On Saturday 27 October over 100 members of Ógra Shinn Féin travelled from every part of Ireland to attend a full day of workshops in Slieve Gullion Courtyard, South Armagh. Free article

Disgraced former Fine Gael minister, fundraiser and tax evader Michael Lowry made his second appearance at the Moriarty Tribunal this week. Free article

Addressing several hundred people at a 1981 Hunger Strike plaque unveiling in Inniskeen, County Monaghan, on Sunday last, Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin criticised remarks by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who ruled out Sinn Féin participation in government until the IRA had "folded up its tent". Ó Caoláin said that Sinn Féin's electorate should not be discriminated against. He said: Free article

Of the all the possible policy solutions to the health service crisis, which do you think is the most unfeasible and inequitable? One interesting non-runner was a recent Progressive Democrats proposal that patients on public health waiting lists be treated in private hospitals with the government paying the tab. The PD proposal, in a slightly altered form, is to be discussed by the coalition government this week. Free article

Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle members Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD and Seán MacManus, former Mayor of Sligo, were both congratulated at an executive meeting of the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland (AMAI), held in Dundalk last Saturday, for their roles in the ongoing development of the Peace Process. Ó Caoláin was a member of the AMAI between 1994 and 1999 as a delegate from Monaghan UDC, while MacManus is a member for this council term. Free article

A very successful evening to raise money for the Colombia Three - Bring Them Home campaign was held at the Boora Inn, at Boora, Co Offaly on Thursday 27 October. An indication of tremendous support and concern around the country for Niall Connolly, Martin McAuley and Jim Monaghan was that some 80 people who attended the function raised over £400 for the campaign through a collection. Free article

Could you live on £104 a week? This is the average gross income of the poorest groups in Irish society today, according to last week's CSO household budget survey Free article

Michael O'Kennedy took time at the Forum on Europe on Thursday, 25 October, to launch an attack on Sinn Féin's Aengus Ó Snodaigh for addressing the Forum in Irish. Free article

Welcoming the establishment of the new Family Support Agency Cavan/Monaghan TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin called for the role of existing Family Resource Centres to be respected and for their concerns to be taken on board in the new legislation. Free article

GAA County Boards in Derry and Armagh have voted overwhelmingly to retain Rule 21, which bars members of the Crown forces from membership of the Association. Free article