The Bridge Advance to County Final

Shannonbridge 0-10
Shamrocks 0-7

Shannonbridge advanced to the Junior A final when they
overcame a strong Shamrocks side in Ferbane on Friday
evening last.

The Bridge Started well as they did against ferbane in
the previous round. It was a case of deja vu for the
Shannonsiders as happened against Ferbane Hubert Darcy
came off through injury after 15 minutes.

He was replaced by Player/ Selector Declan Kelly who
scored a point once again, just after coming in from
the bench.

At the interval the Bridge led 0-7 to 0-3. The
restart saw the bridge always in control in all areas
with Mike Devine giving a masterful display at
centreback and was well flanked by Mark Maloney on the
wing.

Kieran Norton had his hands full at in the number 3
shirt when he had to deal with former Offaly Player
Aidan "Scrap" Bracken and handled the big man very
well.

Upfront saw Kelly brothers Anthony and Patjo working
hard for the cause. On the Day Declan Kelly was the
match Winner when he stepped up to the plate to finish
with a tally of four points.

The Bridge will now await on the other Semi between
Birr and Edenderry to see who they meet in the Final.

Team K Coughlan, E McEoy, K Norton, A Gunning, M
Maloney, M Devine, C Kenny, P Egan, D Finn(0-1), R O
Connor, A Kelly(0-4), C Duffy(0-1), P J Kelly, H
Darcy, S Kelly, Subs D Kelly, K Kelly, D Egan

In Memory
Last Friday Marked the Birthday of Cormac Devine,
Cormac would have been 24 last Friday had he been with
us today.

There is no doubt Cormac would have been standing
along side his Brother Mike on the Shanonbridge team
on Friday last if he was here today. He was a great
Character and a great sporting talent. May he rest in
peace.

Lotto
There was no Winner of last weeks Lotto. There was
two match 3 winners. This weeks jackpot will be
€4,200.

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 28th Aug 2005 - 22nd Sun A
Tel (090) 9674125
Fax (090) 9674267
E-mail. Parishnewsletter@eircom.net


Shannonbridge
Masses: Each day @ 10am
Adoration all day on First Fri to end with Benediction @ 6pm
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €511. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.McManus, C.Slattery, A.Corbett
Eucharistic ministers: Group 11
Readers for next Weekend: D.Finnerty, S.Quinn
Altar Servers for this week: Shannen, Kayleigh, Nicola, Brian
Mass on next Sat eve will be said for the late Tom Donegan

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Clonfanlough
Mass on First Fri @ 7pm
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €200. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: C.Healy, T.Milner
Readers for next Sunday: H.Coughlan
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group 3
Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: B.Coughlan
Mass on next Sun will be said for the late Ciaran & Margaret Egan
Clonmacnois Pilgrim Walk
On Pattern Sun 18th September, beginning @ 12 noon from Ballinahown car park.
Bring packed lunch, and wear proper walking shoes and all weather clothes!
This invitation is especially directed to young people, and will be lead by the St Mary's Youth Group, Athlone. But all are welcome.
For more info contact 090-6473358.

Annual Pilgrimage to Knock on Sun 4th September
Those who wish to travel by bus please give your names to Teresa Rohan or Darran Finnerty as soon as possible.
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Children of Mary Retreat: St Michael's Church, Ballinasloe, Mon Tues Wed 5th 6th 7th Sept @ 8pm.
Members and non-members most welcome.
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Interested in learning more about your Faith?

Diploma in Applied Theology (Pastoral Ministry) - @ Roscommon Town. Suitable for anyone who wants to get to know more about basic teachings of the faith. Runs three Monday nights each month, for 2 years.

Higher Diploma in Religious Education - Education Centre, Athlone. This 2 year part-time course is approved by the Dept of Education to allow those who have successfully completed it to teach up to 16 hours per week of Religious Education at all levels.
All courses are run by St Angela's College, Sligo and accredited by NUI Galway.
For more info call 071-9143580, or 071-9166133

SFL Q Final

Shannonbridge 0-9
Ballycumber 1-12

Friday night last in Doon saw the end of the season
for Shannonbridge senior Footballers when Ballycumber
had just too much gas in the tank for the Bridge.

The Shannonsiders did very well in the first half with
Jim Killeen in top form, the seasoned campaigner
scored two long range points to keep the Bridge ahead
by 0-7 to 0-5 at the interval.

The second half saw Ballycumber come more into the
game and with the wind at their backs they began to
kick themselves back into the game.

Ballycumber who meet Shamrocks in the county semi
final simply had another gear left to put the Bridge
away in the final quarter.

Despite the defeat their was some good performances
Trevor Mahon and Kieran Flannery in Defence, Midfield
enjoyed plenty of possession, while up front Jim
Killeen was very effective.

Team J Duffy, K Flannery,V Darcy,K Norton, S Flannery,
T Mahon,D Turley, C Killeen, P Egan, R Browne, R Ryan,
F McEvoy,D Claffey,A Kelly, j Killeen, Subs P Deeley,
W Kenna, C Duffy

Junior A Semi Final
Shannonbridge Will go head to head with Shamrocks this
Friday evening at 6 45 in Ferbane. The Bridge will be
hoping to extend their great Championship run and
reach the County Final.

The Blue and Gold are keeping their fingers crossed a
few players will recovery from injuries in time to
line out on Friday.

Shannonbridge will be hoping for a good attendance
from their loyal Supporters to Cheers on the Bridge.

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 21st Aug 2005 - 21st Sun A
Tel (090) 9674125
Fax (090) 9674267
E-mail. Parishnewsletter@eircom.net


Shannonbridge
Masses: Each day @ 10am
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €433. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.Killeen, A.Keena
Eucharistic ministers: Group 4
Readers for next Weekend: M.Killeen, C.Doolan
Altar Servers for this week: Katie, Mary-Anne, Tara, Ciara
Anniversary Mass for the late Pat Joe Kenny next Sat eve.

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Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €267. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: B.Maleney, H.Hynes
Readers for next Sunday: D.Norton
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group 2
Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: A. Rohan

Congratulations & best wishes to Paula Kelly and Kieran Trainor who were married last weekend in Clonfanlough Church.
Clonmacnois Pilgrim Walk
On Pattern Sun 18th September, beginning @ 12 noon from Ballinahown car park.
Bring packed lunch, and wear proper walking shoes and all weather clothes!
This invitation is especially directed to young people, and will be lead by the St Mary's Youth Group, Athlone. But all are welcome.
For more info contact 090-6473358.

Annual Pilgrimage to Knock on Sun 4th September
Those who wish to travel by bus please give your names to Teresa Rohan or Darran Finnerty before the end of this week, if possible.
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Lough Derg - 2005
1-day Retreats: August 21,22,23,24,27,28,29,30,31.
September: 3,4,5,6,7,10,12,14,17,18,19,20,21,24,25.
Cost: €25.00, which includes boat fare, coffee and light lunch.
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Some Humour
A notice observed outside a Church:
Come to our Healing Services; you won't get better!

A letter from a schoolboy to his parents read:
Last week the Bishop came to our school and showed us his mitre and crosier and other things. Now I know what a crook looks like!
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FÁS eCollege
FÁS has established an Internet based training service called eCollege, which offers a range of flexible learning opportunities. It can be accessed at www.fas.ie (and select the eCollege option).
It is available to everybody and offers over 100 courses that can be taken online in the following categories: Business, Office Applications, Web Design/Programming, Technical Support, Soft Skills/Personal Development and Health & Safety.
Most courses are certified; the cost is modest; payment can be made online
????
The Irish Cancer Society acknowledges receipt of €400 from a recent Church gate collection at St Ciaran's Shannonbridge

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 14th Aug 2005 - 20th Sun A
Tel (090) 9674125
Fax (090) 9674267
E-mail. Parishnewsletter@eircom.net


Shannonbridge
Masses: Tues - Sat @ 10am
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €409. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: J.Kelly, A.Finnerty, T.Goldie
Eucharistic ministers: Group 3
Readers for next Weekend: S.Grennan, P.Duffy
Altar Servers: Darragh, Ruaidhrí, Michael, Graham, Ailbhe

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Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €269. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: N.Egan, A.Rohan
Readers for Assumption Day: A.Rourke, S.Rourke, next Sunday: Alan Kelly
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group 1
Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: K.Kelly
Mass on next Sun will be said for the Devery family deceased.

Mass with blessing of graves in Cloniffeen Burial Ground on Tues 16th August @ 7pm. All welcome








'A Mhuire na nGrás, a Mháthair Mhic Dé
Go gcuire tú ar mo leas mé'

Mon 15th Aug is the Feast of the Assumption - a Holy Day
Mass for the feast in Shannonbridge on Mon @ 12noon & 8pm
Mass in Clonfanlough on Mon @ 10.30am, which will be said for the late Padraic Devery.
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A Pilgrimage Experience at Clonmacnois
This Sun, 14th Aug @ 2.30pm.
You are invited to come to this Holy Ground of the Seven Churches
To Pray…. "Stay with us Lord on our journey." Luke ch 24.
P.S. Entrance is by the Cemetery Gate by the 'Pilgrim's Way', to the open-air Oratory.
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Offaly Co Childcare Committee Ltd.
Information Evenings will be held towards the end of Aug for the Childcare Training Courses that are planned for Sept.
The precise information may be found in a notice in the Church Porch.
If you are interested contact Lisa or Sheena on 0509-35878.
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Questions people ask
Q. Praying to God is important to me, but I find it hard to pray to Mary or the Saints. Should I feel guilty about this?
A. Prayer to Mary or the Saints is not obligatory, but it can be very meaningful and helpful. If we can ask people here on earth to pray for us it makes sense that we can also ask the saints in heaven to pray for us. Many times in life we feel stronger when others accompany us. Similarly, on our journey to God many people feel stronger in the great company of the friends of God. (Fr O'Flynn)

Shannonbridge Fishing Report……Dated August 8th 2005

The weather was generally good with an outbreak of rain on Thursday that dried up into a sunny weekend. Fishing visitors were again scarce and it was good to see nine coarse anglers arriving from Holland on Saturday. They have hired four lake boats to take them to their chosen swims.

One of our local anglers who is tall had his brother in law visit and they went night fishing on the River Shannon on August 4^th.There was some light rain but they fished with maggot and caught over 100 Lbs of roach and hybrids and also ten bream with the best weighing 5 Lb.

The Taller fisherman’s regular fishing companion had a surprise catch on the River Suck on August 1^st. He foul hooked in a keep net that contained 20 decent sized bream and one tench. The fish had been in the keep net for some time and only one bream and one tench was still alive

Dave Nap and Sue from Wigan completed their holiday. On August 3^rd they paid a visit to the Hot Water stretch at Lanesboro and in sun, rain and wind they used red maggot and caster and recorded over 100 Lb of fish between them.

The next day they fished on the island just upstream from the bridge in Shannonbridge and there was rain all day. They fished with red maggot and had good sport catching roach and perch. They remarked that no pike attacked.

Clay Maselle from Durango, Colorado stopped off in the area for some fly fishing. He fished the River Suck for a short time on August 4^th using pike flies with no success.

The next day he fished the Silver River in sunshine using Caddis Fly and Bead Head Nymph and in one hour over a half mile of bank side he caught seven small rainbow trout.

Best trout was a foot long.

The Kelly Family from Moore fished on the River Shannon on August 7^th trolling spinners and caught seven jack pike in sunshine.

One of our Dutch visitors Hero Peer fished one of the Backwaters on August 7^th and used maggot to catch 20 roach measuring 36 Cm on a warm sunny day..

GAA NEWS from PRO Conor Kileen

Junior Football Championship Quarter Final

Shannonbridge 0-11
Ferbane 0-6

Shannonbridge stormed to victory on Thursday night
last in a blustery Doon to insure a semi final place
in the Junior A Championship.

Shannonbridge were very dominant in all exchanges in
the opening quarter before losing the influential
Hubert Darcy who contributed two points before
retiring through injury.

No sooner had the Accountant left the field when
Declan Kelly his replacement kicked the ball over with
his first kick to keep the Bridge in good standing.

Ferbane fought back with two points and at the
interval the score favoured the Blue and Gold 0-8 to
0-2.

With the wind at their backs Ferbane carried the fight
to the Bridge and held their neighbours to just three
points in the second half.

The Clonmacnoise Parish Men will be happy with this
result and will further strenghen their panel when
Patjoe Kelly returns from holiday and his Neoghbour
Karol the "Hogget" Kelly makes his return from exile
shortly, after been away for three years on Stateside.

K Coughlan,E McCoy,A Guning,K Norton,M Maloney,M
Devine,C Kenny, P Egan(0-1), D Finn, C Duffy(0-2), A
Kelly(0-3), R O'Connor,S Kelly(0-1),H Darcy(0-2), E
Egan(0-1). Sub D Kelly(0-1)

Shannonbridge Fishing Report… Dated 1^st August 2005

Weather was generally fine and sunny for the week with some rain coming at weekend and the sunshine returning for the first day of autumn on Monday.

Pete Robinson from Lichfield divided his holiday fishing Cavan, Shannonbridge and Shannonharbour. In the Shannonbridge area he used the pole to catch tench, bream and roach and commented that there were plenty of fish.

Rob Cowdrey from London fished the River Suck on 26^th July with lures and caught two pike weighing 4 Lb and 8 Lb and a dozen perch for an enjoyable few hours.

Andy Henry from London

Nap Donegan from Wigan fished the Hot Water at Shannonbridge on 29^th and 30^th July in overcast conditions using red maggot and corn .The first day he fished three hours and caught a 4 Lb tench and rudd roach and perch for 10 Lb approximately. The second day Nap caught 20 Lbs that included two tench, hybrids and roach.

Sue Clossick from Wigan fished alongside Nap on the same two days at Shannonbridge Hot Water stretch. Trotting on the hot water under the bridge she had a varied catch of roach, perch, hybrids, and rudd and skimmer bream on her first day. The next day she caught one tench and lost two. She also had a mixed 10 Lb bag as well as a small pike. Sue says that the boats are going too fast and have no consideration for anglers.

John Joe Calladine from Worksop fished Shannonbridge in the rain and the dark on 30^th July and caught an 11 Lb pike on a worm.

David O Sullivan fished the Shannon on July 24^th 05 for three hours in overcast conditions and used maggot and corn to catch eleven skimmers averaging just over two pounds and six hybrids.

Guesthouse owner Paul Airey from Ahascragh fished the River Suck on July 31^st 05 at Correen Ford and used dead bait and a float in overcast conditions to catch eight pike in five hours with the best fish weighing 15 Lbs.

Mike Wykes from Bury Lancs. fished the River Brosna on August 1^st 05 in sunshine and used maggot and caster and stick float to catch 16 Lb of hybrid and tench in three hours early morning fishing.

Steve Fletcher from North Wales has returned to Shannonbridge with his family for a fishing and sightseeing holiday. On July 26^th 05 they used a row boat to get to the Clonfert Backwater and used maggot and corn on a hot sunny day to catch 50 Lb of rudd and roach. Described it as an excellent day and recommends using size 16 hooks and fishing close to the surface.

Next day they fished the Hot Water at Shannonbridge and used maggot corn and worm to catch loads of fish.

On July 28^th 05 they tried the Grand Canal and only caught bits. Not one of their better days.

On July 29^th the Fletchers fished The River Inny on a cold day and only caught bits again. Quit after three hours.

On July 30^th 05 they used the rowboat to travel to Clonfert Backwater on a warm and sunny day and used maggot and worm to catch 30 Lb of rudd and roach. Biggest rudd and roach each weighed 1.5 Lbs.

The next day July 31^st 05 they used the boat to go spinning and caught loads of perch and small pike and visited their favoured Clonfert..

August 1^st was their last day and they fished at the Boathouse at Culliagh on the River Suck. They used maggot worm and dead bait for good roach and pike fishing with young Chris Fletcher catching a 6 Lb pike,,,,,,, a personal best.

Dermot Burke and family are on holiday in Shannonbridge and Dermot and his son Craig have fished upstream of the village bridge and have used maggot and worm to catch 43 perch, two roach and a 7 lb pike which weighed 17 Lb in total on their first day July 25^th 05.

Next day they caught 32 perch and one trout.

The following day they caught 40 perch and one roach.

A visiting fisherman from America was saying that when he goes fishing in America he uses WD 40 on his baits and lures and believes it has a great effect on his results.

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 31st July 2005 -18th Sun A
Tel (090) 9674125
Fax (090) 9674267
E-mail. Parishnewsletter@eircom.net

Shannonbridge
Masses: Each day @ 10am
Adoration on First Fri until 6pm, with Benediction
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €454. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.O'Duffy, M.Corbett, M.Moran
Eucharistic ministers: Group1
Readers for next Weekend: C.Mannion, O.Costello
Altar Servers for this week: Katie, Mary-Anne, Tara, Ciara
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Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €187. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.Guinan, A.Guinan
Readers for next Sunday: A.Loonam, P.Guinan
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group 3
Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: N.Egan

Blessing of the Graves
Mass with the Blessing of the Graves on Friday 5th August @ 7pm in the 'New Cemetery', Clonmacnois.
Also in Mullinakill graveyard, Glebe on Mon 1st Aug @ 7pm
Supports for Farm Families
Offaly Smallholder Service will assist farmers to examine eligiblity for new Medical Card / GP Card & Farm Assist. The Service is also providing help in completing applications for Third Level College Grants. Contact Kieran Kelly in Banagher on 0509-51622.
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FÁS eCollege
FÁS has established an Internet based training service called eCollege, which offers a range of flexible learning opportunities. It can be accessed at www.fas.ie (and select the eCollege option).
It is available to everybody and offers over 100 courses that can be taken online in the following categories: Business, Office Applications, Web Design/Programming, Technical Support, Soft Skills/Personal Development and Health & Safety.
Most courses are certified; the cost is modest; payment can be made online.
????
Offaly Co Childcare Committee Ltd
Currently organising Childcare Training Courses for Sept 2005.
See notice in Church porch for details.
????
Athlone Institute of Technology
A Foundation / Access Course for adults wishing to return to education will begin at the AIT in Sept 2005. Call 090-6424593
????
Summer Camp
Offaly Leader + will host a Music Technology Camp in the Shannonbridge Hall from 8th – 12th August. This course has been run in various other locations and has proven very successful; and participants do not need to be musically talented to enjoy this course. Minimum age is 10 years old. Contact 087 2410587, for further information or to book a place on this course.
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Lough Derg - 2005
The last 3-day pilgrimage starts on 13th Aug. Cost €40.00, which includes boat trip and accommodation.
1-day Retreats: August 20, 21,22,23,24,27,28,29,30,31.
September: 3,4,5,6,7,10,12,14,17,18,19,20,21,24,25.
Cost: €25.00, which includes boat fare, coffee and light lunch.

Minor Football Championship

Shannonbridge have combined with Ferbane for this
years minor A football Championship and recorded a
very impressive victory over Kilmormac Killoughy on
Friday night last.

The bridge joined with F/B due to a lack of numbers in
our own parish and the club is delighted to be joined
with our neighbours to give our young players the
opportunity to play underage Football.

On the night the Bridge were represented by Donal
Corbett, Paul Maloney, Darren and Edward Egan who all
contributed very well to the Ferbane win.

Junior Football League
Shannonbridge 0-10
Raheen 1-3

This was by no means a glamourous result for the
Shannonsiders when they took on Raheen on our home
patch on Sunday morning last.

The game was played in extreme blustery conditions
which did not help the game. The win however leaves
the blue and Gold men in strong position to make the
knockout Stages of the competition.

Team K Coughlan, K Norton, A Gunning,E McCoy,D
Turley,E Kelly, P Maloney, C Killeen, P Egan,C Duffy,
A Kelly, S Kelly, E Egan, R Browne, R O'Connor, Subs K
Flannery, S Flannery,

Ladies Football

Shannonbridge combined with Doon to contest the Junior
A final against St Rynaghs on Sunday last but
unfortunatly came out the wrong side of a
comprehensive defeat.

The Ladies should be proud of themselves for reaching
the final and there is always next year.

Shannonbridge were well represented on the day by
Ciara Finn, Edel Turley, Alpha Ryan, Lucy Mcloughlin,
Josephine and Sarah Egan and Patricia Duffy.

-from Shannonbridge GAA PRO, Conor Killeen

Congratulations to Aisling Loughnane, Clonfad and Declan Higgins who were married on Friday and had their wedding reception in the Hodson Bay hotel in Athlone. If memory serves me right Aisling was born in Grouse Lodge on the Clonmacnois road.

Also congratulations to Fergal and Lynda Moran from The Fort Restaurant on the birth of Conor today. A brother for Katie and a lovely birthday present for Conor’s Grandmother Maura Moran.

The death has occurred of Mary Kenny late of Clonfad, Tanvey and London. Mary was a sister to Mrs Byrnes, Culliagh and Nellie Tumulty, Tanvey. Mary worked for many years in The Irish Center in London before retiring to Tanvey. She was a sister of

the late Peter “Mate” Kenny of Cloneish. Funeral took place yesterday.

The death has occurred in London of Sarah Claffey, sister of Patti Corbett. No funeral arrangements as yet but the remains will be taken home to Ireland for burial. I have pleasant memories of being on a flight from London to San Diego back in the mid eighties and having Sarah as a Hostess on the flight. She spotted Pat and me and soon after take off we were moved into two vacant seats in first class. May they rest in peace.

Home on holiday at present is Margaret Egan’s daughter Aisling and her two sons and a three month old daughter.

Also home on holiday from England is Martin and Mary Burke’s son Dermot and his wife Sandra and children Craig and Stacey. Looks like some fishing will be on the menu.

The Galway Races seven day festival starts this evening in Ballybrit.

The Moore Football Club weekly lottery jackpot of 14,600 Euro has been won by Mary Duffy Drumlosh. Well done Mary.

Johnny Flannery from Crevagh has retired from Bord na Mona after a lifetime career and held a retirement party / get together on Friday night. It was good to see so many old and present workmates attend on the night and hope Johnny has a happy retirement. Of course he sang his party piece “There’s one fair county in Ireland”.

Remember Frank Belton from The Lockhouse and San Francisco who wrote Memories of Shannonbridge. Well on Saturday night a grand-daughter of Frank Belton a Kathleen Morgan and her husband John arrived in Shannonbridge. Kathleen’s sister was in Shannonbridge some years ago and brought along her father’s memorial card that featured Memories of Shannonbridge.

Kathleen told us that Frank Belton opened a bar in San Francisco in 1920 and she has some photographs of Frank from that time. Frank had five children

– Francis Develera Belton, RIP. John Patrick Belton, Robert Joseph Belton, Mary Belton and Kathleen Belton.

– Father Paul Keane from Moore held a presentation ceremony for Pioneers who had abstained for forty years from alcoholic drink at Mass in Clonfad. When he asked those Pioneers to come forward for a presentation and blessing, our Patrick Kenny from America ,who had only caught the blessing bit joined the others and Father Keane had to tell him he did not count for a medal but gave him a blessing

Shannonbridge Fishing Report …Dated 25^th July 2005

The weather was good for fishing with lots of overcast periods and some occasion rain which fell mostly at night.

Two of our local anglers decided to fish for three nights and had excellent results with fishing particularly good from 4.00 am onwards. On two of the sessions on the River Shannon they had over 100 Lb bags of fish. Roach and hybrid and quite a number of good skimmer bream were caught and some tench. One morning just after 8am they decided to fish until 9am. Soon afterwards the taller angler noticed a tench roll in his friends swim. His friend cast out and caught a 4 Lb tench. A few minutes later another tench rolled and another cast caught another tench. This happened five times before 9am when they quit. They fished a different bay on the River Shannon on the third night but did not do quite as well. Still they had over 50 Lb between them.

Stuart Traves and Nigel Jones from Somerset fished the River Shannon on 21^st July in cloudy weather using slider and red maggot and recorded a catch of 72 Lb of roach and hybrid. They complained that windy conditions made it hard work.

On 22^nd July the Griffith Brothers from Plymouth fished the Hot Water Stretch at Shannonbridge and had 50 Lb of tench and roach in overcast conditions.

Michael Tubb from Edinburgh also fished the Hot Water stretch on the 22^nd July and caught four 5 Lb tench and some skimmers. He noted that the cruiser boats were travelling too fast.

Heard the sad news this week of the death of Rod Thompson from Cullingworth, Bradford who visited Shannonbridge on many occasions and took a great interest in local happenings. One year he sponsored a new set of jerseys for the local football club. May he rest in peace.
News from Stephen O'Meara from Maynooth telling us that he fished the Inner Finnamore Lake at Boora on 23rd July and had carp to 3 Lb and had five roach to a pound.

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 17th July 2005 - 16th Sun A
Tel (090) 9674125
Fax (090) 9674267
E-mail. Parishnewsletter@eircom.net

Shannonbridge
Masses: Each day @ 10am
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €352. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.Killeen, A.Keena
Eucharistic ministers: Group 3
Readers for next Weekend: D.Finnerty, P.Duffy
Altar Servers for this week: Shannen, Nicola, Brian, Kayleigh
Mass on next Sat eve for the late Winifred & Hubert Darcy

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Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €260. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: C.Spain, C.Guinan
Readers for next Sunday: C.Coughlan
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group 1
Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: B.Coughlan

'Many people have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness.
It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.' (Helen Keller)

Words of Pope John Paul on the Eucharist
"The Eucharist is a priceless treasure: by not only celebrating it but also by praying before it outside of Mass we are enabled to make contact with the wellsprings of grace. A Christian community desirous of contemplating the face of Christ…..cannot fail also to develop this aspect of Eucharistic worship, which prolongs and increases the fruits of our communion in the body and blood of the Lord."
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Stroke Support Group - Health Centre, Ballinasloe, 7-8pm
Meeting on 27th July: Topic, 'Crime prevention & your home'
Speaker: Garda Sgt Larry Shine

Offaly Co Childcare Committee Ltd
Currently organising Childcare Training Courses for Sept 2005.
See notice in Church porch for details.
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Breast Check - the National Breast Screening Programme
Will be inviting women aged 50-64 in Co Westmeath for their free breast X-ray during the months of July, August and September.
The mobile unit will be at St Vincent's Hospital, Athlone, and at St Mary's Hospital, Mullingar.
'If you have any queries call 1800-454555.'
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Summer Camp for Teenagers
This is being planned for the last week in July. A meeting will be held in Shannonbridge Hall on Mon eve, 18th July @ 8.30pm for all teenagers interested. An organiser from West Offaly Partnership will attend to discuss the possibilities. It is hoped that a good number will avail of this opportunity and attend the meeting.
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Sponsored Cycle Run
By Kate & Carey Thornhill, from Mizen Head to Malin Head in aid of Uganda Childcare from 18th to 25th July. Sponsorship forms are in local shops. Support appreciated!
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Athlone Institute of Technology
A Foundation / Access Course for adults wishing to return to education will begin at the AIT in Sept 2005. Call 090-6424593

Shannonbridge Fishing Report…. Dated 17th July 2005.

The weather continued sunny for most of the weak with just two days of slight overcast conditions. Temperatures were high and reached 30 C / 86 F at times. River level is low and all bank sides are fishable. Unfortunately there is a noticeable absence of anglers which is not helping fishing.

Mick Wright from Leicester completed his July holiday and fished the River Suck on the 11^th July in hot conditions and used the pole with maggot and caster to catch 9 Lb of roach, perch and hybrid. Patchy due to hot weather was his comment.

On 12^th July Mick fished the River Shannon and used the pole and maggot and caster to catch 8 Lbs of roach, hybrid and perch in hot conditions. He returned to The River Suck on the 13^th July and used pole, maggot, caster and seed in hot sunshine to catch 8 Lb of roach, hybrid and perch. Next day he again fished the River Suck with the same method in hot and cloudy conditions and had a mixed bag weighing 7 Lb.

On the 15^th July Mick spent his last day on the River Shannon in cloudy / hot conditions and again used the pole and maggot and caster to catch 8 Lb of roach, hybrid and perch.

Looking forward to his return in September as is his plan.

Colin and Nancy from Kent fished the River Shannon from 11^th to the 15^th July and had 20 Lb of mixed bags fishing with red maggot.

There was a large photograph on the Irish Independent yesterday of a group of people running on Croagh Patrick. Included was Cathal Creggs, brother of Michael Creggs. When I met Michael this morning he told me that it was a sponsored run up and down Croagh Patrick which was held to raise funds for Osteoporosis. But this gang did not just run up and down once. Over a period of 18 hours they ran up and down the mountain nine times. Beat that Saint Patrick. So far they have collected sponsorship of over 40,000 Euro but as they say on radio the lines are not yet closed. Contact Cathal or Michael .

Michael also told me that Betty and he have decided to place their popular two story four bed roomed self catering premises beside the Health Center in Shannonbridge on the market. The Auctioneers that have charge of the sale are Remak in Athlone. It has a guide price of 300,000 Euro and the contact person in Remak is Tina. Telephone 087-6527725.

This weekend Cary Thornhill joins up with his daughter Kate to cycle from Mizan Head to Malin Head in an effort to raise funds for the Uganda Orphanage where Kate worked voluntarily last year. They will be cycling from the southern point in Kerry to the northern point in Donegal. Watch out for them mid week and consider sponsoring them. Seems every Euro is worth ten in Uganda.

Best wishes to Father Paul Keane who is retiring. Father Keane has been ministering in Moore and Clonfad for about fifteen years and he retired on his 75^th birthday. He celebrated a God sent evening Mass every Sunday evening at 7 pm and last Sunday as he said farewell he told us that his replacement was also going to continue the Sunday evening Mass.

Heard that John Rosney of the ‘One to One’ group has been lucky in the scratch card business and recently appeared on The Winning Streak television programme where he won 37,000 Euros. The best of luck to him in his win.

Mary Burke told us that Kilroes of the Lockhouse were cousins of the Kilroes mentioned here recently.

Good to see Mike Winrow back fishing in Shannonbridge after a seven year break. He enjoyed a good ten days of fishing.

Another visiting angler Mick Wright was enquiring if we remembered Bob Cotterill and Len Scott who were constant visitors to Shannonbridge for years. Mick told us that about a month before he came over Len Scott’s daughter telephoned him to let him know that her Dad had died. May he rest in peace.

Ray Walshe from Clonlyon Belmont has temporarily stopped producing mushrooms and has started selling garden teak furniture including table’s chairs benches garden-lights and flower pots from his premises in Clonlyon and offers Free Delivery. Tel 086-8289982.

Wishing him luck on his new venture.

Attended a very enjoyable Mass of Thanksgiving for Canon Sean Cunney on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee in the Priesthood in The Hodson Bay Athlone and was delighted to meet the clan especially the San Diego representatives of Doug, Rita and Megan. Tried to write down Father Sean’s Grace but did not catch it all……………. Lord as You once Blessed the Loaves and the Fishes,

Lord Bless the Cooks and the Dishes,

And as … ?

The sudden death of Joe Flannery about ten days ago came as a shock. Joe or Little Joe lived in Banagher almost directly across from Hough’s Pub. He attended the Shannonharbour Barge Rally on July 3^rd and by midweek Mrs Hough noticed that his van had not moved. She phoned around and contacted the Gardai. He was found dead in the house and is buried in High Street.. May he rest in peace.

Val Joyce was giving out saints feast days on his radio program as is normal. I paid more attention when he mentioned Saint Killen’s feast day as July 1^st. By coincidence a letter and photographs arrived from a German couple who visited here and Clonmacnois in May and told that they were living very close to Wartburg where the cathedral there is dedicated to Saint Killen.

Shannonbridge Fishing Report…. Dated 11th July 2005

There was a mixture of weather this week with overcast and cloud dominating the early part of the week and some rain on Monday. As promised the sun broke through on Friday and Saturday and yesterday and today is sunshine all the way. Fishing with a pole paid dividends for three of the anglers. River level remains low.

Gary Bridgewater from the Shannon Coastguard fished the Hot Water on 7^th July and in overcast conditions he fished with a feeder using corn and red maggot. Starting at 7.30 am he caught two tench 4 Lb and 1.5 Lb, and 4.5 Lb of hybrid and perch in five hours which was very enjoyable. His friend Steve Vick from Gloucestershire had a 3 Lb mixed bag.

Mike Winrow from Herts and Chris Mather from Preston are frequent visitors to Shannonbridge and have completed a ten day visit. They fished Devenish twice. On 4^th July in wet and windy conditions Mike had 25 Lb of roach and perch using caster on a waggler with roach to one pound. Chris used a pole and feeder to catch 42 Lb of roach and hybrid and a 5 Lb pike.

On the 9^th July Mike had another 30 Lb plus bag of roach and hybrid on the feeder.

Chris fished Mackie’s on July 10^th and used the pole and feeder to catch 25 Lb of roach and hybrid and a 10 Lb pike. There was a lot of pike activity in Mickie’s backwater.

Ian Fox from Cambridge fished Shannonbridge on July 7^th in overcast conditions and used caster and waggler to catch 25 Lb of roach and hybrid. Roach to a pound.

Mick Wright from Leicester and Lou Brummitt from Boston are fishing together and using and using maggot caster and seed. They reckon that there are plenty of fish to be caught especially if it is windy and overcast. They have had many pike attacks.

On July 4^th on the River Suck both used the pole in the rain and wind. Les had 10 Lb of roach and Mick had 15 Lb of roach. Next day in the same swim in overcast conditions each had 20 Lb of roach and hybrid on the pole.

On July 6^th on the River Shannon Lou had 15 Lb of roach and hybrid using a pole maggot and seed while Mick had 20 Lb using pole caster and maggot.

On July 7^th they fished the Boathouse at Culliagh in fair weather and Lou had 20 Lb of roach on the pole using seed. Mick fished pole and caster and caught 25 Lb of roach.

Next day they fished Meelick in bright sunshine and Lou caught 8 Lb of roach on pole and seed. Mick had 4 Lb of roach on pole and caster.

On July 9^th they fished at Correen on the River Suck in bright sunlight. Lou had 20 Lb of roach and hybrid using the pole and seed while Mick caught 12 Lb of roach and hybrid on the pole and caster.

On July 10^th they fished the River Shannon in very hot sunshine and using long poles they laboured to catch 4 Lb of roach and hybrid each.

Paul Kendrick from Dudley West Midlands fished the Hot Water at Shannonbridge on July 4^th in overcast conditions using red maggot and worm on a feeder to catch a mixed bag of hybrid, rudd and perch in a weedy swim.

Next day at the Hot Water Paul caught 14 Lb of mixed including a 4 Lb tench and losing two good tench. Feeder snagging on a rocky bottom.

On July 6^th he fished the mouth of the River Brosna and used waggler/ red maggot and worm to catch 20 Lb which included a 4 Lb bream, a 6 Lb pike and hybrid.

On July 7^th he fished the Grand Canal in Tullamore in overcast conditions used the pole with red maggot and worm to catch a 7 Lb mixed bag that included a one pound hybrid.

On Friday and Sunday Paul fished the Shannon at Meelick. On Friday in sun and cloud he used feeder waggler red maggot and worm to catch 14 Lb of skimmers and hybrid to a pound. Found boats and speed boats were a nuisance.

On Sunday he fished the same swim in sunshine and used the same methods to catch 25 Lb of hybrid, bream and roach.

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 10th July 2005 - 15th Sun A
Tel (090) 9674125
Fax (090) 9674267
E-mail. Parishnewsletter@eircom.net

Shannonbridge
Masses: Each day @ 10am
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €440. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: A.Gunning, M.Kelly
Eucharistic ministers: Group 2
Readers for next Weekend: C.Higgins, E.Quinn
Altar Servers for this week: Katie, Mary -Anne, Tara,Ciara
Anniversary Mass for Jimmy Mooney on next Sat eve.
????
Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €186. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.Claffey, B.Coughlan
Readers for next Sunday: Cliodhna Norton
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group 4
Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: A.Rohan
Meeting of Hall Committee this Mon @ 9pm.

Blessing of Graves
We hope to have Mass with the blessing of graves in the ‘New Cemetery’ Clonmacnois on Fri 5th August @ 7pm
Stroke Support Group
Meeting on 27th July: Topic, 'Crime prevention & your home'
Speaker: Garda Sgt Larry Shine
????
Study Theology from Home
'We are offering a full programme of theology through distance learning, supported by a network of centres around the country. This programme has a 5-year span, but it also can be done at a gentler pace, and either for academic credit, or for its own sake. Call us for more information:'
The Priory Institute, Tallaght Village, Dublin 24
01-4048132 or 01-4048124
www.prioryinstitute.com
????
Summer Youth Festival at Knock
This Prayer Festival for young people aged 15-35 takes place at Knock Shrine from 28th - 31st July. An opportunity not to be missed to experience the Catholic Faith! The Theme is "I want to lavish my love on you."
Contact Ann on 094 9388100 (office hours) for information.
No charge - donations only. Special buses available from some locations. See poster in Porch. Website: www.youth2000.ie
????
Sponsored Cycle Run
By Kate & Carey Thornhill, from Mizen Head to Malin Head in aid of Uganda Childcare from 18th to 25th July. Sponsorship forms are in local shops. Support appreciated!
????
Athlone Institute of Technology
A Foundation / Access Course for adults wishing to return to education will begin at the AIT in Sept 2005. Call 090-6424593
????
West Offaly Partnership -- Meeting in Shannonbridge Hall @8pm onThurs next, 14th July with parents of young people, aged 8-11 & 12-15, to explore the possibility of providing a Summer Camp in Shannonbridge this summer.
????
Irish Cancer Society wishes to acknowledge receipt of €180, from a recent Church Gate Collection at Clonfanlough Church

GAA NEWS FROM PRO CONOR KILLEEN

Offaly SF Tournament

Shannonbridge 2-9
Erin Rovers 3-8

Shannonbridge will be disappointed with this defeat
from rivals Pullagh in the first round of this new
knockout Offaly Tournament Played in Shannonbridge on
Sunday last.

The Bridge got off to a great start when Jason Kelly
skipped by two Rovers defenders to plant the ball in
the top corner of the net.

Moments later Kelly grabed the ball to score a second.
Erin Rovers fought back and there was little between
the sides at the interval.

Shannonbridge will be concerned that they kicked nine
wides in the first half, and also the amount of basic
ball handling errors which will have consequences for
any team at Senior level.

Team, D Corbett, K Norton, T Mahon,W Kenna, D Turley,V
Darcy,K Flannery,M Carty,J Egan,R Browne, A Kelly,D
Finn, D Claffey,J Kelly, F MacEvoy Subs D Corbett, J
Killeen,C Killeen


SFC
The Bridge will travel to Killeigh to take on
Bracknagh in a crucial decider on Sunday evening next
at 6.30. Shannonbridge must win this game in order to
avoid relegation.

However if the Shannonsiders can win and other results
go our way the Bridge will still have a chance of
going back into a three way play off, to remain the
Championship.

The Club hope for a good support on the day from the
Parish.

Well Done
Shannonbridge GAA club wish to congratulate our
neighbouring,Roscommon GAA club Padraig pearces for
their great win in the U14 Feile na Peile competition
which was held in Limerick last weekend.

The Reds held of competition from Clare, Limerick and
Wicklow teams to win their Division title. The Stars
of the weekend were Niall Tumulty and John Ryan.

Shannonbridge Fishing Report 3rd July 2005

Weather during the week was mainly dry with the occasion shower and the bit of wind we got changing direction at times. River level remained low and the marker under the

village bridge has dropped below 2.4 metres.

Kevin Brocow from East Yorkshire fished the Hot Water stretch on 25 /6 /05 in overcast conditions using a stick float in the main flow with maggot and caster and loose feed tactics caught 33 Lbs of hybrid, roach, rudd and skimmer.

Simon Scott from Glenamaddy fished the River Suck on 26^th June and in warm overcast conditions used a feeder and a cocktail of maggot, caster and corn in brown crumb.

He caught a 60 Lb mixed bag of roach, hybrid and bream.

Richard Reeves from Calne has completed his holiday and on the 17^th June at Meelick in overcast conditions used a feeder and red maggot to catch 20 Lb of hybrid, roach and perch. Richard noted no small skimmers and asks are the bream not breeding.

Next day he had 17 Lb of roach and hybrid. He wants to know if all the new fish are hybrid.

On 20^th June Richard fished the Hot Water and caught eight bream to 2.5 Lb and a tench over 4 Lb. The bream were caught after dark.

On June 22^nd Richard again fished the Hot Water and caught three tench. Best 4.5 Lb.

He told us that he was broken five times that day while using braid line and an eight pound bottom.

Geoffrey Mottram and Cyril Cater from Boston Lincs were fishing the area for a week living on a cruiser. They fished the first day at Clonmacnois and Geoffrey caught a 6 Lb bream on his first cast. But it was roach after that.

They fished the River Suck for four days using red maggot and feeder and Geoffrey had

mixed bags weighing 25 Lb, 20 Lb, 30 Lb and 14 Lb. His biggest bream weighed 3 Lb.

He started fishing at 4 pm and found that the boat traffic has increased and that the pike attacks were a nuisance.

Cyril Cater fished alongside and had six roach to 1.5 Lb and a good hybrid at Clonmacnois. On the Suck Cyril had mixed bags of 12 Lb, 12 Lb, 20 Lb and six pounds of small roach on their last day the 29^th June. He was broke with pike on eleven occasions and his best bream was 3 Lb and his best hybrid weighed 2 Lb.

Bob Tilley fished the Grand Canal on 1^st July in overcast conditions and used a pole with red maggot to catch 60 Lb of bream and hybrid with one tench that weighed 6 Lb.

The Bristol man told us that it is best to fish the canal which has become well muddied up after passing boat traffic.

Nick Hyde and Marge Tinort from Headcorn in Kent fished the River Suck for a short time on 2^nd July in overcast and windy conditions.. Marge caught five perch on her first fishing holiday. Not bad she says. Nick caught 12 Lb of roach.

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 3rd July 2005 - 14th Sun A
Tel (090) 9674125
Fax (090) 9674267
E-mail. Parishnewsletter@eircom.net


Shannonbridge
Masses: Each day @ 10am
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €435. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: J.Kelly, A.Finnerty, T.Goldie
Eucharistic ministers: Group 1
Readers for next Weekend: S.Grennan, P.Corbett
Altar Servers: Darragh, Ruaidhrí, Michael, Ailbhe
Mass on next Sat eve for the Halloran family deceased

????
Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €220. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.Loonam, A.Egan
Readers for next Sunday: A.Coughlan
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group 3
Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: K.Kelly
Mass on next Sun for the late Kieran Kelly

We welcome into the Christian Community Dermot Hackett, son of Martina & Declan, Carrowkeel, who was baptised last weekend.
Blessing of Graves
We hope to have Mass with the blessing of graves in the ‘New Cemetery’ Clonmacnois on Fri 5th August @ 7pm
????
Stroke Support Group
Two meetings in July - in the Health Centre, Ballinasloe, 7-8pm.
First on 6th July: Topic, 'Driving after stroke'
Speaker: Barry Reid.
Second meeting on 27th July: Topic, 'Crime prevention & your home'
Speaker: Garda Sgt Larry Shine
????
Study Theology from Home
'We are offering a full programme of theology through distance learning, supported by a network of centres around the country. This programme has a 5-year span, but it also can be done at a more gentle pace, and either for academic credit, or for its own sake. Call us for more information:'
The Priory Institute, Tallaght Village, Dublin 24
01-4048132 or 01-4048124
www.prioryinstitute.com
????
Summer Youth Festival at Knock
This Prayer Festival for young people aged 15-35 takes place at Knock Shrine from 28th - 31st July. An opportunity not to be missed to experience the Catholic Faith! The Theme is "I want to lavish my love on you."
Contact Ann on 094 9388100 (office hours) for information and bookings.
No charge - donations only. Special buses available from some locations. See poster in Porch. Website: www.youth2000.ie
????
AGM Shannonbridge Library: Thurs 7th July, Health Centre, 9pm
????
Sponsored Cycle Run
By Kate & Carey Thornhill, from Mizen Head to Malin Head in aid of Uganda Childcare from 18th to 25th July. Sponsorship forms are in local shops. Support appreciated!

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 3rd July 2005 - 14th Sun A
Tel (090) 9674125
Fax (090) 9674267
E-mail. Parishnewsletter@eircom.net


Shannonbridge
Masses: Each day @ 10am
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €435. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: J.Kelly, A.Finnerty, T.Goldie
Eucharistic ministers: Group 1
Readers for next Weekend: S.Grennan, P.Corbett
Altar Servers: Darragh, Ruaidhrí, Michael, Ailbhe
Mass on next Sat eve for the Halloran family deceased

????
Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €220. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.Loonam, A.Egan
Readers for next Sunday: A.Coughlan
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group 3
Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: K.Kelly
Mass on next Sun for the late Kieran Kelly

We welcome into the Christian Community Dermot Hackett, son of Martina & Declan, Carrowkeel, who was baptised last weekend.
Blessing of Graves
We hope to have Mass with the blessing of graves in the ‘New Cemetery’ Clonmacnois on Fri 5th August @ 7pm
????
Stroke Support Group
Two meetings in July - in the Health Centre, Ballinasloe, 7-8pm.
First on 6th July: Topic, 'Driving after stroke'
Speaker: Barry Reid.
Second meeting on 27th July: Topic, 'Crime prevention & your home'
Speaker: Garda Sgt Larry Shine
????
Study Theology from Home
'We are offering a full programme of theology through distance learning, supported by a network of centres around the country. This programme has a 5-year span, but it also can be done at a more gentle pace, and either for academic credit, or for its own sake. Call us for more information:'
The Priory Institute, Tallaght Village, Dublin 24
01-4048132 or 01-4048124
www.prioryinstitute.com
????
Summer Youth Festival at Knock
This Prayer Festival for young people aged 15-35 takes place at Knock Shrine from 28th - 31st July. An opportunity not to be missed to experience the Catholic Faith! The Theme is "I want to lavish my love on you."
Contact Ann on 094 9388100 (office hours) for information and bookings.
No charge - donations only. Special buses available from some locations. See poster in Porch. Website: www.youth2000.ie
????
AGM Shannonbridge Library: Thurs 7th July, Health Centre, 9pm
????
Sponsored Cycle Run
By Kate & Carey Thornhill, from Mizen Head to Malin Head in aid of Uganda Childcare from 18th to 25th July. Sponsorship forms are in local shops. Support appreciated!

Shannonbridge Links With Father Kieran Kilroe

The Midland Tribune of 13 / 7 / 1957 contains an article on Father Kilroe by E.I. that goes like this –

Living Tradition

Father Kieran Kilroe was Parish Priest of Saint Mary’s Athlone a century ago when the building of the magnificent Gothic Church was commenced. His birth at Shannonbridge, in the parish of Clonmacnois, dates back a hundred and fifty years, and when one sets out to trace his parentage and background one is in the 1950’s and 1760’s, the period of the Hearts of Steel in the North, the Whiteboys in Munster, and the disgracefully hanging of Father Sheehy of Clogheen in the neighbouring county of Tipperary.

But despite the passage of decades and centuries there is in West Offaly a living tradition that seems to bridge the wide gap without effort. Recollection of that faraway period is vivid and accurate and one can follow the footsteps of the little boy born in ancient Rachra to his first school nearby, to the more pretentious educational establishment at Clonfad across the Shannon, where a lay teacher of the old Hedge School tradition taught Latin, and finally to fuller scholarship and the more exalting rank of the Priesthood.

The surname Kilroe belongs to Connaught. It is found in the royal O’Connor family, close akin to the O’Clerys and the O’Shaughnessys. The Christian name was got from the patron saint of the parish where his people had settled, and was, in his time, spelled Kyrn or Kieran. The Gaelic rendering was Ciaran. So that in his personal name the future Athlone pastor represented both sides of the Shannon. It is a fact worth noting that his own experience of the lay primary and classical schools at Rachra and Clonfad led him later to introduce that same Hedge Schoolmaster type of education into St. Mary’s parish, Athlone, and it was, in fact, the presence of such educational facilities that enabled the future Dr. Kilduff, who became a great Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois, to commence his studies there.

Home and Relatives

It is important that facts regarding Father Kilroe’s home and relatives should be placed on record. The home in which he was born does not now stand at Shannonbridge. It was situated in the area covered by the school grounds. A brother of his, William, lived to the age of 90 in the house where Mrs Hubbie Darcy now resides. A grand-nephew, Mr. Kieran Joe Kilroe, and a grand-niece, Miss Katie Kilroe, live just opposite the Church and Parochial House. But neither of these houses was the birthplace of Kieran, the future Rev. K..Kilroe , P.P. of St. Mary’s, Athlone. Miss McGrane of Cloghan is also a grand-niece. Great grand-nephews are Messrs, William, James and Patrick Byrne of Leharrow, and a great-grand-niece is Miss Kitty Byrne. This is not an exhaustive list of relatives, but it is sufficient; to show that the family of the good priest; who proved such a benefactor to Athlone, still holds an honourable place in the Shannon Valley.

It is obvious that there was a tradition of scholarships and culture among the Kilroes. The brother William, already referred to, was known by people still living as a recognised classical authority and as a kindly and respected old gentleman, in whom all the best of both Gaelic and Continental learning were happily united. A typical example of his studious and progressive habits may be quoted: when the musical arrangement known as Tonic Solfa was introduced he made a point of mastering its intricacies although he would have been considered well past the age for such an undertaking. Knowledge and self improvement, for their own were his high-minded objectives.

A Transport System

The Kilroe family were for generations associated with a transport system that was organised and perfected before most of those we read about began. They maintained what was known as a Carman’s Stage, and the fact that they owned a breed of horses built for speed would seem to indicate that as some period they ran a Posting Stage as well.

At that time goods were transported overland to and from the coast by horse-drawn cart, and, of course, some portions of the Shannon itself were used for water-transport. A genius for organisation was a requisite quality for a family with a part in such complex commercial undertakings. It is not to be wondered at that it was the son of such a progressive people who faced and carried out the gigantic task of erecting a great Church in a land that had been recently raked by famine and disease.

Now the least of the tributes paid to the character and qualities of Father Kieran Kilroe was that, although St. Mary’s, Athlone, was a Bishop’s parish with an Administrator, both before and after his time, yet from 1845 to his death, two successive bishops, Dr O’Higgins and Dr. Kilduff surrendered their claim there to him, and so he is remembered as the only Parish Priest to be appointed to the Parish of St. Mary. Shannonbridge and West Offaly salute his memory. End.

Note that Kieran Joe and Katie had a brother William or Bill who seems to have been omitted in the article .They had a sister Mai who was married to a Byrnes and lived in England. Rachel married a Keogh and lived in Dublin. One or possibly two other girls went to Australia and for a time Katie went to live with her niece in Sydney

The glorious weather enjoyed for the 34^th Shannon Harbour Canal Boat Rally continues today but the weathermen on the paper have a lot of \\\\\ for later today and the next three days with rain coming up from the south. Temperatures have been in the 70 F / 21 C and feel warmer at times. A group from Lowtown are paying their annual visit to Shannonbridge after the weekend in Shannon Harbour.They have a hired narrow boat from Lowtown and the crew includes 91 year old Murt Cronolly who is a third generation of bargemen or canal boat.Paddy Mc Grath also a bargeman and Nancy Lynch are part of the crew.

Frank Egan son of Sheila and the late Jimmy Egan of Aughnacabe and Athlone has died in Australia and will be buried there this week. He is survived by his wife Julie and children Aaron, Joel, Shane and Carol and brothers Michael and Padraig. May he rest in peace.

The annual Blessing of the Graves in Clonmacnois Cemetery will take place on the first Friday in August. More details on Bulletin later.

Heard today that the Tall Ships will visit Waterford from July 6 – 9^th. Estimated that ships valued at over 300 Million Euros are included.

Last Friday, Saturday and Monday nights the group U2 played to sell out concerts in Croke Park with the GAA receiving over two million for the venue and U2 earning over twenty million. Found myself thinking at Mass on Sunday if U2 were on the altar would the first three seats on each row be empty. Is there a difference between U2 and You Know Who ?.

Congratulations to John and Margaret Carty who have retired from their retail business in Dublin and to mark the occasion Margaret won the Jackpot in last night’s Shannonbridge / Doon Lotto draw which was worth 2,200 Euro.

Met two American groups yesterday who are enjoying a cruiser on the River Shannon. One group was from Philadelphia and operate a wholesale beer business and the other party were from Boston.

On Sunday night on the radio program Late Date Lilian Smith played a track from Louise Killeen’s CD and sent greetings to Mick Killeen and all in Shannonbridge. See where she has her own website and has sold a number of copies of the CD through that channel.

Was glad to hear that Padraig Harrington sunk the long putt on Sunday to win the golf competition in America and put him back in the Ton Ten.

The Shannonbridge Active Retirement Group are having a social in Shannonbridge Hall on Friday night July 1^st. They have invited members from some other Active Retirement Groups and plan to start proceedings with Mass in the Church at 8 pm and refreshments and entertainment and dancing and of course a super raffle in the Community Hall afterwards. There are talks of a day trip before September visiting local counties of Laois or Westmeath.

Looking forward to attending a celebration Mass in Athlone tomorrow marking fifty years in the Priesthood of Father Sean Cunney from Attymass and Scotland.

It is great weather for the bog and at this morning’s cup of tea after Mass some of the Active Retirement people were telling that there is now machinery available to turn the sods of turf and another to put it in rows when dried and yet another one to load it onto the trailer for transporting home. As one woman said “and after all that I have to get my bucket and carry it all into the kitchen “

My apologies in not replying to e-mails for three months as it was only last Saturday that I found the way to view them with a little help from a visiting angler.

Shannonbridge Fishing Report …27^th June 2005.

The sunny conditions for the week were not welcomed by the handful of visiting anglers.

The river level has continued to drop and is 2.3 Metres on the measuring scale at the village bridge today. On Thursday a light wind ruffled the surface and more fish were caught.

Neil Davis who has retired to Spain fished Bullock Island on 20 /6 /05 for four hours and was very happy catching ten pounds of roach and rudd with floating maggots. He moved to the River Suck later and had five pounds of roach rudd and perch in three hours.

Dave Feeley from Biggleswade and his eleven year old daughter Kathleen have just completed their holiday. On the 19^th June at Ragherabeg they caught 29 Lbs of roach, skimmer bream perch and hybrids using red maggot in sun with a slight breeze.

Kathleen had a tench weighing 3.5 Lbs from the Grand Canal on 21^st June.The next two days on the Grand Canal using maggot and sweetcorn they had non stop fish for five hours and the harder the wind blew the more they caught. Catch included eel, roach, rudd, bream and hybrid and one roach weighed 2 Lb 1 Oz. .Russ Hinchcliffe and Matt Harris from Cheshire fished on the River Suck on 20^th June and using maggot on the feeder they had a 60 Lbs mixed bag of bream , tench, hybrids, roach, perch, rudd and pike in warm conditions.

Bob Tilley and Kevin Boltz from Bristol have just arrived and on 24^th June they fished the Grand Canal using red maggot on the pole and Bob had 27 Lbs of bream and hybrid.

Bream to 2.5 Lbs. Kevin had 15 Lbs of roach and small skimmers. They found that the fishing improved greatly after some boats had passed through and clouded the water.

Next day Kevin had 34 Lbs of bream and hybrids in the same swim and one tench that weighed 3 Lb. The heaviest bream also weighed 3 Lbs.

Brothers Rob and Mike Peake from Kent had a plan to night fish one of their favoured swims on Lough Ree. The first night Rob caught four hybrid and Mick caught three perch. The next night fished very poor and they changed to early morning fishing.

Rob had a best bag of 20 Lb of mixed fish from the River Brosna and Mick Peake had a best bag of 25 Lbs also from the Brosna. They used corn, worm and maggot on the feeder.

Richard Reeves from Calne finishes his holiday on Wednesday. On Saturday he fished the Hot Water outlet and used braid line and an eight pound bottom fishing for tench and was snapped off five times when hooked in a fish.

Local anglers Dara Moran and Declan Price went trolling in a boat yesterday for pike and were happy to catch five decent fish which were returned alive.

Just arrived is Geoffrey Motron from Boston Lincolnshire and fished the River Suck yesterday catching 20 Lb of bits. This year he is without his friend Terry Dawson. Some years ago they hired a cruiser and fished the River Suck on their first evening. Next day the moved upstream on the River Shannon above Devenish and they caught Hybrids that they did not believe existed. Geoffrey is returning to that swim today and has promised to let us know how he fares out.

The Shannonbridge Active Retirement Group had a day visit to Kilkenny City last week. The thirty seater bus was almost full and the group boarded after Mass which was celebrated at 9 pm that morning. Joe Cleary and his guitar joined us at Birr and soon everyone was singing as we journeyed towards Durrow where a stop for tea and scones had been arranged with the Durrow Arms. Back on the bus and Joe struck up the guitar and soon Kilkenny was in sight. The bus parked outside Kilkenny Castle which has the Kilkenny Design Center as its neighbour across the street. A novel double Decker bus with an open top was offering a see the sights trip for ten Euro and about ten of the group availed of this. It had a lady driver who also gave a commentary as the bus travelled around and she told us the history of Kilkenny and pointed out the castle, churches, Smithwicks Brewery , various bridges on The River Nore and the outline of the city walls. A number of important historical buildings were named.

After the tour many had a look around the Design Center and we were pleased to find a display of Shannonbridge Pottery on display. There was a very fine food outlet attached to the center. Some of us went our own way .To see the Kilkenny Castle one had to queue

And so BC and myself had a look around the fine well kept garden and at some extension areas of the Design Center where a number of trades were alive and active.

The group had arranged to meet in Langtons Hotel for dinner at 6pm and we went in search of Langtons early and found it. After a drink in the open air beer garden with smokers in mind we exited through the car park and caught sight of the Catholic Church with its peculiar short square shaped bell tower. The tour guide had pointed it out on the bus trip and told us that there were two tales as to why the pinnacle was not placed on the tower. First was that the foundation was not suitable and the second one was a shortage of funds. We visited the church which has some lovely marble and stone work and statues and a fine set of Stations of The Cross. Beside the entrance door inside is a chapel of perpetual adoration.

Kilkenny is home to Denny Hayes who lived in Shannonbridge while working for the Forestry Department many years ago. Mick and Mary walked out to his house to meet him but he was away in Cork for a few days. The weather was fine and sunny and nobody needed an overcoat or umbrella all day. After a fine meal in Langtons the whole party adjourned to a room where Joe Cleary played a vast range of songs until 10pm.

There was a great sing song and dancing and a number of tourists looked in and one group joined the party.

Back on the bus and more songs and this time it was a direct drive arriving home before the bewitching hour.

There is talk of another trip during the summer and if interested contact Pat Keoghane or Kieran Kelly.

Oliver Darcy was telling us that his sister Mary Anne Lyons from Kilcock celebrated her 95^th birthday this week. Congratulations and may she celebrate many more of them.

Tony Ellis arrived yesterday with his Uncle and Aunt and their daughter and her husband from England who are visiting Ireland for the first time. Tony was taking them to Clonmacnois for a visit and Mick offered them a trip by river which they accepted. I volunteered for the trip and it was a lovely sunny day with a little breeze keeping a wave on the water and of course both combined to give a good suntan. Tony’s Uncle told us that he was one of the youngest of a family of ten and grew up in Derbyshire. At fourteen he went working in the coal mines and he retired at 55 years. He has a great interest in birds and plants and enjoyed all the information about the Callows on display at the Clonmacnois Visitor Center.

Some American friends of Jim Killeen in Chicago arrived last evening and stayed overnight to enjoy Frankie Mc Donald and his brother Johnny who provided the music in Killeens last night. Mick was all prepared to take the visitors for a trip on the river but they had to set out early for a Dublin appointment. They promised to stop off at Clonmacnois and take a guided tour on their way.

Had a warning phone call from Peter Jordan that he and his friend Peter will be visiting Shannonbridge for a weekend in three weeks time. You remember the two Peters don’t you?.

Was showing an Irish Times reader offer to John and Shannon that was offering a Ladybird Tower for 19.95 Euros and a starter pack of 25 Ladybirds for 29.95 Euros plus P&P. John said that in America they buy them by the quarter kilo. They are reputed to be great controllers of Green Fly.

Brian of the Barge has been keeping me updated on river levels daily and the level has dropped over a meter in the past couple of weeks. Noticed on the trip to Clonmacnois yesterday that many swans were sitting out on the grass and we only noticed one pair of swans with four youngsters.

Eileen Mc Manus from Clonburren was telling on Sunday morning that a few days before she went out the back of the house and found four of her full grown ducks dead. She believes a wild mink killed them. When I told Brian O Meara of the Barge about this on Monday he told that he saw a mink with her five babies swimming across The Cut and climbing onto a tree on Moran’s Island. These wild mink are causing a lot of harm to fish and bird life and if they kill mature duck what chance have Corncrake and wild duck etc have in their path.

The contact telephone number for Barney Finlay Auctioneers is 090-6475994 and www.propertypartners.ie Martins Pub auction date is 27^th July.

Someone was telling us the other day that the late William or Sonnie Keena married Eileen Wynne on June 6^th 1944 at 7.00 AM in Tullamore Church and had their breakfast in Bolger’s Hotel afterwards. Mrs Bolger asked Mrs Keena if she would like a drink as she was now entitled to have one as she was married. Sonnie, Lottie and Jimmy Flannery and the bridal party cycled nearly thirty miles to Tullamore that morning and when all was complete they cycled home a different way through Doon.

Jimmy Flannery was Best man and Lottie Darcy was Bridesmaid.

Mrs Keena was from Arigna and worked in Kelly’s Chip Shop in Tullamore.

How did they meet? Sonnie Keena was in Tullamore Hospital for a number of weeks and Mrs Kelly who was a sister of Jimmy and Pat Flannery from Crevagh knew Sonnie and several times a week used to send Eileen to the hospital with some decent food as hospital food left room for improvements. So it started and not to long after leaving hospital Sonnie and Jimmy and Lottie and friends were taking an early cycle trip to Tullamore.

Had an enjoyable chat with Padraic Turley and his wife at the weekend. Padraic is a nephew of the late Joe Claffey from Clerhane and has just retired from the Law game.

Hope to get to have more get togethers with them when they come to stay in the village for three weeks in August.