By Peg Prendeville

What a difference in temperatures we have experienced in the past week. On Saturday evening I almost got sunburned sitting out the back and on Sunday I nearly froze bringing in a bucket of turf!

The Knockdown area is in total shock at the news of Siobhan Shanahan’s death due to a road accident on Friday last near Adare. Siobhán and Patrick Shanahan only got four years of married life together and had recently bought a house near Adare. Siobhán worked initially as a ward sister in ICU and progressed to become the Organ Donation manager for the Mid West region and helped many families to receive an organ in the last six years. She was very proud of those families that donated and she got great work satisfaction in her career. So it was very poignant that her own organs have been donated. The last time I spoke to Patrick was just before Christmas when he told me that Siobhán’s Dad, Mossie Brosnan from Ballybunion, was after dying. Patrick’s own mother died when Patrick was a very young child so it’s so tragic that this happens now. Sincere sympathies to Patrick and all the Shanahan’s and Brosnan’s. May Siobhán rest in peace.

Siobhán & Patrick Shanahan on their wedding day in 2017

I send Get Well wishes for a speedy recovery to Liam Long, Knockdown who is recovering in a Dublin hospital from a hip operation following an accident. It seems like nothing but bad news in Knockdown at the moment.