Papers Today

// Poor weather delays Rathlin's online party

The forecast of gale force winds postponed an historic event on Rathlin which would have made Marconi proud. Celebrations involving the island's schoolchildren were scheduled on Friday to mark the latest technological move aimed at bringing the Province's only inhabited isle out of isolation - Broadband. A prediction of severely inclement weather, however, forced organisers, British Telecom, to cancel the plans at the last minute. It is understood, the celebrations may now have to wait as long as next spring in the interests of the safe passage of guests. Among the events planned was a web link between Rathlin primary pupils and students in Methody College, Belfast, aimed at demonstrating Broadband's versatility and speed. A spokeswoman for BT said: "Rathlin was enabled at the end of August/beginning of September, the event was being held to mark that. "We don't know when it will be now - we'll just have to play with the weather." While they'll have to wait to put up the streamers and balloons, the island youngsters and their families are already enjoying the advantages. It's yet another telecommunications milestone reached by the often inaccessible island. Some 106 years before, Guglielmo Marconi sent the world's first commercial signal there from Ballycastle. Welcoming the extension of further services to Rathlin, DUP MLA Mervyn Storey said: "This is yet another positive development for the residents. "The fact that the island is remote and frequently at the mercy of the weather is all the more reason for hi-technology to be advanced there with all possible haste".
(c) News Letter

The forecast of gale force winds postponed an historic event on Rathlin which would have made Marconi proud. Celebrations involving the island's schoolchildren were scheduled on Friday to mark the latest technological move aimed at bringing the Province's only inhabited isle out of isolation - Broadband. A prediction of severely inclement weather, however, forced organisers, British Telecom, to cancel the plans at the last minute. It is understood, the celebrations may now have to wait as long as next spring in the interests of the safe passage of guests. Among the events planned was a web link between Rathlin primary pupils and students in Methody College, Belfast, aimed at demonstrating Broadband's versatility and speed. A spokeswoman for BT said: "Rathlin was enabled at the end of August/beginning of September, the event was being held to mark that. "We don't know when it will be now - we'll just have to play with the weather." While they'll have to wait to put up the streamers and balloons, the island youngsters and their families are already enjoying the advantages. It's yet another telecommunications milestone reached by the often inaccessible island. Some 106 years before, Guglielmo Marconi sent the world's first commercial signal there from Ballycastle. Welcoming the extension of further services to Rathlin, DUP MLA Mervyn Storey said: "This is yet another positive development for the residents. "The fact that the island is remote and frequently at the mercy of the weather is all the more reason for hi-technology to be advanced there with all possible haste". (c) News Letter