But I hope you win, Mary. Corporate Ireland needs and deserves you. Your election will help unionists to explain why any meaningful relationship with the Republic is, increasingly, becoming impossible.

- Ulster Unionist MP Ken Maginnis

Your board continues to be committed to seeking means through which the publication of the newspapers might be resumed, although at this time it is difficult to be overly optimistic.

- Vincent Jennings, chairman of Irish Press Group, to share holders

I'm sorry they had to leave so suddenly - obviously I remain a big fan.

- Chat show host Clive Ander- son after a walkout by the Bee Gees pop group

What am I, a cross between David Copperfield and Paul Goldin?

- Adviser and commentator Eoghan Harris

Well, he doesn't like too much democracy.

- Musician/producer Daniel Lanois describes Bob Dylan at work

They say I'm a terrorist . . . , and that makes them a terrorist too. Sometimes, they say I'm a tout. They also ask if I'm a "good ride" and say it's well known that my clients are sleeping with me

- Lurgan solicitor Rosemary Nelson on the RUC

The longer you spend on your own without men, the more you realise that maybe that's right.

- Actress Julia Ormond

I couldn't care less. I won't be giving it to anyone for Christmas.

- Edwina Currie, on being told she was included in Christine Hamilton's Bumper Book of British Battleaxes

Have you ever seen/A Manhattan sunset/From the window of/An Aer Lingus jet?

- Opening lines of Martin McGuinness's first published poem, Postcard

His poetic talent may develop but there isn't any indication of it yet.

- Critic and poet Michael Glover assesses McGuinness's work

The people in Dublin are terrified of someone honest getting into such a high office.

- Co Down student Fiamm Trainor on Mary McAleese

Music helps to pull me through when I'm feeling down.

- Adi Roche

Radio was good, but once you are on television it's very difficult to go back to that kind of . . . wage.

- Comedian Steve Coogan on why he won't be returning to radio

The mainstream male politics of Northern Ireland have been not only macho in style but macho in agenda.

- Monica McWilliams of the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition

I have always admired blind people, even David Blunkett, who manages his disability so well despite his political shortcomings.

- Terry Major-Ball, brother of John Major

Sinn Fein are simply boring.

- UUP deputy John Taylor

You can't talk to them. They don't exist

- An Algerian official on ille- gal political parties as the country goes to the polls

It makes Willy Wonka and his chocolate factory look positively sane. God knows why we belong to this ridiculous organisation.

- Tory MP Teresa Gorman on the vote by Euro MPs to force Britain and Ireland to change the name of milk chocolate

One should try everything once, except incest and country dance.

- Actor Stephen Fry on taking the drug ecstasy