Journalism:In his introduction to The Irish TimesBook of the Year 2006, the editor Peter Murtagh states that he tried to choose writing that would retain "a freshness long after publication".
My immediate reaction on reading this magnificent tome is that he has succeeded.
I was struck by the superb quality of both written and visual journalism. This is a book that one will return to again and again, as I will - to re-read the articles I loved and ponder those with which I disagreed. However, irrespective of my personal opinions and beliefs, the power of the written word left me in awe.
Sports enthusiasts are well catered for. I was delighted to see the inclusion of two articles on Derval O'Rourke, plus action photographs, alongside the many articles on the greats of male- dominated Irish sport. I think it is a pity there is not at least one photograph of the Cork All- Ireland camogie and ladies football champions to complement the jubilant images of the victorious Kilkenny hurlers and Kerry footballers.
There is, to make up for these omissions, a wonderful photo of Pat Rabbitte attempting to play hurling. Stay with the politics, Pat.
Another brilliant photograph is that of Aisling Judge, the second-year student from Kinsale Community School who won the Young Scientist of the Year in January. David Sleator captures the amazement, joy and elation of her victory. Another young woman striding forth is Arsheen Qasim. Her positive, insightful article, "We Can Avoid Britain's Mistakes", is well worth a second visit.
Thankfully, many young people are featured, but it seems amazing that, given the prominence of Education Times every week in the newspaper, and the focus on the Easter conferences, Leaving Cert exams and results, there is no article by Education Editor Seán Flynn included.
The photographs throughout capture raw emotions. Eric Luke's photo of a delighted Rory Carroll and his mother, reunited following his Baghdad kidnap ordeal, spoke of how we all felt locally. Equally the pride felt at the commemoration of the 1916 Rising is evidenced in photos and articles, and so too the sombre memories of the Battle of the Somme.
I would quibble, however, at the positioning of some photos that, though placed chronologically, can look incongruous in the middle of unrelated articles. However, Dick Ahlstrom's spellbinding article, "Men of Iron", is enhanced by outstanding detailed photos of Clonycavan Man by Frank Miller.
Political issues and politicians feature strongly, as you'd expect. The crises in Iraq and Lebanon are discussed. Liam Lawlor's unexpected death and Charles Haughey's passing are included, as is the death of John McGahern. The photographs of the mourning Lawlor and Haughey families remind us that after all the words are spoken, whether praising or critical, the loved ones are left to go home to grieve.
The Irish Timesis very fortunate to have Miriam Lord writing for it. Her piece on the Ryder Cup captured the emotion of the last day - the joy of the victory, the pain of Darren Clarke's loss, the tears, the laughter - "never mind the golf". Miriam's five other articles deal with politicians, while Kathy Sheridan celebrates the 80th birthday of former taoiseach Dr Garret FitzGerald in the aptly titled "Zest for Life".
Mark Hennessy writes about the Taoiseach's trade mission to India in January, when he too showed his zest for life, limping around India and ignoring his injured knee. This article is accompanied by a photo of the Taoiseach wearing a traditional welcoming Indian flower garland. The contrast between that image of the Taoiseach and another one taken from the television in September is striking. The former is of a happy Taoiseach promoting Ireland and Irish business abroad. The latter consists of four photographs that could be titled "haunted by the media".
There is something for everyone in this book. There are hundreds of articles that I have not mentioned, but those that moved me most and that I found heartbreaking were those that dealt with the deaths of young people on our roads. Kathy Sheridan's "Death on the Peninsula" and Ruadhán MacCormaic's reports on proceedings in the Coroner's courts are harrowing. I would ask that every person, particularly every young person, would pause and think before he or she gets into a car.
The final image in the book is a surfer riding the crest of a wave off the coast of Co Clare. Let's hope it's a symbol for the approaching New Year.
• Mary Hanafin is the Minister for Education and Science
• The Irish Times Book of the Year 2006 Edited by Peter Murtagh, Gill & Macmillan, 305pp. €26.99