Father Tom Cox wrote in The Longford Leader of the joke about "Irish Alzheimer's" - forgetting everything but grudges. Forgiving and forgetting is essential following what the Midland Tribune described as "gigantic leap forward" in the North.
"It now remains to be seen how sworn enemies such as Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness can work in harmony for the good of Northern Ireland . . . pressure must be maintained on the IRA and Sinn Fein to ensure that their part of the deal is fulfilled, i.e., decommissioning," it urged.
The Kerryman stated that "the people of this country, North and South, voted overwhelmingly to endorse the Belfast Agreement . . . No armed terrorist group has the right to challenge the clearly expressed instructions of the people of Ireland. And if such a terrorist challenge were to emerge, it should be countered with determination by security forces throughout the island."
With the support of the Orange Order, Drogheda will boast "one of this island's most symbolic North-South reconciliation initiatives" in the form of a £13 million interpretative centre on the banks of the Boyne.
The Drogheda Independent said the project was boosted last week by the historic formation of the Northern Executive, by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the National Millennium Committee. It will focus on events leading up to and following the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.
The Argus predicted that "the skies over Carlingford Lough will be alight with a major sound and lighting extravaganza this millennium eve, which will culminate in a symbolic `Bridge of Peace' . . . In what will be a dynamic display of light and sound to symbolise the hope that people on both sides of the Border have for peace in the future, an extraordinary laser exhibition will create the illusion of a bridge of light between the Cooley and Mourne mountains which will be visible from Dundalk and beyond."
The Midland Tribune described the opening of the Cloghan Millennium Garden, while the Westmeath Examiner forecast a "symbolic peace and light public ceremony to usher in the new millennium" in Mullingar.
The Westmeath Examiner also suggested a more practical action, arguing in favour of a "melting pot" society. "Doesn't it seem blindingly obvious that if we have, on the one hand, plenty of job openings and a lack of manpower to fill them, and on the other hand an influx of `illegal' immigrants/ refugees looking for work and a new life, that bingo, we have a potential solution to a very serious problem?
"You could arguably call it a win-win situation: visas for the refugees to work here, and a chance for us to consolidate and build upon our economic growth even further."
The immigration issue provoked "angry exchanges" in Clare, where the Clare Champion reported that Fianna Fail blocked a debate on alleged "racism" in the planning process.
"Accusations of `unethical, undemocratic and unprecedented' behaviour were levelled at the Clare Fianna Fail machine this week after its decision to block any debate on the alleged `racism' and `apartheid' clauses contained in the Draft County Development Plan," it stated.
Fianna Fail used its council majority to vote down a Fine Gael and Independent-sponsored motion for an "open, honest and transparent debate" on the controversial proposal to prevent "non-indigenous" members of the community from building houses in certain parts of the county.
Pickets are being threatened by opponents of a "raunchy all-male strip show" being staged to pay for the Christmas lights in Rathkeale, according to the Limerick Leader. "Hundreds of women have already bought tickets for the raunchy act which is prepared to go for `the full monty' . . . The act is so hot that the strippers have been banned from a venue in Dublin's anything-goes Temple Bar area," it added.
Writing to the Kerryman from Edinburgh, Annabel Griffin complained that on a recent visit home to south-west Kerry, she was "appalled at how the countryside has been ruined by `plain Jane' bungalows covered in native stone.
"It brought to mind the Black '47 Famine Year! You would think one was going back in time rather than entering the 21st century. "Why is it that one is obliged to put a third layer of unnecessary stone to a bungalow which, although costing dearly, adds nothing to its value or looks? . . . The next step will be to insist that houses have grass and mud on the roofs and walls."