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'Offensive and embarrassing': Coveney criticises McDonald for posing beside anti-English sign at parade

In response, Sinn Féin said the partition of Ireland is “divisive and offensive”.

TÁNAISTE SIMON COVENEY has criticised Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald for posing beside an anti-English banner at the St Patrick’s Day parade in New York.

Sinn Féin yesterday shared images of McDonald standing beside a number of banners at the parade, including one which read: ‘England Get Out Of Ireland’.

The banner, or a variation of it, has been the only political banner allowed in the parade for decades.

Coveney was not impressed, this morning tweeting that the gesture was “offensive, divisive and an embarrassment”.

“Grow up, this is NOT Ireland in 2019! We are better than this!,” he wrote.

The DUP also took offence to the image, saying it sums up Sinn Féin’s “attitude to explanations, truth and respect”.

Derry MP Gregory Campbell said: “When slogans such as “Brits out” or “England out of Ireland” are used the unionist community are well within their rights to see themselves as the intended focus.

“The ‘British presence in Ireland’ is the unionist population in Northern Ireland.”

In response, a spokesperson for Sinn Féin told TheJournal.ie: “The most divisive and offensive act on this island for almost the last 100 years has been the partition of Ireland.

It should come as no surprise that Sinn Féin wants a new united Ireland under the provisions of Good Friday Agreement. The faux outrage of some of our political opponents owes more to the silly season of a holiday weekend and petty political point scoring.

“However if Simon Coveney and the government is serious about achieving a new and agreed united Ireland then he should immediately convene an all-Ireland forum on Irish unity.”

The party has recently stepped up calls for a border poll as Brexit negotiations continue, noting the negative impacts Britain leaving the European Union could have in Northern Ireland.

Opinion polls have shown that the majority of people in the Republic want a border poll in the event of a no-deal Brexit, and that six in 10 people want to see a united Ireland in their lifetime.

However, others fear holding a poll in the near future would only intensify divisions in Northern Ireland, which has been without a devolved government since January 2017.

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    Mute Laura Walsh
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:09 AM

    Being an Irish nationalist is a political stance that surely people are entitled to, the same way people are entitled to a unionist stance?

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    Mute Shawn O'Ceallaghan
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:45 AM

    @Laura Walsh: people are entitled to it but are we really condoning nationalism? Party’s like SF won’t be the ones to unite the Island.

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    Mute Adam O'Donoghue
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:56 AM

    @Shawn O’Ceallaghan: nah you’re right Shawn,it’s looking like it’s going to be the DUP at the minute.

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    Mute JustOneScoop
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:07 PM

    @Shawn O’Ceallaghan: your right. Parties like the dup will. With their hilarious support for brexit. dup have done more in the last two years for United island cause since 1916 occurred.

    148
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    Mute Niall Binéad
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:25 PM

    @Shawn O’Ceallaghan: not out of touch much….. it’s been parties and individuals like Sinn Féin, over the last 103 years who are the ones who will of helped unite this country, it’s idiots like you that think otherwise! If you’re waiting for Varadkar & Co. I’d bring a flask and some sandwiches with me, you’ll have a very long wait!

    138
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    Mute Mjhint
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:01 PM

    @Laura Walsh: nationalism is a scourge on all societies & it’s problem is it attracts people with superiority complexs which in turn is a mask for an inferiority complex. these people very often need professional help.

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    Mute Diogenes
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:04 PM

    @Laura Walsh: Coveny very quiet about The Bloody Sunday Inquiry.

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    Mute ObsidianShine
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:17 PM

    @Mjhint: Thats an oversimplification of nationalism, because I’m a nationalist but I want to be part of the EU, albeit I’d like to see it restructured a bit for more democracy. And I’m okay with refugees and asylum seekers and people of other nationalities coming to live in Ireland.

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    Mute Mjhint
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:20 PM

    @ObsidianShine: So what’s your view of the British & the British establishment?

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    Mute ObsidianShine
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:33 PM

    @Mjhint: the British, as in the people? I see them as being very very similar to the Irish, good people, we are massively culturally intertwined and British people are very welcome in Ireland as far as I’m concerned. They’re kinda like our cousins really.

    95
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    Mute ObsidianShine
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:35 PM

    @Mjhint: the British establishment has come a long way from where it was 150 years ago but its currently in upheaval and in danger of regression. As a result I don’t fully trust it.

    48
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    Mute Patricia Mcnamara
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:49 PM

    @ObsidianShine: you are right it is past royalty and UK government that I detest. The UK people are like ourselves, dup excluded.

    48
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    Mute Mjhint
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:59 PM

    @ObsidianShine: I commend you. You are a rare gem.

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    Mute Renton Burke
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    Mar 17th 2019, 2:03 PM

    @ObsidianShine: so they are our cousins, peers and friends and today is about welcoming Ireland to the world. what on earth does an Irish political party leader have saying to one nation – get out? it’s horrible, sectarian, nasty sentiment that does not belong in Ireland today. there is an article further on saying we don’t want to go back to tension, and this spanner is stoking it.

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    Mute Simon F
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:06 AM

    John Delaney should get out of Ireland

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    Mute Kenneth O Brien
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:11 AM

    @Simon F: I agree

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    Mute Kenneth O Brien
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:12 AM

    @Simon F: all the comments on the article about the young keeper were deleted and now comments are closed can you explain that mr journal

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    Mute Bridget O'Hanlon
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:18 AM

    @Simon F: agreed

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:43 AM

    @Kenneth O Brien: Errrrrrr…….potential slander? Something to do with the many poisonous trolls? It’s no difficult. Try and keep up and go and post on RTE or Breaking News or the Independent or Sky or the BBC….no wait!!!!

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    Mute Kenneth O Brien
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:50 AM

    @Paul Furey: they can sue me for slander anytime pal Dennis o brien is s(um he tried to sue his home country ffs

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:51 AM

    @Kenneth O Brien: except it won’t be you that’s sued. It’d be the journal as the host of your comment.

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    Mute Kenneth O Brien
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:55 AM

    @Dave O’Keeffe: everyone is entitled to there own opinion

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    Mute ParSim
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:56 AM

    @Paul Furey: So mentioning the fact that Delaney is paid over €360,000 pa by the FAI, which is a matter of public knowledge and he had to give them a loan of €100,000 is a reason to delete said comment?

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    Mute Mary Lyons
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:19 PM

    @Dave O’Keeffe: who is Dave O’Keeffe?

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    Mute ParSim
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:27 PM

    @Paul Furey: Slander is for the spoken word libel is for the written word.

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    Mute Mary Lyons
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:40 PM

    @Simon F: who is Seamus Delaney?

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    Mute Raymond Westlake
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:53 PM

    @Kenneth O Brien: deletion of comments not in harmony with an engineered narrative is manipulation of news, and de facto propaganda. It’s difficult to take The Journal as anything more than a tabloid for the ‘non discerning.’

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    Mute Kenneth O Brien
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:50 PM

    @Raymond Westlake: very true it’s more like a red top rag at this stage

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    Mute Brian Dunne
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:09 AM

    Im not a big mary lou fan but its not anti english is it? Its telling england to leave ireland.

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:14 AM

    @Brian Dunne: It comes in the same vein as Islamiphobia and antisemitism, definately not funny or something to shout about regardless of your beliefs….

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    Mute Barry Zuckerkorn
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:29 AM

    @Chris Kirk: disagree, we actually have a good reason to slag of the English, 1000 years of torture and hunger comes to mind, where as antisemitism and islamophobia is just pure ignorance and misguided hate

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    Mute Joe Nolan
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:30 AM

    @Chris Kirk: how so?

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    Mute ObsidianShine
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:30 AM

    @Brian Dunne: No its not anti-english, to call it that would be an oversimplification. I’m a Republican, I’m not anti-english, however I do want to see the British state out of a position of power on the island of Ireland and I want to see unification of the island under a new Republic.

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    Mute Veronica
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:50 AM

    @Chris Kirk: wanting your historical oppressor to get out of your country isn’t exactly a bigoted position.

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    Mute Pseudonym
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:55 AM

    @Chris Kirk: that’s like saying black people who wanted to end slavery were anti white! Cop yourself on Chris…

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    Mute Charles Alexander
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:56 AM

    @Brian Dunne:
    So ‘Muslims out of Europe’ wouldn’t be considered anti-Muslim??

    32
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    Mute Benny
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:02 PM

    @Barry Zuckerkorn: Was it the English who invaded Ireland? and if so, then define “English”?

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    Mute Dan Jacobson
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:02 PM

    @Barry Zuckerkorn: it’s all the same. All based on a mixture of ignorance and weak personal identity.

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    Mute Brian Dunne
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:06 PM

    @Charles Alexander: it would be. However the banner is asking for the British state to leave this island. Not english people

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    Mute IRL77
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:09 PM

    @Brian Dunne: it’s the United Kingdom…..not England…..amazed at how many plastic nationalists get this wrong.

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    Mute Martin Meyler
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:20 PM

    @Charles Alexander: course it would. England is a country. A state. Also, it should have read Britain. Typical Irish-American misreading of history.

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    Mute James Wallace
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:28 PM

    @Brian Dunne: it doesnt mention British at all

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    Mute bmul
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:00 PM

    @Barry Zuckerkorn: so the Scots can stay ?

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    Mute Anne Warren
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:04 PM

    @Barry Zuckerkorn: for the day that’s in it, confirming what you wrote https://eurofree3.wordpress.com/2019/03/17/happy-st-patricks-day-2/

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:18 PM

    @Brian Dunne: I think a lot of citizens in NI might disagree with that.

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:19 PM

    @ObsidianShine: and it will happen but only if the majority vote for it in NI.

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:20 PM

    @Benny: the Normans were invited in by an Irish King, they didn’t invade

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    Mute Charles Alexander
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:52 PM

    @Brian Dunne:
    Hence the removal of my post.

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    Mute Patricia Mcnamara
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:52 PM

    @IRL77: then again Scotland and Wales are not British, a different breed.

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    Mute Adrian
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:10 AM

    I think this is coveneys attempt to deflect the attention away from leo’s meeting with the much more popular mcgregor in chicago, and leos and the govs very awkward reaction to it. And leos sash on upside down, either all his gov officials are a bunch of clowns for not pointing it out to him, or else leo refused to fix it because he was going through a personal temper tantrum that mcgregor was stealing the limelight and was too upset to fix it.

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    Mute Adrian
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:20 AM

    Leo makes an effort to look ultra composed in every public appearance, to the point of being monotonic and robotic. He wouldn’t be human if he didn’t get angry sometimes. The upside down sash for image obsessed leo is a huge tell that he was probably furious.

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    Mute Adrian
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:29 AM

    Also shows how much of a huge effort the gov people have to put in to make leo appear popular, who is now more unpopular than kenny was. Also probably wasting millions of taxpayers money on it.

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    Mute Tommy Roche
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:54 AM

    @Adrian: Time will give us the reason for the awkward reaction.

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    Mute Cathal
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:57 PM

    @Tommy Roche: Varadker probably had a reaction that made the others uncomfortable, look upward and whistle

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    Mute Derek Poutch
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:17 AM

    What do you find offensive Simon? Democracy, the people of this country (all Ireland) were never given the opportunity to vote for an independent country thanks to who? yes you guessed it the English.

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:46 AM

    @Derek Poutch: Every recent poll in northern Ireland indicates almost only 50/50 for unification. It’s still too close. It’s not going to happen in the next 10 years so relax.

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    Mute Derek Poutch
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:56 PM

    @Paul Furey: Ah yes polls Paul, why bother having elections at all? Besides I’m just trying to figure out why Simon is offended.

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    Mute John Hetherton
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:59 PM

    @Derek Poutch: I agree with your sentiments but it was actually a Welshman Llyod George that co-signed the treaty and started the process of petition.

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    Mute David Linehan
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:18 AM

    They’re a Republican Party. Not like it’s a shocking image. They have their political views and that’s that, more then they can say for FG & FF. Irish tories going with any popular opinion out there and jumping on the bandwagon.

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    Mute DB
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:25 AM

    It’s more unbelievable that he doesn’t realise Sinn Féin are a nationalist party and guess what they want a United Ireland. I’m not a Sinn Féin voter but at least they stand for something and they don’t hide it.

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    Mute Tony Lyons
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:33 AM

    @DB: it was just a politician doing what they do best not missing a photo opportunity

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    Mute DB
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:37 AM

    @Tony Lyons: very true . But “if you stand for nothing, you will fall for everything “quote comes to mind with a lot of our political class.

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    Mute Niall Binéad
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:30 PM

    @Tony Lyons: what would you like her to do, stand on the sidelines?

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    Mute Rob Hill
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:14 PM

    I’m English, live in Ireland permanentely and am married to an Irish woman.

    I do not find this offensive. I understand it for what it is.

    I too would like to see a united Ireland and the end of one of the last bastions of overt British imperialism.

    I do not take it to mean that I, personally, am not welcome in Ireland. I take it to mean that Westminister should not have their long arm involved in the politics and running of the island of Ireland.

    I don’t know if it will happen soon or even in my lifetime, but I will be in full support of it when it happens.

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    Mute ObsidianShine
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:30 PM

    @Rob Hill: And that is exactly how it was meant! Thank you for that piece of sense there Rob. English people are very welcome in Ireland and vice versa, as a people we are intrinsically intertwined culturally and socially and this banner does nothing to erode that at all!

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    Mute Patricia Mcnamara
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    Mar 17th 2019, 2:01 PM

    @Rob Hill: most Irish love UK people like you
    We have to loose the island mentality. Government’s are our problem
    Ours is as bad as yours.

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    Mute Doire
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:28 AM

    If your quoting Gregory Campbell in any article you have already reached the level of gutter journalism. The difference between Mary Lou and the Simon and Leo show is we know exactly what she stands for, and she not afraid to show/say it regardless of what company she is in.

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    Mute ObsidianShine
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:32 AM

    @Doire: it’s refreshing isn’t it!

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    Mute Seán C
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:11 AM

    Loads of comments deleted on stories relating to Irish soccer. Have the lawyers and the Maltese falcon been in touch?

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    Mute Robin Basstard
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:37 AM

    @Seán C: Probably…can’t be upsetting Sue…on St Patrick’s day…

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    Mute ED
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:46 PM

    @Seán C: because it’s not relevant to this article? Not everyone cares about football

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    Mute Bart Teeling
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:26 AM

    Unionists must be the biggest snowflakes around. Constantly needing ‘assurance’ and hugs. Yet frolic around burning tricolours every July.

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    Mute Joe Nolan
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:03 PM

    @Bart Teeling: Unionists have been described as being “first to give offence, and first to take offence”. It is quite appropriate in this case.

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    Mute Tony Mcgrath
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:10 AM

    Coventry and DUP in agreement interesting

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    Mute Fear Uisce
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:00 PM

    @Tony Mcgrath: future coalition in a United ireland

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    Mute Mary King
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    Mar 17th 2019, 2:01 PM

    @Tony Mcgrath:
    Coventry ?

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    Mute Emmett Currie
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:58 AM

    I don’t see anything wrong with the banner. England has never had a right to have a presence here. Up the rebels

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    Mute Fear Uisce
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:03 PM

    @Emmett Currie: the English Pope gave them permission

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    Mute The Risen
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:07 PM

    “In other news, it’s offensive to ask thieves for your stuff back”

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    Mute Fr. Fintan Stack
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:30 PM

    So will Simon now be condemning the 12th July marches of triumphalism? No that will be classed as ‘tradition”.

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    Mute Doire
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:44 PM

    @Fr. Fintan Stack: your wrong its calked Kulture. Dont get this confused with Culture. The “K” kukture in the north is much more powerful

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    Mute Fr. Fintan Stack
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:58 PM

    @Doire: Sorry. Culture with 3 K’s

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    Mute Patricia Mcnamara
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:58 PM

    @Doire: do they wear white hoods ?

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    Mute Sarah
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:41 AM

    I feel the same way when Simon smiles next to Netanyahu and tells him that Ireland has decided not to recognize Palestine (despite the outcome of the vote) or that we won’t *really* enforce the ban on Israeli goods….in spite of the outcome of the vote….

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    Mute Padraig Salah
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:11 PM

    They’ve had that same banner at parade for decades!

    Don’t see the big deal that’s what a nationalist is ffs

    It’s like Stephen hawking having a banner saying I love science

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    Mute ObsidianShine
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:23 PM

    @Padraig Salah: Stephen Hawking is dead… Have you no humanity and compassion man! I’m going into the corner to cry!

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    Mute Padraig Salah
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:36 PM

    @ObsidianShine:

    I know and He always talked sense on a range of stuff. Great person and total inspiration for anyone when they get into excuse mode

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    Mute Patricia Mcnamara
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:56 PM

    @ObsidianShine: I luv Stephen. Can I cry in your corner?

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    Mute Kenneth O Brien
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:17 AM

    The Maltese falcon owns the media pal

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    Mute Fear Uisce
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:13 PM

    looks like Simon would like England to stay, then again the blue shirts would probably love to return to the empire

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    Mute johnbunton
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:29 AM

    People love being outraged. There is nothing Wrong with the banner people are entitled to their own opinions. All our politicians are a bunch of hemorrhoids though. I do hope we can get a new political party soon that’s worth voting for that finally stands up for the working class of this country.

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    Mute Paul Freeman
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:20 AM

    People are entitled to their opinions, some people want the six counties back as part of Ireland, the people of the north voted to stay as part of Britain, each to their own.

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    Mute itzme
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:33 AM

    @Paul Freeman: the people of the North voted to stay in the European union. See how that’s working out for them.

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    Mute Patricia Mcnamara
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:55 PM

    @Paul Freeman: no, the unionists voted to stay.

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    Mute Jono
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:12 PM

    Yet israel doesnt get condemned by simon !! Emm strange

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    Mute Jim O'Sullivan
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:53 PM

    Amazed at some peoples ignorance, and particularly Coveney’s. This is the original banner that was used during the hunger strike protests held during that period.

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    Mute Willy
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:15 PM

    Find FFG offensive Si….

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    Mute Donal Carey
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:38 PM

    My God Coveney there is a time when you have to get off your knees and stop pretending everything is fine . Mary Lou walks behind a banner she knows is true to her beliefs and has never made any excuses to anyone for being a Republican.

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:16 PM

    She is playing to SF hard liners back home, never thought I would agree with Simon C but he is right on this occasion

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:17 PM

    What’s embarrassing about the banner or walking behind it ?. The subservient attitude of Coveney and his cohorts along with successive Irish governments are the embarrassment.

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    Mute James Moore
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:29 AM

    If the Unionist are offended and im sure a lot are not go back to England after all i am sure the vast majority of the unionist have been born and bread in Ireland that makes them Irish

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    Mute Patricia Mcnamara
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:59 PM

    @James Moore: not mentally. They identify with British brains

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    Mute Irish big fellow
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:36 PM

    You would not see the late Martin McGuinness walking behind this banner as Vice President of Sinn Fein. He would have been more pragmatic and was more of a politician than a chancer.

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    Mute Anne Warren
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:10 PM

    @Irish big fellow: yet martin Mc Guinness pulled the rug from under Stormont. if he were alive today, would he have walked with mary lou?https://eurofree3.wordpress.com/2019/03/17/happy-st-patricks-day-2/

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    Mute Roberto González
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:53 PM

    She’s entitled to her opinion. When u look at the chaos Brexit is causing, the 6 nations partition, their role in the formation of Israel, Pakistan / India etc, there seems to be a common theme. Maybe they should have a read of that sign and take a look at how they act in the world.

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    Mute Shane Walsh
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:27 AM

    I was there and she hid at the back for most part.

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    Mute Pseudonym
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:52 AM

    @Shane Walsh: and what was she hiding from?

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    Mute Pixie McMullen
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:12 PM

    @Pseudonym: Him..

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    Mute eddie horgan
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:01 PM

    What else could be expected from her?

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    Mute WoodlandBard
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:01 PM

    It seems England would be out if the North voted them out? They voted to Remain in Europe so perhaps democratically they should.
    Would a banner saying ‘Unite The Island Of Ireland’ be more targeted to that?

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    Mute DPentony
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:51 PM

    Will be some United Ireland if Sinn Fein have their way. Imagine how the Unionist community in the North are going to be treated.

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    Mute Fr. Fintan Stack
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:09 PM

    @DPentony: I’m sure not as bad as the Nationalist / Catholic community were treated for years.

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    Mute Patricia Mcnamara
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    Mar 17th 2019, 2:03 PM

    @DPentony: fairly and equally.

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    Mute Derek Poutch
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:02 PM

    I would say they would be treated as equals because if they were not then we wouldn’t have learned anything over what caused the troubles in the first place.

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    Mute Niall Ó Cofaigh
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    Mar 17th 2019, 2:03 PM

    Did the people of Ireland, Sinn Fein included, not sign up to the Good Friday Agreement whereby the people of Northern Ireland, along with those in the Republic, can decide the future of Northern Ireland and effectively remove the option for England to “get out of Ireland” without the consent of the people of Northern Ireland?

    I do not see how standing behind such a banner can promote an atmosphere of reconciliation or understanding but I can understand how it could be divisive and offensive to some.

    Again, in my opinion, Mary Lou does less to promote her party and a cause with useful contributions but does do damage to her cause by divisive comment and association.

    Something along the lines of “England, please consider the financial benefits of proactively seeking a United Ireland, your enhanced international reputation, and the fact that you can Brexit without difficulty of a backstop… ” – tactics to win over your enemies not to placate your friends ???

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    Mute Simon Burrell
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:39 PM

    Jesus, England is a country to the east of the island of Ireland and without a catastrophic tectonic movement is never going to find itself in Ireland. Perhaps these people should study geography and grammar before publicising their feeble grasp of fact to the bemused world.

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    Mute Alan Foley
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:58 PM

    What’s so embarrassing about a Shinner standing with a banner that promotes her party policy… Coveney and his kowtowing blueshirts are the real embarrassment to the Irish nation….

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    Mute Dan Jacobson
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:05 PM

    I’d like to see a united Ireland but until we move beyond language of division with tones of ethnic cleansing we will never see it happen in peace.

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    Mute Stephen O Malley
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:15 PM

    Leo and McGregor out of Ireland…. For the weekend.. back Tuesday

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    Mute William Bryan
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:15 PM

    Maybe critique Leo’s performance for playing second fiddle to a thug

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    Mute Sally Finnegan
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:51 PM

    I’m disgusted by this! What the hell is wrong with her! I thought we had moved on from this kind of thing!

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    Mute Jim O'Sullivan
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:55 PM

    @Sally Finnegan: We have. The banner is nearly 40 years old and was used by protesters during the hunger strikes. There are no such protests held in the US anymore.

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    Mute Sally Finnegan
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:50 PM

    I’m disgusted by this! What the hell is wrong with her! I thought we had moved on from this kind of thing!

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    Mute Michael Maher
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:49 PM

    We would need to sort our 26 counties first with our terrible hospitals, crap infrastructure, messy police force,crime ridden,towns underpaid defence force, unhappy teachers,
    Corrupt banks and legal system, crony based politicians full of village idiots and system of the haves and have nots before talking about getting the othe 6 counties to come on board. Amen

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    Mute John Mc Donagh
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:50 PM

    Ah leave her alone Leo. She knows no better!

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    Mute Sally Finnegan
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:50 PM

    I’m disgusted by this! What the hell is wrong with her! I thought we had moved on from this kind of thing!

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    Mute Fear Uisce
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    Mar 17th 2019, 1:07 PM

    @Sally Finnegan: so disgusted you said it trice

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    Mute Robbie Redmond
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:00 PM

    Its our national holiday thats celebrated around the world dont you think we could also have a break from our idiotic politicians for one day

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    Mute Ben Jamen
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    Mar 17th 2019, 11:39 AM

    Anyone know a good money lender?

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    Mute Robbie Redmond
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:02 PM

    @Ben Jamen: heard of a bloke called Seanie Fitz

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    Mute ObsidianShine
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:21 PM

    @Ben Jamen: JD’s Payday Loans

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    Mute Mary Lyons
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:36 PM

    Why is my comment offensive
    And Simon Coveney’s isent?Mary Lyons? It is a blatant racist remark
    Mary Lyons

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    Mute Mary Lyons
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:42 PM

    Mary Lou McDonald get out of Ireland we don’t want people like you here
    Mary Lyons

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    Mute Mary Lyons
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    Mar 17th 2019, 12:15 PM

    Disgraceful racism, I’m ashamed to be Irish

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