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Paula Robinson with her Carer of the Year award. Mark Stedman

Cavan woman who provides round-the-clock care for her parents awarded Carer of the Year

Paula Robinson cares for her mother who has Alzheimer’s disease and her dad who has bowel cancer.

A CAVAN WOMAN who cares for her elderly parents every single day received an award for Ireland’s Carer of the Year 2017 today.

Mother-of-two Paula Robinson (48) provides round-the-clock, full-time care for her mother Mary, who has Alzheimer’s, and her father Jimmy, who has bowel cancer.

She has been her parents’ primary carer for eight years, while raising her two children who are now aged 20 and 14.

Robinson sleeps in the same room as her mother to ensure her safety, hand feeds her every meal and is up numerous times every night with both parents.

Her four sisters – who live abroad in America and England – nominated her for the award to say “thank you” for all of the selfless work she does.

Her family described her as an “amazing woman who always puts others first”.

Those present today were just a few of the estimated 360,000 family carers around Ireland.

Others who were recognised at the CarePlus Pharmacy Carer of the Year ceremony today were Liz Forde and Fiona Kelly Campbell.

Forde is a mother of seven children, three of whom have disabilities. Her daughter Ellie has Asperger’s, Gwen requires round-the-clock care for hypomobility syndrome and Cillian lives with brain damage and is peg fed.

Campbell, meanwhile, cares for her three children, and her mother. Her oldest daughter was born with a chronic illness, her youngest son has special needs and all three children require frequent visits to the hospital.

A number of young carers were also picked out for the exceptional contribution.

They included:

  • Jack Cooney (10) from Tipperary. He helps care for his 16-year-old brother, James, who lives with cerebral palsy, is a wheelchair user and requires round-the-clock care.
  • Adam Hyland is 14, and from Clondalkin. He helps his mother care for his dad Pat (66) who has multiple illnesses including dementia, diabetes and chronic pain.
  • Alannah Donnelly (15) is from Offaly and helps care for her 12-year-old brother, Conor. He has intellectual disabilities, and several behavioural issues that result in aggression and harmful behaviour towards others.
  • Alexandra Ajoi (15) is from Sligo. He is the primary carer for her mother, Susan (41), who is a wheelchair user with chronic pain and has epilepsy.

Commenting on those recognised, Catherine Cox, from Family Carers Ireland said: “We host these awards to recognise the huge contribution of our family carers and young carers. It is fantastic to be here today and see 30 carers from counties across Ireland represented to celebrate with their families.”

Read: ‘People who are mentally ill are less likely to be admitted for cancer treatment’

Read: Caring for Mam: ‘Putting myself first is not an option even though I have the most to lose’

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    Mute Anto Curran
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    Jul 11th 2018, 3:17 PM

    A hospital? What is it?

    It’s a big building with patients, but that’s not important right now.

    408
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    Mute Terry Cahill
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    Jul 11th 2018, 3:23 PM

    @Anto Curran: wha ?

    79
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    Mute Larissa Nikolaus
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    Jul 11th 2018, 3:25 PM

    @Anto Curran: Surely you can’t be serious

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    Mute Ruairi Gagarin
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    Jul 11th 2018, 3:29 PM

    @Anto Curran: Ladies and gentlemen, this is your stewardess speaking… We regret any inconvenience the sudden cabin movement might have caused, this is due to periodic air pockets we encountered, there’s no reason to become alarmed, and we hope you enjoy the rest of your flight… By the way, is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane?

    151
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    Mute Claudio Cavaliere
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    Jul 11th 2018, 3:40 PM

    @Larissa Nikolaus: I am serious and stop calling me Shirley

    157
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    Mute john barnes
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    Jul 11th 2018, 4:24 PM

    @Claudio Cavaliere: looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue

    94
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    Mute Robc
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    Jul 11th 2018, 4:44 PM

    @john barnes: roger,roger

    53
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    Mute Trevor Wallace
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    Jul 11th 2018, 4:46 PM

    @john barnes: Captain how soon can we land?
    I can’t tell…
    You can tell me I’m a doctor!

    75
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    Mute Link
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    Jul 11th 2018, 4:51 PM

    @Trevor Wallace: Pardon me stewardess, I speak jive.

    58
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    Mute Crocodylus Pontifex
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    Jul 11th 2018, 4:55 PM

    @Link: Hey, you know what they say: see a broad to get dat booty yak ‘em…

    21
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    Mute Crocodylus Pontifex
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    Jul 11th 2018, 4:56 PM

    leg ‘er down a smack ‘em yak ‘em!

    21
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    Mute I'm not wavy gravy
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    Jul 11th 2018, 5:03 PM

    @Crocodylus Pontifex: Haven’t seen you in a while. Welcome back, Space Pope.

    6
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    Mute Walt Jabsco
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    Jul 11th 2018, 5:38 PM

    “Nervous?”
    “Yes, very”
    “First time?”
    “No, I’ve been nervous lots of times”

    77
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    Mute Walt Jabsco
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    Jul 11th 2018, 5:39 PM

    Hi, Jack….

    11
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    Mute Walt Jabsco
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    Jul 11th 2018, 5:42 PM

    @Robc:
    We have clearance Clarence, what’s our vector Victor?

    48
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    Mute Range Rover Rugby
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    Jul 11th 2018, 6:10 PM

    @Anto Curran: Hey lil guy!! Come on in. Have you ever seen a grown man naked??

    25
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    Mute Crocodylus Pontifex
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    Jul 11th 2018, 6:31 PM

    @I’m not wavy gravy: Good to be back sir

    8
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    Mute john barnes
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    Jul 11th 2018, 7:59 PM

    @Crocodylus Pontifex: don’t start that red zone crap with me again

    6
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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Jul 11th 2018, 8:36 PM

    @john barnes: 38 years ago today lads

    9
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    Mute Kevin Farrell
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    Jul 11th 2018, 11:33 PM

    @Larissa Nikolaus: He is, and don’t call him Surely!

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    Mute Conor O'Farrell
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    Jul 12th 2018, 4:43 AM

    What was it we had for dinner tonight?
    Well, we had a choice of steak or fish.
    Yes, I remember, I had the lasagna.

    8
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    Mute Prof. William Joyce
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    Jul 12th 2018, 7:45 AM

    @Larissa Nikolaus: and that’s another thing don’t call me Shirley…

    3
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    Mute Crocodylus Pontifex
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    Jul 12th 2018, 8:35 AM

    @john barnes: It’s really the only sensible thing to do. If its done safely, therapeutically, there’s no danger involved

    2
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    Mute Pauline Gallagher
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    Jul 12th 2018, 10:14 AM

    @Walt Jabsco: lol that film is hilarious

    3
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    Mute Pauline Gallagher
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    Jul 12th 2018, 10:15 AM

    @Anto Curran: ahaha he played the character so straight hilarious :P

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    Mute Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa
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    Jul 11th 2018, 5:32 PM

    Any chance Aer Lingus could refer to the people flying with them as “passengers” instead of “guests”? Are we meant to feel special when we are called a guest?

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    Mute pZTahAXy
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    Jul 11th 2018, 6:06 PM

    @Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa: I noticed that on a recent flight. Really bugged me. I paid for my tickets!

    62
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    Mute Pat O'Leary
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    Jul 11th 2018, 6:16 PM

    @pZTahAXy: when one AL stewardess announced that we would “deplane momentarily” I asked her if we could get off de plane, and permanently – she looked at me like I had two heads.

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    Mute Kieran Henry
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    Jul 11th 2018, 6:16 PM

    @Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa: When I have guests I wish I could strap them in a seat and hope they fall asleep

    18
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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Jul 11th 2018, 8:38 PM

    @Kieran Henry: Some thick beret PR guru got paid a fortune for that rubbish

    12
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    Mute Niall Ó Cofaigh
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    Jul 11th 2018, 11:37 PM

    @Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa: I agree, I do not know why airlines are starting to use the word guests – after all I have never been a guest on a commercial airline, I always paid and the term guest suggests non payment, it is getting silly….

    10
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    Mute Fabio Dillon
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    Jul 12th 2018, 1:06 AM

    @Niall Ó Cofaigh: so when you go to a hotel you don’t pay? Here’s me spending 30 years paying to be a guest in hotels.

    15
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    Mute Deborah Blacoe
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    Jul 11th 2018, 4:33 PM

    Salmon agus salmon-eile.

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    Mute Terry Cahill
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    Jul 11th 2018, 3:16 PM

    No passengers were ill ? Interesting !

    82
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    Mute Keith Doyle
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    Jul 11th 2018, 3:38 PM

    @Terry Cahill: more than likely all of the ill cabin crew ate in the same restaurant or cafe and that’s why the pilots and passengers were not ill

    221
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    Mute Ruairi Gagarin
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    Jul 11th 2018, 3:29 PM

    Ladies and gentlemen, this is your stewardess speaking… We regret any inconvenience the sudden cabin movement might have caused, this is due to periodic air pockets we encountered, there’s no reason to become alarmed, and we hope you enjoy the rest of your flight… By the way, is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane?

    60
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    Mute Tommy Roche
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    Jul 11th 2018, 4:02 PM

    @Ruairi Gagarin: Those films are hilarious after 5 pints and a couple of spliffs…. or so I’ve heard.

    41
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    Mute Ruairi Gagarin
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    Jul 11th 2018, 4:39 PM

    @Tommy Roche: I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue.

    31
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    Mute Paul Laing
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    Jul 11th 2018, 3:20 PM

    It will be interesting to see if the cause can be identified.

    40
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    Mute Colette Kearns
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    Jul 11th 2018, 4:40 PM

    @Paul Laing: I blame the Russians!

    49
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    Mute Paul Laing
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    Jul 11th 2018, 4:51 PM

    @Colette Kearns: well of course you would.

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    Mute Colette Kearns
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    Jul 11th 2018, 5:01 PM

    @Paul Laing: what does that mean?

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    Mute wattsed
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    Jul 11th 2018, 4:03 PM

    Must’ve been nice to be a “guest” of the HSE though.

    29
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    Mute Sean Farrell
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    Jul 11th 2018, 10:16 PM

    I was on the flight. We returned to terminal in San Francisco before take off so a couple of passengers could disembark as they were too sick to travel. I think the cabin crew picked it up when assisting those passengers.

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    Mute Craig Barry
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    Jul 11th 2018, 10:34 PM

    @Sean Farrell: If it was viral it would be highly unlikely it would spread that fast..im thinking food poisoning at a hotel perhaps.. glad more folks were not affected.

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    Mute Niall Ó Cofaigh
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    Jul 11th 2018, 11:57 PM

    @Sean Farrell: Thank you for that interesting contribution – and it is not unheard of for this to happen, aircraft and ships worldwide…. when the Ebola virus was doing the rounds a few flights were quarantined. It is a serious decision to take but best in the long run as the process might establish what was wrong with the unloaded passengers and should there be any risk of airborne transmission then everyone on board could get proactive medical attention or at least have contact details should anything develop.

    I have read the rules and would have hated to be on any flight quarantined but can understand the reasons and they include proper disease control if needed… hopefully and thankfully everything ended in a false alarm but with the rule of “better safe then sorry” and I hope it was not too much of an inconvenience or too much of a delay after such a long flight…

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    Mute Niall Ó Cofaigh
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    Jul 12th 2018, 12:01 AM

    @Craig Barry: Something like the Ebola virus can infect people on a plane quite quickly – even something as simple as the flu virus can be transmitted via the air recycling system on an aircraft – it only takes one sneeze to pick up the flu when the virus goes airbourne….

    The protocol is there and is worldwide and applies to planes and ships — I just never heard it applied to any flights landing in Ireland… but there are loads if cases worldwide for ships and planes – all very interesting – and this looks like it was a happy ending and not an airbourne infectious disease

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    Mute Shane Fleming
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    Jul 11th 2018, 4:05 PM

    Yes, yes, I remember, I had lasagna.

    26
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    Mute Ann Mooney
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    Jul 11th 2018, 4:03 PM

    Anyone have the fish?

    27
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    Mute MickM
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    Jul 12th 2018, 12:28 AM

    I was on this fight two weeks ago from Dublin to San Francisco with my wife and kids. We were very sick (vomiting and sores around or mouths) for three days after. If it is the same plane Aer Lingus are using they should be looking at the air conditioning system. I wonder have anyone other passengers got sick after using this fight in the last few weeks.

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    Mute Boxer Alice
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    Jul 11th 2018, 4:44 PM

    To
    … Crew probably had better food, albeit not in this case, than the passengers. They are paying for it now

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    Mute JustOneScoop
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    Jul 11th 2018, 4:50 PM

    Z Day People finally here, Be prepared to run fast and hit hard…………I wish you all the best of luck

    13
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    Mute Craig Barry
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    Jul 11th 2018, 10:33 PM

    I just want to tell you both good luck. We’re all counting on you.

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    Mute Niall Ó Cofaigh
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    Jul 11th 2018, 11:50 PM

    On a serious note there is a protocol in place for aircraft (and shipping) where an unexplained illness occurs on board, then the aircraft must report this and is put into quarantine until the chief medical officer (or his representative) attends clears the passengers (and crew) to disembark and, to the best of my knowledge, the doors or the aircraft cannot be opened until allowed by the medical officer.

    Why all the fuss…. well it has been not unknown for deadly infectious diseases to be carried onto a flight by an infected passenger and the air recycling can result in infecting other passengers. Maybe if there is a doctor on board that can make a diagnosis the flight does not need to be quarantined, I do not know the trigger to start the quarantine process but it happens all over the world and the protocol is part of the infectious diseases control – remember when the world was dealing with an outbreak of the Ebola virus – but I do think that is the cabin crew were all sick and no one else and none of the cockpit crew then one maybe has to look elsewhere…. just the protocol causes delays and distress to those on board… and can be scary – not sure how often it happens either here or in other countries – but a quick search will reveal the protocol and some other incidences

    Nice to know that the process works – and it is why the people are not disembarked and are NOT removed to hospital until they are assessed.

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    Mute Chemical Brothers
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    Jul 11th 2018, 7:13 PM

    Fume event?

    5
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    Mute Pilib
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    Jul 11th 2018, 5:58 PM

    Must have been a squeaky bum landing…

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    Mute peter
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    Jul 12th 2018, 10:35 AM

    Exactly what happened to four of us a year ago on the same flight after eating shepherds pies. Would be a great idea for Aer Lingus staff to check the Best Before dates before serving their customers. I will never forget that flight feeling like puking all around the plane together with my friends. It was a great experience Aer Lingus, thank you!

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    Mute John Magee
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    Jul 11th 2018, 10:16 PM

    Smacks of “outbreak” queue Dustin and Cuba” #Cedarfalls

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    Mute Philip slevin
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    Jul 11th 2018, 6:39 PM

    The lot of you are talking rubbish,

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    Mute Terry Cahill
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    Jul 12th 2018, 6:46 AM

    @Philip slevin: This is great ! So entertaining !

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    Mute Alexander Webster
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    Jul 12th 2018, 2:29 PM

    Ladies and gentleman this is your Captain speaking, please do not be alarmed, shortly an Oxygen mask will deploy from your overhead cabin.

    2
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