A RE-ENACTMENT of the Battle of Culloden is being previewed on the video-sharing website YouTube.

The five-minute film of the 1746 conflict between Jacobites and government troops, which saw more than 1,000 people killed, was shot earlier this year. The footage will be a central part of the exhibition at the new £10 million Culloden visitor centre, due to open in the autumn. The film has been likened to the opening scenes of Saving Private Ryan for its brutal portrayal of war. Go find it!

Ryanair boss hails £6 flights to the US

RYANAIR has announced plans to launch a new airline offering transatlantic flights from Europe within the next four years. Six American destinations are being considered in the United States including secondary airports near New York, Baltimore and San Francisco, with flights from Ryanair's main bases, which include Prestwick. Michael O'Leary, the airline's chief executive, said some fares could be as cheap as £6 or £7 one way. However, with the addition of taxes and charges, passengers would pay at least £130 return. Aircraft on transatlantic routes can only be used twice a day, compared to up to eight for those within Europe.

The move also depends on a fall in the price of aircraft and the implementation next March of the "open skies" deal between Europe and the US, which will liberalise regulations on transatlantic flights. Mr O'Leary said US destinations could include Long Island Islip Macarthur, 50 miles east of Manhattan; Baltimore; Providence, Rhode Island, south of Boston; Dallas; San Francisco and Florida, he also said the new airline would have up to 50 wide-bodied aircraft, such as Airbus A350, or Boeing 787s - which are not yet available.

PAUL'S NOTE;  Who are Ryanair? An Irish cheap fare airline with no frills.  I have flown with them many times, ok, you have to pay for food and drinks, but hey, come on, I have flown from Scotland to Dublin in the past for a pound!  Is that not worth it?  I see this major plan of Mr O'Leary's as superb for tourism in both Scotland and Ireland - we work in both countries.  I salute him and hope the service takes off (sorry) as soon as possible.  So once again it's the Irish setting the pace, sometimes I thank my mum for being Irish!  Oh aye, what else did I hear you ask did the Irish do first?  Well, the Dubliners put to music a great Rabbie Burns poem; www.mcleanscotland.com/scottishsongs.asp A Parcel of Rogues, why is it you don't hear this song more often?  specially now in 2007 of all years!  Sorry; that's my harping on over with.  Och harping on, another Irish thing!