However awful the state of the world, more people are living longer, healthier and probably happier lives now than ever

Francois Mitterand invited leaders to ceremony attended by other neutral states - and even Germany

Senior office holders faced questions over whether they belonged to conservative Catholic institution

Advice from philosophers, including don’t stop playing, and don’t over-invest in your children

British travel agent went bust in June 1994, leaving many travelling fans without their allocation

Carol O’Donovan, who now lives in Sydney, lost both her parents in recent years and wrote a poem in response

Jentic backed by ‘Irish tech mafia and a couple of rugby players’, says Sean Blanchfield

Personal testimonies reveal how inaccessible transport, housing and workplaces are among the day-to-day realities for disabled people

Taoiseach critical of art and asked if they could be ‘re-executed’ by other artists

After a year of complaining, it was nice to be reminded how football could be fun when Ireland beat Portugal and Hungary

Offering staff weight-loss drugs can improve productivity and reduce time lost to sickness

Our bowels move well on their own, but perform even better when we move

Game quality remained high in a year in which 1990s nostalgia played a big role

From a 24-course tasting menu to a 45-year-old Sichuan spot and a Dublin classic serving famine soup, these places justly inspire loyalty

In a Word ... Retrospect

Ukrainian president says US-Ukraine security guarantees are ’100% agreed to’

Gardaí and emergency services responded to scene at residence near Easkey

You have to credit McIlroy for possessing something all too rare in professional sport: a moral compass

Down kicker continues to impress in NFL

Minister for Children Norma Foley has sought legal advice on compelling religious orders to make contributions