Saturday/ Sunday
THE running of the 1997 Aintree Grand National was postponed following bomb threats by the IRA. More than 70,000 people left the track, although no devices were found. Following the bomb threats, the British Labour Party ruled out early talks between Sinn Fein and an incoming Labour government.
One of the State's main adoption societies, St Patrick's Guild, admitted giving false information to adopted people about their parents.
Mr Sean Brennan (48) was charged with the murder of Ms Bernie Sherry (44), whose body was found in the boot of a car in Tullamore on Sunday.
Gardai said they were treating as "suspicious" the death of a 17 year old Russian student who was found dead in a Dublin flat on Saturday.
Monday
The President, Mrs Robinson, emerged as the likeliest candidate for the vacant position of the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights after the Chilean and Mexican Foreign Ministers pledged their support for her.
Ms Margaret Heffernan was removed as executrix of the £22.5 million estate of her late sister, Ms Therese Dunne, on the grounds that her continuation in the role would be detrimental to the welfare of the estate and its beneficiaries.
It was announced that Garda closed circuit television cameras would be introduced in O'Connell Street and surrounding areas.
Oasis star Liam Gallagher finally married actress Patsy Kensit.
Tuesday
The Progressive Democrats leader, Ms Mary Harney, claimed the Government was abolishing water charges in the knowledge that a draft EU directive would force their reintroduction by 2010. The Government denied the accusation.
A Co Waterford company which broadcasts "deflected" multi channel television signals without a licence was forced to cease operation following the granting of a High Court injunction against it.
A one month ban was placed on mobility trips for young offenders at three north Dublin facilities after three youths escaped from Oberstown Boys Centre, Lusk, at the weekend.
A pre 1800 burial ground was uncovered at a building site in Rathfarnham, Dublin.
Mr Patrick Mason, artistic director of the Abbey Theatre, agreed to stay on in the post for another two years.
Wednesday
A Dublin man in his 50s detained at Dun Laoghaire was expected to face charges related to the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin last June. He was one of seven people arrested in the investigation into the murder.
Relations between the Government and Sinn Fein deteriorated after the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, warned that a vote for Sinn Fein in the Northern elections was a vote for IRA violence. The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, said the Taoiseach was totally wrong.
Thursday
Ms Alice Collins, an RUC reserve constable and mother of three, was seriously injured in an IRA shooting attack in Derry. Senior security sources said they now feared a renewed IRA campaign along the Border.
Ireland joined its EU partners by withdrawing its Ambassador from Iran after a German court ruled that Tehran had ordered the killing of four Kurdish dissidents in Berlin in 1992.
The Minister for Education announced that she intended to set up an expert group to consider university status for the Dublin, Institute of Technology.
A factory worker, Ms Carolann Duggan, took 42 per cent of the vote in the SIPTU presidential election, which was won by Mr Jimmy Somers. Ms Duggan ran in protest at the Partnership 2000 agreement.