On Friday night I experienced some Manchester nightlife, at the Athenaeum, and at Rothwells, both in listed Victorian buildings now converted into swish pubs by day and noisy night clubs after dark. I saw no trouble, though I'm sure the burly-looking door staff (you're not supposed to say "bouncer" any more), nowadays equipped with two way radio ear pieces, and dressed in "power" overcoats, would be well able to deal with any problems if they arose.

Manchester's Irish festival is in full swing. Yesterday there was a parade from the World Irish Heritage Centre in Cheetham Hill to the Irish Festival Market on Albert Square. The market was very similar to the one held last year, and had stalls selling Irish food, knitwear, souvenirs and other items. Inside the Town Hall, there was an Irish food counter, with sausage and Guinness casserole and Kerry Pie. I found the casserole tasty but not very filling and a little overpriced at £4.50. The food was prepared by the Town Hall caterers.

With one day to go before Chancellor Gordon Brown announces his budget, local council tax payers are calculating how much they'll have to pay to Town Halls in Manchester and the 9 other Greater Manchester districts. Along Upper Chorlton Road, houses facing each other will be paying widely differering amounts. On one side, householders pay council tax to Manchester, while on the other, the money goes to Trafford. There's a difference of around three hundred pounds in what residents on either side of Upper Chorlton Road will have to pay starting in April. Can you guess which one is higher? Yes, Manchester!

Fans at Manchester United's ground staged a "stand up" protest on Saturday morning during the match against Arsenal. United has been among the strictest in enforcing the ban on standing, which was imposed after the Hillsborough disaster. And bosses at United have said they weren't "duped" over the transfer of Andy Cole from Newcastle. Cole sustained an injury requiring a shin splints operation, and some have suggested Newcastle knew about his condition and kept quiet about it. But a United spokesman said the story was "nonsense".

Meanwhile at Manchester City, Francis Lee has announced he is quitting as chairman and a director. David Bernstein will take over in his place. He said his resignation was connected with the recent problems being experienced by the club.

Bolton may get its own university - at least that's what campaigners there want: They think Bolton Institute of Higher Education should be given university status. A rally took place at Bolton Football Club's Reebok Stadium on Saturday. Manchester Polytechnic was upgraded to Manchester Metropolitan University several years ago.

It's five years since IRA terrorists killed two children in Warrington. Jonathan Ball, who was three, and Tim Parry, 12, died in the attack. They are remembered on a plaque in Warrington shopping centre. And on Saturday a memorial service was held at Manchester Cathedral, after which some of the congregation went on a "peace march" to Warrington.

Royalty visited the city on Saturday, in the person of HRH Prince Andrew, who visited the last production of the Royal Exchange Theatre company before the move back to their home at the Royal Exchange. They have performed at the Upper Campfield Market, at the end of Deansgate, since the IRA bomb attack in 1996. Later the Prince visited the Royal Exchange itself, and saw the interior, still undergoing refurbishment, and the impressive new glass dome. The Royal Exchange theatre will re-open in November.

Lisa Stansfield got into trouble with Rochdale residents, including ex-Liberal MP Cyril Smith, for her comments about celebrated Rochdale singer and film star, the late Gracie Fields. On the Mrs Merton show, Lisa Stansfield said "she sings like somebody has stepped on a cat". Gracie's original name was also Stansfield, but Lisa doesn't like comparisons to go any further.

It's been a week of cold temperatures and mostly overcast skies this week, hence no new photos - but I've dug some out of the archive for you. Yesterday the sun broke through for the Irish Market, but it clouded up again later. Today, again, it was overcast and cold. The forecast is 40% risk of drizzle, temperatures around 10 degrees celsius, mid-fifties fahrenheit.

• Chancellor Gordon Brown prepares to announce his budget
• A remand prisoner at the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland is murdered.
• Another woman says she was the victim of sexual misconduct by President Clinton