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The three houses on Vicar Street in Kilkenny. Google maps.

Kilkenny 'heritage houses' are not Medieval, but the council are still going to keep them

Two archaeological reports were carried out on the houses which are near a road development.

AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORT into two houses on a Kilkenny street has found that that they have no Medieval features, but the council has still decided not to demolish them.

The houses at 21 and 22 Vicar Street were due to be dismantled to make way for new road development and their retention has been the subject of strong views by a number of parties including An Taisce and the Heritage Council.

The €10.7 million project, which was approved by An Bord Pleanála in 2011, involves the construction of 700 meters of a new road across the former cattle mart and the Smithwicks brewery lands.

As a result of the disagreement over the houses, Kilkenny authorities agreed to commission two reports to find out if the houses contained a medieval gable wall, or at least the remnants of one, as had been claimed.

The surveys and investigations by two historical buildings specialist were carried out under licence by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. They revealed that the houses do not date back to medieval times.

A total of 12 trenches were excavated as part of the dig.

One report concluded that the walls of 21 and 22 Vicar St date mostly from 1881 and 1908 respectively with no evidence that they date to medieval times.

The report says there are small remnants from the eighteenth or early nineteenth century.

The second report found that the earliest archaeology found dated from the late 17th or early 18th century, and not further back to medieval times.

Despite this, the Kilkenny city and council manager says that because “strong views continue to be expressed by a number of parties”, they have decided to keep the wall and houses.

“It appears now to be common cause among all parties that the houses at 21 and 22 are in themselves of no archaeological value,” reads a letter to councillors.

“In order to avoid further disagreement and further costs of investigation and in the possible interest of the building heritage of Kilkenny, the council has decided to retain the gable wall of No. 22 and has notified the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht accordingly.”

The gable wall is also to be retained and the council says it will not affect the building of the road and will not have significant cost implications.

The former owner of one of the buildings had previously told TheJournal.ie that he felt the demolition should go ahead, even though the house was bought as part of a compulsory purchase order.

Read: Former owner of Kilkenny ‘heritage house’ says delay in demolition ‘wasting taxpayers’ money’ >

Read: EU to investigate Kilkenny plans to demolish ‘heritage houses’ for new roadway >

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14 Comments
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    Mute Andrew H
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:19 AM

    Closed comments on the sulky race story. That’s the journal and pavee point quiet on the issue.

    392
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    Mute Goban Saor
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:35 AM

    @Andrew H: big mouth John Connors had a lot to say recently. Surely he’ll have some insight?

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    Mute Fiona Ryan
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:43 AM

    @Andrew H: but it’s their culture. Their ethnicity allows them to break the laws that the rest of us would be fecked into jail for. When will this stop? When some judges child is injured or worse?? Is that what our judicial system is waiting for??

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    Mute Shane Cormican
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    Feb 20th 2020, 1:14 PM

    @Andrew H: Well the guards are investigating – emmm there are numbers plates and cameras on that road any of the cars driving along with people hanging out of them should be at least questioned – that would be a start!

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    Mute Link
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    Feb 20th 2020, 2:07 PM

    @Goban Saor: As much as I disagree with Connors on many things, he’s fairly vocal in his disdain for the crowd from Pavee Pointless

    14
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    Mute Cormac Laffan
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    Feb 20th 2020, 3:55 PM

    @Andrew H: They asked for a comment but the participants were sulking.
    Anyway it’s racist to ask about the sulky race.

    39
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    Mute john
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:35 AM

    ISPCA shocked and appalled and that’s the last we’ll hear of it! Must be great living with impunity outside the law and completely untouchable, tiz a great country once your not a law abiding citizen!!

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    Mute The Risen
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    Feb 20th 2020, 10:49 AM

    Looking forward to seeing Leo and Meholes faces. Refusing to talk to the party who got the most votes isn’t going down well with voters.

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    Mute iohanx
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:49 AM

    @The Risen:

    ‘Meholes’, I guess that sums up your intellect on the matter.

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    Mute Manbackonboard
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    Feb 20th 2020, 12:06 PM

    @The Risen: You consistently let yourself down with that type of language.

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    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
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    Feb 20th 2020, 12:10 PM

    @The Risen: I would’ve to see your face in a few weeks when Mehole is made Taoiseach

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    Mute Frank Cauldhame
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    Feb 20th 2020, 12:11 PM

    @iohanx: Its a well earned nickname that has really caught on over the years, a good analogy would be “Fingers” Fingleton

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    Mute Gerald Gallagher
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    Feb 20th 2020, 2:53 PM

    @The Risen: sweet Jesus I hope so as Mehloes idea of change looking more like the last 4years plus the greens

    26
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    Mute Cormac Laffan
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    Feb 20th 2020, 3:52 PM

    @Manbackonboard:
    Lol.. well earned moniker, the smell of desperation off the man even comes across on TV.
    Mehole MoreTan , go twitch on that one

    23
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    Mute Mairtin Antaine O Conaill
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    Feb 20th 2020, 4:49 PM

    @The Risen: you really are clueless.

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Feb 20th 2020, 5:14 PM

    @The Risen: #bekind

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    Mute smart cat
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    Feb 20th 2020, 6:04 PM

    @The Risen: ah Mary Lou a god send !!!. I very much doubt it.

    14
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    Mute Cormac Laffan
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    Feb 20th 2020, 6:34 PM

    @Paul Furey:
    #bekind #DonateaBedtoYourLocalHospital
    #CelebrateYour40thatHomecosulivethere
    #FFG ETC
    #TheGreatCollusion

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    Mute Rollander
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    Feb 20th 2020, 7:08 PM

    @The Risen: It’ll go well with those who voted for them, because it’s the FF and FG mandate to not go into government with SF.
    But you keep going on with your will of the people shite,

    23
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    Mute Ed Byrne
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    Feb 21st 2020, 1:14 AM

    @iohanx: what?????

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    Mute Sharp Elsi Mate
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:59 AM

    Oh and absolute disgrace that the comments are closed on the sulky race. They do not deserve any less judgement from your users just because its their culture!

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    Mute Neil McAuley
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:23 AM

    Extremely demoralising to watch the coverage of this and the antics of the Healy Rae’s and that clown from Limerick. They should get in to Dail and get on with the job. The election happened almost 2 weeks ago and there has been no progress on govt formation. This country is a joke !!!

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    Mute Keith ☘️
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:26 AM

    @Neil McAuley: relax Neil. The children’s hospital wasn’t built in a day

    23
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    Mute Martin McFly
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:54 AM

    @Neil McAuley: relax Neil. Don’t be so doom and gloom. Let them get on with it and keep your moaning out of it!!

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    Mute Neil McAuley
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    Feb 20th 2020, 12:01 PM

    @Martin McFly: as its reasonable, I’ll do and say what I want. HOW DARE YOU !!!!!

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    Mute Tadhg Keating
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    Feb 20th 2020, 12:06 PM

    @Neil McAuley: That “clown” from Limerick is one of the hardest working politicians in the country which is why we elected him. As for the car, he is a member of a vintage car club and thought it would be a nice way to represent them. Lighten up a bit

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    Mute Neil McAuley
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    Feb 20th 2020, 12:12 PM

    @Tadhg Keating: how do u know how hard other politicians throughout the country work? I notice the people of Limerick County returned an FF, FG and a former FF politician Pretty uninspiring stuff.

    14
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    Mute NotMyIreland
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    Feb 20th 2020, 12:46 PM

    @Neil McAuley: as is their right to? Thats democracy at work

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    Mute Martin McFly
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    Feb 20th 2020, 12:48 PM

    @Neil McAuley: ohh no, the caps are out. Punishment beatings next.

    12
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    Mute Neil McAuley
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    Feb 20th 2020, 12:59 PM

    @NotMyIreland: of course it’s their right and democracy. All fair enough. Just said uninspiring and there’s no denying that.

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    Mute Neil McAuley
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    Feb 20th 2020, 1:01 PM

    @Martin McFly:

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    Mute NotMyIreland
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    Feb 20th 2020, 3:11 PM

    @Neil McAuley: Uninspiring for your views, not those of the people of Limerick I would imagine.

    10
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    Mute Neil McAuley
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    Feb 20th 2020, 3:40 PM

    @NotMyIreland: hahaha.

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    Mute Tadhg Keating
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    Feb 20th 2020, 3:51 PM

    @Neil McAuley: Thankful Richard saw of the Moon landing Denying Sinn Fein candidate in the final Count. That Vintage Car club raises money for Local Charities In Limerick so what harm if he used today to promote it a little, A very worthy cause.

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    Mute Cormac Laffan
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    Feb 20th 2020, 4:48 PM

    @Neil McAuley: Damn right Neil, there’s only a few combinations that work.
    The Oscars are over, the results are in, get back to work ye shower of wasters!

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Feb 20th 2020, 5:15 PM

    @Neil McAuley: you need to relax and accept that very few think the way you do.

    6
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    Mute Neil McAuley
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    Feb 20th 2020, 7:29 PM

    @Paul Furey: am feeling quite relaxed actually thanks. Most people would agree with my sentiments and that’s certainly the case on here, as evidenced by numerous comments that have been posted. cheers.

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    Mute Manbackonboard
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    Feb 20th 2020, 10:24 AM

    In other news I’ve just painted the outside of my house. As the weather is so damp it’s going to take hours to dry. Enjoy.
    https://youtu.be/PLOPygVcaVE
    Thanks.

    26
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    Mute JohnnyMc
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    Feb 20th 2020, 10:33 AM

    @Manbackonboard: I’ll raise you
    https://youtu.be/kiXY7ynw6ek

    16
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    Mute Manbackonboard
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:42 AM

    @JohnnyMc: Brilliant!!

    11
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    Mute hasnooneasked
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:27 AM

    That reada cronin should be removed from the dail aling with a few others who should not be there. If our country hasnt gone down the pan it will now with sinn fein

    55
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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Feb 20th 2020, 5:16 PM

    @hasnooneasked: ask the voters why they exercised their democratic right and elected them. You know how it works? Right?

    20
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    Mute Bernard Sweeney
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    Feb 20th 2020, 9:52 PM

    @Paul Furey: I’ll tell ya something, those of a non SF persuasion that voted for her in protest at fffg may have decided differently where there 1 or 2 went if these tweets were publicised during the campaign.

    3
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    Mute Tricia G
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:23 AM

    You really do seem to have to have an increased level of arrogance and self-belief to be a politician.

    What a ridiculous spectacle.

    Most people beginning a new job don’t arrive with such nonsensical fanfare.

    43
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    Mute milton friedman
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:34 AM

    @Tricia G: I’m praying for another General Election and the people of Limerick need to not vote again for the TD who arrived in the limo.

    35
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    Mute Tadhg Keating
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    Feb 20th 2020, 12:07 PM

    @Tricia G: You can pray all you want, we will still elect him! We reward Hard working people in Limerick.

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    Mute Tricia G
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    Feb 20th 2020, 12:13 PM

    Think there is a bug in the Journal “reply” function there Tadgh

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    Mute Lotus
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    Feb 20th 2020, 12:34 PM

    @Tricia G:
    He has actually been a very effective Councillor with excellent feedback from people in rural Limerick. Hence he was elected to the Dáil.

    7
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    Mute Tedburns
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    Feb 20th 2020, 5:15 PM

    @Tadhg Keating: like willie odea and his Galway tent merchants?

    7
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    Mute Sharp Elsi Mate
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:56 AM

    Is it not all a bit farcical? Get in and make a government and fix the legacy problems that are health and homelessness. American cars and accordions are ya for real?

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    Mute Paul Shepherd
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    Feb 20th 2020, 6:10 PM

    Complete time wasting exercise. Just turning up to justify their expenses at this stage.

    10
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    Mute d
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    Feb 20th 2020, 6:35 PM

    Will ye all stop…Can ye not see the agenda here.The longer this pans out, Leo will get his pension and suddenly voila we will have a government

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    Mute john
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    Feb 20th 2020, 11:27 AM

    Beat me to it Andrew H!

    8
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    Mute Big Red
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    Feb 20th 2020, 9:38 PM

    #shinnersout

    5
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    Mute Bluechip78
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    Feb 20th 2020, 6:55 PM

    Anyone counting the votes to make sure they’re actually in the chamber

    5
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    Mute Brian Purcell
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    Feb 20th 2020, 5:38 PM

    No surprises SOC’s are now labour in disguise – so much for change

    5
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    Mute Lesidees
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    Feb 20th 2020, 6:00 PM

    What a waste of time! Why don’t they just get on with electing a Taoiseach? None of their speeches make a blind bit of difference to how TDs are going to vote

    8
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    Mute UCC Social Democrats Society
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    Feb 20th 2020, 10:38 PM

    The business in hand is the election of a Taoiseach. The Social Democrats will not be supporting any candidate because we believe it is meaningless for us to do so in the absence of a negotiated and agreed programme for Government. We are very clear and have said over the past week that this is not a personality or popularity contest. It has to be about the policies that respond to what the public has said to us in the past week. It is about having an agreed policy platform that will lead to a programme for Government.
    Unable to post links, but that was taken from the Oireachtas’ Site, which was Deputy Shorthall’s Statement.

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    Mute Kevin Lonergan
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    Feb 21st 2020, 3:00 PM

    @UCC Social Democrats Society: Your party should climb down off of the fence and make a stand one way or another. Just sitting on your hands as you try to figure out which way the wind is blowing and where you might get more cabinet positions is just wrong. Have some principles and stand for something FFS!!

    1
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    Mute Lesidees
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    Feb 20th 2020, 7:18 PM

    How can each vote take so long?

    3
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    Mute Billy Mulvihill
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    Feb 20th 2020, 6:19 PM

    FF and SF plus Greens vote for Eamon Ryan for Taoiseach and let them form a Government.
    FF can say it was formed by the Greens.
    Then we can say it’s change

    3
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    Mute d
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    Feb 20th 2020, 6:30 PM

    Will ye all stop..can you not see the agenda here..the longer this plays out….Leo will get his pension…and then suddenly we will have a government.

    3
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    Mute Connoroconner
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    Feb 20th 2020, 6:50 PM

    @d: that’s going to be a long time then, Leo doesn’t get his pension till he’s 65.

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    Mute d
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    Feb 20th 2020, 7:06 PM

    @Connoroconner: yup but in a couple of weeks he will qualify for the taoiseach pension….courtesy of us

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    Mute Connoroconner
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    Feb 20th 2020, 7:40 PM

    @d: ah ok

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    Mute Diogenes
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    Feb 20th 2020, 10:32 PM

    Leo the lame Lama

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    Mute Ro-your-nan
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    Feb 20th 2020, 9:51 PM

    The barbarians never take a city until someone opens the gates for them. In this case it’s people voting for the populists – just look at two of the recent examples of the kind of language coming from these people. Depressing.

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    Mute Ed Byrne
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    Feb 21st 2020, 1:17 AM

    The amount of ‘anti shinner’ people on here that reply to comments but won’t have a comment of their is interesting…. Can anybody explain why?

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    Mute Wayne Smith
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    Feb 20th 2020, 10:56 PM

    bunch of arseholes

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    Mute Emmaa69
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    Feb 21st 2020, 12:20 PM

    ..

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    Mute Emmaa69
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    Feb 21st 2020, 11:47 AM

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    Mute Susan O'flaherty
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    Feb 21st 2020, 8:14 AM

    Gerry now part of sinn fein negotiations team. Definitely glad I didnt vote for sf

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