Saturday/Sunday
IT was the weekend that Ireland awoke to the magic of gold medal winner Michelle Smith. In the early hours of Sunday morning she became the first Irish woman to win an Olympic medal and her subsequent wins dominated the news for the rest of the week.
There were huge celebrations in her homeplace of Rathcoole in Dublin where friends and neighbours remembered Michelle's years of early morning starts for swimming practice.
Congratulations flowed from the President, Mrs Robinson, the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, and from all the party leaders.
A Dublin woman and her 10 year old son were among those injured in the ETA bombing of an airport near Barcelona. The blast injured 33 people, most of them British holidaymakers. Mrs Winifred Una O'Mahony and her son, Thomas, both suffered leg injuries in the explosion in the Catalan town of Reus.
The body of a man found in a remote wooded area in Cork was believed to be that of Mr Den is Patrick O'Driscoll (32), one of three men who disappeared two years ago. The assistant state pathologist, Ms Margaret Bolster, examined the body parts. They included a skull which was found in a plastic bag and decomposing flesh which was in a shallow mound. The discovery was made by a man walking his dog.
Monday
Michelle Smith overcame protests from the USA team to win her second gold medal. They had objected on the basis that her qualification had been achieved after the legal cut off point.
When that failed, American swimming great, Janet Evans, who missed qualifying for the 400 metres freestyle, posited the theory that the improvements in Smith's swimming came about through new training methods, but stated: "It is questionable, but it is possible."
Smith responded by saying that you can't stop people making accusations. "I'm happy with my medal and that's what is important."
The Stormont multi party talks looked in danger of collapse. Chairman George Mitchell impressed upon the parties the necessity to move to substantive talks, that the public must see evidence of progress.
A postal strike was averted when management and union representatives agreed a settlement formula just six hours ahead of deadline. Both sides agreed to a review of industrial relations at the Dublin Mail Centre by the Labour Relations Commission. A man who was sentenced to a five year prison term for stealing coal, briquettes, potatoes and getting credit under false pretences, total value £31.20, was freed following a Court of Criminal Appeal ruling. Tuesday
The tide of media opinion ill the USA appeared to be turning for the "freckled faced, red haired" Irish swimmer as she kept her composure and kept smiling in the face of adversity. Michelle Smith kept her cool in the face of the unfounded questions about taking performance enhancing drugs.
The commercial potential of her wins was also becoming evident as the sponsorship world began to open up for the swimmer.
The Southern Health Board admitted it had paid court fines for new age travellers in west Cork from community welfare funds. In one incident, a man was fined £300 for not having his vehicle insured. Gardai claim the fine was paid by the health board. The Department of Social Welfare said it would investigate the claims.
The Church of Ireland Primate, Dr Robin Eames, appealed for an end to sectarian attacks against Protestants. He said he had to express the "deep concerns' felt by Protestants.
Wednesday
Multi party talks at Stormont paved the way for a decisive vote next Monday to end the deadlock over procedures and facilitate substantive negotiations. After a late night session the parties agreed to meet again on Thursday to address the outstanding details and formulate an agenda for the opening plenary meeting. The DUP continued to oppose the breakthrough formula.
The Department of Agriculture confirmed that four new cases of BSE have been found in cattle in the Republic. It brought the total number of cases this year to 18 compared to 13 cases in 1995. An extended slaughter policy was introduced.
Thursday
In the early hours of Thursday morning, Ireland's golden girl, Michelle Smith, won her third gold medal in the 200 metres individual medley in Atlanta. Following the swim, the woman, who was fast becoming the darling of the Olympic Games, said she could hardly believe it. "It's like a dream," she said emerging from the pool. Later, she was presented to President Clinton during a function which was seen as a way of healing the rift between the Irish swimmer and the American competitors. The result of tests taken from the swimmer showed she was drug free.
The Dail was recalled for a special debate on crime following the deaths of journalist Veronica Guerin and Det Garda Jerry McCabe. Six Bills focusing on organised crime were processed by the Dail.