2025 Irish Presidential Election

https://twitter.com/tvcritics/status/1733306271137190103

https://twitter.com/thenotoriousmma/status/1733109719273816164?s=46

No bullshit with him.A decent man and proper community activist.
He was well able for the political poker sessions as well.
I wonder whet he would make of Ireland 2023?

Paul Reid is laughing at ye.

No one person personifies Dublin more than McGregor.

The silent majority of decent people in rural Ireland wouldn’t let him near the Aras.

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I think that statement emanates from a place of a lack of knowledge & understanding, or just sheer tribalism. I spent half of my adult life in Dublin. The diversity amongst the different suburbs of Dublin, of Dublin born people, one could pen a whole book on. I would estimate that there are as big a percentage of bad eggs in Ireland’s other cities, as well as it’s towns as villages as there is in the capital, and also the good. Dublin is a wonderful town, but like anywhere, not without it’s vulnerabilities. In comparison to some European capitals, it radiates an inimitable life force, the sharpest of wit, and a surviving pub scene that would strongly rival Manhattan.

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It’s a kip mate.

Dublin is Ireland. One of the best places to be out for a few drinks.

The rest of Ireland is turning into mini America. It’s all about how big your house is and whether you’ve got a robotic lawn mower.

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The soul of the village I grew up in, is on it’s last legs as are the two neighbouring towns. Hotels long closed, almost all the pubs permanently shut, all three banks closed their doors long ago. The GAA club is doing reasonably well, despite like all clubs perhaps outside of Letterkenny, decimated by emigration. I think it’s only a matter of time before rural clubs find a new gear of struggle to field senior teams. So many lads make the jaunt from Dublin, but with rising house prices in the capital, I feel the clubs throughout rural Ireland will see more lads board Aer Lingus as soon as their degree is got. Rural Ireland has been severely neglected by government, but it’s a common theme throughout the EU. Pile as many of the rural born dwellers into a handful of cities to reduce costs. I’m pro EU, but I’m also pro keeping our indigenous culture alive. I suppose with MacGowans passing, it reminds me again of it’s invaluable nature.

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Ya rural Ireland is a very different place now. People don’t know their neighbours as well and a lot of the community type stuff like church or the pubs are dying too. A lot of people mightn’t even go to school in their community anymore also.

A huge change in dynamic.

I love Dublin. I love the mix of people and the nights out.

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Theres many examples of this all over the country . I do a fair bit of travel around ireland. By far the best for keeping towns alive and supporting local is cork in my opinion. Big drives to shop local and support local businesses and community events.

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It takes that initiative, a community buy-in, and organisation. Good on them. I feel that rural Ireland can be overly littered with bitter, sometimes generational disputes, warring neighbours, so many families fragmented by estate disputes, and the arrival of and seeming normalisation of hard drug use. It kind of reminds me of the naivety of the young teenagers in Ballymun, Dolphin’s Barn, Hardwicke Street and Dominic Street when the heroin epidemic took flight in the 80’s. They had no idea what they were dealing with. There’s a real stigma attached to drug use in Sweden, and people aren’t quick to reveal their usage, unlike in Ireland, especially Dublin. It’s like discussing your favourite flavour of Tayto, which is good and bad. It means when the Swedes find they need help to stop, it’s harder for them to admit to anyone they use illicit substances. In urban Ireland, they’re not as handicapped in that regard.

Would you consider yourself to be part of this 'silent majority? Any chance you could start observing the silent part a little more stringently?

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I laughed at this as a neighbour recently invested in one of these robotic lawnmowers.

I couldnt figure out what the moving green light was one night i was out walking recently. Had no idea these things existed.

I’m coming around to the idea too that these one-off houses are doing more harm than good to rural Ireland. If all these one off houses were instead, big housing estates in small villages, they might help ensure the humble corner shops and pubs stayed open.

I love seeing places where young lads living in a village spend their days pucking/kicking around in the GAA/Soccer pitch followed by a stroll down to the shop to buy sweets.

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We’ve been trying to tell ye rural types that for years sure.

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Borrisoleigh would be a fine example

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I was actually going to say “Borrisileigh is a classic of this genre”.

Still three humble corner shops in operation?

No the petrol station monstrosity and the other grocery store. I think both the shops at the pitch end of the village are closed. Only one pub open full time now.

Remember when you went very silent when I showed you an example of clear racism? Because despite your holier than thou projection you were afraid to call out an admin for it because this place is very very important to you. Coward.

Thats a no then.

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