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A cappella and piano maestros: July in Dublin is going to be amazing for music

We speak to the organisers of two music festivals.

ArduImage3 Ardú Ardú

A NUMBER OF unusual music festivals are happening in Dublin this month – with a cappella singing and piano the order of the day.

The Irish International A Cappella Festival will take place from 14 – 16 July, while the Dublin International Piano Festival will see people tinkling the ivories across the city from 22 – 30 July.

The Irish International A Cappella Festival is the first festival dedicated to a cappella – that is, singing without instrumental accompaniment – to take place in Ireland.

It will see Grammy-award winning a cappella group The Swingles headline the festival with a performance at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham on Sunday 16 July, after a Friday 14 July gig at University Church featuring ​Ardú Vocal Ensemble​, International Barbershop Champions ​4 in a Bar​ and Ireland’s A Cappella Competition Winners 2016 The Apple Blossoms and The Ramparts Chamber Choir.

Ireland’s A Cappella Competition will also take place during the weekend at Griffith College Conference Centre.

Festival Director Ciarán Kelly tells TheJournal.ie why they decided to bring this festival to the capital. “We have decided to bring it to Ireland and sell it as something new and something different,” he says. “There’s musical festivals happen every weekend over the summer – this offers a new and different thing.”

Kelly is also director of Ardú vocal ensemble, and said that a cappella covers a range of genres. “It covers everything,” he says. “We try and encourage at the festival that there’s no boundaries as regard to genres. It’s definitely not choral music.”

It’s music in its purest form. It’s the natural form of music – we make it ourselves. The main thing that we are trying to push and promote is the fact Ireland doesn’t have enough of what we do. Despite being an incredibly musical country, we are so far behind the UK and America and EU in this genre.
It involves everybody – you don’t have be able to sing or read music or play an instrument to get involved.

Is a cappella singing singing without a safety net? No, says Kelly. “Singing solo, that’s when there’s no safety net. The wonderful thing about a cappella is you’re in a team, you’re always a member of the group, everyone has got your back. It’s a real group activity, so you have that support for everybody.”

Bringing big names in piano

Archie Chen - DIPF Artistic Director Archie Chen

Moving from voice to piano, the Dublin Piano Festival – run by husband and wife team Archie Chen and Rhona Gouldson – will bring some beautiful sounds to the city in July.

Gouldson and Chen run the Piano Academy of Ireland in Rathgar together, and the family (they have two children) are so embedded in the world of music that they have not one but five pianos at home.

Chen tells TheJournal.ie that he was inspired to set up the festival after experiencing similar events abroad. For the past five years, he and his wife have been bringing some big names to the country.

“Piano is our passion and so we very much wanted to do something together that would involve both our passions,” said Chen. “Most couples that hear about us working together 24 hours a day are taken aback – how do you do it, how do you stand it? It’s music that keeps us together.”

This year, the festival brings classical and electronic aficionado Francesco Tristano, Russian ‘Titan of the Piano’ Berezovsky, plus Schubertiade featuring Dr Evelyne Brancart and Chen to audiences.

DIPF also runs a summer academy as part of the festival, where young pianists from all over the world visit Dublin to do masterclasses with some of the hugely accomplished acts that are in for the festival.

I’ve been to many festivals myself and it was my vision to create something that was even better than what I’ve been to, and there was a niche and need for something like this in Dublin at the time [five years ago] – and there still is because no one has done anything like ours before.

Chen was taught by the legendary John O’Conor (which was the reason he came to Ireland from the US 14 years ago), who praised him for having the “guts and organisation” to not just talk about putting on a festival, but actually do it.

Evelyne Brancart (1) Evelyne Brancart

Proof of the festival’s reputation is the names it has attracted – particularly Boris Berezovsky, one of the greatest living pianists today.

“He is an unbelievable booking for us because of his stature,” said Chen. “He has been an idol of mine for many years, growing up, and I never thought in a million years we could get him here for the festival. It’s a dream come true.”

Someone like Berezovsky could command a huge fee, but he encouraged Chen and Gouldson to give some of the proceeds to charity – they chose Child Vision – and so the tickets are available at a reduced rate.

Along with the music, there is a focus on encouraging piano students to learn new ways to approach their practice. That means a visit from Jaime Diaz-Ocejo to talk about what sport psychology can teach us about learning music; and talks by Frederic Chiu on stage fright and what cooking can teach us about piano.

Frederic Chiu / YouTube

Chiu will also teach a class where the students get to learn a song… without touching the piano. It’s all in an effort for Chen and Gouldson to show their students that learning piano doesn’t have to be like the stereotypes suggest.

“You hear about these horrible piano lessons people get with the people hit over the fingers with a stick,” said Chen. “I hear about that all the time. [But] this is a truly cutting edge programme for piano and it truly takes everything to the 21st century with all the resources we have today.”

Those expecting the festival to just focus on classical piano will be interested to hear that it touches on a few genres, including electronica (that would be Francesco Tristano who has worked with techno legends like Carl Craig and Derrick May).

So why dedicate an entire festival to the piano? The answer is simple, says Chen:

It is an amazing instrument. They call it the king of instruments because they can emulate a whole symphony orchestra – it can be a singer, it can weave things like melodic lines. There’s so much range on a piano.

And to showcase this, there will be a performance by Gabriele Baldocci, who will play Beethoven’s fifth symphony entirely on the piano at the Hugh Lane Gallery. “That one is not to be missed,” said Chen. And he’s a man who knows.

For more information on the Dublin International Piano Festival, visit the official website. For more information on the Irish International A Capella Festival, visit its website.

Read: Good news for parents – kids are being given free admission to dozens of Irish heritage sites>

Read: ‘Everyone predicted the end’: How Ireland’s Indie Bookshops are surviving in the Amazon age>

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    Mute Keith Hoare
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    Mar 8th 2012, 5:21 PM

    FF really have lost it.

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    Mute alan
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    Mar 8th 2012, 5:15 PM

    proving once again why FF have found their natural home in opposition

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    Mute Richard O'Callaghan
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    Mar 8th 2012, 5:21 PM

    Was Fleming drunk in charge of a TD’s brain?

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    Mute Reg
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    Mar 8th 2012, 5:44 PM

    Fleming doesn’t have a brain.

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    Mute Billy Grennan
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    Mar 8th 2012, 5:59 PM

    He doesn’t have much of a brain and less ethics but FF have to clutch to any straw now

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    Mute Ross
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    Mar 8th 2012, 6:02 PM

    One can see that the Fleming Calf learnt well from the Fleming Bull. Sure he had no chance I suppose.

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    Mute Richard O'Callaghan
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    Mar 8th 2012, 5:26 PM

    From Wikipedia

    “Seán Fleming (born 1 February 1958) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He is currently a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Laois–Offaly constituency.

    An accountant, educated at University College Dublin, Fleming was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1997 general election and retained his seat at the 2002 and 2007 general elections. He was formerly Financial Director of Fianna Fáil at national level.”

    Would he have been a Financial Director of Fianna Fail at the same time that Mr Gallagher was a celebrity fundraiser for Fianna Fail?

    By Fleming’s logic he probably should not have been asking the questions!!!

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    Mute Ross
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    Mar 8th 2012, 5:54 PM

    So Sean F. was a financial director of FF. God I’d say he has seen some quare things in his time in that job. I once worked with a man from New York, that worked as a book keeper in a Hells Angels club, he had some great stories.

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    Mute Geraldine O'Connor
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    Mar 8th 2012, 7:03 PM

    FF TDs from Offaly with financial background – sounds familiar

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    Mute Bilbo Baggins
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    Mar 8th 2012, 9:07 PM

    He’s from Laois Geraldine, and Cowen (to whom i assume you mean) was a solicitor.

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    Mute Geraldine O'Connor
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    Mar 8th 2012, 9:22 PM

    TD for Laois/Offaly. Minister for fin (unfortunately).

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    Mute Alan McEvoy
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    Mar 8th 2012, 5:21 PM

    Gallagher would not have won anyway. The tweet is a nice diversion from that fact.

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    Mute Michael Buckley
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    Mar 8th 2012, 5:37 PM

    Higgins non stop work since the election !

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    Mute John Manahan
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    Mar 8th 2012, 5:31 PM

    FF clutching at straws, as usual. Is this kind of nonsense what they meant by ‘renewal’ at their conference last weekend ??!!

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    Mute John McCormack
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    Mar 8th 2012, 5:18 PM

    ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

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    Mute limofax
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    Mar 8th 2012, 6:02 PM

    FF sink to a new low.

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    Mute Ross
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    Mar 8th 2012, 6:14 PM

    Don’t say that, they’ll only accept it as a challenge.

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    Mute Alan McBride
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    Mar 8th 2012, 5:54 PM

    I dont really understand what all the fuss is over this tweet. If it had been untrue then yes but it wasn’t.

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    Mute Mark Power
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    Mar 8th 2012, 5:53 PM

    Are you telling me Rabbitte wouldn’t have done this from the opposition benches I am delighted he was made to feel uncomfortable after his disgraceful attack on Pat Carey

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    Mute Ross
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    Mar 8th 2012, 5:59 PM

    How was the attack on Pat Carey disgraceful. Most people felt that is he had called him a traitor, that it would still have been justifiable. I can guarantee that that was the word going through the minds of most houses in Ireland, as they watched, Carey, Lenihan, Cowen and the rest of the party faithful that weekend.

    For people, not familiar with the context it is the weekend that Biffo and Bozo Lenihan and the rest of FF hand over the keys of the state to the IMF. Naturally Pat Rabbitte was sickened to have to sit beside one of the men who made it so.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2sioK9Fcek

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    Mute Ross
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    Mar 8th 2012, 6:12 PM

    I just watched that video once more. Carey couldn’t have cared less that the country was bankrupt and the IMF in charge, he didn’t bat an eye at it. How can people like him, have so little concern for or pride in their country, how can people defend men like him. Desperate excuse for an Irish man, though it sickens me to state that he is an Irishman.

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    Mute GR
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    Mar 8th 2012, 7:05 PM

    TWAS THE ENVELOPE THAT DID IT

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    Mute conor hickey
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    Mar 8th 2012, 5:19 PM

    Caught in the headlights on this one.

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    Mute Brian Daly
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    Mar 8th 2012, 6:30 PM

    Does Flemming know what’s going on at all around him? The investigation was by the BAI (and I presume RTE as well). Rabitte had little else to do with it other than read the report like the rest of us. He really needs to read up on this stuff before he addresses the Dail.

    The nature of the event i.e. bad editorial/researching by RTE wouldn’t merit anything more than a BAI investigation which reached the correct outcome. RTE were wrong and are to apologise. They were very wrong. However, Gallaghers response on the night was what probably cost him the election. While the text was unfair, he dug his own hole.

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    Mute Mark Neville
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    Mar 8th 2012, 7:01 PM

    Ah yes. FF trying their best to help out the “independent, FF many many moons ago but not now!” candidate. The Old Boys Brigade out in force again.

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    Mute Hugh O Connell
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    Mar 8th 2012, 5:59 PM

    Who framed Roger Rabbitte !!!!!!!!

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    Mute Mark Neville
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    Mar 8th 2012, 11:15 PM

    I’m sick to my back teeth of FF whinging about “Ooooh the nasty media arecout to get us”. If Gallagher had been up front about his activities in FF and the extent to which he was linked to the FF party then he wouldn’t have had to try to dodge awkward questions all through the campaign. It was another case of FF cute hoorism in trying to get their man through the back door by portrying him as an independent and when the public realised the extent of his involvement and the shady nature of his typical FF style campaign they gave him the two fingers like they did to the party in the general election. He was about as independent as Wales.

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    Mute DubInNaas
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    Mar 8th 2012, 11:52 PM

    Now thats a good comment !!

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    Mute Mark Power
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    Mar 8th 2012, 7:33 PM

    There was no need to tweet this lie with all the ink they have they could have sent every voter a letter

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    Mute Réada Quinn
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    Mar 8th 2012, 8:11 PM

    I think your FF brain is a little confused Mark. This is a scrap between Fianna Fail and Labour party. Lol

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    Mute Dearbhla Carmody
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    Mar 8th 2012, 6:19 PM

    Sean fleming has been studying footage of rabbitte in opposition. :-)

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    Mute Ross
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    Mar 8th 2012, 6:24 PM

    I’m not a fan of Rabbitte but lets just say I’d still prefer to live further away from the Flemings, and I’m 35 miles away.

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    Mute Robert Duggan
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    Mar 8th 2012, 7:27 PM

    Was the election valid if the major vote swing was based on a lie?

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    Mute Ross
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    Mar 8th 2012, 8:08 PM

    How was it a lie??. Gallagher was up to his neck in FF Fundraising and his business and accounting practices reeked of FF as well.

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    Mute Rommel Burke
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    Mar 8th 2012, 9:52 PM

    Was the election result valid due to a major vote swing based on the exposure of a liar?

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    Mute Mark Power
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    Mar 8th 2012, 6:36 PM

    I suppose this is coming from his “so called ” red background controlling the media is one of their favourite pastimes ….

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    Mute foggy_lad
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    Mar 8th 2012, 6:55 PM

    Better a red than a deadbeat fianna failure of a politician!

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    Mute Julian King
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    Mar 8th 2012, 10:35 PM

    Pat Rabitte is one of the few politicians I actually like.

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    Mute Declan Flanagan
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    Mar 8th 2012, 6:34 PM

    Pat rabbitte minister for communications RTE deficit 34million do something you dope,Fleming your an idiot just like the rest up there in that hole dail eireann,Ireland is sinking and fast coincidentally enda Kenny seeks 5,000 new jobs on the same day AIB ruin the lives of 2,500 others the whole of Dail eireann should go up and watch the Northern lights tonight

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    Mute Dearbhla Carmody
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    Mar 8th 2012, 6:23 PM

    Fleming has been studying footage of rabbitte in opposition. Pair of idiots.

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    Mute DubInNaas
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    Mar 8th 2012, 9:47 PM

    I think you mean MINISTER Rabbitte…

    Please understand that there are standards in journalism that apply to ‘the journal’ as they do to others

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    Mute XaTylH9A
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    Mar 8th 2012, 10:07 PM

    Are you saying his title should precede his name the whole way through?

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    Mute DubInNaas
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    Mar 8th 2012, 10:46 PM

    I can’t decide if your response is one of incredulity or enquiry.

    For casual joirnalism, use a first name at the very least, although the title is preferred

    If you look at your report, Minister Rabbitte himself refers to to his colleague as ‘Deputy’

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    Mute John Cleary
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    Mar 9th 2012, 12:18 AM

    I think you’ll find there are standards that apply to constructing a sentence, but that hasn’t stopped you from ignoring them.

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    Mute DubInNaas
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    Mar 9th 2012, 6:52 AM

    John,
    An obscure comment ?

    Perhaps you could elaborate …

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    Mute Mark Power
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    Mar 8th 2012, 10:01 PM

    The whole reason for this so called scrap was a bogus shinner tweet … So yes they are part of this

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    Mute Tom Godfrey
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    Mar 8th 2012, 10:39 PM

    Sounds like a story he picked up from the Dail bar and then went out to tell Rabbite to royal him up.

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    Mute Paul Connolly
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    Mar 9th 2012, 7:30 AM

    Someone should just put FF out of their misery

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    Mute William Grogan
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    Mar 8th 2012, 10:51 PM

    RTE is a socialist entity so I am a bit suspicious about this matter and its implications.

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    Mute Dearbhla Carmody
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    Mar 8th 2012, 6:26 PM

    Oops posted twice!

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    Mute Gwyn Morgan
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    Mar 9th 2012, 7:22 AM

    I had thought the innuendo was going to be probe related on reading the headline. Very disappointing

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