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Sam Boal via RollingNews.ie

Former Taoiseach Brian Cowen has been awarded an honorary doctorate

Academics at the Dublin Castle ceremony reflected on a political career that encompassed four ministries and a premiership.

FORMER TAOISEACH AND ex-Fianna Fáil leader Brian Cowen has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the National University of Ireland at Dublin Castle today.

The Chancellor of the National University of Ireland Dr Maurice Manning conferred the honorary degree Doctor of Laws (LLD) on the former Irish leader as academics reflected on his long, and at times gruelling, political career.

In her introduction, Professor Mary E Daly described Cowen as “passionate about Ireland, but claims to be more of a pragmatist than a visionary – a practical patriot like his hero Seán Lemass”.

Quoting from previous speeches of Cowen’s, she said:

As Minister for Health from 1997 to 2000, his greatest achievement was to secure a major expansion in services for [people with] intellectual disabilit[ies].

brian cowen 20_90519007 Former taoisigh Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen at Dublin Castle this afternoon. Sam Boal via RollingNews.ie Sam Boal via RollingNews.ie

However, his vision eventually gave way to crisis management, she said, and “unprecedented challenges to political institutions and vilification of government ministers” ensued.

The story of the Irish economy after 2008 is well-known: the bank bailout; property crash; soaring budgetary deficits; reductions in spending; tax increases, culminating in a request for a bailout and the arrival of the Troika in November 2010.

Cowen retired from politics following the collapse of the Fianna Fáil-Green Party government in early 2011 after serving as Taoiseach since May 2008.

He presided over the country as the Irish economy began to collapse and austerity policies were implemented as part of the bailout programme.

Prior to that, he served as Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications in 1993-1994, Minister for Health from 1997 to 2000, and Minister for Finance from 2004-2008.

He was also foreign affairs minister, and helped implement the Good Friday Agreement.

Read: Brian Cowen has joined the board of a European think tank funded by big business

Read: What can Fine Gael learn from previous heaves against long-serving party leaders?

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187 Comments
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    Mute Johnny Mc
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    Jul 26th 2017, 6:59 PM

    Banana Republic

    1107
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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:13 PM

    @Johnny Mc: his reward for burying a nation and destroying families for years…its jail he should be in…FF utter traitors.

    807
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    Mute Karl Monaghan
    Favourite Karl Monaghan
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    Jul 26th 2017, 9:39 PM

    Himself, Bertie and the late Mr Lenihan have the blood of their fellow countrymen on their hands!

    How many thousands of people committed suicide over the past 10 years and still to this day because of the taxes and cuts they imposed to bail out rotten banks!!

    I’ll ask Vincent Brownes question once again, why did the Irish tax payer have to pay back billions to unsecured bond holders which were not the debts of the Irish people? I hope that question haunts them til the day they shuttle off this mortal world!!

    Hell isn’t hot enough for them!!!

    Shame on you NUI for bring the institute into disrepute!!!! Your own staff and students are still suffering the wrath of these men and will do so for many years to come!!

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    Mute Pat Lonergan
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    Jul 26th 2017, 9:52 PM

    @Johnny Mc: Ah fukc off and stop,insulting Bananas

    39
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    Mute J
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    Jul 26th 2017, 10:19 PM

    @Johnny Mc: in which he ate all the bananas by the looks of it

    39
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    Mute Quentin Moriarty
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    Jul 26th 2017, 10:23 PM

    @Karl Monaghan: Easy on Lenihan
    He was a true statesman and was handed a poisoned chalice on purpose
    Could’ve been very easy for the guy to pack it in due to his poor health ,I most certainly would have
    He didn’t
    He did his best
    Would have been a great president

    38
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    Mute Dave Thomas
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    Jul 26th 2017, 10:43 PM

    @Karl Monaghan: haunts them? Not those bunch !

    29
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    Mute Fran Kembo
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    Jul 26th 2017, 11:20 PM

    @Johnny Mc: Jesus will you look at the head of Biffo ears on on him like land raised Pig

    36
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    Mute Bob McShane
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    Jul 27th 2017, 12:48 AM

    It’s a PHD, a poverty and hardship degree. I’m sure the diploma incompetence, dumbassery and gravy training is on its way too.

    20
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    Mute Randal McNally
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    Jul 27th 2017, 1:04 AM

    @Karl Monaghan: I agree !

    4
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    Mute Randal McNally
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    Jul 27th 2017, 1:17 AM

    @Karl Monaghan: Karl, don’t forget Gormley, Ryan and The Greens who helped the corrupt Fianna Fáil clown destroy our economy. Still no shame among any of these thrives !

    28
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    Mute Randal McNally
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    Jul 27th 2017, 1:19 AM

    @Karl Monaghan: here, here ! Its sickening !

    8
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    Mute stephen kavanagh
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:03 PM

    Doctorate for services to food and drink

    713
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    Mute Minom Pnom
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:36 PM

    @stephen kavanagh: he’ll have a fierce hoarse throat on him tomorrow morning

    376
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    Mute Con Murphy
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:18 PM

    @Minom Pnom:
    Hope he doesn’t go on radio.

    122
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    Mute Randal McNally
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    Jul 27th 2017, 1:06 AM

    @Minom Pnom: just like on Morning Ireland from The Ardilaun Hotel. Drunken idiots !

    10
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    Mute Randal McNally
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    Jul 27th 2017, 1:21 AM

    @stephen kavanagh: mainly drinking for Cowan and “The Rump” PD Harney !

    7
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    Mute Ger Healy
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:12 PM

    This completely diminishes the value of a doctorate IMO

    606
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    Mute Jho Harris
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:45 PM

    @Ger Healy: He diminished Ireland when he let The EU forced him to make us vote a second time on Nice and The Lisbon. Whatever happened to democracy with that shower?

    310
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    Mute Ger Healy
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:50 PM

    @Jho Harris: A Doctorate from the Mutual Back Slapping Society, in other words, Ireland’s creepy establishment elite, is not worth the scroll it’s printed on.

    298
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    Mute Jho Harris
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:54 PM

    @Ger Healy: No doubt his public speaking will cost a lot more now that he is Dr. Cowen, I know it is a pretend Doctor but he was a pretend statesman too and was followed up by another impediment clown

    80
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    Mute Randal McNally
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    Jul 27th 2017, 1:25 AM

    @Jho Harris: Shower of corrupt self serving leeches

    17
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    Mute P C
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:06 PM

    The worst Taoiseach this country ever had. Brian Linehan held the country together during those dark days.

    619
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    Mute Minom Pnom
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:38 PM

    @P C: rip but what was a lawyer with no financial experience doing in the finance job at that crucial time?

    220
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    Mute Dave Murray
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:06 PM

    @P C: And we’ve had a few beauts before and after.

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    Mute Barry O'Brien
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    Jul 26th 2017, 10:26 PM

    @Minom Pnom: how many overweight ministers for health have we had?

    18
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    Mute Adrian White
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    Jul 27th 2017, 12:15 AM

    @P C: Nah, Bertie was worse.

    12
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    Mute Randal McNally
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    Jul 27th 2017, 1:08 AM

    @Dave Murray: Yes but not much worse than Cowan !

    7
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    Mute Randal McNally
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    Jul 27th 2017, 1:23 AM

    @Minom Pnom: liar is the best description

    8
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    Mute A H
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    Jul 26th 2017, 6:59 PM

    It’s Sid James in Carry on Henry

    369
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    Mute Ruairi Gagarin
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:13 PM

    @A H: with Hattie Jacques as Mary Harney, Barbara Windsor as Mary Coughlan and Kenneth Williams as John Gormley.

    103
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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jul 26th 2017, 11:45 PM
    1
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    Mute Randal McNally
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    Jul 27th 2017, 1:26 AM

    @A H: Oh that is was that funny

    4
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    Mute Randal McNally
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    Jul 27th 2017, 1:28 AM

    @Ruairi Gagarin: ship of corrupt incompetent picket lining fools at our expense

    8
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    Mute Noel
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:03 PM

    Absolute joke disgrace to see them two at dublin castle and hot lips getting a doctorate god help rest of us

    479
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    Mute Donal Killackey
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:59 PM

    @Noel: agreed! This is truly rubbing salt in the wound of the ordinary Irish public who are not part of the inner circle. And to think that these two continue to receive almost €300k per year between the two of them, courtesy of us the taxpayers.

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jul 26th 2017, 11:46 PM

    @Noel: The IMF like him lol.

    17
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    Mute Alan Scott
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:17 PM

    It says a lot about the people who desided to give him this reward in the first place

    256
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    Mute O Swetenham
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:05 PM

    He’ll be celebrating tonight, I’m sure him and Bertie were straight on the jager bombs after the ceremony. They’ll drink Dublin dry.

    249
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    Mute Mary Murphy
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:34 PM

    @O Swetenham: Saw an advert yesterday…it said ‘Drink Canada Dry’. So bought a ticket to Toronto to give it a go.

    63
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    Mute stephen kavanagh
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:44 PM

    @O Swetenham: It’s the chipper afterwards I feel sorry for!

    53
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    Mute Robert Madden
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:09 PM

    How did that gobshiite get on the television!

    228
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    Mute Peter Higgins
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    Jul 26th 2017, 6:59 PM

    Jesus !!!!

    230
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    Mute Mary Murphy
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:01 PM

    @Peter Higgins: No, just a very naughty boy

    84
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    Mute Peter Higgins
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:04 PM

    @Mary Murphy: He was by far the most inept person to hold that office. Talk about rubbing salt in !!!!

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    Mute Mary Murphy
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:22 PM

    @Peter Higgins: I guess you weren’t a Monty Python fan then?

    28
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    Mute Peter Higgins
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    Jul 27th 2017, 12:09 AM

    @Mary Murphy: Sorry Mary, Of course I appreciated your witty “Brian” comment. I somehow got my reply mixed up. I meant to say ” What did they ever do for us?.

    4
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    Mute MyBrokenKnees
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:12 PM

    That man should be ashamed to ever show his face at a public event ever in this Country.

    The one beside in that picture well there is no words for what he is.

    283
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    Mute Randal McNally
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    Jul 27th 2017, 1:32 AM

    @MyBrokenKnees: I suggest he was and is a corrupt, self serving incompetent Gangster

    22
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    Mute Paul Lane
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:08 PM

    He gets an honorary degree for bankrupting the country? Which makes a mockery of degrees which have to be earned. Which member of the establishment was behind this insult to the people of Ireland? This confirms that we are a nation full of backward corrupt ignorant little people with very low IQ’s to allow this insult to happen.

    427
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    Mute Shay
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:33 PM

    @Paul Lane: he didn’t get it for bankrupting the country.

    16
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    Mute Con Murphy
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:15 PM

    @Shay:
    Yes he did, his “crowning” political achievement.

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    Mute Shay
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    Jul 27th 2017, 1:56 AM

    @Con Murphy: no he didn’t

    1
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    Mute Shane Donnelly
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:34 PM

    This Dude was Minister for Finance, “MINISTER FOR FINANCE” from 2004 to 2008 and that sane year, 2008, the country almost implodes financially, a debt attained which might NEVER be paid back, the highest rates of suicide the country has ever bore witness to, homelessness (including children) at an alarming rate and growing steadily, I won’t mention the MESS of a health service (that he “managed” at one point) nor any of our other problems the nature of which are at epidemic proportions…. AND…. he is AWARDED an HONORARY DOCTORATE? How messed up is this country? FFS….It’s a bloody basketcase. This is sickening beyond belief. Anyone with a Docturate may as well wipe their arses with them as that’s all they’re worth now after this nonsense.

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    Mute Neville Patterson
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:27 PM

    Should be tried for economic treason

    168
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    Mute Jon Mackey
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:04 PM

    As the rubberbandits might say, an honorary doctorate in gas cun*ism
    What a joke

    193
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    Mute Jake Heenan
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:15 PM

    Very interesting how many ex-heads of state get rewarded after pursuing a ‘neoliberal’ ideology- basically, screw everyone else.
    The Guardian had a brilliant article on it called ‘Neoliberalism- the ideology at the root of all our problems’. Recommended reading if you want to see who and what the Institute of Economic Affairs (international or not) is. Tried to post a link but failed.
    Sordid stuff. Very disappointed that he feels he is entitled to this in any way.

    131
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    Mute The Magnificent Hog
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:06 PM

    No better man. Will definitely go down in the history books. I bet he’ll be back in the running for the next GE because of the Irish electorate’s ability to forget being shafted.

    128
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    Mute Scundered
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:16 PM

    Was sure this must be an article about Tayto Park going by pic.

    95
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    Mute Danny Rafferty
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:23 PM

    A great advertisement for the NUI. I am sure this will raise their standing and reputation amongst students and educators right across the country, not to mention the standing and reputation of their doctorates.

    87
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    Mute Liam McGowan
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:28 PM

    NUI needs to take a long hard look at itself……….this is equivalent to awarding the nobel peace prize to Hitler. Who made this decision and who went along with it…?

    146
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    Mute Shay
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:36 PM

    @Liam McGowan: slight exaggeration

    8
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    Mute Con Murphy
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:09 PM

    @Liam McGowan:
    They are all bought and paid for. Golden circle.

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    Mute Jack Cass
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    Jul 26th 2017, 9:30 PM

    Hitler was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1939

    1
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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:19 PM

    Farce.

    93
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    Mute Fluich Go Craicean
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:39 PM

    Has he apologised yet? Minister of finance right up to time the banking system collapsed. Let the banks run riot on without any supervision

    76
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    Mute Con Murphy
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:01 PM

    Just proves how hand in glove the elites of Irish society are. Acedemia, politics, big business, professions legal and medical, all one big golden circle patting and scratching each others backs, so sad!

    69
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    Mute Pól Ling
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:03 PM

    Thats a nice kick in the face to people who lost loved ones in tragic circumstances as a result of the recession …sickening!! Both should be locked up

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    Mute Michael O Dwyer
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:31 PM

    Yawn

    16
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    Mute p kilgannon
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:33 PM

    @Pól Ling: locked up? for what? whose death are you blaming him for?

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    Mute Dave Murray
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:08 PM

    @Michael O Dwyer: Go to bed.

    42
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    Mute Emmet Dillane
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:05 PM

    Fully deserving. Too often we see personalities receiving doctorates for no apparent reason other than by virtue of their celebrity status. Brian Cowen is a man of whom it can be truly said ‘He did his country some service’.
    A proud day for his family and the wider Catholic community of Co. Offaly.
    Lovely too to see Bertie in attendance. Two men who shaped the destiny of Ireland.

    62
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    Mute Dante Marquinhos
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:08 PM

    @Emmet Dillane: ^^^^^^^^^ And that’s how you do sarcasm kids!

    206
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    Mute Atheos Euripides
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:08 PM

    @Emmet Dillane: Was going to award you an F, but after two seconds of deliberation I’m giving you a N.G.

    56
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    Mute Emmet Dillane
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:14 PM

    I’m putting in for a PhD in Surrealism studies for that one.

    55
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    Mute Ruadhán MacEoin
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:22 PM

    @Emmet Dillane: Yup, it’s good to see Ahern back in Dublin Castle, just like the old days. Clearly the boom is getting boomier again…

    39
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    Mute Mary Murphy
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:58 PM

    @Emmet Dillane: Lol Lol Lol. You’re a very funny man

    26
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    Mute Martin Lennox
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:41 PM

    @Emmet Dillane: correct Emmet, about time Ireland got a proper honours system, like they have on the main land.

    1
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    Mute Graham Crosby
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:29 PM

    Yippee, finally recognised for running the country into the ground.

    61
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    Mute Ciaran Leonard
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    Jul 26th 2017, 9:05 PM

    What an insult to the people forced to emigrate during his stewardship and whose children are not eligible for any grant or fee reduction to study at Irish Universities. The NUI prefers to honour a disgraced politician rather than invest in Irish citizens obliged to pay international fee levels to study in universities funded by taxes paid by their parents.

    61
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    Mute John
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:07 PM

    Not funny.

    54
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    Mute Jun Stone
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:17 PM

    If porky can get one that must mean I’m next!

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    Mute DaisyChainsaw
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:22 PM

    @Jun Stone: Sure you’ll be able to pick them up in lucky bags soon.

    57
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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:37 PM

    Well this is were my email will be going NUI Awards: awards@nui.ie
    Email them if you disagree with this “award”

    48
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    Mute Rochelle
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:44 PM

    @Kerry Blake: Unless you’re a graduate or a student in an NUI college I don’t think you have grounds to complain over who they wish to honour.

    5
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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:48 PM

    @Rochelle: Didn’t graduate from a NUI collage but I do recognise when a college devalues it’s degrees that it awards.

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    Mute Con Murphy
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:05 PM

    @Rochelle: This farce is at every taxpayers expense.

    29
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    Mute james connolly
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    Jul 26th 2017, 9:08 PM

    @Kerry Blake: no degree, no opinion.

    1
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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Jul 26th 2017, 9:58 PM

    @james connolly: Well I have one do you?

    8
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    Mute @angrymanwithissues
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:30 PM

    I don’t know why everyone is so indignant about this. Every time an Irish voter puts an X beside Fianna Fáil, led by Cowen’s Senior Minister, Micheal Martin they’re bringing much more shame to this country than any honorary doctorate- illustrating an embarrassing incapacity to disengage autopilot when going into the polling booth, voting like lemmings piling over a cliff. Compared to the damage those amnesiacs are doing to the country, this is harmless.

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    Mute Cindy Crawford
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:06 PM

    @angrymanwithissues: The same with anyone who puts an X beside FG.

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    Mute @angrymanwithissues
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    Jul 26th 2017, 10:15 PM

    @Cindy Crawford: Yeah. You see the problem with your argument there is that where FF pushed unemployment over 15%, FG halved it, where FF invited the Troika into our country and surrendered our sovereignty, FG sent them home and restored it, where FF reduced our economy to the laughing stock of Europe, FG made it the fastest growing economy in Europe. So your lazy “sure they’re all the same” rhetoric falls apart fundamentally when you compare their records. Might be an idea to be informed instead of just opinionated?

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    Mute Rusty Nuts
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:51 PM

    Some pair of chancers

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    Mute Tomasz Kuchnik
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:02 PM

    That’s hilarious couldn’t make this up

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    Mute damien o brien
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:58 PM

    “A career that encompassed four ministries and a premiership”. I thought only Kim Jong lied about his sporting achievments!

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    Mute Niall Power
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:55 PM

    It should be an honorary criminal conviction for fraud.

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    Mute Con Murphy
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:26 PM

    These FFFFers must think we have very short memories!

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    Mute @mdmak33
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    Jul 26th 2017, 9:28 PM

    Another award made meaningless by giving it to people like this man.

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    Mute Benny Dowling
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    Jul 26th 2017, 9:09 PM

    A doctorate in blanket bank guarantees and how to bankrupt a nation no doubt. Cheers to yourself and the Teflon Don beside you .
    .

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    Mute Normal Josephine
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:56 PM

    These honorary degrees are a bit of a joke sometimes but this one is surely a very early/late fools day joke! I’d boycott the college. This is our money paying for this farce. Once again Ireland has shown that if u have brass neck u don’t need brain cells. The people who decided he should get the degree should be thrown out of academia as they clearly cannot be as intelligent as they would have ye believe.

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    Mute Mary Murphy
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:02 PM

    @Normal Josephine: Phil Hogan last week from Austria and now this??. Ffs and to think there are supposed to be brains in universities. Jebus wept

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    Mute Ruairi Gagarin
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:03 PM

    Dirty Bertie is ageing terribly.

    I always have this vision of Ahern being visited by the ghost of Charlie Haughey, you tells him that if he wants to avoid Charlie’s fate in the afterlife, he’ll have to go on an adventure with 3 ghosts. A Drumcondra Carol, if you will.

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    Mute Brian O'Donnell
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:32 PM

    Taoiseachs? Really? Plural is taoisigh.

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    Mute Eugene Conroy
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:55 PM

    Just heard Mary Harney and Joan Burton are neck and neck in the Miss Ireland competition. True I kid you not

    31
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    Mute Anraí Russell
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    Jul 26th 2017, 9:15 PM

    Oh lord, a doctor of bolloxogy

    26
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    Mute damien o brien
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:05 PM

    Jesus hes looking great.

    25
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    Mute Noel
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:10 PM

    @damien o brien: put Joan Burton alongside him make a great match lol

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    Mute Brian O Reilly
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    Jul 26th 2017, 9:17 PM

    It’s an honorary Doctorate ,not worth the paper it’s written on .I wish he and Bertie would just disappear

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    Mute Peter Higgins
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:03 PM

    He was by far the most inept person to hold that office. Talk about rubbing salt in !!!!

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    Mute Joe McNamara
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    Jul 26th 2017, 10:45 PM

    National University of Ireland should be ashamed of themselves! What an insult to Irish people that struggled through the recession Cowen caused.

    27
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    Mute Paul Fahey
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:23 PM

    As someone with a law degree I find this a joke and an insult to all those who have worked hard for a degree or suffered because of his incompetence in office. A bloody joke.

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    Mute Conor Cronin
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    Jul 26th 2017, 10:44 PM

    He is no Sean Lemass and is no patriot. Only in Ireland could someone like this get an honorary doctorate

    20
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    Mute Ruairi Gagarin
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:59 PM

    The Insane Cowen Posse are back again and on the take.

    28
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    Mute xyz
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    Jul 26th 2017, 9:24 PM

    Hasn’t read Lisbon Treaty, got NUI award

    24
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    Mute Eddie Chelsea Byrne
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:53 PM

    He’s put a few kilos on. Is that even possible?

    18
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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Jul 26th 2017, 9:11 PM

    @Eddie Chelsea Byrne: Check out his pension so yes kilo’s are possible on that amount…..

    27
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    Mute Eddie Byrne
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:41 PM

    The Swedish Chef gets some recognition at last. Smur de bur im honoured bur de bur.

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    Mute minorproblem
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    Jul 26th 2017, 9:49 PM

    Dr. Doom

    17
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    Mute #Right2change
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    Jul 26th 2017, 11:27 PM

    Rewarding an epic failure this award says a a lot about National University If Ireland!!!

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    Mute Pat1979
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:31 PM

    In fairness he’d of never been Taoisach if not for Bertie jumping ship before the collapse to leave Cowen to take the blame for it all..

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    Mute Nuala Horgan
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:40 PM

    FFS

    27
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    Mute misterG
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    Jul 26th 2017, 9:15 PM

    That must be an easy course.

    15
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    Mute Grumpyoldtroll
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:26 PM

    Toad of Toad hall.

    40
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    Mute aleeto45
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    Jul 26th 2017, 9:40 PM

    Only in this country would a fat wanchor like that be given a honourary doctorate for his role in politics, whilst he sits beside his predecessor, the men who oversaw 250000 people losing their jobs, and also the men who brought in the IMF, They should be lynched in the streets ffs

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    Mute Stephen Maher
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    Jul 26th 2017, 10:24 PM

    They are on some money.

    13
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    Mute Maria Hickey-Fagan
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    Jul 26th 2017, 10:46 PM

    Betcha he’s locked right now

    13
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    Mute Seán Dillon
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    Jul 26th 2017, 11:26 PM

    The elite class looking after their own as usuall.

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    Mute Stuart
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:10 PM

    Are you ***king serious???

    67
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    Mute winston smith
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    Jul 26th 2017, 10:33 PM

    He looks like he has lost a bit of weight all the same…around his third chin.

    11
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    Mute Kim Prylowski
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    Jul 26th 2017, 9:40 PM

    Why?

    10
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    Mute Mrs parrott
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    Jul 26th 2017, 11:59 PM

    Doesn’t look like he’s missed any meals since we last saw him.. Can’t bear him.

    10
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    Mute xyz
    Favourite xyz
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:47 PM

    Joke! Lisbon treaty, shell, bailout! Jail not award! Him and DOB wtf ppl. Sold IRISH oil to Shell/bP Norway during his term, now he is a Topaz (bp/shell) director? Jail! YES for jobs? …award… unbelievable !

    40
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    Mute Con Murphy
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:23 PM

    This has got to be a piss-take! “practical patriot”, “more pragmatist than visionary”, will somebody please kick me in the head!

    39
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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:51 PM

    @Con Murphy: “going forward”?

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    Mute Con Murphy
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    Jul 26th 2017, 10:17 PM

    @Kerry Blake:
    Ahhhhggggg!

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    Mute Jonny
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    Jul 26th 2017, 9:29 PM

    Look at the heads on those two FF pr1cks. Makes me want to vomit just looking at them.

    40
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    Mute Milton Ryan
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:21 PM

    It’s fatter the bas-tard is getting…

    36
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    Mute Rochelle
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:42 PM

    A poor taoiseach no doubt but is it fair to judge him on a 27 year career because of the last 3? He was a celebrated appointment at the time, I don’t remember the public believing he was a joke in 2008 before the recession started hitting their pockets.

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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Jul 26th 2017, 9:09 PM

    @Rochelle: He would have been one of those overseeing the recession with his decisions around the cabinet table???

    15
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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    Jul 27th 2017, 12:03 AM

    Ahern abandoned the ship, Cowen facilitated the criminal bankers and developers in creating the financial mess that brought this country to it’s knees. Cowen should be charged with treason. A dispicable human being.

    14
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    Mute Adrianholland
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:15 PM

    Well deserved!

    7
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    Mute winston smith
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    Jul 26th 2017, 10:30 PM

    They must have run out of suitable candidates then the Uni heads picked straws with NUI pulling the shortest.

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    Mute Ken Pepper
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    Jul 26th 2017, 11:21 PM

    Pointless when they give these awards to rugby players and these clowns

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    Mute Proinsias O Rathaille
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    Jul 27th 2017, 6:01 AM

    Is this a joke, €600 Billion later??

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    Mute James Keogh
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    Jul 27th 2017, 1:34 AM

    FFS

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    Mute Paul Knowles
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    Jul 26th 2017, 11:36 PM

    Absolutely disgraceful

    14
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    Mute Dermot Keogh
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:12 PM

    He looks like a clown

    57
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    Mute John
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:18 PM

    @Dermot Keogh: He is a clown

    68
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    Mute Tony Peacock
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:27 PM

    @Dermot Keogh: he is a clown!

    42
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    Mute Kevin McCarthy
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    Jul 27th 2017, 6:50 AM

    When I saw he got an award I was expecting from some unknown college in the sub-Sahara. This is a joke and very insulting to us all. Shame on the NUI. Who is next on the list? Seanie Fitz.

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    Mute Dave Hogan
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:57 PM

    Cowen had nothing but bad luck after bertie’s charmed time as taoiseach , was it his fault the worldwide recession arrived? people borrowed rings around them again not his fault. he apologised for any errors on his part. he likes a drink, so what. he deserves constructive criticism not the appalling venom posted on this site. Its akin to online bullying and i hope his family don’t read any of your vile comments.

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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Jul 26th 2017, 9:14 PM

    @Dave Hogan: The man sat around the cabinet table were decisions were made that destroyed this country without saying anything. So yes I’d say he deserves everything the hard pressed tax payers might have to say about him.

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    Mute Donie Keyes
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    Jul 26th 2017, 9:49 PM

    @Dave Hogan: Fully agree Dave. He got the poisoned chalice but because he was from the country he got ostracised by the City dudes. He likes to be with ordinary people and so what?This is why he received over 20,000 first preference votes in his last election.He is also a very intelligent man which didn’t sit well with the people that expected him to bow to their every whim. He called out the health service for what it was “Angola” and it still hasn’t been sorted out. He was the key negotiator in the Good Friday agreement along with Albert Reynolds and the credit was stolen from both of them. So yes, he deserves his honorary doctorate and good luck to him. I’m sick listening to whining about the world recession being his fault. Was it his fault the US went into the worst recession ever?

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    Mute shouldweallbe
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    Jul 26th 2017, 10:28 PM

    @Donie Keyes: It’s dem feckers in The Big City dats to blame. Gobsheens like you should be disenfranchised.

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    Mute Donie Keyes
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    Jul 26th 2017, 10:54 PM

    @shouldweallbe: Watcha talkin bout Willis?

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    Mute Damian Moran
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    Jul 27th 2017, 12:19 AM

    This is just not right bit discussing

    4
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    Mute Grumpy Bollovks
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    Jul 26th 2017, 11:08 PM

    Just like Gerard Kean is a Doctor too

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    Mute Jonathan Kennedy
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    Jul 27th 2017, 12:22 AM

    Oh I’m not surprised at all!

    4
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    Mute Brían Ó Cionnaith
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    Jul 26th 2017, 11:46 PM

    Why oh why!!!

    4
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    Mute Pat Lonergan
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    Jul 26th 2017, 9:51 PM

    Two right[wing] bollocks

    17
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    Mute Hugh Conaghan
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:27 PM

    Massive congratulations to Brian and his family, a man who didn’t put his own popularity before his country unlike many others. Glad to see him being recognised today.

    3
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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:52 PM

    @Hugh Conaghan: I’d imagine his pension comforts him Hugh……

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    Mute Jack Murphy
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:32 PM

    Two scoundrels – left the country in shreds . No shame !

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    Mute Gary Heslin
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    Jul 26th 2017, 10:26 PM

    Neck like a jockeys b$#&€×

    17
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    Mute Martin
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:58 PM

    His corrupt arrogant smiling face just reminds me nothing has changed in this country. Him and his ilk ruined countless families and these clowns see fit to reward him like he’s achieved something. Disgusting

    52
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    Mute Robert Treston
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:28 PM

    Well deserved and about time to great leader hopefully his brother will get a chance to be leader of FF some day

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    Mute Ian James Burgess
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:04 PM

    Honory Doctorate in what Stupidity

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    Mute Randal McNally
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    Jul 27th 2017, 1:35 AM

    Looking st those photos, just made me Vomit

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    Mute Michael Curtin
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:08 PM

    Dumb and Dumber…

    81
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    Mute 6ljJQRRU
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    Jul 27th 2017, 12:58 AM

    This man is a disgrace. Still harping on about I did nothing wrong. He should be locked up for what he did to the Irish people. He sounds like a bully. But he really got shown up. So egg in his face.

    10
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    Mute TheJeff
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    Jul 27th 2017, 11:13 AM

    Why !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!…………………………..

    1
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    Mute Martin Crosbie
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    Jul 27th 2017, 11:22 AM

    Just in time for the horses to recognise his ……..ness at the Galway races

    1
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    Mute Caroline O'Rourke
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:55 PM

    What a Disgrace he is and he is being honoured!!! We are either very stupid or again it’s all part of the Big Coverup!?!?!

    33
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    Mute tony kennedy
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    Jul 27th 2017, 9:10 AM

    Whoever decided to give that person a doctorate should be sacked.

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    Mute Roland D Hay
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    Jul 26th 2017, 8:16 PM

    Dr f*ckwit

    31
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    Mute Bernard Mc Donnell
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    Jul 27th 2017, 12:10 AM

    Useless lump, still getting fat.

    9
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    Mute Paul Culligan
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    Jul 26th 2017, 10:24 PM

    A pig with lipstick!

    20
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    Mute Randal McNally
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    Jul 27th 2017, 1:14 AM

    My God, Trinity has really lowered its standards ! It must be struggling to attract business. Lowest common denominator. AKA Brian Cowan. Ian Paisley was right with his remarks re ugly!!!

    5
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    Mute Tony Murphy
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    Jul 26th 2017, 11:04 PM

    A blood sucking leach living large on his fat pension. An embarrassment and a traitor to his countrymen and women. Should be locked up.

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    Mute lez ferguson
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    Jul 26th 2017, 11:48 PM

    Its hard to believe this shite goes on.

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    Mute evelyn mc carthy
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:47 PM

    Thick fat fool

    44
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    Mute Tony Peacock
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    Jul 26th 2017, 7:25 PM

    @Dermot Keogh: he is a f***ing clown!

    41
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    Mute Mick Mc Namara
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    Jul 26th 2017, 9:05 PM

    I mean why the f***k should this man get a doctorate!! Pissed on morning Ireland! And not a notion on how to get our country out of the Shit!! A complete gombeen!!

    38
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    Mute Dublin Living
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    Jul 26th 2017, 9:44 PM

    f*cking hell! This is just appalling. As an NUI graduate I am disgusted.

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    Mute Chris Lane
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    Jul 26th 2017, 10:38 PM

    Fat shite

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    Mute Roger Poles
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    Jul 27th 2017, 6:52 AM

    @Quentin Moriarty: you’re right about lenihan he was the most honest and straightest of them all that’s why he was giving finance because the rest of them including Michael Willkie o des all backed Bertie etc

    1
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