A special service to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the opening of Achill's house of prayer got the go-ahead from Mayo County Council yesterday after initially being told it had failed to seek a necessary licence.
Up to 4,000 people are expected in Achill Sound today for the prayer event.
There was outrage among business people and hoteliers in Achill on Monday when it was realised that Mayo County Council had threatened the house of prayer with court action to prevent its two planned open days on July 16th and July 25th.
Initially the council said that the house of prayer organisers had failed to seek a licence necessary to hold an event expecting such a huge gathering under Section 233 of the Planning Act.
The controversial and popular house of prayer was set up in the old convent in Achill Sound in July 1993 by a Co Mayo housewife, Ms Christina Gallagher, who claims she is visited by Our Lady and is given messages from her for the people of Ireland. Local Independent TD Dr Jerry Cowley said action by the council in issuing the warning to the house of prayer came as a bolt from the blue.
"We were not expecting this. The anniversary celebrations at the house of prayer has over the last decade attracted thousands of visitors from around the country and overseas, and the house of prayer had never required a licence."
Dr Crowley called on the council to reconsider its decision, saying it would be a disaster for the island.
The county council secretary, Mr John Condon, said yesterday that the local authority was dealing with the house of prayer organisers in the same way that it dealt with the organisers of any event where a large crowd was expected.
Nonetheless, the local authority agreed at lunchtime yesterday that it would allow today's anniversary celebration to go ahead.
The local authority will monitor the situation, and then decide whether the second open day on July 25th will be allowed to go ahead.
A spokesperson at the house of prayer said they were delighted to work with the local authority to ensure that both events could go ahead.
"We had never heard of a Section 233 until last Friday evening.
"We had, however, as usual, contacted Mayo County council, the Garda and Civil Defence about both dates several weeks ago."