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Updated 12pm
THE FUNERALS OF the victims of last week’s fire at an apartment in Clondalkin took place in St Anne’s Church in Shankill this morning.
27-year-old Annemarie O’Brien, who was seven months pregnant, died last Wednesday along with her two-year-old daughter Paris and their cousins Jordan (4) and Holly (3).
Jordan and Holly’s mother Biddy remains in a critical condition in hospital. The family had been visiting Biddy’s cousin when the fire broke out.
It is believed the fire was caused by a candle near a television.
Chief celebrant Father John O’Connor was assisted by Father O’Driscoll of the Parish of the Travelling people.
Holly and Jordan’s father Jamie Sommers, Biddy O’Brien’s husband, also attended the funerals today.
Father O’Connor told the Mass that Jamie is “deeply upset” over the loss of his two children.
“Last evening I spoke to Jamie and he told me how much Jordan and Holly loved their Mammy and how much she loved them,” said Father O’Connor.
He said their father is “happy they are together”.
“They are together, they are not alone, that is very important for Jamie. He wants his children to know that he will look after their Mammy,” the Father told the congregation.
“Many of us may feel like saying to him [God] if you had been here, Annmarie, Hannah Paris, AJ, Jordan and Holly would not have died. If you had been here Biddy wouldn’t be gravely ill. Why did you let this happen?” said Father O’Connor.
All four deceased are related to the extended Lynch family, who lost relatives in the Carrickmines tragedy in October 2015.
‘God’s strongest soldiers’
“For you as a family, this is not the first cross that you have been asked to carry, we all know that… Pope Francis says God chooses the strongest soldiers for the toughest battles and I believe these words are really applicable to you,” the priest added.
You are God’s toughest soldiers. You are not alone.
The apartment where the fire broke out was being used as short-term accommodation, where women and children can stay for up to two years.
Additional reporting Christina Finn
Dunno about the rest of the country but a Lidl & Aldi have opened up in Bray & I’d say they’ve taken a huge bite out of Tesco’s revenue.
I very very rarely shop anywhere but Lidl now. Weekly shop for 3 adults for €60, tesco or dunnes couldn’t come near it.
Hate shopping in tescos the staff are always unfriendly like you annoying them being there.would rather spend my money in Irish owned stores like super valu and dunnes
Tesco bury their Irish profits figures in the overall figures. Have been screwing us here for years, about time they took a cut in profits Ireland.
Couldn’t agree more The only thing we still buy in Tesco is coffee as no other shop sells it Rest of our shopping is between Aldi and Dealz
Yep. I avoid tesco as much as possible. My local lidl and aldi are across the road from each other. I cherry pick from them and dunnes. Box clever and save cash!
@Adam: Same thing’s happened in my town Lidl are eating Tesco’s lunch, big time
Aldi all the way for us in Sligo or Carraick on Shannon, weekly shop €56.00. Same shop in Tesco used to cost up to €80.00!
Agree that Aldi and lidl are much cheaper than Tesco’s BUT they only ever seem to have one person on the checkouts and no express checkouts, it drives me bananas!
Shoppers have to spend a few hundred quid so we are losing around €10m sales for the quarter, yeah right, we are squeezing the oxygen out of our staff more like and productivity is suffering…has anyone been in one of their stores lately? I’m sure they want to slit their wrists in that place. Besides, who wants to shop in evil Tesco.
Saw how Tesco run riot over rules and regulations in the UK, and the prices in Ireland are extortionate compared to England . Never use them here if i can possibly help it.
For example…
Onion Rings
“the prices in Ireland are extortionate compared to England”
Heinz baked beans 6 pack 415g. Ireland €4.99. Uk €3.60 (£3).
Lidl baked beans 29c a can.
Had aldi beans years ago – tasted like ketchup covered gravel.
What do you except for 29 cent? Wouldn’t even buy you a plastic bag in tesco.
Tesco own brand baked beans 29c (two weeks ago). I go between Tesco, Dunnes and Aldi. The staff in all of them are friendly in Carlow ,not that I waste any more time than I have to in them. The property tax won’t hit some peoples pockets til July so will sales go down again.
Buy Batchelors beans then (tasty and Irish)
Why would anyone pay the property Tax?
There is a legal challenge at attack the tax.com
No need to pay it at all become a share holder to the action protect yourself and future generations from the loonytunes in government!!!
Tesco is far more expensive than Aldi, Lidl, or even Dunnes. I have shopped in all of them and Tesco is substantially more expensive. Maybe if they tried to keep their prices down, rather than gorging on Ireland, so as to keep prices in Britain on par with Asda, they wouldnt be failing miserably, but such ideas are lost on that greedy company.
Tesco stores in UK: About 3000.
Tesco stores in Ireland: About 150.
You really think they’re using 150 stores here to offset low prices in 3000 stores there? Really?
Profit is the reason they are gorging on Ireland, Damocles, but undoubtedly they are using monies earned here to keep prices ridiculously low in Britain. Have you shopped in their stores in the UK? Things are ridiculously cheap, so clearly they are making money from Ireland and other ventures. I never said it was entirely based on revenues generated in Ireland, but every little helps, or so they keep saying
They are profitable in both countries.
They have lower overheads in the UK so prices there are lower.
They have higher overheads here and “price matching” so prices are higher.
And, yeah, they go for maximum profit. It’s called capitalism.
Who has challenged the basis for their greed Damocles? Of course its capitalism, but that shouldnt be a justification for overcharging people. Your logic is lazy and dismissive. Overheads dont justify the discrepancies in prices, as Aldi also have charges and costs, but are willing to settle for a different profit margin. Are they socialist Damocles? Tesco are just greedy
Aldi reduce operating costs by offering a smaller range of products, making their staff work a greater variety of roles and working them a lot harder, you know the way the checkout staff scan at great speed? They get appraised on that speed.
Tesco offer a completely different methodology. They have ranges of products, ranges of brands, staff are dealt with differently.
You’re comparing Tesco UK with Tesco Ireland, and that’s a false comparison, the UK and Ireland are not the same.
You’re then comparing a budget supermarket with a higher end supermarket, and they aren’t the same either.
Compare like with like.
A soup shop that only offers tomato soup, vegetable soup and chicken soup is going to be cheaper than a soup shop that offers 20 different varieties.
You’re getting bogged down on policy, rather than addressing my points. Yes Aldi do things differently, but thats my point. Tesco managment, based in the UK, decide how to run the business and what profit margins they require. Saying Aldi do things differently only strengthens my point Damocles.
And Aldi are Tescos competition, so they are a valid comparison. Also, Aldi offer a wide and varied range of goods, so that point was simply incorrect. I think you need to shelve your assumptions and go to your local Aldi, as you’ll be surprised and a little richer at the end of the week
I prefer Lidl to Aldi, it’s handier for me.
You’re assuming I tend towards shopping in Tesco, I don’t. But I don’t try to compare the two as like for like because that would be ridiculous. Different supermarket types cater to different customer types.
“Aldi offer a wide and varied range of goods”, but not a wide and varied range of brands.
This isn’t complicated.
Aldi & Lidl came to this market at the height of the Tiger and people in the trade laughed at them, but no one is laughing now, except the hard pressed Irish consumers who are flocking to them in increasing numbers
The penny has dropped
Incorrect Damocles. Aldi offer a wide variety of brands also, but perhaps not enough for you personally. Their is a difference.
Youre right, it isnt complicated, but making dismissive ‘its capitalism’ remarks highlight why this country is broken and rotting at its core, Damocles. We should never justify being screwed by businesses, regardless. Justifying, and rushing to defend, the perpetrators is misguided and unnecessary
Very true Gerry
OK. Maybe it is complicated.
Personally for me it’s the price of food in Tesco that I don’t go any more.
I am single and just shopping for myself Tesco was about €50-55 and that would be a week without cleaning products or toiletries but now I always use Aldi and my weekly bill is max €30.
Peoples first choice seem to be Aldi/Lidl & then Tesco for top ups. No mention of Superquinn or Dunnes.
There was a time my mother passionately shopped in Superquinn & did her best to buy Irish brands. Alas now she’s an Aldi shopper on occasion popping down to Superquinn’s butcher for a bit of meat.
Sad times but that’s what this depression and these austerity policies have inflicted upon us.
I will shop wherever is convenient except Tesco, I will only use Tesco when there is no alternative! Their fresh food is tasteless! Aldi and Lidl bother me the way they have one/two people serving at peak times and the queues are up the aisles!
Aldi and Lidl stock Irish brands and products. Dunnes is overpriced and poor quality and Superquinn is ridiculously priced, pretentious and vastly overrated. Gimme Lidl Pork and Spring Onion sausages over Superquinn anyday.
Ye Ted I gotta agree with you there some self machines would be a nice addition. No baskets either just trolleys.
On another note I’ve heard good reports from staff members though they’re on a decent rate for retail.
Self service would be great in lidl especially when you’re only getting a handful of things.
They got baskets in lidl beside me last week so maybe soon will be rolling them out to all stores!!
Have you been in a Superquinn lately? The brands and choices are very similar to SuperValu (part of the same group) and comparable to Dunnes.
They are no longer pretentious, IMHO.
And you don’t feel like you are boarding a RyanAir flight at the checkout.
No, they roll the trolleys out, the baskets have to be carried.
^^cringe!!
I used to do that too and one day it occurred to me that what difference does it make to me where I shop is the most important thing to consider. Tesco , dunes , Lidle they all employ people in Ireland, they all stock Irish. I buy what is good value and good quality where it is most convenient to me.
Makes no difference to me the shareholders are Irish English German
@Adam.
Good morning, just wondering are you trying to imply that German companies are gaining the upper hand in the food retail sector because of austerity?
It is sad to see the likes of dunnes losing out to these German giants who only employ maybe 6 to 10 people per store, compared to a similar sized dunnes stores who would maybe employ 60.
But these are tough times I know,
But i always shop in Aldi, Lidl for everything as it means I have more money in my pocket.
I know this is damaging to the employees of dunnes, but in this crisis we need to be smart to pull through.
I’ll have to try them sausies Alan. Cheers.
Many of the Irish products on sale in Lidl and Aldi are actually Northern Irish i.e. UK, so don’t actually go to support Irish jobs.
They also have lovely beef and black pepper ones.
I use superquinn for top ups, they tend to have decent offers now and then
Also superscan means I can be in and out much faster then any other supermarket, even on the likes of the 24th Dec :-)
You should be buying in irish shops who have irish people working in it how many irish people do you see work in the likes of aldi and lidl support your own
I assume the people who work in Aldi live in Ireland.
but not from ireland. Support your own
@Bill yep.
Lidl & Aldi are companies that are recession proof, they strive in this economic climate. You can see that just by looking at the comments on this article. Everyone that has switched supermarkets is making a strong saving with the German giants.
Although I’m sure we can all say that we’d prefer to shop in an Irish owned company the economic times of today are pushing us toward the more money friendly stores.
@Clayton although your comment is clearly a troll attempt I’d guess that in the Lidl in Bray they have 1-2 foreign workers whilst the rest are Irish.
In Aldi, although Ive only been in it once, was around the same from my first impression.
no adam i aint trolling every lidl and aldi iv been in in dublin iv never come across any irish workers i just think that the majority of workers should be irish do you not think yourself support your own little local stores as much as we can people
Yeah like River Rock water which seems to be everywhere. Where are Ballygowan, Tipperary etc?? So bad.
yes Graham these foreign products are taking over ours its not on us irish people and irish companies are losing out we cant let this happen people check your products to see where they are from only buy irish please
Totally agree. I always check :) All these retailers stocking only River Rock water get on my wick. Where else in the world do you find foreign bottled water as standard?! Even in Dubai they predominantly sell their own domestic brands and they’re a desert ffs!
Clayton were you anywhere in the vicinity of the Anglo HQ last night?
My local lidl employs 3 Irish staff and 5 others. They all work hard, pay tax and are extremely friendly. What is your problem with that?
good man graham your the sort of people we need. and alan what are you trying to say about the anglo HQ. what i was saying we should have more irish people working in these shops then foreign what is your problem
clayton your a sad man you just want your voice herd just a racist thats all
Why?
clayton your a sad man you just wont your stupid racist voice herd
alan cause this is ireland thats why support your own. and charles screw you im a patriot to ireland
So should Dunnes sack all of their foreign staff, by your logic?
alan can you read proper i said that the majority of the people should be irish at least then most of the money will stay in this country and not to foreign ones jesus do you not want to see this country do well support your people and country
Ahhh selectively racist I see
im racist cause i want us and our country to do well you would have been no use to us in 1916 thats for sure
Ahhh an armchair patriot I see. Your attitude is insulting to those men and women who gave their lives for freedom. You are an embarrassment to this country sir.
no no armchair patriot how am i an embarrassment im the one here picking up for us irish people were the embarrassment mate you dont deserve to call yourself irish
ment to say your the embarrassment
Your obvious lack of education(re grammar, punctuation) betrays your admirable stance on immigration however that is masked by thinly veiled racist undertones that appear to suggest your true xenophobic intentions.
To be “smart to pull through” we need to get rid of this government of austerity. Their policies have devastated this country and things will not get better – only worse, much worse, as long as the clueless clowns Kenny & Gilmore’s Vichy government let the foreign Troika invaders make all their decisions
Aldi only put Irish flag symbol on ROI products. NI products are indicated. 50% of their food products are from the Republic including all fresh meat. Unlike Marks and Spencers, who put the shamrock on all their Irish products, most of which are from the Republic, not even the milk.
*not from Republic
Maybe now the government might scrap the property tax , we can’t have huge company’s like Tesco having dips in their profits .
Jeebus just think they might leave Ireland like other MNC……/Sarc
Any one know if they pay corporate tax at the 12% rate or can they move the profits off shore like the American multinationals?
Yes they will pay CT at a rate of 12.5% on trade profits. They pay the same rate of CT as every other incorporated trading company. Highly unlikely that “they move the profits off shore like the American multinationals” – as the issue there regards intellectual property and licencing rights relating to intangible software. Same cant be done with a pack of Viscounts.
I shop in aldi and then go to tesco for lactose free stuff. If aldi did lactose free id never need tesco!
Lidl have started stocking some lactose free and gluten free products
Great thanks
So have Aldi, seen it two days ago, Tescos gluten range is so expensive
Lactose free in aldi? Im not talking soya milk. Its cows milk without the lactose.
Try Supervalu, they do a great range in gluten/egg/dairy free products, possibly also lactose free.
I always go to Aldi but they don’t have the hair product I use so a few weeks ago after I finished my shopping in aldi I popped over to tescos to buy some shampoo/conditioner. The shelves had three for two offers displayed all over them so I thought I’d get a great deal. The sneaky feckers only had the large sizes available to buy and the price was crazy. It was going to cost me €14.00!! I normally pay €7.00 at most for both. I left it there and went to the local pharmacy and got what I wanted for just under €7.00.
They put up all these yellow stickers advertising these brilliant offers but they’re not giving you anything at all. It’s Aldi all the way for me!
they never give anything it’s always the supplier that takes the hit on 2 for 1 offers.
I’ve also noticed a few times that they haven’t taken the money off on deals advertised I’ve had to go bac after them … Imagine how many people dot notice slyy fckrs
Of course it wouldn’t have anything to do with their terrible value for money and inferior quality of fresh meat, fruit and veg compared to other supermarkets.
How much profit does Tesco generate/export from Ireland?
That’s the great unknown…
A lot !
My sister worked in Tesco in Parnell St some time back. She was telling me when they did a big price reduction campaign they reduced the prices of those advertised. However, they added up to five cent onto an awful lot more products that they hadn’t advertised.
Nedless to say I’ve never been in a Tesco store since. Shnakey basturds !
Yep, I don’t trust Tesco. Very strange they can’t be up front with their Irish profit figures…
I hate those bloody self service tills.
“Unexpected item in bagging area”
Not any more Tesco.
You would think Tesco would at least have a voice with an Irish accent at the self service tills.
Get over it.
Try to get a job there no way if your Irish no way
A load of Horse shit, If you ask me and don’t! Aldi and Lidl, have better prices and quality by far!
Telco put their own brand of milk up 10 cents this week they are putting up every thing I’m thinking of moving to dunnes
Try Lidl or Aldi Maureen. You’ll save a fortune
Dunnes is more expensive, my parents weekly shop is there and they pay €110 for two adults, between Aldi and Lidl and a couple of bits in Dealz (Coke, Dishwasher tablets) our shopping for a family of 6 is at tops €90
All milk will go up, not just in Tesco. It will be driven by market factors.
People, already having been put to the pin of their collar by austerity policies only have x amount of money left to spend. Government raids their kitty and takes Property/Bondholder Tax. People have even less money to spend, economy suffers, jobs put at risk. But the geniuses in government – in spite of having all those highly paid “advisers” are too stupid to realize this.
Treasure Ireland huh?
Tesco for choice lidil and aldi for price.
We have Dunnes, Supervalue and Superquinn. Why shop anywhere else? Careful shopping keeps the cost down.
Shop in Lidl & Aldi cheaper and often better quality.
All I know is that theres nothin super about the value in super valu…there used to be.a rapid shop in neilstown called bargain busters, they used to take the corn flakes outta the boxes and sell them in the bags probably coz they were outta date, but at 50p a bag no one complaint.
Haha bargain busters was the business. Try Mr.Price down in Kylemore – fairly cheap brand name stuff.
I think Super-Valu has the best own-brand stuff around. I think its just a false economy shopping in Lidl or Aldi as they invariably do not stock everything you need. Anytime I go there I always end up having to go to an ‘ordinary’ supermarket afterwards to get the remaining groceries, thus burning petrol. In addition , i really hate the way you cant get a basket in Lidl.
You can get a basket in lidl.
Also what products can you not find in Lidl or Aldi?
I agree with Alan, if its not in Lidle do you really need it?
I prefer to shop in Lidle as the produce is good value/quality and I’m not overwhelmed by choice, my wife prefers Tesco we have been using Supervalue to do online shop for the last month or two.
We can make a list and check to see what we need before putting in our order on Wednesday the weeks food is delivered on Friday evening. No hours wasted shopping , hassle parking, buying stuff you already have and not buying stuff you don’t need because you saw a special offer.
Tesco advertise a low cost range as being the same price or lower than Aldi but their products are rubbish. Sugar is like dust and baking fruits like floor sweepings. Aldi quality is first class.
Its simple really, you pay a premium for buying a product thats “branded”. In Lidl/Aldi you can buy generic versions of these brands for a fraction of the price and they are usually similar if not better in quality. I do the bulk shopping in Aldi/Lidl and cherry pick from the rest of the bunch. You have to look after number one in these times.
I think tesco needs a good clean up. Food stuff out of date. Newspapers Half of the paper missing, A good clean is require
No body seems to be in charge ,try to get a manager and you could be waiting for ever I’m talking about the clear water tesco it is the worst managed shop iv ever been in
Yes, this has everything to do with the property tax and nothing at all to do with customers avoiding a shop where they’re not sure whether they’re eating a juicy cow or a juicy horse.
this
Good enough for Tesco , they have up to 35% mark up on products sold , the supplier gets about 5 % on their products . It’s all about the share holders . Greedy shower of @#%?!rs
Hate the delivery depots – treated like dirt . Can’t stand the supermarkets
I shop in tesco but I generally only but tesco brand stuff, I go to lidl for top ups during the week cause its closer even tho I love their stuff I hate walking in and being in the sweet aisle straight away, to much temptation….if they started doing baby formula I’d problem shop there more!!
+1 on the baby formula. It is currently the only thing on my weekly shop that I can’t get in Lidl.
If you suggest it to your store manager in Lidl they will try to stock it for you. They’re very good at dealing with customer feedback and will always try to accomodate you.
@Aoife
Aldi have just added SMA formula to their permanent baby range, so I’d venture that Lidl will likely make a similar move in order to keep their market share so it might be no harm to get in touch with them even fire off a mail or a tweet and ask if they will stock formula. We’re using Aptimil so SMA in Aldi isn’t much good for our little one, but I don’t mind popping to the local shop for that once a week.
On a side note to others with tiny ones, Aldi nappies are superb. I used to believe cutting corners on buying Pampers was a false economy due to quality – I was a big eejit! Tried them on a friends recommendation and haven’t bought a since pack of Pampers since. Also their non-bio liquid tabs are a fraction of the price of Fairy ones and are brilliant for stains.
@ Karen +10 on the nappies, great quality and value for money, tried them 2 years ago and never turned back. They are even great for heavy wetters
I’ll +1 on the nappies also. €10 for a box of 76, beats pampers hands down on quality. Daddy does nappies :)
On that note, it is baby week in Lidl. 2 packs of 50 nappies going for a tenner.
Ah, so it’s not because their stuff is sh*t?
The introduction of the LPT for a fall in like for like sales of 1.4%, Tesco is a pathetic excuse. Continue on without changing how you do business and your sales will fall. You are too expensive for the current Irish market. Even with Clubcard points and point of sale points offers, Lidl and Aldi are still consistently hammering you for value. And Lidl and Aldi are going from strength to strength. Change your game or this will be a game changer for you.
Cannot believe their 2 lt milk showing at €1.70 as of yesterday when i bought it. When did they sneak that one in and is it the same everywhere. An increase of 21 cent is sizeable…
Love Lidl & Aldi. Great value for money. Aldi fresh pesto & their muesli is the best ive ever tasted & half the price of other supermarkets. Only thing I’m a bit weary of is their grapes, after noticing that they last a bit too long – had forgotten about some that i bought before going on holidays. Got back 3 weeks later & they were still perfect – ok they were left in the fridge, but made me wonder what was preserving them. Other than that, love the brands!
I was in Aldi in Austria. It’s alot cheaper than Ireland.
Aldi in Germany (Berlin) offer €5 for a six pack of weiss beir……and in store they offer a giant bottle crusher which gives you .75c per empty bottle you put back in, gives you a print out voucher there and then….to buy more beer with….I was in heaven.
Ah so it’s not because their stuff is sh*t?
Maybe Tescos could also look at its pricing which is way over the current inflation rate. They have been over charging for years. Good riddance to them. Best to use Aldi & Lidl
What hate is the yo yo of there prices and false claims of discounting.
Buy Irish, always
In the states in the 60s we had food cooperatives incorporated to buy food wholesale and sell at no profit (after expenses). Very popular and innovative in that they brought different international cuisines into the market. Is there anything like that in Ireland?
Not a fan of the tax situation, that said I don’t think it the reason Tesco down in sales, their fresh food is not great and the rest is overpriced,
Tesco in Ballyfermot was empty today. Totally dead. It used to be packed. Aldi opened a shop in Ballyfermot a few months ago. I’ve been shopping there. (Apart from today)
Load of guff from tesco. Profits in the UK have dropped there as well. Just saw it on the news. That the property taxs fault as well?
As others have said, it would be easier to have some sympathy with them if they had published separate profit and loss figures for their Irish outlets in the time they’ve been in Ireland. Instead they create the impression they are garnering much bigger mark-ups on products here than in the UK by concealing the Irish business they do.
I am referring to tesco newbridge co Kildare. On Thursday there was three apple tarts for sale on a shelf with mould on them. Who do they think would buy those. No profit to be made on them. And a lot of meat and fish on a shelf. With a for sale seign to clear. Not fit for a cat or a dog. Wake up clean up your store. And then make a profit.
Tesco express even more expensive than there bigger sheds. Badly stocked too.
I hate the length of queues in tesco. After shopping in aldi, shopping in tesco gives me queue rage! Tesco staff are so slow at finding barcodes. In aldi they have huge barcodes so they can’t be missed.
really sandra barcodes really why would you even put that up as a comment that is the worse thing iv ever herd on this really sandra the size of barcodes
It’s a fact. One of the reasons why aldi staff can put the shopping through so quick is the barcode size and design.
Bigger is always better.
Plus, big barcodes make you look slimmer.
Win win win.
It will cost you in the end buying fruit and veg in the german chains.
Ever noticed a sell by date on their perishable goods?? No? Cause there is none.
Roy Foxs all the way.
Do you ever notice in Tesco before a promotion cycle, product prices are raised so when they go on promotion it looks like you are getting a good deal. Really you are being robbed
In tesco they’ve 20 different types of balsamic vinegar one of which is like €18. You really have to be careful and check all the prices or you’ll get robbed in that shop. Some great bargains to be found too to be fair.
have your say