A GOOD number of the difficulties facing this society can be traced to an over-reliance on the market to solve problems.

As the date of the Rising rapidly approached, this is what was happening behind the scenes 100 years ago this week

Reading the newspapers, looking at TV and listening to radio at the present time brings us back to the days of the Celtic Tiger when the all-in-the-garden-is-rosy message was being proclaimed.

How this week 100 years ago was spent by the main players behind the Rising, based largely on observations of their movements by police.

Sinéad Callanan, a student of Castletroy College in Limerick, was a prizewinner in the all-island Decade of Centenaries schools essay competition for this study of Na Fianna Éireann

Another glance at the activities 100 years ago this week of key figures in the upcoming Rising, as recorded by authorities at the time, or recalled later by the participants.

With the reaction of our politicians to PSNI comments, I was reminded of the self-serving agenda of those we send to Dail Eireann.

The National Association of General Practitioners has claimed the “vast, vast majority” of GPs around the country who have signed the contract to provide free care for under-6s have done so “under duress”.

Cork hammered their old rivals 3-17 to 2-9 at Páirc Ui Rinn. Tony Leen was there.

It’s vital to stick to healthy eating habits, says Abi Jackson.

Winter is here and suddenly everywhere people are sniffling, spluttering or complaining of feeling groggy and achy.

Samuel Beckett was born 108 years ago on Sunday. His friend and publisher John Calder recalls a modest genius who loved to talk late into the night over a glass of whiskey.

Two teenagers who robbed a newsagent before bragging about it on Facebook minutes later were caught due to their underwear being captured on CCTV, police said.

The final instalment in the exam diary of Jess MacSweeney, a Leaving Cert student from Cork

A Manchester United fan has today been charged for shouting racist abuse at opposition players during a Premier League football match.

This development is a testament to the Liebherr family’s loyalty to the kingdom, writes Siobhan Cronin

“HOW do you explain this frivolous spending during a recession?” demands one of the characters of our eponymous hero early in Arthur (12A), in a bid to deflect audience resentment at the sight of Russell Brand playing a playboy billionaire who wastes thousands of dollars at every hand’s turn.

Why, we must wonder, has Hollywood taken so strongly to the charmless Brand, and whoever thought we needed a remake of the classic Dudley Moore comedy, with Brand inadequately trying to entertain us?

WASPS head coach Tony Hanks was proud of his players after the London club came close to pulling off a shock victory at the reigning Heineken Cup champions.

THE reactions to the McCarthy report were as polarised as they were predictable. Some were provoked by fear, others by a sense of injustice, more by an angry feeling that the weakest in our society were disproportionately targeted.

Selected tips from courses in the UK and Ireland.

A FORMER Ryanair pilot has claimed he was forced by the airline to choose between paying €15,000 himself to retrain on new aircraft or waive his right to bring grievance procedures against the airline.

OUR political masters are pulling the wool over our eyes again with the Bord Gais electricity deal.

A HIGH COURT judge yesterday described as “derisory” a €700,000 settlement that the family of one of two schoolgirls secured arising from an accident in which both teenagers died after being struck by a tractor/trailer carrying silage bales.

England 17 Barbarians 14

Clinton Woods’ manager Dennis Hobson will urge the 35-year-old not to retire once his wounds have healed from his painful world title beating in Tampa.

Members of the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing syndicate almost outnumbered racegoers at Lingfield on Monday – but their presence was worthwhile as Hustle took the feature HBLB Handicap.

Former champion jockey Ryan Moore collected more winners in an afternoon at Lingfield than his previous seasonal total as he steered home a 17-1 treble.

Captain Phil Vickery is set to give injury-ravaged England a timely boost by being declared fit for tomorrow’s RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against Italy.

BRISTOL secured their third win of the season against Harlequins at the Memorial Stadium yesterday to keep the pressure on Cardiff Blues at the top of Heineken Cup Pool Three.

DAVID HILL kicked Bristol to the most notable win in their Heineken Cup history as tournament favourites Stade Francais suffered a surprise Pool Three defeat.

AS far as co-promoter Pat Magee is concerned, the controversy instigated by Kiko Martinez ahead of his tilt at Bernard Dunne’s European super bantamweight title at the Point in Dublin on August 25, is now closed.

HE’S Spanish, calls himself La Sensación and is unbeaten in 56 fights as an amateur and professional with 51 of those wins coming by knockout.

JOHN DUDDY’S first professional fight on Irish soil is to be televised live on US television.

Henry Cecil’s resurgent fortunes have cheered many a racing fan this term and his renaissance can continue as he takes the wraps off Vodafone Oaks favourite Passage Of Time at York.

BRISTOL prop Jason Hobson has received a three-week ban for the punch that ended England captain Phil Vickery’s RBS 6 Nations season.

Ulster Bank Group has today announced the appointment of Glynis Hobson as new head of strategic planning & communications.

RICKY HATTON will decide this weekend whether or not he gives up his recently-won IBF light welterweight belt.

JOHN PROFUMO, centre of the most sensational sex and security scandal of the 20th century, did penance for parliamentary dishonour with more than 30 years of charity work among the poor in London.

Ricky Hatton’s next opponent is still unknown as his promoters attempt to arrange a defence against IBF mandatory challenger Ben Rabah.

Ricky Hatton is to face Carlos Maussa in a light-welterweight unification battle in November – but could first face a fight in the courtroom.