One More Thing:The people of Athlone will be bathing in a warm glow this weekend after soothing comments made by UUP eminence John Taylor in the town.

Taylor, who now prefers his Lord Kilclooney moniker, was addressing the Old Athlone Society on Thursday.

"I love Athlone," enthused Taylor, who owns the Athlone Voice newspaper in the town and has established a production centre there. He spoke of the town's beautiful location, its history and its welcome and even managed to squeeze in a reference to the midland centre's latest pride and joy: its new shopping centre.

And it didn't stop with Athlone. Taylor was also feeling more than positive about the Republic as a whole. He spoke of ways the economies of North and South are coming together: agriculture, fisheries, travel, defence and pointed to a "maturity" in the relationship between the two.

The rugby international at Croke Park was a highlight, he said, looking ahead with glee to a possible visit of the Queen of England to the Republic. So far, so gushy.

Lest we become too complacent, however, Taylor is still harbouring some concerns about the welfare of the Republic's citizens.

Principally, he is worried about the fall-off in Mass-going and other religious attendance south of the Border. "One issue which troubles me is the decline in religious observance in the Republic as its economy improves," he told his audience. He went on to tell them there was more to life than money and that churches still have an important role.

John Taylor as friend of the priests? Perhaps the situation really has turned a corner.