Saturday/Sunday
Father Sean Fortune, who was facing 29 charges of sexual abuse of young boys, was found dead on Saturday morning in his home in New Ross, Co Wexford. He left a suicide note in which he apologised to his family and blamed the media for his misfortune. Victims taking civil actions against the priest wanted an explanation from the Bishop of Ferns, Dr Brendan Comiskey, as to why no action was taken against the priest following complaints of sexual abuse.
The St Patrick's Festival got under way and in Dublin a fireworks display at the Custom House and along the north quays attracted one of the largest crowds ever seen in the city centre. Seven people were injured on Sunday at the end of a football match at Bawnogue, Clondalkin, Dublin. Two masked men drove on to the pitch on a motorbike and the pillion passenger discharged shots at the crowd from a sawn-off shotgun.
Monday
Ms Rosemary Nelson, a Lurgan solicitor, was killed by a boobytrap car bomb in Lurgan, Co Armagh. Ms Nelson was driving away from her home in her BMW car at lunchtime when the explosion happened. The Red Hand Defenders, a loyalist paramilitary group, claimed responsibility for the murder.
Ms Nelson, who had represented nationalist clients in several high-profile cases and had a reputation as a human rights lawyer, had complained of loyalist paramilitary and RUC threats against her.
In Europe, the EU Commission resigned, presenting the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, with a dilemma over whether to reappoint Ireland's former Commissioner, Mr Padraig Flynn. A report on EU fraud, which accuses the Commission of loss of control of the administration, contained no criticisms of the Irish Commissioner.
Tuesday
Mr Ahern, in Washington, said the relationship between IRA decommissioning and the setting up of the Northern executive was the one remaining difficulty and he signalled to Northern party leaders that he expected them to meet the April 2nd deadline for the implementation of institutions encompassed in the Belfast Agreement.
The RUC chief constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, announced that the Chief Constable of Kent, Mr David Phillips, had been asked to oversee the investigation into the murder of Ms Nelson. He also invited the FBI to assist.
About 140 people gathered in St Patrick's Church, Gorey, Co Wexford, for the funeral of Father Sean Fortune. Bishop Brendan Comiskey, in an indirect reference to those who had been abused by the priest, said he acknowledged their pain and offered the services of the diocese to "help in whatever way we can".
A 12-year-old girl was raped in Clondalkin near her home as she walked to school. Gardai believe the man responsible may have raped another young girl in the area earlier this year.
In Cheltenham, the J.P. McManus-owned horse, Istabraq, won its second successive Smurfit Champion Hurdle. Mr McManus, trainer Aidan O'Brien and jockey Charlie Swan accepted the trophy from Dr Michael Smurfit to a very Irish reception.
Wednesday
On St Patrick's Day, President Clinton urged Northern party leaders to lift their sights above short-term difficulties when he was presented with shamrock by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, at the White House.
A prominent dissident loyalist, Mr Frankie Curry, was murdered off the Shankill Road. Loyalist paramilitaries were being blamed and raised fears of a potentially murderous inter-loyalist feud.
St Patrick's Day events took place all over the world and in Dublin its biggest and most spectacular parade brought out thousands.
Thursday
The funeral of Ms Rosemary Nelson took place in Lurgan, attended by thousands of mourners. Father Kieran McPartlan, in his homily, called for an independent inquiry to be set up to investigate the circumstances surrounding her killing. The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, and President Clinton issued a tripartite statement urging Northern leaders in the strongest terms to meet the deadline set for all aspects of the Belfast Agreement on Good Friday.
The Ombudsman's 1998 report revealed that arrears of £15 million will be paid to more than 4,000 welfare recipients and at least £500,000 will be recouped by house-buyers who have overpaid their local authority loans. The deficiencies were uncovered after the Ombudsman, Mr Kevin Murphy, investigated complaints.