The week that was at a glance
Losing rogue
French bank Société Générale was due to announce big profits this week, until it realised that one of its traders, Jérôme Kerviel, had lost €4.9 billion by speculating on the futures market. Having originally worked on preventing fraud within the bank, it appears that the 31-year-old knew just how to cover up his trading. Suddenly Nick Leeson's losses look like peanuts in comparison.
We now know...
More than one-third of our public water supplies are defined as potentially risking public health, according to the Environmental Protection Agency
One-fifth of teens are obese or overweight, according to a survey
From October, the health warnings on cigarette packs will be in Irish as well as English
Quote of the Week
"Still gorgeous enough to make your jaw drop despite the best efforts of developers to scar some of the most beautiful bits"
Judgment of the latest Lonely Planet guide to Ireland
Winning brogue
The Oscars mightn't even be going ahead because of the writers' strike, but that won't spoil the excitement of 13-year-old Saoirse Ronan from Carlow, nominated for her role in Atonement. Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová have been nominated for best song; Seamus McGarvey is vying for a cinematography award while adopted Paddy Daniel Day Lewis is favourite for Best Actor. They love us. They really love us.
The numbers
87Percentage of Irish people who believe Ireland has been enriched by the arrival of people from different cultural backgrounds
€280mCost to the State of Army deafness claims
150Number of entries aiming to become Ireland's song at this year's Eurovision