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Here's what Dublin's newest Wetherspoons looks like

The Old Borough in Swords will open its doors next week.

[image alt="" src="http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2015/07/10501802_838318116276424_2099716630083204547_n-630x472.jpg" width="630" height="472" title="" class="alignnone" /end]

A LANDMARK BUILDING in the north Dublin town of Swords will become JD Wetherspoon’s latest Irish outlet next week.

The UK chain bought one of the town’s biggest pubs, the Old Boro, which closed its doors for the last time almost a year ago.

It will open again next week as The Old Borough, bringing Wetherspoons’ trademark cheap drinks and all-day opening to a fourth Dublin suburb.

Here’s what it now looks like inside:

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The building on Main Street was a schoolhouse for 191 years before it closed its doors for the last time in 2000. It then became the Old Boro pub.

It was originally designed by the architect Francis Johnston, who is best known for the design of Dublin’s GPO.

Wetherspoons says it has spent €2.8million on the refurbishment.

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Written by Michael Freeman and originally published on DailyEdge.ie

DE Syndication

Read: Here’s the full list of prices for Wetherspoon’s Irish pubs

Read: ‘Irish pubs need lower prices to survive’: Wetherspoon’s boss gives his take on boozers

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59 Comments
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    Mute Chelseajoe
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    Jul 17th 2015, 8:05 PM

    Currently drinking a pint at €5.20 just up the road. They’ll be getting my business.

    440
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    Mute Sunshine on a rainy
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    Jul 17th 2015, 8:11 PM

    Sitting in a bar in cologne, €2,80 for a lovely German lager.

    233
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    Mute O Swetenham
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    Jul 17th 2015, 8:23 PM

    I’m standing in a field somewhere in Meath drinking Creme de Menthe…can’t remember how much it cost.

    1145
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    Mute Philip Cavanagh
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    Jul 17th 2015, 9:25 PM

    Not even a red thumb. You’ve just won the journal my friend.

    70
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    Mute Stephen Kavanagh
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    Jul 17th 2015, 9:30 PM

    It’s far from Creme de Menthe you were reared!

    109
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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Jul 17th 2015, 10:08 PM

    Drinking in a field in Larne drinking a bottle of buckfast lovely jubbly.

    30
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    Mute Sean O'Malley
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    Jul 18th 2015, 12:02 AM

    lol!!!!

    15
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    Mute Hugh Courtney
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    Jul 18th 2015, 10:09 AM

    Will be getting my business to Joe

    2
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    Mute monissen
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    Jul 17th 2015, 8:20 PM

    Tried the one in Blanch. To me (not Irish, from Germany) this concept has no atmosphere at all and never can compete against an Irish pub. This is functional drinking like fast food is McDonalds. Sure, the prices are reasonable, but I prefer to support my local pub. The consumer has the power.

    315
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    Mute Sunshine on a rainy
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    Jul 17th 2015, 8:26 PM

    In your home country right now, great beer, great food. And I avoid Irish bars like the plague abroad..

    113
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    Mute Dave Alexander
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    Dec 4th 2015, 9:13 PM

    Guten abend mein Herr,it is not an Irish Pub it’s and Englander Pub Chain,if you don’t like you have right to not return.And keep getting ripped of by the Irish Pubs.Please don’t get me wrong ich arbeiten in Germany quite a lot,and enjoy German bier,I have worked On several places,Frankfurt,Dusseldorf, Weissebaden und Heidelburg. Being zn older Au
    ssie I enjoy a good English Real Ale’s,like Marsdons Old Peculiar,Old Empire etc. The choice is yours.
    A

    1
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    Mute Aaron D
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    Jul 17th 2015, 7:54 PM

    I hope I get this much free press when I open a pub

    292
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    Mute Dylan Drein
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    Jul 17th 2015, 7:58 PM

    I still dont understand how so many pubs are closing down saying they can’t afford to stay open when Wetherspoons sells drink for half the price, is still clearly making a profit, and seems to only be going from strength to strength.

    197
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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
    Favourite Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Jul 17th 2015, 8:03 PM

    Jesues wept! Because they have 20,000 employees, 1,000 pubs and an income of about 115 million. Economies of scale and purchasing power

    254
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    Mute Dylan Drein
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    Jul 17th 2015, 8:22 PM

    None of their individual pubs operate at a loss, or they’d be closed down. My question was if their pub can operate and make a profit with those prices why can’t others?

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    Mute Sunshine on a rainy
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    Jul 17th 2015, 8:25 PM

    But the individual pubs are getting beer and food etc through the buying power of a huge company; they’re not paying the same prices for their wares as a regular family owned bar.

    156
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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Jul 17th 2015, 8:27 PM

    Jesues Dylan really??? Their wholesale cost for beer is a fraction of what your normal pub pays. In fact Heineken and Diagio have both suspended sails to weather spoons over price demands from weather spoons. Pretty sure I shouldn’t need to explain economies of scale

    They also pay min wage.

    118
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    Mute Sunshine on a rainy
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    Jul 17th 2015, 8:30 PM

    In fairness Wayne, id say most bars pay min wage, not just Weatherspoons.

    99
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    Mute Dylan Drein
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    Jul 17th 2015, 8:31 PM

    No need to be a dick, Wayne. Simple question is simply answered. My brain took the day off.

    116
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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Jul 17th 2015, 8:39 PM

    It was answered the first time “economies of scale”

    26
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    Mute Derek Durkin
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    Jul 18th 2015, 12:25 AM

    Also the bigger the company you are the less taxes you pay….kind of helps.

    7
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    Mute Stephen Feerick
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    Jul 18th 2015, 2:40 AM

    Try running a bar as an indepentent trader…then you might understand

    1
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    Mute Dave Alexander
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    Dec 4th 2015, 10:04 PM

    As usual the usual sob stories,JDW’s Outgoing’s are massive they were the Company that started CAMRA On other words a fair Pint,plus most of their Beers are Shipped in by DHL around about once a week (Please don’t quote me On these comments) They are doing well because they take care of their Staff,”It’s not Rocket Science” I notice so many negative comments,but think that this On the 1st time that the Irish Publican has had Competition, first Ireland hsd Aldi & Lidl’s now JDW’s are here and their not going away.I rest my Case!

    1
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    Mute Dave Alexander
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    Dec 4th 2015, 10:55 PM

    They pay massive taxes and costs so don’t kid yourself,you guys really are really afraid of staunch competition,and they’er not going away anytime soon.get used to it if you can? Also it was’nt the Dutch or Diagio’s that told JDW’s it was JDW’s telling the Bully Boys to Sling their hook! You really should get your facts correct.Mate.

    1
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    Mute Dave Byrne
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    Jul 17th 2015, 8:06 PM

    I’ve been to the one in Blanchardstown were they sell bottles of Erdinger for 3.95,My local use to charge 5.50. The food is good also but I wouldn’t stay the night out in one.

    155
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    Mute bowie
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    Jul 17th 2015, 8:02 PM

    Yeah, let’s continue to get ripped off by the “poor” Irish publicans

    146
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    Mute Colum Galvin
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    Jul 17th 2015, 7:57 PM

    Two pints off Dutch Gold please barman.

    126
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    Mute Davy Evans
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    Jul 17th 2015, 9:36 PM

    It’ll be like the shit hole before it. Full of knackers fighting every weekend.

    106
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    Mute Dave Alexander
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    Dec 4th 2015, 9:37 PM

    No it want Lad,that is pretty much untrue,this not an Irish Pub but an English Pub Chain,either you like or you don’t the choice is yours Mate.

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    Mute Stephen Kavanagh
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    Jul 17th 2015, 7:59 PM

    Looks sterile. Let’s just keep going to the proper old-school Dublin pubs and ignore this grim cynical exercise

    93
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    Mute Sunshine on a rainy
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    Jul 17th 2015, 8:04 PM

    Let’s keep paying rip off prices in those said same drinking holes.

    132
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    Mute Stephen Kavanagh
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    Jul 17th 2015, 8:08 PM

    Ah they’re still much better though! I’d sooner drink at home than in one of those soulless places, what’s the point?

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    Mute Sunshine on a rainy
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    Jul 17th 2015, 8:10 PM

    It’s who your with, or the simple fact if sitting alone with a newspaper… It’s not open yet, give it a chance!

    60
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    Mute Stephen Kavanagh
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    Jul 17th 2015, 8:33 PM

    You know it’ll be grim, tumbleweeds blowing atound vast empty spaces, I can just picture it

    19
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    Mute Paul Wallace
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    Jul 17th 2015, 8:40 PM

    @stephen the one I went to in dun laoghaire was packed every day I’ve been there. They are doing savage business here.

    63
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    Mute Liz Finn
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    Jul 17th 2015, 9:10 PM

    Our local one isn’t grim at all actually!

    31
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    Mute Stephen Kavanagh
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    Jul 17th 2015, 9:19 PM

    Ok sorry I just want them to be grim

    37
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    Mute seamus
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    Jul 17th 2015, 7:58 PM

    i have used there pubs in the uk they are fine good beer good food and best of all good prices

    89
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    Mute Caitriona Brady
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    Jul 17th 2015, 10:32 PM

    me too…happy days

    1
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    Mute sean nihill
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    Jul 17th 2015, 9:12 PM

    you’d think they’d have dumped the school chairs for that price.

    79
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    Mute O Swetenham
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    Jul 17th 2015, 8:01 PM

    Looks a bit dour to me, but I suppose the cheap booze will brighten it up for some people

    78
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    Mute Dave Alexander
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    Dec 4th 2015, 9:47 PM

    Well Fella let’s put the story straight,1st of all it’s good beer sold Cheaply,not cheap beer sold cheaply.You must be very carefull,as the founder of JDW’s studied Law but never practised it.However their Legal Beagles don’t take too kindly to such words!

    1
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    Mute Dave Alexander
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    Dec 4th 2015, 10:43 PM

    It’s good beer sold cheaply,get it right! Not cheap beer sold cheap,makes. a difference.

    1
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    Mute Noel Falkhall
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    Jul 17th 2015, 7:58 PM

    It’s not Irish so will get lots of positive press as we only knock our own.

    67
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    Mute Sunshine on a rainy
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    Jul 17th 2015, 8:05 PM

    One example of what you’re talking about? Just one.

    62
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    Mute Dean Anderson
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    Jul 17th 2015, 8:20 PM

    Crazy. It’s getting publicity because they’re known to sell cheap drink! And good luck to them I say

    46
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    Mute legoman❗
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    Jul 17th 2015, 7:54 PM

    Looking forward to this for a while now.

    57
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    Mute Robbie Curran
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    Jul 17th 2015, 9:27 PM

    Any one know why there are different prices in the ones in Dun Laoighre and Blanch? Kinda goes against the whole “Chain” idea.

    51
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    Mute noddyflavin
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    Jul 17th 2015, 10:00 PM

    You can’t sit at the bar in Wetherspoons, therefore, it ain’t a bar as far as I’m concerned….

    43
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    Mute tally ho
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    Jul 17th 2015, 8:36 PM

    Nothing like competition in any market to eliminate overcharging. Is there a Wetherspoon Bank? Lots of variable rate hostages here in Ireland?

    35
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    Mute Maximus
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    Jul 17th 2015, 10:13 PM

    McDaids, Kehoes, Nearys the list is endless they are Pubs my friends, World class I’d say. Wetherspoon’s are (Dunnes stores) I was gonna say Tesco’s but they DON’T do zero hour Contracts!.

    34
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    Mute Dave Alexander
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    Dec 4th 2015, 11:01 PM

    Wetheroon’s are Dunnes Stores,On your bike laddie you dinna ken what your takking about!

    1
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    Mute Dave Alexander
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    Dec 4th 2015, 11:05 PM

    You really need to get a life,they probably have the clout to buy Dunnes Stores out!

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    Mute declan leonard
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    Jul 17th 2015, 9:32 PM

    it will be interesting to see what they charge for drinks as the blanchardstown bar is 1 euro a pint dearer than the southside bars.

    21
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    Mute Aoife Ni Ici
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    Jul 17th 2015, 11:44 PM

    According to the Vintners Association…thete are 1.5million ‘problem drinkers’ in Ireland…the (s)electorate…do we really need/benefit from yet another alchohol retail outlet..
    massmarket, minimum wage, ‘mcdonaldsalike’ venue??

    8
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    Mute Integra-Ted
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    Jul 18th 2015, 6:32 PM

    Looks amazing, they have done a great job! Last time I was there it looked like any other disco type pub, and there was a crowd who started a fight with glasses flying, then about 15 Gardai had to come and clear the place out…so hopefully Wetherspoons will change that and have some security at the doors!

    As for those who think it’s nothing compared to a “Real Irish Pub”, just have a look at the beer taps behind the bar next time you’re in one, you know, Heineken(Holland), Carlsberg(Denmark), Budweiser. Miller, Coors(USA) Smithwicks/Guinness(Diageo U.K)…

    7
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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Jul 18th 2015, 6:44 PM

    Was in Badbobs yesterday in Temple Bar and the food and drink was good…

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Jul 19th 2015, 2:09 AM

    We should back our own first I think?

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    Mute Dave Alexander
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    Dec 4th 2015, 11:16 PM

    Why when they continually rip you off! Phil the Proprietor of Farrels thought it was the Best thing that could have happened. Now he’s Publcan but he’s honest,it’s been a long time coming!

    1
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