Website claims visionary ‘foresaw’ Sept. 11th
Christina Gallagher, Achill-based visionary, claims that she predicted exactly 2 years before it occurred the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New York. In an American-based Internet website Mr. Dan Lynch, Director of a US-based religious organisation, recalled the day that Mrs. Gallagher personally confirmed to him that she ‘prophesied’ the destruction of New York’s famous landmark. Mr Lynch hopes to mark the first anniversary of the terrorist attack by going to the House of Prayer in Achill on Sept. 11th next with some American pilgrims. $1,895 is the price quoted for the all-inclusive trip. In an attempt to raise funds for the House of Prayer, the Christina Gallagher website offers American pilgrims a veritable shopping trolley of religious goods. The website is also seeking donations to fund the replacement of windows in the House of Prayer as apparently requested by Our Lady. Donors’ names will be included in a ‘special book’ as requested by Our Lady.

Westport pub stand-off prompts crisis meeting
A meeting is held in Portlaoise today (Wednesday) in an attempt to resolve the dispute regarding Traveller access to pubs in Westport. Publicans feel this move was forced upon them after a number of incidents in recent weeks. This row is ongoing since the introduction of equality legislation. Westport publicans were keen to emphasise that their refusal not to serve travellers, which has now been in force since a mass meeting last week, was still in place. A report in a daily tabloid last Saturday suggested that travellers were served in five out of six pubs. Chris Lavelle of Westport VHI stated that a number of publicans expressed fear as they felt they were being held hostage in their own pubs. "We know the problem with regard to decent law-abiding travellers not being served has to be addressed but these are issues that will be raised at the national meeting and the views of our colleagues nationwide will be expressed".

Chamber welcomes DSL technology for Westport
Westport Chamber of Commerce welcomes the announcement by Eircom of DSL technology for Westport to commence next October. The service will be available to all business and residential customers in Westport ‘whose copper line is within the specification requirements for DSL". DSL is a form of broadband electronic communications and it can carry data at speeds ranging from about 35 to 200 times faster than existing standard lines. The main disadvantage is that DSL usually only works up to 4 km from the telephone exchange and quality depends on the condition of the copper wire.