THE SECRET LIFE OF GARRET MITTY

The soldier saluted as the Saab passed between the open gates and began the journey down the long driveway. Soldiers, rifles at the ready, lined both sides of the driveway at five yard intervals.

Even distinguished talents, if they aim at fame or fortune, must not expect to find them in Ireland - the country is too poor, and if it were not poor, there are too few connoisseurs in it to appreciate the merit of a living artist." One of the bright young Irish hopefuls to make the pilgrimage abroad prescribed by this nineteenth century commentator was James Arthur O'Connnor, born in 1792 in Dublin.

Earlier this month the High Court awarded £49,780 to Patrick McDonald. The award was made after he sued a solicitor who had been negligent in the handling of a car accident case on McDonald's behalf. McDonald is forty-two, and it has taken him fifteen years - most of his adult life - to get this award made.

The Democratic Unionist Party would prefer a Civil War to acquiescence in a role for the Dublin Government in the affairs of Northern Ireland after the Anglo-Irish summit. Fintan O'Toole spoke to DUP activists about the depth of their opposition to the Anglo-Irish deal and their willingness to resort to violence.

That there are dangers in any Anglo-Irish deal is obvious, but not so obvious that it goes without saying. That there are dangers in not pursuing an agreement is equally obvious. The task at hand for the British and Irish political establishments is to weigh the dangers against the possible gains. For the Irish govern men t in particular compelling reasons have to be found for running the risk of massively increased civil unrest in Northern Ireland and possible violent action aimed at the Republic.

The AIDS virus is now being passed around among Irish people and the disease is following a pattern similar to that followed in other countries. MARK BRENNOCK reports.

Experts have predicted that much of the history of the last few years will have to be re-written in the light of the publication today of Conspiracy! the new book by Tony Winters which proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Marilyn Monroe was murdered by Robert Kennedy with a bath brush. The book's revelation that John F. Kennedy may first have choked Marilyn, the vivacious sexpot who put her eye on the dynamic brothers, has aroused even more comment, with trenchant denials that author Winters has produced any proof to back his allegations.

A Sense Of Community

THE PEOPLE WHO RUN UCD earlier this year took a cleaning contract away from one company and gave it to another, causing a number of existing cleaners to lose work. The cleaners objected to this and went on strike.

Siobhan McKenna, the grande dame of the Irish theatre, has just returned to the Dublin stage in "Arsenic And Old Lace". She is, at 62, a living symbol of Romantic Ireland.  By Fintan O'Toole

Sticky Sullivan, by Owen Smullen, Abbey Theatre.