Frostbite, hypothermia and savage beatings. Polar exploration or tales of conquest in the Americas? Actually, it's Ireland

An "insane" protest is how the cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Council labelled a march by 1,200 of her constituents last weekend. These loonies were protesting at a proposal by the council to fill in a huge part of the sea along the sea front at Dun Laoghaire and fund a public park on the site by building a ten story high carbuncle which would be out of place almost any where in the world except Las Vegas.

As those opposing the decision on the route of the M3 motorway gear up for a last, desperate fight over the Tara-Skryne valley, William Hederman revisits some of the major struggles to save Ireland's heritage during the past half century.

Republicans on the ground in Northern Ireland have accepted that the decision has been taken to disband the IRA, with no great resistance from the ranks of either Sinn Féin or the IRA. By Anton McCabe

For the first time in almost 20 years of visits to Manhattan, I found myself developing, if not a full blown passion, then definitely a crush on the city and a renewed faith in the ingenuity and courage of New Yorkers and other Americans who are refusing to let George Bush and his gang of thugs have it all their own way.

Posturing aside, the rainbow parties' policies are surprisingly similar. Hilary Curley investigates the policy proposals of Fine Gael, Labour and the Green Party

Bertie Ahern's reputation for being cunning and devious sometimes makes people see cunning and deviousness in everything he says.

Rick Moody, author of The Ice Storm, tells Sinéad Gleeson why he dislikes being labelled, has visited Sandymount, and thinks going to church isn't 'totally uncool'

All that aside, the myrtle's most stunning attribute is its gorgeous cinnamon coloured bark, which peels away to reveal creamy white patches.

The Green Party is becoming the butt of much fun and scorn these days. At the PD conference Mary Harney ruled out doing business with them because she said their policies were "crazy" while Fianna Fáil regularly exults in recycling John O'Donoghue's put-down that Ireland needs the Greens like a head of lettuce needs slugs.