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Cheers on the streets of north Dublin city as Olympic star Kellie Harrington arrives home

The champion boxer returned with other members of the Olympic team today.

LAST UPDATE | 10 Aug 2021

Kellie Harrington 025 Locals celebrate as Irish Olympic boxer Kellie Harrington travels through the streets of north inner city Dublin on an open top bus Sam Boal Sam Boal

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST Kellie Harrington has made a victorious return to Ireland and travelled through her local community on an open-top bus this evening.

The 31-year-old travelled from Tokyo alongside bronze medallist Aidan Walsh and the rest of Team Ireland’s remaining Olympians, arriving back at Dublin Airport this afternoon.

Despite the excitement around the team’s homecoming, people were urged not to travel to the airport due fears about the spread of Covid-19.

Harrington arrived home to a hero’s welcome in the north inner city this evening.

She toured through her local community by open top bus, which commenced in Ballybough, before moving through Gardiner Street, Killarney Street, Portland Row, Sean McDermott Street, Summerhill and the North Strand. 

Prior to this evening, Dublin City Council encouraged only local people to line the streets for the occasion.

In a message ahead of her arrival home, Harrington said asked those out celebrating this evening to “stay safe and keep your social distance”. 

“We aren’t out of the woods with Covid-19 yet and we need to stick together as a community and look out for each other,” she said.

The council has approved the lighting of the Five Lamps landmark to acknowledge Harrington’s achievement.

Kellie Harrington 008 Olympic gold medal winner Kellie Harrington arriving in Dublin Airport this afternoon Sam Boal Sam Boal

Speaking outside Dublin Airport this afternoon, Harrington said she “can’t wait” to get to spend time with her family and girlfriend. 

“It means the world to me to bring back the gold. But my mentality is, anybody who steps through those ropes and makes it to an Olympic Games is a champion, regardless of whether you bring a medal back or not,” she told reporters.

“For me, it’s not always about winning medals and stuff like that. It’s about getting through the doors of the boxing club, for all the young people out there, all the teenagers out there,” she said.

“It’s about stepping through the doors first, meeting people and becoming part of a family then. Whatever happens after that is a bonus really.

“Boxing is an escape for a lot of people. I just hope that with the success that we’ve had out here, that we get a lot of funding now into local boxing clubs and we support local boxing clubs. That’s what we need.”

Kellie Harrington homecoming 002 Pictured this morning is neighbour and Portland Row resident Sabrina Dunne as preparations take place on the street for the homecoming of Irish Olympic gold medal winner Kellie Harrington Leah Farrell Leah Farrell

KELLIE HARRINGTON_I2A7462 Crowds wait on Portland Row for the homecoming of Irish Olympic gold medal winner Kellie Harrington Leon Farrell Leon Farrell

On her emotional reunion with her parents and partner Mandy, the gold medallist said: “I have no tears left to cry. Normally I’m crying all the time.

“They’re all bawling their eyes out. I’m really happy with that, it’s them instead of me this time!”

The Lord Mayor of Dublin Alison Gilliland congratulated Harrington in a statement, saying that today is a “wonderful day” for the city. 

“Dublin is bursting with pride. Kellie and all our local Olympians have allowed us to journey with them over the last few weeks,” Gilliland said. 

Harrington is Ireland’s ninth gold-winning medallist in Olympic history.

The gold medal winning rowing team returned to Ireland nine days ago after their competition ended in Tokyo.

Fintan McCarthy and Paul O’Donovan won gold in the lightweight double sculls, while the women’s four of Emily Hegarty, Fiona Murtagh, Eimear Lambe, and Aifric Keogh won bronze.

With reporting by Céimin Burke, Press Association and Gráinne Ní Aodha in north inner city Dublin.

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63 Comments
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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute HarveyLemonade
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    Aug 10th 2021, 9:06 AM

    What about the other medal winners……?

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    Mute Darren Byrne
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    Aug 10th 2021, 9:48 AM

    @HarveyLemonade: Dublin Council is doing this for her. The other medal winners local councils can do something for them.

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    Mute Michael Burke
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    Aug 10th 2021, 9:49 AM

    @HarveyLemonade: yeah I wonder what their localities are doing in respect of celebrating their achievements.

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    Mute Carol Conway
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    Aug 10th 2021, 10:09 AM

    @HarveyLemonade: they were pretty much told not to do anything due to Covid. As usual it’s one rule for tiny, densely populated Dublin and another rule for the rest of the country.

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    Mute Daniel Andrews
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    Aug 10th 2021, 10:37 AM

    @Carol Conway: move out of the sticks then.

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    Mute Darren Byrne
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    Aug 10th 2021, 10:38 AM

    @Carol Conway: New rules as of last week. We can even have indoor dining now.

    116
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    Mute Ashling Visser Bishop
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    Aug 10th 2021, 12:23 PM

    @HarveyLemonade: there was an open top bus in Galway the other week for the Irish Female rowers.

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Aug 10th 2021, 1:22 PM

    @HarveyLemonade: whataboutery is alive and well

    134
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    Mute Ger
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    Aug 10th 2021, 3:37 PM

    @Carol Conway: Dublin City Council knew that there would be celebrations in the area with or without them. I live round the corner and there have been crowds on Portland Row every time she’s fought. The council probably knew that they only way to have any control would be to be involved. They have asked for locals only to line the streets but no chance of that being complied with. That said there will be far bigger crowds in the area on all Ireland match days so what can they do.

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    Mute Robbie Curran
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    Aug 10th 2021, 5:28 PM

    @Carol Conway: it’s cool, Zapone is in the crowd somewhere

    53
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    Mute Chris Tobin
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    Aug 10th 2021, 5:35 PM

    @HarveyLemonade: get over yourself

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    Mute Gin & Jetfuel
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    Aug 10th 2021, 5:48 PM

    @Carol Conway: crowds on the streets in Skibberean to welcome their towers home.

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    Mute Christopher Folliard
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    Aug 10th 2021, 5:51 PM

    @HarveyLemonade: Even the media coverage is flooded for kelli compared to our other medalists, not taking away from kelli, it was a great achievement.

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    Mute D. Memery
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    Aug 10th 2021, 5:53 PM

    @Carol Conway: in fairness, Dublin City Council were asking only locals to turn out, hence in densely populated Dublin that would be a larger crowd than in sparsely populated Skibberean under the same guidance.

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    Mute Sean Barry
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    Aug 10th 2021, 7:19 PM

    @Daniel Andrews: dope

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    Mute Shaunie OB
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    Aug 10th 2021, 7:56 PM

    @HarveyLemonade: wet wipe

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    Mute Shaunie OB
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    Aug 10th 2021, 7:56 PM

    @HarveyLemonade: wet wi/pe

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    Mute Gavin Mckenna
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    Aug 10th 2021, 8:23 PM

    @HarveyLemonade: Always one lemon, always one begrudger. Embarrassing.

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    Mute Patricia O'Reilly
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    Aug 10th 2021, 10:38 PM

    @HarveyLemonade: what about them? That poor guy beside had a self inflicted injury.. lol

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    Mute Fred Fender
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    Aug 10th 2021, 8:51 AM

    I think she should go around Ireland, all of us Irish people are proud of her and would give her a great welcome.

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    Mute Jensen Bhroin
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    Aug 10th 2021, 9:12 AM

    @Fred Fender: maybe in a bit. I think she deserves a well earned rest for now! The media attention must also be exhausting!

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    Mute ed w
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    Aug 10th 2021, 12:41 PM

    @Fred Fender: she might get a bit wet in an open top bus

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    Mute Nick Nolan
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    Aug 10th 2021, 8:54 AM

    Fairplay Kellie – well deserved. Hakuna matata.

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    Mute Hugh Morris
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    Aug 10th 2021, 6:06 PM

    @Nick Nolan: is that a posh honey?

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    Mute Damien Murphy
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    Aug 10th 2021, 6:14 PM

    @Hugh Morris: manuka tomatoes?

    13
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    Mute Larry Rawson
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    Aug 10th 2021, 10:25 AM

    Put Her Picture on every Dublin Bus and show all the people what can be achieved WITHOUT Government Help.

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    Mute Roy Dowling
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    Aug 10th 2021, 11:08 AM

    @Larry Rawson: Hate to break it to you Larry. But without government help none of the Athletes Kellie included wouldn’t have competed at the games.

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    Mute Niall Byrne
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    Aug 10th 2021, 11:32 AM

    @Larry Rawson: Who funds Ireland’s Olympians so?

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Aug 10th 2021, 1:23 PM

    @Larry Rawson: check our sport Ireland

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    Mute sean o'dhubhghaill
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    Aug 10th 2021, 1:38 PM

    @Larry Rawson: So she paid the return flight to Tokyo herself?

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    Mute
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    Aug 10th 2021, 6:33 PM

    @Larry Rawson: today I’m thankful that you’re not running our country.

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    Mute Wessss
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    Aug 10th 2021, 6:37 PM

    @Larry Rawson: the definition of a clown!

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    Mute thesaltyurchin
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    Aug 10th 2021, 6:45 PM

    @Larry Rawson: They do pay, but only of you’re good enough to go, we should copy the UK and support olympic sports at grass roots level way more than we do. Particularly in areas where there’s nothing for young people to do apart from turn into scrotes.

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    Mute Fran O'Keeffe
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    Aug 10th 2021, 6:10 PM

    No social distance there what a joke

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    Mute Man incognito
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    Aug 10th 2021, 9:09 PM

    @Fran O’Keeffe: God how miserable can you get

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    Mute Davey Ohanlon
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    Aug 10th 2021, 9:37 PM

    @Man incognito:
    It’s a fair point.
    Considering everyone is up in arms over the politicians and co. gathering in a beer garden.
    Berlin bar, golfgate, healy-ray, ect. ect.

    Bigger crowd packed together, shouting, cheering and whistling but that’s ok and low risk?
    It’s nothing to do with being miserable and more to do with common sense and not picking and choosing your indignation based on popularity.

    Nothing wrong with gathering to celebrate but the crowd should have been spaced a bit further apart along the road.

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    Mute Keith O Hanlon
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    Aug 10th 2021, 9:14 AM

    Will she have to pay her fare ? Wouldn’t surprise me in this town

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    Mute Life in no motion
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    Aug 10th 2021, 9:17 AM

    @Keith O Hanlon: Hope not. Especially since the luas is free

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    Mute Daniel Andrews
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    Aug 10th 2021, 10:38 AM

    @Life in no motion: since when is the luas free?

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    Mute OnlyHereForTheComments
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    Aug 10th 2021, 10:47 AM

    @Daniel Andrews: Since always. Everyone knows that.

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Aug 10th 2021, 1:22 PM

    @Keith O Hanlon: yawn

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    Mute thesaltyurchin
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    Aug 10th 2021, 6:46 PM

    @Life in no motion: Lol! still catching fish on that one, fair play!

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    Mute Adam J
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    Aug 10th 2021, 5:58 PM

    Was Shane Ross not available for the Photo Op this time around?

    61
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    Mute Alex Marquis
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    Aug 10th 2021, 9:39 PM

    @Adam J: congratulations Dominant. The whole of Ireland is so proud of you.

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    Mute Anto Harris
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    Aug 10th 2021, 2:52 PM

    Such a fantastic achievement. Maybe DCC could resurface Portland Row in her honour, brutal!

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    Mute sean o'dhubhghaill
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    Aug 10th 2021, 1:39 PM

    Is there a bit of inverted snobbery here? If she lived in D4/Foxrock would it be the same?

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    Mute GrumpyAulFella
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    Aug 10th 2021, 2:32 PM

    @sean o’dhubhghaill: no I’d say the open top bus would have been a Rolls Royce convertible and Leopardstown race course would have been opened for prawn sandwiches and canapes. The good people of Portland Row will probably be getting ham and cheese toasties from Centra at the 5 lamps. I wonder will gorgeous Bill Cullen make an appearance to cheer on his old neighbour.

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    Mute Shem
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    Aug 10th 2021, 4:14 PM

    @sean o’dhubhghaill: the Twitter is full of those ppl begrudging, even saying don’t go to those areas as they’ll be infected with covid. Awful comments.

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    Mute sean o'dhubhghaill
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    Aug 10th 2021, 5:23 PM

    @Shem: Well, if you look at the photograph there isn’t much mask-wearing or social-distancing. Maybe that is what the people were talking about?

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    Mute Ciaran Twomey
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    Aug 10th 2021, 5:44 PM

    @sean o’dhubhghaill: She lives in Cabinteely, right beside Foxrock

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    Mute GaMran
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    Aug 10th 2021, 8:33 PM

    Barely any congratulations here for her. Everyone is too busy talking about covid,the government,who is funding who,mcgregor and centra sandwiches…shame cause this girl deserve a praise. She is a person who kids can look upto not like some celebrity sportsperson who does coke as a hobby or flaunts her bits in the media for attention. A hard working and talented person who made us proud. Congrats to her!!!!

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    Mute Simon Dwyer
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    Aug 10th 2021, 8:27 PM

    Kellie really lifted a nation. Once she has her deserved rest. She has a big choice to make. But what this woman achieved is fantastic.

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    Mute Paul
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    Aug 10th 2021, 9:01 AM

    Would it be an electric bus?

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    Mute Tomo
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    Aug 10th 2021, 3:20 PM

    @Paul: Not if the government has anything to say about it

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    Mute thesaltyurchin
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    Aug 10th 2021, 6:47 PM

    @Paul: Lol! in Ireland?… we paint them green and slap a logo with leaves on it, job done.

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    Mute Gavin Linden
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    Aug 10th 2021, 7:28 PM

    Oh Oh! Judging by the photos I’ve seen I’m sure tony will be doing his rounds tonight…

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    Mute Ronan O Connor
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    Aug 10th 2021, 6:08 PM

    Are you watching Conor McGregor….

    18
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    Mute Laura Grimes
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    Aug 10th 2021, 6:27 PM

    @Ronan O Connor: she has more class in the tip if her little finger than he will ever have.

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    Mute
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    Aug 10th 2021, 6:34 PM

    @Ronan O Connor: punctuation is your friend, Ronan.

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    Mute whitewater
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    Aug 10th 2021, 8:11 PM

    SuPeRsPrEaDeR eVeNt

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    Mute Radek Warchola
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    Aug 10th 2021, 9:35 PM

    Excellent fair play to her

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    Mute Diarmuid Hehir
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    Aug 10th 2021, 9:24 PM

    Am covid…

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    Mute fitzz30
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    Aug 11th 2021, 8:59 AM

    All them crowds and no masks????

    3
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