisers, am writing to let you know about an information evening for the residents of the area taking place in the old school across the road from the church. The day is this friday, 7th August and the time is 8pm. We would like to get plenty of people at it so they know what is going to happen before it does, who we are, what the camp would be like, and also to take the opportunity to make a personal invitation to visit, learn, teach, participate or help out at the camp. We have put up posters that you might notice.

Chimneys Demolition Slideshow

Derry has forwarded on a slide show of the ESB chimney coming down on the 24th of July.

If you missed the demolition, you can see the slideshow here by clicking on this link.

http://www.shannonbridge.com/site_media/pressroom/documents/2009/Aug/05/S-Bridge_Chimney_24_July_2009.pdf

Sunday, August 02, 2009

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 2nd Aug 2009 -18 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; Adoration of First Fri until 5pm.
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €205. Sat eve, €829. 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 next Sun for the late Kieran Hynes

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Clonfanlough
Mass on First Fri @ 7pm
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €258. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: B.Maleney, H.Hynes
Readers for next Sunday: D.Norton
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group B
Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: A.Rohan

Blessing of Graves In Glebe on Mon 3rd Aug @ 7.pm
Questions people askQ. What was the manna from heaven? A. It was the food provided by God for the Israelites during the Exodus. The name means ‘What is this?’ It was described as white, powdery stuff, like hoarfrost. There were three important points about it. It was a gift from God: it demanded trusting God’s promise because people were instructed to gather only sufficient for each day: and it satisfied every taste as ‘it transformed itself into whatever each eater wished’ (Wis 16:21). The Gospel of John regards the manna as foreshadowing the Bread of Life offered by Jesus – a wonderful gift of God, taken on trust in Jesus’ words, and responding to every need. (Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM )
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Diocesan Pilgrimages
Knock: Sun 6th Sept; Pattern Day Clonmacnois: Sun 13th Sept
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We welcome into the Christian Community Ellen Parker, daughter of Tommy & Dympna, Carrowkeel, who was baptised last weekend.
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Fr John Killeen will celebrate Mass for his Golden Jubilee on Sun 9th Aug @ 4pm in Shannonbridge Church.
Refreshments afterwards in the Hall. All welcome.
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Shannonbridge Library will be closed for the month of August.
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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
They are also looking for volunteers to host some of the priests & religious, who will be attending the Festival.
They also seek helpers on site for a variety of tasks.
Bishop Frank Caggiano from Brooklyn Diocese will be the main speaker. He is considered to be inspirational.
For more info call 086-3025442 or 01-6753690.
¨¨¨¨
Strange but true
“The only difference between a saint and a sinner is that every saint has a past and every sinner has a future”

Believe it or not!!
I read this piece recently. I cannot vouch for its veracity, but it is very interesting.
‘How It Used To BeNext time you are washing your hands and complain because the watertemperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used tobe..Here are some facts about the 1500s:Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath inMay and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were startingto smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odour.Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the househad the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons andmen, then the women and finally the children-last of all the babies. Bythen the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it-hencethe saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water."Houses had thatched roofs -- thick straw -- piled high, with no woodunderneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all thedogs, cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. Whenit rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip andfall off the roof -- hence the saying "It's raining cats and dogs."There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This poseda real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings couldreally mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and asheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy bedscame into existence.The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt,hence the saying "dirt poor." The wealthy had slate floors that wouldget slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) onthe floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they keptadding more thresh until when you opened the door it would all startslipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entranceway --hence, a "thresh hold."In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle thatalways hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added thingsto the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. Theywould eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get coldovernight and then start over the next day. Sometimes the stew had foodin it that had been there for quite a while -- hence the rhyme, "peasporridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine daysold."Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special.When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. Itwas a sign of wealth that a man "could bring home the bacon." They wouldcut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and "chewthe fat."Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with a high acidcontent caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing leadpoisoning and death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for thenext 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.Most people did not have pewter plates, but had trenchers, a piece ofwood with the middle scooped out like a bowl. Often trenchers were madefrom stale bread, which was so old and hard that they could be used forquite some time. Trenchers were never washed and a lot of times wormsand mould got into the wood and old bread. After eating off wormy,mouldy trenchers, one would get "trench mouth."Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom ofthe loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or "uppercrust."Lead cups were used to drink ale or whiskey. The combination wouldsometimes knock them out for a couple of days. Someone walking along theroad would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They werelaid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family wouldgather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wakeup-hence the custom of holding a "wake."In England local folks started running out of places to bury people. Sothey would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a "bone-house" andreuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins werefound to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they hadbeen burying people alive. So they thought they would tie a string onthe wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through theground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in thegraveyard all night (the "graveyard shift") to listen for the bell;thus, someone could be "saved by the bell" or was considered a "deadringer."And that's the truth...and whoever said that History was boring?’!

Thursday, July 30, 2009

The Irish Times Wednesday July 29 has a picture of O'Rourke's Tower and the Cross of the Scriptures
at Clonmacnois alongside an article "Locals fear impact of Clonmacnois heritage status.See irishtimes.com
A public information meeting took place last evening at the Athlone Springs Hotel on the Tuam road.
Some 300 people attended the meeting and after some twenty or more questions and statements were raised
the meeting broke up when a speaker representing the farmers said that he had heard enough and was going home.
Most of the meeting stood up and walked out of the meeting.
The one thing that I liked about the meeting was the spelling of Clonmacnois by those making the presentation.
Cluain = gathering of mhic = sons of Nois = Nois without the "e".
Anyhow it is a good photograph to have a look at.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

www.mywaterways.com is a new website being developed by Geraldine Wilson and Niall Galway
Waterways I think is the organisation set up by the private boatowners but check it out for yourself.
Geraldine gave us two gems to share -
"If you live in an igloo, dont put in underfloor heating"
And one that she found up in Dromod upstream lately
"Sure there is great drying out
When its not raining"

In the Irish Roots column in the Irish Times yesterday John Grenham tells us that on the Irish Times
under Irish Ancestors there is a helpful service.
Check it out on irishtimes.com on yesterdays paper.

A horse called Mount Welcome won a race in Wexford last week. It was called after the school where Patrick Kenny
got his education. The horse was owned by a syndicate ROS-OFF, trained by J.Rothwell and jockey was J.Baites.
The Ros is an abbreviation for Roscommon and Off is for Offaly. It won at 14 / 1 odds.

Declan Green arrived home from Boston on Friday looking right well and like Lorraine Mc Kenna he tells me that
he reads The Irish Times each day on the internet.
Lorraine contacted me to say that she had seen photographs of the 300 ft red and white chimney at Shannonbridge
Power Plant being demolished. Rte.ie/news were along for the fall and later Mick told me that there was a man
in the bar that wanted to see me. It was Kieran Mulooney and a cameraman. They had already interviewed our Swiss
friend Paddy Steiger outside. Paddy told them that he was confused. He had been coming to Shannonbridge for some
thirhy years and now he will be lost without the chimney. Paddy is an artist and I wonder what memory he will create.
It was shown on last Friday's news on RTE.
Lucky enough there were many people with cameres around. Ken and Betty Smith from California were holidaying
in the village and Ken obliged in taking a photo series of the fall. There was a light mist falling and he took shelter
at Prices hall door. Ken was in luck as it fell to his right. Hopefully the series will be available on this web.

Brian De Courcey was in Shannonbridge recently and told us that he was living in Ahascragh but was born in Cleggan.
This was only a few days after the two brothers had walked through Shannonbridge on their charity walk for
Woens Aid. Brian was interested in the walk and the Cleggan connection. Wonder if the brothers passed Rossadilisk
House near Cleggan which is owned by Brian.

The Connacht Tribune newspaper is at www.galwaynews.ie
The Galway Races started yesterday and runs until Sunday. Heard the trainers and jockeys make comment that
the going was soft. One said that it was sandy and would dry. The other contradicted him and said it was pure bog.

John Hardiman is home from England for a break and tells us that the old swivel bridge now re-erected on quayside
at Shannonbridge was a cast metal bridge created by Thomas Rhoded in his Dublin foundry. Thomas had a brother Cecil
who discovered Rhodesia now Zimbabee. Rhodes and Rhodesia.OK

Also at the Greally funeral was Paddy Fallon from Glenamaddy. Paddy worked for Williams Shop in Belmont, now Cahills
for four years back in the 60's.
There were enough working there at that time that they had their own football team.

Congratulations to Carmel daughter of P.J. and Catherine O Rourke and John Ferris, Kilcock who were married
in High Street Church on 24th July. The happy couple visited Shannonbridge the following day for some photographs
by the riverside.

Michael Kelly, son of the late Peter and Annie Kelly was on holiday from Newcastle on Tyne and called to Shannonbridge.
Michael's father Peter operated a butcher shop in the building that now houses Supermac. Michael comes on holiday
to Ireland every year and he has a marvellous recall for names of families and people of Shannonbridge and the surrounds.
Michael has two sisters Catherine, living in Italy and Rita who lives in Carlow.

Tuesday 26th July
Ballinasloe have a number of interesting websites including -
>www.ballinasloe.com look under discussion form and they welcome contributions. The Web Cam camera that shows
views of Main Street and Saint Michaels Square was presented by Gerry Stronge and has not worked recently
is available on this web. Gerry Stronge promised me today that he will try and get it working real soon.
> Michael Breathnach told me that www.ballinasloearts.com has just recently been set up.
>www.ballinasloeactiveretirement.com have their own website and the walkers group went walking in Boora Parklands today
and stopped in Shannonbridge on their way home.
John Boland will tell you all about it on their website soon. They go a walking every Tuesday and plan to walk
in Garbally Demense and Portumna Forest Park and the Cliffs of Moher soon. Read their website.
> fadofado.com is a heritage site.

Lorraine Mc Kenna from Pottstown Pennsylvania asked in an e-mail to me last week why
the Ballinasloe web has not been updated for weeks.
Gerry Stronge advises her to look under discussion form.
Yesterday I telephoned Ballinasloe Chamber of Commerce about the website.
A"very helpful" girl told me that the Chamber were setting up a website to promote Ballinasloe.
Of course she never heard of any other websites that I mentioned.
Hope their website has a handle on their Chamber and that they get to use it.

Wishing the best of luck to golfer Shane Lowry and his new caddie Dermot Byrne as he plays in the Silesia Open
in Czechoslavakia this week and in the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron USA next week. Beware of the Tiger.

Cork City soccer club face extinction after High Court issues winding up order todays paper tells us.
They must raise 100,000 Euros before Friday.

Last Saturday I lost what I had wrote as I left to go to Clonmacnois for the Blessing of the Graves Mass.
Earlier on Saturday Dr.Michael Greally son of Annie Price and the late Joe Greally was laid to rest in
Clonmacnois after Requiem Mass in Shannonbridge. Michael was 42 years old. May he rest in peace.
Annie's sisters Vera (London),Ethel (Tralee),Eileen (Dublin) and Lucy (England) attended.
Kieran Pat Devery and his wife Anne from near Westport and London attended the funeral.

Pray for a good friend of mine Lee Blinmann San Diego who has died. Some eleven of his unique Christmas
Cards are hanging in Killeen's kitchen. May Lee rest in peace.

RTE Nationwide television program recently featued Camcloon National School on its hundreth birthday.
Mary Glennon nee Hardiman aged 104 and one of the original pupils was interviewed.

Last Tuesday some 38 Active Retirees from Portumna travelled upstream from Banagher to Shannonbridge
on The River Queen passenger boat operated by Silverline Cruisers Banagher. They had sunshine for a
good gander around Shannonbridge. Their bus collected them to take them for a meal on their way home.
One Portumna lady told us that she had never been in Clonmacnois. She promised to right her wrong and
return for a visit.

An old parishioner Sister Monica, a sister of the late Joe Claffey celebrates her 93rd Birthday on 1st August.

Met Joe Burke Ardnaglug recently and he told us that his daughter Aoife was married last week. Congratulations.

Christy Cunniffe from Clonfert and some friends are hoping to have a presentation on Callow People.
These are the families that lived on the callow land beside the River Shannon and their houses were subject
to flooding. They lived with the floods using a raft type timber flooring and bricks to raise the level of
the fire in their open fireplace.
Anyhow Christy is looking for photographs of those Callow People.
If you have any photographs you can e-mail them to Christy. Use chriscun@eircom.net for the carrier.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 26th July 2009 -17 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: €542. 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

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Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €160. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: N.Egan, A.Rohan
Readers for next Sunday: A.Kelly
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group A
Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: K.Kelly
Mass on next Sun for the late Brian Hunt

Parish P.Council Meeting
Mon @ 8pm in Shannonbridge

Questions people askQ. I read your answer why the Church is against pre-marital sex. But is there any better way of preparing for eventual marriage than living together to find if the couple are compatible?A. You seem to be blind to the fact that there is a much higher rate of break-up among couples who cohabited before marriage than among those who did not. It is very likely that couples who did not cohabit before marriage had stronger religious beliefs and developed a spirit of self-sacrifice in their relationship. These factors are hugely important in strengthening the bonds of a mature relationship. (Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM) ¨¨¨¨
World Heritage Status Bid for Clonmacnois
Following a meeting in Clonfanlough Hall, many showed an interest in attending the Public Meeting in the Athlone Springs Hotel on Wed 29th July @ 7.30pm. It is arranged that a bus will leave from Clonfanlough Church @ 6.45pm; then picking up passengers @ Clonmacnois School & Shannonbridge Church to facilitate those who wish to travel on the evening. There will be no charge for this.
'Your views will help to shape the final plan'.
The IFA will hold a meeting in Clonfanlough Hall on next Tues @ 9pm concerning the above.
¨¨¨¨
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
They are also looking for volunteers to host some of the priests & religious, who will be attending the Festival.
They also seek helpers on site for a variety of tasks.
Bishop Frank Caggiano from Brooklyn Diocese will be the main speaker. He is considered to be inspirational.
For more info call 086-3025442 or 01-6753690.
¨¨¨¨
Diocesan Pilgrimages
Knock: Sun 6th Sept; Clonmacnois: Sun 13th Sept
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Congratulations & felicitations to Fr John Killeen, Shannonbridge, who celebrates the Golden Jubilee of his Ordination to the priesthood this year. Ad multos annos!

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 19th July 2009 - 16th 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: €398. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: J.Kelly, M.Killeen
Eucharistic ministers: Group 4
Readers for next Weekend: Group 5, C.Mannion, C.Doolan
Altar Servers for this week: Siobhan, Caitríona
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Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €235. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: A.Walshe, R.Gunning
Readers for next Sunday: I.McEvoy
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group E Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: P.Darcy
Mass on next Sun for the late Kieran Kelly

Blessing of Graves
Mass with the Blessing of graves in Clonmacnois on Sat 25th July @ 7pm. This will replace the evening Mass in Shannonbridge.
In Glebe on Mon 3rd Aug @ 7.pm
Questions people askQ. Why must we have so many interruptions at Mass like standing, kneeling, shaking hands etc.? I would much prefer a quiet, uninterrupted Mass.A. Silent worship is wonderful in its own place, but the celebration of the Eucharist is a community prayer, which recognises the presence of the Lord, not only in the consecrated host but also in the gathered community, in the word and in the mission to go out in love and service. ‘Though there are many of us we form a single body, because we all have a share in the one loaf’ (1 Cor. 10:17). Sharing responses, gestures and movements with others is recognition of Christ in the body that is the community.(Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap)
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World Heritage Status Bid for Clonmacnois
Following a meeting in Clonfanlough Hall, many showed an interest in attending the Public Meeting in the Athlone Springs Hotel on 29th July @ 7.30pm. It is proposed that a bus will leave from Clonfanlough Church & Shannonbridge Church @ 6.45pm on the evening to facilitate those who wish to travel.
'Your views will help to shape the final plan'.
¨¨¨¨
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
They are also looking for volunteers to host some of the priests & religious, who will be attending the Festival
For more info call 086-3025442 or 01-6753690.
¨¨¨¨
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.
¨¨¨¨
Interested in Training & Working in Care?
A 6 month full-time FETAC Level 5 "Healthcare Support" course will start in Birr soon. Suitable applicants may qualify for a FAS allowance; age 18 plus. Call 057-9123940.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Shannonbridge Fishing Report ..dated 20th July 2009.
Cliff Mynard from Halifax West Yorkshire enjoyed his second week fishing holiday in Shannonbridge.
He has plans to return in September without his wife but with a fishing friend.
> On 4th July Cliff fished the River Suck in mixed weather, using red maggot to catch 17lbs hybrids
including three two pounders.
> On 5th July Cliff again fished the Suck on a bright day using red maggot and sweetcorn
to catch 18lbs of roach and hybrids. Good sport.
> on 6th July Cliff fished the Grand Canal on a sunny day using red maggot and casterto catch 24lbs
of roach and rudd and five tench best 3lbs. Hook size 12 and 14.
> On 7th July Cliff again fished the canal in sunshine catching 22lbs rudd, perch, tench and bream.
The tench was 3lbs and there was one 4lbs bream.
> On 8th July Cliff had sunshine and fished the Suck and Canal using red maggot and caster
for a 37lbs total of hybrids and bream. Five bream in the 4 to 5lbs range.
> On his final day Cliff fished the Shannon for three hours in mixed weather again using
red maggot and caster to catch 6lbs of roach. Enjoyable. Wait until September.
> On 11th July Peter Sekoranja from Austria fished the Shannon in mixed weather
using wobler to catch pikes which he returned alive.
> On 11th July local angler Aidan Kelly fished the Shannon in mixed weather using a rowboat and spinners
to catch 14 pike with best 16lbs. Returned alive. Aidan spotted seven mink on the journey
from Shannonbridge to Clonmacnois during early morning fishing.
> On 12th July Aidan Kelly went coarse fishing on the Shannon in mixed weather using a worm
to catch 40 roach, hybrid and perch. Best perch weighed 0.5 lbs.
> Pip and Jean Firmin from Nierst, Scotland have finished a two week holiday in Shannonbridge.
> On 10th July Pip fished on the Shannon in overcast conditions to catch a 4.5lbs tench on worm.
> On 12th July Pipfished the River Suck using a Lamprey eel to catch a 9lbs pike.
> On 13th July Pip fished the Shannon in the rain using worm and sweetcorn to catch a nice mixed bag of
perch roach and hybrids. Four mink crossed a drain two metres from where he was pitched.
> Local anglers Tom Carty and his grandson Thomas fished from their anchored boat twice this weekend.
On one day they caught 19 perch and one roach. The other day they had 14 perch and one 5lbs pike.
Today Monday I met an angler who has been night fishing on the River Suck with his brother in law.
He reported good bags of mainly hybrid and roach. Their catches reached the third ring on their
keepnets. Using sweetcorn fishing was good until 1.00am and from 4.00am. They heard the splash
of big bream which scared the swans but failed to hook the big bream.
Now they are going to concentrate on some tench fishing in that area.

A notice has been circuled today of the plan to knock the two concrete chimneys at the old
Shannonbridge Power Station. The demolition is scheduled to take place on Friday 24th July @ 11.00am.
One of the chimneys is the one with the lights and painted in red stripes.

Note that The Connacht Tribune is www.galwaynews.ie In yesterdays Connacht football final
Mayo beat Galway by a whisper.

On Sunday 19th July met a mother and daughter who are visiting the country.
Carol Nyholm's father was a Nash from Collinstown in Westmeath who emigrated to USA in 1920.
Carol married her husband who is of Finnish background.
Mary her daughter married a Carstensen whose family are Danish.
Carol lives in California and Mary and her family live in Denmark.
They have been using Bed and Breakfast accomodation as they travel around and last night stayed
with Brian and Dymphna Carroll in Ely House in Shannonbridge.
They were delighted to see the house where Mr Nash emigrated from in 1920 and to have met the cousins.

Another couple who are holidaying in Mount-Shannon travelled to Shannonbridge this morning
to visit The Clonmacnois and West Offaly Bog Train and were disappointed. They visited Clonmacnois
and enjoyed that visit.

The Clonmacnois Youth Festival 2009 is scheduled to take place at Clonmacnois area from 13th to 16th August.
Under the Youth 2000 Ireland banner it promises to be a lively 4 day festival with workshops,
concert, inspiring talks, great music and prayers. Visit www.youth2000.ie
They have circulated an appeal for help in preparing the site for the event and they would welcome help
from many skills and people. See notice in church porch.
They are also looking to offer to house visiting bishops priests and speakers coming to the festival.
The festival has free buses and no cost - devotion only.
The Youth 2000 office in Dulin telephone 01- 6753690

Stephen and Rebecca Brown from California who visited Shannonbridge recently wrote to say that they enjoyed their visit. Elva Mary Killeen was Stephen Brown's mother.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Wednesday 15th July Jon Anderson and his wife Marilyn nee Matylinsky from Reno Nevada stopped by.
the Anderson came from Denmark originally. Jon plays Saxaphone and has been a member of the same group for 17 years.
Their group is called "Guitar Woody and The Boilers" and they have a website called
guitar-woody.com
Their signature tune is called Its Always Something.
When Mick Killeen produced a saxaphone Jon said that he had his own mouthpiece with him in the car.
Marilyn told us that she is a librarian in Sparks, which is four miles from Reno.
On their travels they came to Longford and found that Sparks is twinned to Longford. Students from the banjo class
in Sparks are visiting Longford in September.
Marilyn.s grandmother was a Byrne who was born in Drumlish
Her grandfather was an Ivors from possibly Roscommon.
The Andersons have been to France on four occassions but this is their first trip to Ireland.

Wednesday 15th July Last evening Eddie and Brian Cranmer walked in to Shannonbridge.
They had walked from Cleggan in Connemara and were walking to Cleggan Road in Dublin where they live.
At Ballinasloe they branched off the main route heading for Shannon-harbour.
They plan to finish their walk to Dublin by walking alongside the Grand Canal.
Their walk is in aid of the charity Women's Aid which was founded in 1974.
Women's Aid work is mainly a helpline for women that have been molested or sexually abused.
They have collected 1,200 Euro to date, mainly through the website www.clegganchallenge.wordpress.com
Eddie and Brian have travelled with small backpacks containing camping tents.
They play the guitar and gave it a rattle after Paudge Bennett had finished.
Rory Green befriended them and offered them a place to pitch their tents.
Wishing them the best of luck in their fund-raising for Women's Aid.

The brother John from New Jersey arrived home yesterday. He finds it easier to travel to Dublin Airport
and catch a Citylink or Bus Eireann bus from the airport door that drops him in Ballinasloe.
After a few hours sleep he was up to hear the music and have a look at the late night filming
for "Pure Mule".

Wednesday 15th July Swiss artist Paddy Steiger arrived in Shannonbridge with two writer friends
Manuela and Kdtjd for a few days break in Grouse Lodge. Paddy and Manuela are frequent visitors
to the area.

Met a party from Malta on a cruiser holiday yesterday 15th July. They had booked their holiday
with the group that operate Emerald Starline. It was a bit unusual to meet people from Malta
on a cruising holiday. They told us that they had gone on a cruising holiday with the firm last year
on the continent and had enjoyed it. So this year they were enjoying a boating holiday in Ireland.
They live in Valetta and they told that a soccer team from Valetta was playing in Dublin this weekend.
They had plans to go to that game and also the Real Madrid v Shamrock Rovers game.
They were disappointed to hear that the tickets for the Real Madrid / Rovers game sold out in five minutes.
One of the men had Irish connections. A Irish lady called Stone married into the family but he had no details.
Bet they are enjoying being away from the Malta heat which was 39C yesterday.

On Wednesday Christina Mueller and Marianne Jackels from Prague visited Shannonbridge with their husbands.
Christina told that she last visited Shannonbridge in 1986 and it was her friends first visit.
Good to see them returning after so long a time.

Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Eric Dilworth from Ard na Ri, Clonmacnois
on the birth of their baby daughter Sarah Jane last week.

Glad to see Eamon and Katherine Lyons pay a brief visit to Shannonbridge this week looking so well.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Shannonbridge GAA Junior Football Championship.

Shannonbridge played a draw with St. Rynaghs in the Junior B Football Championship at Shannonbridge today. Scores were SBr 0.7 St. Ryn. 1.4.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Early Sunday morning six fine birds from The Park decided to have breakfast uptown and arrived at Killeens.
They had a simple breakfast of muesli and fresh fruit and caught the eye of our regular visitors by their dress.
They all wore a peculiar colour of dark green coat and their heads and necks were a mixture of fresh orange
and reds. Mary served the muesli rough fashion on an open tray and they selected fresh fruit from the nearby
apple trees.
The wild birds that feed on the rooftop restaurant and the nut feeders were in a tizzie.
We enquired where they normally ate and where they lived and were told that they eat at Guinans in the Park
and normally stay with them.
The six love birds stayed about four hours before flying back to base.

Had two different groups call today Sunday enquiring how to get to the Bog Rail Tour which alas is closed.

Sweden and Ireland and Ryanair were united this week as two groups from Sweden stayed with Kay and John
in Kajon House near Clonmacnois.

A retired priest Father Kenny was covering the weekend Masses and will be with us again next weekend.
Today he told us that his father was born in Glebe and went to help his uncle and aunt in Lusmagh.
There he met his wife and settled in Lusmagh where Father Kenny was born.
Father Kenny spent most of his priestly life teaching in schools in Ireland and England and is now retired.

The Offaly Independent is a free paper and some headlines from the edition of 12th July include -
> Teenager bit part of stranger's ear off
> Offaly eager for Obama visit
> Ten jobs a day lost in Offaly during June.
> Appeal to farmers to attend upcoming Organic Walks.
> Eighteen pharmacies in Offaly to withdraw from HSE drug schemes.
> Offaly sees 41% drop in IDA backed jobs since 1999.
> Get your glad rags on for Birr Vintage Week and Arts Festival.
> One in four children now born outside marriage in Offaly.
> Anger in Kilbeggan as Credit Union shuts its doors.
> Lough Boora and Kinnitty pyramids feature in new book.
> Pig racing in Tullamore.
> Youth Festival set for Clonmacnois 13-16 August.
> Offaly house prices fall by 5.7%
> EU report ranks Ireland 6th safest country in Europe for road safety.

Friday, July 10, 2009

On Friday enening 10th July, Mats Anderson and Kerstin Allvin from Sweden came to visit.
They had read about the Clonmacnois and West Offaly Railway and were disappointed that it was not operating.
They thought that the railway was connected with Clonmacnois.
They tried to visit Clonmacnois but the office had closed.
Mats and Kerstin were in Ireland for two weeks, driving around the country and staying in Bed and Breakfast houses.
Some of their comments included -
> They found that Ryanair flights were cheap
> Bed and Breakfasts were better away from the main tourist hotspots.
> The full Irish Breakfast provided sustanance for most of the day.
> Ireland is expensive due to the strong Euro versus their Krona.
> They liked the Irish pubs.
> They found many filling stations were closed.
> Many houses were for sale.
< They noticed many dogs wandering around in Ireland.
> They wondered why all the different colours flags were being flown.
> They commented that in Sweden mixer units have replaced the two hot and cold taps on handbasins.

Tomorrow they are off to visit Newgrange. Hopefully they will have a look at the village bridge from the quayside
and make a second attempt to visit Clonmacnois before they depart.

Shannonbridge GAA Senior Football.

No luck for Shannonbridge in the first round of the Senior Football Championship, on Wednesday evening at Tullamore, when they were defeated by Shamrocks on a scoreline of 0-12 to 0-10.

On 6th July two oldtime regular visiting anglers called in. Their last visit was the year before the Foot and Mouth
outbreak. They were staying now in Tarmonbarry and came back to this area to have a look at some of their old fishing
favourite spots. They were disappointed that there seemed to be no access to Bullock Island near Shannonharbour.
Where the entrance gate once hung their is now a row of wire and cord.
Ray Dutchie from Banagher told me that the land inside the gate belongs to three different landowners.
Some years ago somebody stole the gate and they decided then to just put wire in the opening. They open the wire
to gain access when required.

On the Late Date radio program recently they played As Time Goes By. Afterwards the host told us that Sam
the piano player was Jody Wilson, the boss was Humprey Bogart and the lady that came into the joint was
Katherine Hepburn. Think that is what he said. Here's looking at you kid.

Yesterday 9th July Stephen and Rebecca Brown arrived in Shannonbridgewith their son Sean Patrick and their daughter
Therese Marie. They are from Cotati, California and Sean and Marie had been playing with the Santa Rosa Youth Orchestra
during a trip to the Continent of Europe. Afterwards the four visited Paris London and Ireland for very short visits,
On Wednesday morning they arrived in Dublin and hired a car and ended up in B+B in Ballinasloe.
Stephen asked his host if there were any Killeens around as his mother was a Killeen.
So they were directed to Shannonbridge. They had never heard of Clonmacnois or Saint Ciaran or Saint Killeen or even
Saint Brendan. So of with us to Clonmacnois to see the video and look around for a time. We had a glimpse of the bog
from near Pat Duffy's house and came back to Shannonbridge to see the bridge. As it happened the boat rally from
Lough Derg was arriving and convered canal barges were three deep along the quayside. Then Vinny arrived on his
bicycle from High Street via Clonmacnois. The two Brown children both play soccer and Vinny was/is a soccer coach.
So after lots of soccer we walked down the street, Then Marie told us that she played the fiddle. We resurected the
house fiddle but she was happier with her own which Sean fetched from the car at the quayside.
Marie plays a neat bit of what I call Cajon music - similar to George Kaye and The Smokey Mountain Ramblers
of some 30 years ago. I was told that it was Appelation Sound not Cajon. Anyhow it was good.
Stephen told us that his forefather a Killeen emigrated to USA in 1842. There are two unknown layers and then
a Laurence Killeen. Laurence had a daughter Elva Mary Killeen and her son was Stephen's father.
My sister Doc arrived soon after the Browns and after being introduced Doc said that Stephen looked a lot like our cousins
The Foleys.
Sean Patrick plays the double base and by coincident Doc learned the double base and only recently bought
a double base instrument.
The Browns had to catch a flight in Dublin Airport at 4.00am so hope they travelled safe. WE DRIVE ON THE LEFT SIDE.

Some years ago a film series "Pure Mule" was filmed in Offaly including Shannonbridge. The people in RTE intend to show
the original series over the summer months. Recently additional material has been filmed and on Wed 15th July they plan
to film a funeral scene inside and outside Shannonbridge Church from 5.30pm to 10.30pm. Filming on road area outside church
from 11.30pm to 1.30am. Filming in the Water Tower field from 1.30 to 4.30.
John Price was remembering that the first time they filmed they hired lots of locals as extras and he got a speaking part.
The location was beside the river and he had to look up and say "I think there's something coming" At that time they were
paying 72Euros per day but it was taxable
Good to see Tony Ellis and his daughter Caroline on a visit to Shannonbridge yesterday 9th.

Oliver and Patricia Keenaghan from Ferbane revisited Shannonbridge this week.
They told us that their neighbour in Delvin Park Peggy Mc Guire has become a
Great-grandmother with the birth of Calum Mc Cormack, a new baby for Mark and Emer.
Congratulations to all.
Many people have had burglar alarms fitted in their neighbourhood and as we were talking Oliver's mobile
notified him that his alarm had operated. They reckoned that it was the cat that had
entered through an open window. Anyhow end of visit and they returned home to check.

On 10th July Peter and Gillian Biss and their friend Richard Hewitson arrived in Shannonbridge
on the Holleran Family Tree search. In Mountshannon they found the house where Tommy Holleran lived.
Tommy Holleran came to Shannonbridge years ago and lived in the house that is now Supermacs.
He married Rose Claffey, a sister of Mike Claffey,
and they lived in the cottage at Templedew. Rose Claffey lived in a house
down Price's Lane, down behind the old church. They had five children -
> Gretta who married Johnny Lyons Templedew House and they went to work at a Mullingar stud farm.
> Lilian was married and lived in Ballinasloe and is deceased.
> Kathleen worked for some time before going to England. Gillian Biss is her daughter.
> Billy died in 2001 and is buried in Clonmacnois with his parents, where the family recently
erected a new memorial stone to their memory.
> Jack was the youngest and he emigrated to England and he is now dead.
Tommy Holleran died 14th November 1963 aged 86 years.
We took a nostalgic trip to have a look at the old Holleran homes but failed to locate
the ruins of the Lyons home as it was raining.
Gillian was wondering what Templedew translated into.
Master Lane called the area Teamphall Dubh or The Black Church. Dubh is black and teamphall is church.
There is the remains of an old church in that area where Mass is celebrated yearly butthat area
is known as Cloniffeen.
Anyhow best of luck to Gillian on her search.

There was horse racing at Roscommon racecourse on Monday and Tuesday. There was thunder and lightning
in Shannonbridge on Monday afternoon and heavy rain but none in Roscommon.
Anyhow Mick waited until Tuesday evening to go racing.
A horse bred in Ballygill, Taughmaconnell owned by Martin Donnellan and trained by Adrian Sexton
won the 8.00pm race at odds of 14 / 1.

Silverline Cruisers are offering people the chance to visit Clonmacnois each Sunday in July /August
on the "River Queen" a 50 seater passenger boat. Departing Shannonbridge @ 14.00hrs and departing
Clonmacnois at 15.45hrs. The trip takes one hour and costs 8 Euro one way and 12 Euros return.
Children cost 5 Euro and 7 Euro. See www.silverlinecruisers.com

The Parish Priest of the neighbouring Moore Parish Bishop Cassidy has resigned and the occasion
was marked at Masses in Clonfad and Moore this week. Wishing him well in his retirement and good
to hear that he plans to live in nearby Ballinasloe.

Shannonbridge Tourist Office opened this week under the charge of Alona Rock. Tel 085-8323262.

On 7th July Joe Burns, New Jersey and his brother William Burns, Florida stopped off in Shannonbridge.
They are sons of the late John Byrne who was born in Stirabout Hollow near Cloghan in 1875.
Their mother was a Mary Barnville who owned a pub in Birr.
They told us that the Grandparents Byrne are buried in Clonmacnois. The family donated a window
to Shannonbridge church in the 1960's.
The Byrnes are related to the Temples of Shannonharbour, the O'Donoghues Glue Pot Pub in Ballingarry,
to Dooleys in Birr and the Leary Family.
William was last home 50 years ago but Joe is a regular visitor. They promised to update us.

Sunday, July 05, 2009

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 5th July 2009 - 14th 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: €493. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.Murphy, M.McManus
Eucharistic ministers: Group 2
Readers for next Weekend: Group 3, M.Killeen, O.Costello
Altar Servers for this week: Megan, Andrea
Mass on next Sat eve for the late Winifred & Hubert Darcy
¨¨¨¨
Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €262. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: B.Higgins, D.Guinan
Readers for next Sunday: A.Coughlan
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group C Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: D.McEvoy

Blessing of Graves
We hope to have Mass with the Blessing of graves in the 'New Cemetery' in Clonmacnois on Sat 25th July @ 7pm.

Mass in Prayer Centre Clonmacnois every Wed @ 7.30pm

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
¨¨¨¨
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.
¨¨¨¨
Interested in Training & Working in Care?
A 6 month full-time FETAC Level 5 "Healthcare Support" course will start in Birr soon. Suitable applicants may qualify for a FAS allowance; age 18 plus. Call 057-9123940.
¨¨¨¨
Important Notice on World Heritage Status Bid for Clonmacnois

Following a public meeting in Clonfanlough last September a group was set up to put pressure on the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government (DEHLG) to arrange for a proper consultative process regarding the World Heritage Status Bid for Clonmacnois.
As the group has now secured this consultative process it has disbanded.
However they would like to draw your attention as to how this consultative process is proceeding and to encourage all groups and individuals in the area to engage in the process. Leaflets are available in the church and at the offices of Clonmacnois Visitor Centre.
DEHLG HAVE ANNOUNCED THAT A PUBLIC MEETING WILL BE HELD IN ATHLONE SPRINGS HOTEL ON 29TH JULY 2009 @ 7.30PM – CONFIRMATION WILL BE IN FUTURE PARISH BULLETINS AND LOCAL PAPERS AND WE WOULD ENCOURAGE YOUR ATTENDANCE.
"Your views will help to shape the final plan."

Thursday, July 02, 2009

Best of luck to Shane Lowry the Offaly golfer who plays in the French Open which starts today.
Shane also plans to play in the Scottish Open during the following week.

The weatherman seems to have found his blue pen as the forecast for the next five days contain
plenty of ///// in blue with only some sun showing tomorrow and Monday.

Last Sunday Timmy Devery celebrated his 90th birthday in the retirement home in Birr.
Timmy is from Glebe and is well known for playing the accordeon. For many years Timmy and the late
Joe Hickey with the Bodhran were special guests for Paudge Bennett at Paudge's Wednesday night session
in Shannonbridge. Happy Birthday Timmy.

Yesterday Mary Smith nee Lawlor and her parents Andrew and Mary Lawlor paid a visit to Shannonbridge.
All are related to the Killeen Family. Mary was recalling spending her teenage summers in Shannonbridge
as a forerunner to her sisters Ann and Geraldine. They all look very well. Mary tells me that she is often
mistaken for Geraldine which she takes as a compliment.

Fishing Report ....dated 2nd July 2009.
Some river level readings at Shannonbridge since last report include -
2.42 metres on 10/6/09, 2.38 metres on 11th June, 2.34 metres 0n 12th June, 2.37 metres on 13th June
2.24 metres on 23rd June, and 2.28 metres on 1st July 2009.

- Thomas Carty, Dublin caught 12 good sized perch on 21st June float fishing with worms. Best 1.75lbs.
-Gerry Casey, Moore fished the River Shannon on 21st Juneon a dry clear day catching four tench all over
4lbs each and two small trout.Gerry reckons that the tench were spawning. Is there a spawning order size ?
- Shane Kenny, Moystown fished a backwater off the Shannon on 19th June using a Condom lure to catch
30 perch and 14 pike.Some pike were attacked by larger pike while being played by Shane.
- Bill Speakman, Leigh, Lancashire, fished the Shannon on a sunny25th June using maggot to catch
nine bream and two tench for a weight of 26lbs total.
- Mario Barbagua from Milan, Italy fished in the rain on 30th June for pike using a Jig.
Mario caught 7 pike which he returned alive. The best fish measured 1.04metres. Five pike were lost.
- John Cliff and Nick Brierley from York were fishing in Shannonbridge this week.
On 28th June they fished Correen Ford in the rain using maggot and corn to catch 100 lbs of roach and
hybrids between the the three.
On 30 June the Brierleys fished a Shannon Backwater on a warm showery day using maggot and sweetcorn
to catch a 70lbs total bag that included three tench (2 x 5lbs and 1 x 4lbs.) a good days fishing.
- On 1st July the trio returned to Correen Ford on a warm rainy day and used maggot and corn to catch
30lbs of roach and hybrids. They found that the cocktail with the single corn was not as effective in
catching hybrids as on their previous visit. Casters were popular.
They noticed some sores on the roach.
- James Kelly, Moore fished the River Suck on 27th June trolling a Big 'S' from his boat in overcast conditions.
James caught two pike (1 x 12lbs and 1 x 14lbs) which he described as big fighting fish.

Enquiring from Paddy Kelly, Moore, how his favourite large drain was fishing for trout it was sad to hear him say
that it is badly silted and in a poor state of health. This was a drain that Paddy often caught brown trout
in the two to four pounds range over the years. The size of the drain protected them from pike attacks.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

On Sunday after Mass I noticed two men and a woman in the village. One man was carefully carrying a video recording
camera. On enquiry they told me that they were working on producing a CD video on the River Shannon to be used in Austria
to promote the river as a holiday destination. Twice on Sunday the man with the funny looking camera was plying his skills
in Killeens. The lady promised to send a copy in about three weeks or whenever completed.
Last night the trio were back in the bar with the camera at rest. The lady told that on Monday they had travelled
to Ballinasloe on the River Suck and paid a visit to Shannon-harbour.
Today they plan to visit Clonmacnois.

Thanks for your email. If you go into IrishExaminer.com you should get my stuff under the heading of Outdoors, or Columnists. I do a weekly column on Environment/Heritage issues for the paper on which I've been a journalist since the 1970s. I was really taken by your pub and the chat with yourself. I stumbled on Shannonbridge by accident, but remembered my daughter, who works with Tourism Ireland in London, talking in raptures about Killeen's public house so my wife and I couldn't pass without dropping in to see the wonders for myself. My daugther had brought a group of English people there some months previously. We spoke that day about the bog, great carnivals in Shannonbridge and bands that played there from Kerry, including Denis Cronin, from Tralee. Don't ever try to change your pub - you'd only destroy something that should be preserved for the nation and its visitors. I've been running a sort of personal campaign for the preservation of old Irish pubs of character for many years - against the tide, I'm afraid, most of the time.
All the Best,
Donal Hickey.

Thanks to Joan Farrelly for lending me a cutting from the Offaly Independent. It is titled From California
to Shannonbridge. It tells the story of Chuck and Karen Noe travelling from California to Shannonbridge
to trace their relatives and Karen, a daughter of the late Frank Belton (1894-1968)met her second cousin,
Leslie Price, who presented her with lots of letters and photographs,sent by Frank Belton to Leslie's mother
Delia Price, a sister of Frank Belton.
The Memorial Poem wrtten by Frank Belton "Memories of Shannonbridge" is also included in the cutting.
The poem was used on Frank's memorial card and is recorded on this website under poetry. Revisit the poem
and Shannonbridge soon and often.

While I was in America,(not Patrick Lenny's America, five miles from Shannonbridge,) there was an article titled
Eire go on written in The Irish Examiner by Donal Hickey dated 15th June. Donal took some friends from
Shannon Airport to visit Clonmacnois. The article is taken up with sign posting and roundabouts etc.
His party stopped off in Killeens Shhannonbridge before visiting Clonmacnois and Donal enjoyed his stop.
Thanks to friends in Bridgeway Engineering for keeping the newspaper.
I notice that Dick Warner writes a column on the Outdoor Section. On that Monday his piece was titled
"Here's a school of thought about starlings. The group of starlings that Dick was observing were all adolescent
and he has a theory that as they flew from a nearby roof and an alder tree to a nearby field and back again the
young birds were attending school.The skills they were learning were A. flying skills abd B. social skills.
Dick is dick.warner@examiner.ie and people may remember him for some great series on television as he travelled
the River Shannon, The Grand Canal, River Barrow etc.
There may be a link to this paper and if it becomes known I will paste the information on this web.

Talking to Alice Egan on Sunday and asked her if she knew of any translations forplace names around.

She said Curraghmore was the Big Rock and there was a big stone in that area.Curragh presume meaning rock
and mor meaning big.

Garrymore was known as The Big Garden. Gairdin means garden and was probably tailed off.

Leharrow or Leat carrow with leat meaning quarter.

Was just going to tell you about the fine stretch of good weather in recent weeks when I heard
someone say that it is lashing outside and sure enough it is.
I think I will blame the rain on that 60 piece Midlands Youth Orchestra that performed so well during their concert
in Clonmacnois on Saturday evening. They included a number by Burt Baccarack titled Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head.
Now the rain is gone again and there is no spell check for Burt etc.

The Irish Roots column on yesterdays Irish Times tells us that the population of County Roscommon
in 1841 was more than 250,000.
In 1991 the total was 55,000.

On Saturday 29th August in Birr Theatre & Arts Centre,(www.birrtheatre.com)the Birr Historical Society
will hold a Commeration of Mary Ward 1869. Mary Ward was the world's first motoring accident.
After lectures by Lady Rosse and others, all present will be invited to visit the scene of the accident nearby,
for the unveiling of a commemorative storyboard.

Gillian Biss,Dorset, daughter of Kathleen Holloran, Templedew, is visiting Ireland at present.
Her grand-father Tommy Holloran came to this area from Mount-Shannon.
Gillian is spending this week trying to trace her grand-father's family roots.
Next week Gillian will be in the Shannonbridge and Templedew area.
I am told that she is writing a book.

The television political debate programme "Questions and Answers" presented by John Bowman has been showing
for over 23 years. The final programme was aired last night.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen was on the final programme. As he was wrapping up, Bowman said "Taoiseach, thank you
for joining us, but how long would you expect now to be leader of Fianna Fail...?

There has been widespread welcome for loyalist decommissioning.
The death has occured of Raymond Rooney, the well known Galway City Auctioneer. May he rest in peace.

On Sunday George and Valerie Armstrong from Baltimore stopped off on a river cruiser holiday on the Shannon,
at Shannonbridge. They were accompanied by their daughter Ann and her husband Jeff and their grand-daughters
Abby 8 and Hannah 10. The two girls went off on the Treasure Hunt organised by the Shannonbridge Mid-summer
Festival and were looking forward to the Drum Workshop and Circus School in the afternoon. The adults were
interested in the seven piece jazz band music scheduled for the green area across from the church later.
Valerie, nee Darcy told that her people came from Partry in County Mayo.
The family visit Ireland yearly for two weeks, one week afloat and the second in a self catering home.
George noted three changes since he first started coming -
1.Litter in the streets has disimproved.
2.So much construction
3. Lots of public houses closed.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 28th June 2009 - 13th 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: Adoration on First Fri until 5pm
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €450. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: A.Ryan, L.Turley, M.Mitchell
Eucharistic ministers: Group 1
Readers for next Weekend: Group 2, C.Casey, E.Quinn
Altar Servers for this week: Oisín, Michaela
Mass on next Sat eve for the late Edward & Elizabeth Connor
¨¨¨¨
Clonfanlough
Mass on First Fri @ 7pm
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €178. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: C.Spain, C.Guinan
Readers for next Sunday: A.Coughlan
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group B Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: B.Coughlan

I will visit the sick & housebound on Friday

Blessing of Graves
We hope to have Mass with the Blessing of graves in the 'New Cemetery' in Clonmacnois on Sat 25th July @ 7pm.
Our Greatest Need
If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator;
If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist;
If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist;
If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer;
But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Saviour.
(Source unknown)
¨¨¨¨
WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY THE HARP? RENT A NEW TOP OF THE RANGE HARP NOW AT THE WINDSONG MUSIC SCHOOL. HARP EXHIBITION ON SAT 4TH JULY IN ST MARY'S PARISH HALL LANESBORO AT 7PM AND CASTLECOOTE HOUSE, CASTLECOOTE ROSCOMMON ON SUN 5TH JULY AT 2PM. CONTACT EDEL 086 8399 835.
¨¨¨¨
Questions people askQ. About the people who were dead but brought back to life by Jesus, where were their souls between dying and coming back to life?A. Normally a person is pronounced dead when the vital organs cease to function in supporting life. That is physical death. However, the departure of the spirit or soul on its final journey towards God’s revealing light may take longer. The custom of waking the dead grew out of the idea of accompanying the soul on its journey from this life. Perhaps we could say of the Lazarus and the daughter of Jairus, they were dead but not yet departed.Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
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Youth Hour of Adoration in Ferbane Church on Fri 3rd July @9pm
All are welcome to join us for this time of quiet & reflection
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Rally for Life, in Dublin on 4th July
Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Sq. @ 2pm. 'Bring family and friends to stand for life.' see: www.rallyforlife.net
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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

Friday, June 26, 2009

Ken Brown has pointed out the mistake in the location address for John Killeen's function.
Try www.focusphotographynj.com and under recent events find fjk50 filed under John.
Better luck this time.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Late Paul M. Kerrigan.

The death has occurred of architect and historian Paul Kerrigan, Elphin, Co. Roscommon. Paul was best known in this area as an expert on the Shannon Defences, including those at Shannonbridge (which incorporates the Old Fort Restaurant). His book "Castles and Fortifications in Ireland 1485 to 1945" includes the definitive study of the Shannonbridge Fortifications. He gave many talks to local historical societies and in one he included a photograph of the barracks in Shannonbridge (on the site of Garda Station) which was demolished in 1974. May he rest in peace.

Offaly GAA Championship Fixtures.

A tough draw for our Senior footballers and hurlers in the qualifiers. The footballers are against Wexford at Wexford Park and the hurlers take on Cork in Tullamore. Unfortunately both matches clash as they are on the same day, Saturday July 4th at 6.00pm. Here's wishing both teams all the best.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

There is extra information on the translation of Clondelara or Cluaindha lara.
It appears that many years ago two soldiers riding mares were attacking people in the Clondelara
area.
The two soldiers were shot and the two mares were remembered in the name Clondelara.

The Mc Kiernans have been on a boat in Shannonbridge for the past few days doing a bit of fishing and taking it easy.
Last night Carmel told me that her mother once worked in Shannonbidge in Killeens. Her mother was Kathleen Monaghan.
After a time in Shannonbridge Kathleen left to work in Larrasy's in Clara where she met her husband. He turned out
to be a publican and their pub was just outside Ballycumber on the road to Clara.
Kathleen died in 1983 aged 63 years. May she rest in peace.

Two Clondelara neghbours have died this week. Last evening Pat Duffy was telling us that the translation for
Clondelara was Clon = meadow, de, da = two, lara = mares. So ask for The Meadow of The Two Hares next time around.

Enjoying some lovely weather after a week in America for a celebration of the brother John's 50th anniversary
of his ordination to the priesthood. At the function there was a very busy photographer.You can have a look at the results
at www.focusp0hotographynj.com when you enter fjk50 recent events has the photos filed under John.
After a great week it is back to reality. Some bits and pieces.
- Yesterday in Dunbeg in Donegal there was a downpour and the Irish Times today have a picture of the coast guard
rescuing a mother and child from the upper window of their two storey home.

Good news for Shannonbridge. Karl Mc Coy and his wife Etna have twin boys Paddy and Harry. Congratulations.

On Monday Dave and Patti Hankins stopped by with their sons Jason and Ryan. The Hankins live very near the nephew
Brendan and Eileen Killeen and their boys Colin and Kevin in New Jersey and the four boys are regular playmates.

Here yesterday on their way to Lahinch were Colm Craven's own Billy Craven, Elaine Craven with Adam Craven, Colm's
grandson. They were accompanied by Grace Rabi. Billy and Grace were in South Korea for the past 30 months teaching.

On Monday 22nd Gunther Hobel from Monsheim Germany and Monika Engemann from Heidelberg paid a visit to Shannonbridge
staying at Ashbrook House. They were interested in having a look at the family home of "At Swim Two Birds" the book
by Flann O Brian. This island is on the Shannon about two miles upstream from Shannonbridge.
Naturally enough I was curious to know how they had heard about At Swim Two Birds.
They told me that they had attended a talk given by Harry Rowald in Germany where Harry had done a translation read
of the book. Harry had directed them to Shannonbridge and they found their way by road to the island. They were going
to visit Birr Castle but ran out of time. So they stayed another night and had a good walkaround the next day.

An interesting photograph in yesterday's Irish Independent www.independent.ie on page 20. It shows Paddy Gorey and
James Ward from Dunderry, County Meath making sugan ropes (ag casadh an tsugain) at the Trim hayming festival on Sunday.

Last week Dan Hogan, who worked for years in the power stations came along with what Dan calls The Real Dan Hogan.
This Dan Hogan lives in California and has been searching for his Irish Roots for years.
His forefathers reached America in 1870.
He had heard that they were from near The Devil's Bit Mountain. A search of records for County Tipperary came up with
nothing. Then somebody suggested that he look at County Offaly records. Bingo he found that the Hogans were living on
the Offaly side. The two Dan's are related and the California Dan was walking on air having just flown from California
that morning. Hopefully he will send more details to this web about his search and find.

At John's celebration in New Jersey I met our cousin John Lawlor from The Bronx and The Four Roads, Roscommon and his wife
Mary who emigrated from Curraghboy. They were telling me that their son Paul Lawlor works in the fire service.
Paul was on on a rescue boat helping people to safety from the airliner that landed on the River Hudson recently.

Some recent deaths locally include -
John Duffy, Cloghan and born in Clondelara has died and was buried yesterday in Cloghan.
Survived by his wife Marcella, sons Sean and Enda and daughters Catherine and Sharon,
brother Pat and sisters Kathleen and Bridie.John worked on Bord na Mona until retirement.
For many years he played music with The Hilltoppers and it was good that his friend Seamus Egan
took Johnny's accordeon to the cemetery and played a few tunes for him during the burial.John was 66 years.
May he rest in peace.

Mrs Annie Kelly nee Kenny, Cloneash, Oldtown has died in her 97th year and was laid to rest yesterday.
Annie was mother to John and Willie,and daughters Mary, Nancy, Sadie, Teresa, and Bridie.
May she rest in peace.

Ita Kenny, Clondelara and Dublin has died and her remains will be taken to Shannonbridge this evening
from Dublin with burial after Mass in Clonmacnois tomorrow.
Sadly missed by her brothers Brian and Stevie, sisters Agnes Bernadette and Frances and a wide range
of family and friends. May she rest in peace.

Eamon Grourke, Glenageary, Dublin has died and was buried in Dublin. Eamon was married to Carmel Fox
and they had two boys and a girl. May he rest in peace.

Parish House Tel: 091-841103 email: benflan1@gmail.com

Carrabane

Athenry

19th June 2009

Dear Dermot,

After Rome and Jerusalem, the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, in the north west of Spain, is the most ancient in Christendom. It dates from the year 815 AD.

St James the Apostle is said to be buried there. Over the centuries, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims have gone there; the Irish started out from “St James Gate” in Dublin. (In the 18th century, when Arthur Guinness set up his brewery on the site he retained the name).

Next week (27 Jun to 4 Jul) I will be doing the pilgrimage (the final 120ks) as part of a group of 40 from various places around the country, to raise funds for the Irish Pilgrimage Trust (IHCPT)which brings hundreds of special children to Lourdes each year on Easter Sunday.

The Trust is supported in its work by its donors. At this time, it is hoped to provide a new Respite/Holiday home for children and their families, in Wexford, like the one already in place at Killcuan in Clarinbridge. We are walking to help make this a reality.

YOU TOO CAN HELP! . . . by sponsoring me!

Please do your best to get friends/family/ neighbours to fill in a Sponsorship Card. You can return it to me (with the money, of course!) when I get back from Spain.

(Just for the record: walkers pay for their own flight, accommodation and expenses).

Thank you for your generosity.

Yours sincerely,

Benny Flanagan.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 21st June 2009 - 12th 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: €453. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: K.Price, C.Curley, P. Anderson
Eucharistic ministers: Group 4
Readers for next Weekend: Group 1, D.Finnerty, P.Corbett
Altar Servers for this week: Siobhán, Caitríona.
Mass on next Sat eve for the late John & Mary Claffey
Mass on next Sun for the late Jim McManus
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Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €243. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: J.& C.Rigney
Readers for next Sunday: A.& L. Devery
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group A Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: A.Rohan
Mass on next Sun for the deceased Egan family (Clonlyon)

We hope to have Mass & the Blessing of Graves in Clonmacnois 'New Cemetery' on Sat 25th July @ 7pm.
Questions people askQ. The Catholic Church is totally out of date in saying that pre-marital sex is wrong. Everybody is doing it. Isn’t it time the Church accepted reality?A. To follow your principle of everybody doing it, supposing every employee is stealing from their firm, does that make it morally right? The Church is obliged to proclaim the teaching of Jesus Christ and cannot change its morality by majority vote. In the only instance of majority vote in the Gospels, guess what, a murderer called Barabbas was released and Jesus, though innocent, was condemned to death. An opinion poll is a dangerous basis for a moral decision. (Fr O’Flynn – Intercom)
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Shannonbridge Tidy Towns
Meeting on this Mon @ 9pm in the Health Centre. All welcome
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National Learning Network
Are you recovering from illness / unemployed with a disability?
Interested in upskilling / personal development?
Enrol now for a one-year Fás-sponsored Freshstart Training Programme in Athlone starting in Sept. Call 090-6441260.
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Stroke Support Group
Meeting on this Wed @ 7pm in the Health Centre Ballinasloe.
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'Many thanks for your donations to the Irish Cancer Society collection at Clonfanlough Church which realised €222,00.'
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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.
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"The Priests" will give a special performance at the 02, Dublin on Mon 22nd June. Call 01-7755800.
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Rally for Life, in Dublin on 4th July
Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Sq. @ 2pm. 'Bring family and friends to stand for life.' see: www.rallyforlife.net

Friday, June 19, 2009

An update on our birds. The family that nested on my speaker in back has successfully raised 3 chicks and the have gone their way. The nest in front hatched 3 chicks and currently the parents are trying to get them to fly. The first one has, and seems to be enjoying itself scooting all over the place. Soon the other 2 will be gone. It is truly amazing how fast they grow. They have one obstacle. The next door neighbors cat is constantly monitoring the nest waiting for one to make a mistake. Such is nature. Submitted by Ken and Betty Smith from California.

You might be interested in the fact that the 1911 Census for Offaly (King's County) is now available to search on-line at the National Archives of Ireland. Only 9 out of the 32 counties are available - Offaly was added to the list recently. Take a look at http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 14th June 2009 -Corpus Christi Sun B
Tel (090) 9674125 Fax (090) 9674267
Mass times: Shannonbridge - Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12noon Sun;
Weekdays, 10am. Clonfanlough - Sunday, 10.30am
Shannonbridge
Masses: Mon - Wed, Fri, Sat @ 10am; on Thurs @ 7.30pm,
This will be said on behalf of the Shannonbridge A.R.A.
Social in the Hall afterwards. All welcome.
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €444. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.McManus, C.Slattery, A.Corbett
Eucharistic ministers: Group 3
Readers for next Weekend: Group 6, E.Casey, D.O'Carroll
Altar Servers for this week: Athene, Aoife
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Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €242. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.Claffey, B.Coughlan
Readers for next Sunday: D.Boland
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group E Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: K.Kelly

Meeting of Parish P,C. Mon @ 7.30pm in Clonfanlough

Annual Mass for the P.T.A.A. -- Clonmacnois deanery
Will be celebrated in Clonmacnois on Fri next @ 7.30pm.
This is Feast of the Sacred Heart, and everybody is welcome
Q What is so special about devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus? Where did the devotion come from?
A.The heart is the centre of love, so this devotion is a way to focus on the love of God shown in Jesus Christ. The devotion was popularised by St Margaret Mary Alocoque in the 17th century. It counteracted the severe idea of God, then being spread by Calvinism. Margaret Mary was asked to draw people back to the love in Christ’s heart, his love for the Father, his mercy to sinners and his compassion to the sick.
‘Behold this heart which has loved people so much and is so little loved in return.’ (Fr O'Flynn - Intercom)
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Shannonbridge Tidy Towns
A Litter 'Pick up' is being organised for Mon 15th June @ 7pm (weather permitting). Assembly will be at the Church.
We would appreciate all help, and we encourage young people to come out and give one hour to tidy up our village!
If you have a visibility jacket please wear it.
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Night Prayer Vigil - Clonmacnois Prayer Centre
Fri 19th June (& every 3rd Fri of the month). Starts with Mass @ 10pm & finishes @ 3.10am. All welcome. Call 085-7746763.
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Information Eve for parents of pre-school aged children on the
Free Pre-school Year in Early Childhood Care & Education Scheme
Tues 23rd June in the Parish Centre, Tullamore. Call 057-9135878
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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.
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Clothing Collection for needy children in Africa
Fri 19th June @ Hall Carparks in Shannonbridge & Clonfanlough.
All types of clean clothing & shoes welcome - before 12noon
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We welcome into the Christian Community Neása Trainor, daughter of Kieran & Paula, who was baptised last weekend.
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Many thanks for your contributions to the 'Fighting Blindness' Collection last weekend. The amounts collected were, in Shannonbridge, €213. & in Clonfanlough €183.55.