‘A drama for the Aran islands'
Indeed, the Aran drama, if that is the appropriate word, continues. Since the 1970s, the islands have been served by small “fixed-wing” aircraft from Connemara Airport. The airport is in Inverin, west of Galway, not far from the port of Rossaveal, where boats depart for the islands.
When Joe McHugh, Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs, announced that the tender for the new air service to the islands was to go to Executive Helicopters, flying out of Galway Airport, northeast of the city, the islanders were very upset. It was not their preference to fly routinely in helicopters instead of fixed-wing aircraft. They did not want to travel the extra 50km to Galway city. There was also concern about noise pollution: helicopters make far more noise taking off and landing than fixed-wing aircraft.
McHugh pleaded for more time to resolve the impasse. And then, earlier this week, it seemed the mess was moving closer to resolution as a reprieve for the fixed-wing air service to the islands moved a step closer following talks between Aer Arann and the department. The department has asked the airline to extend its contract, which ended at midnight on Wednesday.
‘Bible will be in the news with new evidence’
In fact, this is a prediction for October, not September. But allow me to digress for a moment. Towards the end of September I received a phone call.
“It’s you who writes the Old Moore column, isn’t it?” the conversation began. It was a man, and I wondered if it was Old Moore himself (please do call some day, Old Mr Moore). But no, it was a reader, who drew my attention to the fact that among October’s predictions was: “Bible will be in the news with new evidence.”
“Yes?” I said.
Mr Caller then gave me a very long web address that included the number 666.
“The number of the devil,” I said, as nearby colleagues stared with interest.
"Ah yes. The devil," says Mr Caller. I typed in the website address as he was speaking. Perhaps it is our firewall at The Irish Times that prevents mention of devils popping up on our screens, but I am sorry to report that the message "website suspended" came up, at about the same time Mr Caller put the phone down. So there you have it. Watch out for Bible news.
‘Flying cars will be more visible’
Well, I don't know if Old Moore was at the gin when he wrote this particular prediction. More visible? How many flying cars have you seen lately, reader? I don't know about you, but the only flying car I've ever seen in my life was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in the movie of the same name. And we all know that wasn't actually flying.
‘Euro zone has debt crisis’
This is a story that has not gone away all year. In September, Greece voted Syriza back in to power, as that country continues to seesaw its way through a horrible scenario of debt that has affected the entire euro zone.
‘Jennifer Aniston wants a baby’
Old Moore, as I’ve pointed out before, seems exceptionally interested in women and their fertility. What about her husband, Justin Theroux? Why not write “Justin Theroux wants a baby”? Sigh.
NO IRISH OR RELIGION AT SCHOOL? OCTOBER PREDICTIONS
Ireland
- Talk about dropping religion from the school curriculum.
- Talk about making the Irish language non-compulsory in schools.
- Irish drivers in the news, with new charges to pay.
World
- Oil prices and natural gas prices go up again.
- Space real estate in the news and we realise we have no laws to cover this new frontier. Enter a new type of lawyer: the celestial solicitor.
- Russian economic woes. Vladimir Putin experiences illness.
- News about the missing Malaysian plane, which may have a Hawaii connection.
- More sinkholes.
- Lower drinking age in the US to match other western countries.
- Bitcoin improves the way it operates, making it more secure and giving users more confidence.
- Pork contamination makes the news.
- George P Bush rises; his grandfather, George HW Bush passes.
- Fires in California, and another earthquake.
- Wild storms for Florida.
- Aids, multiple sclerosis and breast cancer breakthroughs.
- Good news financially for Indonesia and the Philippines.
- Trouble for many South American countries.
- European countries have many spats with each other.
- Murdoch is in the news.
- Harry Styles is also in the news. A lot.
- Bible is in the news with new evidence.
