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TheJournal.ie to launch paywall for comments section

Comment is not free.

THEJOURNAL.IE IS TODAY delighted to announce an exciting new era for its valued users: our comments section is going behind a paywall.

The comments paywall – or ‘saywall’ – will kick in from midnight on 31 April.

While our above-the-line offering of cracking news and analysis will remain free to view, we believe that those with an(y) opinion to express are willing to put a modest price on being part of Ireland’s most colourful commenting community.

Features will allow users to access:

  • Three membership levels
  • Free comments
  • Viewpoints® to get discounts
  • Premium 24-hour tech support

The ‘leaky’ saywall

Our metered, or ‘leaky’, saywall will allow all users to comment up to ten times a week on their device of choice. This allows all of our users to remain a vibrant part of our comments section.

Each of these comments will, however, appear in Comic Sans font and must be selected from a random, but pre-approved, list available on TheJournal.ie Comment Generator™

Sample comments include:

And this is news how?
I’ll tell you where there’s a donkey sanctuary. The biggest donkey sanctuary in Ireland is on Merrion Street.
Didn’t read the story but your headline is totally wrong.
Denis O’Brien ate my homework.
Another gay article. Tpcl jrnl.
I don’t care. I’m not paying for it twice.

Note: users attempting to breach the 10-comment limit through social media or search links will have the comments section hidden from their device for a week.

Membership levels

‘Power commenters’ who wish to have even more say on  TheJournal.ie will have the option of signing up to one of three fantastic membership levels – bronze, silver and gold.

A sample Gold and Bold membership card

Check out the advantages of each one:

Bronze Broadcast

  • up to 40 FREE comments a week, only 20 of which must be selected from TheJournal.ie Comment Generator™
  • ability to comment on the activities of Oireachtas members, up to junior ministry level; and on weather articles but only up to yellow-status alert
  • delivery of our free ‘Comments of the Day’ email shot (although only silver- and gold-level members are eligible for inclusion in these awards)

Speculation Silver 

  • up to 80 FREE comments a week
  • ability to comment on the activities of Oireachtas members, up to senior ministry level and senators who have held their seat for over a decade without challenge
  • option to ‘collapse’ comment reply threads which threaten to hijack their original comment

Gold and Bold 

  • UNLIMITED commenting
  • option to delete comments from users with whom they fundamentally disagree/have an aesthetically-unappealing profile picture 
  • tech support to help ‘bling’ up your commenting profile with a selection of hilarious gifs and emojis appropriate for every sentiment
  • access to TheJournal.ie’s citizen journalist arrest scheme where white-collar crime and erratic drivers may be reported directly to the DPP
  • free quarterly entry to TheJournal.ie’s daily news meeting and full control of the 9 at 9 and morning poll topic for that day

And there’s more!

Particularly active commenters who build up 1,200 Viewpoints® points a month through their TheJournal.ie memberships will be eligible for a Viewpoints® loyalty card.

Your Viewpoints® loyalty card entitles you to discounts in retailers across the country.  Not only will you be able to get money off from your shopping and gift purchases, you’ll also gain access to exclusive TheJournal.ie Commenter Rooms, opening in big-name clubs across the country shortly, where you can mingle and chat with like-minded commenters.

Where do I sign up – and how much will it cost me?

Fees for the new membership structure are as follows*:

Broadcast Bronze – €10 per month or 200 Viewpoints®

Silver Speculation – €20 per month or 400 Viewpoints®

Gold and Bold - €50 per month or 1,000 Viewpoints®

*Cash purchasers will need to provide TheJournal.ie with their PPS number, bank account IBAN and BIC details, mother’s maiden name and [Inter/Junior/Group/Leaving] Cert points total [delete where applicable].

How can I earn Viewpoints®?

There are a number of different ways in which TheJournal.ie comments members may rack up Viewpoints®, including:

- Take part in our Pseudonym Amnesty which happens on the first Friday of every month. Agree to sign in with your real name, verified by passport/driving licence/Xtravision card, and earn 300 Viewpoints®

- Sign up with any of our partner brands and earn 45 Viewpoints® per sponsored comment. Example: “This story got me so worked up, I had to cool down with an icy can of Lilt.”

- Earn 20 Viewpoints® for every comment you have included in our daily ’Comments of the Day’ email round-up. The Comment of the Year [applicable to Gold and Bold members only] will earn a bonus 2,000 Viewpoints®, be voiced by ‘Taken’ star Liam Neeson, broadcast on all of our social media channels on New Year’s Eve and made available as an exclusive ringtone for your smartphone.

TheJournal.ie team is looking forward excitedly to a new era in commentary. By participating in our saywall, you are helping us to continue bringing you journalism, information and quality political gifs free of charge.

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.

View 140 comments
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140 Comments
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    Mute Terry Cahill
    Favourite Terry Cahill
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    Jan 7th 2020, 10:50 AM

    It’s great to see the old Irish pastime of knocking anyone of us who succeeds. Begrudgery , Jealousy ,Spite … whatever it is ,its traditional . The first 4 comments on this article .. not complimentary at all.. sneering is another tradition. How about well done ladies !

    206
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    Mute Nollaig Elliot
    Favourite Nollaig Elliot
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    Jan 7th 2020, 11:42 AM

    @Terry Cahill:

    Compliments, on here? You’re off your head mate!

    36
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    Mute C.C. Baxter
    Favourite C.C. Baxter
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    Jan 7th 2020, 12:25 PM

    @Terry Cahill: I’m sure, as talented, rich, acclaimed and beautiful young woman, it will be heartbreaking to have (mostly) anonymous men on here criticizing her as they set world alight with their achievements … especially the lad who paid into her hugely successful film, and left after half an hour, that’s going to really cut deep…..

    38
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    Mute Nollaig Elliot
    Favourite Nollaig Elliot
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    Jan 7th 2020, 2:02 PM

    @C.C. Baxter:

    Lol

    3
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    Mute Ed
    Favourite Ed
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    Jan 7th 2020, 9:20 AM

    Does she still do the whole “I’m Saoirse and Americans don’t know how to say my name” thing?

    165
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    Mute Damien Barton
    Favourite Damien Barton
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    Jan 7th 2020, 9:28 AM

    @Ed: oh god ya old tubs loves haven her on the show too there such good fun the two of them together hehehe

    73
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    Mute Victor Feldman
    Favourite Victor Feldman
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    Jan 7th 2020, 12:08 PM

    @Ed: I found her alongside little women.. Really uninteresting!.. I left after thirty minutes.. It took me a year to be able pronounce her name.. People have lives. The Irish language is way down their list of priorities!! Shore- sha

    19
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    Mute Conoroconnor
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    Jan 7th 2020, 12:38 PM

    @Ed: I cant understand this online trend of middle aged men having a problem with young successful women and here we go again.

    39
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    Mute Manbackonboard
    Favourite Manbackonboard
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    Jan 7th 2020, 12:59 PM

    @Conoroconnor: I agree with you even though I’m heading for 50 myself. It’s becoming so predictable.

    16
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    Mute jamesdecay
    Favourite jamesdecay
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    Jan 7th 2020, 1:17 PM

    @Manbackonboard: I think it’s classic overcompensation

    9
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    Mute Orpuk Jones
    Favourite Orpuk Jones
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    Jan 7th 2020, 1:30 PM

    @Ed: she gets asked about it in every interview. It must be pretty annoying for her, especially considering she’s been nominated for three Oscars.

    12
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    Mute Ger
    Favourite Ger
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    Jan 7th 2020, 9:53 AM

    I want to like Saoirse Ronan. I mean she’s one of us and is doing well. But my god she wrecks my head. Her voice goes through me. Good actress but up there with Bono, Ronan Keating and the Healy Raes with people that should never talk.

    183
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    Mute The Quare Fella
    Favourite The Quare Fella
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    Jan 7th 2020, 10:02 AM

    @Ger:
    Along with Bob “give us your fooking money” Geldof.

    122
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    Mute Still-Not-News
    Favourite Still-Not-News
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    Jan 7th 2020, 11:57 AM

    @Ger:One of us, Saoirse Ronan was born in the Bronx NYC

    23
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    Mute Victor Feldman
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    Jan 7th 2020, 12:11 PM

    @Still-Not-News: as a baby to Irish parents. Moved back when three..

    28
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    Mute Ger
    Favourite Ger
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    Jan 7th 2020, 12:13 PM

    @Still-Not-News: ah Jesus was born in a stable, but that doesnt make him a horse

    50
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    Mute jamesdecay
    Favourite jamesdecay
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    Jan 7th 2020, 1:20 PM

    @Ger: not much call for the old silent movie these days in fairness. What’s your poison? Die Hard?

    4
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    Mute Ger
    Favourite Ger
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    Jan 7th 2020, 3:40 PM

    @jamesdecay: not mad about the Die Hard movies. Just been to see Jojo Rabbit. One of the best movies I’ve seen in years.

    6
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    Mute jamesdecay
    Favourite jamesdecay
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    Jan 7th 2020, 4:23 PM

    @Ger: I’ll give it a lash. But 1917 up first.

    4
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    Mute Ger
    Favourite Ger
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    Jan 7th 2020, 4:38 PM

    @jamesdecay: yes! Looking forward to seeing that at the weekend

    5
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    Mute Cowboy Paddy
    Favourite Cowboy Paddy
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    Jan 7th 2020, 5:10 PM

    @Ger:
    So you kind of have a problem with Irish People being successful.

    It is going to happen, the whole world can’t have taste as good as yours…

    Bu lets look at the brightside…. Saoirse isn’t Kim Kardashian, Bono isn’t Axel Rose, Ronan isn’t Ted Nugent and the Healy Raes aren’t the Trumps….

    Now they all look lovely…

    6
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    Mute Ger
    Favourite Ger
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    Jan 7th 2020, 11:49 PM

    @Cowboy Paddy: Did you even read my comment? Remove the chip from your shoulder, im happy for her for her success and proud she’s Irish. U2 are my favourite band but that doesnt mean I want to listen to Bono’s self-indulgent drivel or a girl from Carlow speaking with a fake Dublin accent to make her sound edgy or something. Her accent has completely changed since she started as and actress. The Healy Raes are idiots who belong in a remake of Derby O’Gill and the Little People and have as little grasp on reality as two other families you mentioned, Trumps and Kardashians. I never said my taste was the best, just mine

    3
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    Mute SkepticalHippoEyes
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    Jan 7th 2020, 11:28 AM

    Award shows are vile self-congratulating cringe fests. The fake concern for social issues is sickening – the ultimate stage for virtue signalling.

    91
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    Mute Seaniecp
    Favourite Seaniecp
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    Jan 7th 2020, 11:55 AM

    @SkepticalHippoEyes: dont worry. Rocky gervais covered that excellently.

    62
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    Mute jacquoranda
    Favourite jacquoranda
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    Jan 7th 2020, 11:22 AM

    Still waiting for the “Prison Population Criticised Due to Lack of Diversity: too Pale, Male & Stale” article.

    69
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    Mute sam
    Favourite sam
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    Jan 7th 2020, 10:48 AM

    Saoirse ronan what a women

    48
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    Mute alan
    Favourite alan
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    Jan 7th 2020, 11:39 AM

    @sam: lightweight. So dull. Little women like some American afternoon tv costume drama. The fact that is nominated for awards shows the power of advertising/social media and a world of critics who simply endorse what they are told to or whatever will bring them into closer contact with industry movers and shakers. Hardly the film that we will all be remembering in 20 yrs time.

    39
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    Mute Victor Feldman
    Favourite Victor Feldman
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    Jan 7th 2020, 12:13 PM

    @alan: I left after thirty minutes suffering with boredom.. Its a girls film!

    20
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    Mute Sal Paradise
    Favourite Sal Paradise
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    Jan 7th 2020, 1:00 PM

    @Victor Feldman: It can’t be more boring than The Irishman??

    8
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    Mute Ferg
    Favourite Ferg
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    Jan 7th 2020, 9:58 AM

    BARF Ta

    35
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    Mute Margaret O Neill
    Favourite Margaret O Neill
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    Jan 7th 2020, 9:33 AM

    Anyone watching the awards? Did you see Angelina Jolie. She was sitting well have lying on someone beside her. Directly behind Brad Pitt. She looked dreadful. Really ill.

    28
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    Mute Fergus O'Connor
    Favourite Fergus O'Connor
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    Jan 7th 2020, 9:53 AM

    @Margaret O Neill: Which awards was this?

    10
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    Mute Tricia G
    Favourite Tricia G
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    Jan 7th 2020, 10:14 AM

    @Margaret O Neill: This is a bizarre comment on an article about successful female Irish actors.

    How exactly is any of this relevant?

    52
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    Mute Seamus O'Keeffe
    Favourite Seamus O'Keeffe
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    Jan 7th 2020, 10:42 AM

    @Tricia G: Mmm let me see…acting… awards… Nah, sorry I don’t have anything.

    32
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    Mute Jake Kelly
    Favourite Jake Kelly
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    Jan 7th 2020, 2:58 PM

    You know you’ve made it as an Irish person having success on a global stage when your own lot turn on you. It’s a uniquely Irish way of acknowledging fame

    17
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    Mute Barry Doyle
    Favourite Barry Doyle
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    Jan 7th 2020, 12:06 PM

    Seriously, let’s exclusively award disabled, ethnic minority women. At least then there’ll be no more of this rubbish.

    44
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    Mute Power Hitters
    Favourite Power Hitters
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    Jan 7th 2020, 4:03 PM

    “Not enough diversity” is such a funny way to say “not enough people with largely non-European genetics”. I guess the fact that the group is called Equity rather than Equality says it all.

    13
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    Mute SC
    Favourite SC
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    Jan 7th 2020, 5:08 PM

    @Power Hitters: 87% of Brits are qhite so if you choose 5 at random, likely all are white. And if you choose 5 successful ones, even more likely. Going to acting school will always be more of a rich kids thing because they already have security.

    7
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    Mute Gerry Ryan deG
    Favourite Gerry Ryan deG
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    Jan 7th 2020, 1:28 PM

    She’s well on her way to becoming a ‘Broadcaster’

    7
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    Mute Aileen Sheehan
    Favourite Aileen Sheehan
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    Jan 7th 2020, 10:16 PM

    Go Jessie Buckley. Sooo talented.

    7
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