IT WAS A week when the US military began strikes on Islamic State militants.

World War 1 was commemorated, and the women’s rugby team were victorious.

All that, and more, it’s the week in quotes:

PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

It is worth thinking too of this tragedy that was World War One, not just in terms of all those who died and all those were severely injured and their families, but also the fact that it did not prevent another war within half a century. So looking back I think it is important to recognises and respect the dead, the injured and their families; to acknowledge the great generosities towards each other in the trenches. And also then to recognise just the scale of the catastrophe it was.

The words of President Michael D Higgins at World War I commemorations in Leige. [The Irish Times]

AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin / Jacquelyn Martin

We can act, carefully and responsibly to prevent a potential act of genocide.

US President Barack Obama announced that air strikes would be conducted on Islamic State militants in northern Iraq.

My people are being slaughtered just as all Iraqis were slaughtered.

An Iraqi Kurdish MP made an emotional appeal in Parliament about the Yazidis of Iraq.

Brian Lawless / PA Wire Brian Lawless / PA Wire / PA Wire

A day will arrive when the emergency no longer exists.

Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin told the Irish Independent that a reversal of public sector pay cuts is on the agenda.

Mark Stedman / Photocall Ireland Mark Stedman / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

I think they made a mistake. What they did when they occupied the GPO and other strong points in Dublin – and they said so in their proclamation – they were allying themselves with the Kaiser, the Kaiser’s Germany, with the Ottoman Empire and with the Austrian Empire.

Former Taoiseach John Bruton came under fire for his thoughts on the 1916 Rising.

Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

The self-belief is there, that’s in the back of your head when you’re down. I suppose we could have panicked, but that’s not part of us – we keep playing.

Alison Miller on Ireland’s women’s rugby victory over New Zealand.

Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

It wasn’t a terrible policy.

Former Fianna Fáil TD Conor Lenihan’s thoughts on the bank guarantee.

AP Photo, File AP Photo, File

In our opinion, they died for nothing. This was not a noble cause. This was a struggle for markets and political power.

The Irish Anti-War movement criticised ‘idealised’ versions of the First World War.