Top comments of the week

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

The sad passing of TV presenter Bill O’Herlihy and the success of the same-sex marriage referendum got a lot of you talking.

So here are the standout comments from the week that was.

The 5 most popular comments this week

Bill O'Herlihy Photocall Ireland Photocall Ireland

1. Arthur Pewty paid a simple tribute to Bill O’Herlihy:

“Okey Doke, we’ll leave it there so” RIP Bill. :(

5,477 of you approved.

2. A lot of you - 5119- green-thumbed P O Leary.‘s comment, where he shared his negative experience at a recent communion.

Was at a communion two weeks ago and the local travellers ruined it for most people. Blocked the car park with the limos and filled half the seats in the church that was reserved for families(they refused to move)
The small traveller kids ran around the church screaming all during the service and the priest had to stop mass twice. They are a bloody disgrace. Sick of them.
Their response to everything is “that’s discrimination boss” as evident in that video.

3. The passing of the same-sex marriage referendum led Beano to ask an insightful question:

Does this mean we’re all gay now?

Well, does it? 3,636 of you want to know.

4. Roscommon/South Leitrim got a lot of slack for being the only constituency to vote down the marriage referendum. Here’s what Thenaked Goose made of the whole situation:

Because that’s how democracy works? Some agree, some disagree. There is such a thing as over analysing.

3,581 people agreed.

5. Plenty of you commented on an article about Guido Nasi, an Italian man paralysed after being attacked in Dublin. Some 2,490 of you liked danielplainview‘s two cents.

Words cant describe how much of a s(umbag his attacker is. Hes out now living his life while this poor soul is confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Tragic.

The top 5 articles which received the most comments this week

1. Ireland has voted Yes to same-sex marriage (358 comments)

2. Poll: What issue would you like to see a referendum on next? (350 comments)

3. LIVE: Ireland is the talk of the world as voters decide on same-sex marriage (323 comments)

4. How did your constituency vote in the marriage referendum? (312 comments)

5. All the colours of the rainbow: The day Ireland made history (287 comments)

Standout comments of the week

Sebastian Ray D’Arcy Show, RTÉ Radio One Ray D’Arcy Show, RTÉ Radio One

There were some lovely offers of support for Sebastian’s family, who want to give the four-year-old one last Christmas:

Mack John had this idea:

What date are they going to pick for Christmas day? Lets try to get every radio station to play a Christmas song for him, money won’t make him better so lets give him the best Christmas that the rest of Ireland can celebrate with him. What does his family need us to do.

Cora O Riordan wanted to help out too:

Hi Connor I’m really sad to hear about your little Sebastian. My heart is with you and your family x x I’m just wondering if you could tell me what Sebastian’s favourite cake flavour is please I would like to make a cake for him for his special day x x sending lots of love your way x x

Sebastian’s dad Conor was touched by the responses:

Thanks everyone for your kind comments. Seb is asleep on his mum’s lap. :)

In another emotional thread, catherine shared her thoughts on Bill O’Herlihy’s passing:

I actually can’t believe he is gone. He was there so many important sporting events. He was always there in our living rooms. Sharing the joy of the win and the despair of defeat. I had hoped he would make it back to our screens in some way after his retirement. It’s like loosing an old friend almost.

Shutterstock / Ana Blazic Pavlovic Shutterstock / Ana Blazic Pavlovic / Ana Blazic Pavlovic

On a lighter note, people had a lot to say about the most popular baby names in Ireland. Jack and Emily remained the most popular monikers in 2014, but some new names also made it onto the list – including Miley. This led Derry Seery to do some pondering.

Just for the Glenroe reference I’m surprised Miley is getting popular here! I only just remeber Glenroe, must be younger mothers than me picking those names!!

Meanwhile, Jonny Cantwell added:

Jesus, we’ve become very exotic with our names!

Photocall Ireland Photocall Ireland

On a political note, Michele Savage had a simple response to Senator Averil Power’s shock resignation from Fianna Fáil:

FF’s sake!

We’ll leave the final word to Caoimhe Hogan, who had this to say about uniquely Irish flirting techniques:

Once on a night out a fella asked me if we went to the same mass…worse still I actually shifted him

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