The week that was at a glance
Labour of loveWe might gripe about our jobs, but it turns out that 70 per cent of us are happy at work, according to a survey. That's up from 61 per cent last year. However, despite being cock-a-hoop as we flip those burgers or crunch those numbers, 54 per cent of workers say they plan to switch job in the next year, whether they're happy or not. If true - and who could doubt it - it will mean a lot of going-away parties for those left behind, which will only make them happier.
Hatter of honour Milliner Philip Treacy was presented with an OBE this week by Prince Charles and one of his better-known clients, Camilla Parker-Bowles. The Ahascragh native was honoured for services to British fashion. That coincided with a debate over whether Ireland should have an honours system. The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, said he would back it if there was all-party support, but Labour's Eamon Gilmore disagreed, so ruining everyone's chances of giving their new hats an airing.
We Now Know...
The global Aids epidemicis slowing, say UN scientists.
Austria has quit the Eurovision Song Contestin protest at "political" voting.
Irish adults are the third largest consumers of alcoholin the EU, behind Hungary and Luxembourg, according to a HSE report.
The Numbers
15The number of minutes it took a Limerick shoplifter to sell a 42-inch televisionshe wheeled from an Aldi store
8ftLength of a fossiled sea scorpionfound in Germany
€21,830Price fetched for 80-year-old tin of biscuitsat a London auction
Quote of the Week
"Ireland is just loveless at the moment",Dublin trader after €3.5 billion was wiped off value of Irish shares on Wednesday.