Northern Ireland heads to the polls on Thursday to elect a new Assembly at Stormont. Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, long the face of Ireland's republican party, stood down last year in order to run for election in the Irish Republic. That's left his deputy, Martin McGuinness - a former IRA leader - in the running to become Northern Ireland's First Minister.
A new dawn beckons in Irish politics. Voters on Friday will choose a new government, in the hope of dragging the country out of its economic doldrums. Fianna Fail, the ruling party, has controlled Ireland for most of the last 80 years but they're expected to be punished following the death of the Celtic Tiger. Anything can happen in this election, with independents and Sinn Fein hoping to make gains on Fianna Fail's spoils.
The Irish go to the polls in a referendum on Friday to give their verdict on the Lisbon Treaty, after 53.4% of voters rejected it in 2008. Since then, what have been the main issues that may persuade the population to change its mind?
Neale DICKSON 
