The regional newspapers went international this week with several giving front-page prominence to the events in New York and Washington. The Kerryman devotes its entire front page to the news from the United States. A local angle is headlined: "At least 20 Irish people are dead" side by side with another headline: "Dick's cousin has lucky escape" to a report that a relation of Dick Spring was safe after an anxious wait by relatives in Tralee.
The Fermanagh Herald carries the headline: "Exiles witness New York carnage." The Drogheda Independent reports: "A young Drogheda woman (Grainne Coogan) has given a dramatic and tearful account of how she saw a jet being crashed into one of the World Trade Centre's twin towers in Tuesday's terror attack in New York."
The Donegal Democrat also gives its entire front page to the news: "A terrible way to die. Donegal people speak of New York outrage." Page two is also given over to the event including its editorial comment: "This was fiction in real time, a blockbuster literally comes to life. But there are none of the consolations of fiction, no evading the horrendous consequences in terms of the loss of human life, the great damage inflicted in so many ways and the sense that the world has become a more dangerous and more uncertain place."
One of several reports says: "The Commanding Officer of the 41st Precinct Police Station Fort Apache, The Bronx, Ballybofey native Capt Paul McCormack described Tuesday's atrocity as `a cowardly act' and felt the people would shortly demand `a ferocious response'."
The Echo and South Leinster Advertiser reports: "Wexford families caught up in US horror." A front-page colour picture shows: "Americans in Enniscorthy watch in horror as the tragic events unfold".
The Corkman says: "Cork people were shocked by the news that Cork woman Ruth Clifford McCourt, living in Connecticut for the past three years, and her four-year-old daughter perished on one of the hijacked planes that hit the World Trade Centre."
THE Kilkenny People has a banner headline: "Death Cheated" over a report by Sean Keane which says: "A Kilkenny group stared death in the face yesterday when a terrorist plane circled overhead and smashed into the nearby Pentagon. The board of Glanbia Plc were about to start a tour of the seat of US power when the Boeing 757 came into view. The Kilkenny group were ushered out of the White House grounds."
The Anglo-Celt also gives front-page prominence with the headline: "World rocked by US catastrophe." A Cavan-born construction worker in New York is quoted: "We were working on this big penthouse apartment and we saw the plane pass our window heading for it (the Trade centre). We thought the pilot had taken a heart attack and we then saw him go through it."
Under the headline "Massacre in Manhattan", Brenda Joy reports: "Kerry emigrant, Pete Kiely, miraculously cheated death as the second hijacked plane slammed into his 55th-floor office in the World Trade Centre. The Tarbert man, a brother of Senator Dan Kiely, was one of hundreds who streamed down the stairs to escape the attack."
The Argus reports: "An eerie sense of calm after the holocaust" and a headline: "Council opens book of condolences at town hall." The Sligo Champion also gives prominence on its front page to the attacks and reports the opening of books of condolences by the county council and the corporation.
The Bray People opened its own book of condolences with a headline and colour picture of the inferno over a report which says: "The biggest terrorist attack the world has seen has united anguished families across Co Wicklow as they waited desperately for news that loved ones living in the shadow of the twin towers of the World Trade Centre were safe."
The Munster Express carries a front-page editorial which declares: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of New York and the United States as the world struggles to comprehend the unparalleled events that have taken the lives of possibly thousands of victims."
Several papers went to press with reports that many people were anxiously awaiting news of friends and relatives who were either working in the disaster areas or were on holiday there.
OTHER events were overshadowed by the attacks in the US, but the Nationalist and Munster Advertiser gave due prominence to Tipperary's victory in the All-Ireland hurling final. Its front page was dominated by a colour picture of the players, led by their captain Tommy Dunne, celebrating with the Liam McCarthy Cup on the pitch at Croke Park.
The Nenagh Guardian also gives front-page treatment to the victory as Gerry Slevin and Peter Gleeson report: "The hunger for an All-Ireland victory in Tipperary is graphically illustrated as tens of thousands of fans all over the county lay down the red carpet for their victorious team."
The Laois Nationalist topped its front page with the story that: "The cancellation of this year's national ploughing championship will cost Laois millions of pounds in lost revenue. "Apart from the potential financial loss to the likes of hotels, guest houses, restaurants, bars and shops, many of these have already spent money gearing up for the event."