EVERY SATURDAY MORNING, we like to take a look at all the best comments left on the site by you lot over the past week.

This week there was a lot of talk about the sentencing of Patrick O’Brien for the rape of his daughter,the attempt to allow drink-driving in Kerry and Gardaí withdrawing from Croke Park talks. Then there was the Fianna Fáil Senator who won’t get into a taxi with a foreign driver if he can help it, how Mrs Brown’s Boys won sitcom of the year in Britain, and, crucially, whether King or Tayto crisps are better.

So here, in no particular order, are the standout comments from the week that was.

The top 5 articles which received the most comments this week

1. Kerry councillors back plan to allow drink-driving ‘in moderation’ (327 comments)

2. Poll: Should the risk of suicide be included in abortion legislation? (267 comments)

3. Gardaí expected to withdraw from Croke Park talks (246 comments)

4. I won’t choose taxis driven by a foreign driver, says Fianna Fáil Senator (244 comments)

5. Here’s how the world reacted to the Kerry drink-driving story (239 comments)

Some of the best comments left on the site this week

Some people aren’t happy with Subway sandwiches possibly being slightly less than a foot long. McGoo had a popular suggestion:

Given the events of the past week, the appropriate unit of measurement for fast food should be “hands”…

On Thursday we ran this story about how 19 lives had been saved since the introduction of defibrillators at Dublin Airport – including 85-year-old Jack Healy who suffered a cardiac arrest at the airport last September. Steven Healy is Jack’s nephew:

Brilliant work lads. This is my uncle’s life you saved. Jack is a true gent. Someone who loves his golf and I’ve played with many many times over the years. Amazing work ! Had lunch with him today and I couldn’t believe he’s flying around so well. Because of you guys I might even have to give him back all his golf balls! Thanks again.. S

Dublin City Council is asking for opinions from the public about the future of the buildings on Moore Street in Dublin city centre which were used during the 1916 Rising. Eoin Ó Nialláin had this suggestion about making it into a museum:

Exactly what I was thinking Jamie. There are so many great stories from participants on both sides and ordinary civilians from what was a seminal moment in our nations history that have basically been forgotten. What ever people’s retrospective opinion of the 1916 Rising, it remains one of the, if not thee, most important event to happen in Ireland’s modern history. The public deserve to know more about it and the people who were caught up in it.

For anyone who’s ever received a unique, inimitable text from your mother, replete with the kind of text speak usually reserved for 12-year-old girls, Rachael Googins had this story:

I was in Irish class when my mother rang me. Text her saying, “in irish, what’s up?” To which she replies “suas” :)

This archive image of College Green from the mid-1770s showed Dublin city looking a lot greener than usual. However as Conor Dwyer pointed out, it may not have been quite as nice as it seemed:

I really find it hard to believe that it would have been a pristine green as portrayed above! Horse dung, open sewers, other types of rubbish everywhere, would have been typical of any 18th century city.
And if it rained as often then as it does now…. it could have hosted the first Glastonbury mudfest.

If you’ve got lots of money and a burning passion for nostalgia, you may like this vintage Quinnsworth plastic bag dating from 1990, which is being sold for €997. Jamon Decapabanana had a suggestion:

The Rubberbandits might like some expensive evening wear….

Image: Adverts.ie

5 of the comments which received the most thumbs up

Many of the comments in the top ten most thumbed-up this week were either about horse burgers, drink-driving in Kerry, or the sentencing of Patrick O’Brien. Brian O’Rourke had the most popular comment this week with this, the first comment on the article showing how headlines around the world covered the Kerry drink-driving case, receiving more than 2,400 thumbs up:

This would be funny if it wasn’t so serious

Alan Mulvey got 1,439 thumbs up for his comment about the Kerry proposal to allow moderate drink-driving:

What a joke

The Green Monkey had this suggestion for councillors in Kerry who voted in favour of the plan – and got 1,274 thumbs up for it:

Any chance they could set up a mini bus route instead, let the publicans part fund it, customers can contribute and it creates transport employment, job done, VOTE Green Monkey No 1……….

Ciarán Delaney was one of many commenters who were unhappy with Patrick O’Brien initially being released on bail despite being found guilty of the rape of his daughter over the period of a decade, and received more than 1,100 thumbs up:

He should be locked up until his dying breath, I don’t see why ill health is a get out of jail free card when he has roamed the streets for decades since his heinous crimes. Disgraceful

Meanwhile Jim Melia got 905 thumbs up for a similar comment:

Years and years of suffering for the victim, months upon months of work and dedication by gardai only for one judge to make an appalling decision like this, what a total and utter f”””ing disgrace our justice system really is. I’m stunned

Spot any good comments this week? Let us know: mail christine@thejournal.ie with your suggestions