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The man has been jailed for 18 months. Shutterstock/visa netpakdee

Irish man from 'Rathkeale Rovers' smuggling gang jailed in Miami for trafficking a rhino horn

Michael Hegarty was arrested in Belgium following an international arrest warrant.

AN IRISH MAN who was connected to US smuggling syndicate ‘the Rathkeale Rovers’ has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for trafficking a rhino horn.

Michael Hegarty was handed the prison sentence in a court in Miami, Florida and he will also be subjected to three years of supervised release after he leaves prison.

The rhino horn had been carved into the shape of an elaborate drinking vessel, described in court documents as a libation cup.

In May 2014, Hegarty was indicted with charges of conspiring to traffic a libation cup made from an endangered rhinoceros. He was also charged with attempting to smuggle the rhino horn from the US to the UK.

The US Department of Justice said that Hegarty and co-defendant Richard Sheridan purchased the libation cup from an auction house in North Carolina.

They then transported the cup to Florida and falsified documentation to smuggle the cup from the United States.

Hegarty was caught in January of this year in Belgium after US authorities issued an international arrest warrant through Interpol.

Ed Grace of the US Fish and Wildlife Service says the imprisonment of Hegarty is “a message” to would-be smugglers.

“Today’s sentencing sends a message to those who profit from the slaughter and illicit trade of wildlife, you will be caught and prosecuted no matter where you hide,” Grace said.

“I commend our special agents who connected this defendant to the Rathkeale Rovers, a transnational organised crime syndicate responsible for trafficking endangered rhinoceros products worldwide,” he added.

The conviction came as part of Operation Crash, an enforcement operation in the US designed to crack down on the sale and trafficking of rhino horn.

Read: Man caught at Sri Lankan airport with a kilogramme of gold hidden in his rectum >

Read: Californian man accused of smuggling 3 king cobras in crisp cans >

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    Mute RIP
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    Dec 11th 2024, 10:51 AM

    The Greatest song writer of our time

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    Mute ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere
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    Dec 11th 2024, 11:57 AM

    @RIP: Paul Simon is not bad either.

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    Mute Paul Bannon
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    Dec 11th 2024, 1:11 PM

    @RIP: Yep, he is definitely up there alongside the late, great, Kris Kristofferson.

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    Mute damien leen
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    Dec 11th 2024, 1:17 PM

    @RIP: rough to choose between him, Leonard Cohen & of course Shane McGowan…for sheer body of work Bob would be top I guess.

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    Mute Noddy Mooney
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    Dec 11th 2024, 1:27 PM

    @damien leen: what about Tom Waits? The greatest storyteller of them all.

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    Mute Fergus O'Donnell
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    Dec 11th 2024, 1:59 PM

    @Noddy Mooney: yup. A genius, but all of the above are amazing in their own right.
    Bob is so prolific though.
    An amazing wordsmith.

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    Mute SerotoninWars
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    Dec 11th 2024, 2:33 PM

    @RIP: The man had talent no doubt but there’s a tonne of great songwriters. I always wonder why people are so definitive about ‘ the best’ or ‘the greatest’. It’s pretty subjective stuff. There’s been a hell of a lot amazing songs and albums written since his peak.

    He deserves the plaudits for some of his work but you feel there’s a real bias at times due to several factors including the era he’s from on top of the fact that’s it’s very familiar and accessible. A lot of it is bare bones stuff like guitar and voice with maybe a Hammond or whatever thrown in. Nothing wrong with this of course but he’s one of many talented songwriters. I don’t buy into this pyramid with him unquestionably at the very top,

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Dec 11th 2024, 2:41 PM

    @SerotoninWars: It was those lower on the pyramid (Van Morrison, Cohen, Young, Springsteen, Hendrix, Patti Smith, Beatles, etc., etc.) who tended to place him at the very top, and they knew what they were talking about. Leonard Cohen said that Dylan’s Nobel Prize was ‘like pinning a medal on Mount Everest for being the highest mountain’.

    Everything is questionable, of course, but Dylan changed everything.

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    Mute SerotoninWars
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    Dec 11th 2024, 2:55 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: Seismic figure, mo question. I know how widely revered he is. I’m not questioning the quality of some of his music either. I still think this is a highly subjective area. A lot will be down to how you define ‘best’ and ‘greatest’. There’s a lot of components that make a great song. Lyrics, music, intonation, voice, relatability, enlightening aspects.. and many more. The overall effect and impact is arguably the most important. That’s very hard to quantify. He was a talented songwriter, no doubt. I just have a bit of an aversion to these definitive takes on areas like music and art that have more grey areas than definitive bottom lines.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Dec 11th 2024, 2:59 PM

    @SerotoninWars: You’re right about that, of course: it’s highly subjective, and largely about how certain music affected us at important times in our lives.

    For me, hearing a few Dylan albums (Before the Flood, Desire, New Morning) in my mid-teens was seismic indeed.

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    Mute SerotoninWars
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    Dec 11th 2024, 3:21 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: Absolutely. As much as we still get a huge effect from music as we age, it’s hard to escape the suspicion that when we’re young – that mix of naivety, passion, energy and everything firing at 100% – creates an unrepeatable impact.

    I have musical access I could only dream of as a teenager but if I’m being brutally honest I’m not sure many albums have the same overwhelming impact now as when I had a tiny percentage of what I have now. That level of investment and absorption at an age when your passion is running so high, is hard to repeat or recreate.

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    Mute Martin Tailpainter
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    Dec 11th 2024, 5:19 PM

    @damien leen:
    Bob Dylan sold the rights to his 600 songs. Neil Young sold 50% of 1200 songs.
    Shane McGowan, brilliant as he was only wrote about 20 songs.
    I’d give the volume of output award to Neil Young

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    Mute Paul Red
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    Dec 11th 2024, 6:41 PM

    @RIP: please… Lennon and Roger Waters outclassed him regularly nevermind Tom Waits and Elvis Costello

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    Mute Jack
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    Dec 11th 2024, 6:58 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: we can’t dismiss the abundance of talented artists of the last 20 years. They must be at Least on par with those legends mentioned.

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    Mute Jack
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    Dec 11th 2024, 7:25 PM

    @Jack: tongue in cheek of course

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    Mute Adrian Versey
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    Dec 11th 2024, 11:00 AM

    I love Bob and his music. His songs have been an integral part of my life growing up and now. Nobody comes close to him as a songwriter.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Dec 11th 2024, 11:08 AM

    @Adrian Versey: Same here.

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    Mute Dave c
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    Dec 11th 2024, 10:46 AM

    Just horrible live. Worst gig ever

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    Mute Dermot Blaine
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    Dec 11th 2024, 10:49 AM

    @Dave c: not always apparently, but I saw him at the infamous gid at the Point when he stood behind a keyboard for the duration, you couldn’t even pick him out onstage, never said hello or goodbye. Terrible gig.

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    Mute Steven
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    Dec 11th 2024, 10:51 AM

    @Dave c: he’s an old man Dave. His voice used to set him apart in a more positive way

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    Mute Adrian Versey
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    Dec 11th 2024, 10:55 AM

    @Dave c: I love Bob but I have to agree, he is terrible live. I appreciate that’s my experience and some will disagree.

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    Mute Joe Beirne
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    Dec 11th 2024, 11:18 AM

    @Adrian Versey: Had similar experience with Neil Young at the point, more charisma in a sponge

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Dec 11th 2024, 11:22 AM

    @Dave c: He was fantastic live at some points in his career, especially the mid-sixties and mid-seventies.

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    Mute Fergus O'Donnell
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    Dec 11th 2024, 2:00 PM

    @Adrian Versey: yes. I’m a big fan and have seen him live several times. He’s not great live but I enjoyed just being there!

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    Mute Kevin Dillon
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    Dec 11th 2024, 3:24 PM

    @Dermot Blaine: 2003? was at that gig and was truly awful. Seen Bowie a week later at the same venue and was one of the best gigs I was ever at. Chalk and Cheese.

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    Mute Dermot Blaine
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    Dec 11th 2024, 4:57 PM

    @Kevin Dillon: think so, but I’m not 100% sure on the date

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    Mute Rory Murphy
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    Dec 11th 2024, 10:58 AM

    The answer my friend is blowing in the wind.

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    Mute Ann Nugent
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    Dec 11th 2024, 11:09 AM

    Best songwriter ,he is a legend.

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    Mute Daniel Skelton
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    Dec 11th 2024, 11:05 AM

    “There must be some way out of here…”

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    Mute Pól Pot
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    Dec 11th 2024, 12:53 PM

    @Daniel Skelton: “It’s not a wonder to me that he recorded my songs but rather that he recorded so few of them because they were all his.”

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    Mute Pól Pot
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    Dec 11th 2024, 2:59 PM

    …..it’s really groovy. I’d like to bore you for about six or seven minutes to do a little thing. Excuse me for a minute and let me play my guitar…….
    Right now, I want to do a thing by Bob Dylan. That’s his grandma over there…..

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    Mute Pól Pot
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    Dec 11th 2024, 4:37 PM

    Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right…..

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    Mute honey badger
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    Dec 11th 2024, 11:06 AM

    Don’t listen to much of his stuff, but Blood on the Tracks is one of my favourite albums.

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    Mute Dermot
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    Dec 11th 2024, 11:02 AM

    The times they are a-changin’

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    Mute Temp Stuff
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    Dec 11th 2024, 2:49 PM

    @Dermot: he certainly had a tendency to be an expert in the obvious

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    Mute Kevin Kerr
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    Dec 11th 2024, 10:53 AM

    Grew up on a diet of Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, Desire and Slow Train Coming (in descending order of preference). Got into his earlier stuff later in life. None of the 3 choices in the poll really suit me!

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    Mute Freda Peeple
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    Dec 11th 2024, 10:59 AM

    @Kevin Kerr: It sounds like you used to be cool Kevin, what happened??

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    Mute SerotoninWars
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    Dec 11th 2024, 2:39 PM

    @Kevin Kerr: Same! I don’t adore him in an obsessive fan kind of way. The songs I love aren’t the hits. And I definitely don’t totally dislike him! I respect and enjoy the great songs he wrote but I find the widespread assumption and received wisdom that he is the best to ever do it a bit odd and unconvincing.

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    Mute Kevin Kerr
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    Dec 11th 2024, 5:15 PM

    @SerotoninWars: speaking of iconic protest/folk artists – I’ve just seen a post/photograph on FB of Joan Baez in Sandycove yesterday. She went there for a dip, apparently, and she looks amazing!

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    Mute SerotoninWars
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    Dec 12th 2024, 12:13 AM

    @Kevin Kerr: I found the pics! Amazing! Another legend! Great to see her looking so well. What an honour for the Irish sea haha!

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    Mute Me Me
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    Dec 11th 2024, 11:01 AM

    Music, yes. Voice, no.

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    Mute Ciaran Enright
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    Dec 11th 2024, 11:23 AM

    Slow Train Coming – Excellent

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    Mute Dermot Blaine
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    Dec 11th 2024, 5:00 PM

    @Ciaran Enright: pardon the pun, but God no! Awful stuff.

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    Mute Freda Peeple
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    Dec 11th 2024, 11:01 AM

    Not a big fan but he has some great tunes, gotta serve somebody, and Mississippi are two getting played a lot recently.

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    Mute Kevin O'Brien
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    Dec 11th 2024, 4:08 PM

    When you ain’t got nothin’, you’ve got nothin’ to lose.
    One of the greatest songwriters of all time. His stamp is all over music to this day. An absolute living legend, in my opinion.

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    Mute P. V. Aglue
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    Dec 11th 2024, 11:00 AM

    “The answer my friend is blowing in the wind, the answer is blowing in the wind”

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    Mute Andrew Speers
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    Dec 11th 2024, 11:07 AM

    Maybe a great songwriter but can’t sing. He is the worst singer I’ve ever come across, he’s absolutely rubbish. I wouldn’t go and see him even if I were paid to.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Dec 11th 2024, 11:18 AM

    @Andrew Speers: The fact that you don’t like his voice doesn’t mean that he can’s sing. His voice is (or was) the perfect instrument for putting his songs across, therefore he’s a great singer. Without that voice he would never have achieved the success he did.

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    Mute Trump24
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    Dec 11th 2024, 2:13 PM

    Some amazing songs

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    Mute SerotoninWars
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    Dec 11th 2024, 4:43 PM

    @Trump24: Odd! Trump and his entire worldview and behaviour is exactly the kind of thing Dylan was against and sang about in his songs. Prejudice, bigotry, corruption, narcissism, propaganda, dishonesty…have you actually listened to the lyrics in any of his songs?!

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    Mute Rachel Mountney
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    Dec 11th 2024, 2:07 PM

    Give me Joni Mitchell over Bob any day :)

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    Mute David O Brien
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    Dec 11th 2024, 2:37 PM

    @Rachel Mountney: A legend in her own right.

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    Mute Brian Murphy
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    Dec 11th 2024, 11:51 AM

    Met him, and he was extremely rude.tg he wasn’t my hero.never liked his whining music.

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    Mute Fergus O'Donnell
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    Dec 11th 2024, 2:02 PM

    @Brian Murphy: yea. I’m sure he was delighted to meet you too. lol.
    Get over yourself Brian.

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    Mute Brian Murphy
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    Dec 11th 2024, 5:10 PM

    @Fergus O’Donnell: I was stating a fact, go troll somewhere else.

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    Mute Padraig O'Brien
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    Dec 11th 2024, 4:27 PM

    You’d never think to look at him that he was famous long ago
    For playing the electric violin on desolation row!

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    Mute thomas molloy
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    Dec 11th 2024, 12:08 PM

    The answer is blowing in the wind.

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    Mute stephen deegan
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    Dec 11th 2024, 11:27 AM

    Great songwriter. Unfortunately his fame has overtaken his ability these days.

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    Mute Dan Murphy
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    Dec 11th 2024, 5:26 PM

    I did but,The Times They Are A-Changin

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    Mute Zardok
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    Dec 11th 2024, 6:21 PM

    Dusty old man music. Better off listening to Lil Yachty.

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    Mute Cathal O'Brien
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    Dec 12th 2024, 2:38 PM

    The noble prize is surely more remarkable than the 10 grammies

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    Mute tony mc g
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    Dec 11th 2024, 6:54 PM

    Even the president of the united states sometimes has to stand naked.

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    Mute Pat Corr
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    Dec 11th 2024, 6:48 PM

    A great singer/songwriter. But atrocious live. I was at the Nowlan Park gig in Kilkenny years ago, and he was dire until he came out to do an encore. Then he was brilliant for about 4 songs.
    People also forget he was in the Traveling Wilburys with Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, George Harrison and Jeff Lynne. The first supergroup.

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