Feelin irie-ish?

As St.. Patrick's Day approaches, this is for those of us of the Irish persuasion and those who wish they were . . .

On vacation in Rome, a young man noticed a marble column in St. Peter's with a golden telephone on it. As a young priest passed by, he asked who the telephone was for. The priest told him it was a direct line to Heaven, and if he would like to call,it would be a thousand dollars. He was amazed, but declined the offer.

Throughout Italy, he kept seeing the same golden telephone on a marble column. At each, he asked about it and the answer was always the same: a direct line to Heaven and he could call for a thousand dollars.

Then he finished his tour in Ireland and decided to attend Mass at a local village church. When he walked in the door he noticed the golden telephone. Underneath it there was a sign stating:

"DIRECT LINE TO HEAVEN . . . 25 cents."

"Father," he said, "I have been all over Italy and in all the cathedrals I visited, I've seen telephones exactly like this one. But the price is always a thousand dollars.

Why is it that this one is only 25 cents?"

The priest smiled and said, "Son, ye're in Ireland now. Tis a local call..."