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No truth in reports that GAA agreed to use of Páirc Uí Chaoimh, organiser of Liam Miller match says

Michael O’Flynn said all that had been suggested by the GAA so far was a meeting.

REPORTS LAST NIGHT that the GAA had agreed to hold the Liam Miller tribute match in Páirc Uí Chaoimh are untrue, one of the organisers of the event has said.

Word spread on social media last evening that the association had agreed the Cork venue could host the charity match, and a number of national news and sport websites published articles based on those reports.

Tickets for the match, slated to take place at Turners Cross, sold out within a minute of going on sale on Friday. The demand for tickets sparked calls for the game to be moved down the road to the 45,000-capacity Páirc.

The GAA said on Friday that the event would not be moved and that the Cork County Board had “no discretion” on the use of the stadium.

However yesterday afternoon the association released a short statement indicating a willingness to “discuss issues around the game” with organisers of the charity fixture, and suggesting a meeting.

Michael O’Flynn, a developer and family friend of Liam Miller, was asked about the latest developments today.

Speaking to Trevor Welch on The Score on Cork’s 96FM he said he didn’t know where last night’s reports had come from and that the GAA had only, so far, offered a meeting.

That, still, was a welcome development, O’Flynn said.

He said the Cork County Board had been receptive to his initial approach about hosting the match, but that they told him the stadium would not be available after running the question by the GAA’s management.

“I welcome the fact that they are now keen to have a meeting and we are very much hopeful that meeting might bring some kind of breakthrough,” he told Welch.

Progress had seemed very unlikely until yesterday afternoon’s statement from the GAA, he said. “That must be progress.”

O’Flynn added that no date had yet been set for the meeting between the match’s organisers and the GAA.

Rules 

The GAA’s implementation of Rule 42 forbids Gaelic grounds – Croke Park excluded – from playing host to other sporting codes.

Exemptions to the rule can only be granted at the association’s annual Congress, which does not take place until February.

Henry Shefflin, Joe Brolly, and former GAA president Sean Kelly are among the thousands of members nationwide who have condemned the GAA’s stance on the matter.

The Gaelic Players Association echoed calls for Páirc Uí Chaoimh to be made available for the September match, claiming the approach stated on Friday by the GAA “doesn’t align with our values as sportspeople”.

Barrister Tim O’Connor, who has an interest in sport and law, has suggested after examining the GAA rule book that the game could go ahead if it was defined as a charity event rather than a field sport from a non-GAA code.

The match, scheduled to take place on 25 September, will see an Ireland/Celtic XI managed by Martin O’Neill face off against a Manchester United XI to raise funds for Miller’s family.

Players including Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, and Damien Duff will take part in the event for the late 36 year-old, who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer in February.

Miller’s fellow Corkonian Roy Keane will manage the Manchester United XI.

- With reporting from Gavan Casey 

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    Mute Kevin Moynihan
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 4:56 PM

    Rule 42 covers all GAA facilities, so how could they offer the conference facilities if they are covered by the same rule.
    The EU should be asked about the terms of the 30 million grant that the stadium got and how EU rules are being followed.
    Common sense should prevail and let the game go on at Pairc UI Clhaoimh.

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    Mute Brendan Hughes
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 5:14 PM

    @Kevin Moynihan: rule 42 refers only to field sports not concerts ,conferences or any other sports.

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 6:33 PM

    @Brendan Hughes: why is it ok for GAA clubs to rent out astroturfs for soccer and tag rugby? Seems a bit hypocritical to refuse the Liam miller game when every club with an AstroTurf up and down the country are breaking the rule every week.

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    Mute bings
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 7:39 PM

    @Jim Demps: Money makes the world to around. There must be no money in it for the GAA .

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    Mute philip murphy
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 7:47 PM

    @bings: interesting comment…haven’t read that hundreds of times the last few days.

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 8:55 PM

    @bings: I’ve posted that point on a few threads and I’m yet to see anyone argue with me. The GAA are all about the rules unless it doesn’t suit em. Hypocrites.

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    Mute Paul Gurney
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 10:12 PM

    @Kevin Moynihan: my instinct would be to say stick it up yer hole lads but that’s the end of any help from the state from here on .if they have to be dragged along screaming then feck them.

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    Mute Ado Smith
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 10:49 PM

    @bings: another cheap sh__ty stab at Gah! Play the game in the Aviva FFS. With all the free publicity it has garnered it’ll sell out!

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    Mute Jimmy Coltrane
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 4:57 PM

    We as a people need to stand up and demonstrate that there is no place for this sectarian bigotry in modern Ireland.
    #BotcottTheGAA.

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    Mute Pauliebhoy
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 5:01 PM

    @Jimmy Coltrane: Keep those robots out

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    Mute Con
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 5:06 PM

    @Jimmy Coltrane: bottcott

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    Mute Liam Doyle
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 6:39 PM

    @Jimmy Coltrane: i think the GAA will survive a boycott by people who have no interest in the games somehow. Maybe you can rally the troops from your barstool when the charity shield is on in a few weeks.

    50
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    Mute Keith Synnott
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 5:01 PM

    The GAA council are nothing but bigots if they ignore the pleas of the public and the grassroots members here.

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 6:35 PM

    @Keith Synnott: GAA always were isolationists, keep looking backwards lads and show yourselves up more

    37
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    Mute Declan Moran
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 5:52 PM

    Just goes to show the real colours of the GAA (as if we didn’t know already). When it comes to concerts etc, they do all they can so they can make a quick few million euros but when it’s a wife and family of a sportsman whom need support for the rest of their lives they trot out the feckin rulebook. Shame on them. I hope none of them or anybody belonging to them are ever in a situation where they need this type of support.

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    Mute Thomas O' Donnell
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 4:53 PM

    “Cork County Board had no discretion on the use of the stadium”. They could just let the match go ahead. What’s the sanction for breaking the “other sports” rule? Can’t see HQ enforcing any sanction anyway. I think they’re a bit more publicity conscious than the County Board (not difficult!)

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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 7:15 PM

    @Thomas O’ Donnell: there is no set sanction in the rules. And if they went ahead and breached the rules, who would be brave enough to sanction them? Maybe a €1 fine or something? It’s a mess of their own making.

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    Mute mick scanlan
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 5:27 PM

    mr coveney can the taxpayer have its €30 million cheque back that you so proudly waved to fund the Stadium for the bigots of Cork

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    Mute Aaron Buckley
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 7:36 PM

    @mick scanlan: ‘fund the stadium for the bigots of Cork’ you do realise that’s an exceptionally bigoted statement.
    And pretty sure the GAA Cork county board in no way reflect the views of the people of Cork.
    If anything it’s the opposite

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    Mute Niall Ó Cofaigh
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 7:52 PM

    @mick scanlan: I think this is the key issue, the GAA have received state support while having various discriminatory rules – remember that you could not play GAA if you watched a foreign sport, that rule affected my as my school played a foreign sport. That rule is gone, as is the rule barring members of the NI Police force but there is no place for government money going to a sporting organisation that has a ban on certain sports – getting rid of the ban should be a requirement for any government or lotto funding – and maybe many sporting organisations and clubs would need to look at their rule book too just to be sure

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    Mute John Buckley
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 8:31 PM

    @mick scanlan: read the article you ignorant clown. Cork County Board asked GAA management if they could host the game. They refused. It was probably some bigot like you that refused Cork permission told host the game.

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    Mute Just Some Guy
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 5:29 PM

    typical gaa. if they aren;t making money then they don’t want to know

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    Mute Sean Conway
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 7:42 PM

    @Just Some Guy: If it was a member of the royals family they would jump in to lick their arses

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    Mute Mikarlachenko
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 7:39 PM

    I find it hilarious how people are telling an organisation, they likely have no affinity to, what to do.

    The estate next to our apartment block is social housing. As the taxpayer has assisted in the development of their house we kind of own it (Same logic as taxpayers funding Pairc Ui Chaoimh)?

    If I lobby enough maybe they’ll allow me to have a party in their back garden because we don’t have one in the apartment? Sure it’s only fair no?

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    Mute PJ Connolly
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 8:42 PM

    @Mikarlachenko: Yes you do effectively own it. And yes, you can lobby to have a party in the back garden. A couple of points of contrast though – Disanalogy 1: no one will join your lobby because it is a ridiculous idea. Disanalogy 2: presumably the people living in the houses use their back garden most days, and you having a party in it will prevent them using it. (As well as added disruption of having someone else’s party in your garden. Would you rehouse them temporarily? Disanalogy 3: there are hundreds of thousands of other places in the county you could have a party in and would be more suitable.

    Apart from all the massive the massive disanalogies though, great points.

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    Mute Ado Smith
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 10:55 PM

    @PJ Connolly: Disanalogy #4 no such word. Disanalogy #5 play it in the stadium that Liam graced for Ireland. Can’t believe the crap being spouted here

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    Mute Johnny Twomey
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 12:21 AM

    @Ado Smith: you afraid you might get lost on the way down to cork, do us a favour and stay wherever your from.

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    Mute Mikarlachenko
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 1:02 AM

    @Johnny Twomey: play it in his stadium then so – The Cross. Sure ye can barely fill it week in week out. Capacity over 7k, average attendance 4.5k.

    And you want to borrow someone else’s stadium? Sense of entitlement is beyond belief

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    Mute Johnny Twomey
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 1:48 AM

    @Mikarlachenko: this charity event, which is what it is, has nothing to do with Cork City other than they were asked to facilitate it to which they obliged and are preparing for.
    Common sense and decency suggests P Ui Chaoimh would be alot more practical to facilitate numbers and to raise more funds, without dragging his home community and family to a bigger venue such as the Aviva, all the way to Dublin. The facility is there, only thing stopping it is GAA HQ which we all have seen in recent times are a tad bit behind the times. A former and recent GAA president has even supported the notion Pairc Ui Chaoimh is the right and best venue for this.
    God forbid something similiar happened to a former international player, for example from dublin, and people like yourself stupidly suggest to play it in a smaller venue, miles away from his own towntown, for example in Cork, there’d be outrage and rightly so . Doesnt make sense does it!
    The facility is in Cork, his family are from Cork, wide and sensible concencus is that it should be played in Corks biggest stadium for the simple reason why the event is being held. Im from Cork myself, no entitlement here, this is about common sense and doing the right thing. Only thing beyond belief is your own common sense.

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    Mute Ado Smith
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 7:22 PM

    @Johnny Twomey: Dito!

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    Mute Ferg
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 5:35 PM

    If Ireland had of gotten the rugby world cup the rule would have changed fairly quick …. GAA rotten to the core.

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    Mute Theodora Lament
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 6:56 PM

    @Ferg: interesting point and probably true!

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    Mute Kilkenny Katt
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 7:34 PM

    perhaps it is time for FAI to get its own gaff

    32
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    Mute Red Ruskie
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 5:37 PM

    Depriving a family of a chance – how difficult is it???

    31
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    Mute John donnelly
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 5:05 PM

    What a shower of Wan#### the GAS are

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    Mute Ado Smith
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 10:52 PM

    @John donnelly: Idiotic comment from an idiot that can’t even spell. Play the game in the Aviva where Liam played for his country!

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    Mute niall
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 5:42 PM

    GAA are a disgrace. If they were getting 20 euro at the gate forbid themselves it would be a different story

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    Mute Colm O'Buachalla
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 7:22 PM

    sure can’t the millionaire developer O’flynn make up the shortfall using the funds he made from
    nama.

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    Mute Damo_Greene
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 9:54 PM

    If the irish soccer and rugby teams wer allowed to play at croke park surely this one off game could go ahead too. It just goes to show the gaa could bend that rule when the aviva was being renovated because of the huge pay days they got. Greedy ba##ards

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    Mute James_665
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 5:01 PM

    Was reported on joe.ie

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    Mute Yorkie1892
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 5:05 PM

    @James_665: yes Joe.ie… worst page for click bait

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    Mute James_665
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 5:13 PM

    @Yorkie1892: it was my first time checking on it, it will be my last, proves you can belive NOTHING online.

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    Mute Yorkie1892
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 5:15 PM

    @James_665: fake news

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    Mute Veronica
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 8:25 PM

    @James_665: don’t believe anything on that load of tripe.. balls.ie is far more trustworthy..

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    Mute James_665
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 8:30 PM

    @Yorkie1892: fake news is phrase used by donald trump, can u come up with anything other than the ORANGE FACE ORANGTANG.

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    Mute James_665
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 8:35 PM

    @Veronica: Thank you Veronica ☘

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    Mute James_665
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 8:41 PM

    @Veronica: Has to take a Cork woman, im a follower of all Cork sports, male & female, ( only 1 hr from Cork) lol

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    Mute Sean
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 10:35 PM

    @James_665: The fall of the Berlin Wall was fake news – didn’t stop thousands flocking to it – and the rest is history.

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    Mute Ciaran Bolton
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 7:33 PM

    Have it in Thomond Park and let the GAA go ….

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    Mute Shaun Gallagher
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 5:03 PM

    There can’t be as no special Congress has happened to sanction it

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    Mute Clifford Brennan
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 5:22 PM

    @Shaun Gallagher: Compassion and common sense thwarted by jobsworth bureaucracy. Shower of thankless pillocks.

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    Mute Shaun Gallagher
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 6:54 PM

    @Clifford Brennan: You are 100% correct. I was only stating what has to happen for it to open up for the game

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    Mute Sean Griffin
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 1:46 AM

    Where is John Delaney? Then again, he might be asked about his €460,000 per annum salary. He hasn’t given an interview in years

    4
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    Mute Des
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 7:17 PM

    Let them stick there pitch where the sun don’t shine

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    Mute paul howard
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 10:14 PM

    @GAA still acting in racism

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    Mute Des
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 7:21 PM

    This is going to end up bad

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    Mute Des
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 7:23 PM

    Going to end up bad

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    Mute Theodora Lament
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 6:54 PM

    Reminds one of the habit of expressing full confidence in the naughty one a week before the axeman wields his O’Toole……foolish me what am l saying l mean of course his toole!!!!

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    Mute Thomas Linehan
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 10:41 AM

    Some clarity is wanted badly

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