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Eurovision ends contract with Chinese broadcaster after it didn't show Irish entry

The performance featured two men dancing on stage.

original Ryan O’Shaughnessy celebrates after making it through to the Eurovision final this week. Armando Franca / PA Images Armando Franca / PA Images / PA Images

THE EUROPEAN BROADCASTING Union (EBU) has ended its contract with a Chinese broadcaster which failed to air Ireland’s Eurovision entry.

The semi-final performance of Together by Ryan O’Shaughnessy featured two men dancing on stage.

China, known for its censorship, banned depictions of gay people on television in 2016.

The broadcaster, Mango TV, also failed to air the Albanian entry because the artist in question had tattoos.

BBC News is reporting that rainbow flags were also blurred by Mango TV when it aired the first semi-final of the contest this week.

In a statement, the EBU confirmed that the broadcaster “censored” two performances.

This is not in line with the EBU’s values of universality and inclusivity and our proud tradition of celebrating diversity through music.

“It is with regret that we will therefore immediately be terminating our partnership with the broadcaster and they will not be permitted to broadcast the second Semi-Final or the Grand Final.”

O’Shaughnessy welcomed the decision, telling BBC Four: “From the very start we have just said love is love. It doesn’t matter whether it’s between two guys and two girls or a guy and a girl.

“I think it’s a really important decision by the EBU, they haven’t taken it lightly, and I think it’s a move in the right direction.”

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    Mute rowan hill
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    May 11th 2018, 7:32 AM

    That would be an ecumenical matter

    669
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    Mute Munsterman
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    May 11th 2018, 8:01 AM

    @rowan hill: Did the Journal not fact check this yesterday and come to the conclusion that it was false?

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    Mute Walt Jabsco
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    May 11th 2018, 8:03 AM

    @Munsterman:
    It was false because the claim was that it was Russia, not China

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    Mute GerryCummins
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    May 11th 2018, 8:04 AM

    @Munsterman: that was Russia!

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    Mute Dave Doyle
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    May 11th 2018, 8:23 AM

    @Munsterman: Fact Check on your comment. Conclusion. FALSE

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    Mute Austin Rock
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    May 11th 2018, 9:21 AM

    @Walt Jabsco: Ahh damn you mean its not the Russians!! So anyway its Gays of Europe untie and vote Ireland!! basically for a very very crap song unbelievable its actually about something

    47
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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    May 11th 2018, 9:23 AM

    @Austin Rock: isn’t that what happens no matter who wins? Just change the country name and it’s true for every year

    25
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    Mute Danny Rafferty
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    May 11th 2018, 9:54 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe: Sorry Dave, but I thought last year’s song was brilliant.
    Have I just outed myself?

    10
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    Mute Brian Deane
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    May 11th 2018, 10:14 AM

    @Munsterman: Munsterman, the journal have been doing journalchecks not factchecks now for some time now. Needless to say, they are not the same thing….

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    Mute Seriously stunned
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    May 11th 2018, 7:34 AM

    Is it possible they didn’t show it because it was rubbish?

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    Mute Dainéil Ó hÍobhair
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    May 11th 2018, 7:41 AM

    @Seriously stunned: If that were the case they wouldn’t show any of the Eurovision. It’s fairly obvious it wasn’t shown due to Chinese censorship of certain things including homosexuality.

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    Mute ktsiwot
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    May 11th 2018, 8:38 AM

    @Seriously stunned: good comment. If we had any sense we would not partake in this international embarrassment, as a contest it should be up for crimes against music.

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    Mute ℝ
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    May 11th 2018, 9:08 AM

    @ktsiwot: and yet, and yet… The TV Ratings don’t lie, people and I mean LOTS of people watch it. For lots of different reasons of course, but still it generates tons of money…

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    Mute Austin Rock
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    May 11th 2018, 9:22 AM

    @Seriously stunned: hear hear

    15
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    Mute Austin Rock
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    May 11th 2018, 9:23 AM

    @Dainéil Ó hÍobhair: True would probably eliminate a lot of the entrants

    10
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    Mute ktsiwot
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    May 11th 2018, 9:24 AM

    @ℝ: it is not for the music, me or anyone I know would not have an idea of a tune or words of a song that has won it in 20 years, I suppose it is a reality tv show, it is the outlandish and embarrassment and freq nature seem to entertain many, it is diffidently not the quality of the music.

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    Mute Denis McClean
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    May 11th 2018, 12:20 PM

    @Seriously stunned: Let’s be honest here. Aside from any artistic merit or the lack of it, the visual representation of gay guy relationship has to be the least attractive to the majority of people (95% Ish) Fair play to the lads for their production and they are more than capable of representing Ireland, it’ just that the song isn’t.

    10
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    Mute Ollie Watson
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    May 11th 2018, 8:10 AM

    Let’s be honest we wouldn’t have got through without that dancing. Brilliant PR stunt

    187
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    Mute Shane Fleming
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    May 11th 2018, 9:52 AM

    @Ollie Watson: Just like the chicken dance too! It’s not just the song on its own anymore

    26
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    Mute OCallaghan TP
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    May 11th 2018, 10:46 AM

    @Ollie Watson: it was absolute rubbish ..

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    Mute P.J. Nolan
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    May 11th 2018, 8:02 AM

    The more fuss about the dancers the better for Saturday, people always say you need a gimmick

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    Mute Pauliebhoy
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    May 11th 2018, 7:36 AM

    No option but to Take-away their TV rights

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    Mute Drew P. Baulsach
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    May 11th 2018, 9:04 AM

    @Pauliebhoy: *lights

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    Mute Pat Dowdall
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    May 11th 2018, 7:59 AM

    The Chinese….a wonderful bunch of lads

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    Mute Todd Unctuous
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    May 12th 2018, 10:22 AM

    @Pat Dowdall: It’s actually. ”The Chinese….a great bunch of lads”

    At least get it correct!!

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    May 11th 2018, 7:45 AM

    China, the country that has way too many men because of a one child poxy policy that has killed thousands of female babies and left these poor men alone. Great job China! Why should anyone be happy eh?

    162
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    Mute Paul Delahunty
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    May 11th 2018, 8:03 AM

    @Deborah Behan: A) What has this got to do with the Eurovision? B) Without the one-child policy it’s estimated that there would be over 300 million more Chinese in the world right now (with 7% of the world’s arable land). Prior to the introduction of the one-child policy, the Chinese population had DOUBLED in 30 years. Perhaps the one-child policy seems drastic to a more coddled audience, but it’s clear that something had to be done to curb the population growth. What do you think would have been a better alternative?

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    Mute Jonathan Nolan
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    May 11th 2018, 8:15 AM

    @Paul Delahunty: what does all that have to do with the Eurovision?

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    Mute Darren Sheridan
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    May 11th 2018, 8:46 AM

    @Inny Ginny: fool.

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    Mute Tœ Frøzën
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    May 11th 2018, 8:57 AM

    @Inny Ginny: What about the ill in adoptable/unprofitable babies in Tuam that the nuns left to die on the table and dumped the bodies in a septic tank?

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    Mute Austin Rock
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    May 11th 2018, 9:26 AM

    @Deborah Behan: I am not sure that song contest would make anyone happy – Eastern Europe maybe, this is all we can talk about because the songs are muc

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    Mute David Saunders
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    May 11th 2018, 10:55 AM

    @Paul Delahunty: contraception

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    Mute Jindrich Marz
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    May 11th 2018, 11:40 AM

    @David Saunders: Was not affordable for China at the time. It costs money and is covered by the patent laws.

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    Mute Paul Delahunty
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    May 11th 2018, 1:20 PM

    @Jonathan Nolan: Ask Deborah, she brought up the one child policy.

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    Mute Paul Delahunty
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    May 11th 2018, 1:21 PM

    @David Saunders: Yep, contraception was promoted as part of the one child policy. Not always available though, in such a vast and underdeveloped country.

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    Mute matthew o reilly
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    May 11th 2018, 5:37 PM

    @Deborah Behan: do Chinese women not have the right to choose what foetus they want .hypocrisy @ it’s best.
    Trust Chinese women

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    Mute John Bart
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    May 11th 2018, 7:56 AM

    The Chinese lost all credibility when they refused to ban Dustin the turkeys contribution.

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    Mute Mike Walshe
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    May 11th 2018, 8:05 AM

    Seriously. Who gives a toss about Eurovision? Well done the Chinese. Next up. The Healy-Raes?

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    Mute Dave Walsh
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    May 11th 2018, 7:47 AM

    If they wanted to ban it they should,its a free country isn’t it,O wait its not..

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    Mute Peter Denham
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    May 11th 2018, 8:29 AM

    Such a cynical use of homosexuality by Ireland.

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    Mute Ian Walsh
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    May 11th 2018, 10:31 AM

    @Peter Denham: Oh fk off.

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    Mute Paul Whitehead
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    May 11th 2018, 12:03 PM

    @Peter Denham: feck off and get your heels on!!

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    Mute Hop Lite
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    May 11th 2018, 9:36 AM

    You know we live in strange times when supposedly liberal and free Europe is scolding the totalitarian Chinese for refusing to subject themselves to a revolutionary re-education message!

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    Mute dar
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    May 11th 2018, 8:10 AM

    Close call for the Chinese, any chance of ending our contract?

    58
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    Mute Frank McGlynn
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    May 11th 2018, 10:55 AM

    Lucky Chinese television viewers. Hopefully the TV station will show something worth watching in place of this drivel.

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    Mute Alex Carroll
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    May 11th 2018, 8:02 AM

    Don t know if this is take or NOT. Yesterday it was Russia. Years ago Cliff Richards was supposed to be nearly thrown out for misbehaving in the showers. That was fake as well.

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    Mute John Bart
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    May 11th 2018, 8:08 AM

    @Alex what was he doing in the showers?

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    Mute OCallaghan TP
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    May 11th 2018, 10:50 AM

    @Alex Carroll: are you sure !!

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    Mute Timmy O'Sea
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    May 11th 2018, 5:14 PM

    Finally, a TV station, regardless of where it is, stands up for traditional home values

    18
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    Mute HelloGoogleTracking..
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    May 11th 2018, 11:52 AM

    Identity politics gone mad – now a tv show isnt just a TV show – it has to be a vehicle for ideological dogma…….

    Decouple politics from entertainment

    28
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    Mute Laura
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    May 11th 2018, 2:38 PM

    @HelloGoogleTracking..: Gays??? At Eurovision?? What will they think of next??

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    Mute J. Reid
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    May 11th 2018, 2:44 PM

    Fair play to the Chinese. Even though they are communists, they still seem to have more taste than us (which wouldn’t be hard).

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    Mute John Rownano
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    May 11th 2018, 8:34 AM

    The Gay gimmick is the only thing that makes this elevator music rise above the other crap

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    Mute OCallaghan TP
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    May 11th 2018, 10:42 AM

    Jeasus… we just got through..and may not go any further.. so what if China didn’t show it. Or Russia.. it’s not going to make the slightest bit of difference.. if on the off chance Ireland won.. RTE would sh it themselves.. how will this be financed !! Increase the already pointless licence even more .. get a grip !!

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    May 11th 2018, 8:31 AM

    I heard a whisper that it was China.

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    Mute John Mc Donagh
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    May 11th 2018, 11:12 AM

    Oh dear , the poor Chinese —they must feel soooo deprived!

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    Mute Johnny Mason
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    May 11th 2018, 8:02 AM

    Jealously will get you no where China !

    17
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    Mute Bobby Byrne
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    May 11th 2018, 11:14 AM

    @Johnny Mason: Jealous of eurovision?

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    Mute Johnny Mason
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    May 11th 2018, 11:44 AM

    @JosephStalin18: our great talented Irish singers from all walks of life of coarse

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    Mute brian
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    May 11th 2018, 8:38 PM

    @Johnny Mason:
    “ of coarse” sums it up!

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    Mute Kevin Slater
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    May 11th 2018, 11:06 AM

    A great bunch of lads

    10
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    Mute Tee Carr
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    May 11th 2018, 12:59 PM

    Oh, please. Eurovision is just a bit of fun… nothing to get serious or bent out of shape about, at all!! Relax and either enjoy it or turn it off!

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    Mute Danny Murtagh
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    May 11th 2018, 10:21 AM

    The Chinese should love the gays, with there one child policy, 2 men can’t breed

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    Mute AlanSherry
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    May 11th 2018, 11:34 AM

    Is it a false impression that China and the middle east gets off lightly compared to Russia ?

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    Mute Tess Cullen
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    May 11th 2018, 10:54 PM

    On route my friends …..come in Ireland!!

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    Mute Paul McMahon
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    May 12th 2018, 8:25 PM

    Good, glad to hear it.

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