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Top comments of the week

Did you make the cut?

EVERY SATURDAY MORNING we take a look at all the best comments left on the site by our readers over the past seven days.

This week there was a lot of talk about Prince’s death and negotiations on forming a government.

download Prince in November 2015 Matt Sayles / Invision/AP Matt Sayles / Invision/AP / Invision/AP

The 5 most popular comments this week

1. After a man who killed an infant girl, Vanessa Siatka, in a hit-and-run incident in the Phoenix Park last year was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment with the final two years suspended, Don Juan commented:

Oh dear. 5 years. I’d like to think a child’s life would be worth more than that.

Some 2,308 of you approved.

2. When the sad news of Prince’s death at the age of just 57 broke, Brian Corcoran summed up what a lot of people were thinking with this comment:

Jesus… So far this has been an awful year for losing legends

That one got 1,260 likes.

3. After Vogue Williams said she plans to take LSD for a new RTÉ show, Crocodylus Pontifex wrote:

There is no amount of LSD that would get me through a show starring Vogue Williams

That comment got 1,191 green thumbs.

4. Kershie had this to say about an op-ed from a former waitress on the various kind of customers she had to serve:

So to summarise: Waitress hates job and serving people. The end.

Some 1,156 of you liked that one.

5. On the subject of the man sentenced to five years in prison for Vanessa Siatka’s death, Veronica got 1,058 green thumbs for this remark:

Not only that, but the garlic man got more than a child-killer!

The top 5 articles which received the most comments this week

1. The Pope has taken in three refugee families (353 comments)
2. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael finish talks for the evening, but no deal yet on Irish Water (305 comments)
3. Irish parents are stopping their children from getting a cervical cancer vaccine – but why? (260 comments)
4. Poll: Do you think your TV licence is good value for money? (202 comments)
5. Do you think the electorate are to blame for the political deadlock? (199 comments)

Standout comments

frances-fitzgerald-11-390x285 RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

As Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil held more talks on forming a government, james had this thought about a photo of Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald:

It looks like she’s being interviewed on Transfer deadline day.

That’s not too wide of the mark.

Yesterday ESB released images to mark 70 years since the launch of its Rural Electrification Scheme.

re_before-and-after-5-390x285 ESB ESB

This prompted Dain Flemming to write:

I wish that this model had been the one used for the roll out of Broadband in Ireland….

On another note, Phil O’ Meara had this to say about Donald Trump’s plan to build a wall at Doonbeg Golf Club in Co Clare:

Trump- “We are going to build an Atlantic Wall………….and we are going to make the Atlantans pay for it!”

Could legitimately be a quote from the man himself.

Home of the Mother / YouTube

Tributes poured in after the death of Sister Clare Theresa Crockett (33), a nun from Derry, in an earthquake in Ecuador.

Martin Byrne commented:

Atheist or believer – doesn’t matter. Here was a selfless person who did what she could to bring more happiness into the world. This was a tragic and pointless ending. May she rest in peace.

British comedian Victoria Wood died after a short battle with cancer at the age of 62. Many of you shared your memories of her when the sad news was announced.

Eyepopper wrote:

Ahh jaysus, seems like everyone from my childhood is being taken this year….“Beat me on the bottom with the womans weekly…”RIP Ms Wood
She was brilliant, and I don’t use that word lightly.I found her hilarious, as did my mum – who is in her 80′s. It’s not easy to achieve that sort of broad appeal.That song will always stick in my head… a great loss, and way too young to go.

While @Aoifs2707 commented:

So sad to hear this. She was so funny & talented,and gave us many reasons to smile for so many years. RIP

During the week, footage of a TV reporter saving a man from a flood in Houston was widely shared online.

SnoozeCruiser / YouTube

It prompted Ray Hyland to share this useful advice:

I read somewhere that the metal forks at the bottom of your headrest will smash a car door window very easily. Might come in handy one day.

shutterstock_374359543-390x285 Shutterstock / Vytautas Kielaitis Shutterstock / Vytautas Kielaitis / Vytautas Kielaitis

The Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (ASAI) ruled that Toyota can no longer refer to its vehicles with the tagline ‘The Best Built Cars in the World’.

This led O’Brien Boru to write:

Easy fix to: “Probably” the best built cars in the world. I’m sure Carlsberg won’t mind.

Good suggestion.
https://www.facebook.com/abc7news/videos/10154167334412079/

Meanwhile, a duck who lost its feet to frostbite is back up and walking thanks to 3D technology.

This good news story brought out the best of you in terms of puns.

P. ENNIS wrote:

Lucky duck!

While Richard Cynical commented:

he must have gone to a good quack

And Philip Farrelly added:

Easy enough job, a bit of duck tape, your only man.

You can’t beat a good pun, to be fair.

download Angus Young, left, and Brian Johnson performing last year. Winslow Townson / AP/Press Association Images Winslow Townson / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images

After AC/DC’s Brian Johnson released an emotional statement about his hearing loss, baroness dent noted:

There’s a bigger issue here though. The decibel levels at gigs, bars and nightclubs are often excessive. There doesn’t appear to be any effort made to ensure they keep their levels to within legal limits. I wonder how many people working in this sector, be in musicians, bar staff etc have suffered hearing loss or tinnitus as a result of exposure to excessively loud music?

During the week, there was outrage – some mild, some full blown – over plans to change the wrappers on Roses sweets.

download (1) Cadbury PA Cadbury PA

Motherofdivinejebus shared what sounds like the plot to a confectionary-based horror film:

No need to change the wrappers, Personally, I like the thought of a a scared,naked toffee lying there amidst all of his dead mates skins.

Meanwhile Ciara Kennedy noted:

I miss the foil wrap on dairy milk. Swear it tasted better..

However, Motherofdivinejebus came to the rescue:

You should try the 30 meter tin foil roll in Supervalu, Absolutely massive it it!

Although Ivan Gardiner made a valid point:

Harsh on your fillings though…

So sensible.

Finally, several readers paid tribute to Castle Leslie owner Sir John ‘Jack’ Leslie who died at the age of 99.

Al Ca had this to say:

Jack once showed me around Castle Leslie while I was working there, he was very proud of it’s fittings, furniture and history. He was witty and a gentleman….never met anyone with a bad word to say about him…..that’s rare.
RIP Jack.

While Father Spodo Komodo and Original Dodgy Boy were impressed by his love of raves:

I loved the story of him going to Ibiza for his 85th. RIP to the auld raver.
He was some man for the raves , if i have the energy he had at his age i will be delighted, he lived life to the max, RIP you legend :)

See any good comments? Send them to orla@thejournal.ie.