FINANCE Minister Brian Lenihan is to meet the board of Irish Nationwide later this week and he should have a short agenda.

Many Irish people were not alive when Ireland first completed the grand slam in rugby by defeating Wales at Ravenhill, Beflast, in March 1948.

The exploits of the Irish rugby team were a reminder of the importance of teamwork, not just in sport, but also in any walk of life that requires co-operation.

The eyes of the country will be on the rugby match in Cardiff this afternoon. It is more than 60 years since Ireland won its only grand slam, and this would be our first in the Six Nations Championship.

The latest retail figures make frightening reading, as retail sales dropped by more than 20% in January over the same month last year. This was the largest decline since records began in 1974.

TWO indicators of how our society is changing have been given prominence over the last few days.

THOUGH the Irish electorate is world famous for being “sophisticated”, it seems that there are still those in our political system who think that celebrity candidates have a place in our future.

THE debate about the reintroduction of third-level fees has trundled along for some time now and it may reach a conclusion of sorts when Finance Minister Brian Lenihan introduces his emergency budget on April 7.

THE former boss of Dairygold Co-op, Jerry Henchy, has been removed as chief executive of Reox Holdings, yet no explanation has been give to shareholders, employees or customers.

YESTERDAY, as we marched and cheered each other to celebrate being Irish, to salute — even subliminally — our evolving nationalism and the independence we have not yet enjoyed for a century, even the weather seemed to want to join the celebrations.