Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Money Diaries A primary school teacher on €45K living in Sligo

This week, our reader is enjoying life in Sligo during lockdown and watching her spending.

WELCOME TO HOW I Spend My Money, a series on TheJournal.ie that looks at how people in Ireland really handle their finances.

We’re asking readers to keep a record of how much they earn, what they save if anything, and what they’re spending their money on over the course of one week.

Are you a spender, a saver or a splurger? We’re looking for readers who will keep a money diary for a week. If you’re interested send a mail to money@thejournal.ie. We would love to hear from you.

Each money diary is submitted by readers just like you. When reading and commenting, bear in mind that their situation will not be relatable for everyone, it is simply an account of a week in their shoes, so let’s be kind.

Last time around, we heard from a civil servant in Dublin on €24K missing socialising with friends. This week, a primary school teacher living in Sligo is trying to curb her spending.

MoneyDiaries-Banner-950x170v3

I have lived in Sligo all my life. At the moment myself and my fiancé are renting in the town centre. We are very lucky as my parents own the house, so our rent is quite low. My fiancé takes care of the rent and I take care of household bills (ESB, Sky, groceries and bins). I am a primary school teacher and work in a rural school in which I teach the junior end (JI-2nd Class). I’ve been back working in class since the start of March and have loved being back with my kiddies. This is the first week of the Easter holidays.

Over the past 12 months, I have been able to become a more regular saver. I qualified six years ago however at the time it was mainly short-term contracts that were available so I was never paid for Christmas, Easter or Summer holidays. Any savings I had up until then tided me over those periods of no pay. This is my second teaching year in a permanent post and when I knew I had this stability I set up a direct debit to try to save more after Christmas last year.

I would have done so earlier but our dog had an accident so we were out the door with vets bills for a while. I had a nice bit saved but we got engaged early in December so my savings more or less halved with deposits I also had to dip into my savings to get a new iPhone as my phone died on me in January. 

Occupation: Primary school teacher
Age: 31
Location: Sligo
Salary: €45,834

Monthly pay (net): €2,422

Monthly expenses

Transport: Diesel €80 per month insurance (620) and tax (€180) have already been paid for the year. My NCT is due
Rent: €400 paid by my fiancé
Household bills: Sky (including wifi) €92, electricity €80 per month, bins €40 per month. We use oil to heat the house and usually get 500 litres twice a year (approx. €42 a month for my half)
Health insurance: I don’t have health insurance but I’ve signed up for the Hospital Saturday Fund (my sister told me about it). It offers cover for myself and my fiancé we have a basic package for €30.80 a month but we can upgrade to a more comprehensive package later
AVC Pension and Salary Protection Insurance: Deducted from wages
Groceries: I try to stay at about €280 for the month. I love my food and don’t mind spending on it
Dog food and medication: €100 – our dog has a chronic condition and has a very sensitive stomach so he can only eat certain foods. He is also on medication. We usually pay €30 for the prescription and it lasts us two months
Subscriptions: Netflix (€7.99), Kindle unlimited (€9.99) Audible (€9.99) Amazon Music (€3.99) Microsoft (€7.00) health tracker (€6.49)
Savings: Credit Union €4,500 I have a direct debit of €400 fortnightly 200 to my savings and 200 off my car loan. I’m down to my last €700 of my car loan and have set myself a target to clear my loan by the end of April after that I’ll transfer all to savings.

Monday

9.30 am: I’ve had a nice sleep in this morning. I scroll on my phone for a bit and then head downstairs for breakfast. I eat a Nature Valley nut butter bar and a banana and have a cup of green tea followed by an Actimel yoghurt drink. I bring my dog out for a quick walk. I meet my uncle when I’m walking. It was lovely to see him he lives close by but with Covid, I hardly see him these days and he just became a Grandad again over the weekend so it was nice to congratulate him in person.

10.30 am:  I leave my dog back home and head out for my 5k run I usually listen to an audiobook when running so don’t mind paying the subscription as it makes my runs more enjoyable. My legs are still a bit stiff from Saturday’s long run but I push through. When I get home I see a text from my sister wondering if I could watch my nephews for an hour  – I’ve bubbled up with her to help with childcare when her husband is away working. I watch the boys in the garden while she runs to Dunnes. I give her €3.00 to pick up bin bags for me.

1.00 pm: I make some lunch scrambled eggs on brown bread and have a Diet Coke and a Timeout bar after. I then prep potatoes and veg for this evenings dinner.

6.00 pm: My fiancé is home from work for a while now he’s doing forklift training beside us so he’s on a shorter day than usual. We get dinner sorted – roast chicken, mash, carrots and parsnips – I set aside the chicken we didn’t eat for a chicken curry tomorrow. I clean up and settle in to watch the soaps for the evening. I see a friend is fundraising for the Irish Pilgrimage Trust Fund. I donate €20.00. I walk the dog again and it’s the jammies and mindless telly for the rest of the evening.

                                Today’s Total: €23.00

Tuesday

10.00 am: I get up later than usual and have breakfast – honey yoghurt, strawberries and granola. I was up late reading ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ I couldn’t put it down so I’m quite groggy now but will feel guilty if I stay in bed much longer. 

11.00 am: I bring my dog out for a 15-minute walk and then head to the shop. My Mum mentioned Dad’s fairly wiped out from getting his vaccine yesterday so I pick up some of his favourite pastries – eclairs and can’t resist getting a crème egg for myself. I end up spending €6.40 as I get some chocolate marshmallows too (I have an awful sweet tooth) I drop the pastries at the door and head home for a run.

12.30 pm: I go for a run. It’s quite warm and heavy – I shouldn’t have worn a long-sleeved top. I struggled with it today. I come home shower and have lunch of a poached egg on brown bread.

3.30 pm: We bring our dog to a local wooded area for a walk. There are no other cars here so we can let him off the lead. 

6.30 pm: We sit down to our dinner of chicken curry which I prepped earlier. I get a text from a friend who lives within my 5k she’s wondering if I’m heading out for a walk. I meet her for a socially distanced walk and of course, my furry sidekick comes with me.

                               Today’s total: €6.40

Wednesday

9.00 am: I get up earlier today as I’m meeting my sister for a run. 

1.00 pm: Lunch is two sausages on brown bread. I then bring the dog out for his walk. I get home and do a few chores around the house.

6.30 pm: My fiancé is working a 12-hour shift today so we eat at separate times. I was planning to have spinach and ricotta tortellini but realise I’ve no pasta sauce. I don’t fancy heading to the supermarket today as I’ve to go to Aldi tomorrow for one of their special buys and don’t want to be in and out of the shops all the time. I settle for a chicken wrap.

9.30 pm: I top up the electricity €40.00 we’ve been using prepay power since we moved in over seven years ago at the time we were both working minimum wage jobs and it made more sense that we’d have a bit more control over our bills. I know some people say it’s more expensive but I find it reasonable at €80 to keep us on electricity for the month so never bothered changing to a different provider. I Revolut my Mum €30.00 I owe her and then order her a copy of Where the Crawdads Sing as I think she’ll really enjoy it. Easons has free delivery of over €10 and the book is on offer so I pick up a nice wee book to add to our class library €15.98.

10.00 pm: I watch the latest episode of Law and order SVU (I’ve been obsessed since my first year in college) and head to bed for the evening. I also ordered two new face masks off the Jessica Graaf website – €12.70 I find these masks very comfortable it was a bit of an impulse buy but there are worse things I could buy.

                                     Today’s total: €98.68   

Thursday

8.30 am: I planned to sleep in longer but I woke up and decided not to waste the morning in bed. I get up have breakfast- fruit, yoghurt and mixed berries and walk my dog.

10.30 am: I head out on a few messages. I go to a local pharmacy and get a few bits I have a voucher so the final bill is €22.49. I then head to a local health food shop and pick up some of their brown bread. It’s expensive but the nicest bread I’ve ever had! I also pick up some magnesium supplements and some green tea for €27.44. I planned to go to Aldi as they had mattress protectors on offer however the queue is very long. I head to Homestore + More instead and pick up the protector, a bin and a fibre optic duster as well €24.97. I head up to the local pet stop shop. Our dog’s lead broke yesterday and we live near a busy enough road – the last time he got off his lead it resulted in a broken leg so not taking any chances there, €29.40. I need to get a few groceries to tide us over until I do my big shop on Sunday or Monday (I don’t like to get lots of groceries before the weekend as I don’t eat as much fresh fruit yoghurt etc. at the weekend) The queue for Lidl is crazy as well I forgot how busy these places get over Easter weekend. I head to the Food centre beside me and pick up a tray of Diet Coke, a pack of water and some breakfast items, milk and a few other bits that’ll keep us going until the supermarkets calm down €43.55.

12.30 pm: I come home unpack my purchases and prepare my lunch – brown bread and a poached egg. I have a caramel egg and a Diet Coke after that I picked up in the food centre.

1.30 pm: I meet my sister and the boys for a walk. After I drop half of my brown bread at Mum and Dads doorstep. 

6.30 pm: I have my dinner – spinach and ricotta tortellini with garlic bread – I picked up the sauce and garlic bread in the food centre earlier. It’s been such a beautiful day today and my fiancé is on annual leave now since his shift finished at 6.00 so we decide to go to the shop for a few drinks – I pick up some wine and a Glenisk protein yoghurt for breakfast tomorrow, €15.49.

9.00 pm: I have two glasses of wine and catch up on the soaps. 

                                     Today’s total: €163.34 (Whoops!)

Friday

9.45 am: I sleep a bit later today. I get up and eat breakfast my yoghurt from yesterday and a slice of brown bread. I then walk our dog and when I get back I clean the oven – it had been soaking in oven pride overnight. 

12.00 pm: I head out for a 10km run it’s quite hot and my pace is slower but It’s the most enjoyable run I’ve had in a long time. The grass was freshly cut I don’t know why but it always puts me in a good mood. When I get home I shower and have lunch – a poached egg on brown bread. I then sit out the back reading my kindle.

3.00 pm: I collect an Easter treat box I ordered filled with brownies and cupcakes. It looks divine €20.00. I arrive home and eat a brownie outside. My fiancé joins me outside and we have a couple of drinks in the sunshine reminiscing on holidays that seem like a lifetime ago at this stage. 

6.30 pm: I bring the dog on a short walk and then order our weekend takeaway €32.00. We went a bit mad it’s a new takeaway so we wanted to sample some starters too. There’s so much leftover it will do us for dinner again tomorrow evening.

10.30 pm: I finish my bottle of wine while watching the Late Late Show.

                          Today’s total: €52.00

Saturday

10.00 am: I sleep late this morning. I bring our dog out for a quick loop around the block to do his business. I eat a banana and do some tidying around the house. After about an hour I make us brunch – I have a sausage and hash brown toasted sandwich. Once we’ve finished and tidied up after ourselves we head out with our dog to a nice wooded area for a longer walk.

2.00 pm: I realise I’ve ran out of credit so top up by €20.00. This gives me free texts, unlimited internet and unlimited calls to the same network which all my family are, so it suits me perfectly. I realise most people my age are on bill pay but I prefer to have as much control as I can over my bills and I hear so many horror stories of unexpected bills of hundreds of euros so I’ve stuck to pay as you go. I had to pay €600 for a new phone at the start of the year but my phones usually last me 3-4 years so I don’t mind spending on that.

3.00 pm: I drop Easter eggs out to my nephews. The eldest isn’t to keen on eggs so I give him €10.00 towards a Playstation controller alongside a smaller egg. The youngest is more than happy with his kinder joy! I drop an Easter egg for my Dad at the door and head back to mine.

4.00 pm: My cousin had a baby recently so I order her a voucher for a local photographer so she can get newborn pictures (if possible it may be her first birthday before she can get anything like that done again) €50.00. We reheat our takeaway and again I have two glasses of wine and watch some television for the evening. 

                               Today’s total: €80.00

Sunday

9.00 am: We wake early and decide to bring our dog out for a walk. We decide against breakfast as I’ve to get diesel so my fiancé suggests we get some hot deli food and eat it at the park. I put €40.00 worth of diesel in my car and my fiancé picks us up some sausage rolls, hash browns and a few bottles of water. We head to Slishwood. We eat in the car and then head out for a long walk.

12.00 pm: I had planned to run today but decided the walk was enough. I hoover and do some laundry and then make us both some ham and cheese sandwiches. We spend the afternoon watching American pickers episodes we had recorded. 

3.00 pm: I walk our dog again.

6.00 pm: We have a lovely lamb dinner and I spend the evening catching up with family and friends on the phone. 

                              Today’s total: €40.00

Weekly subtotal: €463.42

What I’ve learned

  • I’m quite an impulsive buyer. Usually before each payday I do a list of expenses and see how much I can afford to put away. I did this for this week but still managed to spend an extra €100 I hadn’t accounted for and that was with me trying to be good.

  • I realise I spend quite a lot on groceries but this does include my Diet Coke and water. I cannot kick my Diet Coke habit and our tap water doesn’t taste nice so I think we’re better to buy crates of bottled water so that we at least keep drinking water.

  • I didn’t have a chance to do my proper shop but we had plenty left in the freezer to keep us going. I will do the shopping on Monday which will probably cost us between €60-€70 euro. My car is also in for NCT on Tuesday I’m hoping it goes through it was fully serviced at the end of January so there shouldn’t be anything big if it does fail.

  • I drank more wine than usual this weekend but it was a very sunny weekend and it was a bank holiday. 

  • We are planning to get married in February ’22 so I’m hoping to get much stricter with my savings. Once my loan is cleared (I paid an extra €100 off it this week) I’ll have a lot more going directly to my savings. If it is a case we cannot go ahead with a wedding by February (Who knows at this stage!) we will see about putting that money towards a house deposit.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
34 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Harry N
    Favourite Harry N
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 11:17 AM

    He’s right!

    334
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Huston
    Favourite David Huston
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 11:32 AM

    Mary Lou was great,inspire of the hostile host,never so cold when interviewed his FF/FG masters.

    203
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Scott
    Favourite Alan Scott
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 11:35 AM

    @Harry N: No one man or woman should have to suffer in this way.
    Have to be very careful as false accusations can surface and create a even bigger problem We in Country have a habit of waving the big stick but then wave it to far to the right. I have seen people standing up for the life of the child in this up coming referendum been insulted and called some terrible names so much that it has silenced a lot of people to keep their opinions to themselves

    109
    See 15 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bruce Miller
    Favourite Bruce Miller
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 11:37 AM

    @David Huston: Mary Lou was great¡ My head hurts. Mediocrities abound in our political circles…

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave O Keeffe
    Favourite Dave O Keeffe
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 11:53 AM

    @Alan Scott: to be fair that happens on both sides and it helps neither. It’s a marked sign of a person that can’t back up a point

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Deborah Behan
    Favourite Deborah Behan
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 11:55 AM

    @Alan Scott: wow straight to “women make stuff up” rather than “this shit actually happens to women”. And while you’re having a moment for your friends you might also like to think about and put yourself in the place of women who are trying to make a choice about their lives and their futures rather than judge them.

    72
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Scott
    Favourite Alan Scott
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 12:52 PM

    @Deborah Behan: You are a person exactly what I am talking about.
    Have your moment of glory

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave O Keeffe
    Favourite Dave O Keeffe
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 1:40 PM

    @Alan Scott: what moment of glory? She’s saying women should be listened to more and their claims be treated seriously rather than with immediate doubt. Heaven forbid a bit of common sense.

    61
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Celtic_Horizon
    Favourite Celtic_Horizon
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 1:53 PM

    @Alan Scott: I think you need to take the blinders off alan. I’ve had my side mirror broken off my car and keyed twice since I put a repeal sticker on it.

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute windbag
    Favourite windbag
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 2:30 PM

    @Harry N: it can’t be just women that we’re harassed . Men must have been hit on by women in high places as well when is all that going to materialise… ???

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave O Keeffe
    Favourite Dave O Keeffe
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 2:50 PM

    @windbag: Terry Crews has already spoken out about being sexually assaulted it was by a man though so that mind not meet your criteria

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Deborah Behan
    Favourite Deborah Behan
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 3:21 PM

    @Alan Scott: no, no, no , no, no it’s not my time in the spot light. It’s about my daughter, my sister, my mother, my friends. All women. It’s about a rape victim that had her underwear shown to the jury. It’s about women who finally have the courage to stand up to their abusers. It’s about the women who couldn’t physically or financially or mentally go through a pregnancy. It’s all the things you don’t think about because it never comes up in your life.

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Scott
    Favourite Alan Scott
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 3:51 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: Maybe if you read her post again.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Scott
    Favourite Alan Scott
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 3:57 PM

    @Deborah Behan: Deborah there’s no way in having a reasonable debate with you. I am out-of here I can understand the silence now and where it’s coming from.. I wish you well.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Scott
    Favourite Alan Scott
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 4:14 PM

    @Deborah Behan: Deborah if you go back to my first post in reply to Harry Hudson My first line was no man or woman should have to suffer any abuse from what ever quarter it comes from.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Diogenes
    Favourite Diogenes
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 4:16 PM

    @Harry N: fair play Gabriel, he he is right, people who prey on woman like this need to be publicly shamed and ostracised.

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave O Keeffe
    Favourite Dave O Keeffe
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 4:37 PM

    @Alan Scott: I read it clearly the first time, no glory mentioned at all. Your first short sentence was followed by several qualifying sentences, all in context you clearly don’t really believe that first sentence enough for it to be a stand alone statement from you. Also, a polite hint, when you say you’re leaving because you don’t want to discuss the issue with a particular person it just looks silly if you come back twenty minutes later and have a pop at the same person again, especially when they didn’t reply to you when you announced your departure.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Owen M
    Favourite Owen M
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 8:26 PM

    @Harry N: He kept it a secret for years that Weinstein was a bully. He is the very definition of a coward.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nick Drake
    Favourite Nick Drake
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 12:29 PM

    He’s right in many ways but problems can arise because many women leading the charge on this are a bad mix of post modernist ultra feminist where these is no room for anyone else’s opinion.

    172
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Deborah Behan
    Favourite Deborah Behan
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 3:21 PM

    @Nick Drake: whereas all men are saints? Please.

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Hughes
    Favourite Paul Hughes
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 3:57 PM

    @Deborah Behan: think he’s referring to the Matt Damon debacle where he got his head chewed off for stating a fact

    37
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Diogenes
    Favourite Diogenes
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 4:20 PM

    @Nick Drake: Stop trying to dilute the metoo movement with your own bigoted agenda will you, this movement didn’t come about because of feminism it came about because certain women were being threatened with rape and murdered and being raped and sexually harassed!

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute EillieEs
    Favourite EillieEs
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 5:51 PM

    @Nick Drake: if someone was sexually assaulted where does someone’s opinion come into it?

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ron North
    Favourite Ron North
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 6:10 PM

    @neilo: I think it’s a type of painting or art or something.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute john Appleseed
    Favourite john Appleseed
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 11:16 AM

    A bond with his daughter… great they can discuss which nappies are best.

    67
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Deborah Behan
    Favourite Deborah Behan
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 11:58 AM

    @john Appleseed: Jesus that’s the best you got? Hope you don’t have any kids if that’s all you think you can have a conversation about. I’d take Gabriel any day!

    136
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The flute smoker
    Favourite The flute smoker
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 1:30 PM

    I know its not a nice thing to say but i watch some of these women years ago and always said to myself who is giving these awful ….just dreadful actresses work. Now i know why . I say 90% of these women are having buyers remorse

    104
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The flute smoker
    Favourite The flute smoker
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 2:25 PM

    @neilo: i know

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Deborah Behan
    Favourite Deborah Behan
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 3:30 PM

    @The flute smoker: I’ve said the same about many male actors. Vin Deisel anyone?

    36
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Frank McGlynn
    Favourite Frank McGlynn
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 6:12 PM

    @neilo: A terrible comment and probably a terrible truth.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute nolblog
    Favourite nolblog
    Report
    Feb 18th 2018, 5:39 AM

    @The flute smoker: maybe just stick to smoking flute from now on.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The flute smoker
    Favourite The flute smoker
    Report
    Feb 19th 2018, 3:16 PM

    @nolblog: thats my job bra’h

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick J. O'Rourke
    Favourite Patrick J. O'Rourke
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 1:21 PM

    I only watched it to see if Tubs would ask him about his opinions on the Irish film industry, or lack of it. It was another Hilary moment and I can’t get the time back.

    54
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Deborah Behan
    Favourite Deborah Behan
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 3:29 PM

    @Patrick J. O’Rourke: go back to Breitbart then.

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Cantwell
    Favourite Chris Cantwell
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 3:46 PM

    @Deborah Behan: oh wow Deborah what an amazing comment, really scraping the barrel with that one

    54
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Austin Rock
    Favourite Austin Rock
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 6:37 PM

    @Patrick J. O’Rourke: Tubridy! first of all anyone/any cause going in front of that – I will be calm – man (there because of his \Dad) is really a bit rich. I get Gabriel Byrne’s comment but somehow I feel this is all false its just the latest fad, metoo, blacklivesmatter etc etc all Americanisms which are totally consumed with. Somewhere in there is a noble cause – just hard to take the message from messengers like this.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick J. O'Rourke
    Favourite Patrick J. O'Rourke
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 7:08 PM

    @Deborah Behan: What does that have to do with anything. I’m no fan of Breitbart and they have noting to do with this issue. What are you talking about? I work in the industry and he has said some very pertinent and controversial things/truth about the industry in the last few days and I was just waiting to see if Tubs was going to raise them. You really are confused.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Culligan
    Favourite Paul Culligan
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 11:28 AM

    The reason that this shit went on for so long, is that women, for whatever reason, kept quiet. I tell my own daughters that if ever faced with that shit, immediately hit back hard and fast, and use whatevers in reach to achieve the mission. What do the Yanks call it? Oh yeah!….Shock and Awe!

    125
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bruce Miller
    Favourite Bruce Miller
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 11:33 AM

    @Paul Culligan: Bad advice m8 – perpetrators can be very nasty people¡¡

    67
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Culligan
    Favourite Paul Culligan
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 11:39 AM

    @Bruce Miller: I disagree. Things should never be made easy for the bully, the sex predator, the harrasser. This type of fire should be met with a raging inferno, not water.

    101
    See 22 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Siobhán Ni Mhurchú
    Favourite Siobhán Ni Mhurchú
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 11:40 AM

    @Paul Culligan: maybe they weren’t able to because they knew their careers would be over?

    54
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Culligan
    Favourite Paul Culligan
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 11:48 AM

    @Siobhán Ni Mhurchú: So they sacrificed their own esteem for money and fame? I get it. But individually or collectively, they did nothing for the respect of femininity.

    67
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bruce Miller
    Favourite Bruce Miller
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 11:49 AM

    @Paul Culligan: Even though he may have a knife or gun in his pocket. Tell your missus to give your daughters the correct advice – as you’ve failed in your duty!

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hardly Normal
    Favourite Hardly Normal
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 12:00 PM

    @Siobhán Ni Mhurchú: self respect and morals are probably more important than an acting gig

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Siobhán Ni Mhurchú
    Favourite Siobhán Ni Mhurchú
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 12:04 PM

    @Hardly Normal: agreed ..but some aspiring actresses didn’t think so ..

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Culligan
    Favourite Paul Culligan
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 1:16 PM

    @Bruce Miller: At the very least, learn self defence, instead of taking it like a sissy. If you’re going down, you’re going down brother, but get enough DNA to convict, even if it means swallowing a chunk of face or hand. The target of the assailant shouldn’t be an easy target. Your particular stance is what has the world like it is.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Culligan
    Favourite Paul Culligan
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 1:20 PM

    @neilo: theres no mention of children here, so don’t be getting all distorted and emotional. Thats a seperate issue. That pig Weinstein hasn’t been accused of paedophilia, as of yet.

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Siobhán Ni Mhurchú
    Favourite Siobhán Ni Mhurchú
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 1:32 PM

    @Paul Culligan: taking it like a sissy ? Would you say that to your daughter if she was being attacked by someone with a weapon and she couldn’t fight back because the attacker may kill her ?? I would assume you would prefer your daughter to survive the attack in whatever way she could ..

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bruce Miller
    Favourite Bruce Miller
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 1:33 PM

    @Paul Culligan: Yes – learn self defence. At last, you’re getting some common sense!

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Hardly Normal
    Favourite Hardly Normal
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 1:57 PM

    @Siobhán Ni Mhurchú: well then i think personal responsibility comes into play to a certain degree and probably education on such matters. I don’t agree with the #metoo campaign , it’s too easy to smear someone who doesn’t deserve it and ruin their lives but at the same time it’s bringing awareness and that’s the key in my opinion. Women in such situations should just walk away! If they can’t it’s a totally different situation.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Culligan
    Favourite Paul Culligan
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 2:49 PM

    @Siobhán Ni Mhurchú: I’d prefer my daughter to go all-out animal. if you find yourself in a situation like that, the attacker has already planned and decided his move. What he hasn’t factored into the equation is unexpected resistance and a volitile prey. Passive approaches don’t work, unless a gun is produced. A lot of women are dead, and evidence is lacking, because they made it easy for the attacker. Likewise, the reason that people like the pig Weinstein got away with it for so long, is that women made it easy for them.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Del Bear
    Favourite Del Bear
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 2:57 PM

    @Paul Culligan: going all out animal against someone bigger and physically stronger will likely result in the woman not only being raped but probably having the sh*te kicked out of her as well

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Deborah Behan
    Favourite Deborah Behan
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 3:28 PM

    @Paul Culligan: any comment on how to stop men from actually attacking women? It’s not an unsolvable problem. Women should learn self defense because,you know, MEN!!! How privileged are you? You go out and learn self defense because we’re not going to stop. We will hold each and every man accountable. So either teach yourself and boys how to respect women and not attack women or we will.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute EillieEs
    Favourite EillieEs
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 4:54 PM

    @Paul Culligan: wow, talk about victim-blaming. No Paul, the reason this went on so long is because those in authority abused their power. It is never the victim’s fault. Far, far, far too often the child or woman isn’t believed – s/he is looking for attention or misinterpreted the incident, sure he can have anyone he wants why would he assault someone? In the US many of Dr Nassar’s victims told their parents and weren’t believed. Just look at how unmarried mothers were treated in this country by everyone from the family, neighbours, Church and state. Look at what she was wearing, why did she have that extra drink, what did she expect?
    Look at the comments here to see many have decided that women who have shared their stories with #metoo still aren’t being believed.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute EillieEs
    Favourite EillieEs
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 5:42 PM

    @Paul Culligan: “they did nothing for the respect of femininity” “instead of taking it like a sissy” You are victim blaming in the most vile way. If she’s not black and blue then it was her fault?

    Do you honestly believe that when experiencing the horror of rape a woman is thinking dispassionately about gathering DNA? We all think we’d fight and scream but the reality is that in the majority of cases women experience an involuntary paralysis with as many as 50% reporting extreme paralysis while being sexually assaulted. With your kind of attitude it’s no wonder women feel shame and guilt and decide not to report. Shame on you.
    https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/women-involuntary-paralysis-freeze-rape-fight-back_us_5936f8e7e4b0099e7faff1dc

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Siobhán Ni Mhurchú
    Favourite Siobhán Ni Mhurchú
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 6:27 PM

    @Paul Culligan: do you read over your comments ? Twice you said victims make it easy for their attackers . I agree that evidence is important..like under the finger nails etc. But at the end if the day you want the woman /sister/daughter to survive and be able to come home ..not to end up dead because she tried to fight back . Do not blame a victim for being passive in an attack . For them it’s about survival .

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Austin Rock
    Favourite Austin Rock
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 6:39 PM

    @Paul Culligan: I agree totally if women learned martial arts cowards like this would be absolutely terrified – they’d probably stick to masterbating.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Culligan
    Favourite Paul Culligan
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 9:25 PM

    @Deborah Behan: You speak of men, and say nothing at all about women. Walk around the city any night of the week and watch the female loudmouth bullies fighting. Some of them would outdo the men. You need defence against them too. But thats the very aggression that I talk about when I say that women need to butch up against bullies.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Culligan
    Favourite Paul Culligan
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 9:46 PM

    @EillieEs: Watch any Self Defence instruction video and you will learn that that ‘paralysis’ derives from an untrained victim. Theres no excuse for not being trained. My own children would frequently ask, ‘Dad, what if someone grabbed you from behind, like this’, and I would show them the fastest possible way to break a nose, gouge an eye or render an attacker inoperable. They are not living in a world of fear, but have a better chance than most, if it happens. I want my daughters in that 50% that don’t experience extreme paralysis, but I most certainly don’t want them associated with emotional states, just like what youre throwing out there. That’s what causes loss…emotion. Spartan women never had it, and were greatly feared.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Culligan
    Favourite Paul Culligan
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 9:53 PM

    @Siobhán Ni Mhurchú: Passiveness only gets you killed. We are living in a different world now.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Siobhán Ni Mhurchú
    Favourite Siobhán Ni Mhurchú
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 10:47 PM

    @Paul Culligan: passiveness will not get you killed .. I’m not suggesting you don’t put up some struggle but fighting back will get you killed.. the attacker would get more and more aggressive ..

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute nolblog
    Favourite nolblog
    Report
    Feb 18th 2018, 5:47 AM

    @Paul Culligan: here paul, why don’t you try listening to women sometime instead of trying to push your shit, ignorant advice on them.
    regards,
    women

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Johnhunky Dory
    Favourite Johnhunky Dory
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 6:31 PM

    But why wasn’t he commenting all those years a if what he knew? Instead he was trying to get Weinstein on board for projects.

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Untriggered Non-Snowflake
    Favourite Untriggered Non-Snowflake
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 6:41 PM

    Metoo started out as a woman’s rights movement. It stopped been that a long time ago when it was politicised by Democrats and the elite women of Hollywood. Even Rose McGowan could see that…

    Time to start over again, girls…

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute nolblog
    Favourite nolblog
    Report
    Feb 18th 2018, 5:42 AM

    @Untriggered Non-Snowflake: nah we’re doing grand, thanks

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fran Lonergan
    Favourite Fran Lonergan
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 12:52 PM

    Gabriel, you were a sphincter when you started out and you are a bigger ar$ehole now.

    79
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Deborah Behan
    Favourite Deborah Behan
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 3:32 PM

    @Fran Lonergan: thank god we got your opinion mr anonymous who won’t put your actual name. Next.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Malachy
    Favourite Malachy
    Report
    Feb 18th 2018, 1:08 AM

    He’s playing to the media. Why’d he only saying this now seeing his career nose dived. Can’t understand people who think actors and singers have worldly experiences

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Shaw
    Favourite Tony Shaw
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 5:49 PM

    Shure Gabriel…. anything to feed the narcissist need. Btw, like the hair dye. Industrial??

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mike scott
    Favourite mike scott
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 3:40 PM

    Wrong there gaybo.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute EillieEs
    Favourite EillieEs
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 5:52 PM

    @mike scott: how is he wrong?

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Owen M
    Favourite Owen M
    Report
    Feb 17th 2018, 8:28 PM

    Byrne is pathetic. He could have come out years ago about Weinstein and saved many women.

    23
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel