Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
INTERNET COMMENTERS CAN get a lot of flak sometimes.
However, they play a big part here on TheJournal.ie, helping to make the site what it is. Every day several thousand comments are left on the site, shaping the discussion and kickstarting some lively debates (and despite what some commenters might believe, only a tiny number ever have to be deleted).
We’ve compiled a list of the 10 comments which received the most thumbs up from other readers this year. As you might expect, some of the most popular comments were among the first posts on a breaking news story, expressing what many people felt about an issue. Some were funny, some insightful and some were sympathetic.
So here are the 10 comments with the most thumbs up this year. And before you ask – no, we’re not going to do a list of the comments which received the most thumbs down. That would be too cruel.
1. The most popular comment this year was by Arthur Pewty on the article about the death of broadcasting legend Bill O’Herlihy. He got 5,502 thumbs up:
“Okey Doke, we’ll leave it there so” RIP Bill. :(
2. The second most popular comment was from P O’Leary, who got 5,193 thumbs up for this comment:
Was at a communion two weeks ago and the local travellers ruined it for most people. Blocked the car park with the limos and filled half the seats in the church that was reserved for families(they refused to move)
The small traveller kids ran around the church screaming all during the service and the priest had to stop mass twice. They are a bloody disgrace. Sick of them.
Their response to everything is “that’s discrimination boss” as evident in that video.
3. In a self-fulfilling prophecy, this comment by Paul Fanshawe got 5,085 thumbs up:
Don’t be ridiculous. Anybody with a small amount of advanced IT knowledge can inflate their own green thumbs ad infinitum.
4. In fourth place was this comment from Sam on the article about escaped prisoner Derek Brockwell, who used a scheduled visit to Tallaght Hospital to escape. His comment got 4,920 thumbs up:
Now ship him back to the uk
5. This comment from Liam Higgins about the tragic death of four young women in a car crash in Kildare got 4,473 thumbs up:
God love their families and friends. Spare a thought for the emergency services dealing with this tragedy.
6. Beebop got 4,428 thumbs up for this comment on an article about a woman who was left bloodied after an anti-water charges protest:
“People have a right to breach security if they want” – eh no they don’t ya silly goose. If thats a right I’m exercising it and going in to the vault of my bank tomorrow. I’ll do it peacefully too
7. Jim had the seventh most popular comment this year with 4,182 thumbs up on the article about a 10-year-old boy who saved his little sister from being abducted in Laois.
Fair play to the girls little brother. What a brave young lad.
8. In eighth place was this comment from Gonzo Doyle about Graham Dwyer being found guilty of the murder of Elaine O’Hara. The comment got 4,112 thumbs up:
Finally justice for Elaine and her family, he discarded her like an
animal and went on with his life as normal, intriguing case, great work by all who made this day happen
9. Mr. Dave got 4,049 thumbs up for this comment about the final deadline for registering with Irish Water in order to be able to receive the water conservation grant:
Alan Kelly proposing ‘Fast Track Courts’ for people who won’t pay the water charge.
Where are the Fast Track Courts for the the Bankers/Developers that brought this country down Minister Kelly? RIP Labour.
10. Last but not least, in tenth place is Rod_Ten© whose comment got 3,955 thumbs up on the article about a 3-year-old child who was treated for hypothermia on Croagh Patrick:
Parents should be charged with negligence, morons
All figures correct when compiled
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Too much paperwork. This only adds to the burnout that many child protection workers face. The job of a social worker has become too administrative and less front line
@Alison Maguire: Do you think its the front line(visiting dysfunctional homes were there’s child abuse) or the admin element that causes turnover in staff ……
@Murr Paul: the frontline also deal with a lot of admin
I believe there is room for all, please note that some of the private agencies are social enterprises that re-investing the children in their care.
As a country though we need to really start investing in support of vulnerable families from pregnancy, good preschools good family support. Our legislation also needs a complete overhaul with a much stronger emphasis on what’s in a child’s best interest not the parents. A child in foster care can at any time be returned to the birth parents, how can a child fully commit to a new family if they are aware of this.
@Anne Kearney: A child in foster care can at any time be returned to the birth parents, how can a child fully commit to a new family if they are aware of this.
A child will always want to return to their parents as when turned 18 kick out by foster families regardless.
@Murr Paul: a significant number of foster carers would and do keep the child in their care after the age of 18. I feel some of the issue is the after care work that goes on from 15 or 16 preparing for independence can instill a fear in the child so there is increased acting out that causes the placement to break down. I reject you before you reject me. A lot of children during access are told that they can go home also the foster carers in their own eyes is only temporary. We need to be able to make a home more permanent for some children and carers.
Why do they try and privatise everything???
Never has a good outcome
In no way am I comparing a Child to a dog here but look what’s happened with privatization re Ashton Dog Pound. Neglect, Abuse, and power pulling where everyone in Dublin is in fear of calling for the dog warden.
@Margaret Doyle: You don’t want to compare the two, and yet you do.
€325 not much to cover all the costs involved with children who have been neglected. The government trying to do all the really important stuff on the Cheap again.
@Alan Kelly: what costs do they have more then any other child? They also receive child benefit, social welfare CDA increases etc. I know cases were they claimed the foster children were disabled to get carers allowance, care grant and domicile care allowance all untaxed. A right little money earner.
@Murr Paul: you cannot just CLAIM someone is disabled!!
Do you know the trauma these kids have been through? Do you know the time that goes into making sure all the needs of these kids at met?
@Murr Paul: would you work 24/7 for 1.93 euro an hour and take the child’s expenses out of that too.
@Murr Paul: What is wrong with you? The state is neglecting and allowing lifelong damage to occur to children. They are pouring money into private companies and you point to a baseless, imaginary problem of welfare fraud. Do you think that so you can feel better or are you just bitter or thick or both?
@Alan Kelly: Making foster caring financially too appetizing is far too dangerous. It attracts the worst of people, to the detriment of these especially vulnerable children. Of course low income families with the right intentions shouldn’t be excluded from fostering simply because they can’t afford it. But that’s why the system allows for specific expenses for the particular foster child in question (with receipts and review process with regards to expenses etc). But just a nice lump sum lodged into your account with no questions asked every month will end up attracting too much interest for all the wrong reasons.
The cost factor here must be quantified, the cost given of €1,000 in a private placement includes other support. It includes the cost of social work support available 24 hours a day 7 days a week not currently provided by Tusla. The private fostering agencies also provide support services such as educational supports child care workers etc.
The private agencies also may be asked to locate careers for children with a complex level of care needs.
have your say