TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen has described 2009 as the most difficult period of his political life. The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) echoes his sentiments, describing the year as “enormously difficult” for the economy. However, in its quarterly commentary, it suggests the worst of the recession is virtually over and concurs with the outlook of the Minister for Finance in his Budget statement.

WITH THE number of sleeps until Christmas rapidly diminishing, it’s hardly surprising that over the next 72 hours thousands of stressed-out shoppers will fall back on gift vouchers to sort out their most pressing stocking-filling dilemmas, writes CONOR POPE

RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW:Dzogchen Beara, the Tibetan Buddhist retreat centre in west Cork, is hosting a New Year celebration with a difference.

Sale of bank's loans to the agency  expected to begin next month and be completed by July 

Formula One:A fired-up Michael Schumacher is ready to put Formula One’s young guns in their place as he chases an eighth world title next year. There was a sparkle in Schumacher’s eye as he today announced he was stepping out of retirement after three years away, ready, as he put it, “for some serious stuff.”

The West Ocean String Quartet celebrate their 10th anniversary and a new CD at the Frankie Kennedy Winter School by the lake in Dunlewey

PHARMACISTS WILL not be able to display codeine-containing products such as Solpadeine and Nurofen Plus in their stores under new guidelines due to come into effect next year.

This has been the year of the price cut – but it’s not over yet. Prepare for the onslaught with this guide by DEIRDRE MCQUILLAN, Fashion Editor, to further reductions in boutiques and department stores across the country

FIONA McCANNConfesses to loving Christmas