Saturday/Sunday
THE worst hostage crisis in the history of the State's prison service began when six prisoners in Mountjoy seized five prison officers in the high security segregation unit. One of the hostages was soon released. The prisoners, including a man charged in connection with Veronica Guerin's murder, were armed with a blood filled syringe, table legs and metal [tubing. Three of the prisoners were heroin addicts and the mental states of two were a source of concern.
The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, laid out two main conditions for a pre election pact with Sinn Fein. In an article in the Sunday Independent, he said there must be a complete end to IRA violence and Sinn Fein must end abstentionism at Westminster. Republicans rejected the conditions.
Ireland's rugby team lost 37-29 to Italy at Lansdowne Road.
Drivers of thousands of cars brought the Serbian capital, Belgrade, to a standstill during the 9th consecutive day of pro democracy protests.
Monday
The four prison officers held hostage by inmates in Mountjoy were released unharmed when the six hostage takers agreed to give themselves up after 53 hours. The prisoners insisted their solicitors be present during the release, apparently to dismiss fears that they would be subjected to retribution.
An RUC officer was injured in an IRA rocket attack on a security post outside the High Court in Belfast. There was also a series of hoax bomb alerts involving major city hotels, train and bus stations. British army patrols were stepped up and checkpoints set up on city centre access routes.
Egypt banned imports of live cattle from Ireland for six months due to BSE fears.
Tuesday
The Departments of the Taoiseach, Agriculture and Foreign Affairs met to develop a strategy to lift the Egyptian ban on the importation of live cattle from Ireland.
The long awaited Education Bill, the first comprehensive education legislation in the State's history, was published. The Bill sets up 10 regional education boards and provides for compulsory school management boards designed to represent all of those involved in education. It was generally welcomed by parents' groups but heavily criticised by some unions and school management bodies.
The Mountjoy governor, Mr John Lonergan, said the six prisoners involved in the hostage crisis would face internal prison punishment before being prosecuted.
Mr Lonergan said he had been prepared to use force had there been any physical injury to the hostages.
Following two days of speculation, Ireland's rugby coach, Murray Kidd, resigned.
The new single by U2, Discotheque, made its world debut on Dave Fanning's 2FM radio show.
Former Minister Mr Michael Lowry received the unanimous support of his North Tipperary constituency executive in his intention to seek the party nomination in the next election.
Richard Branson's Virgin Challenger hot air balloon was forced to abandon its round the world trip after six hours due to technical problems.
Wednesday
The Minister for Agriculture, Mr Yates, revealed that Russia wanted to extend its partial band on imports of Irish beef imposed due to the BSE rise. The Russians, who banned imports from counties Cork, Tipperary and Monaghan last October, wanted to extend the ban to counties Limerick, Cavan, Meath, Donegal and Wexford.
Unemployment figures showed a drop of 15,300 in the live register to 267,000 at the end of 1996.
Kevin Keegan quit as manager of Newcastle.
The Russian President, Mr Boris Yeltsin (65), was admitted to hospital after developing pneumonia.
The Cabinet confirmed the appointment of Mr Bob Collins as the next RTE director general.
Thursday
The Department of Agriculture said it would send a technical team to Moscow to resist the extension of the Russian ban on Irish beef.
Progress was reported in framing £300 million in tax concessions at a meeting on the Cabinet sub committee on the Budget.
A shortage of beds at Dublin's Beaumont Hospital left a number of patients lying on trolleys and waiting for more than 24 hours in the accident and emergency department.
A leading consultant at a Dublin hospital warned people to be vaccinated against the current strain of Chinese flu.
Frank Sinatra (81), was admitted to hospital with a heart attack.
Gardai released a photograph of Ms Belinda Pereira (26), the London based prostitute murdered in Dublin last month.
Friday
Talks between management and unions at Dublin Bus on a costcutting plan began.