EVERY SATURDAY MORNING we take a look at all the best comments left on the site by our readers over the past seven days.
This week there was a lot of talk about Mairia Cahill, grief and wearing poppies.
The 5 most popular comments this week
1. Eugene Walsh got 1,474 likes for this advice:
Turn on your dipped headlights all day every day, any weather There’s a good chance they’ll save you a crash or two in your lifetime of driving
2. Ben Dawkins had this to say after an Irish pub in England refused entry to people wearing poppies for Remembrance Sunday:
If they are anti British then trading in Luton is slightly hypocritical.
Some 1,268 of you approved.
3. JIMINYJELIKERS got 1,251 green thumbs for this comment under a story about a man who was shot in Dublin while walking his dog:
Is the dog ok.
4. Some 1,095 of you liked Kevin Mc Garry‘s comment under a story about a woman who tricked another woman into believing she was a man by making her wear a blindfold when they spent time together:
Watching tv while wearing a blindfold. How does that work?
5. John Fergus got 975 likes for this comment, after it emerged the DPP decided to not take action against journalist Brenda Power over an article which she wrote about violence in the Traveller community:
pavee point would be well advised to shut the f### up on the matter. if people are not allowed to openly discuss problem in society for fear of offending some people then those issues will never get addressed.
they are right its a victory for free speech and common sense
The top 5 articles which received the most comments this week
1. Mairia Cahill ‘deeply regrets and is deeply sorry’ for dissident involvement (278 comments)
2. Joan Burton lashes ‘online warriors’ as Mairia Cahill becomes a Labour senator (273 comments)
3. Watch ‘a bunch of whimpering babies’ shout and roar in the Dáil (259 comments)
4. Poll: Would you wear a poppy? (247 comments)
5. Church needs to ditch discredited Old Testament views – McAleese (227 comments)
Standout comments
Our Last Rites series on death and bereavement struck a chord with a lot of readers – with many of you telling your own experiences of loss.
Here’s a selection of your stories:
I lost my beautiful twin sister to cancer in April of this year and I totally understand how you are feeling. Cancer sucks no doubt about it, she was only 53 and left a husband and two daughters 14 and 18 years old. When I think of her I totally lose my breath and cry.
Over 16 months later it doesn’t get better but reading this article I know now I’m not alone. Thank you for sharing.
Having had a similar experience in life over 15 months starting in March 2011 I can identify with a lot of what this author writes. Death is something nobody wants to have experience of dealing with, and grief never goes away. Some days are better than most,and days that aren’t birthdays/anniversary dates can hit harder than the ones that are expected to. In about 5 months time I’ll be getting married and I have moments almost every day where I don’t know how I’m going to cope with 3 hugely important people being there that would make the day more enjoyable than words could describe. Really hope the author can keep on dealing with their losses in a strong positive way going forward. Fair play for writing this and it was worth the read from start to finish
My mother died suddenly in 1989 when I was 12. Upon hearing the news, I made myself cry because that’s what I thought I should do. In reality, I was in shock and the tears didn’t come naturally for that very reason. If you’ve been lucky enough never to have experienced a close bereavement, you would be forgiven for thinking that when the time comes, that’s what you’ll do. Because we all have a pre-conceived idea of how it will affect us. The truth is, there is no right or wrong way to grieve. And every death affects you differently, as I found out when dad died from cancer in 2003. Even though it was expected, it hit me like a brick and I ran out of the room as my brother whispered the Our Father in his ear as he left us. I sobbed like a baby in the hospital corridor and those tears came naturally. And just 11 months later, that same brother went to sleep one night and never woke up. Apart from the tears I felt angry. Angry at random people on the Dart who got to carry on living while my brother’s life had ended at the age of 37. Three close deaths, three very different grieving processes. When it happens, be kind to yourself, don’t expect to feel a certain way, let it happen. And if it gets too much, share it.
I lost my Mam in March 2014, after a long illness. She and I didn’t always get along when I was much younger and I did many things that disappointed her. However we always loved each other and became quite close over the past couple of decades.
I’m still trying to come to terms with her death and miss her terribly. I have not been the same since she died and I don’t think I ever will be again
Under a story about things that happen at an Irish funeral Sharon Kelly noted:
My brother passed away last year and we had his wake at home. I have never experienced anything like it. Even though it was the worst time it was overwhelming how many people from the local community arrived and brought food etc they were so good to us….around 20 of his friends stayed with him the night before the funeral telling stories and it really was a special night through all the tears we laughed at the antics my brother had got up to.
Thanks for sharing, and for your kind messages.
A lot of people were touched by the story of a driver who stopped his bus to get a winter coat for a homeless man. The piece led Niall O’ Sullivan to tell this story:
I came across a tweet from a guy in Dublin 2 days ago saying he was coming home on the bus when the bus driver stopped the bus and walked an elderly male passenger up to his front door. Spontaneous round of applause when the bus driver goit back in the bus.
Faith in humanity restored.
On a post about when it’s okay to start celebrating Christmas, Sharon Reid wrote:
Life is doom and gloom enough without people begrudging those who enjoy the Christmas season – I love Christmas it’s my favourite time of year as it’s when we make time specifically to spend with family no excuses no rearranging all the kids get to enjoy things like ice staking Santa visits writing letters I just love it all and been due my second baby on the 22nd of December Christmas will come around in no time – I welcome the “early” decorations and shops displaying Christmas items I’ve got only one pay day before the Christmas break and I like to shop around for best prices it’s been practical.
During the week, Enda Kenny celebrated 40 years as a TD. To mark the Taoiseach’s milestone we compiled 40 photos of him pointing at things, as you do.
Richard Lippy Collins has this to say:
That was incredibly enjoyable but I have absolutely no idea why.
The images are a little bit hypnotic but, mainly, pointless.
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