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'She won’t kiss me tonight': Minister hailed for wading into flood water to fix pump

Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran was filmed lending a hand while topless in Athlone.

JUNIOR MINISTER KEVIN ‘Boxer’ Moran has been praised for his efforts to contain escalating floods after he was filmed topless and knee-deep in water in Co Westmeath.

The outgoing minister of state for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief has been in various towns and villages throughout the county as authorities and residents have battled rising river levels since Sunday.

Homes and businesses in parts of Westmeath, Offaly and Roscommon have been hit by floods as the River Shannon continued to rise following heavy rain.

Moran posted a video on Twitter showing him attempting to fix a water pump in Athlone while dressed in waders.

He told the camera: “That’s it – job done. F***** wet though. I nearly got sick with the smell of it. There’s one sure thing, she won’t kiss me tonight.”

He also wrote on Twitter alongside the video: “Got a bit wet this morning trying to get a pump going down at the back of Parnell Square.

“No spare set of clothes but the people are protected – that’s the main thing.”

Several people hailed Moran in response to his tweet, describing him as a “hero” and a “legend”.

One posted: “Fair play to him. He lost his seat and he still helping the people. Not many TDs would do that.”

It comes as Met Éireann issued an orange weather warning for seven counties for more severe weather this weekend.

Storm Jorge is forecast to bring gusts of up to 130km/h and flooding in Clare, Galway, Mayo, Kerry, Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo.

The warning is valid from Saturday morning until 3am on Sunday.

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    Mute Master O
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    Feb 29th 2020, 7:33 AM

    Repair a roof in orange warning wind? Ah lads.

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    Mute Fr. Fintan Stack
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    Feb 29th 2020, 10:16 AM

    @Master O: Eh, this work wouldn’t have just been decided on Friday afternoon. It would have been planned. And how do you know it isn’t internal work like lighting etc ? I’m sure the contractor won’t be sending lads skating across the roof during an orange warning.

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    Mute OnlyHereForTheComments
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    Feb 29th 2020, 11:12 AM

    @Fr. Fintan Stack: When did Fintan Stack get so boring?

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    Mute Fr. Fintan Stack
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    Feb 29th 2020, 11:24 AM

    @OnlyHereForTheComments: If you ever say that to me again I’ll put your head through the wall.

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    Mute Pád
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    Feb 29th 2020, 8:29 AM

    Cannot believe this work is still on going. Of course it’s also been carried out during a weather warning. Lol

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    Mute John O Brien
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    Feb 29th 2020, 8:12 AM

    Can’t see much been done this weekend.

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    Mute Ray de Róiste
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    Feb 29th 2020, 7:32 AM

    Up the flats

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    Mute Derek Walsh
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    Feb 29th 2020, 12:12 PM

    Lucky the rugby was called off. Of course anybody going there from the North side could have just got off at Connolly, taken the transfer bus to Bray and the DART all the way back to Lansdowne Road.

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    Mute Alan Rossiter
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    Feb 29th 2020, 2:47 PM

    @Derek Walsh: wrong weekend

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    Mute Keith O Hanlon
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    Feb 29th 2020, 4:04 PM

    Sure is it’s not Signal faults it’s roof repairs lol ancient system.

    I hope whoever is up in that roof isn’t wearing a wig

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