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This Dingle whiskey distillery is selling vodka and gin to help fund the business

You have to play the long game if you want to get into the whiskey business, which is why the Dingle Whiskey Distillery is thinking outside the box.

GIN Dingle Whiskey Distillery Dingle Whiskey Distillery

SITTING NEXT TO the estuary of Dingle harbour is a business that hopes to put the town on the map for more than just Fungie the dolphin.

Oliver Hughes and his cousin Liam LaHart opened Dingle Whiskey Distillery in 2012. No strangers to the pub game, the two men have been passionate about beer since setting up the Porterhouse Brewing Company in 1990s.

Before anyone knew what ‘craft’ beer was, they were specialising in importing various craft beers from around the world.

Since then they have opened the brand of pubs in Dublin, Cork, Bray, London and New York, but just over two years ago found new love in whiskey.

Dingle town 

Dingle always had a special place in Hughes’ heart, which is why after a conversation with his distilling guru, John McDougall, he decided to give the whiskey business a shot.

In November 2012, the distillery was up and running, producing the first whiskey to be made in Ireland outside of the big three brands Midleton, Cooley and Bushmills.

While micro-brewies are popping up all over the country, it takes a bit more patience and commitment to produce a new Irish whiskey.

Legally, under the Irish Whiskey Act of 1980, whiskey cannot be called whiskey until the spirits have been matured in wooden casks on the island of Ireland for a period of not less than three years.

What does this mean?

Essentially, it means paying out to produce a product for three years before seeing any profit return.

Entrepreneur John Teeling, who founded the Cooley Distillery in Co Louth, this month warned that many of the new distilleries opening up might never produce a drop.

I think some of them may not get started, I think they don’t realise that it will take them four or five years from now until they have their first whiskey and it will certainly take them a number of years before they get commercial after that,” he said.

For this very reason, the Dingle Whiskey Distillery has had to come up with other lines of revenue to keep the whiskey production afloat and it comes in the form of vodka and gin.

ding1

“The vodka and gin line is just good economics,” explains distillery manager Mary Ferriter.

While the whiskey sits in casks for up to three years, the Dingle Distillery has been making its very own brand – Dingle gin and Dingle vodka – and it’s going down a treat.

The spirits are being stocked in most pubs in the town and many other establishments and off licences up and down the country.

Gin resurgence

gin1 Dingle Whiskey Distillery Dingle Whiskey Distillery

There has been somewhat of a resurgence in gin with festivals and new brands popping up on the market.

At present there are only two gins made in Ireland and one of these is the hand-crafted Dingle Original Gin.

Ferriter explains it is the product of a considerable amount of research, both technical and historical.

Dingle Original Gin is made in small batches of 500 litres. It’s what is categorised as a London dry gin but has it’s own unique flavours.

ding2

The spirit is collected at 70% abv (alcohol by volume) and then cut to 40% abv using the purest of water which is drawn from a well 240 feet below the distillery.

The distillery is located in the old sawmills on the Milltown Road just on the fringe of Dingle. Behind the distillery is an old mill wheel which used to be in operation but has fallen into disrepair.

Ferriter explains that the long-term plan is to get it back up and running so a constant supply of Dingle water can be used in the production of the whiskey, gin and vodka.

ding 3

The vodka is another range that is gaining in popularity – it’s unique selling point is it is quintuple distilled.

vodka1 Dingle Whiskey Distillery Dingle Whiskey Distillery

Irish whiskey 

Ireland is known around the world for its whiskey, but it hasn’t always been so.

Our cheerful and enthusiastic tour guide Joe Joyce tells us Ireland slipped off the radar in the whiskey world back in the prohibition in the US.

Scottish whiskeys began to take over by supplying the states.

Two hundred years ago, Ireland had over a hundred officially recognised distilleries. However by the turn of this century there were just two.

ding4

Supporting local

The Dingle Whiskey Distillery says it is not in the business of creating a mega brand.

Employing a local staff of ten people and one brand ambassador staff member in Dublin, the scale is modest producing just two casks per week. However, Ferriter says looking forward with the tourism offering on site they hope to increase staff by another 10-15 people over the next two years.

ding5

The distillery prides itself on its artisan approach. Using three hand-crafted copper pot stills made specially for the Dingle distillery by Forsyths in Scotland, the Irish malted barley is used to make pure pot still malt whiskey. The largest pot still can hold up to 7,000 litres.

ding6

Our tour guide Joe tells us to stick our head over the brew as the yeast cells eat the simple sugars found in whiskey mash. The powerful whiff of the brew and the carbon dioxide it emits is enough to knock the socks of anyone and the stunned faces of tourists on the guided tour definitely need a drink after it!

ding7

It’s explained to us that whiskey is not whiskey until it comes out of out the cask, so until then it is pure spirit, also known as moonshine or poitín.

whiskey

Given a drop, we taste the spirit at it’s strongest of over 60% abv – not something you should do if you have work the next day.

Founding fathers

Thinking outside the box, the distillery also has another line of revenue.

ding 8

The first 500 casks are available to those who wish to become “The Dingle Founding Fathers”.

Print

Investors may choose to have the contents of their personalised whiskey casks bottled on site by the Dingle Distillery or after 5 years, cask owners may choose to take ownership of the cask.

Investors may choose to keep the cask at the distillery for a longer period to allow it to mature further before bottling.

If you want to taste the much anticipated Dingle Whiskey, you’ll just have to wait.

The first Dingle Whiskey will be released in 2016. Ferriter says is poignant as it is the centenary of Irish independence.

“Given our independent nature, we feel that this is a happy coincidence.”

Read: Irish whiskey is going through a resurgence – but not everyone will enjoy it>

Read: Inside the first whiskey distillery to open in Dublin in over 125 years>

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15 Comments
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    Mute Thomas Maher
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    May 15th 2017, 9:48 AM

    There’s more than a good chance that 58%. Of people don’t realise they are already working with, friends with people, with mental health issues.
    It’s people’s general ignorance of mental health is the problem.

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    Mute Jun Stone
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    May 15th 2017, 12:52 PM

    @Thomas Maher: I worked with someone with serious mental health issues, was a complete nightmare, she shouldn’t have been at work but was a single mother so had to be there. In the beginning I felt really sorry for her but she would just walk out and leave me to deal with patients on my own in a very serious area. I know it wasn’t her fault and she shouldn’t have been at work, but it’s not an experience I’d like to repeat to be honest.

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    Mute Living The Laws
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    May 15th 2017, 3:50 PM

    @Thomas Maher: and perhaps ignorance of their own mental health issues

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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    May 15th 2017, 7:25 PM

    @Jun Stone: Personally Jun I’d blame the organisation you worked for they should have provided supports for your collage and yourself.

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    Mute Marcia Craine
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    May 15th 2017, 9:39 AM

    Jeez there’s a lot of work to do here. And the irony is, the people who say they wouldn’t talk to someone with a mental health issue probably have one themselves, or have it in the family, and just are not aware of it.

    Awareness is what this is about. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not real, or doesn’t exist.

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    Mute Gillian Weir Scully
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    May 15th 2017, 10:01 AM

    What if someone with mental Heath issues is normal and we are all coping with life and that makes us feel different and so not normal. What if 95% of us are normal with our mental health issues?

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    Mute Thomas John Whyte
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    May 15th 2017, 1:45 PM

    @Gillian Weir Scully: Hi Gillian, what do you mean? Just curious.

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    Mute UpThereAndHereAsWell
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    May 15th 2017, 2:35 PM

    @Gillian Weir Scully: What is the whole notion of “mental health” was simply a Western mindset to capitilise and profit off… Most the world over its called suffering, and everyone is subject to it

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    Mute Thomas John Whyte
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    May 15th 2017, 3:32 PM

    @UpThereAndHereAsWell: @UpThereAndHereAsWell: Yes, definitely everyone is subject to suffering, but some people can’t cope and need help. I’m sure you both mean no harm but this thread sounds a bit like ‘Just get on with things- everyone is suffering’. I know it’s really tricky to be inclusive and also to encourage people to feel like they can put their hands up and ask for extra help if they are extra-not coping. I guess that’s the conversation society needs to have. ‘Everyone suffers from mental health problems’ may be a true and honest message, but on its own it’s actually quite dangerous.

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    Mute Thomas John Whyte
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    May 15th 2017, 3:38 PM

    @UpThereAndHereAsWell: Yes, definitely everyone is subject to suffering, but some people can’t cope and need help. I’m sure you both mean no harm but this thread sounds a bit like ‘Just get on with things- everyone is suffering’. I know it’s really tricky to be inclusive and also to encourage people to feel like they can put their hands up and ask for extra help if they are extra-not coping. I guess that’s the conversation society needs to have. ‘Everyone suffers from mental health problems’ may be a true and honest message, but on its own it’s actually quite dangerous.

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    Mute Gillian Weir Scully
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    May 16th 2017, 8:39 AM

    @Thomas John Whyte: hi Thomas. I suppose what I was trying to say was that I was wondering if that the percent of mental health issues was so high that someone with issues is normal. The person with no issues is unusual or abnormal?

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    Mute Gillian Weir Scully
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    May 16th 2017, 8:46 AM

    @Thomas John Whyte: ok now I understand what you are saying I think. Someone with issues will generally feel alone, isolated and unable to cope which is a very dark and sad place to be. Perhaps feeling that %95 of people feel like that also at one time or another would help them to seek help.

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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    May 15th 2017, 11:46 AM

    Did anyone ask them why they wouldn’t work with someone with a mental health issue ?
    Is it they are afraid the person won’t hold their own on the job and others will have to pick up the slack ? Is it because they think people with mental health issues are all potientially murderers ? Is it that they feel they would be expected to help the person but would feel out of their depth ?

    What were the reason? We need to know why and not assume. If we know why we may be able to address any concerns.

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    Mute Stiofán Ó Cléirigh
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    May 15th 2017, 11:27 AM

    This saddens me

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    Mute Angela Gaughran
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    May 15th 2017, 11:06 AM

    I hope it stays fine for them.

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    Mute DaisyChainsaw
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    May 15th 2017, 12:03 PM

    Chances are they already are. By the way lads, mental illness isn’t like the flu, you can’t catch it from someone.

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    Mute Martin Baker
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    May 15th 2017, 8:58 PM

    @DaisyChainsaw: Well said!

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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    May 15th 2017, 12:15 PM

    To be honest I think it’s very hard on the people who are expected to listen. It must be scary as hell to hear someone say they feel so down they think about ending it. Or to deal with someone completely in distress from anxiety. Even if they are successful chances are those individuals are never ” cured” and family and friends will be dealing with this on and off for a long time. It could be just too much for them. I don’t blame them. It’s draining and soul destroying for everyone involved. Supporting someone with mental health issues is not easy. You can’t prop a pillow or make them soup and make things better like it’s a cold or a flu. The feeling of helplessness or even somehow saying the wrong thing and making it worse are ever present. Journal get a family members perspective please . Let people see that it’s not just lack of awareness it’s a responsibly that some people feel ill equipped to deal with.

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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    May 15th 2017, 7:34 PM

    @Catherine Sims: I’m intrigued with your claim about those “expected to listen” We are talking about a work environment here not counselling (who as far as I know do listen). Why would you think if you work alongside someone suffering from mental health issues you would be expected to listen?

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    Mute Martin Baker
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    May 15th 2017, 8:50 PM

    @Kerry Blake: Hi Kerry, do you not feel it is the responsibility of all of us, friends, colleagues, family, to be open to listen to those whose lives intercept with ours?

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    Mute John Fenton
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    May 15th 2017, 12:15 PM

    One hundred percent of people in Dublin work with someone with a mental health difficulty already, therefore one hundred percent of Dublin people have a mental health difficulty themselves.

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    Mute Sorcha Hendry
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    May 15th 2017, 10:56 AM

    So many of the population have difficulty with some form of mental health problem. And instead of other people being scared that something will happen to them. Just listen thats all anyone wants.

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    Mute Ray Farrell
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    May 15th 2017, 1:46 PM

    @Thomas Maher: Well said, my thought exactly, seen as how 1 in 3 of us will experience Mental Health difficulties in our lives at some point people are indeed already working with others that they don’t even know about.
    People’s ignorance is indeed a major problem.

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    Mute Caroline Lennon-Nally
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    May 15th 2017, 1:46 PM

    If someone has an issue in working with someone with poor mental health, it’s highly advisable for those individuals to seek help and support as a matter of urgency, to enable them to get over their issues.

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    Mute Martin Baker
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    May 15th 2017, 4:06 PM

    @Catherine Sims: I have family members and close friends who live with mental health problems (as indeed do we all, whether we are aware of it or not). My best friend lives with bipolar disorder and suicidal thinking. It is not enough to say it’s too hard on us “well ones”. The onus is on us to get some awareness and learn how to be a supportive and caring friend, colleague, family member, citizen. Check out Mental Health First Aid courses in your area. Our own book was written specifically to help friends: “High Tide, Low Tide: The Caring Friend’s Guide to Bipolar Disorder.”

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    Mute Harold Maio
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    May 15th 2017, 8:14 PM

    —-Almost half of people in Dublin wouldn’t work with someone with a mental health difficulty???

    Nearly half the people in Dublin already do! Most people dealing with a mental illness are fully employed. We are a broad and diverse demographic, earing to the millions, holding every university degree, and every professional, white, and blue collar job.

    Surely you know that.

    9
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    Mute James Bishop
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    May 15th 2017, 6:56 PM

    It would be career suicide to mention psychiatric illness to potential employers.

    I read once on boards about a woman who did a very good interview but was rejected because she did a medical and disclosed her anxiety/depression.

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    Mute John Murphy
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    May 15th 2017, 6:55 PM

    Despite all the publicity around this topic, I dont think its a great idea to be open about my own problems at work given these statistics. Its certainly not a good idea if you wish to progress your career.

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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    May 15th 2017, 7:36 PM

    @John Murphy: And not after reading a fair few of the comments here John……

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    Mute Martin Baker
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    May 15th 2017, 9:33 PM

    @John Murphy: Sadly, yes.

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    Mute Sean Doyle
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    May 15th 2017, 6:12 PM

    I strongly object to this survey headlines singling out Dubliners , I’ve known fellow Dubliners from all parts of Dublin and all walks of life who have and would work with these unfortunate people . I think a few surveys using different companies should have been used in order to get the true picture of this question before painting most Dubliners with the one brush !

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    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
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    May 15th 2017, 10:19 AM

    ….and which half is that?

    5
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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    May 15th 2017, 12:04 PM

    @Micheal S. O’ Ceilleachair: it could be you…..

    3
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    Mute Living The Laws
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    May 15th 2017, 3:58 PM

    I can see job adverts in the Herald – neuro-typicals need only apply

    who is the ill one in that scenario?

    terrible poll. terrible questions. ignorant results.

    6
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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    May 15th 2017, 7:50 PM

    In a minor way, I get this. I have difficulty understanding why a phobia means that someone cannot do A, but I can accept that it’s a real problem, reason it through and ask them if they can do B instead, given that I’m doing all the work that involves A. Is that not better than resenting someone’s efforts and pretending that they could easily do A too if they wanted to? Loads of people can’t do much because they are terrified of their back going again; it doesn’t show, it isn’t currently painful, it limits what they can do but they can still work.

    Sure there’s more to any of us than a list of things we can’t do.

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    Mute Martin Baker
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    May 15th 2017, 8:59 PM

    @Fiona Fitzgerald: So well and compassionately expressed, Fiona.

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    Mute Martin Baker
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    May 15th 2017, 4:18 PM

    I have family members and close friends who live with mental health problems (as indeed do we all, whether we are aware of it or not). My best friend lives with bipolar disorder and suicidal thinking.

    It is not enough to say it’s too hard on us “well ones”. The onus is on us to get some awareness and learn how to be a supportive and caring friend, colleague, family member, citizen.

    Check out Mental Health First Aid courses in your area. Our own book was written specifically to help friends: “High Tide, Low Tide: The Caring Friend’s Guide to Bipolar Disorder.”

    2
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    Mute Martin Baker
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    May 15th 2017, 8:48 PM

    Sorry this comment posted more than once, I had difficulty with my mobile and somehow it posted several times.

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    Mute Martin Baker
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    May 15th 2017, 4:34 PM

    I have family members and close friends who live with mental health problems (as indeed do we all, whether we are aware of it or not). My best friend lives with bipolar disorder and suicidal thinking. It is not enough to say it’s too hard on us “well ones”. The onus is on us to get some awareness and learn how to be a supportive and caring friend, colleague, family member, citizen. Check out Mental Health First Aid courses in your area. Our own book was written specifically to help friends: “High Tide, Low Tide: The Caring Friend’s Guide to Bipolar Disorder.”

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    Mute Geraldine Mulcahy
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    May 15th 2017, 12:29 PM

    This really pisses me off for once I’m glad mental health can’t be seen.its hard enough to live with without wondering if colleagues knew they would judge you

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