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Updated 19.22
THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS on O’Connell Street in Dublin have just been switched on, and everything is starting to look a lot like Christmas.
Local boyband Hometown, along with city mayor Críona ní Dhalaigh, did the honours after performing a quick concert for the gathered crowd.
If the photos are anything to go by everyone has had a whale of a time.
Earlier the Dublin Gospel Choir gave a free concert, while Dustin the Turkey gave a performance of his new Olympia panto Freezin, and all manner of other Christmas-related tomfoolery was on display from early afternoon.
Meanwhile charity Debra Ireland was hoping to break a Christmas jumper world record on O’Connell Street as part of Geansaí Nollag 2015.
Last year’s record for the same event stood at 1,297 ridiculous jumpers, so there’s a tough target to beat. We’re not yet sure as to whether or not the record has fallen.
To bolster that effort, the Luas will be free to all people wearing a Christmas jumper from 6pm until last trams this evening. So if you’ve been sampling the festive spirit around the city centre don’t forget your trip home can be a free one.
“Just show your bonkers Christmas jumper if Luas staff ask for your ticket!” says a release from the tram service.
What qualifies as a ‘bonkers’ Christmas jumper is not made clear however, so it’s probably best not to be caught wearing a relatively plain one. It may come down to the ticket collector’s discretion after all.
Originally published at 13.50
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The UK will do nothing of the sort, or they’ll get hammered with trade sanctions. Just trying to quieten the unionists down for a while.
@Neil A Campbell: Teresa May correctly pointing out in the Commons today that the DUP voted against a deal that would remove the need for a border in the Irish sea. The DUP’s desire to see a hard border on the island of Ireland is palpable.
@Ian O’Donovan: true – and people seemingly passing over the fact that Donaldson objected to signing The Good Friday Agreement – they should call themselves the want their cake ear it party
“The current EU proposals….has left them without an Executive and with a threat to peace and stability”. No they haven’t. The DUP has left them without an Executive and the DUP threatens peace and stability.
@GrumpyAulFella: Jeffrey was never in favour of the GFA and even left the UUP over it. He has a history of not wanting to share power.
“ok ok ok i’m gonna do it guys, watch me watch me, this time i’m totally serious” never going to happen, to much to lose.
@Ian O’Donovan: Liz Truss is a wannabe Maggie Thatcher and will say anything to get noticed.
They’re still trying to find a scapegoat for the self-inflected damage of Brexit. Abandoning the exit agreement that Boris agreed would be an admission of their error. That will also trigger a worse-than-before situation for which they would again blame others. I look forward to participating in economic sanctions if that occurs.
UKG delivering on shadow promises made during Brexit vote, in spite of democracy.
@Rúraíocht: There will be no unilateral action by Boris, the consequences for the whole of the UK don’t warrant it.
No mention of this in the queens address to parliament yesterday delivered by big lugs. Which liz should we be taking heed of?
Like the cowardly antagonist that gets called out “hold me back, hold me back”
While the DUP threats grow bigger, the E.U. and Ireland say nothing of the consequences of the Boris bluff. If the E.U. were firm and said, for example, no trade agreement between E.U. and uk or put Boris in a situation where he had to choose between the ‘mainland’ and N.I. then the ‘mainland’ would win everytime.
What will Jeffrey do when the economic consequences of his actions begin to effect the mental health etc of his constituents?
@Barrycelona: We could see the “Plantation” of Scotland, Wales or England.
have your say