INTERNET COMMENTERS CAN get a lot of flak sometimes.

However they play a big part here on TheJournal.ie, helping to make the site what it is. Every day several thousand comments are left on the site, shaping the discussion and kickstarting some lively debates (and despite what some commenters might believe, only a tiny number ever have to be deleted).

We’ve compiled a list of the 10 comments which received the most thumbs up from other readers this year. As you might expect, some of the most popular comments were among the first posts on a breaking news story, expressing what many people felt about an issue. Some were funny, some insightful and some were sympathetic.

So here are the 10 comments with the most thumbs up this year. And before you ask – no, we’re not going to do a list of the comments which received the most thumbs down. That would be too cruel.

1. The most popular comment this year was by Leslie Alan Rock on an article about – unsurprisingly – Irish Water, getting 7,089 thumbs up for this: 

Exempt from f.o.i. just proves how corrupt it all is

Niall Carson / PA Wire Niall Carson / PA Wire / PA Wire

2. In second place was Art Vandelay, who got 5,731 thumbs up for this suggested cure amid reports that the HSE had ruled out Ebola for a Dublin patient:

Flat 7up,be grand…

woody1778a woody1778a

3. Fatray Kennedy got 5,358 thumbs up for this comment, which was also about Irish Water and which got a lot of support from readers :

Imagine instead if the outrage on social media and ringing joe Duffy everybody took to the streets in protest.
They would be the end of Irish water.

Mark Stedman / Photocall Ireland Mark Stedman / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

4. This somewhat wry comment from Ben Dover on the article about Joan Burton being trapped in her car by protesters in Jobstown got 4,976 thumbs up:

People seem to be really annoyed with this government

Paul Murphy Paul Murphy

5. Daryl Kevin summed up the feelings of a lot of people about the whole Garth Brooks thing, getting 4,737 thumbs up for this comment on the article confirming that all five concerts in Dublin had been cancelled:

Please God let that be the end of that

Laura Hutton / Photocall Ireland Laura Hutton / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

6. A lot of readers were unimpressed by the antics of a group of Irish students who allegedly caused major damage to an apartment they stayed in during the summer in San Francisco. Michael Kirby got 4,710 thumbs up for this:

Wow name and shame! They shouldn’t get away with that. Disgrace!

7. Ben Redline got 4,600 thumbs up from readers for his comment on the tragic story about twin 9-year-old brothers Thomas and Paddy O’Driscoll who were killed by their older brother Jonathan in Cork before taking his own life:

Children’ and ‘Stabbing’ these words should not be in the same sentence. What’s wrong with this world?

Niall Carson / PA Wire Niall Carson / PA Wire / PA Wire

8. Readers had a lot to say about John Gilligan being shot at a christening party in Dublin in March. Comfortably Numb got 4,495 thumbs up for this contribution:

The calibre of hitmen we have in this country is shocking,you’d think the government would step in and give them some much needed training.

Niall Carson / PA Wire Niall Carson / PA Wire / PA Wire

9. Readers also had a lot to say about the Garth Brooks debacle over the summer. N got 4,482 thumbs up for this succinct comment:

Garth Brook$

Mark Humphrey / PA Wire Mark Humphrey / PA Wire / PA Wire

10. Last but not least, the 10th most popular comment this year came from Gerry Campbell who got 4,357 thumbs up on an article by a 17-year-old about the death of his cousin, who was given a clean bill of health, walked out of the Mater Hospital in Dublin, and took his own life:

Conor McNally , it’s you and like minded young fellas , that are the future of this country , never give up on your friends, and don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions . What a well written piece, best of luck in your exams, somehow I feel luck won’t need to be called on .

Garda Press Office Garda Press Office

All figures correct at the time of being compiled

And just for comparison: The 10 most popular comments on TheJournal.ie in 2013 >

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