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Popular food critic and writer Paolo Tullio has died, aged 65

“One of life’s true gentlemen.”

90112154 (1) Photocall Ireland Photocall Ireland

THE MUCH-LOVED food critic, restaurateur and broadcaster Paolo Tullio has died after a short illness, it was announced this evening.

He was 65 years of age.

Tullio was well-known as the Irish Independent’s food writer, and as a kind and generous critic on “The Restaurant”, which aired on RTÉ, before moving to TV3 this year.

His regular appearances on Seán Moncrieff’s afternoon show on Newstalk were extremely popular with listeners.

His friend Moncrieff paid tribute to him on Twitter this evening:

His agent Noel Kelly announced the Italian’s passing on Facebook:

It’s with great sadness that I heard of Paolo Tullio’s death today. I am missing a great friend, full of kindness and with only positive things to say of others.
The world is missing an incredible Chef and culinary expert. He was one of life’s true gentlemen, a word overused but not in this case as Paolo was a gentleman to the core.

Tullio first came to Ireland in 1968, studying at Trinity College and working a variety of jobs, including as a clinical psychologist and interpreter.

He opened the Armstrong’s Barn restaurant in Annamoe, Co Wicklow in 1977, and was awarded a Michelin Star the following year.

He turned his hand to journalism in 1989, and had been the Irish Independent’s food writer since 1997.

Fellow critic on The Restaurant, and renowned food and wine writer Tom Doorley, expressed his disbelief at the passing of Tullio, on Twitter tonight.

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66 Comments
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    Mute Brendan Hill
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    Jun 6th 2015, 12:16 AM

    Always enjoyed hearing him on Moncrieff. RIP

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    Mute Petr Tarasov
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    Jun 6th 2015, 3:15 PM

    Yes. You could listen to him all day. Come across as a really lovely man.

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    Mute Fran Cowzer
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    Jun 6th 2015, 12:15 AM

    Thoughts and prayers to his family he always came across as a very likeable guy

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    Mute Nosmo King
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    Jun 6th 2015, 12:39 AM

    I wouldn’t normally be a fan of food critics, but he was so very entertaining and interesting to watch on The Restaurant on t.v. R.I.P

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    Mute mary carey
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    Jun 6th 2015, 12:15 AM

    RIP Paolo…

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    Mute Padraig Nolan
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    Jun 6th 2015, 12:25 AM

    Really looked forward to when I was driving and Paulo would come on the radio with Sean Moncreiff – everything would slow down for a while as Paulo would dispense his culinary advice with such wisdom and wit.

    May he Rest in Peace.

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    Mute Denis McDermott
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    Jun 6th 2015, 12:37 AM

    I’ve being missing him on Moncrieff in recent weeks & assumed he was in Italy on a summer break. I’m absolutely devastated to hear that he has passed away. Genuinely lovely bloke. RIP :-(

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    Mute Charley Brady
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    Jun 6th 2015, 6:35 AM

    Many years ago I worked in a place he came to occasionally. You were never just the guy who handed him a drink or gave him his change. Paolo would always have time to find out what was going on in your own life; and if he saw you outside of work he would make it a point to come over.

    For once that overused phrase ‘One of Life’s Gentlemen’ is absolutely accurate.

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    Mute Jason Power
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    Jun 6th 2015, 12:17 AM

    Terrible news, Paulo always came across as a lovely, genuine gentleman #RIP

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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Jun 6th 2015, 12:17 AM

    Travel on Paolo enjoy the rest of your journey, 65 how short a life,,,,

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    Mute Macus Mc Mahon
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    Jun 6th 2015, 12:21 AM

    A nice man , a gem on a thursday afternoon with moncrief.

    242
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    Mute Aisling Doyle
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    Jun 6th 2015, 12:17 AM

    Will be sadly missed by alot of fans . Rip ,met him a few times and he was a gentle man

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    Mute Sinéad Doyle
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    Jun 6th 2015, 8:23 AM

    sad

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    Mute Peter Daly
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    Jun 6th 2015, 12:18 AM

    A real genuine legend .
    May he rest in peace.
    Sincere sympathy to his family , colleagues , friends & fans.

    226
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    Mute Marc Power
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    Jun 6th 2015, 12:18 AM

    Rip wonderful man. ….thanks for the many mouth watering and thought provoking reviews over the years. ..my extra pounds I gladly attribute to your naughty influence on my diet. …go get those angels eating better

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    Mute Alan Ryan
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    Jun 6th 2015, 12:15 AM

    Rip.

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    Mute Supernova
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    Jun 6th 2015, 12:23 AM

    RIP Paolo.True Gentleman.Will be badly missed on the Moncrieff show.

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    Mute Sharon McCarthy
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    Jun 6th 2015, 1:15 AM

    I loved reading his reviews, always came across as genuine and trustworthy. Too many reviewers can be full of pretentious claptrap. Hope there’s a stone pizza oven and good coffee wherever he is!
    R.I.P.

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    Mute Jules Lucas
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    Jun 6th 2015, 12:34 AM

    Lovely man! Polite and humorous! RIP.

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    Mute Tim Nelligan
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    Jun 6th 2015, 12:18 AM

    Love, love, LOVE. xPaulo

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    Mute glenoir1
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    Jun 6th 2015, 12:26 AM

    Sad

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    Mute Carolyn caffrey
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    Jun 6th 2015, 12:58 AM

    Every Thursday from three to half three on new stalk. Looked forward to it. I was waiting for him to return.

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    Mute Steph Lennon
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    Jun 6th 2015, 4:45 AM

    Oh my God, Such a lovely man. Can’t believe he is gone. Heaven has a new chef :-)

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    Mute Beanstalk
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    Jun 6th 2015, 1:13 AM

    Too young. Paolo came from a beautiful part of Italy, the comino valley, gallinaro. a true gent and aand a pioneer of Italian cooking in Ireland. He wrote an amazing book called ‘north of Naples, south of Rome’. An Italian through and through.

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    Mute sean de paore
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    Jun 6th 2015, 7:20 AM

    Like a lot of people here I would only be familiar with Paolo on the Moncrief show. Had a great way about him and a nice happy approach to life. He’ll certainly be missed.
    Paolo R.I.P.

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    Mute Jonathan Cleere
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    Jun 6th 2015, 12:24 AM

    sad

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    Mute Carolyn caffrey
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    Jun 6th 2015, 1:05 AM

    Yeah Mark I was listening too. It’s very sad. He really enjoyed talking to Sean

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    Mute Ronan Quinn
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    Jun 6th 2015, 1:29 AM

    Siamo alla frutta – Riposa in pace RIP

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    Mute Darragh Brennan
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    Jun 6th 2015, 2:10 AM

    Loved listening to Paolo on newstalk over the years, may you rest in peace.

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    Mute Liz Luke
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    Jun 6th 2015, 1:04 AM

    Go take a running jump for yourself !! If you have nothing nice to say , why bother . RIP To a wonderful food critic . New food on the menu in heaven

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    Mute Ruth Fitzmaurice
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    Jun 6th 2015, 1:23 AM

    So sad to hear this news will really miss hearing Paulo’s dulcet tones

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    Mute Ryan McGrath
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    Jun 6th 2015, 2:14 AM

    I’ll always have decent memories of him, soft spoken and good taste.

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    Mute Niamhs
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    Jun 6th 2015, 1:20 AM

    A true gentleman. RIP x

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    Mute Boxer Alice
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    Jun 6th 2015, 5:51 AM

    Paulo was a true gent and a most interesting man. He died far too soon! Met him couple of times with Tom Doorley.

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    Mute Maggie
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    Jun 6th 2015, 1:15 AM

    Pure shame

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    Mute Josephine Gallagher
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    Jun 6th 2015, 1:09 AM

    I’ve loved listening to Paulo Tullio over the years..another voice that was distinctive, like a few we’ve lost recently.

    * can I just add a plea here..use Capital Letters for RIP..not rip..please?

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    Mute Alien8
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    Jun 6th 2015, 12:57 PM

    Josephine, you must have took à wrong turn at the mass cards, this is the internet! r-I.p. in peace, Italian food bloke.

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    Mute Aurelio Mizzoni
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    Jun 6th 2015, 2:20 AM

    An all round nice guy R.I.P

    49
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    Mute Fran Henehan
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    Jun 6th 2015, 4:38 AM

    Rest in peace Pablo xxx

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    Mute mahonez
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    Jun 6th 2015, 7:24 AM

    RIP Paulo. I’ll miss your lovely dulcet tones every Thursday while you dispense culinary advice and suggestions. We’ve lost a gem of a man.

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    Mute von
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    Jun 6th 2015, 6:40 AM

    Loved Paolo RIP. Condolences to the
    family.

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    Mute Dave Fingleton
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    Jun 6th 2015, 8:36 AM

    I am genuinely sad to hear of Paulo ‘ s passing. Loved his slot on moncrief. .a lovely man..

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    Mute Conor Ruth➰
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    Jun 6th 2015, 8:02 AM

    R.I.P Paolo Tuillio

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    Mute right wing
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    Jun 6th 2015, 7:02 AM

    Rip

    26
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    Mute Shite sticks
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    Jun 6th 2015, 1:50 AM

    All the butter caught up to him

    25
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    Mute Ryan McGrath
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    Jun 6th 2015, 2:10 AM

    If you can’t say something nice, say nothing at all.

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    Mute Eamonn O'Riain
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    Jun 6th 2015, 2:41 AM

    Reckon he’d had enough of Doorley’s BS.

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    Mute Eamonn O'Riain
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    Jun 6th 2015, 2:47 AM

    I might be wrong, but did he have a spot in the SIndo in the early ’90′s??

    12
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    Mute Dearbhla Cronin Chadwick
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    Jun 6th 2015, 8:22 AM

    Very sad to hear this. RIP Paulo

    25
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    Mute DeeM
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    Jun 6th 2015, 8:49 AM

    What a terrible loss to the world of journalism and cookery. Condolences to his family. May he rest in peace.

    24
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    Mute ted hagan
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    Jun 6th 2015, 12:43 AM

    Never a great food critic, maybe he was too kind and decent, but he seemed a nice character. RIP.

    22
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    Mute Randle P McMurphy
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    Jun 6th 2015, 8:19 AM

    RIP PT
    Ted H above considers himself Francophile and a wee bit above buttermilk I’m told, hence his need to come across as knowledgable in all things, but is gracious in nothing.

    47
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    Mute ted hagan
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    Jun 7th 2015, 10:43 PM

    Knowledgeable is spelt thus.

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    Mute ted hagan
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    Jun 8th 2015, 2:46 AM

    Love it!

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    Mute David Burns
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    Jun 6th 2015, 8:14 AM

    rest in peace. hope that the wine is good up there

    20
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    Mute Andrew Mooney
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    Jun 6th 2015, 9:20 AM

    Rip I will miss his wit and gentle way of giving advice. Very sad news

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    Mute Shay Murray
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    Jun 6th 2015, 9:03 AM

    Heaven… You are in for a treat… RIP

    18
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    Mute Dar Lyons
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    Jun 6th 2015, 9:43 AM

    Absolutely gutted to hear of his passing. Loved listening to him on a Thursday with Moncrieff and when he would he be on the restaurant on tv. Always came across as such a character and a gentleman who just wanted to share his love and knowledge of food with as many people as possible.

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    Mute Mary Kavanagh Kirby
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    Jun 6th 2015, 10:26 AM

    RIP. One of life’s true gentlemen. Condolences to his family. The saturday independent will never be the same for me. I loved reading his reviews.

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    Mute Daisy Chainsaw
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    Jun 6th 2015, 10:03 AM

    Not much of a foodie, but I enjoyed reading his reviews. RIP.

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    Mute Paul English
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    Jun 6th 2015, 11:32 AM

    Paolo was very knowledgeable and always entertaining to listen to. He had time for everybody. RIP.

    8
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    Mute Minom Pnom
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    Jun 6th 2015, 10:17 AM

    Paulo always seemed like a top chap. Unlike that bellend Tom doorley.

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    Mute Cllr Malachy Quinn
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    Jun 6th 2015, 12:11 PM

    RIP Paolo Tullio – a gentlemen & a fine Chef- will be missed sadly.

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    Mute Diarmuid O'Connell
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    Jun 6th 2015, 3:20 PM

    Nice man, he will be missed

    4
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    Mute Irish Psychotherapy
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    Jun 6th 2015, 8:57 PM

    Truly is a sad day, paolo Tullio was a gentlemen. RIP

    3
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