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Brewer in St James's Gate, Natasha Alves

Meet the people who brew Ireland's beer - from just a few bottles to enough pints to supply the country

We spoke to a Brewer from St Jame’s Gate and the President of the National Homebrew Club.

IN RECENT YEARS, homebrewing has become an increasingly popular pursuit in Ireland.

Set up in 2011, the National Homebrew Club now boasts 400 active members attending their meet-ups and participating in their busy online forum.

They held their first full-day conference this year in April, with plans to continue it and expand next year.

“I was always interested in beer,” President of the Club, Thomas Carroll, explains. For him it started four years ago while at college, when by chance he came across a thread on boards.ie about the topic.

He bought a homebrew kit – “for the craic” – and made his first brew.

“The first brew wasn’t great,” he laughs, before adding: “I still drank it.”

masterclass

buck Photos taken at the Smithwick's Homebrew Master Class in September

Thomas cites the feeling of achievement behind brewing as one of the main motivating factors in keeping going after that first experience. “Holding your own beer in your hand, thinking ‘I made that.’”

Natasha Alves, a Brewer at St James’s Gate, mentions a similar feeling in her job at the plant. “A good day is really exciting and fun – a great sense of achievement to know that you’ve produced however many millions of pints at the end of your shift.”

The creative aspect

Natasha works with beer on a much bigger scale and comes from a background in microbiology, whereas Thomas works from his apartment in Derry purely for fun. Despite this, similar themes arise when speaking to them both – overwhelmingly, there is a sense of satisfaction and genuine achievement involved in creating something from scratch through brewing.

Both see homebrewing as an outlet for creativity. Though she doesn’t brew at home at the moment due to lack of space, Natasha and her husband (also a Brewer in St James’s Gate) have plans to start a set-up in the future.

“Just to have our own little space,” she explains. “To do innovation.”

At home, you have the luxury of trying this flavour, putting this or that into the beer. Something that we do ourselves… It’s our own creation.

Consistency is key for the Brewers – ensuring that each pint is the same as the last batch and the batches brewed last year is really important for any beer’s reputation.

Achieving this in St Jame’s Gate is somewhat easy Natasha adds, saying that they have a huge amount of control over the processes at play. Homebrewers, on the other hand, would be lucky to manage to recreate the exact same beer twice due to all the variables in their workflow. As Natasha says:

Self-teaching yourself to make beer – it’s so valuable. You don’t have to go to college and study microbiology to go and brew beer, you can do it yourself.

Thomas agrees that brewing has more flexibility “when done as a hobby”. For those in the Club, finessing a recipe and honing a brew’s taste to enter it into the annual competition in February and March is “the highlight of the year”.

Behind the scenes

For the last few weeks, homebrewers across the country have been brewing their own Christmas ale that they hope would stand out in the season. All of the entries will be judged next week by an expert panel appointed by Smithwick’s and two amateur brewers will be will be invited to step through the historic St James’s Gate in Dublin and brew their own recipe in the site’s home of innovation: the pilot brewhouse.

On the brewing day, the homebrewer will discuss their recipe with the Brewer and together work out how they will be able to brew enough of it for 10 pubs to sample around Ireland.

yu At the Smithwick's Master Class in September

When asked what it would mean for the average homebrewer to get the chance to brew their beer in St James’s Gate, Thomas said it would be a “once in a lifetime experience”.

With that in mind, we asked Natasha about the elements of St James’s Gate that our two winners might not have expected.

Don’t expect it to be the same as it is at home. One thing St James’s Gate are proud of is how environmentally friendly we are – you can’t just throw beer down the drain. You have to know what you’re doing will work before you do it. You can’t just throw it away and try again!

 She also added that the first thing many people ask her when they find out she works as a Master Brewer is “Oh wow! So you taste beer every day!”

And does she?

“Well, yes,” she laughs. But the process isn’t exactly what you might imagine:

There’s a tasting session every morning. I wouldn’t go every day, but I try to get down at least once a week. You taste your stouts, ales and lagers. It’s only a small amount that you taste, not even a mouthful, more a sip – and there’s water and crackers to cleanse your palate.You don’t spit the beer out like you do with wine. When you swallow beer, the taste buds you have on the back of your tongue are really important too, particularly for bitterness and that, which you wouldn’t get with wine.

Words of wisdom

Coming from two totally different worlds of brewing, both Natasha and Thomas had one similar golden rule for all would-be brewers: hygiene and sanitisation. “It’s very easy to accidentally overlook one part of the cleaning procedure,” Thomas warned.

natasha Natasha in the Hellfire Homebrew Club Smithwick's Smithwick's

Another piece of advice the two brewers had in common related to embracing trial and error. Thomas says his second-ever brew didn’t work out – he was overly ambitious and added too many hops, making it too bitter. “It’s very easy to add too much. Be careful,” he says.

Natasha has a sanguine take on this tale, reflecting: “Yes, but that’s how you learn. You make your mistake – then you know why, and don’t do it again. Don’t be afraid to experiment.”

It seems that no matter where you’re brewing – from the working brewhouses and fermentation vessels at St James’s Gate to a set-up in your spare room –a passion for what you’re creating (and a keen eye for sanitising, of course) is all you truly need to get going.

Now read: 6 things you never knew about Irish beer>

7 handy tips to get you started with homebrewing> 

We let our journalists brew beer in the office kitchen… Here’s how they got on>

If you would like further information about the Smithwick’s Challenge visit www.smithwickshomebrewchallenge.ie or to learn more about homebrewing and to pick up some tips visit www.nationalhomebrewclub.ie. Stay tuned over the coming weeks to see how our TheJournal.ie, The42.ie and DailyEdge.ie brews are coming along… Including opinions from Master Brewer Natasha and President of the National Homebrew Club Thomas on the flavours we picked. 

Happy brewing!

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    Mute Mayo seem to be the football equivalent of Waterfo
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    Jul 21st 2024, 7:30 PM

    Correct decision. God bless you Mr Biden and thank you for your service

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    Mute Pat Barry
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    Jul 21st 2024, 7:33 PM

    @Mayo seem to be the football equivalent of Waterfo: Amen to that brother.

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    Mute John J Barry
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:29 PM

    @Mayo seem to be the football equivalent of Waterfo: I’m sure the Palestinians will agree with you.

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    Mute Wood Jackson
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:21 PM

    @William Slevin: it must be so difficult for you, knowing everything. I hope you soon get some rest.

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:23 PM

    @Mayo seem to be the football equivalent of Waterfo: ‘God’… we have so far to go yet.

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    Mute Eric Gaffney
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:46 PM

    @Mayo seem to be the football equivalent of Waterfo: Yeah thanks for all the wars

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    Mute Eric Gaffney
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    Jul 21st 2024, 10:07 PM

    @William Slevin: he’s in talks with Trump ! Where do you lot get your news?

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    Mute brian madden
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    Jul 21st 2024, 10:19 PM

    @Eric Gaffney: breibart

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    Mute David Guiney
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    Jul 21st 2024, 10:21 PM

    @William Slevin: he’s a sex pest, and rabid anti vaxer that his own family have disowned.

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    Mute another one? what's going on is the semi state sec
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    Jul 21st 2024, 10:29 PM

    @William Slevin: Well done. You used “their” in the right context!

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    Mute TheGood Feign
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    Jul 21st 2024, 11:28 PM

    @William Slevin: I think the key thing about RFK is the media won’t mention him despite his rather significant percentage in polls, significant because of the election is close then his presence spoils an outright win. I think it goes to the house of reps to elect or something like that. No place in America for an independent, land of the free, leader of the free world, yeah right.

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    Mute James T.Kirk
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    Jul 21st 2024, 11:29 PM

    @Pat Barry: I hope that has made sense
    in your head.

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    Mute James T.Kirk
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    Jul 21st 2024, 11:32 PM

    @William Slevin: Ah Mr.Slevin is back with nothing better to do with his free time than trying to prove a point. Good man Jack.

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    Mute Fergus O'Donnell
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    Jul 22nd 2024, 12:09 AM

    @William Slevin: failure of a comment.
    Can you even read?

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    Mute Annette
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    Jul 21st 2024, 7:39 PM

    Trump is too old to be president.

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    Mute Pat Barry
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    Jul 21st 2024, 7:51 PM

    @Annette: I think the near miss has set him back a bit.

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:24 PM

    @Annette: and too dumb, but ‘that’s entertainment..’

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    Mute brian madden
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    Jul 21st 2024, 10:20 PM

    @Pat Barry: he looks very dishevelled.

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    Mute Stephen Foster
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:14 PM

    Kamala hasn’t a hope against Trump. So unlikeable, phoney and vapid. The democrats are in big trouble.

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:27 PM

    @Stephen Foster: she has one advantage. We know nothing about her.

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    Mute Argus Romsworth
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:06 PM

    Hope President Biden enjoys his retirement. He’s implemented some excellent economic policies that have benefitted the USA massively. Which in turn has benefited us here in Ireland and helped put more money in our pockets.

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    Mute Sheila McNulty
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:44 PM

    @Argus Romsworth: And he has supplied Israel with no end of Arms which has slaughered Thousands & thousands of innocent Children, Families wiped out in Palastine & their Country destroyed, How he could watch what was happening & still keep the arms supplied is scandalise

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    Mute James T.Kirk
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    Jul 21st 2024, 11:38 PM

    @Sheila McNulty: Nonsense, every president will support Israel by default. If you don’t know that you have a lot of reading to do.

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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:41 PM

    He’s spent hundreds of billions of dollars financing wars on different continents while millions of Americans are falling into poverty.

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    Mute TheGood Feign
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    Jul 21st 2024, 11:38 PM

    @Ger Whelan: they’ve always done that, the US was born out of the arms industry, and it profiteered from both sides in ww1 before joining in. Supplying or demonstrating it’s arms is what it does and always has.

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    Mute Shane Kinsella (Kinsey)
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    Jul 22nd 2024, 7:31 AM

    @Ger Whelan: The irony being that the one president who didn’t start a war is vilified as a war monger. You couldn’t make this stuff up.

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    Mute 087 bed
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    Jul 21st 2024, 7:38 PM

    I wonder who AIPAC will allow to take his place.

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:25 PM

    @087 bed: Netanyahu

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    Mute Mike B
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:28 PM

    @087 bed: Michael Rapaport

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    Mute Sean Money
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    Jul 21st 2024, 7:39 PM

    Whom is pulling the strings here?

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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Jul 21st 2024, 7:44 PM

    @Sean Money: Putin?

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    Mute Jack Hayes
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:13 PM

    @Sean Money: ‘Who’.

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    Mute Áine G
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:43 PM

    It’s Trump’s now. For the taking.

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    Mute Keith o beirne
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    Jul 21st 2024, 7:32 PM

    america is a nation that can be described in a single word, asufutimaehaehfutbw.

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    Mute Pat Barry
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    Jul 21st 2024, 7:35 PM

    @Keith o beirne: …or fubar.

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    Mute stephen deegan
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:07 PM

    @Pat Barry: or WTF

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:26 PM

    all valid

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    Mute Oh Mammy
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    Jul 21st 2024, 7:39 PM

    The US moving into a deeper ring of embarrassment

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    Mute Jack Hayes
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:12 PM

    The best decision and he leaves with divinity. Of course, Trump’s reaction to the news is the expected vile nastiness.

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    Mute Jack Hayes
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:15 PM

    *Dignity, I mean. I think the mentally-ill Maga cultists have the handle on messianic divinity.

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    Mute Ian
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:30 PM

    @William Slevin: see you’re the perpetual klown on here.

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    Mute Sheila McNulty
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:49 PM

    @Jack Hayes: dignity? he has Palastine on his Conscience supplied Israel with arms to slaughter innocent Children & Thousands of Families wiped of the face of the earth

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    Mute Bert Carolan
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:10 PM

    A real problem for the democrats now is that Harris is seen as unelectable. The best candidate would be California governor Gavin Newsome. They now have to persuade Harris not to run.
    To an extent this is damage limitation from the democrats. A candidate that can beat Trump at this point is unlikely, not losing both houses and at least be able to block trumps policys.

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    Mute Alan
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:14 PM

    @Bert Carolan: but Newsome is highly unpopular in California? What the Democrats need to do first is to stop banging on about what people have to lose if trump wins and instead tell people what they will gain if they vote Democrat.

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    Mute Bert Carolan
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:28 PM

    @Alan: California will vote democrat even if it meant voting for a jack Russell.
    It’s all about optics now. Newsome will look good, will sound good and will be 30 years younger than Trump.
    Can he or any other democrat candidate carry the swing states? Probably not.
    Mind you a section of voters that were disillusioned with two ancient candidates might be motivated now.

    23
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    Mute ecrowley ecrowley
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    Jul 21st 2024, 7:40 PM

    Would have been more effective a few days ago to take the sting out of the assassination attempt, narratively speaking. Still, he’s doing the right thing bowing out.

    48
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    Mute ecrowley ecrowley
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    Jul 21st 2024, 7:53 PM

    @William Slevin: I’ll say something to you that you have never, ever heard before…You might be right.

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    Mute Paul
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:14 PM

    But but but, Trump was wrong when he said Sleepy Joe wasn’t up to the job!

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    Mute Joseph Tierney
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    Jul 21st 2024, 7:50 PM

    What took him so long to make up his mind… Forgot he needed the proper medicine…..

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    Mute Kieran Woods
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:23 PM

    I wonder who the MIC and Isreal have chosen as the next nominee?

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    Mute John Barry
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:23 PM

    Good luck in your retirement Mr Biden. You’ll always be welcome back home in Ireland… Now to get Gavin Newsome in.

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    Mute Sheila McNulty
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:51 PM

    @John Barry: Really?After supplying Arms to Israel wake up

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    Mute Sean Mccabe
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:40 PM

    Off to paddy powers and put the mortgage on trump..absolute shoe in

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    Mute Garreth Byrne
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:18 PM

    Fintan O’Toole’s Irish Times article obviously influenced Biden’s decision.

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    Mute Vincent Hickey
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:48 PM

    Sleepy joe will nod off now

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    Mute Argus Romsworth
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:06 PM

    Such a brave decision from president Biden.

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    Mute Phillip Smyth
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:20 PM

    Trump has a shoe in now, Democracy as the US partially had is now dead, the major power a dictator wants is to be glorified by his people and the adoration from same,he has the money, what else does he need only a monument and a gold plaque to go down in history.

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    Mute Paul
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:15 PM

    @Phillip Smyth: the world was more pea full place when Trump was President.
    But lefty dopes never let the facts cloud their opinions…

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    Mute sean weir
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    Jul 21st 2024, 11:46 PM

    @Paul: rubbish

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    Mute Shane Kinsella (Kinsey)
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    Jul 22nd 2024, 7:32 AM

    @Phillip Smyth: You do know how democracy works right ?

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    Mute Ian McDonald
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    Jul 21st 2024, 11:02 PM

    How the hell are fires being started at the Coolock site that is being monitored by both Gards and security personnel ??? You had one job!

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    Mute hi from heaven
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    Jul 21st 2024, 11:47 PM

    @Ian McDonald: I thought the same thing…but I presume it would be easy done with drones and petrol bombs

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    Mute James Rowan
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:30 PM

    Covfefe

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    Mute 9QRixo8H
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:15 PM

    Could Newsom be the new JFK? Young and energetic. #SaveDemocracy2024

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    Mute Richard Keogh
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:26 PM

    @9QRixo8H: California is an absolute basket case under his leadership. His polling among Independents is horrendous, and they will be very important in deciding the election in the swing states.

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    Mute RIP
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:04 PM

    God help America,
    playing into Putin’s hands

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    Mute Athena
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:08 PM

    Aww, and him having received the most votes of all presidents ever, he might have topped that yet again …

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    Mute hans vos
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:02 PM

    Brave from Biden. Seeing your own Foulds is not for everyone. Still I prefer Gretchen Whitmer or Gavin Newsom instead of Kamela Harris.

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    Mute Keith McSweeney
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    Jul 21st 2024, 8:48 PM

    Kamala Harris

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    Mute AnthonyK
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    Jul 21st 2024, 9:09 PM

    A descent choice.

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    Mute Peter Brown
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    Jul 21st 2024, 10:46 PM

    Kamala and Clinton

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    Mute sean weir
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    Jul 21st 2024, 11:46 PM

    @Peter Brown: on god no ,that’s the worst pairing ever ,trump would walk it

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