The British genius for understatement is renowned the world over. John Major's remark on Wednesday that the Irish peace process has ``hit a sticky patch'' was on a par with the infamous description of the Second World War as the ``recent unpleasantness''. Free article

This weeks quotes... Free article

THE FOUR-YEAR rule of one of the worst governments in the history of the 26-County state has at last ended and the unanimous verdict of the victims of their administration is a hearty: ``Good Riddance to Bad Rubbish!'' Free article

A giveaway budget, a tax cutting budget, a pre-election budget - what about a fair and equitable budget that caters for all sectors of the economy and doesn't just pander to the corporate sector while throwing small crumbs to the overtaxed workers and piecemeal gestures to those dependent on social welfare payments? Free article

Tá Arm na 26 Chontae ag ullmhú chun dul faoi ordú NATO san iar-Iúgslaiv. Tá pleananna ó na Forsaí Cosanta curtha chuig an Roinn Ghnóthaí Eachtrannacha Free article

Wayne McCullough has a lot to answer for; he resurrected that dreadful dirge ``Danny Boy'' just when we all thought it had gone away, and forced us bloodsports enthusiasts to resurrect ourselves at five o'clock in the morning last weekend to witness his unsuccessful attempt to wrest the World WBC bantamweight title form Mexico's Daniel Zaragoza. Free article

KEVIN BARRY, hanged at the age of 18 in November 1920, was the first republican to be executed by the British after the 1916 Rising. Free article

Modern Irish Lives. Dictionary of 20th Century Biography. General Editor Louis McRedmond. Published by Gill and Macmillan. Free article

I may be a bit of an atheist but I never fail to thank God for good documentaries. Channel 4's Cutting Edge series returned this week and the first offering was as original, entertaining and well produced as ever. Michael Elphick (of Boon fame) narrated The Builders Are Coming (Monday, 20 January, 9pm) a wry but revealing look at the world of house extensions, patios, roof repairs, tiling, plastering etc etc. Free article

I must admit that I like Michael J Fox. It's not just that he and I have so much in common, although it must be admitted that we both could be taller but have managed to retain our boyish good looks and charm. No, it's because I like his screen presence. Even if he does usually play the same character it's a likeable feelgood sort of guy. So it wasn't too big a surprise to find his efforts to play a slightly sleazy character in his latest big screen outing The Frighteners, were thwarted early on. We soon find out that he has a heart of gold, is still haunted by the death of his wife, and, because we must have a plot, he can see ghosts because of a near-death experience. Free article