D Monday, December 14, 2009 METRO A Mamacha Andean woman practises before a football match outside the National Stadium in Lima, the capital of Peru Picture: AFP Dreaming of a white Christmas? A POSTMAN renowned for predicting the weather not always accurately has insisted Ireland is heading for a white Christmas. Michael Gallagher, who learned his age-old technique from the last genera- tions living in Donegals Blue Stack mountains, uses nature and the behav- iour of animals to make his forecasts. The 61-year-old, who lives in a remote Donegal valley, said all the signs were pointing to the probability that snow is on its way. We are definitely on our way to a white Christmas, said Mr Gallagher. More scientific weather forecasters would only say snow was possible dur- ing an expected cold spell coming in this week. Mr Gallagher, who says his methods were relied on for hundreds of years be- fore TV weather forecasters, will raise the hopes of those dreaming of a white Christmas. When the sun shines on to the Blue Stack mountains, and its turning a red- dish-brown colour down to the lowlands, thats a sign of snow, said Mr Gallagher. The sheep and cattle are going mad, shaking themselves, coming in off the mountains. And the fox is getting very busy, looking for hens and howling at two in the morning. Theres a hunger in everything they want to be fed because they know whats coming. Mr Gallaghers predictions havent al- ways been accurate, however. Earlier this year, he predicted what he said were the signs of a good summer. I have been a lot happier with what I have seen in the last two weeks, he said in May. Weve had a lot of thunder and lightning, and I remember the older people often said if there was thunder and lightning during May, it was a sign of a good summer. Im very confident of good weather. Last summer saw tornadoes, violent storms and endless grey skies. The interest in his techniques has prompted Mr Gallagher to complete a book entitled, Traditional Weather Signs. By coN doherty ho, ho, ho: Michael Gallagher predicts snow for christmas Catalonia holds breakaway vote ORGANISERS of an informal referendum on Catalonian independence were hoping for a big turnout yesterday to help push their campaign to separate from Spain on to the mainstream political agenda. More than 700,000 people across Catalonia were allowed to participate in the vote, which asked citizens whether the region should be made an independent state within the EU. Chinese editor in Obama demotion THE editor of a Chinese newspaper that interviewed US president Barack Obama has been demoted in a move believed to be aimed at placating Communist Party censors. Mr Obama held his keynote interview with the Southern Weekend paper, and not with state TV, a move that incensed the Party further after the interview was conducted without its approval. a bit of an oDDball index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html