Galway publicans seem set to join their Kerry counterparts in defying the smoking ban which is due to come in on January 1st, writes Lorna Siggins.
Galway City and County vintners are due to meet next Monday to discuss the issue, but it is expected that they may vote to take similar action to that in Kerry.
Cllr Val Hanley, an executive member of the Vintners Federation of Ireland and chairman of the Western Health Board, said yesterday that the mood among publicans throughout the county was "militant".
He said this was due to the failure by the Minister for Health to consult fully with the industry.
Cllr Hanley said he was in favour of the smoking ban but felt it should be phased in over four to five years.
Omagh relative's 'surprise' at talks
Some Omagh families have been "surprised" that a father of a 12-year-old schoolboy killed in the Omagh bombing met the political wing of the "Real IRA", according to Mr Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan died in the explosion.
Mr Victor Barker, whose son James died in the blast, confirmed yesterday that he met members of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement in an attempt to persuade the "Real IRA" to give up violence.
The meeting was his own initiative and the other Omagh families were not involved.
"By meeting the 32 County Sovereignty Movement, I was not in any way legitimising the 'Real IRA's' campaign," he said.
"I went there to help them understand what they did to James and other victims and to urge them to choose a path away from violence. We gave an undertaking on both sides that the meeting would remain confidential, although I am not naive enough to think that it would never, ever come to light," said Mr Barker.
Mr Michael Gallagher, however, said he saw little point in such meetings because if the "Real IRA" was ever to be amenable to pleas to end violence they would have permanently heeded such appeals made directly after the Omagh bombing.
Fermanagh cashes in on Tyrone win
Although Fermanagh is one of only three of the nine Ulster counties not to have won the Sam Maguire Cup, it has not stopped the lakeland county cashing in on last week's Tyrone success.
The world-famous Beleek Pottery has hit the jackpot again with the production of replicas of the famous cup and they are selling "like the proverbial hot cakes".
The Fermanagh-based pottery first came up with the idea 15 years ago when local club Erne Gaels ordered a commissioned replica for fund-raising purposes but Beleek's head of design, Fergus Cleary, decided that the first ever all-Ulster All-Ireland Final was "the perfect time to bring it back".
The firm has been overwhelmed with orders for the piece, which retails at £60 sterling, around €80.
Mr Cleary said "we are delighted with the way it has taken off since going on sale last Monday. It's too early to have an exact figure sold so far.
"As you can imagine for the first day or so last week most Tyrone people were not really awake but a lot of offers have now been placed mostly from Tyrone.
"We have initially made 250 but we plan to double that number."