Saturday/Sunday
A 500lb car bomb exploded in Banbridge, Co Down, injuring 33 civilians and two RUC officers, none seriously. A breakaway republican group is thought to have been responsible. The blast caused extensive damage. A further 45 Romanian asylumseekers arrived at Rosslare Harbour, Co Wexford. After they were found in containers in a number of trucks, they were accommodated at hostels in Bunclody and at the parish hall in Rathanagan. In Dun Laoghaire, six Romanians ran away when immigration officers attempted to examine their documents.
Met Eireann figures showed that it was the wettest and dullest July for 10 years in many parts of the country.
Monday
The Labour Party and Democratic Left are on course to form an alliance or unite as early as the end of this year, The Irish Times revealed. The first phase of talks between the parties concluded last week and a "mission statement" for a new "left force" in Irish politics has been drawn up.
Nationalists and loyalists in Derry struck an accommodation over the Apprentice Boys' parade after three days of "shuttle negotiations". The Apprentice Boys and the Bogside Residents' Group reached an understanding which will allow the parade on Derry's walls. The agreement raised hopes that it could set a marker on how the Drumcree dispute could be resolved.
Dancer Michael Flatley was offered £1 million to make a quick return to Dublin's Point Theatre, this time as a boxer. His publicist, Mr Chris Roche, confirmed that an offer had been made for Flatley to fight on September 19th.
Legislation is on the way to curb the flow of immigrants, it was announced. Truck drivers and freight companies found guilty of illegally carrying asylum-seekers to Ireland are to have their vehicles confiscated and face jail terms of up to five years.
Tuesday
The National Irish Bank chief executive, Mr Grahame Savage, offered "unreserved apologies" to 370 customers. The bank is to return £131,166 plus interest to them after two inquiries into allegations of improper interest and fee-loading by the bank.
Irish showjumping was thrown into turmoil when Mr Tony Kelly, director-general of the Show Jumping Association of Ireland, tendered his resignation. A reconstruction of the last known movements of missing student teacher Ms Deirdre Jacob was carried out in Newbridge, Co Kildare. Gardai said they were baffled by the disappearance of the 18-year-old woman, who was last seen walking near her home just outside the town a week previously.
The first couple to be married at Dublin's new register office at Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital tied the knot shortly after noon. Ms Melissa Adjei and Mr Kaz Ishola were married by the newly-appointed registrar, Ms Teresa Byrne.
Wednesday
Garda Representative Association members voted to accept the Government's 9 per cent pay offer. In a ballot, 68 per cent of the rank-and-file gardai voted in favour. Negotiations on a major overhaul of the Garda will begin next month.
Allied Irish Banks group had profits of just over £2 million a day for the first six months of the year. Strong growth in all its markets and contributions from acquisitions meant a 66 per cent jump in pre-tax profits to £401.3 million for the six months to the end of June.
The joint chairmen of the Sentence Review Commission in the North, Sir John Blelloch and Mr Brian Currin, said the first paramilitary prisoners to qualify for early release under the Belfast Agreement should be out by the end of the month.
Ms Elaine Moore (21) was released on bail in Britain. Ms Moore faces charges related to a bomb plot in London last month. She was released from Woodhill Prison.
Thursday
Olympic gold medallist Michelle de Bruin received a four-year ban from competitive swimming by the sport's international governing body, FINA. Her husband, Mr Erik de Bruin, said she would appeal and he expected the ruling to be overturned. At the Dublin Horse Show, Ms de Bruin continued with her work interviewing riders for a TV-video company. Her only reaction when asked to comment was an almost imperceptible shake of the head.
The man convicted of the murder of Lord Mountbatten in 1979 was released under the Belfast Agreement. Thomas McMahon (50) left Mountjoy Prison at 9.40 p.m. He had been on daily parole from the training unit at the prison since January 1996.