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How do you spot fake news? Here are some practical tips

A large amount of misinformation has been shared in Ireland and beyond during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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SOME MISINFORMATION IS easy to spot, but other posts or articles are designed to look as real as possible, making it difficult to distinguish what’s true and what’s not.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in the amount of misinformation being shared in Ireland and beyond.

In the latest article in our series on misinformation, we explore some practical tips on how to spot so-called fake news.

Here are some things to bear in mind when considering if information is true or not:

  • What/who is the source?: Does the information come from a reputable source? Is there proof to back up whatever claim is being made?
  • Read more than the headline: Many people share an article without reading it all (Twitter recently started trialling a function that prompts people to read an article before they share it, as many don’t)
  • Check the details and date: Some stories are not completely fake, but are distortions of previous events.
  • How does it make you feel?: Is the post designed to make you angry or scared or shocked?
  • Ask yourself, ‘Is this some kind of joke?’: Satire is sometimes mistaken for actual news.

Seek out the original source

Joe Galvin, a managing editor at Storyful, a website that verifies information online, said the most important thing to seek out when deciphering if information is true or not is the original source.

“If you find yourself reading phrases like ‘according to x’ or ‘it has been reported’ or ‘it is claimed that’, that should be ringing alarm bells immediately, so always look for the primary source of information if you can.

“If a report or a tweet says that something has happened in such a place, can you find out who first mentioned that? Can you find who reported that?”

Galvin acknowledged that “a lot of people don’t have the time to do that”, but said the process doesn’t have to take long.

“As a general rule, when you see information being shared, ask yourself is it from the original source.

“Is it a primary source? Is it someone that witnessed it? Is it someone that was on the scene? Is it someone that’s connected in some way to what the information is? And if not, think twice about it.”

How does it make you feel?

Galvin said another good rule of thumb is to ask yourself how a certain piece of information makes you feel.

“Do you want to share it immediately? Is it designed in such a way that makes it immediately shareable? Does it provoke strong emotions in you? Particularly emotions of fear or disgust or things like that.

“Is it portrayed in such a way to make you feel a strong visceral reaction? Is it shocking? Is it something that just demands to be shared?

Instantaneous reaction is the worst, you share before you think.

Galvin said fear can also be “a big motivator ” when sharing misinformation.

“There are different types and different motivations behind misinformation, sometimes people are doing this for the lols, as they say, other times people are doing it for more nefarious reasons.”

‘The army will be on the streets’ 

At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, many people were worried about what lockdown measures would be implemented.

Inaccurate messages claiming that the army would be patrolling the streets and guarding shops were widely shared on various platforms but on WhatsApp in particular – we debunked these claims back in March.

download (5) One of the many inaccurate messages sent via WhatsApp in March.

Galvin said once you’re confronted with information like that, ask yourself: “Who is saying it? Is a primary source?

“Can we find a statement on the army’s website or from an official source to corroborate what we’re seeing here? And if we can’t, maybe we should think twice.”

Galvin said part of the reason misinformation often spreads so quickly is because “people love rumors, they love gossip, and they like to feel like they’re on the inside track”.

“That’s what’s attractive about WhatsApp – it has the feel of something intimate and personal, like you’re getting privileged information when in fact it’s just being sent everywhere.

“There is an attractiveness to this misinformation too, that is the challenge.”

Galvin called on people to “question what you read and what you see at all times”.

A grain of truth 

Some posts or articles are entirely false, but others that are incorrect overall may contain a grain of truth, making them seem more plausible.

Galvin said these types of posts can be particularly dangerous as they’re generally harder to recognise.

“If you want to have a healthy dinner and your plate contains five peas and then six Big Macs, the five peas don’t make it a healthy dinner. You know what I mean? There is an element of health in it, but most of it is just trash.

“So you should think about information in the same way – a grain of truth can often be more damaging than no truth at all in some ways because it coaxes us to think in a certain way or to react in a certain way.

“We wouldn’t pollute our bodies with bad food just because there’s a grain of goodness in it, we shouldn’t pollute our minds with bad information just because there’s a grain of truth in it,” he said.

A more detailed breakdown, compiled by Factcheck.org, about how to recognise false news stories can be read here.

 

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Through 2016, deep fakes, Brexit and Trump, Ireland did not see misinformation in the same way or at the same level as other jurisdictions.

But since the first case of Covid-19 was confirmed, TheJournal.ie FactCheck has debunked or examined 75 claims about the coronavirus. Through that work, we have been able to track the pandemic’s impact on Ireland’s susceptibility to and relationship with fake news.

In this series, we will investigate some of the more notorious stories – who started them, and what effect they had on the population? We interrogate the atmosphere and tools that allowed the messages to spread – their R number as scary as Covid-19’s.

This new coronavirus may not be with us forever, but misinformation could be one of its deadly after-effects. 

So now we ask: Is Ireland changed forever? See the full series here.

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36 Comments
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    Mute Cal McLaughlin
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    Apr 24th 2016, 12:43 PM

    Tiocfaidh ár lá.

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    Mute Diarmuid
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    Apr 24th 2016, 1:39 PM

    ROFL

    48
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    Mute Dot Com
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    Apr 24th 2016, 3:12 PM

    There must be an election in the offing if the FG monkey has been re commissioned.

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    Mute tommy macdonagh
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    Apr 24th 2016, 4:21 PM

    if they just moved the ‘good republican’ riff raff on all would be fine

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    Mute Eddie Munster
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    Apr 24th 2016, 12:51 PM

    They be turning in their graves .. Knowing that our government gave our country away to the EU for nothing in return ..after the men and women who fought long and hard so we could be free… They just gave it away and we still owe them money aswel? good news is we can take it back … Journal lets do a real poll should Ireland leave the eu our wont Dennis O brain let ye do one?

    183
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    Mute A.C
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    Apr 24th 2016, 12:54 PM

    Journal why not do a poll of how many people are sick of the BS from the shinners and their crap on history which they had fcuk all to do with

    161
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    Mute George Hogan
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    Apr 24th 2016, 12:55 PM

    If you wish Ireland to remain in the EU, click…
    -
    -
    YES, remain in EU……………Green Thumb
    NO, leave the EU……………..Red Thumb

    371
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    Mute alphanautica
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    Apr 24th 2016, 12:57 PM

    But we cannot abandon gallant allies in Europe, it says so in the deliberately pro-Europe Proclamation.

    71
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    Mute Reg
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    Apr 24th 2016, 1:04 PM

    How do you know that they would be proud of Ireland’s place among their European partners. The truth is you haven’t a clue of what they would think of the Ireland of today!

    63
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    Mute Eddie Munster
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    Apr 24th 2016, 1:14 PM

    I know reg, they be turning in their graves … Let’s just call it my spider sense!!!! :-)

    44
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    Mute A Guy
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    Apr 24th 2016, 1:42 PM

    Really? How much in structural funds did we get?

    What’s the net effect to the economy of having access to the single market?

    Nothing from the EU?? more ignorant anti EU bullshit

    68
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    Mute Malachi
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    Apr 24th 2016, 1:53 PM

    A Guy, I accept those advantages to being in the EU.

    I do not accept our loss of sovereignty to a fundamentally un-democratic institution. We should be able to elect people to make decisions on our own borders, regulations, etc.

    Other countries should not have a say on how our country is run, and right now, in the EU, that’s how it works.

    55
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    Mute Eddie Munster
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    Apr 24th 2016, 1:56 PM

    A guy,
    Funds ? You mean loans, single market, we are the green belt of the eu, you think no one will trade with us if we leave? We can trade with who ever we like when we leave the eu, so A Guy

    45
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    Mute A Guy
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    Apr 24th 2016, 2:13 PM

    Ireland is a member of the following international organizations which by definition pool sovereignty to some degree

    International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

    If you want to take sovereignty back which other ones should we leave?

    Point is no country has absolute sovereignty each treaty signed or organization joined diluted it to some degree.

    The eurosceptics in Ireland have very short memories of who helped pull this country out of the shit hole we where in

    47
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    Mute Eddie Munster
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    Apr 24th 2016, 2:18 PM

    You forgot who put us in it to begin with, see all them you listed none of them make the law in this country but your beloved eu dose,

    23
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    Mute A Guy
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    Apr 24th 2016, 2:21 PM

    Ok so if the UK is at the back of the queue for a separate trade deal with the U.S. If it leaves the EU you really think Ireland with 0.40% of global GDP would be a priority for countries to put trade agreements in place with?

    You know all international trade is done under the framework of trade agreements and treaties?

    Your argument doesn’t hold up

    27
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    Mute Eddie Munster
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    Apr 24th 2016, 2:24 PM

    Back of que? Who told you that? Ireland would be in the front of its own que,

    12
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    Mute Malachi
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    Apr 24th 2016, 2:31 PM

    A Guy, I don’t think any of those organisations get to make decisions on how our borders are governed, for instance.

    I view the EU as the most egregious example of an attack on true democracy. I don’t have any problem with the likes of the UNCHR ‘diluting’ our sovereignty.

    These other organisations didn’t essentially ignore a referendum from the Irish people because they thought we were wrong.

    Add to that the fact that the EC, the EU’s executive body, is an unelected body. I don’t agree with these people making any decisions that affect us.

    17
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    Mute A Guy
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    Apr 24th 2016, 2:35 PM

    Obama told the UK yesterday it was back of the queue so why would Ireland be at the front

    13
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    Mute A Guy
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    Apr 24th 2016, 2:36 PM

    Also incorrect, EU law is transposed into Irish law the EU has no jurisdiction amend the Irish Statute book.

    The legislative organs of the state also are bound by the constitution to ensure the legislation is constitutional.

    Debate the flaws of the EU all you like I will likely agree but I don’t subscribe to the jingoistic ill informed crap peddled by the UK tabloids that’s creeping over here

    23
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    Mute M Bowe
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    Apr 24th 2016, 2:37 PM

    Reg. Unfettered control of Irish destinies,to be sovereign and indefeasable.
    Kinda gives a massive clue as to how they would think…

    16
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    Mute Matty Reese
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    Apr 24th 2016, 2:47 PM

    We might be the most important country in Ireland, but on our own we a cornershop competing with Tescos and Walmarts when it comes to trade importance. Just look at the crap terms African countries get in their bilateral trade deals with the big blocs. Its no wonder every region of the world is trying to align itself into one trading block or other.
    Open skies is another example. All our flights to the US would have to be renegotiated outside the EU, who do you think would be the winner there? The most successful Irish airline would lose it rights to operate from other EU countries, how does that serve our interest? All our routes to Europe would have to be negotiated from scratch instead of just filling out the form.
    Tens of thousands of Irish people living and working across the EU, are you in favour of forcing them to return to Ireland by taking away their automatic right to residency?

    27
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    Mute A Guy
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    Apr 24th 2016, 2:48 PM

    I can see at least three that have a direct impact on how or borders are run.

    Point noted on ec but our elected politicians appoint these people.

    And last time I looked a referendum we voted yes in second referendum is that not a democratic decision?

    11
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    Mute A Guy
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    Apr 24th 2016, 2:51 PM

    Careful now… Rational arguement and facts in a journal comment

    16
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    Mute Malachi
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    Apr 24th 2016, 3:00 PM

    What organisations you listed have an impact on our border security? Do they have the power to force us, essentially, into accepting migrants? That’s what the EU does.

    People being elected by our elected politicians to make decisions is not democracy, I’m sorry, it’s not. The people should directly elect *anyone* who gets to say how their country will be governed. The fact that other countries get a say on our affairs doesn’t concern you, not even from a point of principal?

    Why did we have to have a second referendum? If we voted no again, would the EU have continued to hound us to accept the treaty? Not that I disagree with the terms of the treaty at all, I don’t, it was just undemocratic to say the least.

    4
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    Mute Tony Canning
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    Apr 24th 2016, 3:13 PM

    A part of our sovereignty is being able to be a part of something. It no less important than the idea of leaving making us any more sovereign

    13
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    Mute A Guy
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    Apr 24th 2016, 3:17 PM

    It doesn’t actually, our obligations under various UN treaties have as much of not more impact. So when do you propose we leave the UN ?

    The treaty changed we voted yes a democratic decision.

    As for the EC don’t disagree

    9
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    Mute Matty Reese
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    Apr 24th 2016, 3:45 PM

    Our border security is our own. It is always decided who can enter or work /with/ without visa by billateral treaties. The access we give EU citizens is recipricoral, giving our citizens the same right. Whether and how Russians or Jamacians enter Ireland is up to us and may depend on treaties we have with indivual states.

    17
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    Mute Matty Reese
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    Apr 24th 2016, 3:48 PM

    Spot on Tony. Sovereignty gives us the rights to sign treaties and enter into agreements. The fact that we are a member of the EU and other international organisations is testament to our being a sovereign state.

    18
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    Mute Eddie Munster
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    Apr 24th 2016, 4:05 PM

    Obama told you ? How will he know sure he won’t be in office next year so it’s out of his power, do I need to type out all the lies Obama has told the world

    6
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    Mute Malachi
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    Apr 24th 2016, 5:14 PM

    But Matty, when we are in the EU we are bound to the free movement of EU citizens into our borders. How is that our own border security? We cannot close our borders to EU citizens unless we leave the EU, because it is not allowed. That’s ‘our own’ border security? Come off it.

    A Guy, in what way do UN treaties we have signed up to prohibit control of our borders? Genuine question, I haven’t looked into them. Are you referring to the asylum seeker obligations? I don’t have a problem with those at all, I have a problem with the fact that we don’t have the ability within the EU to stop mass immigration from EU citizens.

    2
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    Mute Declan C Lyons
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    Apr 24th 2016, 1:44 PM

    This state will never be as important as its people.

    175
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    Mute Dot Com
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    Apr 24th 2016, 3:10 PM

    We are a nation under threat from Tax,Litigation,and False promises from our leaders.

    110
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    Mute LogicalSarah
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    Apr 24th 2016, 4:40 PM

    Who cares?? These twits from 1916 had no support and theoretically ruined our country!

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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Apr 24th 2016, 9:02 PM

    Do you know what “theoretically” means, LogicalSarah?

    65
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    Mute fiona harte
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    Apr 25th 2016, 1:08 AM

    For someone who is logical you have a lot of red thumbs

    21
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    Mute Pol O Misteal
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    Apr 25th 2016, 1:42 AM

    Here’s the thing, the people who hate the commemoration of the rising, because of the overt military display tend to be the same people who laud the commemoration of the Irish who fought in world war one. Events marked by overt military display.

    A little hypocritical, no?

    26
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    Mute Esteban
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    Apr 24th 2016, 1:05 PM

    History repeats itself.We still don’t have a government

    141
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    Mute ray.farrelly
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    Apr 24th 2016, 1:39 PM

    And we still don’t have the republic that the men and women fought and died for esteban.

    186
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    Mute Juan Franc
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    Apr 24th 2016, 3:27 PM

    Terrific crowds in Belfast city centre too.Credit to the psni for keeping the British underclass well away from the commerations.

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    Mute tommy macdonagh
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    Apr 24th 2016, 4:22 PM

    its good to see the rising celebrated in foreign countries too,isnt it Juan

    31
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    Mute Colm Greene
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    Apr 24th 2016, 12:58 PM

    Republican Sinn Fein paraded their best and brightest yesterday on O’Connell St. Highly educated, athletic men of impeccable background who managed to drag themselves away from the pub for a while to show us how safe they’re single handedly keeping Ireland.

    94
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    Mute alphanautica
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    Apr 24th 2016, 1:08 PM

    each leaving 8 little bloody trails behind them as they drag their knuckles along the pavement.
    bless their childlike minds.

    76
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    Mute Diarmuid
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    Apr 24th 2016, 1:39 PM

    RSF & SF…. two cheeks of the same ar$e

    43
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    Mute ray.farrelly
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    Apr 24th 2016, 1:41 PM

    How original Diarmuid.

    62
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    Mute JJ O Riordan
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    Apr 24th 2016, 1:44 PM

    @ray The reason that what Diarmuid’s saying is unoriginal is because we all know it. Something that’s common knowledge is hardly going to be original or groundbreaking now, is it?

    31
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    Mute Ryan Hardy
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    Apr 24th 2016, 2:09 PM

    He events at the GPO and merrion square today are for the people, not locked out like Easter weekend, great buzz around the city today

    82
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    Mute A.C
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    Apr 24th 2016, 12:51 PM

    Wait for the shinners to try and take over today!!!

    72
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    Mute JJ O Riordan
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    Apr 24th 2016, 12:51 PM

    Sure Gerry himself was there.

    41
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    Mute Cal McLaughlin
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    Apr 24th 2016, 1:03 PM

    Yeah, sure let’s all go out and watch Panti instead.

    48
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    Mute Reg
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    Apr 24th 2016, 1:05 PM

    Gerry couldn’t get enough of Panti last May!

    37
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    Mute Blah blah
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    Apr 24th 2016, 1:23 PM

    Was in oconnel St earlier, left after a 20 mins, a horrible thuggish atmosphere. Don’t go there today.

    64
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    Mute JJ O Riordan
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    Apr 24th 2016, 1:30 PM

    SF/IRA are taking the celebrations over. What do you expect?

    47
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    Mute William Clay
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    Apr 24th 2016, 1:35 PM

    That’s just oconnell st

    37
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    Mute Ciaran
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    Apr 24th 2016, 1:35 PM

    Happy Sinn Fein day

    38
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    Mute PaulJ
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    Apr 24th 2016, 2:08 PM

    Have you been in the city centre, thousands of republicans wearing their Easter lily with pride. I’d say the blueshirts are disgusted!

    50
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    Mute Larry Ryan
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    Apr 24th 2016, 2:11 PM

    Blah.. Lier. O Connell St is fine.

    38
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    Mute Juan Franc
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    Apr 24th 2016, 4:56 PM

    Diarmiud/Leo/tommy Mac somebody must be doing something right when the likes of you spend your entire weekend here crying about Republicans and trying to pass yourself off as Irish.
    Any luck getting down the Garvaghy Rd this morning?
    the usual tears,pslams and hymns I take it.

    67
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    Mute tommy macdonagh
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    Apr 24th 2016, 5:23 PM

    how high will the fence/wall have to be after the brexit ;)

    18
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    Mute For Connolly
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    Apr 24th 2016, 2:34 PM

    In merrion square now. March jas just begun. Atmosphere is something else. We deffo need this as a national holiday. Now if you dont mind I’m off to stand in O’Conell street with thousands of ordinary citizens, in the best spirit of 1916 and in stark contrast to that two tier sham last month…

    53
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    Mute alphanautica
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    Apr 24th 2016, 2:46 PM

    Does 14.9% at the general election = Ordinary People?

    We all know you think you’re special.

    37
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    Mute Ciaran
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    Apr 24th 2016, 3:02 PM

    SF crap being shoved die. Our trouts here today,
    And you give our t about FF&FG!!!!!
    It’s a day for all of us!!!!
    Not just SF supporters

    25
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    Mute tommy macdonagh
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    Apr 24th 2016, 4:23 PM

    republican riff raff are not ordinary citizens

    25
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    Mute Niall Conneely
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    Apr 24th 2016, 9:58 PM

    Arra f* off Tommy and move to the UK. It seems like you would be more comfortable there. But maybe not….your colonised head is so fu**ed up that you might’nd belong there. Humm. What a conundrum for you.. All those questions of belonging and identity unresolved in your colonised head. Seriously though, therapy can help to resolve the disfunction caused by colonisation. It would be worth the few quid. I wish you well on your journey. Seriously I do.

    10
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    Mute For Connolly
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    Apr 24th 2016, 2:56 PM

    Brillian stuff. Big placards with the names and faces of the Women of the rising right at the top of the procession. They didnt get a mention last month.

    36
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    Mute David Murphey
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    Apr 24th 2016, 3:39 PM

    “They didn’t get a mention last month.”

    Rubbish. Their names were everywhere and were celebrated with great respect.

    24
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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Apr 24th 2016, 9:00 PM

    None of them were celebrated properly. A complete whitewash.

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    Mute Niall Conneely
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    Apr 24th 2016, 9:52 PM

    Yep it was great. Margaret Skinneder the Glaswegian sniper. What a woman! I heard today that she smuggled short gelegnite sticks in her hat from Scotland to Ireland. Sure that sort of carryon would blow the head off ye!

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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Apr 24th 2016, 10:12 PM

    Niall I didn’t mean the gig today and fair play to all who turned out, I meant the official effort.

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    Mute alphanautica
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    Apr 24th 2016, 12:46 PM

    Most of the people at the GPO are gathering for Enda Kenny’s birthday.

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    Mute bings
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    Apr 24th 2016, 9:53 PM

    Has Enda not reached the age of retirement

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    Mute Lee Oswald
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    Apr 24th 2016, 2:18 PM

    Who cares,ain’t independent state no more thanks to you people voting yes to Lisbon treaty…Your in the pockets of the French and Germans now!…

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    Mute Malachi
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    Apr 24th 2016, 2:38 PM

    The Lisbon treaty didn’t wreck our independence.

    The establishment of the unelected body, the European Commission, did. Now these lads get to sit around debating how our borders are run. What an insult to the idea of self governance.

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    Mute Matty Reese
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    Apr 24th 2016, 2:52 PM

    European commisioners are appointed by the directly elected bodies of the member states. In fact to Qualify as a member state a country must have “stable institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities”

    If you don’t agree with the commissioner we appoint, just vote for a new government at the next election.

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    Mute Malachi
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    Apr 24th 2016, 5:16 PM

    Elected politicians electing commissioners is not democracy. What mechanism do we have to actually vote out an EC president? An EC member? What if the new government elect them again? We have no direct way of ensuring that a certain person is ousted from their position of power. It is fundamentally undemocratic.

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    Mute Jarrett moon
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    Apr 24th 2016, 8:03 PM

    Snarling bunch of inbreds. Trying to outdo each other with fervour.

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    Mute whereisspace
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    Apr 24th 2016, 7:31 PM

    We can’t even commemorate important dates in our history on the correct day! This country is hilarious!!

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    Mute bings
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    Apr 24th 2016, 9:50 PM

    The inmates are running the asylum.

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    Mute Niall Conneely
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    Apr 24th 2016, 9:48 PM

    The Reclaim 1916 parade was organised by amateurs. Many tens of thousands of us from Ireland and from the diaspora marched. It ended in chaos. O’Connell street was blocked by the stage and roadworks. When we arrived at the GPO there was nowhere to go and a chaotic backup ensued. All the community-based groups and bands were in competition with the concert. It should have marched up OC St. To Parnell Square and back down the East side of OC St. When the massive parade was over the concert should only then have begun. I understand the cross-community nature of the event, but really, if you want a mass mobilisation of the masses, leave it to the professionals, Sinn Féin.

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    Mute Seán O'Ciardubhain
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    Apr 24th 2016, 10:46 PM

    Pity you didnt see fit to mention to estimated 10,000 people who attended the NGA march from the GPO to Glasnevin

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