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Couple Bonga (34) and Dean (41) Conor McCrave

Gay couple encourage other members of the LGBT community to consider fostering children

There are more than 6,000 children in state care in Ireland.

A GAY COUPLE who have been fostering two children for more than a decade have called on other members of the LGBT+ community to consider taking on a fostering role and help support some of the 6,000 children in State care in Ireland. 

Dean O’Carroll and his husband Bonga Dlamini O’Carroll have two boys who were placed in foster care when they were just one and three years old. 

Dean has been fostering them for 13 years now while Bonga joined the family in 2015 after the pair met, and later married. 

There are currently more than 6,000 children in this situation who rely on foster carers across the country to look after and support them. 

Dean and Bonga explained that some of their LGBT+ friends have expressed an interest in fostering but worry about a perceived stigma that might be associated with it. 

They said it hasn’t been something they have experienced in their family. 

“Sometimes when people meet you for the first time, they might be curious and ask questions like ‘Oh you’re a gay couple and you are fostering, what’s that like?’ but it’s more curiosity than anything, rather than judging or anything like that,” Bonga said. 

“Anyone can foster, whether you’re single, whether you’re gay, whether you’re straight. It just depends on your personality and if you are able to actually give the love and provide a house and a family for the children,” he added. 

At present there are around 4,500 foster carers in Ireland, with the Child and Family Agency, Tusla actively trying to increase that number over the coming months. 

Dean said the hesitancy towards fostering among his gay friends comes from a lack of knowledge and added that a foster carer’s sexuality doesn’t matter when a child needs a safe home. 

“The lack of knowledge creates fears and people would have fears about whether they would be acceptable as a foster parent. But if you take the word fostering out of it, you just have to be able to be a parent. 

“I’ve been asked what’s the most difficult part of parenting and it’s the parenting itself. Anything that would come up in regular type of family are the same difficulties that we would face as a fostering family.”

He added: “In my opinion, it might make you a better fosterer if you’re deciding that you’re putting yourself in that way, as opposed to a straight couple who naturally would be expected to, and will have their family.”

Tusla is launching its first national fostering week on Monday 14 October in a bid to encourage more people to consider applying to be a foster carer, and is directing anyone who might be interested to its fostering website. 

Tusla CEO Bernard Gloster said: “Foster carer recruitment has to be a rolling process. There are 6,000 children in care in Ireland today… Thankfully, in our almost 4,000 foster care settings we have 1,100 of people who are relative carers, who step in from extended family and support. 

“It’s also a huge challenge for non-relative carers from all family structures now in Irish society, and thankfully we have such wonderful diversity, and a redefined view of what family is.”

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26 Comments
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    Mute GlangaurdatYaBowsey
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:35 PM

    “not much more than potatoes”???? our potatoes are so much more than just potatoes! He obviously hasn’t tasted new potatoes from Wexford in his sheltered life.

    1363
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    Mute Joanna
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:53 PM

    Right? Potatoes are delicious! =D

    294
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    Mute Donal O Neil
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:04 PM

    Irish exports include beef , lamb , butter , Guinness , whisky , electronics , sights for Israeli tanks , medical joints , irish people of all shapes and creeds , aeroplane parts , rental aeroplanes , car parts , you hearts , tayto , tea (Barry’s) , nailers and other agricultural machiney , buckets for diggers , Viagra and a whole multitude of drugs for every sickness going , medical staff in foreign lands fighting Ebola , we even have irish oil co panties full ow etc , mining exports , horses , trainers , and some of the best bar men in the business and these chaps down in oz have only every though of potatoes which incidentally we don’t export to Oz . What have the Australians ever done for the irish ID like to ask ?

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    Mute Donal O Neil
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:05 PM

    Nailers should be bailers

    65
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    Mute Donal O Neil
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:05 PM

    Pansies should be oil companies like tullow

    35
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    Mute Lorcan Bosanquet
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:29 PM

    I see you’ve played knifey-spooney before.

    222
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    Mute Francie Coffey
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:35 PM

    A rather tipsy English chap got off the plane at Sydney & was escorted to a room for a ‘chat’
    officer, – “now sir, – do you have a criminal record….?? ”
    tourist, – ” is it still a requirement….?? ”
    true story that…

    531
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    Mute Tom Quinn
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:44 PM

    Old as the hills

    28
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    Mute Craig Barry
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    Nov 7th 2014, 2:25 PM

    LMAO brilliant

    57
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    Mute CreditTiger
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    Nov 7th 2014, 3:40 PM

    That drongo hack should be unceremoniously spud-launched, head first into the Malongagoolachug……chug…chug….chug…….chug!!

    32
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    Mute fergusOB
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    Nov 7th 2014, 3:41 PM

    Typical arrogant kiwi

    107
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    Mute John Murphy
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    Nov 7th 2014, 8:08 PM

    Maybe if we didn’t produce so much Guinness and whiskey we wouldn’t have to produce so much Viagra…

    45
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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Nov 7th 2014, 9:02 PM

    They have heard of Tayto then……

    14
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    Mute Ben Gunn
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    Apr 4th 2015, 6:55 PM

    Ned Kelly?

    2
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    Mute Peter Martin
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    Apr 6th 2015, 12:03 AM

    ha ha ha …………..hadn’t heard that one before! Australian history is …. not to be admired! Genocide is an ugly word, but, try tracing the history of Van Diemens’s Land or Tasmania in terms of the ethnic population and you will find ….zero population, due to extermination by a so called ethnically superior race.

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    Mute John Collins
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:27 PM

    Australians are always making fun of us. They’re constantly at, even in their mainstream media, what’s that about seriously?

    523
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    Mute Steve M
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:35 PM

    They feel lonely all the way down there..The Melbourne Cup…who gives a fiddlers about it from this part of the world. It’s not the biggest race in the world.

    384
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    Mute SeanieRyan
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:37 PM

    Australia kept a lot of the old Empire traits like virulent racism and a vestige of sectarianism.

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    Mute Lorem Ipsum
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:39 PM

    Children always rebel against their parents

    293
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    Mute Scipio Africanus
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:41 PM

    As someone who has spent a lot of time down in Oz that’s complete absolute unsubstantiated rubbish Seanie.

    56
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    Mute Superfriends
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:43 PM

    Because Irish emigrants like to ghettoize themselves, drink excessively, and generally act uncivilized

    137
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    Mute Stephen O Flynn
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:50 PM

    Red neck idiots . Who cares

    179
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    Mute David Burke
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:52 PM

    They sometimes make the odd nasty comment which reflects worse on them than us. Still the Irish make bad tourists or short term workers, drink excessively and cause trouble in an above average manner.

    We aren’t criminals but we can be a pain in the hole. Dublin has an unreal amount of vomit on the streets at night. I can see why some people generalise.

    186
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    Mute gerry campbell
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:55 PM

    And a warm welcome for our young people, with the promise of a better life away from this non racist, non sectarian kip, get over yourselves people.

    41
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    Mute Cabe
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:55 PM

    Australians are a very racist bunch in general. Spent 4years over there, newspapers, news channels all take the piss. Any time we were out we were referred to as leprechauns and potatoes were mentioned on a regular basis. Harmless really but not surprised with the content of this article at all!

    317
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    Mute Scipio Africanus
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:01 PM

    Yeah so racist that they welcome over 250,000 immigrants from all over their world every year. Proportionally more then any European country.

    52
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    Mute Kev
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:11 PM

    Because they are bullies who like to pick on the weak

    100
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    Mute Cabe
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:12 PM

    No they don’t. They hate anyone coming into their country! They even hate the aborigines and they were there before the ‘white men’ landed. I doubt you know much about what happens over there so I’ll put your comment down to blind ignorance.

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    Mute Original Cynic
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:14 PM

    Why should we give a XXXX what Australians think?

    187
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    Mute Scipio Africanus
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:23 PM

    ‘They hate anyone coming into their country!’

    Like I said over 250,000 Australia welcomes over 250,000 immigrants a year. Proportionally far more then any European nation. You can’t argue with facts. As for calling me ignorant, I lived there for over 3 years. Yes it has it’s racists like anywhere else, yet there exists no political party such as le Fronte Nationale or other similar far right moovements which are currently polling so well across much of Europe.

    33
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    Mute Darren McGrath
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:42 PM

    Because they are all tossers

    85
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    Mute James Reardon
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:51 PM

    Any irish I know there seem to be doing great and have big jobs, 1 even owned his own transport company for a while before it was bought off him. Don’t tar them just because a few see it as a holiday that was probably paid for by “mammy and daddy”. Irish tend to be very hard workers.

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    Mute Cabe
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:54 PM

    Just because the government lets 250,000 people in doesn’t mean they’re welcome! I seen a picture of a sign put up on a building site stating ‘Irish need not apply’. Says it all!!

    135
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    Mute FearCiarraioch
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    Nov 7th 2014, 2:02 PM

    Steve – You are absolutely correct . The Melbourne Cup , if it was run under the same criteria in Ireland , would be rested as a 0-112 type Handicap – nothing more , nothing less .
    Typically , Irish Race Meetings , run hundreds of these type of pretty ordinary flat Handicaps, throughout the Flat Racing Season .
    Australia , just wouldn’t have enough quality horses , so as to raise it to a higher level !

    82
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    Mute Scipio Africanus
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    Nov 7th 2014, 2:05 PM

    Irish people have hardly covered themselves in glory down there, but by and large get treated well. A sign on one building site is hardly indicative of anything.despite what you might think. And you labelled me ‘ignorant’? Are you incapable of thinking rationally? However a nation that welcomes over 250,000 o people from around the world every year, where over 1 in 4 of the citizens is foreign born and in contrast to Europe has a distinct lack of far-right movements is indicative that it is no more racist then any other Western nation.

    30
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    Mute Chin Feeyin
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    Nov 7th 2014, 2:05 PM

    I’ve been to Australia. Godawful place. Nothing surprising about this.

    132
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    Mute conor hickey
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    Nov 7th 2014, 2:07 PM

    XXXX Comment of the week.
    Queenslander
    http://youtu.be/G6Ir9pKL5zY

    16
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    Mute Celeste Vogel Dillon
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    Nov 7th 2014, 2:29 PM

    They do not let immigrants in especially refugees, they are holed up on Christmas Island, and Papua New Guinea. They stop the boats in international waters and turn them back.They are now trying to see if they can off load these unwanted immigrants to Cambodia.

    Have you ever seen the behaviour or Australians on holiday in Thailand ,or Vietnam or Bali , they are loud brash and they very rude to staff and drink like fish.

    I think they should take a good look at their own behaviour the way they treat the Aborigines , and what they did when they took the Aborigine children from their families gave them to white people and the way they treat them now , before they start criticising others.

    Anyway what ever came out of Australia Kylie and Neighbours oh!!! I forgot the paedofile Rolf Harris he is also Australian—they must be very pleased with themselves

    106
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    Mute Scipio Africanus
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    Nov 7th 2014, 2:42 PM

    Over 250,000 immigrants a year but according to you, ‘They do not let immigrants’. What they don’t tolerate is people smuggling of refugees via boats. Now if they only replicated the Australian methods of dealing with people smuggling here in Europe, we would not have thousands of people drowning in the Med every year.

    25
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    Mute Cabe
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    Nov 7th 2014, 2:42 PM

    Scoliosis Africanus… Just drop it. You’re annoying!

    116
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    Mute Pádraic Ó Braonáin
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    Nov 7th 2014, 2:43 PM

    Superfriends, I see your twitter account has just been suspended – how come?

    18
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    Mute Scipio Africanus
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    Nov 7th 2014, 2:55 PM

    What age are you Cabe? You look to be in your 20′s/30′s but your use of a degenerative medical conditions as childish insults and your example of a sign on a building site as an indication of Aussie’s inherent racism would indicate that mentally you’re barely into your teens.

    16
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    Mute Cabe
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    Nov 7th 2014, 4:20 PM

    Damn…You’re such a tw*t!!

    69
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    Mute An_Beal_Bocht
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    Nov 7th 2014, 4:25 PM

    In terms of race, australia is one of the most dysfunctional countries in the world. It’s composition is down to purely skin colour based colonisation as encouraged by White only incentives created by Britain in the middle of the 20th century. The country is like some kind of Nazi inspired nightmare as exemplified by the white blonde “ideal” on home and away and neighbours etc. I wouldn’t worry about anything said there about other countries.

    46
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    Mute An_Beal_Bocht
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    Nov 7th 2014, 4:31 PM

    Scipio, you sound like a severe xénophobe. Anyone that wants to come to this country I think, okay its wet, cold and we’re in a lot of debt, but if you wanna leave your family, come here and have a go by all means please do. The more people here the better, in terms of Cultural diversity, genetic, increased customers for business, increased workers and contributers to society generally.

    27
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    Mute Scipio Africanus
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    Nov 7th 2014, 4:44 PM

    I could not care less what you think I am. But it’s obvious what you are from this; ‘Anyone that wants to come to this country I think, okay its wet, cold and we’re in a lot of debt, but if you wanna leave your family, come here and have a go by all means please do’

    An advocate of open borders. People who advocate open borders in general tend to be delusional, unrealistic and at best clueless as to the consequences having such a policy would entail. It’s sheer insanity. It’s also clear from your first comment you have never being to Australia and have no particular insight about the cultural enviroment of that country beyond what your learned from reading John Pilger articles.
    Cabe take you for proving my point. I will take those last two comments as an admission of defeat.

    11
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    Mute Scipio Africanus
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    Nov 7th 2014, 4:47 PM

    An Beal Bocht you should start a political party and run your campaign for election with this line as your slogan; The more people here the better, in terms of Cultural diversity, genetic, increased customers for business, increased workers and contributers to society generally.

    I’m sure it would go down a treat and you would be elected by a landslide.

    6
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    Mute CreditTiger
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    Nov 7th 2014, 4:50 PM

    In fairness, any flat handicap in Ireland with nags rated ~112 would be regarded a premier handicap! That said, the Melbourne Cup is a glorified handicap, only on a par with a Cesarewitch or the like!

    13
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    Mute Cabe
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    Nov 7th 2014, 5:18 PM

    No it hasn’t??

    7
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    Mute silentbob2012
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    Nov 7th 2014, 5:23 PM

    Strewth Seanie…nonsense as usual!

    3
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    Mute Jason Healy
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    Nov 7th 2014, 6:42 PM

    FFS will you ever go and do something useful like boiling your head, they accept immigrants because it suits them,

    19
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    Mute An_Beal_Bocht
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    Nov 7th 2014, 7:40 PM

    Scipio, ya there’s millions lining   to come to Ireland!  Where have the vast majority of young Irish emigrated to? Where there’s people and thus opportunity.. i.e. London, New York etc where there happens to be the greatest ethnic mixes also. Its pg 1 of economics, sell your skills/business where there’s a market for them. Nobody is looking to emigrate to places with tight border controls e.g. North Korea, Russia, China, Bhutan etc.  Anyway where would you prefer to live???????? And who the feck is John Pilger. Instead of constructively arguing your case you just cast aspersions on me.. i.e. you called me delusional, insane etc. Well you’re some nincompoop!

    17
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    Mute Scipio Africanus
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    Nov 7th 2014, 7:53 PM

    There would be if we proposed to do away with border controls as you propose.

    ‘ Nobody is looking to emigrate to places with tight border control’ Hmm. Canada and Australia have some of the strictest border controls on the planet. They’re also among the most popular destinations for immigration on the planet. And if you think NYC is an easy place to emgrate to, you really are delusional. It really appears that you have no idea what you’re talking about.
    I cast aspersions on you while you cast aspersions on 25 million people. I know which is worse in my book.

    7
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    Mute An_Beal_Bocht
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    Nov 7th 2014, 9:11 PM

    I never suggested getting rid of border controls. They’re very useful in terms of restrictions on crime, disease, terrorism etc. Answer me this one simple question though; do you think we’d be better off with more or less people in this country?

    8
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    Mute Talbot O'Meara
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    Nov 7th 2014, 10:49 PM

    An Irish teacher can get an interview in Australia, unlike S.Korea where our drinking reputation has preceded us !

    12
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    Mute Kate Ellen Egan
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    Nov 8th 2014, 1:04 AM

    You pay Australia to get in about $3000 , must have a return ticket or have someone sponsor you with a job editing when you arrive . The 250,000 spend all their own money renting from Australian landlords and buying in Australian shops ,if you don’t have a job when the money runs out you have to get out which is where your return ticket comes in handy , Canada is the same , neither of these countries had recessions or needed to take austerity measures and both have too of the range health systems which are paid for with private health insurance.

    9
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    Mute Rose Halligan
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    Nov 8th 2014, 4:49 AM

    I would like to know where U get that number from most refuges are sent to awful places like Manus island and now to Vietnam because average Aussie don’t want them they have no compassion

    4
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    Mute Chris O'Mahony
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    Nov 8th 2014, 6:34 AM

    In the last decade Australia has allowed just over half a million immigrants in. The figures you quote are unsustainable and completely nonsensical, when factoring in the countries strict immigration policies.

    1
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    Mute ohaimhirghin
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    Nov 8th 2014, 6:55 AM

    Have you ever been to Australia. I suggest you spend some time up state nsw in towns like Newcastle,west gosford to name a few. There you will find the worst drink related behaviour.
    All carried out by the locals. Irish yea can be a pain in the ass with drink, but for the most part it is all banter related.
    One could not say the same for Australians

    9
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    Mute Joseph Siddall
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    Nov 8th 2014, 8:06 AM

    Scorpio, I’m beginning to think Seanie has stopped his Yoga.

    1
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    Mute Pud
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    Nov 8th 2014, 10:09 AM

    What and the Aussies don’t ??

    1
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    Mute Celeste Vogel Dillon
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    Nov 8th 2014, 11:05 AM

    Scipio the word you are looking for is “you have neverBeing to Australia” it should read “you have never BEEN to Aus. Do they not teach you this in Aus?
    Ireland is not party to the Shengan agreement neither is the UK. So we do not have open boarders

    Can you explain this sentence “Cabe take you ” does not make sense

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    Mute Diarmuid
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:32 PM

    Australians.. racist? Never.

    486
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    Mute buddy ramerez
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    Nov 7th 2014, 7:08 PM

    Bloody racist Australians, first they gave us Hitler and now this. Oh Vienna!

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    Mute Sheldon Sheridan
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    Nov 7th 2014, 8:42 PM

    Harvey Norman of Harvey Norman made a similarly not-very-nice comment about Ireland a couple of years back which is why I’d never shop there.

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    Mute An_Beal_Bocht
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    Nov 7th 2014, 10:24 PM

    There’s a major race-related dysfunction at the heart of the nation state Australia.  European countries consist of populations that have evolved over millennia and continue to change and adapt.  However Australia was the quintessential British Empire colonial enterprise. Here was a self-contained piece of land occupied by “barbaric” natives.   Firstly it was used as a kind of leper colony where prisoners were banished. Then the thinking was – let’s transplant the natives and tame the land with more evolved white Englishmen and women.  Australia as a state was a racially created experiment with white anglo-saxon man as the designated superior.  So a latent contempt has remained towards everyone outside of this – the sheer isolation from England/London and the white west generally, probably warps the prejudice and fear more.  The fear of race and diversity. Hence the cult of the blonde white ideal on Australian TV, as epitomized by the blonde Crocodile Dundee and they get BBC and Sky piped in just to keep them culturally in touch with the Fatherland.  Old prejudices can sometimes resurface and the Irish can be perceived as just spud wielding freckled natives one step removed from drunken Aborigines who are useful sometimes as units of labor.

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    Mute Del
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:35 PM

    Id like to visit Australia, but the thing that turns me off it is its full of Australians.

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    Mute O Swetenham
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:35 PM

    Who cares what this guy thinks. I find it fascinating that 170 odd years after the event some people think the Irish potato famine is still a fertile source of comedy material

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    Mute Eoin Hurley
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:10 PM

    It wasn’t a famine! The country was full to the brim with other vegetables, livestock, fruit, grains, fishing etc… Only problem was a certain empire and it’s lovely gentry was in control of it at the time and most of the food got exported to britain. It was a genocide plain and simple. They thought the country was over populated, figured the less catholics around the less hassle they would have. So they kept the policies that caused the problems in the first place in place, and let the blight run its course!
    Now to be fair the British government apologised for it a few years back but we as a nation owe it to the people(our ancestors) that were straight up murdered not to tolerate these stupid little ‘fiddle dee dee potatoe jokes’ and have a quick word with anyone that thinks there acceptable. Most notably brits aussies and yanks

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    Mute Bobby Fox
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:14 PM

    The famine suffices.potato famine is an englishism used to dodge culpability. We had plenty of food..

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    Mute Daffy the Bear
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:33 PM

    Yep. Potatoes and the criminal ancestry of a good proportion of Australia’s population..

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    Mute Donal O Neil
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:07 PM

    Indeed one thing we did export or should I say our colonial neighbours exported were some criminal elements on rickety ships and they did alright except for “Ned K “

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    Mute Glen
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:29 PM

    Australia
    The land of Fosters and Sheila’s !!

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    Mute Paddy Hannigan
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:41 PM

    Lets not forget violent rapists.

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    Mute John Smith
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:06 PM

    Thieves, robbers and villains, they’ll send ‘em away,To become a new people at Botany Bay.

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    Mute Thomas Mac
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:11 PM

    Where’s Boganity ?

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    Mute Tom Quinn
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:51 PM

    Fosters? Horse piss…

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    Mute FearCiarraioch
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    Nov 7th 2014, 2:05 PM

    Glen – I’ve never actually come across Fosters there !
    Methinks that it’s a fake Oz Brand , marketed in UK & Ireland as being Oz , but brewed in UK ?

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    Mute Karen NíDhochartaigh
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    Nov 7th 2014, 6:46 PM

    They do have fostors there but most Aussies I met said they wouldnt touch it. “Only good for export”

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    Mute Cian O Donoghue
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    Nov 7th 2014, 9:34 PM

    Crowne is fosters

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    Mute Spoddgy
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:39 PM

    As I always say to Australians: what would ya expect from a nation of convicts?

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    Mute Paul Parsons
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:27 PM

    And all the frozen and shipped “freshly baked bread” from Coles at one stage.
    Morons.

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    Mute Fintan Stack
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:30 PM

    Let them say what they want, are we really offended by what the Aussies think? They have plenty of stereotypical history that can thrown at them. They’re not the sharpest bunch down under.

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    Mute Scipio Africanus
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:39 PM

    I admire the fact that the Aussies have not caught the PC bug that’s taken root so deeply over here and in the UK. Exactly Fintan there is plenty of mud that flung back in the Aussie’s faces.

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    Mute Paul Kennedy
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:22 PM

    There is a difference between being pc and being totally ignorant. Comments bordering on racism can’t be passed off as being overly sensitive.

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    Mute Scipio Africanus
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:27 PM

    The comment was prejudiced, but it was most certainly not racist. If you’re offended by that comment, I would be inclined to think the problem lies with you rather than the author of the comment.

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    Mute Paul Kennedy
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:32 PM

    Just as well I didn’t say it was racism then. And I’m certainly not an apologist for anything…..unlike others here.

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    Mute Scipio Africanus
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:37 PM

    It was hardly bordering on racism either, so why even mention it?

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    Mute Paul Kennedy
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:49 PM

    We have nothing more to offer other than potatoes. It sounds like he has a superiority complex and it’s also a comment made to ridicule us.

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    Mute Scipio Africanus
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:57 PM

    As I said the comment was prejudiced, but hardly amounts to ‘bordering on racism’. It sounds like he really hurt your feelings. As one of the above commenters said, there is plenty of stereotypical history that can be flung back in Aussie faces.

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    Mute Play Against Par
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    Nov 7th 2014, 2:21 PM

    Scipio (with a name like that no wonder you favour the Aussies)… Australia is regarded as a subtly overt racist nation. Sure all countries have their issues, but the native Australians are totally ostracised by the ruling white classes. They abhor immigration but it is a necessary evil as they are a burgeoning economic hotbed and their desire to compete on the world stage overrules their inherent mistrust of other nationalities. They need the skilled influx.
    Even TV networks like the giant Network 7 have had to deal with racism and have quashed lawsuits brought about due to their apparent desire to keep their TV shows clear of aborigines and coloureds in general. When was the last time you saw one on neighbours or home and away?

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    Mute bandido
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    Nov 7th 2014, 2:30 PM

    I think they abhor immigration because they have the sense to realise that the majority of immigrants will contribute nothing but a rise in crime and welfare payments. So I wouldn’t call it racism, I’d call it protecting themselves and that’s why a lot of the world is jealous of how their economy had performed.

    As far as the article goes, so what!
    I’m not offended by it. Misinformed and badly researched if you are to believe his explanation.
    Get over it peeps

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    Mute Pádraic Ó Braonáin
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    Nov 7th 2014, 2:32 PM

    I remember several years ago a journalist wrote in a Canadian (Vancouver) newspaper about Patrick’s day saying “it should be banned as it’s only for but boozed soaked Irishmen”

    The paper was massively flooded with complaints, including one from myself. His editor told him to phone around to readers that complained and make an apology. I got a call from this so-called journalist – it turned out he was a Unionist originally from Ballymena.

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    Mute Scipio Africanus
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    Nov 7th 2014, 2:37 PM

    ‘Scipio (with a name like that no wonder you favour the Aussies)’ Why would my name indicate that I favour Aussies? I’m interested to know how you came to that conclusion.

    They abhor uncontrolled mass immigration, which is they have a points based system in place, which the vast majority of people would wish to see replicated here.

    ‘the native Australians are totally ostracised by the ruling white classes’ While the Aborigines were treated brutlally in the past, billions of of dollars are pumped into Aborigine welfare every year. Nations change and progress. Case in point Germany.

    I don’t watch Neigbours but as someone who has lived in both Melbourne I where it is based I can tell you Aborigines make up a tiny percentage of it’s population. If you want to see large numbers of Aborignes in an urban enviroment, you have to travel up to Darwin or Alice Springs and as far as I know neither of those cities have their own soap operas. By the way how many travellers or s are on Fair City?

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    Mute Pádraic Ó Braonáin
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    Nov 7th 2014, 2:51 PM

    Sorry, the word – but – is a typo – Journal.ie please allow editing.

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    Mute Pa McGarry
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    Nov 7th 2014, 2:52 PM

    you are a moron…..

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    Mute Fintan Stack
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    Nov 7th 2014, 2:55 PM

    He’s not racist, just thick. I think we Irish are confident and comfortable in our own existence to not be offended by a numbskull Aussie’s uneducated comments.

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    Mute Fintan Stack
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    Nov 7th 2014, 2:59 PM

    Bandido, they’re economy is over inflated, and destined for collapse soon. They’re lagging behind the rest of the world.

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    Mute Cian O Donoghue
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    Nov 7th 2014, 9:27 PM

    That has been said for the last 10 years

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    Mute Rose Halligan
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    Nov 8th 2014, 4:59 AM

    at least the irish people can afford potatoes here in oz low income earners cannot a lot of familys have to live I their cars because they cannot afford rent and they call it the lucky country

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    Mute An_Beal_Bocht
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    Nov 8th 2014, 9:27 AM

    So scipio, your recommended response to ignorance and prejudice is to sling more prejudice and ignorance back. Nice. The old school yard tactic. Well okay here goes; at least we have an actual history replete with famines etc. Australia probably has one too if they bothered to engage with the Australian people – the aborigines. That might be prejudicial but it’s not ignorant.

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    Mute juicy pants
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:35 PM

    They probably think there’s nothing here because half of the country has moved over there. Ah well more potatoes for us.

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    Mute Daithi Mcmahon
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:32 PM

    If every fool offends you,then ur the fool.

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    Mute SeanieRyan
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:41 PM

    Agreed.

    No one was ever offended, you have to take offense.

    When you move past 12 years of age you should stop worrying what others say about you. That is like giving ownership of your mind to them.

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    Mute PicassoRepublic
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    Nov 7th 2014, 3:24 PM

    And to a great extent we perpetuate the traditional view of the “Oirish” right up to our highest levels.

    Irish political establishment was not happy with Obamas visit until they had a photo op with him drinking a pint of Guinness.

    We’ll never get away from the alcohol perception (Korea) and “Potatoes” without changing the way we behave. Its one thing wanting to be viewed differently, but if every Quantas or Etihad flight arriving in Sydney, Melbourne or Perth disgorges its Irish contingent into the nearest pub where they quickly assume the traditional Paddy persona what do we actually expect the world to think of us.

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    Mute Karen NíDhochartaigh
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    Nov 7th 2014, 6:51 PM

    Its a case of the minority shouting the loudest. Most of the Irish I met while in Australia were very hard decent working people looking to set up a life in Australia but that doesn’t make good news so the focus gets put on the minority who go over on mammy and daddys funds and spends most of their time in bondi junction getting pissed in the tea gardens or cock n bull. As for the rest of us… do we care that a predominantly racist county has a journalist who stereotyped us….. nope…….but he should be called up on it.

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    Mute Eugene Walsh
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:43 PM

    The ozzies don’t care, they’ll poke at anyone. But us irish have to stop thinking that we’re loved everywhere we go.
    Either way, couldn’t give a castlemaines xxxx about the buggers

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    Mute Denis Reidy
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:40 PM

    Stewarts apologies are as bad as his original comment. Aussie education is as bent as american and their track record for racism/bigotry is up there with the worst.

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    Mute Hevin Bear Kiggins
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:27 PM

    We have been quite the pushovers since 2008.

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    Mute MALACHY COX
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:33 PM

    Fukin Kangaroo shaggers…

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    Mute Troyman
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:35 PM

    Is maith loim pratai fosta

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    Mute Donal O Neil
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:08 PM

    Agus me fein

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    Mute Martin Byrne
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:53 PM

    Not stereotyping or anything! but Aussies are not the brightest are they.

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    Mute Scipio Africanus
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:35 PM

    Seriously, who cares what some hack in an Aussie newspaper has to say? Nobody would have noticed if the Irish ambassador didn’t decide to take ‘offense’ and make an issue of it.

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    Mute Brian McMahon
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:34 PM

    They’re only afraid that we’ll cook all their shrimps off their Barbies and drink all their Fosters ;)

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    Mute Ho Lee Fuk
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:37 PM

    The winner of the race was Stolen Lands closely followed by The Stolen Generation!

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    Mute Peter M Buchanan
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:06 PM

    It is not as if the Aussies are world beaters in too much themselves… Apart from being crass and vulgar

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    Mute Paddy Hannigan
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    Nov 7th 2014, 2:16 PM

    Now now. They’re up there with us for doped up olympic swimers.

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    Mute Peadar O'Comain
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    Nov 7th 2014, 2:39 PM

    Australia is about 20 years behind Ireland and Western Europe. They get a bit of a boom and think they are a superpower. Australia is anti women and the vast majority is uninhabited desert. Horrible place, would never go back. Ireland is a far nicer place

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    Mute Shaggy Ger
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    Nov 8th 2014, 5:03 AM

    ‘They get a bit of a boom and think they are a super power’

    Does that not remind you of anywhere else?

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    Mute Michael Fehily
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:38 PM

    The Auzzies are generally , with a few exceptions , a bunch of uneducated ignorant Yahoo’s. The world knows that.. These comments aren’t surprising coming from a “journalist” in Van Demons land..Just glad we were born on right side of the planet . God help the Asians with pee brains like that for neighbours..

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    Mute simon shewster
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    Nov 7th 2014, 3:01 PM

    Having spent time in Australia, I have to say they are the most boring idiots I’ve ever encountered with a massive opinion of themselves. Thank god I escaped.

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    Mute Joseph Siddall
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    Nov 8th 2014, 8:25 AM

    Fake, ….as would America, Norway, Germany, China et al.

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    Mute Ciaran De Ceol
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:56 PM

    Not to mention that Japan’s economy has been going down the swanny for decades.

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    Mute conor
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:49 PM

    Ffs, its Australia… They slag us, we slag them. When I was there it was an everyday thing, no harm done. If it offends you, well f*£k off home. PC nonsense.

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    Mute John Barry
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    Nov 7th 2014, 4:12 PM

    Same here, I got plenty of stick when I lived there and have plenty back, all a bit of craic, but I think it’s different when media outlets are at it.

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    Mute John Barry
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    Nov 7th 2014, 4:12 PM

    *gave plenty back

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    Mute malcolm mccarthy
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:36 PM

    stupid talk. twud make you golden wonder bout his intellect

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    Mute Petra Madill
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:37 PM

    Makes a change to the booze Jibes

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    Mute SeanieRyan
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:39 PM

    The cane toad licking Kangaroo fuc84r.

    lol

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    Mute Ronan Mc Namara
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:45 PM

    Matt Stewart = Dimwit

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    Mute Play Against Par
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:49 PM

    The Bollix!

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    Mute Tony Murphy
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:01 PM

    You think they would still be keeping their head down after the Fritzel case.

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    Mute Thomas Mac
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:08 PM

    He was found guilty of crimes down under

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    Mute Trevor Hayden
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    Nov 7th 2014, 2:04 PM

    But the irish can laugh when the simpsons take the piss out of us, unlike the Australians.

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    Mute Shawn Rahoon
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:49 PM

    Matt Stewart. Beware Ned Kelly is coming to get you

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    Mute Ron North
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    Nov 7th 2014, 2:20 PM

    The real tragedy here is that we’re not even the home of the potato, they’re south american.

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    Mute Peter Jo
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:59 PM

    Was he talking about Roosters or new potatoes

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    Mute Liz Potts
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    Nov 7th 2014, 4:32 PM

    Welcome to Australia people- please set your watches back 50 years…..

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    Mute Cathal Golden
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:10 PM

    I loved skippy the bush kangaroo!

    17
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    Mute Paddy Hannigan
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    Nov 7th 2014, 10:58 PM

    Fried up and served up with mashed …… you guessed it….. butternut squash.. sorry potato.

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    Mute Paul O Donnell
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:54 PM

    Australia, home of didgeridoos and kangaroos.

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    Mute mary jones
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    Nov 7th 2014, 2:35 PM

    And Rolf Harris!

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    Mute Frank M Cgrath
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    Nov 7th 2014, 12:55 PM

    Dont forget we won the race two times

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    Mute Thomas Mac
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:09 PM

    Dermot Weld and Dermot Weld

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    Mute Paul Fitz
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:30 PM

    I’m taking offense at everyone taking offense over a nothing story.

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    Mute Róisín O'Brien
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    Nov 7th 2014, 4:42 PM

    I find it somewhat amusing that this comment was made in relation to a horse race, in view of the fact that Ireland is renowned for producing some of the world’s finest racehorses… so there y’go, we’re not just all about potatoes.

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    Mute Sean Mcphillips
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    Nov 7th 2014, 2:45 PM

    Just watched the Chinese world match play on the golf channel and as Graeme McDowell was making a terrific put the Australian announcer commented ‘He’s rolling them in like a potato’.

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    Mute Nerilie Watson
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    Nov 7th 2014, 3:31 PM

    And the best way to respond to a racist comment…is with more racism apparently by most of these comments??? Australia is NOT a racist country – yes, there are people in it who are racist, but by no means are they the majority. Just like in Ireland, there are plenty of people with racist beliefs – but they are not the majority.

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    Mute The Guru
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    Nov 8th 2014, 7:36 AM

    Agree. A throwaway comment by a nobody journalist in a rag of a paper and the Irish are up in arms saying Australia is an inherently racist country! I’ve lived in Melbourne 2 years and it is the most multicultural and accepting place I’ve ever been.

    Ireland on the other hand is becoming more and more bigoted by the day. You only have to look at the comments here or in any article about muslims.

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    Mute Patrick James Walsh
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    Nov 7th 2014, 4:13 PM

    Australians in general tend to have a very superficial knowledge of the rest of the world, so it`s no unusual for them to resort to another stereotype.
    It`s also quite a macho misogynistic one dimensional culture.
    There is also a strong post colonial monarchistic feeling about the place and anti Irishness is often a feature of this.
    In recent years the drunken antics of Irish students has not helped the image of Ireland in Australian minds.

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    Mute Steve M
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    Nov 7th 2014, 2:14 PM

    Homer Simpson looking at the globe: There it is! Aus-tra-li-a. I’ll be damned.

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    Mute Jason O Neill
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    Nov 7th 2014, 3:09 PM

    ah come on its only a joke

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    Mute Endeus™
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    Nov 7th 2014, 4:25 PM

    What an utterly stupid way to some up a nation of 4 million people, but of course they do live upside down so maybe thats what led to the writer having a brain fart.

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    Mute harvey kinkel
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:40 PM

    Fools

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    Mute Gavin Mckenna
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    Nov 7th 2014, 3:30 PM

    Australian Visa form:

    Q. “Do you have any criminal records?”
    A. “I didn’t know you still needed one”

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    Mute Declan Gartlan
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    Nov 7th 2014, 3:40 PM

    This from people that think exporting iron ore to China is a dynamic sustainable economy rather be banking on google Twitter Facebook etc .arrogant bunch of wannabe yanks

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    Mute The Guru
    Favourite The Guru
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    Nov 8th 2014, 7:38 AM

    The one thing you choose to slag them about is their economy!? You’re not the sharpest are you.

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    Mute Phil Conyngham
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    Nov 7th 2014, 2:51 PM

    What ignorance! Trying to be smart silly man

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    Mute The Guru
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    Nov 8th 2014, 7:41 AM

    I think people need to understand how much of a rag the Herald Sun is! Most Aussies I know wouldn’t wipe their @rse with it so please don’t think it represents their thoughts. Mainly read by bogans (knacks) and this I would say is a tame example of the idiocy you see in it.

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    Mute Stephen Griffith
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    Nov 8th 2014, 3:59 PM

    I once knew a guy who worked for the Telegraph .. similar standard paper.
    His remit was to annoy people .. not communicate the news.
    He just saw it as fun.

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    Mute Goldberg
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:53 PM

    Is he any relation to dapper laughs

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    Mute Seán A Haon
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    Nov 7th 2014, 1:36 PM

    He’s right. B’datets and U2…….. and Crystal Swing.

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    Mute Sherbet Bell
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    Nov 7th 2014, 8:46 PM

    sore loser, he just didnt want competition in the race, it obvious the outsiders are a better bet

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    Mute Garrett Merrick
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    Nov 8th 2014, 7:56 AM

    I live here in Australia and I know they are idiots sometimes, but this man clearly apologised for his comments and set the record straight. I wonder does he really believe that Japan is rich based on recent disasters, but they are currently just printing money to create a healthy economy for the world to see!!!

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    Mute Thierry Rat
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    Nov 7th 2014, 10:12 PM

    Give the chap a break this pc garbage is getting ridiculous… I’m not offended and I’d happily share a beer with this guy over a flamin barbie

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    Mute miketrout
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    Nov 7th 2014, 4:35 PM

    Why do Asians have narrow eyes? cause they eat so much rice it gives them constipation

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    Mute Tim Hamill
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    Nov 7th 2014, 4:39 PM

    Most of them FLAMIN GALLAHS are irish convicts , they’ve a bloody cheek RACK OFF RAMSEY !

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    Mute dorothy giselsson
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    Nov 8th 2014, 9:48 AM

    For a country founded on an imported population of sheep, convicts and rabbits I don’t think they’re in a position to slag off Ireland.

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    Mute Stephen Griffith
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    Nov 8th 2014, 3:57 PM

    “They” didn’t offend … One lazy journalist did.

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    Mute David Fitzgerald
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    Nov 7th 2014, 6:33 PM

    Well we did get rid of trash and well all there gran mothers and granddads are what again ….oh wait that’s right spud pickers from Ireland so really are offending yourself oh wait a min didn’t your country kill, force
    Indigenous Australians,and are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and you clearly still do commit crimes against and you callus spuds mmm

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    Mute Gavin Doyle
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    Nov 7th 2014, 4:57 PM

    Australia home to convicts and not much else

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    Mute Cionnadh
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    Nov 9th 2014, 1:06 AM

    Aussies at it again, bunch of pr**ks

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    Mute Mailleach
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    Apr 4th 2015, 11:12 PM

    Lighten up lads only the aussies having a bit of fun. I was at the track Flemingston when vintage crop won the cup in 1993 with mick kinnane in the saddle to become the first non Australian or kiwi to win the cup. the TV commenter said that the cup was going to England. We laughed at their ignorance and drank our winnings long into the night. Eire go brach

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    Mute conor hickey
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    Nov 7th 2014, 5:43 PM

    Terrible thing to say.
    On par with what Cllr Laura McGonigle said about drinking rain water.

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    Mute Bill Sisk
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    Apr 5th 2015, 11:26 AM

    Correction: I didn’t mind

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    Mute Bill Sisk
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    Apr 5th 2015, 11:25 AM

    While serving with United Nations in Cyprus an Australian policeman thought it was OK to address me as ‘Paddy’. I didn’t mint too much but replied, “Fair dinkum to you, Digger”. He lost it! Alright to give it but can’t take it.

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    Mute Greg Boyle
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    Nov 7th 2014, 3:52 PM

    What about the land of poetry and the land of bad poetry ?

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    Mute Stephen Griffith
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    Nov 8th 2014, 3:56 PM

    Never get worked up about Aussie racism ,,, they’re just a throw back to a different.
    Rarely is there any offence made, it’s mostly ignorance.

    Never be offended by ignorance .. just educate those you can.

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