Saturday/Sunday
Tensions were high throughout Northern Ireland over the weekend amid growing apprehension that the coming week would see widespread demonstrations in support of the Orange Order protest at Drumcree - and that this would lead to serious civil disorder.
The departing US ambassador, Ms Jean Kennedy Smith, was surprised by the Taoiseach's announcement at her Fourth of July farewell party that she was to be made an honorary citizen of Ireland.
Monday
As sporadic violence continued in Northern Ireland, the First Minister, Mr David Trimble, was pursuing initiatives aimed at breaking the deadlock over Drumcree. These included talks with senior Orangemen and with the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam in Belfast - and with the Church of Ireland Primate, Dr Robin Eames, in Armagh.
Aer Lingus was confident that a sufficient number of TEAM workers had voted to accept the takeover offer from the Danish conglomerate, FLS, but warned that about 310 workers who rejected the transfer package would face redundancy.
Black immigrants in Dublin claimed they live under a constant threat of violence. Anti-immigrant tensions in some parts of the inner city were reported by community workers to be running high and there were fears of a serious incident. The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ms Liz O'Donnell, met a group of local women who were attending a training course designed to increase awareness and understanding of why asylum-seekers come to Ireland.
Tuesday
Portadown Orangemen escalated their campaign by mounting street protests at two entrances to the Garvaghy Road and taking over the railway station. For the third night in a row there were loyalist roadblocks and attacks on the RUC in Protestant areas.
Mrs Justice McGuinness awarded £43,500 in damages to a Dublin postman for back injuries received from straining his back while pushing letters through low-level post boxes on housing estates.
Wednesday
Northern Ireland First Minister, Mr Trimble, and Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon, issued grim warnings over the dangers in store if the Drumcree crisis was not quickly resolved. Mr Trimble criticised Mr Gerry Adams and Sinn Fein and Mr Mallon was scathing about the involvement of the Rev Ian Paisley and Mr Joel Patton of the Spirit of Drumcree organisation.
A person found guilty of a serious offence under the proposed new Ethics in Public Office Act could be subject to penalties of up to £20,000 but would not be barred from membership of the Oireachtas. The proposed legislation also stipulates that each member of the Oireachtas should be required to provide a tax clearance certificate along with a statutory declaration that his/her tax affairs are in order.
Former Taoiseach Mr Albert Reynolds won a retrial of his libel case against the Sunday Times at the Court of Appeal in London. In November 1996 he insisted there had been a "travesty of justice" after he was awarded one penny in damages.
Mr Reynolds said that had he lost this stage, it could have cost him about £1.5 million.
Thursday
British government and Northern party leaders were involved in attempts to resolve the escalating crisis in the North. The Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, put a set of proposals to Orange Order representatives at a "frank meeting" in Downing Street, but there was little sign of progress.
The annual inflation rate is set to rise to more than 3 per cent in the coming months, according to the latest Consumer Price Index figures from the Central Statistics Office. The figures show that inflation in Ireland is currently running well ahead of the other 10 EU countries about to embrace Economic and Monetary Union.
There is a real likelihood of threats to the lives of people who have made confidential statements to gardai investigating the death of Ms Veronica Guerin, the Supreme Court heard, should their identity become known. Counsel for the State argued that some 40 statements from 20 witnesses should not be disclosed to lawyers representing Mr Paul Ward, who is charged with murdering Ms Guerin.
Late on Thursday groups of protesters at Drumcree started their first serious assault on the RUC and British army barricades stopping the Orange march progressing down the Garvaghy Road in Portadown.