INTERCULTURAL SCHOOL - Jewish, Muslim and Catholic children in Kildare may soon be pupils in Ireland's first primary school to operate under the joint patronage of three faiths. The planned Intercultural, Interdenominational Primary School will operate under the patronage of the Catholic, Islamic and Progressive Jewish Communities, and children will be taught about their own faiths during school hours, while also learning about the other faiths.

NI ANNIVERSARY - This April 10 marks the 10th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement which paved the way for the return of devolved government to Northern Ireland. Former US president Bill Clinton and former British prime minister Tony Blair are expected to participate in commemorations to mark the event.

IMMIGRATION - Irish actress Fionnula Flanagan has refused an invitation to be honored by the US-Ireland Alliance because of remarks by the alliance's president about the undocumented Irish in the US. While outlining her reasons for refusing the invitation, Flanagan stressed her support for comprehensive immigration reform and for the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform (ILIR). Seattle's Irish Immigration Support Group (www.irishseattle.com) is affiliated with ILIR.

POLITICAL 'SECURITIES' - Traders on the Dublin-based Intrade Prediction Market buy and sell "shares" based on predicting the future, including on which party will win US elections. Traders can "buy and sell" candidates, issues, and news futures, and researchers at the University of Iowa claim that political markets often forecast election results better than polls. Visit www.intrade.com.

1740s FAMINE - While the Great Famine occurred in the 1840s, Ireland was also hit by a very severe potato famine in 1740-1741 caused by a prolonged cold spell the previous winter during which the ground froze solid. Potatoes stored underground froze and rotted, and evictions were widespread. The homeless and destitute fed off berries in hedges, and blood taken from cows. Estimates are that between 10% and 20% of the Irish population perished during this famine, but because no overseas emigration occurred, the 1740-41 famine has largely been overlooked.

NEWGRANGE - Over 30,000 people applied to be allowed inside Newgrange to witness the winter solstice over the five days from December 19-23, but only 100 people were allowed enter the small chamber to witness the rising sun illuminating the interior of the burial mound. Light streams into the chamber every year as the sun rises after the longest night of the year. Newgrange dates from around 3,200 BC, making it 500 years older than the Great Pyramid of Giza and 1,000 years older than Stonehenge. For information, visit www.knowth.com.

ROTUNDA ANNIVERSARY - The Rotunda hospital in Dublin is 262 years old, and is in its 250th year as the world's oldest purpose-built Maternity Training Hospital. The Rotunda opened in 1745 and moved to its new, present location in December 1757. The new building cost over £20,000 (today's equivalent $3.6 million) and over 7,000 women gave birth there in 2007. For more information, visit www.rotunda.ie.

ANAM CARA - Irish poet and philosopher John O'Donohue died suddenly on January 3 at the age of 53. From Co Clare, O'Donohue was a bestselling international author of works such as Anam Cara and Eternal Echoes. Visit www.jodonohue.com.

BIG BALLOT - Ireland's Big Ballot project, organized by the Ombudsman for Children and Young People, asked children and young people up to 18 to vote on five key issues of concern to determine which issue was most important. The winning issue was Family and Care. Visit www.oco.ie for more information.

IRISH DIASPORA - Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern has written about the growing awareness in Ireland of the role the Irish Diaspora plays in countries around the world. The Irish Government now provides support to Irish organizations overseas, particularly those offering support to their fellow countrymen and women who have fallen on hard times. Read his comments at http://ieplists.com/?ID2257.

IRANIAN IRISH - Irish singer Chris de Burgh will perform in Tehran this summer in what will be the first concert by a Western artist in Iran since the 1979 revolution. De Burgh is one of the most popular Western singers in Iran and his website has several entries from Iranian fans.

IRISH FORESTS - There are 2.4 billion trees growing in forests in the Republic of Ireland, and Wicklow is the county with the highest percentage of forest cover at 18%, while Cork has the largest forest area, with 77,700 hectares. 10% of Ireland's total land area is under forest.

BOEING ORDER - Just before Christmas, Irish airplane leasing company AWAS ordered 31 Boeing 737-800 jets worth $2.3 billion at list prices. Among the largest aircraft leasing companies in the world, AWAS owns and manages 319 airplanes and serves approximately 129 airline customers in 50 countries around the world. For information, visit www.awas.com.

JOE DOLAN - Irish showband singer Joe Dolan, 68, died on St. Stephen's Day, December 26. With The Drifters, Dolan was one of the leaders of the showband/dancehall explosion of the 1960s and 1970s. He sold millions of records and had a string of hits around the world. Some 10,000 people turned out to say goodbye before he was buried in his native Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.

RELIGIOUS SURVEY - A survey shows that general levels of religious knowledge are lower in Northern Ireland than in the Republic. Only 42% of Northerners knew there were four gospels, compared to 55% in the Republic. Only 54% of Northerners could name the persons of the Trinity compared to 64% in the Republic. However, 60% of Northerners were able to name the first book of the Bible compared to only 52% in the Republic.

SMART CRIMINAL - A Dubliner boasted to a fellow-bus passenger that he had been on TV as the hooded man shown on a Crime show who had carried out a number of armed robberies. He was jailed for six years after the fellow-bus passenger revealed himself to be an off-duty garda (police officer).