Alone of his class, this cosmopolitan aristocrat made the journey from idealist reformer to violent republican revolutionary. That in itself made him stand out. When to this uniqueness is added unselfishness of motive, reckless courage and singular charm, it is little wonder that Lord Edward Fitzgerald emerged as a leading figure in the pantheon of heroes of 1798. Free article

On Monday in Dublin, the biggest literary prize in the world in monetary terms, the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, went to a Romanian author, Herta Muller, for her book `The Land of Green Plums'. Free article

His people turned against him en masse. Former government ministers, in a rare show of dissent, publicly stated that he should go. Even a powerful grouping of retired generals joined the ranks of the `reformers' and demanded an end to the 32 year rule of Indonesia's General Suharto. Free article

Leis an bheim ar fad a chuir poblachtaithe ar an dhá chuid d'Ard Fheiis Shinn Féin i mbliana, is féidir gur chaill daoine nuacht nó tuairisc ar Ard Fheis tábhachtach eile a thionól le chéile i rith an deireadh seachtaine céanna a raibh Ard Fheis Shinn Féin ann. I mbliana, coicís ó shin, chruinnigh Conraitheoirí Chonradh na Gaeilge in Ostán an Two Mile Inn, Bóthar na hInse i Luimneach fa' choinne Ard Fheis na bliana. Free article

Nolan judgement a victory for trade unions, Labour Court ignored by Health Board and Unhappy workers wreak havoc Free article

Championship time is well and truly on us again, and Ulster provided the entertainment last week with the meeting of Tyrone and Down in the Preliminary Round at Omagh. Down won through with the experience of the older players, particularly Ross Carr and Mickey Linden, proving decisive. Free article

On Monday 8 May a Derry man, Seamus Meenan, awaiting trial here in H4 was brought before the board of visitors because he had accused a screw of assaulting him. This was the second time he was assaulted and this latest incident happened over a month ago. Free article

The Two Irelands: 1912-1939, Fianna Fail and Irish Labour and On Television and Journalism Free article

Has the busy Ballymena DUP councillor, Orangeman and former rugby international, Davy Tweed, taken on yet another onerous responsibility? Is he now a press officer for the LVF?

After a recent council meeting Davy distributed a statement from the Loyalist death squad to assembled journalists.

The statement read: ``This is a statement from the Ballymena LVF. We would like you to print... Free article

The week in quotes... Free article