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St Stephens Day sales madness: Queues from 6am and 'handbags at dawn'

Mad Ted.

Updated 6.38pm

Pictured at The Brown Tho Sasko Lazarov / Photocall Ireland Sasko Lazarov / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

THIS WAS THE scene outside Brown Thomas on Dublin’s Grafton Street this morning before opening time at 9am.

A handful of people queued from 6am to be first to get their hands on loads of discounted goods as the retailer holds its annual post-Christmas sale.

That scene was repeated at shops up and down the busy shopping street, as well as at other retailers across the country as people look to land a bargain.

Retail Ireland said today that a surge in shopping between now and the New Year would be needed to ensure its prediction of the best Christmas for retail in five years comes through.

“With more people at work, disposable income rising and consumers more positive about the future, there was a more positive mood in the run into Christmas this year,” Retail Ireland director Thomas Burke said.

“It is still unclear if this translated into stronger sales. What is clear however is that the traditional post Christmas sales period will be crucial in determining the overall outcome.”

Our reporter Daragh Brophy took to the streets earlier today to talk to some bargain hunters. Read his account here.

Pictured at The Brown Tho
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  • Pictured at The Brown Tho

    Source: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
  • Pictured at The Brown Tho

    Source: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
  • Pictured at The Brown Tho

    Source: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
  • Pictured at The Brown Tho

    Source: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
  • Pictured at The Brown Tho

    Source: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
  • Pictured at The Brown Tho

    Source: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
  • Pictured at The Brown Tho

    Source: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
  • Pictured at The Brown Tho

    Source: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
  • Pictured at The Brown Tho

    Source: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
  • Pictured at The Brown Tho

    Source: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
  • Pictured at The Brown Tho

    Source: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

Did you hit the sales today? What bargains were you on the hunt for? Did you get them? Let us know in the comments. 

Handbags at dawn: People were literally pulling bargains out of each other’s hands this morning

Read: The teachers’ strike day was the busiest pre-Christmas shopping day this year

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122 Comments
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    Mute SilentFugitive
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    May 30th 2016, 9:29 PM

    Jeez, summit fever must have got to him to push on without her. Lower oxygen levels in death zone can’t have helped with rational decision making either.

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    Mute Tom the Bomb
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    May 30th 2016, 9:34 PM

    To be fair she may have just seemed tired. Cerebral oedema affects individuals in different ways, and the onset of the first symptoms is sometimes mistaken for tiredness or a minor illness. She may have looked OK and made a good decision to halt her ascent – there may have been no apparent reason for him to abort too.

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    Mute Josephine Sweeney
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    May 30th 2016, 9:42 PM

    “didn’t mean anything to me” that’s what you call the ultimate regret

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    Mute Niall O D
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    May 30th 2016, 9:34 PM

    “It seems that people have this warped idea of vegans being malnourished and weak,” Strydom was quoted as saying.
    By climbing the seven summits we want to prove that vegans can do anything and more.”

    And now she’s dead…that didn’t really work out too well for the aul vegan crusade they were after and this gobshïte is still bangin on about it, some things are best left unsaid…maybe a steak sandwich might’ve got her top and back.

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    Mute jenni
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    May 30th 2016, 9:42 PM

    You are a knob. End of.

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    Mute Rocky Raccoon
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    May 30th 2016, 9:52 PM

    If you put down your sandwich and actually read the article you’d see that quote is from her before they started the challenge.

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    Mute Foghorn Leghorn
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    May 30th 2016, 10:03 PM

    And if you picked your beard out of your face you’d see the second half of the comment

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    Mute Rocky Raccoon
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    May 30th 2016, 10:11 PM

    What second half? “This g*bshite is still banging on about it”. The vegan quote is from the lady who died.

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    Mute Valentine Lynam
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    May 30th 2016, 10:18 PM

    Very insensitive the man has lost his wife. You have no class

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    Mute ironballs mcginty
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    May 30th 2016, 10:23 PM

    Vegans can speak after the die ???

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    Mute Dave Harris
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    May 31st 2016, 10:04 AM

    He lost his wife taking a huge risk, for what?

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    Mute Paul Freeman
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    May 30th 2016, 10:41 PM

    She got Ill climbing the world’s most dangerous peak,in the area known as the death zone,what is he confused about?

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    Mute Sharon Moore
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    May 30th 2016, 11:17 PM

    I imagine He is confused because he lost (quite possibly) the love of his life. That kind of loss, no matter what the circumstances, is confusing when you are lost in grief. No doubt they both prepared for the trip, never thinking that either one would die. My thoughts are with him and her family.

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    Mute Jimmy Murphy
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    May 30th 2016, 9:58 PM

    I’m sorry to detract from this man’s loss or the article in question but that’s an amazing picture of Everest.

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    Mute Kane Abel
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    May 30th 2016, 9:53 PM

    It’s a pity there was no finer crusade, cause or endeavour they could have chosen – No unfortunate people they could have decided to help out or aid in some manner. No they had to climb a mountain in the noble defence of the physical attributes and potency of people who have chosen to be Vegans. Sorry now but what a massive loss to humanity.

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    Mute Dave Harris
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    May 31st 2016, 10:06 AM

    Run a marathon if you want to punish yourself.
    Go help at an old peoples home or volunteer at a homeless shelter if you want to help people

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    Mute Catherine Mc
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    May 30th 2016, 10:05 PM

    Mountains take too many lives, you never get answers. That man has my sincerest sympathy.

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    Mute Gavin
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    May 30th 2016, 10:44 PM

    Sooo does that mean vegans are weak then?

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    Mute NeilGoochFerriter
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    May 31st 2016, 7:34 AM

    I was privileged to meet two sherpa brothers a few months ago who hold the record for the most times to climb Everest. Tough tough men, I’d never understand what it takes to climb Everest and the effects on the body but it’s unimaginable for me that if I did I’d leave my wife to continue on alone. That would haunt me forever.

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    Mute Elaynehb
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    May 30th 2016, 11:40 PM

    Very sad :(

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    Mute Barra O Brien
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    May 31st 2016, 2:01 PM

    If you suspect someone has altitude sickness, you descend immediately. If reaching the summit meant nothing why did he do it?

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    Mute Slim Browne
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    May 31st 2016, 7:38 AM

    Her time was up, simple as that, everybody dies so it shouldn’t come as a suprise,we’re all just a heartbeat away , enjoy it while u can

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    Mute Joan Naughton
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    May 31st 2016, 2:28 AM

    The story reminds me of the tower of babloyn in the Bible ,when people believed they could reach the highest peak to touch God an so built it ,until God changed there languages untill they became so confused ,they couldn’t go higher . so God was showing people they could not live by bread , human communication alone ,but by every word that comes from God ,food that is neither steak or vegetables .I think this man is only starting a climb of a life time ,the way he talks of it ,I feel sorry for him.He really did love her , but they choose there fate on that Lowe peak an it was a choice they both agreed onn wat I learn is choices decisions mwy seem good an right , but could be way off regarding a person’s health well been even if we think it’s the right choice .an sometim s the wrong choice can be the right one ,only God knows why he took her .an he is left with a mountain climb with a twist

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    Mute chinaski
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    May 31st 2016, 6:06 AM

    Oh right, so twas god that took her. OK then.

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    Mute Martin Byrne
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    May 31st 2016, 6:18 AM

    Allow the woman the dignity of her own volition. She chose this endeavour and its risks. She died because of oxygen starvation to the brain and organs, most likely, not because some myth ‘took her’ for reasons unknown.

    I hope her husband finds a way through this grief and gets back to family and friends for some solid support.

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    Mute Niall Brew
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    May 31st 2016, 1:54 PM

    God didn’t take her cause God doesn’t exist. But he probably would red thumb you if he could.

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