A glance at the week that was ....
BABY BLUES
Sarah Palin is a grandma. Her 18-year-old daughter Bristol gave birth to a 7lb 4oz son who has been named Tripp, though the promised nuptials of the baby's parents has yet to come to pass.
So while one grandmother has left the limelight to return to her Alaskan post after her failed vice-presidential bid, his other grandmother, Levi Johnston's mother Sherry, recently made news herself when she was arrested on drug charges as part of an undercover investigation.
NAME CALLING
The release of 30-year-old profiles of figures in Irish public life by the British foreign office reveal that, in their opinion, Charles Haughey "sailed too close to the wind", though his "playboy reputation" had been "dulled by middle age"; Garret FitzGerald was "one of the best informed, most intelligent and articulate members of the Dáil,";
Irish Independentowner Tony O'Reilly was seen as "something of a boy wonder" while former
Irish Timeseditor Douglas Gageby scored less well with his editorials described as "often particularly silly and offensive".
WE NOW KNOW
2008 was the coldest year in Ireland for 10 years
There were one million fewer journeys on the Luas last year compared to 2007
Mamma Mia!is Britain's biggest-selling DVD of all time
THE NUMBERS
€372m: The value of Irish pounds still unaccounted for in Ireland since the introduction of the Euro
9: The number of RTÉ programmes in the 10 most watched on Christmas Day. The Nine O'Clock News was the highest rated.
45: The percentage of Irish women who are heavy smokers, according to a Nicorette survey