Book excerpt: This new edition is even more comprehensive than last year's. The Almanac is exhaustively researched, and the final result is a book that contains the most complete record available of what has and is happening in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The 1999 edition has more information, more facts, and more statistics about what is happening on the island. It is a one-stop archive which covers every aspect of life on the island, from politics to profiles of Irish writers, from population figures to sports, from a detailed chronology of the year to famous last words. Included this year too are major articles from some of Ireland's leading academics, commentators, and public figures. Their insightful, sometimes controversial, but always thought-provoking pieces add considerably not only to the authority and reliability of the Almanac as a reference tool, but also to its usefulness as an up-to-date source for information on current events. Subjects are covered throughout the Almanac under a variety of headings, including: calendar of events; top news stories; quotes of the year; pictures of the year; chronology; obituaries; politics; history; personalities; geography and environment; population; counties and main towns; business and finance; industry, energy, and transportation; agriculture and forestry; tourism; health; law; religion; education; culture; arts; entertainment; media; sports; and useful information. The Irish Almanac is Ireland's ultimate reference book.