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Taste of Dublin celebrates 10 years as capital sees restaurant come back

The restaurant market in Dublin is the most competitive it’s been in years. The rest of the country aren’t seeing the same.

THE RESTAURANT SCENE in Dublin is the most competitive it has been in the last number of years.

Barely a week goes by that a new eatery isn’t opening around the corner, which is twinned with the popularity of Taste of Dublin, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year.

The festival showcases plenty of homegrown talent, with restaurants such as Pichet, Saba, Matt the Thrasher and The Port House all taking part.

So, what’s it all about? 

Well, food, but not just any old food, great food that is available right on our doorsteps and up and down the country.

During the recession, the tourism and hospitality business struggled. In 2011, in a bid to stimulate growth in the sector, the government lowered the VAT rate to 9%. The festival is a good showcase of the restaurants that have established success in the city in recent years.

Recently there has been a resurgence in the sector, particularly in the capital.

Ross Lewis, an Irish Michelin star winning head chef and co-owner of the restaurant Chapter One and Taste of Dublin 2015 ambassador, said the restaurant scene in Dublin has become a lot more competitive, with new and interesting ventures opening up all over the city.

“It’s the most competitive I’ve seen it in the last three years,” he said, stating that there are 3,000 more seats in the city now than there was back then.

Are we eating out more? 

The Restaurant Association said there has been a boost in Dublin, with the equivalent of ten 100 seater restaurants opening in the Georges Street, Fade Street and Drury Street ‘square’,” said Adrian Cummins, CEO at Restaurants Association of Ireland.

“I’ve never seen as much new competition in the market. Everyone seems to want to open a restaurant in Dublin,” he said.

While he said the boost in the capital is to be welcomed, the success is not being felt by everyone in the sector.

“Parts of the country are not benefitting. There has been slow progress in rural areas and in the midlands. We are only back to 2007 or 2008 levels – so let’s not get carried away here,” said Cummins, who said parts of the west and areas around the Shannon region are feeling “left behind”.

While he said Taste of Dublin is a good way to showcae businesses in the capital that are thriving, he said commercial projects like Taste of Dublin, and other government initiatives are needed, not just in Dublin, but nationwide, so as to display the full picture of the great restaurants Ireland has to offer.

What’s there to do at Taste of Dublin?

There will also be award-winning chefs such as Le Gavroche’s Monica Galettini, who makes a regular appearance on Masterchef and Michael Roux Jr, who is also the executive producer of Saturday Kitchen.

michel-roux-jr-1000x330 Michel Roux Jr Taste Dublin 2015 Taste Dublin 2015

Homegrown talent will also be doing talks and demonstrations. Household names like Nevin Maguire, Oliver Dunne, Kevin Dundon and Rachel Allen will also be on hand to tell you their tips.

There’s also lots more to see and do, like creating your own flavoured vodka or gin at Lille’s Bordello Labratory. It’s sister company the Dingle Distillery will also be at the festival offering people a taste of their Ginito cocktail made from fresh ingredients.

Barry’s Tea is collaborating with Chapter One at The Barry’s Tea and Chapter One Dessert Bar will feature four mouth-watering, tea-inspired desserts, made exclusively for the festival.

Choc peal back

Finished Dessert

On Sunday, culinary masters Derry Clarke of l’Ecrivain, Kevin Hui of China Sichuan and Warren Massey of Drury Buildings will be providing food and drink at Console’s VIP tent.

“The Console VIP ticket at €25 is really great value. Not only will people be enjoying our tasty treats and all the foodie attractions at Taste of Dublin, they will have access to the VIP tent and they’ll be supporting a really great cause in the process,” said Derry.

Chefs will be taking part in the Taste Theatre throughout the day, as well as Life’s Table Talks with top chefs.

There is also live entertainment from Smash Hits and Spring Break and plenty of exhibitors to purchase produce from.

Taste of Dublin is taking place at Dublin’s Iveagh Gardens from 11-14 June.

Read: These were the 5 biggest deals in Irish startups for the start of 2015>

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8 Comments
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    Mute pkunzip doom2.zip
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    Jun 8th 2018, 1:39 PM

    I’m sure they’ll be devastated

    374
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    Mute Martin Horan
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    Jun 8th 2018, 5:59 PM

    @pkunzip doom2.zip: “Don’t speak of your Protestant minister,
    Nor his church without meaning or faith,
    For the corner stone of his temple,
    Was the boll***s of Henry the eighth.”
    Brendan Behan

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    Mute Seán J. Troy
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    Jun 8th 2018, 2:22 PM

    Keep it up lads, drive the Northern Irish youth who don’t care about historical identities into our hands.

    A modern, liberal and secular Republic is what it’s all about. That’s how you win the debate.

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    Mute Sorcha Hendry instagram: @SorchaHendry86
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    Jun 8th 2018, 1:53 PM

    Isn’t religion ment to be about including people

    247
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    Mute Joey Navinski
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    Jun 8th 2018, 2:00 PM

    @Sorcha Hendry instagram: @SorchaHendry86: whatever gave you that idea?

    83
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    Mute Paul Fahey
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    Jun 8th 2018, 2:03 PM

    @Sorcha Hendry instagram: @SorchaHendry86: certainly not the biblical versions of Christianity, no.

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    Mute Daniel Donovan
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    Jun 8th 2018, 2:03 PM

    @Sorcha Hendry instagram: @SorchaHendry86: I’m sorry Sorcha but you would have to be very uneducated to have that view of religion.

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    Mute Richard Lippy Collins
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    Jun 8th 2018, 4:34 PM

    @Sorcha Hendry instagram: @SorchaHendry86: don’t be so silly.

    3
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    Mute Monty Donotno
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    Jun 8th 2018, 4:42 PM

    @Sorcha Hendry instagram: @SorchaHendry86: originally but then came all the club rules

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    Mute Paul Jennings
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    Jun 8th 2018, 9:01 PM

    @Sorcha Hendry instagram: @SorchaHendry86: ostensibly yes. But in reality it’s about controling the masses. (No pun intended.) It has squeezed the life out of this country…

    5
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    Mute Anthony Byrne
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    Jun 9th 2018, 7:57 AM

    @Sorcha Hendry instagram: @SorchaHendry86: no … It’s about dividing people. How can you not see that ?

    1
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    Mute Darren Sheridan
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    Jun 8th 2018, 1:40 PM

    Oh no, my heart is broken.

    176
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    Mute Passing through this life
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    Jun 8th 2018, 1:58 PM

    These people believe in a bearded fairy in the sky …… and this surprises people ???

    110
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    Mute Permo Dermo
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    Jun 8th 2018, 8:28 PM

    @Passing through this life: and meanwhile those who have no belief system or moral code feel it’s their right to murder, steal and cheat at will. #BringBackTheSkyFairy I say

    24
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    Mute Owen Murphy
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    Jun 8th 2018, 10:18 PM

    @Permo Dermo: so no one that believes in those fairy tales murder steal or cheat is that what you are saying

    6
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    Mute Niamh Cardboard
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    Jun 8th 2018, 1:47 PM

    Jesus never said anything about homosexuality.

    151
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    Mute Michael Crowley
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    Jun 8th 2018, 1:58 PM

    @Niamh Cardboard: Didn’t see any women at the last supper

    103
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    Mute Daniel Donovan
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    Jun 8th 2018, 2:03 PM

    @Niamh Cardboard: No but “God” did and in doing so he condemned homosexuals to hell.

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    Mute Tommy Potter
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    Jun 8th 2018, 2:11 PM

    @Michael Crowley: maybe they were all gay.

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    Mute Michael Collins
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    Jun 8th 2018, 2:12 PM

    @Michael Crowley: lads night out

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    Mute RJ.Fallon
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    Jun 8th 2018, 2:22 PM

    @Michael Crowley: Yes you did. The person on his left is Mary Magdalene. There we as many females travelling with the first disciples as males. Just weren’t mentioned by later written stories.

    56
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    Mute Niamh Cardboard
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    Jun 8th 2018, 2:23 PM

    @Daniel Donovan: god said a lot of things. including condoning slavery and plenty of stoning for minor crimes! I’ll never understand why the church love using the homosexual rule and not the stoning, slavery or other ridiculous rules of the old testiment. It’s bizarre.

    75
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    Mute Conor Heffernan
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    Jun 8th 2018, 2:31 PM

    @Niamh Cardboard: Jesus was camp as fu(k. A 33 year old man hanging around with 12 other lads. No interest in women…join the dots lads.

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    Mute John McQuaid
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    Jun 8th 2018, 2:33 PM

    @RJ.Fallon: My favourite story is the one where Jesus turned water into funk.

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    Mute wrong side
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    Jun 8th 2018, 2:39 PM

    @John McQuaid: You’re so hilarious…

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    Mute Daniel Donovan
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    Jun 8th 2018, 2:53 PM

    @Niamh Cardboard: It’s called cherry picking, most religious sheep cherry pick the convenient parts of the Bible/Qur’an and ignore the bile and obvious hatred.

    25
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    Mute Niamh Cardboard
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    Jun 8th 2018, 3:01 PM

    @Michael Crowley: that’s because the church were major patrons of arts.

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    Mute paddy
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    Jun 8th 2018, 3:28 PM

    @RJ.Fallon: yeah allegedly

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    Mute Shane McGettrick
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    Jun 8th 2018, 3:53 PM

    @RJ.Fallon: unless da Vinci was actually there, the last supper isn’t a historical record. Good reference mind you!

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    Mute RJ.Fallon
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    Jun 8th 2018, 4:06 PM

    @John McQuaid: He didn’t,he watered down what was in the container,as was the custom back then. That was turned into a miracle by other people.

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    Mute Joey Navinski
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    Jun 8th 2018, 5:03 PM

    @RJ.Fallon: you sound you were there dude.

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    Mute RJ.Fallon
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    Jun 8th 2018, 5:40 PM

    @Joey Navinski: A bit before my time.but there are many references to this practice in research papers. Wine was never drunk neat.

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    Mute Gerard Smith
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    Jun 8th 2018, 6:08 PM

    @Niamh Cardboard: jesus never said anything! It’s all a pack of fairytales!

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    Mute David Grey
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    Jun 9th 2018, 12:00 AM

    Not correct he famously Get de behind me satin

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    Mute Sean Ryan
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    Jun 8th 2018, 2:23 PM

    Good! Them’s the rules. Eventually there’ll be no one allowed in.

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    Mute Ronan Bilbow
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    Jun 8th 2018, 2:47 PM

    The fact that this is still a discussion is the sad part.

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    Mute Sean Leonard
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    Jun 8th 2018, 2:22 PM

    See half the comments have been removed…..so much for free speech

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    Mute No One
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    Jun 8th 2018, 2:51 PM

    @Sean Leonard: You are talking about the Journal here. If it doesn’t fit in with their agenda,it doesn’t get printed!

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    Mute Ían Ó Ceallaigh
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    Jun 9th 2018, 2:11 AM

    @Sean Leonard: you want free speech? Set up your own site.

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    Mute Rob Cahill
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    Jun 8th 2018, 3:01 PM

    It’s as if people aren’t leaving organised religion at record speeds already.. Maybe they have a bet with the Catholics to see who goes under first.

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Jun 8th 2018, 1:49 PM

    Go back to the Stone Age Neanderthals.

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    Mute paul whelan
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    Jun 8th 2018, 5:00 PM

    We live in a free world,where people believe what they want to,and I’ll support their right,so snowflakes move on

    33
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    Mute TheoWolfe
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    Jun 8th 2018, 2:21 PM

    @Sean Leonard:

    What exactly is a bigot?

    It’s been my understanding that it is
    “a person who is intolerant towards those holding different opinions.”

    Would you say that might describe your attitude?

    49
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    Mute ted hagan
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    Jun 8th 2018, 4:31 PM

    I used to think the Presbyterian Church was slightly more enlightened.
    How wrong I was.

    35
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    Mute Player 1
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    Jun 8th 2018, 2:26 PM

    Fair enough on the gay couples if it is against there religion, but banning the kids seems a bit scaldy

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    Mute Tommy Potter
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    Jun 8th 2018, 2:28 PM

    Let he has not sinned cast the first stone.?

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    Mute Tom Purcell
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    Jun 8th 2018, 3:27 PM

    @Tommy Potter: Heha – that is part of the problem, those who vote for things like this usually consider themselves good Christians and don’t even know that that Mark’s story “Pericope adulterae” is not part of the original “approved” Bible, it was added sometime between the 5th -8th centuries.

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    Mute Tom Goss
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    Jun 9th 2018, 6:29 PM

    @Tom Purcell: And ’5th and 8th centuries’ equates to us altering a book written somewhere between 1300 and 1600…

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    Mute Sean Beinead
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    Jun 8th 2018, 1:56 PM

    Somethings dont change !!

    28
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    Mute Gavin Lynch
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    Jun 8th 2018, 3:43 PM

    Jesus hung around for the most part with 12 men. Statistically 1.2 of these men were gay. Do not tell me he didn’t enjoy the occasional tug or two.

    18
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    Mute TheoWolfe
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    Jun 8th 2018, 3:56 PM

    @Gavin Lynch:

    Probably more like between 0.024 and 0.048 Don’t fall for the Voller propaganda or even Kinsey.

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    Mute TheoWolfe
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    Jun 8th 2018, 4:04 PM

    @TheoWolfe:
    0.24 to 0.48

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    Mute Before its too late
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    Jun 8th 2018, 5:01 PM

    @Gavin Lynch: Statistically it’s about 1-30 .

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    Mute Tony Gordon
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    Jun 8th 2018, 1:59 PM

    Would like them to judge themselves too based on their own fictional book:

    Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

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    Mute Gargle29
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    Jun 8th 2018, 2:03 PM

    @Tony Gordon: we’re all doomed so

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    Mute Dotty Dunleary
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    Jun 8th 2018, 2:24 PM

    Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, . Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. . And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

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    Mute Damien Mooney
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    Jun 8th 2018, 2:45 PM

    @Dotty Dunleary: ‘were’ is the key word here. Such were…past tense..

    3
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    Mute Patrick J. O'Rourke
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    Jun 8th 2018, 3:00 PM

    @Dotty Dunleary: That’s pretty inclusive then. Everyone is going to hell now.

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    Mute DJ François
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    Jun 8th 2018, 3:07 PM

    @Dotty Dunleary: Kinda covers everyone

    9
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    Mute Garreth Byrne
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    Jun 8th 2018, 5:00 PM

    @Dotty Dunleary: It’s uncompromising chapter and verse – but which Book, which chapter & which verse? It could be St. Paul somewhere, I’ll guess.

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    Mute Kevin Slater
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    Jun 8th 2018, 7:03 PM

    Even Protestants call those lads ‘black protestants’.

    16
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    Mute James Keogh
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    Jun 8th 2018, 5:52 PM

    Are Presbyterians Christian ? ? or just a group of self preserving non-sympathetic heathens without a Christian thought in their little heads.
    The ol’ Chimpanzees passed these guys out centuries ago.

    16
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    Mute John Rownano
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    Jun 8th 2018, 3:03 PM

    What to you expect from people irrational enough to believe in a God myth!

    13
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    Mute Dotty Dunleary
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    Jun 8th 2018, 2:23 PM

    Oh dear, these idiots are really taking the interpretation of the Corinthians to the letter of the bad Greek-English translation and creating there own little pocket of reality!

    I hope they loose thousands of Church members now!

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    Mute Matt Beaumont
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    Jun 8th 2018, 5:13 PM

    And I have the right to call them out for what they are:
    A bunch of backwards bigots full of shite!
    Hope their church of bigotry and delusion falls apart eventually!
    Nobody needs Christian Talibans!

    29
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    Mute TheoWolfe
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    Jun 8th 2018, 5:27 PM

    @Matt Beaumont:

    So much tolerance, true libertarianism.

    15
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    Mute Austin Rock
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    Jun 8th 2018, 5:28 PM

    Predestination is alive and well – still.

    4
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    Mute Jaune Fujisawa
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    Jun 9th 2018, 12:09 AM

    Nobody cares.

    4
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    Mute Marian Redmond
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    Jun 8th 2018, 10:30 PM

    Disgraceful, unchristian discrimination

    7
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    Mute Alan Currie
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    Jun 8th 2018, 10:50 PM

    Religions are just man made fantasies designed to control gullible and often vulnerable humans. Even just a basic dig into human history shows this.

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    Mute Dee Mc Carthy
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    Jun 9th 2018, 5:29 PM

    Speaks volumes

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    Mute Mark Doran
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    Jun 9th 2018, 9:29 PM

    Irish version of the westboro baptist church. Who doesn’t love a good cult.

    1
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