THIS should be an exciting time of the year in education. Students face new experiences and teachers, hopefully, return to work re-energised and enthusiastic about the challenges ahead.

THE inhuman cruelties inflicted by Phillip Garrido on Jaycee Lee Dugard, and those inflicted by Austrian Josef Fritzl on his daughter, were appalling.

AER LINGUS yesterday published results that are unsustainable and unless the company can reverse its fortunes its long-term future must be questionable.

YESTERDAY we marked the 30th anniversary of one of the very darkest days in the North’s Troubles.

Senator Ted Kennedy, who died yesterday, will be best remembered in this country as a true friend of Ireland, but he will be remembered in the United States for much more. He was elected to the US Senate in 1962 at a time when the Irish-Americans had finally come out of the political shadows following the election of his brother, John F Kennedy, to the White House in 1960.

FAR too many Irish lives and families have been ruined by drink. Far too much talent has been squandered, far too many fortunes wasted. Far too many relationships or businesses have been destroyed too because of the malignant influence of alcohol.

THE Cabinet will meet today, their first meeting since the Government went on holiday. Though they face huge difficulties it might be even more difficult to find someone who envies them their task.

Thirty-six seminarians – ranging in age from 18 to their mid-40s – are due to commence study for the priesthood in this country in 2009.

Cycling legend Lance Armstrong, a cancer survivor, highlighted the danger of cancer at the international cancer summit in Dublin.

WHEN the Ryan report was published last May the shocking decades of violence and abuse inflicted on children in care was exposed.