THE decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to President Barack Obama so extraordinarily early in his presidency — less than nine months after he took office — was as unexpected as it is unprecedented.

JUST as an outward looking and more confident America can be a force for good so too can the great friendships built on sport.

THOUGH John Brady lived his life at odds with this democracy — he was convicted of murder — that does not mean that we cannot recognise his death was a tragedy.

WE ARE, in so many deeply challenging ways, at a crossroads and tomorrow’s meeting of the Green Party to consider a revised programme for government represents just one of the many ongoing exercises to try to decide which path we might take.

WITHOUT the Freedom of Information Act John O’Donoghue would still be Ceann Comhairle.

EVEN though the announcement was expected it was another heavy blow to Ireland Inc when Aer Lingus yesterday announced they were to cut 676 jobs as part of a plan to cut costs by over €100 million.

LATE last night Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue accepted the inevitable and announced that he would resign next week. His position had become untenable and represented a running sore at the heart of this beleaguered Government. For some days there has been the strengthening feeling he could not sustain his position once the Lisbon Treaty vote was out of the way.

THERE is no shortage of advice about how we should live our lives. Experts tell us how to develop and sustain relationships. Others tell us, for a fee of course, how to lose weight.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen was hardly granted a moment to savour last weekend’s Lisbon victory before he was reminded, as if he needed reminding, that he faces far greater challenges ahead. He is not alone, we all do.

THE revelations about the brazen extravagance of the members of the House of Commons came about when information was leaked to the press.