THE people of Achill Island, Co Mayo, have rallied to the support of self proclaimed visionary, Ms Christina Gallagher, and her controversial House of Prayer, which is attracting up to 10,000 pilgrims a year from all over the world.
At an impromptu public meeting last week, 70 local people voted unanimously to fight to retain Ms Gallagher in the area despite opposition from a small number of parties.
The Catholic Church has yet to return a verdict on its inquiry into Ms Gallagher, who claims to speak regularly with the Virgin Mary and who is allegedly displaying the first signs of stigmata.
Her House of Prayer, which was set up three years ago on what was formerly a convent, has become the biggest tourist attraction on Achill Island and locals capitalising on the unprecedented business boom are unashamedly candid in welcoming this religious phenomenon.
"Apart from the spiritual end, we must acknowledge the commercial aspect. What type of money would it take for the Government or any tourist agency to advertise this area the way the House of Prayer has?" said Mr Chris Connaughton, proprietor of the Achill Sound Hotel and organiser of the public meeting.
"People have come here in the last three years from places like the Philippines and Kentucky. They would never have heard to Achill if it wasn't for Christina Gallagher."
Guesthouse owner Ms Sheila McHugh, who chaired the meeting, acknowledged the rights of objectors, who have been complaining about parking problems, difficulty of access to private roadways and noise pollution caused by all night vigils and public address loudspeakers outside the small chapel.
"But the House of Prayer has benefited this area and the whole of Achill Island, as these people come back again on holidays, This is something very special to the area and if it is worth keeping, people will have to make a commitment to fight for it and to make it work," she said.
A local resident, Mr Michael Masterson, who claimed he knew of two cures arising from the House of Prayer, praised the spiritual aspect of the establishment.
"I have been going there for seven to eight months and it is a lovely place to go and pray. It is small and very conducive to prayer.
"I believe in Christina Gallagher and I think, apart from the business it brings, it is a good thing for the island and I think people who go there would be very unhappy to lose it," he said.
Achill Sound residents have set up a six member committee to publicise the House of Prayer.