Saturday/Sunday/Monday
The year ended with another killing of an alleged drug dealer in the North, the fifth in a month, when a 31 year old man, Mr Ian Lyons, was shot dead in his ear in the presence of his girlfriend.
The RUC said Mr Lyons was "known to them" but that he was not a major drugs trade figure. Direct Action Against Drugs (DAAD), widely believed to be a cover name for the IRA, claimed responsibility for the killing.
State papers released under the 30 year rule revealed a far closer degree of co operation between Northern and Southern ministers in the late 1960s than had previously been thought, following a historic meeting between Terence O'Neil and Sean Lemass in early 1965.
The papers also showed that Lemass had considered amending the Constitution to allow divorce for those whose religious beliefs permitted it, but dropped the idea following strong opposition from the Catholic Hierarchy.
The growing problems of Mr Major's government in Britain continued to east a shadow over Irish politics, with the Ulster Unionist Party suggesting a coalition with the Tories in Westminster under certain circumstances.
While this was seen as unlikely, it underlined Mr Major's growing dependence on the UUP, and the consequent implications for the peace process.
Bishop Comiskey broke his silence in the US where he is still receiving treatment for alcoholism to strongly deny reports that he is considering resigning as a bishop, and confirmed that he will return to Ireland this month.
The teenage girl suffering from cystic fibrosis, Sylvie Thompson, died awaiting a heart and lung transplant.
Tuesday
It emerged that President Clinton may return to Ireland in the summer to play that game of golf with Dick Spring which was postponed last month due to a more pressing engagement with American troops in Germany.
Hopes of a soft Budget rose with the news that there had been a significant rise in tax revenue in 1995, mainly from PAYE and VAT.
This increases the likelihood of improvements in social welfare payments and tax allowances.
The Irish Times disclosed that the interim report from the Commission on the Constitution recommends the retention of proportional representation, the granting of constitutional status to the Ombudsman, and modification of the rules surrounding the referral of laws by the President to the Supreme Court.
More contentious issues like Articles Two and Three the bail laws Cabinet confidentiality and votes for emigrants.are all being dealt with separately.
State papers released in Belfast showed the opposition aroused by Terence O Neills meeting with Sean Lemass, which had come about following pressure from the British government.
The papers also revealed the widespread opposition to the Belfast governments decision not to site a planned new university in Derry, lending credence to the view that the Catholic majority second city was discriminated against.
Fifteen thousand people signed a petition calling for a public inquiry into the decision.
The 32nd Young Scientists Exhibition opened with almost 800 young people taking part, including, for the first time, primary school pupils. Competing girls outnumbered boys by over two to one.
Pressure mounted on Sinn Fein to condemn the recent spate of killings of alleged drug dealers, thought to be the work of the IRA acting under the DAAD covername.
Wednesday
The Families Against Intimidation and Terror group claimed the UVF is also involved in administering rough justice to alleged drug dealers. It said the UVF had drawn up a death list.
Meanwhile, it was confirmed that DAAD had threatened the owner of a night club where a teenager had died after taking an ecstasy tablet.
Maurice Setters made it clear that he had not resigned as assistant manager of the Irish soccer team, as speculation continued about the appointment of a successor to Jack Charlton.
The Virus Reference Laboratory in UCD said it had identified three "flu tupe" viruses, as well as the influenza A virus - 45 samples of the latter have been identified in the past few months, compared with only a handful last year.
Share prices on the Dublin stock exchange reached an all time high, gaining £250 million in value overnight.
A unofficial strike by 85 litters: closed Cadburys, the main employer in Coolock, north Dublin.
Thursday
There were renewed calls for changes in the temporary release scheme, after gardai foiled an attempted raid on a bank in Waterford.
One of those arrested was on temporary release from prison, where he was serving a six year sentence for armed robbery. He had been released on condition he join his family in Australia, and had been deported, but had reentered the country illegally.
Elsewhere a young couple carried out a spate of seven robberies of elderly people living alone in three midland counties.
Proposals to end the dispute in Cadbury were drawn up after hours of talk involving the ICTU.
Eight thousand people turned up to a concert marking the 10th anniversary of the death of Dublin rock star Phil Lynott.
It was announced that a new fertility treatment, directed at couples where the man has a low sperm count and introduced late last year in the Rotunda, has had a 25 per cent success rate.