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Effigies of Irish rappers Kneecap placed on a bonfire on Roden Street in Belfast. Niall Carson/PA

Kneecap effigy placed on Belfast bonfire ahead of Orange Order parades

Firefighters said they dealt with 72 bonfire-related incidents on last night.

LAST UPDATE | 12 Jul

FIREFIGHTERS IN NORTHERN Ireland said they dealt with a challenging night as bonfires were lit ahead of the 12 July celebrations.

An effigy of the West Belfast rap trio Kneecap was placed atop one bonfire in the city, in a move likely to spark condemnation after a similar effigy of asylum seekers in a boat was set alight earlier this week in Moygashel, Co Tyrone.

The band’s manager Daniel Lambert posted an image of the effigy on the bonfire alongside a quote from Kneecap that stressed that some issues are equally faced by people in the north of Ireland and highlighted commonality between groups.

In another post to X, Lambert included two news headlines: one announcing the police investigation into Kneecap’s Glastonbury performance, and one regarding the bonfires.

“The duality of British policing…” Lambert wrote.

Tens of thousands will take to the streets across the region for the traditional Orange Order parades today.

The events will be spread across 19 main locations to mark the 334th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne where the Protestant King William of Orange triumphed over the Catholic King James II.

It comes after the burning of bonfires at an estimated 300 locations in loyalist neighbourhoods across the region on Thursday and Friday nights.

But the most contentious bonfire was located on a site containing asbestos and close to an electricity sub station off the Donegall Road in south Belfast.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said it dealt with 72 bonfire related incidents across the evening.

One firefighter was attacked while attending a bonfire in Lisburn, Co Antrim.

ulster-bonfires Kneecap Graffiti is burned on a Bonfire at Roden Street in Belfast. Niall Carson / PA Niall Carson / PA / PA

NIFRS area commander Andy Burns said: “Between 6pm 11 July and 2am 12 July 2025, we received 277 emergency 999 calls.

“This resulted in our firefighters attending 194 operational incidents, 72 of which were bonfire related. Peak activity was between 10pm and 1am.

“During this period, the number of emergency calls received increased by 154% when compared to 2024.

“It was a challenging and extremely busy night for NIFRS with an increase in demand for our regional control centre and emergency response.”

The spokesperson added: “Disappointingly, a firefighter was attacked while attending a bonfire in Lisburn. They were not injured and remained on duty.

“This was an isolated incident and not reflective of the support shown to firefighters in carrying out their duties across the evening.”

Of all the loyal order parades to take place on Saturday, around 30 have been officially categorised as sensitive by the Parades Commission.

Locations of sensitive parades this year include Belfast, Coleraine, Keady, Dunloy, Rasharkin, Strabane, Newtownabbey, Maghera, Newtownbutler, Portadown, Glengormley and Bellaghy.

More than 4,000 police officers and police staff will be working on 12 July.

On the 11th night, around 1,200 officers were deployed to monitor public safety at bonfires.

The cost of policing parades and bonfires in Northern Ireland through spring and summer was £6.1 million last year, a figure that was up £1.5 million (€1.7 million) on the previous year.

The bill, which covers the period April 1 to August 31, also includes the cost of policing republican commemorations around Easter and events to mark the mid-August anniversary of the introduction of internment without trial during the Troubles.

The PSNI expects the costs in 2025 to be higher still.

This is due to falling police numbers and the resultant increased reliance on paying overtime to ensure enough officers are on duty for the events.

Tomorrow morning, an Orange Order parade has been permitted to pass Ardoyne shops in north Belfast restricted to one band and 50 members of the order.

It is a return parade at a former flashpoint which traditionally took place on the evening of July 12 often resulting in violent scenes.

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162 Comments
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    Mute Rafa C
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:32 AM

    One of those days in Northern Ireland that perfectly shows how the past never really goes away. It marks a 17th-century battle, but it’s become more about identity, territory, and a stubborn refusal to let old grievances settle.

    People talk about “culture” and “tradition,” and of course, everyone has a right to celebrate their history, but when that celebration involves building enormous pyres topped with effigies of your neighbours or musicians you dislike, it stops being heritage and starts being intimidation. It’s hard to see how burning symbols and taunting entire communities is anything but a deliberate provocation.

    The reason it keeps happening isn’t mysterious. It’s because nobody has ever been able or willing to fundamentally challenge the idea that this sort of triumphalism is normal or necessary. Politicians are terrified to criticise it too harshly, community leaders say their hands are tied, and the police end up picking up the pieces at huge cost every single year.

    You’d think after decades of conflict and peace-building, there’d be more appetite for moving on. But the 12th is like an annual ritual of proving you’re still in charge of certain streets, still the dominant tribe. That’s why it continues because it gives people a sense of power and belonging they don’t feel any other day of the year.

    And as long as burning effigies and sparking trouble are dressed up as tradition, there’ll always be excuses. The truth is that no matter how many times we call it culture, a lot of this behaviour is about keeping old divisions alive and there’s not much appetite to really stop it.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:37 AM

    @Rafa C: Yes: an exaggerated sense of ‘them and us’ is at the root of nearly all the world’s problems.

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    Mute Peeta Griffin
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    Jul 12th 2025, 10:08 AM

    @Rafa C:

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    Mute SerotoninWars
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    Jul 12th 2025, 10:29 AM

    @Brendan O’Brien: Also education. While it doesn’t guarantee a more enlightened way of thinking, it certainly helps. It’s been well documented that the PUL community has fallen behind due to the historical expectancy of supremacy. Catholic and nationalist people had to work extra hard to get anywhere so education levels are higher. It’s going to be very hard to move on and learn some perspective if you are stuck in your ghetto with no opposing views, no one challenging you, no new thoughts and ideas, and most importantly, little in the way of exposure to your ‘enemies’.

    Being able to see the human side of the people you’ve been taught to hate is enormous. So many of these individuals could so do with sharing a class, lecture hall or workplace with the people they hate. Education can lead to insight and perspective (on so many levels) that cools the temperature and offers a path out of deeply entrenched ways of thinking. It’s so depressingly backward and such a waste of time and life. There are endless things you could be doing besides obsessing over centuries-old battles and religions that make zero sense in an era of so much scientific awareness, historical insight and myth-busting knowledge, if you are prepared to look for it.

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    Mute Wolfgang Bonow
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    Jul 12th 2025, 11:25 AM

    @Rafa C: These are the exact reasons why I believe a united Ireland should be at least another 2 generations away.

    45
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    Mute Joe Beirne
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    Jul 12th 2025, 11:37 AM

    @Wolfgang Bonow: Thanks for your useless input.

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    Mute Johnny King
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    Jul 12th 2025, 12:57 PM

    @Rafa C: very well said

    97
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    Mute offside again
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    Jul 12th 2025, 1:19 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: jaysus I agree with you again. It’s possible though that there are more people in the good camp than others.
    Nowhere on French news that I watch has this been reported
    Seriously, burning a refugee boat on top of their hate bonfire is a new low.
    United Ireland ; no fkn way

    20
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    Mute Nodon
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    Jul 12th 2025, 2:12 PM

    @Rafa C: orange bigotry; green bigotry. Kneecap and the Orange order and two sides of the same coin. Burning effigies on bonfires and calling for the democratically elected representatives of the people in a neighboring nation to be killed. What’s the difference. Only the bigots on both sides will try to pretend that there is a difference.

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    Mute offside again
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    Jul 12th 2025, 2:36 PM

    @Nodon: I heard this : ‘ la narcissme de la différence’. I think I understand what it means and I think it applies to NI particularly.

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    Mute Shane Gallagher
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:22 PM

    @Rafa C: it’s conveniently “overlooked” racism.

    39
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    Mute Del Ray
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    Jul 13th 2025, 1:20 PM

    @Shane Gallagher: Working-class Ulster stays divided – who’d have thought. It must be a real puzzle to the get-yer brits-out brigade at Electric Picnic.

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    Mute Paddy Ryan
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:19 AM

    KKKulture

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    Mute FoxyBoiiYT
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:59 AM

    @Paddy Ryan: Yet they try to pretend they support Israel while supporting far right Neo nazis

    386
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    Mute Paddy Ryan
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    Jul 12th 2025, 11:03 AM

    @FoxyBoiiYT: they are very confused

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    Mute Anthony Curran
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    Jul 12th 2025, 1:20 PM

    @FoxyBoiiYT: Zionists and Nazis are cut from the same cloth .

    229
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    Mute Paddy Ryan
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    Jul 12th 2025, 2:28 PM

    @Jay Nsilentb: As great as a united Ireland sounds, do we really want to be putting up with this lot. Leave them up there I reckon.

    19
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    Mute Alan Mahon
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    Jul 12th 2025, 2:55 PM

    @FoxyBoiiYT: you don’t think isreal is acting like far right neo nazis at the moment? Ok.

    88
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    Mute ian
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    Jul 12th 2025, 3:48 PM

    @FoxyBoiiYT: just like the Isralies, they know they don’t really belong.

    121
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    Mute offside again
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    Jul 12th 2025, 4:16 PM

    @ian: Hamas won’t free Palestiniens to live in peace with the Israelis. They are fighting for a twisted version of Islam. They are a death cult.
    Even in peace times they fire rockets at Israël.
    A Muslim friend of mine, when I asked why don’t Arab neighbours accept Palestiniens ? He replied that it would be admitting defeat.
    So many people haven’t a clue.
    What bothers me is especially the pro-palestinien crowd trying to make it our war when it isn’t.

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    Mute Garret Fawl
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    Jul 12th 2025, 6:22 PM

    @offside again: can you explain why settlers are killing Palestinians in the west bank then, as hamas don’t operate there.

    106
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    Mute offside again
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    Jul 12th 2025, 7:35 PM

    @Garret Fawl: you can get emotionally involved if you want to but this has nothing to do with me. In fact, the worst thing is people like you binging it over here.

    3
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    Mute offside again
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    Jul 12th 2025, 7:53 PM

    @offside again: *bringing*
    There are so many ’causes’ in the world. I am so tired of them all. The feral cats out the back get on better with each other than humans do.
    I throw out a bit of meat sometimes.
    First come, first served. No fighting. The others hang around a bit but leave eventually.

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    Mute Garret Fawl
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    Jul 12th 2025, 8:22 PM

    @offside again: can’t/won’t answer my question, got it.

    46
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    Mute offside again
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:59 PM

    @Garret Fawl: put up a photo of your police badge and then ask an intelligent question. You might get an answer.

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    Mute sean weir
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    Jul 13th 2025, 10:13 AM

    @Paddy Ryan: thanks for your input ,the same as the last over 100years “sure it’s not our problem”
    How can a country just abandon so many of its own citizens?
    We are Irish you know ,not some race of aliens

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    Mute ecrowley ecrowley
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:52 AM

    And this is who the Irish far right are in cahoots with… Tick and ticker.

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    Mute Great Eagle
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    Jul 12th 2025, 2:20 PM

    @ecrowley ecrowley: Ha ha ha, what type of fool calls others out as being “thick” but can not even spell the word correctly.

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    Mute Áine F
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    Jul 12th 2025, 7:35 PM

    @Great Eagle: Aw, is the West Brit upset that we aren’t speaking the King’s English? Are your loyalist pals offended about how we pronounce “th” in Ireland, big guy? Will you ring Stephen Nolan and cry about it?

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    Mute Shane Gallagher
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:32 PM

    @ecrowley ecrowley: Far right, in the south. Normal , in the north.

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    Mute ecrowley ecrowley
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    Jul 13th 2025, 2:18 AM

    @Great Eagle: It was spelled like that not to cause offence to the journal’s filter. I can get away with calling you tiubh though.

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    Mute Billy Joe
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    Jul 14th 2025, 10:32 AM

    @ecrowley ecrowley: I think you are a bit Thick.

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    Mute j m m
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:26 AM

    Worse than the mindset they had 30 years ago. It’ll have to be dissolved. Otherwise, these twelfty types will never integrate well under a united Ireland?
    More free publicity for the kneecap boys, so that’s good.

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    Mute Vincent Alexander
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:42 AM

    @j m m: Neither will the tricolour balaclava types. They will just keep the pot boiling.

    42
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    Mute j m m
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:46 AM

    @Tarquin Donovan: such a trigger trap for the doetroll…. , and ya didn’t disappoint me…oh, too easy… “shinners…yada yada..” lol

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    Mute Joe Beirne
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    Jul 12th 2025, 11:58 AM

    @Tarquin Donovan: What a gimp, they mustn’t hand prison jobs out the likes of you for your own safety

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    Mute Mary BINTon
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    Jul 12th 2025, 3:40 PM

    @Tarquin Donovan: Go play with your monkey Tarzan, lol

    148
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    Mute Eugene Burns
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    Jul 12th 2025, 12:47 PM

    A proud day for Kneecap. A great honour to be included in annual 12th hate fest.

    345
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    Mute Kevin O Brien
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    Jul 12th 2025, 10:55 AM

    Any outfit that flys the genocide flag of Israel isn’t up to much

    434
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    Mute Billy Joe
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    Jul 14th 2025, 10:33 AM

    @Kevin O Brien: you mean the Hamas rag.

    1
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    Mute Brian D'Arcy
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    Jul 12th 2025, 11:15 AM

    Kneecap must be doing something right if they’re pissing off Loyalists.

    484
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    Mute Del Ray
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    Jul 13th 2025, 1:22 PM

    @Brian D’Arcy: if you call disuniting working class Ulster right then yes, Kneecap are playing a blinder.

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    Mute Hibernicus
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    Jul 12th 2025, 1:54 PM

    PSNI spent three days “investigating “ the stop-the boats-bonfire and did feck all about it. Same double standards as ever, the RUC with a PR glow-up

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    Mute Conor Bradley
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    Jul 12th 2025, 10:16 AM

    Orange ba5tards

    575
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    Mute Conor Bradley
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    Jul 12th 2025, 10:37 AM

    @Tarquin your easily amused so. Fair play tarquin donovan

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    Mute Vincent Alexander
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    Jul 12th 2025, 11:51 AM

    @Conor Bradley: Comment is proof that the bigotry is not one sided.

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    Mute Joe Beirne
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    Jul 12th 2025, 12:12 PM

    @Vincent Alexander: You want to give them a hug off you go, see how you get on.

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    Mute John McEvoy
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    Jul 12th 2025, 12:27 PM

    @Tarquin Donovan: Anyone with the name Tarquin really should consider an another fake name for the internet

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    Mute Billy Hunt
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    Jul 12th 2025, 12:54 PM

    @Conor Bradley: That’s why you’ll never have a united Ireland , too much sectarian hate between both sides , pope hating ,monarchy hating , each other hating imo it’ll never end every generation is taught to hate the other side

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    Mute Vincent Alexander
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    Jul 12th 2025, 12:58 PM

    @Joe Beirne: I went to a Protestant wedding during the height of the “Troubles” and was very warmly welcomed and thanked by everyone for attending.

    11
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    Mute Joe Beirne
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    Jul 12th 2025, 1:15 PM

    @Vincent Alexander: Sure you did

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    Mute Vincent Alexander
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:21 PM

    @Joe Beirne: I am sure I did attend the wedding. The wedding was that of a work colleague. It’s past time for the nationalist taking the high moral ground and playing the victim to do something practical to reconcile with unionists.
    If McGuinness and Paisley ( “ The Chuckle Brothers “ )hadn’t spread so much bigotry before both took the Queen’s shilling in the form of MLA salaries it would have saved a lot of lives and misery.

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    Mute sean weir
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    Jul 13th 2025, 10:16 AM

    @Vincent Alexander: do you read your comments before you post them ,think about what you just posted!!!!!

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    Mute Billy Joe
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    Jul 14th 2025, 10:34 AM

    @Conor Bradley: now that’s uncalled for.

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    Mute Mary BINTon
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    Jul 12th 2025, 10:09 AM

    @Nemethon: The Billy boys had mannequins dressed in orange on a bonfire yesterday, your dead right !

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    Mute John McEvoy
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    Jul 12th 2025, 11:49 AM

    Lighting bonfires for something that happened many centuries ago. If they consider themselves British then they’re living in the wrong country as this is Ireland. Besides how many of those in the 3 UK country’s actually give a fcuk about that place anyway

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    Mute JP
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    Jul 12th 2025, 10:37 AM

    Some people here seem to be unaware of the rabid triumphalism that non unionists had to endure from the ultra bigots till the Good Friday agreement. Before the “troubles” the carry on by these people towards their non unionist neighbours defied belief. Now that those times have passed a new fall guy for their “grievances” has emerged.
    The Immigrant.

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    Mute Vincent Alexander
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    Jul 12th 2025, 11:21 AM

    @JP: There were ultra bigots on both sides of the sectarian divide in the North. There were also moderates on both sides. The PIRA terror campaign only brought the bigots on both sides to the fore. The marriage ban by the Catholic Church didn’t help integration.

    28
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    Mute Joe Beirne
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    Jul 12th 2025, 12:08 PM

    @Vincent Alexander: Terror campaign?

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    Mute Scimon Harris
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    Jul 12th 2025, 1:30 PM

    @JP: we don’t care about the sons of colonists. Either integrate with the people who want to live in peace or hop back on your grandfathers boat and say hello to your king

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    Mute Patrick Wheeler
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    Jul 12th 2025, 1:38 PM

    @Vincent Alexander: try integration through education kids going to different schools based on religion is such a waste. biggest killer know to man is the poison of religion

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    Mute Nemethon
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    Jul 12th 2025, 10:08 AM

    @Fran Ken: I’ve no trouble thanks I walked out of that swamp I’m neither Catholic nor Protestant. But don’t you think yourself that neither faction in the north will ever be able to move forward they’re just stuck in the same cycle of hate blame and celebrating stupid 12th July. Of course this is just opinion.

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    Mute Alan
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    Jul 12th 2025, 11:56 AM

    @Nemethon: yes. If you could just get rid of sf and unionist equivalents. But the mutual hatred is what keeps them going. Although alliance are making progress. A sign that there is a potential future free of the old factions

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    Mute FoxyBoiiYT
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:57 AM

    Pure unashamed hatred from the Planters. I hate them back, they’re barely human ffs

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Jul 12th 2025, 10:30 AM

    @Sanjeet Chopra: Nobody is being ‘planted’. People migrate, like they’ve always migrated. The Irish have always migrated in droves, yet some Irish people, like you, have a strange sense of entitlement and resentment. It arises from fear and insecurity, fundamentally: fear of anyone that’s perceived as ‘different’.

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    Mute Jack Hayes
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    Jul 12th 2025, 1:18 PM

    @Sanjeet Chopra: You’re a racist pıg troll. That’s what I know.

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    Mute Joe Soap
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    Jul 12th 2025, 5:24 PM

    @FoxyBoiiYT: forgive them for they know not what they do .

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    Mute Joe Beirne
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    Jul 12th 2025, 11:29 AM

    @Mary BINTon: They aren’t that bright, it’s generations of inbreeding, hence eyes so close together.

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    Mute jn
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    Jul 12th 2025, 12:09 PM

    english never liked Irish never did and never will protestant is the religion of hate and devision

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    Mute Joe Soap
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    Jul 12th 2025, 5:23 PM

    @jn: RUBBISH , Wolfe Tone . Robert Emmet , napoer Tandy , Henry joy mc cracken .Sheares brothers
    Roddy mc Corley an endless list of Protestant republicans .

    15
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    Mute jn
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    Jul 12th 2025, 5:46 PM

    @Joe Soap: talking horse there Billy boy majority of those were english planters that stole large lots of lands of locals and turned against the empire several generations later when treatment of locals became slave like by late 18 hundreds and it became more difficult for those protestants to live here , but like American revolution

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    Mute jn
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    Jul 12th 2025, 5:47 PM

    @jn: bit like

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    Mute Martainn -p
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    Jul 12th 2025, 8:31 PM

    @jn: they were Scottish lowlanders

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    Mute Scimon Harris
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    Jul 12th 2025, 1:02 PM

    Where are the uk government with the thought police. If this isn’t terrorism then nothing is. Come on Starme, you are supposed to be the litigious one. You will leave a legacy of cowardice and injustice. Paint on a plane is terrorism…….burning effigies of people isn’t……. The loyalists are a stain on this island.

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    Mute john murray
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    Jul 12th 2025, 1:03 PM

    Will Michael Martin be on shortly to condemn this.

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    Mute common sense
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:24 AM

    The media is concerned when migrants and kneecap are placed on the bondfire. When Paddy is on the bondfire it is of little concern.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:33 AM

    @common sense: What ‘Paddy’ are you talking about? Does Kneecap not count as ‘Paddy’?

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:52 AM

    @Tarquin Donovan: Why don’t you run along and be Mary Linton for a while … pretend to be a decent person?

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    Mute Brendan Greene
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:54 AM

    @Tarquin Donovan: Kneecap are Irish, though. The fact that NI is under Britush jurisdiction does’nt change that.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:56 AM

    @Tarquin Donovan: I’m certainly way above your level (like nearly everyone else). A man of your age behaving like a stunted teenager 24/7 … what a life.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:57 AM

    @Brendan Greene: He’s just a multi-account troll trying to wind people up.

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    Mute Darius Guppy
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:58 AM

    @common sense: hmmm, but are both sides not outrageously hypocritical on this matter? The Pope and other Irish politicians/ personalities have been placed on the bonfires for years, no issues of hate crime, but a boat of migrants who don’t even land in Northern Ireland, and it’s a hate crime all of a sudden. One group can be identified and the others anonymous, but the law really is showing itself to be an ass, but then so are both sides of this hypocritical debate.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Jul 12th 2025, 10:12 AM

    @Sanjeet Chopra: This from a self-confessed far-rightist who specialises in lies and racist accounts …

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    Mute damien leen
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    Jul 12th 2025, 10:16 AM

    @Tarquin Donovan: yet another geographically challenged gowl, sigh!

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    Mute Buster Lawless
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    Jul 12th 2025, 10:16 AM

    @Sanjeet Chopra: I enjoy scrolling the comments on here- ofttimes very informative and educational. I see this ” Brendan o brien’” character is obligated to comment on EVERY ARTICLE, regardless of content…… assume he/ it’s just some sad paid trolling? Never once have I seen a positive/ worthwhile contribution from this account

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    Mute SerotoninWars
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    Jul 12th 2025, 10:16 AM

    @Tarquin Donovan: For the millionth time – not that it’s even needed to confirm their Irish identity – but the GFA saw both governments, “Recognise the birthright of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish, or British, or both, as they may so choose”

    As an aside, Kneecap will undoubtedly be considering it a huge honour and completely hilarious that they’ve made the cut! It means they are firmly lodged under the skin of Bryson and co. Nothing they hate more than visible and successful signs of Irish culture flourishing on the international stage. Oh well.

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    Mute Eamonn
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    Jul 12th 2025, 10:31 AM

    @Tarquin Donovan: they have Irish passports , you clown.

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    Mute SerotoninWars
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    Jul 12th 2025, 10:33 AM

    @Tarquin Donovan: ‘You are entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts’

    You are demonstrably and provably wrong on every single level – culturally, in spirit, historically and legally. A simplistic reassertion of something that has already been shown to be wrong – with zero new evidence provided – just shows up the total lack of substance to your *feelings*. You can’t wish something to be true.

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    Mute Brian
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    Jul 12th 2025, 11:06 AM

    @Tarquin Donovan: Any one of them can run for President .. only Irish Citizens may do so. Nothing more funny than a snookered troll. Give up your auld sins Ken. You’re beyond pathetic at this stage.

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    Mute ecrowley ecrowley
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    Jul 12th 2025, 11:17 AM

    @Tarquin Donovan: would you not go out, like into the actual world. If the Journal was ever to completely get rid of the comments section, I think you’d need to be put on suicide watch.

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    Mute Niamh Fennessy
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    Jul 12th 2025, 11:29 AM

    @common sense: kneecap are paddy s

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    Mute barry williams
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    Jul 12th 2025, 11:32 AM

    @SerotoninWars: that things a wrong un full stop

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    Mute Joe Beirne
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    Jul 12th 2025, 11:32 AM

    @Tarquin Donovan: Getting owned you gimp, love it.

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    Mute barry williams
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    Jul 12th 2025, 11:33 AM

    @ecrowley ecrowley: hahaha best reply to that absolute weirdo

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    Mute Joe Beirne
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    Jul 12th 2025, 11:41 AM

    @common sense: Previous comment deleted about the planters and their eyes, yet you have weirdos on here making every comment the like about anything without censure. Don’t upset the blue noses though.

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    Mute Stephen Byrne
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    Jul 12th 2025, 2:12 PM

    @Tarquin Donovan: Do any Irish Citizens residing outside the jurisdiction of the Irish Government? If they resided within the jurisdiction would they have?

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    Mute Alan Kennedy
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    Jul 12th 2025, 10:21 AM

    How did the Coolock bonfire go? What time is their parade?

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    Mute Muriel Ryan
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    Jul 12th 2025, 11:28 AM

    334 yrs ago and their still at it !!!

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    Mute Bri Lye
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    Jul 12th 2025, 1:27 PM

    @Muriel Ryan: kneecap would support this .. free speech being exercised

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    Mute Alan Kennedy
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    Jul 12th 2025, 5:52 PM

    @Muriel Ryan: That’s a long time burning pallets!

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    Mute Jacintha Dumbrell
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    Jul 12th 2025, 12:31 PM

    But, but, but, the far-right Paytriot told me majority white countries were harmonious.

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    Mute The Rossie
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    Jul 12th 2025, 1:58 PM

    @Jacintha Dumbrell: the north is more harmonious than German public pools are . Check out the bans there . As for the bonfires , outrage today , tomorrow no one cares – just like previous years .

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    Mute Keego
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    Jul 12th 2025, 2:48 PM

    Hahaha
    Still doin bonfires every July 12
    They probably only do missionary too

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    Mute ian
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    Jul 12th 2025, 3:47 PM

    Ohhhhh sour grapes . . . Lol. . . . The lads must be doing something right. Lol

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    Mute Mark Fox
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    Jul 12th 2025, 5:02 PM

    Shows you what side of the genoside they are on.

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    Mute Joe Soap
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    Jul 12th 2025, 5:12 PM

    What an honour , looking down on Britiisns orange boat people

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    Mute JoeJoe Kilbride
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    Jul 12th 2025, 2:25 PM

    Coolock says….err, never mind

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    Mute Gareth Ebbs
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    Jul 12th 2025, 6:35 PM

    The irony is hilarious. Immigrants building effigies of immigrants

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    Mute Fran Ken
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:24 AM

    @Nemethon: You’re also struggling with that swamp. Protestants and Catholics, two sides of the same coin, sniping at each other over some ancient battle. Most sensible people have abandoned those superstitions, and for the young migrants entering the country, it has no relevance.

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    Mute Shane Cormican
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    Jul 12th 2025, 4:27 PM

    But what about the environment?

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    Mute Cormo R
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    Jul 12th 2025, 5:51 PM

    Hopefully those responsible have a horrendous end to life….

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    Mute Brian D'Arcy
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    Jul 12th 2025, 4:50 PM
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    Mute Áine F
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    Jul 12th 2025, 7:33 PM

    They thought they were being clever with that Google Translate job. Should be “Maraigh do Kneecap áitiúil,” not “Maraigh do áitiúil Kneecap” ffs.

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    Mute Tommy Roche
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    Jul 12th 2025, 10:52 AM

    Bit strange that none of our resident ‘Patriots’ have anything to say about the Irish far-right who attended that bonfire as invited guests of loyalist paramilitaries ? These ‘patriots’ watched on as tricolours were burned by people who hate the Irish, who would kill us without a moment’s hesitation. But hey, it appears they’ve come together in their common hatred of brown skinned people.

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    Mute Joe Beirne
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    Jul 12th 2025, 12:02 PM

    @Tommy Roche: They aren’t no patriots associating with them, they should be on the bonfire for treason.

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    Mute Mark Eightfourone
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:22 AM

    Should be right up Kneecap’s street so, this is the type of thing they love, sectarian crap, balaclavas, supporting terrorist groups in other countries, they can hardly complain

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    Mute Paul Norton
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:51 AM

    @Mark Eightfourone: Did they complain?

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    Mute Alan
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    Jul 12th 2025, 10:06 AM

    @Paul Norton: they didn’t. Why would they. Will help shift a few more units.

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    Mute Mark Eightfourone
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    Jul 12th 2025, 10:09 AM

    @Paul Norton: I didn’t say they complained, it’s a figure of speech yeh-know-whad-I-mean? (that was one of their ‘lyrics’ just there :)

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    Mute Joe Beirne
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    Jul 12th 2025, 11:49 AM

    @Mark Eightfourone: You’re a knob

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    Mute Daniel Roche
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    Jul 12th 2025, 12:37 PM

    @Mark Eightfourone: How are they sectarian,any proof of that,guards,the army wear balaclavas or maybe its cause they are against genocide is your problem.

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    Mute James Carolan
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:35 PM

    Ulster Unionists really are a sad bunch

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    Mute Shane Gallagher
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:20 PM

    These people are trying to keep their dark past alive. Naturally fearing an apparently inevitable United Ireland. Also trying to ignore the fact that the British empire with its imperialism and colonialism, is basically dead.

    51
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    Mute Shane Gallagher
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:29 PM

    Such actions in the republic, would not be tolerated. It would be branded, tribalism, racism. It’s double standards, again bearing its ugly head.

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    Mute Martainn -p
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:55 PM

    @Shane Gallagher: we have commemorations here in our republic that many people would find offensive . I abhor sectarian violence no matter where it comes from . We don’t have a clean sheet by any stretch .

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    Mute thomas molloy
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:24 AM

    Attention seekers on both sides of a concocted division between the Apolitical Church and the British(Henry8th) breakaway faction.

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    Mute richard gibbons
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    Jul 12th 2025, 10:52 AM

    When rats are cornered they attack! They know their time under the rocks are up and the panic is set in.

    36
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    Mute Ed Brennan
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    Jul 12th 2025, 10:43 AM

    Plastic paddies Kneecap, picking at a sectarian scab for money and “fame”, and here’s the result.
    Thev’ve brought the North back to 75.

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    Mute Keith Butler
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    Jul 12th 2025, 11:46 AM

    @Ed Brennan: they’re as Irish as anyone in the 26 counties ya cl0wn

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    Mute jn
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    Jul 12th 2025, 12:34 PM

    @Keith Butler: 32 billyboy

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    Mute Shane Gallagher
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:11 PM

    These people are trying to hang onto their dark past. Fearing an apparently inevitable United Ireland. Also trying to ignore the fact that British imperialism and colonialism is basically dead.

    17
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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jul 12th 2025, 9:45 AM

    @Nemethon: Religion is stoopy

    19
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    Mute AnthonyK
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    Jul 12th 2025, 10:22 AM

    Intolerance is everywhere and NO ONE has a monopoly on it. The left are intolerant of the right, and the right are intolerant of the left.

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    Mute thomas molloy
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    Jul 12th 2025, 5:40 PM

    @AnthonyK: At least the Sunni V Shia hasn’t started in Ireland yet.

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    Mute Sickof thisshit
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    Jul 12th 2025, 10:50 AM

    Knew cap are the same type but other side.
    Both dumc bunts.

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    Mute Niamh Fennessy
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    Jul 12th 2025, 11:30 AM

    @Sickof thisshit: yep knee cap done sick stuff like donate money to protestant needy school. Just the same

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    Mute Josef Machek
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    Jul 12th 2025, 10:30 AM

    After reunification, should the lads be allowed to march on the streets of Dublin, Cork, Galway?? They live there now anyway.

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    Mute Nodon
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    Jul 12th 2025, 2:18 PM

    Orange bigots and kneecap. They feed off each other. Burning their effigies will only help kneecap while kneecaps behavior will only swell the ranks of the orange bigots. If you think the loyalists hold a monopoly on bigotry you need only read some of the comments on here.

    11
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    Mute Donal Sweeney
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    Jul 12th 2025, 12:12 PM

    Puts GFA in perspective. Never be peace there and I mean NEVER

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    Mute Seamus O,Gallachoir
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    Jul 12th 2025, 12:44 PM

    I think this tribalism exists everywhere,in sport ,politics and business,though on a lower scale.You can often find rural towns and neighbouring counties that are pretty hostile to each other.Its humanity at work.

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    Mute David Guiney
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    Jul 12th 2025, 1:08 PM

    Sure let them at it. We all know there’ll be a United Ireland in the next few decades.

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    Mute CP
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    Jul 12th 2025, 10:05 AM

    @HisMastersAlibi: send them back on the boat their ancestors came in on

    8
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    Mute Ailbhe MacThomais
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    Jul 12th 2025, 2:24 PM

    We have a case the current Irish government doesn’t care much about Irish sovereignty, Neutrality or the Irish flag or History at the GPO but more concerned about Gazza,Palestinians, Migrants, building smaller dog box accommodation, overcrowding ,homeless, children’s hospital or Irish people in general. So burning of the Irish flag didn’t raise much comment but the dummies in the boat on a bonfire Mehole Mongrel Martin stated it was “unchristian”.

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    Mute Niall Whelan
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    Jul 12th 2025, 10:17 AM

    Let the children have their fire. Who cares.

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    Mute Ulick
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    Jul 12th 2025, 5:45 PM

    Brilliant. Unfortunately only effigies.

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    Mute K H
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    Jul 13th 2025, 1:30 PM

    A culture based on anger , bigotry , rascism and fear . They offer nothing more than that . Imagine that being the highlight of your year, every year . What empty lives they must lead .
    All Sevco fans too of course… Rangers RIP .

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    Mute AnthonyK
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    Jul 12th 2025, 1:16 PM

    @Rafa: if they stopped their “traditions” would we not also make them lose their monuments. There was a statue of King William III in College Green which was removed when the state was formed. Hardly a show of respect for another “tradition.”

    Those who celebrated the Confederate and losing side in the American Civil War lost their statues.

    The point is, your history, your “tradition” is not safe.

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    Mute Joe Beirne
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    Jul 12th 2025, 1:46 PM

    @AnthonyK: Awe boohoo, they tried to eradicate our culture, fk em

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    Mute Tordel Back
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    Jul 13th 2025, 7:02 AM

    @AnthonyK: “When the State was formed…” makes it sound like setting up a sub-committee at a Tidy Towns planning, not the end of centuries of oppression through brutal warfare. You’ll note that other edifices of colonialism still stand on College Green unolested, Trinity College and the Houses of Parliament, and that that Billy has been replaced by the leading light of the latter, Henry Grattan, a figure far more significant to the understanding the complexities of this island’s past than some Dutch inbred.

    History is a process of negotiation, if every monument to every person or event still stood in its original place you wouldn’t be able to move, or indeed see the wood for the trees.

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    Mute Iano C
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    Jul 13th 2025, 9:39 AM

    Kick the Brits out once and for all! Anyone who wants to stay has to stop all this carry on immediately. Anyone who doesn’t, bye bye!

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    Mute Del Ray
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    Jul 13th 2025, 1:29 PM

    @Iano C: So unit Ireland by kicking out half of Ulster.. At this rate I reckon at least another 100 years as two separate entities.

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    Mute Ed Brennan
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    Jul 13th 2025, 10:14 AM

    Plastic paddies get burned for their sectarian rhetoric.

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    Mute p gert
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    Jul 13th 2025, 8:44 AM

    At least they made an attempt with the cuplá focal lol.

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    Mute Martainn -p
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    Jul 12th 2025, 8:27 PM

    I am no apologist for unionist /loyalists but the irony isn’t lost on me that today there was also a republican band playing republican music an honouring men who are revered as freedom fighters by some but are viewed as terrorists by others in Belfast We can’t have it both ways . The reality is we talk and aspire to a new Ireland fit for all safe for all but the reality is we must be mindful of the beliefs values and customs of our northern neighbours , however flawed and provocative they may be . To misquote Gerry adams . “They won’t go away “

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    Mute john o connor
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    Jul 13th 2025, 12:54 AM

    Can’t wait when theres no more them and us. Just others

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    Mute Tordel Back
    Favourite Tordel Back
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    Jul 13th 2025, 6:46 AM

    Know the quality of a person by the enemies they make.

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