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Behind the St Patrick's Day parade: 'You walk in with tears in your eyes - they are so dedicated'

We spoke to the two women responsible for the St Patrick’s Festival pageants, which will make up part of the parade this year.

ST PATRICK’S DAY is about fun, floats, and parades – but it’s also about community spirit.

And as part of this year’s parade during Dublin’s St Patrick’s Festival, that will be crystallised when people representing a range of different cultures come together for two pageants. They’ll have spent months working together to great vibrant, colourful pageants complete with costumes and choreography.

The first group, City Fusion 2017, includes adults from Bolivia, Ireland, Lithuania, and China, to name a few countries. Then there’s Brighter Futures 2017, which involves young people under 18 representing Syria, Brazil and Ireland, for example.

Both pageants will form part of the large St Patrick’s Day parade, which will snake around Dublin city on 17 March.

‘It makes you feel proud’

The festival’s artistic director is Karen Walshe, who explained to TheJournal.ie that City Fusion and Brighter Futures reflect how multicultural and vibrant Irish society is in 2017.

“They are our own in-house pageants for the parade, and they are quite unique compared to the other pageants from around the country,” explained Walshe.

Rather than being formed by stage schools or existing groups, these pageants bring together community groups who didn’t know each other, made up of people from different backgrounds, cultures and socioeconomic experiences.

“It makes people feel really proud when you bring together community groups,” said Walshe.

“For them to have such a focus and for them to have a pride in what they’re working towards, something presented on their national day, it gives them an awful lot of pleasure and enjoyment and fun.

“But also it makes them feel really important. They put a lot of work and dedication into the rehearsal and turning up for fittings and learning their choreographed moves.”

The choreographer they work with is Muirne Bloomer, while the designer is Sabine Dargeant. On the day itself, professional make-up artists and hair stylists will be there to work on the participants, while each costume is specifically tailored to each person.

“Barriers are just broken down and everyone works together,” said Walshe of the process. “It’s a message for the world in where we are today.”

While the groups have been practising since January on a weekly basis, they have all been meet for group rehearsals before the big day itself. It’s a huge thing for the organisers to see all the work come together.

“You walk in nearly with tears in your eyes – they are so dedicated and it’s just gorgeous to see,” said Walshe. “They all come together and the choreographed sections merge into one.”

Ireland you are

The theme of this year’s St Patrick’s Festival, Ireland You Are, was inspired by Stephen James Smith’s poem, which was commissioned for the festival.

St Patrick's Festival / YouTube

With this year’s theme, Walshe said she “wanted to explore Ireland today and how we are a culturally diverse country”.

We wanted to reflect the hardships we have gone through presently and in the past, but also to look at the amazing attributes we have, and the new attributes we have, and the new cultures we have in society today. And how bringing new cultures into the country can make us better, because we’re learning more and we’re diversifying all the time, and we are learning from new people as they are learning from us.

“It’s about unity and it’s about coming together,” she said. “And for me the parade morning and parade day is really about celebrating our Irishness and being really proud. And for a few hours to try and honour the past, but just really feel positive about Ireland today and try and reach out.”

And when you actually shake someone’s hands and spend time with them you realise they are not that different to you…

“It’s celebrating individuality and the collective,” said choreographer Muirne Bloomer. “People from all over the world have always come to Ireland and fed into the culture and then become part of the culture. People have always come here and settled and stayed or visited and their very presence has informed the culture. And so it’s a celebration of that.”

While the adults group’s piece is responding to Smith’s poem and the theme, with Brighter Futures they will be telling the story of Ireland’s pirate queen, Grace O’Malley – so keep an eye out for lots of mini pirates on the day.

The Brighter Futures event is also inspired by the work of the half-Irish surrealist artist Leonora Carrington.

“Her art is very influenced by the mythology of Ireland as well as the mythology of other countries,” explained Bloomer.

‘You don’t understand what it’s like until you do it’

On the day itself, the participants will meet at 7am, get ready and have breakfast, then get bussed to the event itself. “It’s a great buzz and it’s a great atmosphere to walk through the parade,” said Walshe.

“You don’t understand what it’s like until you do it. People can be quite cynical about what it means to people, but when you’re in it and you’re on the route and you see people’s faces in the crowd you realise ‘my God, that means a lot to people’.”

When it came to choreographing the pageants, Bloomer didn’t want to march in and tell people every single move they should do.

While parts of the movement were choreographed in advance, some of it is filtered through the different cultures involved, while groups were encouraged to come up with ideas. This gives them a sense of ownership and ensures “that they are fully invested”, said Bloomer.

“I think of the pageant as storytelling but also a moving tapestry,” said Bloomer, who has worked with the festival for 13 years.

For Walshe, the greater programme for the festival is also indicative of showing how much a richly diverse Ireland has going for it.

She encourages people to attend one of the other events, and to “just take a little bit of time, dig a bit deeper and stop and listen and appreciate what we have on this island right now”.

One of the events she highlights is Young Blood: The Beats and Voices of Our Generation, which will see a range of young Irish musicians performing at the National Concert Hall. It’s being curated by Aoife Woodlock, music producer of Other Voices.

The inspiration for it came from Smith’s poem, which got Walshe thinking about the spoken word movement in Ireland. “Young artists are coming out of the woodwork – young people are writing poetry at the moment and they are expressing their feelings about society and their hardships and challenges,” she said.

For Walshe, who was one of the co-founders of the Dublin Electronic Arts Festival (DEAF) among other ventures, the chance to get a “real melting pot of voices” onto the NCH stage was a big draw.

Although work on the 2017 parade is almost at its conclusion, it doesn’t stop there – Walshe is already looking at things for the 2018 and 2019 festivals.

St Patrick’s Festival runs from 16 – 19 March in Dublin, with a range of events taking place across the four days. For more details, visit the official website.

Read: An Olympic hero will lead Dublin’s St Patrick’s Day parade>

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    Mute Quentin Moriarty
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    Jul 25th 2017, 9:52 PM

    Mc Cain has deep pockets and could write a check for his medical bill
    He has assisted in closing the door on less fortunate than himself .
    Should have spent his toothless speech time looking at himself in the bathroom mirror before he voted .

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    Mute gregory
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    Jul 25th 2017, 11:31 PM

    @Quentin Moriarty: This is better:
    Donald Trump working on ‘big’ UK trade deal, takes a swipe at EU https://www.rt.com/uk/397463-trump-trade-brexit-eu/

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    Mute Boganity
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    Jul 25th 2017, 11:54 PM

    @gregory: In that article Trump criticised the EU for being “too protectionist”, he has absolutely no shame. The only trade deal that the U.K. will get from talks with him will be the trade deal you have when you’re not having a trade deal

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    Mute gregory
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    Jul 26th 2017, 12:08 AM

    @Boganity: Ha ha, he’s a gas man alright. I’d say Merkel is out of her mind about what to do with him!!

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    Mute psychiatrist
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:25 AM

    @Quentin Moriarty: Well, the majority of people voted for him to make exactly that happen. They want Obamacare be repealed. Go figure..

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Jul 26th 2017, 9:42 AM

    @Boganity: Trump is happy with the UK as long as they keep buying the trident missiles and aircraft for the new aircraft carriers. Thoroughly self centred at keeping ‘America first’ at every turn.
    Brexit means Brexit, means America first.

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    Mute Larissa Caroline Nikolaus
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    Jul 26th 2017, 9:42 AM

    @psychiatrist: The majority of people did not vote for him, he’s just president thanks to the undemocratic quango of the electoral college

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 26th 2017, 11:12 AM

    @gregory: bless, Trump tweets and the Russian government posts an article about it. Lol

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    Mute Mick McGuinness
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    Jul 25th 2017, 10:14 PM

    Amazing the people in power who don’t have too pay for Medicare and get the best plan’s for FREE block it for people who can barely survive. Before anyone says anything we can be sure TD’s and Senators get good deals on their Healthcare plans here also, even if they don’t they can well afford it.

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    Mute Boganity
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    Jul 25th 2017, 11:30 PM

    Not sure what you’re trying to say there Mick ?

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    Jul 25th 2017, 9:21 PM

    God bless America ,bring me your weary and downtrodden ?

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    Mute Boganity
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    Jul 25th 2017, 11:29 PM

    @FlopFlipU: where it’s easier than get a gun than health care

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    Mute kieran kelly
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    Jul 25th 2017, 10:58 PM

    It’s about time to see the back of Obama care. I went from paying $650 a month to $1700 a month and less coverage. Liberals in Ireland that talk on here about something they no nothing about. I was glade to see the back of Obama and I certainly will be happy to see the back of Obama care

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    Mute Boganity
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    Jul 25th 2017, 11:23 PM

    @kieran kelly: this is pure theatrics it won’t get through for one simple reason: in the end politicians always vote for self interest

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    Mute Nick Caffrey
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    Jul 25th 2017, 11:24 PM

    @kieran kelly: My guess is that you can afford the increase without too much difficulty.

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    Mute kieran kelly
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    Jul 25th 2017, 11:59 PM

    @Nick Caffrey: and why should I pay for any illegal or people that choose to be on welfare instead of getting a job. My tax dollars are for the better good of the country and not to be used on the lazy in the country.

    The United States is the greatest country in the world. Work hard and you’ll make it. Families on welfare for 4-5 generations is not my problem.

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    Mute Boganity
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    Jul 25th 2017, 11:59 PM

    @Nick Caffrey: he’s backing self interest too and has no empathy for his fellow country men and women who will have no cover. God Bless America, I’m all right f*ck everyone else !

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    Mute Boganity
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    Jul 26th 2017, 12:00 AM

    Sorry Nick meant to tag kieran kelly not you

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    Jul 26th 2017, 12:02 AM

    @kieran kelly: you live in the USA you only pay a token amount in tax. All your services are paid for by sovereign debt owned mostly by the Chinese.

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    Mute psychiatrist
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:29 AM

    @kieran kelly: And what will your health insurance be, once it’s gone? The state surely don’t care.

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    Mute psychiatrist
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:34 AM

    @kieran kelly: .. “the greatest nuts house in the world” would be more accurate.

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    Mute The Dunes Of Inchy
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:43 AM

    @kieran kelly: You will be getting a big surprise if “trump”care” becomes law, not a nice one.

    Undocumented immigrants contribute a huge amount to the Social Security even though they are not eligible to receive any..And the biggest welfare wh0r.es in the US are the big corporations,and they would be ‘closely’ followed by the middle classes…

    “If” the ACA & Medicaid gets cut,can you tell us what will happen to the nonprofit hospitals in the US ? Just curious to see your answer to that question :)

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    Mute Mary Murphy
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    Jul 26th 2017, 10:28 AM

    @kieran kelly: Don’t ever come home so. You wouldn’t be able to have the extra eleven hundred in cash for healthcare as the tax man will have already taken it off you so it will be up to you to scrape it together. As for third generation families not working pfftt we’ve got them here too

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 26th 2017, 10:55 AM

    @kieran kelly: a silver plan in Ohio (the only state mentioned in your profile) for a single non-smoking 30 year old would cost $267 per month and that’s with an income about é the 400% threshold which means that’s the full amount the person pays, no financial help.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 26th 2017, 11:22 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe: also, when were you paying $650 a month?

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    Mute Brinster
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    Jul 25th 2017, 9:15 PM

    There are 52 Republican Senators – who are the 2 who voted against ?

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 25th 2017, 9:20 PM

    @Brinster: Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski

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    Mute Boganity
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    Jul 25th 2017, 11:16 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: In politics always back self interest because it’s looking after you: the two who’s constituents will be most effected, with no other options for health insurance.

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    Mute Reg
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    Jul 25th 2017, 9:21 PM

    The senate votes to have a debate. Trump is winning bigly!

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 25th 2017, 9:42 PM

    @Reg: ah yes, but he did just about win, and once again it was not due to the number of those eligible to vote that were on his side

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    Mute TheJournalAsGaeilge
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    Jul 25th 2017, 10:21 PM

    Críost, tá sé tinn ar fad. Le cúnamh Dé beidh sé sláintiúil go luath.

    Níl an Plean Trump go hiontach ar bith. I ndáiríre, tá sé uafásach. Ceapann daoine sa Páirtí Poblachta go bhfuil sé olc freisin.

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    Mute Joe Caulfield
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    Jul 25th 2017, 10:28 PM

    Under Yobamacare the national debt tripled while military spending decreased.

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    Mute Ossi Fritsche
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    Jul 25th 2017, 10:55 PM

    @Joe Caulfield: Prove it please any facts?

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 25th 2017, 11:13 PM

    @Ossi Fritsche: don’t waste your time. He’s just an angry snowflake full of alt-right catchphrases and absolutely nothing to back up his claims.

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    Jul 25th 2017, 11:41 PM

    @Ossi Fritsche: I just gave you the facts.

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    Mute Justin McNulty
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    Jul 25th 2017, 11:50 PM

    @Joe Caulfield: no you just said some s@1t with no reference to sources. Duh!

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    Mute Boganity
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    Jul 25th 2017, 11:56 PM

    Thanks for those alternate facts Joe, we’ll file them with the rest and laugh at them later

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    Mute Bridget O'Hanlon
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    Jul 26th 2017, 12:58 AM

    @Joe Caulfield: military spending in the USA is far, far above the military spending of any other country on the planet. What is your point?

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    Mute The Dunes Of Inchy
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:47 AM

    @Joe Caulfield : When Obama came to power,can you tell us a wee story about the economy that he inherited.Poor pet has selective amnesia :)

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    Mute rory2u
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    Jul 25th 2017, 10:28 PM

    Obamacare has been a disaster…

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    Mute Ossi Fritsche
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    Jul 25th 2017, 10:56 PM

    @rory2u: Really and can you explain how Obamacare was a disaster? Facts and figures would be nice.

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    Mute Boganity
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    Jul 25th 2017, 11:21 PM

    @rory2u: why because it gave healthcare to those who had none and no options to get any ?

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    Mute The Dunes Of Inchy
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:50 AM

    @rory2u: Yeah,it was much better before “Obamacare” came into law, where you had premiums going down each year..Oh wait..

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    Mute DaisyChainsaw
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    Jul 25th 2017, 11:46 PM

    Bravo John McCain, leaving your cancer treatment to ensure millions get excluded from theirs. What a horrendous legacy to leave – voting to kill off people too poor to afford treatment… But that’s Republicans for you!

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    Mute kieran kelly
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    Jul 26th 2017, 12:00 AM

    @DaisyChainsaw: talking out of your ass again Daisy

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    Mute The Dunes Of Inchy
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:51 AM

    @kieran kelly: If anyone has been talking out of their ass on here,it has been you :)

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Jul 26th 2017, 9:45 AM

    @DaisyChainsaw: Would Irish Republicans be any different, I doubt it.

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    Mute Simon White
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:47 AM

    They need to “win” a vote to have a debate and then more votes again!?

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    Mute Milton Ryan
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    Jul 26th 2017, 12:50 PM

    This won’t pass. The idea that they can agree on enough to get the 50 votes they need is nonsense. Then they will have to try and reconcile this Senate bill with the House bill. Can’t see that happening.

    Of course, tax reform and infrastructure become more difficult without this healthcare bill. That’s probably why they will go right to the end with this. But it will be an unhappy ending for Trump.

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    Mute Ken Loughman
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    Jul 26th 2017, 3:52 PM

    Any chance that they’ll stop listening to the bombastic loudmouth currently infesting the White House?

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jul 27th 2017, 11:09 PM

    Try saying that to a sociopath?

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