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Hotels and conference rooms will look very different. Shutterstock/Bogoshipda

Physically distanced dancing and no menus - how a re-opened hospitality sector might look

New guidance was published by Fáilte Ireland.

SELF-SERVE BUFFETS will disappear in post-pandemic hotels, while the seating in bars and restaurants will be significantly reduced, according to new guidance for the hospitality sector published by Fáilte Ireland. 

Last week, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar warned that summer was not lost as he set out an updated roadmap that would see the tourism and hospitality sectors return on 29 June.

However, the new guidance suggests that many hotels and restaurants will have undergone a radical transformation since they closed in March.  

The guidelines build on the work safety protocols announced last month by the government. 

While new regime of cleaning, physical distancing and hand sanitising was expected, the guidance also suggests that many practices are no longer congruent with a society in which Covid-19 is circulating. 

Table service, in particular, will look very different. The Fáilte Ireland guidance, published this morning, states that bar snacks and finger food will no longer be shared and will instead be served to individual guests. 

Tableside cooking will also be suspended if physical distancing isn’t possible, while staff will be required to maintain physical distancing from customers. 

Menus will also become “single use or made of a material that can easily be cleaned”, the guidance states. 

More drastically, the guidance suggests that staff could instead tell customers verbally what’s on the menu. 

In hotels, along with more physically distance room service, mini bars will become very different. 

“Minibars must have all loose product removed and the bar then be locked. Items can be made available upon request from Room Service,” the guidance says. 

Pools and gyms

While it remains to be seen whether pools and gyms will be allowed to re-open, the Fáilte Ireland guidance states that significant changes will need to be introduced. 

Viewing chairs and seating will be removed, while guests will be encouraged to use their rooms for changing. 

A two-metre distance in gyms should be tightly enforced by staff. 

Other activities, such as golf, will look very different. Only one player is allowed to travel in a cart unless they’re with someone from the same household, while space between tee times will be increased to 15-minute intervals. 

In spas, therapists must be provided with appropriate PPE and safeguards where physical distancing can’t be practiced. 

Weddings

There is still no indication of when and how weddings will be able to return. However, the guidance provides an indication of what ceremonies and celebrations might look like in the future. 

“To avoid making direct contact with doors, guests should enter the property through doors that are automated or manually operated by an employee where possible,” it states. 

Canapés will be served in individual portions, while loose furniture will be removed from rooms to facilitate physical distancing. 

There will be no shared items on dinner tables and each guest will be served individual portions, with no shared vegetable or gravy dishes. 

Dance floors might see the biggest change. “Signage on tables and dance floors must ask guests to respect physical distancing guidelines,” the document states. 

“Employees must monitor and manage distancing,” it adds. 

Reaction

The guidance has been welcomed by the Irish Hotel Federation. “While they have been closed for business since March, hotels and guesthouses across the country have already started to adapt their services and facilities in anticipation of reopening under Covid-19 guidelines,” said Elaina Fitzgerald Kane, President of the Irish Hotels Federation. 

“The publication of these standards today gives them further clarity on what is required,” she added. 

“We are seeing great examples of creativity, innovation and flexibility in terms of how hotels are using their property’s spaces as well as rethinking services, dining and leisure offerings.”

The full guidance can be read here

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    Mute Eamon Mac Gowan
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    Dec 18th 2015, 11:39 AM

    People like him are the worst kind of exhibitionist freaks.
    Cringe inducing.

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    Mute Patrick Hurley
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    Dec 18th 2015, 11:46 AM

    More preparation went in to making it about him than her.

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    Mute MaryLou(ny)McDonald
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    Dec 18th 2015, 12:03 PM

    Awww

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    Mute MaryLou(ny)McDonald
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    Dec 18th 2015, 12:07 PM

    Aww

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    Mute Cosmo Kramer
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    Dec 18th 2015, 12:14 PM

    And Today FM just happened to have a reporter on the ready for the big question.. Did he get in touch with Today FM before hand and let them know what he was planning? Absolute Clown!

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    Mute Teddington
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    Dec 18th 2015, 12:23 PM

    Sure leave them off, it’s not my cup of milk but that’s what makes life so interesting is the differences!

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    Mute Shawn Rahoon
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    Dec 18th 2015, 12:26 PM

    I believe they ran towards each other in slow motion. So romantic!

    109
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    Mute Allister
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    Dec 18th 2015, 12:40 PM

    Hope he kept the receipt for the fake tan….!

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    Mute John Brendan Mullen
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    Dec 18th 2015, 1:48 PM

    I’d

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    Mute Phil O' Meara
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    Dec 18th 2015, 11:43 AM

    I wonder if he declared the diamond ring when arriving or strode through the green channel?

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    Mute Dave Murray
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    Dec 18th 2015, 11:44 AM

    Will it be on that God awful programme on Sky One?

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    Mute Keelan O'neill
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    Dec 18th 2015, 12:30 PM

    Those shows are great.

    “You do realise this is a live turtle”

    “No not turtle. Herbal medicine, herbal medicine”

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    Mute Dave Murray
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    Dec 18th 2015, 12:43 PM

    Ah sure I’m guilty of watching them myself ha ha.

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    Mute Robert Madden
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    Dec 18th 2015, 9:24 PM

    Your man on that sky programme… “Don’t call me “Man” buddy..” Ridiculous.

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    Mute Supernova
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    Dec 18th 2015, 11:39 AM

    More shite.. Look at me! Look look were getting married.. Aren’t I special. Give me attention now

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    Mute Nigel Tuffnel
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    Dec 18th 2015, 1:45 PM

    I’ve got to agree with you Nova, it’s screaming for attention, turning an already busy place even more busy with crowds of gawkers in force. In saying that goodluck to the two of them, just seems very contrived.

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    Mute Dave Murray
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    Dec 18th 2015, 11:41 AM

    Cringe

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    Mute TrudyFeltz
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    Dec 18th 2015, 11:39 AM

    Well his tan looks great anyway

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    Mute Paudi Onail
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    Dec 18th 2015, 8:11 PM

    just makes him more full of it, I’m good at this sort of thing. trust me ; )

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    Mute The Green Monkey
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    Dec 18th 2015, 11:56 AM

    Cringeworthy…….

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    Mute John
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    Dec 18th 2015, 12:01 PM

    Ehy?

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    Mute Conor Graham
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    Dec 18th 2015, 11:51 AM

    Puke.

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    Mute CABK
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    Dec 18th 2015, 11:54 AM

    Absolute state of them both.

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    Mute The Green Monkey
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    Dec 18th 2015, 11:56 AM

    Cringeworthy……

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    Mute cp
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    Dec 18th 2015, 11:59 AM

    So good you say it twice

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    Mute John
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    Dec 18th 2015, 12:01 PM

    Ha?

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    Mute Al-Right
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    Dec 18th 2015, 11:56 AM

    Sorry Martin, Louse has been seeing Mark while you were away… oopss!

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    Mute CABK
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    Dec 18th 2015, 12:05 PM

    She lives over there with him which just makes it more cringe! Waiting for an audience at arrivals!!! Public proposals are the worst!

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    Mute CABK
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    Dec 18th 2015, 12:06 PM

    She lives over there with him which just makes it more cringe! Waiting for an audience at arrivals!!! Public proposals are the worst!

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    Mute Al-Right
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    Dec 18th 2015, 12:21 PM

    Wot? Where does it say that?

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    Mute Paudi Onail
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    Dec 18th 2015, 8:12 PM

    probably with loads of women over he months prior to the flight. ya’d feel sorry for her but nah not really.

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    Mute Donna Moss
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    Dec 18th 2015, 11:46 AM

    Good luck to them.

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    Mute Chief
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    Dec 18th 2015, 11:55 AM

    You are not allowed say nice stuff here Donna. The two people that just got engaged and spread a little happiness around are just too happy for peoples liking. This does not go down well with the miserable ba#$rds commenting above. So be warned. No more of that nice comment shite!

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    Mute Slim Browne
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    Dec 18th 2015, 12:42 PM

    What if she said no ?? Big embarrassed head on him then

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    Mute Paul Wallace
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    Dec 18th 2015, 12:43 PM

    What a Mangina

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    Mute Dave Murray
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    Dec 18th 2015, 12:46 PM

    Brennan has a margina, Brennan has a margina.

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    Mute Andy Gibson
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    Dec 18th 2015, 12:41 PM

    The Today FM reporter is called Juliette GASH?! Oh my days!!!

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    Mute Live Long
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    Dec 18th 2015, 12:09 PM

    Tantastic!

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    Mute seanie
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    Dec 18th 2015, 11:52 AM

    Haha miserable ba*t*rds here in comments.

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    Mute Malachi Shanks
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    Dec 18th 2015, 2:08 PM

    You’d be raging if you were behind yer man in the queue and we’re going to do the same thing !

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    Mute seanie
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    Dec 18th 2015, 11:51 AM

    Haha miserable bass%ards on the comments .

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    Mute Chief
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    Dec 18th 2015, 11:56 AM

    Great minds think alike

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    Mute SandyfordAl
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    Dec 18th 2015, 2:51 PM

    Oh please, it’s all about me, everyone look at me. Attention seekers are so annoying

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    Mute Slim Browne
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    Dec 18th 2015, 12:34 PM

    What if she said no ? Hed have some head on him then

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    Mute Slim Browne
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    Dec 18th 2015, 12:36 PM

    What if she said no ? Hed have some head on him then
    What if she said no ? Hed have some head on him then

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    Mute Michelle Wallace
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    Dec 18th 2015, 1:25 PM

    Good god, you’re a right lot of begrudgers. Can’t we all just get along? You don’t even have to be happy for them, but do you have to be so mean? It’s Christmas, let’s spread a bit of Christmas cheer…. No?

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    Mute Nigel Tuffnel
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    Dec 18th 2015, 1:57 PM

    Bah humbug.

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    Mute seanie
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    Dec 18th 2015, 11:53 AM

    Haha miserable Scrooges here in the comments.

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    Mute Conor Graham
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    Dec 18th 2015, 11:56 AM

    You can say that again!

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    Mute cp
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    Dec 18th 2015, 12:00 PM

    And again

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    Mute John
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    Dec 18th 2015, 12:00 PM

    Could you repeat that please?

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    Mute Slim Browne
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    Dec 18th 2015, 12:32 PM

    What if she said no ?? Some head on him then

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    Mute Joey Gee
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    Dec 18th 2015, 12:26 PM

    This is the way the poor gaisun wanted to do it, must mean something to him (them).

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    Mute Craig Barry
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    Dec 18th 2015, 6:31 PM

    W$nker

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    Mute Paudi Onail
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    Dec 18th 2015, 8:13 PM

    totally

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    Mute Maurice Slater
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    Dec 18th 2015, 5:29 PM

    not my cup of tea kinda shows insecurity are just a show of,to me its a private matter between two people and not for public consumption for me first spoil your lady all day tell her about all the things why you fell in love with her, then take yourself and your intended to a place you both have never been before.

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    Mute Nigel Tuffnel
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    Dec 18th 2015, 1:43 PM

    Juliette Gash?

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    Mute TheGateFlorist
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    Dec 18th 2015, 12:36 PM

    He has made her happy that’s all that counts. But could have had a big bunch of flowers in hand.

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    Mute Karl Monaghan
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    Dec 18th 2015, 5:14 PM

    or even a ring!

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    Mute Alan
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    Dec 18th 2015, 6:24 PM

    Must have a serious guilty conscience coming back from the holiday.

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    Mute Paudi Onail
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    Dec 18th 2015, 8:13 PM

    i bet he does i bet he does. a proper player.

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    Mute John Reese
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    Dec 18th 2015, 4:35 PM

    Shaking head….the plonker has just given TV3 a new idea for an airport proposal show.

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    Mute Slim Browne
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    Dec 18th 2015, 12:36 PM

    Luvly

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    Mute TheGateFlorist
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    Dec 18th 2015, 12:37 PM

    He has made her happy, and that’s all we should care about.

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    Mute Nigel Tuffnel
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    Dec 18th 2015, 1:49 PM

    Well we don’t know that for sure.

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    Mute Kirsha Sova
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    Dec 18th 2015, 8:56 PM

    Jayess everyone wants to put their life on show with the world watching ,get a life somethings should be private .

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    Mute Sean MacGabhann
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    Dec 18th 2015, 3:45 PM

    ‘Til never last.

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    Mute Kirsha Sova
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    Dec 18th 2015, 8:57 PM

    I give it a year .

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    Mute Karl Monaghan
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    Dec 18th 2015, 5:10 PM
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    Mute Karl Monaghan
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    Dec 18th 2015, 5:11 PM

    why is his head half shaved??

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    Mute Paudi Onail
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    Dec 18th 2015, 8:14 PM

    cos he’s a w@anker

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    Mute niall fitzgerald
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    Dec 19th 2015, 8:05 AM

    Juliette’s Gash, what.

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