Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
EVERY SATURDAY MORNING we take a look at all the best comments left on the site by our readers over the past seven days.
There was a lot of talk this week about the new year, nuclear power, and Lucinda Creighton’s new political party.
So here are the standout comments from the week that was.
The 5 most popular comments this week
1. Catherine Sims got the top spot this week with 3,014 thumbs up for this comment on the article about the funerals of Valerie and Michael Greaney:
2. Next up is Philip Kenna with 1,735 thumbs up for this comment on the poll about whether or not the state pension should be cut:
3. In third place is Mark Malone on the interview with Aisling Conlan, the 22-year-old who played the baby in The Snapper:
4. In fourth place is Were Jammin with this comment about President Higgins signing the Water Services Bill into law:
5. Last but not least, Jason Ebbs got 1,388 thumbs up for this comment on the article about the Dublin restaurant which apologised for calling a child’s assistance dog ‘smelly’:
The top 5 articles which received the most comments this week
1. Opinion: Tragic case of clinically dead pregnant woman highlights our unworkable approach to abortion (368 comments)
2. President Michael D Higgins has signed the Water Services Bill (356 comments)
3. Lipstick ‘traitor’ sign hung on Áras gates as President rubber-stamps contentious bill (296 comments)
4. Open thread: Water charges start from today… Will you be trying to ‘beat the cap’? (243 comments)
5. Poll: Should Ireland consider nuclear power? (240 comments)
The big issue
It’s a new year so that means resolutions. Lots of ‘em. Kathryn summed up what a lot of people were planning:
Get fit.
Relax, take time out with my family and put myself first a bit more.. Basically stop saying ‘Sure’ when I have to stay late at work.
Drive more (a bad accident massively knocked my confidence!)Happy 2015 to you all!
Sabrina has one big hope for 2015:
Get new lungs (CF), Spend more time with family and friends, pass exams. Happy New Year :)
While David Gannon had a slightly more modest one:
I will get more than 4 out of 10 on them weekly quizzes
Laugh of the week
We enjoyed this spot by Dave Davis on this story about the heiress arrested for throwing a tantrum after she was served macadamia nuts she had not asked for:
Standout comments of the week
The comment by a British doctor that cancer is ‘the best way to die’ sparked a major discussion among readers. Gemma Shah movingly described the death of her own mother:
My mother died after a five year battle that we knew was terminal from diagnosis.Initially there was a lot of shock, anger and denial. As time passed there was a lot of desire to really live. She stopped smoking, out went the wine. She went back to work until she was in too much pain to continue.I had a baby and spent a lot of time trying to think of advice I would want from my mum in the future. I was her a home carer and therefore had a lot of quality time with her.Our closest hospice was in Letterkenny County Donegal. We spent a lot of time there in her last year. Mum would go for a couple of weeks at a time to re-jig medications etc. The care and support she received cannot be faulted for even a second. The support our entire family received was outstanding.When it came to her dying it was very sudden. She was fine, then she wasn’t, then she was gone. It was as fast as 48 hours. I have to tell you that I have always felt very blessed and privileged to have been there. The pallative care team managed her pain and distress spectacularly well. In the end she really did just slip away. It was quite beautiful really. Well, as beautiful as watching the woman who brought you into the world leave it could ever be.
As commenters discussed the benefits of mindfulness, Gaius Gracchus explained how his life is different because of it:
I can’t quite put my finger on the day, or even month it happened, but a long time ago I turned into a very cynical young man, around my late teens, it became progressively worse in my 20′s, I was that person who mocked every advert on television and pointed out perceived flaws in films, what a douche. I’d like to think I check myself before I wreck myself these days and keep most of my cynical whinging internalised and embrace the positives of life. That said I still demand evidence and I’m very sceptical of fads, someone’s pockets are getting lined at the end of the day.What am I babbling about? Well, one evening Lady Gracchus told me she was having the most wonderful sleeps lately as a result of a mindfulness App, delighted to have the opportunity presented to me on a plate I knowingly smirked and gave her a look of pity. However, part of my corrective behaviour in trying to be a better person meant I couldn’t keep telling other people to be open-minded if I was not willing to try new things myself. So I did, and be the hokey, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done regarding my sleep, it’s become so routine now going to bed, it’s like having a glass of water or switching off the bedside lamp. The App is just called Mindfulness and it’s free and I use the 15 minute Guided Meditation option, it turns off itself and I’m usually gonzo after 5 minutes, imagine the power of a natural herb that dogs find at airports and you’ll get the drift. Try it tonight, and sleep like a happy log.
Interesting nugget of the week: Gary Curran shared this about the famine memorial statue in Dublin city centre:
The famine statues in the above photo have an interesting story attached. The front three are looking up and were supposed to be placed on Ellis island,looking up at lady liberty . The US government decided that if they allowed this, it would open the floodgates to all emigrant nations, who would want to place a memorial there. So they refused,and they remain on the Quay somewhat different from the other three at the back, that are there to represent the downtrodden passenger’s about to board the ship.
Spot any good comments? Send them on to tips@thejournal.ie
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
My daughter is a social care worker with adults with learning difficulties & in her place of work they still haven’t been tested. All these adults are all live in house’s where she works.
I’d like to see some up to date reports of testing figures. This article quotes 188,837 from last Saturday, even though a figure of 214,761 has been published since then. What is the current figure for community testing?
It is right we test the people in Direct Provision as a priority because they have suffered enough after fleeing war torn countries.
@Frances Faller: nobody should be a priority in this. Everybody needs to be treated the same. Nobody’s health is more or less important than anyone else, does not matter where they came from
@Frances Faller: This is a common misconception. One can claim asylum under many different categories including sexual orientatation
@Ali Ní Dhomhnaill: maybe not a priority but their pleas shouldn’t be falling on deaf ears for weeks now. Money talks – FG don’t want to challenge those making a fortune out it direct provision to implement social distancing.
Also the Irish public just doesn’t care.
@Ali Ní Dhomhnaill: not true. Not everyone has the luxury of isolating themselves. People in direct provision and nursing homes are by default in environments where it’s difficult to isolate and where the virus is more easily transmitted. Tackling these outbreaks helps to eradicate the virus for everyone.
@Frances Faller: but what to do with the with people in direct provision that are making a mockery of the asylum process Pamela Izevbekhai springs to mind, cost the state half a millon Euro.There is no war in Albania, Moldova,Nigeria,Zimbabwe,Pakistan and Bangladesh to name but a few.
@JJandtim Dwyer: The Irish went all over the world and was treated very well and a lot became millionaires. All the refugees want is the same chance.
@Frances Faller: no problem with people coming from war torn countries, but as a certain Judge who is an expert on the topic,stated that 95% of asylum seekers are not telling the truth on why they came to Ireland, but in fact they come for work/migration
@Frances Faller: you are terrible at trolling
@Frances Faller: Have absolutely no problem with people coming here from a war torn country, its their right to seek shelter from tyranny,but I will not be made a fool of by those that spin the most outrageous yarns to gain access to my country.
I am sick to death of this comparison of , The Irish went all over the world , of course they did as they had their land was confiscated and their crops stolen , and were transported for stealing a loaf of bread, They built countries infrastructure , railways , highways, Dams and broke their backs doing it and never requested a nice hotel in the city.with 3 meals a day and weekly payment.
Their is nothing free in this world we al have to do our bit there is no such thing as a free lunch.
@JJandtim Dwyer: Well said. That horse that is usually trotted out about the Irish going “all over the world” when really it was to anglophone countries in the vast majority of cases, and as you rightly point out – it was sink or swim for those Irish souls.
Deport.
Why were they tested? Were they in at risk categories?
The Irish went all over the world and were treated well?? It’s for exactly the opposite reason we should have empathy with asylum seekers ‘ no dogs and no Irish ‘
have your say