Saturday/Sunday
Ms Adi Roche emerges as the Labour Party's candidate for the Presidency. She is quickly endorsed by Democratic Left and the Green Party. Her selection by Labour increases the pressure on Fianna Fail to find an alternative candidate to former Taoiseach, Mr Albert Reynolds. Clare wins the All-Ireland hurling final by one point in the last minute, denying Tipperary's "back door" challenge. The state funeral of Mother Teresa takes place in India. The pomp of the ceremony contrasts with the austerity of her life. In east Belfast, the UVF puts on an armed display to reassure supporters after allegations of a sellout by the new Loyalist Volunteer Force.
Monday
Rosemary (Dana) Scallon becomes the first person to secure a presidential nomination without the backing of a major political party. Five county councils, one more than she needed, nominate her. They are Donegal, Wicklow, Longford, Tipperary North and Kerry. Some Fine Gael councillors defied party policy to endorse her. ail nomination. The writer, Bernard McLaverty, is short-listed for the Booker Prize for his novel, Grace Notes. In Wicklow, treetop protesters occupy oaks in the Glen o' the Downs which are threatened by road works on the N11. The road-widening scheme will cost £20 million. The Legal Aid Board warns prospective clients seeking a divorce that they will have to wait over a year because of the huge backlog in casework.
Tuesday
The centre of Markethill, a predominantly Protestant town in Co Armagh, is devastated by a 400lb bomb. Suspicion falls on the Continuity Army Council. There are no casualties but the peace process comes under renewed pressure. The Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mr David Trimble, says Sinn Fein should be expelled from the talks if the IRA is found to be implicated. ein's chairman, Mr Mitchell McLaughlin says the bombers are playing into the hands of enemies of the peace process. Progressive Unionist Party deputy leader Mr Billy Hutchinson calls on loyalists not to respond in kind to this attempt to destroy the peace process. In Dublin, a District Court judge asks the High Court to rule on the temporary release of prisoners. He makes his decision after hearing evidence from the governor of Mountjoy Prison, Mr John Lonergan, on why he should not be jailed for contempt after releasing a woman shoplifter. Telecom Eireann announces that every school in the country is to be provided with a link to the Internet. A former Dail deputy and junior minister is questioned by gardai about organised crime and money-laundering. The Fine Gael MEP, Ms Mary Banotti, wins the Fine Gael presidential nomination in a contest with former junior minister, Ms Avril Doyle.
Wednesday
Prof Mary McAleese wins the Fianna Fail nomination for the Presidency in a surprise victory over the former Taoiseach, Mr Reynolds. A visibly shaken Mr Reynolds says: "I'll be with her all the way."
A new Cathaoirleach for the Seanad, Mr Brian Mullooly, is elected unopposed. A member of Fianna Fail, Mr Mullooly was formerly Leas Cathaoirleach. SIPTU, the country's biggest trade union, elects a new vicepresident, Mr Des Geraghty. He wins on the first count with over 51,000 votes. The ESB board backs down in its confrontation with the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke. It agrees to appoint its new chief executive, Mr Ken O'Hara, on a salary of £100,000, rather than £150,000. Some 220,000 borrowers and savers with the First National Building Society learn they are to enjoy a shares windfall after the society announces it will become a public company.
Thursday
Wales votes by a majority of 0.3 per cent for devolution. The Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, says she will seek the deferral of the abolition of Duty Free sales indefinitely when EU ministers meet to discuss the issue in Luxembourg next week. A senior economist warns that Aer Lingus faces a new restructuring crisis and says that privatisation is the most viable option for saving the national airline. Gardai arrest nine people in connection with the murder of journalist, Veronica Guerin. The Minister for Tourism, Dr McDaid, unveils a new tourism logo featuring a redesigned shamrock to help revive the campaign to encourage foreign visitors. The new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Mary Robinson, says she will act as a bridge between North and South, meaning in this context the developed northern hemisphere and developing countries in the poorer southern hemisphere. It emerges that Ireland is expected to be chosen as the location for the Ryder Cup golf tournament in 2005. The opening of the new National Museum premises at Collins Barracks is marred by a strike involving curatorial staff. .