Residents of a tiny Irish town have been bombarded with phone calls from randy strangers trying to call X-rated television channel Babestation.
Westport, County Mayo, population 5,500, is best known for its coastal scenery and proximity to Croagh Patrick mountain, a popular destination for Catholic pilgrims. But the town is now making headlines for a very different reason.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
According to local MP Michael Ring, the mix-up has been caused because the premium rate numbers are similar to the area's landlines. Babestation operates from the UK, but callers in Ireland are neglecting to use the international dialling code and simply calling the number displayed on screen, which takes them to Westport.
Ring told the Irish Independent: "What happens is when the guys have a few drinks on them they don't see the UK codes and then the next thing they are ringing innocent families in Westport."
Although the mix-up might provoke sniggers, Ring was keen to stress that his constituents are "aggravated and annoyed" by the disturbance.
"They are getting these calls in the middle of night. One of those people has an elderly mother and family members all over the world and there could be a call at any time that they would have to take," he said.Babestation plans to send two of its models to Westport to apologise in person for the "innocent misunderstanding", reports Irish news website The Journal.
Ring was less than impressed by the offer. "All we want them to do is change the phone numbers so residents are not annoyed by these calls. We don't want them down here," he said.
-
August 24 editorial cartoonsCartoons Sunday's political cartoons include Putin at Donald Trump's circus, gallons of whitewash, and a foldable cartoon
-
5 Post Office-approved cartoons about mail-in votingCartoons Artists take on reverse logic, Putin's election advice, and more
-
The battle of the weight-loss drugsTalking Point Can Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly regain their former stock market glory? A lot is riding on next year's pills
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designationThe Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across SyriaTHE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weaponsThe Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarrayIn the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
