What’s your most controversial opinion? Read OP Mod Warning in Post #8023

Nathan Jessep · 22-02-2026 04:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124256617#Comment_124256617

Was panic in Government as the increase of children needing specialist treatment increased due to immigration from 3rd world when consanguineous marriage and birth defect are common, so they prematurely pulled the trigger to be seen to be doing something.

No one wants to see children suffering, large scale suffering reported in the media would bring down the Government of the day, remember VAT on childrens shoes in 1982?

That boondoggle is directly down stream from immigration.

adaminho · 22-02-2026 04:15PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124256637#Comment_124256637

What are you on about? There was no large scale immigration in the 90's when the children's hospital was first mentioned. Now you are blaming them for bringing down the government in 1982. By the way VAT on kids shoes were not the reason the Government fell.

Mother Shaboobu · 22-02-2026 05:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124255692#Comment_124255692

Of course there'll be anti church people among them. Nothing controversial there.

Rocket_GD · 22-02-2026 05:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124256669#Comment_124256669

Old person doesn’t like foreigners, it’s hardly shocking.

hhmmm? · 22-02-2026 06:13PM

My unpopular opinion is that Andrew Tate talks a lot of sense.

Hotblack Desiato · 22-02-2026 07:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124255692#Comment_124255692

It's no wonder given the past and ongoing behaviour of that church. Still refusing to fully open up records and properly compensate survivors of abuse. Still covering up for bishops who shielded paedophiles. Still putting the financial interests of their organisation above all else. Still trying to absolve itself of responsibility for the abuses carried out by religious orders run under the direction of the church.

If churches in this country were made out of wood, not stone, we'd have seen quite a few burnings by now, like in Scandinavia.

A proper country should not be making disabled, homeless, and other marginalised people depend on services delivered through so-called charities (so-called, because the taxpayer is paying)

Just because we've always used that outsourced (but with the taxpayer, not the church, paying) model ever since the foundation of the State doesn't mean that it's a good idea.

Hotblack Desiato · 22-02-2026 07:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124255955#Comment_124255955

What a complete load of BS.

We shouldn't make our policy decisions in Ireland on the basis of what some random politician in some random place thousands of miles away did or didn't do. It's just not relevant to us at all.

So what if the budget per capita in Florida is low, it's a Republican shîthole that doesn't want to provide services to the less well off in society.

So what if the budgets of 47 states are smaller than NYC's? A lot of US states have smaller populations than NYC and/or are Republican shítholes

Totally disingenuous comparisons on your part.

Then you start induging your Austrian corporal fantasies. 500,000 people to be deported for no other reason than you like a big round number. Any criteria at all for deciding who, apart from this maybe?

Every crime by an Irish person did not have to happen, either. The whole thing about tarring immigrants as criminals is both racist and a lie.

Hospital overcrowding - clearly you have no clue as to the numbers of immigrants working in our health system, and no they're there to look after Irish people not just other immigrants.

Immigrants clogging up the M50 - jaysus that's a good one.

Immigrants do not get priority in schools. That's just another racist lie.

Then you call immigrant families low IQ and inbred. Maybe look a bit closer to home for plenty of examples of that.

Hotblack Desiato · 22-02-2026 07:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124256618#Comment_124256618

So you like Russians. How unsurprising.

Mother Shaboobu · 22-02-2026 08:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124257163#Comment_124257163

I detest the scumbag, but in fairness, you've posted an actual controversial opinion to this long thread of posts which are overwhelmingly not controversial at all!

joeyboy11 · 22-02-2026 08:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124255955#Comment_124255955

Let's of common sense here that many people can't see for some strange reason

Ozymandius2011 · 22-02-2026 08:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124257359#Comment_124257359

That's all true. But all of the cases against priests in Ireland now are historical ones relating to 2002 and before from what I can see. That shows the vetting of new priests is working. Some goes back to the 60s or even earlier. I think that also shows how seriously post-1992 Ireland has taken the issue of justice for the victims compared to the US, UK when it comes to cases like Epstein, Harvey Weinstein, the late Jimmy Saville etc.

Now, I'm not saying the Irish state has done enough. I think we need to change the Constitution so the State can seize assets of the Church to pay compensation to victims. The Church has not even fulfilled its obligations under the much criticised Redress Scheme about 25 years ago that required 50:50 State-Church share of the payment of compensation.

Can the same be said about the vetting of new ambassadors, Presidents and cabinet members in the US and UK?

silliussoddius · 22-02-2026 08:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124257163#Comment_124257163

Does he own a stopped clock?

Hotblack Desiato · 22-02-2026 11:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124257603#Comment_124257603

There are still recent cases of sex abusers becoming seminarians, if not quite making it to the priesthood

How exactly do you "vet" someone with no prior convictions or allegations against them? Gut feeling? And it's not as if the church can afford to be choosy these days. I'd have to question what sort of individual would sign up to such a life these days, it's not mentally healthy

And what parent in the 21st century would let their kids near a priest?

The RCC has vast amounts of money yet is always looking for more. Billions worth of under-utilized and unused properties in Ireland, often in cities on sites worth a fortune. They're happy to sit on that wealth rather than use it for the benefit of their victims or other worthy causes - this wealth came from the Irish people, including many living in poverty due to RCC-enforced large families. They would be run out of the country at gunpoint if we had any national pride, after what they've done.

Ozymandius2011 · 22-02-2026 11:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124258083#Comment_124258083

I think we shouldn't tar everyone with the same brush. My local priest in the 1980s didn't have any accusations against him. The last Magdalene laundry closed in the 1990's. I think the remoteness of the Vatican is a big part of the problem. As a global organisation it can hide it's money easier to avoid paying compensation.

The Catholic Church, Lutherans, Anglicans/Episcopalians and Presbyterian churches are more sympathetic to the Palestinians than the Evangelical Protestant churches in the US.

KissMeArse · 23-02-2026 07:20AM

The winter Olympics is/was some load of absolute ****. I could just never understand how it gets so much publicity and coverage despite the fact that the vast majority of the world’s population live in regions where such a tiny percentage will ever even see snow, let alone engage in any snow related activities. It’s rammed down our throats by the media being this big important event (I suspect just because it has the word “Olympics” in it) but as above I question how many people around the globe can relate to it in any way. The sight of two fellas lying on each other zipping down a slope on a sled thing is fairly laughable tbh. I get that the summer Olympics also has its fair share of ridiculous events but at least people can relate to many of them. Any able bodied person in the world can get out and try run 100m/200m as quick as they can, jump as far as they can or a bit of sparring with someone etc, they are at least all relatable to the common person and something anyone could have a crack at if even to see how impressive it is for the athletes to do these things in record times/performances at the peak of their ability etc.

I’m not dismissing the achievements of the winter Olympians or anything, just feel the coverage it gets and how it’s made out to be this massive event we all need to be across and kept informed of daily is undeserved based on most people around the globe not having a clue wtf they’re looking at and who’ll only ever see snow through a screen.

Iscreamkone · 23-02-2026 08:03AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124258346#Comment_124258346

Spot on!

And the Winter Olympics is so posh. Rugby is way behind in poshness and that’s saying something.

Also, no brown faces - anywhere.

sock.rocker* · 23-02-2026 08:09AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124258346#Comment_124258346

Could not disagree more. I tuned in most days for a while and really enjoyed them.

Watching Klaebo power up that hill was more "relatable" than any event in the Summer Olympics imo. Even though he's wearing skis, it was just so obviously insanely powerful and awe-inspiring, more so than anything I can think of in the Summer Olympics, where there is usually no good frame of reference for the swimmers or runners or pole jumpers etc. and how fast or high they are actually going.

My wife has never seen snow and was captivated by the luge / bobsleigh stuff. She was watching it saying "Oh my God that's how fast I drive on the motorway." It's so clearly a ridiculous thing to do at such speeds. Like I don't know about you but I doubt that many people watch the 100m sprint thinking "Oh my God that's how fast I drive in the housing estate."

Same with stuff like the downhill skiing. Look at what happened Vonn flying off the course and getting airlifted away. Like she crashed at 70mph and wrecked herself. People can look at a drone going down a mountain behind these people and be completely blown away by the crazy speed and danger and real risk of it all.

Then there is all of the gorgeous ice skating etc. I have watched Alysa Liu's performance at least ten times and the song is stuck in my head since I first saw it. The Summer Olympics does not have anything that comes close to the sheer beauty of that. Ask your own family who their favourite Olympic stars are and they will probably say Torvill and Dean, not Usain Bolt.

Some people may like watching sprinters and swimmers and things like the beam or whatever, but I want to see downhill skiing and cross country skiing with guns and beautiful ice skating and curling and bobsleigh and mad bâstards flying the length of a football field through the air.

adaminho · 23-02-2026 09:37AM

The Olympics are usually available as part of the list of free to air sports so are also a cheap programming option. (Winter Olympics are legally protected in the Uk but aren't on the current list in Ireland)

Hoop66 · 23-02-2026 10:09AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124257163#Comment_124257163

My opinion is that peple who say things like "Andrew Tate talks a lot of sense" are probably ill-educated and should certainly not be left alone with children.

Cordell · 23-02-2026 10:35AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124258357#Comment_124258357

Jack Daw · 23-02-2026 10:50AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124257433#Comment_124257433

The whole immigrants prop up our health service argument is nonsense. if it were true then prior to 25 years ago there would've been barely a functioning health service when in reality it's the same as it ever was.

Crimes committed by Irish people are an unfortunate part of life, crimes committed by immigrants are an imported problem that never needed to happen in the first place.

Immigrants generally don't make any country better, they arrive in a country because it was made better.

Cordell · 23-02-2026 11:23AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124258558#Comment_124258558

This should not be forgotten or memory holed: https://www.thejournal.ie/investigates-fine-gael-nurse-agency-fees-6784617-Aug2025/

Having this is a full blown conflict of interest, why improve the conditions for Irish nurses when they can be replaced with cheaper indians and also make some money for the party in the process? And this is the only case that has made the news, judging by the replacement seen over the last few years it seems like there's a proper industry going on.

That being said, health services have improved, at least in my general area. Both public and private sectors have seen huge investments.

Galwayguy35 · 23-02-2026 11:28AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124257163#Comment_124257163

Nah.

Im about as right wing as a person can be but Tate forced women to have sex with him and beat them.

The guy is a c*nt.

Jack Daw · 23-02-2026 11:44AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124258346#Comment_124258346

It barely gets any coverage in Ireland.

It's a great event and should get more coverage, It's 2 weeks every 4 years is all these sports get coverage so it's not exactly rammed down our throats. Also I'd argue it should be used as an opportunity to promote more of these sports and get people access to them. Really we should view ice rinks like a swimming pool and have one built in every large town in Ireland like swimming pools are, it would be a great resource for towns.

Cordell · 23-02-2026 11:57AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124258346#Comment_124258346

the vast majority of the world’s population live in regions where such a tiny percentage will ever even see snow

Not true:

most people around the globe not having a clue wtf they’re looking at

True, most people around the world are extremely stupid, but Winter Olympics is not about them.

The_Kew_Tour · 23-02-2026 12:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124258702#Comment_124258702

We dont even have proper swimming pools though in country.

In fact sports facilities in this country in general are bog standard awful

kowloonkev · 23-02-2026 01:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124258738#Comment_124258738

I think while his point can be disproved, it is true that the vast majority of the world population live in places where there is either no snow or very little snow.

Hotblack Desiato · 23-02-2026 02:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124258558#Comment_124258558

It's not nonsense, they do. It's not as if there were no immigrants working in the health system 25 years ago either.

Your last sentence is just pure pig-ignorant bias & xenophobia. Are Irish immigrants making countries worse around the world, too?

Hotblack Desiato · 23-02-2026 02:13PM

Ballet on skates is not a sport.

Jack Daw · 23-02-2026 02:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259096#Comment_124259096

Irish immigrants moved away because they felt they had better opportunities, the moved because the countries were better than Ireland, they didn't make those countries better they jumped on the bandwagon of countries that were doing well.

I didn't say immigrants made a country worse i said they didn't make it better, there is a difference between those 2 things.

If immigration made Ireland better why was there almost zero immigration to Ireland before the mid 1990's, the great leap forward Ireland made was in the early to mid 90's where 99% of people in the country were either Irish or British. Ireland became a better country from the mid 90's onwards due to improvement in our economy and therefore became more attractive to immigrants and so they jumped on the bandwagon.

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What’s your most controversial opinion? Read OP Mod Warning in Post #8023