A glance at the week that was
Hero Robbie
In yet another week when news about the economy hasn't exactly been cheery, the nation has looked to its sporting stars to rescue us from the gloom. The rugby playersdid their bit in spectacular fashion on Saturday when they beat France 30-21 in a cracking game. Then, on Wednesday night, the soccer teamwent up against Georgia and, so as to give us all some excitement, let them take the lead within a minute. Despite that, a jammy penalty and a "header" from Robbie Keane's shoulder won us the game. It's like 1988 all over again.
Zero Brian
Every morning we wonder just what exciting news will have emerged from
the world of banking. Will large amounts of money have been moved from one bank to another in the last hours of a financial year? Will they be recapitalised? Could that money be lost in bad debts? This week, the answer was yes, yes and maybe. Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan admitted he hadn't read the report of the €7 billion transfer into Anglo Irish Bank. He later said that there needs to be better regulation of the banks. It was hard to hear him over the sound of the horse bolting.
"There are no other words to describe it other than mass murder,"Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd after over 200 people died in bushfires that may have been caused by arson.
We now know
* The haka has been trademarked by the Maori tribe who originally used it
* Real Madrid are the richest soccer club in the world. Manchester United are second
* Christine Hamilton, wife of former MP Neil Hamilton, has changed her name by deed poll to Mrs British Battleaxe
* Lansdowne Road will be renamed the Aviva Stadium
The numbers
5
The number of nights U2will perform as the house band on US chat show the Late Show With David Letterman
534
The number of primary school pupils who will lose their special needs teachersafter Government cutbacks
1,135
The number of job lossesthat could follow the closure of SR Technics in Dublin