We got reservations, kinda last minute, but they were able to accommodate and even took us 30 minutes early. We had average expectations going in on a Saturday night with some availability. We were pleasantly surprised. My wife's haddock with Irish chetter mash was one of her favorite meals, ever. She kept raving about the tender fish and rich flavors. I got the cod, with asparagus and capers, I like cod, but this was outstanding. The sear was spot on, and the fish was perfectly tender. Cod is easy to overcook, I was impressed. They had multiple affogato options, which was a fun twist for after dinner sweetness. Bread pudding with a side of port was a great ending to a great meal. The service was friendly and attentive. We never felt rushed, and they helped us understand their menu. By the time we left it was packed, we felt the luck of the Irish came through on an impromptu dinner in downtown Dublin. read more

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When we decided on traveling to Dublin, we thought the winding stair looked particularly nice and booked a dinner here. We were very happy we did! The spot is located up a literal winding staircase that takes you into an inviting room that boasts a lovely view of the river below. We didn't go to the third floor, but I can imagine it was equally lovely. They've got an impressive wine list and a moderate beer list that's predominantly bottle. Interestingly they don't have spirits so the mixed drinks are wine cocktails - boss! I tried a white port and tonic drink - seriously next level! I don't often find wine cocktails and even more rarely are they really good! The menu is impressive and seasonal, save the potted crab and haddock, which are on all the time. It should be know for any who dine with our crew, that we share a lot, so everything we had was enjoyed by all 5 of us. The crab was unbelievable! Creamy, flavorful, magical. The beef cheek and fish plate were also perfect for sharing. We also had two scotch eggs - these could have a Klondike bar (look it up youngins!) like marketing campaign! We shared the Haddock and the Pigs on Green Port Tenderloin. Both were awesome, with the Haddock more memorable. We haven't had such delicious mashed fish since Iceland and the cheddar mash and onions were the perfect accoutrement! The chocolate fondant was delicious and the bread and butter bread pudding was life changing. The whiskey sauce is something I'd swim in if given the chance! It was lick the plate good. The service was spot on and we got out of there for about €50 a person, full and happy! The whole evening was excellent and this place definitely deserves the accolades. If you're in the area, you should check it out! read more

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This place was amazing. Came here with a party of 14 so we had a limited menu but everything was great. The pace of service and how they paced the meal drops (1st, 2nd and 3rd course) was perfect. I started with the Warm Pigs on the green pressed ham hock and that was delicious. The crispy rosti paired wonderfully with the hock and I couldn't get enough of the cabbage! My entree was the best part though, Doyle's hand smoked haddock. Holy MOLY, this dish was so creamy and the fish was cooked to perfection. The onions were my favorite part as well as the poached milk. I finished off with the bread and butter pudding which was out of this world. They were very accommodating of my peanut and tree nut allergy as well. Highly recommend. read more

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We enjoyed the view of the river and the food greatly! We enjoyed the pork chop and the lamb read more

The Winding Stair - Irish Near Me - Dublin, D

Located along the river, The Winding Stair offers a modern twist on Irish cuisine with locally sourced ingredients incorporated into every dish on the menu. This is evident by the name drop of some producers in each dish. My family was able to try a scotch egg for the first time, some beef cheek, crab and a charcuterie board with meats from Cork. Even the beers we ordered were local as well, mine from the Waterford area. Our server walked us through this experience with ease and we all couldn't be happier with our time here, especially for a Sunday afternoon when it could have been a lot louder and chaotic. read more

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Our first meal on this trip to Ireland. We arrived without reservation for lunch mid-week. We did not have to wait long but felt that partially due to luck, so you may want to consider reservations if you plan to go for dinner. The restaurant is small with an open concept. You'll be seated with clear view of the bar as well as a good look into the kitchen. The menu is not too extensive, yet you're certain to find something to enjoy. We did halvies with the crab and the pork belly. Both were very taste. The pork belly dish had a bit more to it if you are looking to eat a bit heavier. We left satisfied and not stuffed. read more

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This place is amazing!! Some of the best lamb I've ever had. Great views overlooking the river with a nice white bridge across the water. The service was great, my waitress was very attentive and on point with making sure my entire table was fine. Love the atmosphere in the restaurant as well, it's somewhat rustic with dim candles... this would be a great spot for a date night or a night out with some friends. read more

The Winding Stair - Lamb rump - Irish Near Me - Dublin, D

We really enjoyed a our dinner at The Winding Stair. Felix was our server and he was delightful. The vibe here is Old Dublin with books on bookcases and murals of people reading books. There is indeed a winding staircase 2 flights up. We headed all the way up to the top floor with a nice view of the river. It's just across the river from Trinity. For us, the only downside was a very large and really loud group of students who were having a great time. Our meal began with my MacIvors Cider and a Port wine that my wife has recently become fond of. They were refreshing and enjoyable. We then ordered the Winding Stair Fish plate. It was a wonderful combination of multiple fish that were fresh and delicious. As the description indicates, it's wonderful for sharing. Our mains included my Smoked Haddock which was truly delicious. It was great fish, well prepared in mild and onions and with delcious mashed potatoes. My wife's pork chop wasn't particularly good. She ate just a small part of it. When Felix asked if there were a problem, she didn't complain. He took it back to the kitchen where they obviously tasted it and agreed that something was amiss. They not only did not charge us for the dish, they provided her with the Sticky Toffee pudding and an after dinner drink. I accept imperfection. This restaurant clearly checked out a dish that wasn't right, acknowledged that it was not OK, told us, did not charge us for it and then demonstrated that they care about us as customers. BTW, is it's not on the menu anymore. When we return to Dublin, we'll be back to try them again. read more

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We were all quite pleased with the dinner service. My companions had lamb which we were surprised to find mild but excellently prepared. I had the steak and it was really cooked perfectly, nicely seasoned and the Irish beef so flavorful. I appreciate grass-fed beef over standard American grain fed so this was a delight! The accompanying greens which were assorted peas and green beans for Americans were also delicious! My husband was very pleased with his fish plate starter. Everyone enjoyed their meals and the view was lovely though seating was tight. Service was very attentive and timely. We would definitely recommend. read more

My wife and I had diner here and it was outstanding. The chef/owner spent time with us to explain the menu and was a lot of fun. We had the beef checks and the scotch egg for appetizers and both were excellent. For dinner, we had the pork tenderloin and haddock that were both excellent. Actually, the chef was "falling for us" (inside joke) ensuring our experience was outstanding. Wonderful experience and outstanding entrees! read more

We had reservations for dinner and we were guided upstairs to be seated. Food was amazing but they need to have some ventilation up there because my friends were getting so hot to the point that they couldn't enjoy their food and had to step outside for some fresh air. They were sweating!! For food, I ordered the hand-smoked haddock which was poached in milk with onions and white Cheddar mash. It was absolutely delicious and the fish just melts in your mouth. We asked our waiter for wine recommendations and we got a nice white to go with our meal. I would love to dine here again if I'm ever back in Dublin. read more

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Ate dinner here on my first night in Dublin. Had the haddock with some greens - both were excellent, and are worthy of a return trip! The view of the River Liffey and the Ha' Penny bridge is a treat. read more

The Winding Stair is a great option for elevated Irish fare and comfort dishes. The restaurant sits in the midst of pub food options in Dublin so it's a great break from that. Based on the reviews I had to try the piggy scotch egg and the smoked and poached haddock. Both were amazing but the scotch egg really stood out. Crunchy outside and runny inside - how do they do it? The haddock portion was large and rich. Great cozy meal to walk off on the way back to the hotel. Although we skipped dessert because we were so full! The drinks were a surprising highlight as the menu offered several non alcoholic options. Service was friendly. Seating was intimate. Space was charming. Food was delicious and filling. read more

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I was recommended The Winding Stair this afternoon. I walked in at 6-30pm and was able to get a table for two without a reservation. The service was excellent, prompt and attentive with out being overbearing. Our meals were excellent, traditional Irish food, made well with excellent ingredients. We had the soups and some other starters. Our main courses were excellent. I had the Haddock, it was outstanding. Would have it again tomorrow if I could. The restaurant is small but charming, the service is excellent but the food is the star ! They have a good wine, beer menu. The price was very reasonable and considering the quality of the meals, it's actually a good value. Well worth the effort to eat here, I would make a reservation if you have more than two people. read more

The Winding Stair - Doyle's hand-smoked haddock, poached in milk with onions and white Cheddar mash. - Irish Near Me - Dublin, D

An amazing food and wine menu set in a quaint book store setting. It's like having a gourmet meal inside someone's home library! The food was top notch and fairly priced, for the high quality. We enjoyed the scotch egg, cheese board, and smoked Halibut. Let me pause here and repeat: try the smoked halibut! Sooooo delish! The only downside was the slow service and having to ask the waiter for water more than once. But besides that, it was a good experience and highly recommended if you want a break from the pubs in downtown Dublin! read more

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We are big foodies so when searching for places for our Ireland trip, we found winding stair to be checking a lot of our boxes! The interior was cute and the seasonally changing menu seemed interesting. We sat on the second floor. It was a little warm due to lack of AC but not unbearable. We ordered the fruit wine spritz to drink (recommended by our waiter) and it was pretty good. To start we got the crab spread appetizers--the bread was rather dry and dense but the crab was good. The "salad" on the side seemed to be for decor as it was not dressed in any way. This is where things went downhill in the meal. We ordered our mains at the same time as the appetizers and proceeded to wait over an hour for our food to arrive. I ordered the milk poached cod and my husband got the duck and we shared both. We were checked on 0 times despite there only being 2-3 other tables and 2 waitstaff upstairs. The waiters both looked at us frequently but we were never asked if we wanted another drink or given any updates on our food. It was clear what the problem was when the food arrived as the cod was steaming hot and the duck was lukewarm. The cod was yummy but overly salty and lacked any contrast in the dish (salty/creamy with no reprieve). The duck was not well rendered and was served with bland vegetables that lacked seasoning or sauce of any kind. Not wanting to waste our first nice dinner we also got the affogato for dessert which was fine but nothing to write home about. Overall very disappointed in the service and the food was definitely not worth the price point. read more

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Winding Stair is a cute restaurant on top of an old bookshop and overlooks the Liffey River. I came here for lunch and the food is rustic, homey, and delicious. I got the Scotch egg and hand-smoked haddock. The Scotch egg was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The haddock came with a rich cream sauce; it was delicious, but very rich. I definitely had food coma after lunch...something to be aware of if you are going back to work after dining here for lunch! read more

The Winding Stair - Irish Near Me - Dublin, D

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Another great gem in Dublin is The Winding Stair. The restaurant is connected to a bookstore, although we did not get a chance to shop it. And true to name, it has a winding staircase to get from the ground level to the second level which is where we dined. The view is very nice with large windows all along the front. To start, we ordered Aperol spritzes to drink and for appetizers we ordered the Piggy Scotch Egg and the Winding Stair Fish Plate which included Belvelly, Goatsbridge Farm and home-made smoked fish paté, chive crème fraîche, treacle bread, cornichons, and caper berries. Both appetizers were delicious. I especially loved the fish plate - it was a perfect sampler and so flavorful. For entrees, I ordered the Doyle's hand-smoked haddock, poached in milk with onions and white cheddar mash, and I believe my cousin ordered the Irish Waters' ray wing, cauliflower, black kale, mussels and crispy capers. The fish was fresh, and the dish was rich but not overpowering. We definitely over ordered but it's hard not to when you're only visiting. We finished our appetizers, and I was sure to eat all of my fish and a good majority of the mash. Sadly no room for dessert though. This meal was perfection, and I know I keep saying this but I can't wait to come back here when I visit Dublin again. read more

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Absolutely charming restaurant in Dublin. This is the perfect spot to go for a more intimate dinner with your S/O or friends. Service was fenomenal, had a great time dining in. read more

The Winding Stair - Irish Near Me - Dublin, D

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Fantastic, small restaurant/wine bar right on the water in Dublin. With great views out onto the bridge, the food here lived up to the quality of the atmosphere. From perfectly cooked Irish cattle steak, all the way to one of the best bread puddings I've ever had. High quality meal. read more

Great food and quick attentive service. My steak was perfectly cooked and juicy. My wifes pork belly second course was enough for two people, and was also delicious. They do a great scotch Egg. This isnt a complaint but a cultural observation for others who visit. In the Southern USA when we hear "steamed greens" we imagine kale, chard, spinach, etc. What I received was steamed peas and string beans. Not a leafy green in sight. But they were green and very fresh. read more

Placed strategically to the North of the footbridge, an former bookstore is converted to a restaurant featuring elevated irish cuisine. The setting is beautiful overlooking the river. The service experience was great and there was more attention noted that we would get in most European restaurants. The food situation was a bit all over the place Get. The Scotch or Veggie Egg starter. Maybe. the crisps which are house made with some white vinegar emulsion. Get the Pork Chop. The Skate has a lot of bones. The Hallock was a bit flat in flavor. The eggplant main was spiced well Get the Bread Pudding Very nice wine list. read more

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I didn't feel very welcome as a Jewish person with all the veiled "death to Israel" virtue signaling. Other than that, it was okay.

The wine was fantastic! They squeezed a group of 8 of us last minute. Asparagus was amazing and the steak was cooked very well. My only complaint was it was extremely hot in there but that's to be expected in an old building. read more

Winding Stair is absolutely amazing. Rustic charm, cozy and sunny, with a view of the Ha'Penny Bridge and Liffey set the tone for a beautiful meal. Considerate service, both gentle and professional, efficient but unrushed. I felt fortunate to have had a chance to have dinner here twice while in Dublin and enjoyed every course. The menu changes and is dependent on seasons. The haddock with cheddar mash was one of the best dishes I've had in my life, as was the Dingle Bay potted carb with soda bread. The crab is buttery with fresh herbs and the bread is completely out of this world. Perfect pairing. I'm only sorry to know this place exists and not be able to get there again anytime soon. read more

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Great spot for a bite of lunch! We were lucky enough to snag a table here on St. Patrick's Day this year and escape the crazy crowd outside. The winding staircase leading from the street to the restaurant gives you a clue about its name, and once you reach the top, there's a cozy modern brasserie style restaurant with large windows facing the River Liffey. The service was excellent. Friendly, prompt, ninja status on drinks and bringing out food. The boys had a Scottish egg, which made their day. I had the steak and chips, which were excellent and gluten-free. The charcuterie was nice as well. Perfect spot for an intimate lunch, great service, gluten-free options, and an excellent view. Can't be missed. read more

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Food was great. Server was great. Price point great. Very loud and the bar staff loudly organized utensils and dishes to distraction of our conversation. My recommendation is to do that elsewhere or slow down and reduce the noise. The vegetarian options were fresh and delicious. read more

By far the worst meal of our 10 day trip. The Winding Stair is not worth the climb! We made a reservation for 4 people two weeks in advance of our meal at 6pm on December 30th during our latest trip to Dublin. We were excited for the meal based on a personal recommendation of an Irish friend and because the restaurant has beautiful views of the river. We thought it would be a great way to spend and evening with my parents to celebrate an early New Years. We were quickly proved wrong, sadly. Here are the details: SERVICE: My partner arrived early for our reservation and was given a table in the center of the 2nd level of the restaurant. Not one by the window, even though all tables with a view were totally empty (actually the whole room was empty), but an okay table in a charming room nonetheless. Then when I arrived with my parents at 6pm and the very tall host saw that my parents were elderly (my dad is mobile but we bring a folding wheel chair with us because he gets tired when walking long distances), he suggested we take a table on the 1st level instead to make it easier for my dad. I thought, what a nice gesture. But then we were quickly seated at the worst table I have ever sat at in a restaurant. It was way in the back of the restaurant, actually not really IN the restaurant at all, but in a hallway wedged between 2 sets of stairs, the kitchen doors, the bathrooms and a dead elevator. The table was so bad, it was almost comical. It's the kind of table staff should fold napkins at or take their breaks at, not a place for paying guests. To add more comedy to the moment, the waiters literally used the area to hang the other patrons coats on the railing right by our table. This would have been fine if there were no other tables available. We are from New York. We get it... when restaurants are busy, you take what you get. But Winding Stair wasn't busy at all at 6pm or even 7pm when we rushed out of there as fast as we could. Literally the place was empty at 6pm and by 7 it was maybe 1/2 or 2/3 full. The restaurant-owners description on open table says this restaurant is supposed to be for "all types of people" to come together and feel welcomed. But we definitely felt we were shoved in a corner either because of my parents age OR because they don't like gay couples OR they don't like polite Americans (there are a few of us in the USA believe it or not). It was a bad start to our evening because there's literally no worse feeling than being seated at a bad table when there are 20 good ones steps away. It left us thinking - "Why don't they like us? We just got here." But, for the sake of salvaging our night together and keeping the peace, we remained polite Irish-Americans and accepted the table we were given. Figuring if the food was as amazing as we heard, we could forgo feeling welcomed and a chance at a river view. FOOD: Unfortunately, the food didn't fare any better than our table. The menu on paper looks amazing and the prices suggest a meal to remember. But the charcuterie board was something I could have assembled in 10 minutes at the grocery down the street. The smoked haddock I ordered was very tasty, but served luke-warm at best. I checked in with my parents and my partner and all agreed. All the food they ordered was cold too. Again, we chose to not complain. This time so we could get the check and bolt out of this place as fast as possible. What a let down. We never complained to the wait staff and maybe should have. But by the end of the meal, I do think the waiter could sense we had gone from excited to quietly glum. At least in the few moments he could stand at our table without not being jostled by people on their way to the kitchen and bathroom. SUMMARY: I don't normally post negative reviews. But 10 days later I'm still thinking about what a mess this night was. So, I took time out of my day to carefully craft this review to warn others that while Winding Stair may be great for SOME people or maybe was great at SOME point in the past, as of December 30th 2025 it was a complete fail. That is, unless you like eating luke-warm fish on a pile of even colder mashed potatoes and paying a premium price to sit in the back alley of a restaurant while waiters rush by to hang up the coats of other more well-liked patrons. If that's your game, then congratulations - This place has a staircase with your name on it! If not, I'd say you will likely be happier to wait in the queue for 30 minutes in the rain for pizza at Bambinos. OR better yet, reserve a table at one of the many other truly great restaurants in Dublin where true Irish charm abounds and you will feel truly taken care of and satiated. read more

Made reservations about two weeks in advance of our trip to Dublin, and boy are we glad we did! This quaint restaurant uses space efficiently and the tables fill up quick. We started off with the Scotch egg - which was crunchy on the outside, velvety on the inside, and savory all over. I had the Haddock - as dish that apparently has been on the menu unchanged for 15 years - and for good reason: it's delicious! A perfect amount of smoky flavor juxtaposed by the creamy sauce and mash. My BF had the duck breast, which seemed underseasoned, and left a lot to be desired. We finished off the meal with the bread pudding and the sticky toffee pudding. The bread pudding definitely won that round - with its smooth texture and not-too-sweet sauce. Our server was very attentive and gave a lot of great recommendations. Overall - this spot is a must-try in Dublin! read more

The food was delicious and the setting on the River Liffey is very scenic. The interior space is warm and cozy. The service was a little slow but this could be because it was a busy night. Definitely recommend read more

One of Dublin's oldest surviving independent bookshops, this store is a real treat to explore. New books in the front, second-hand in the rear. Welcoming helpful staff are happy for you to browse, with no pressure to purchase. read more

Food was amazing! The menu didn't do the actual dishes justice, so good. The potato leek soup...yes! The duck was also delicious.

The location and ambiance were awesome. The food was lacking though. The lamb was extremely tough ( hard to cut & chew) and the vegetables were not cooked just a shade over raw. A shame. read more

We got "stuck" in Dublin for two days due to our connecting flight getting cancelled. Dublin was an amazing city to visit and we will be returning asap. After 2 weeks throughout Italy (Meran, Florence, Rome), the Winding Stair was THE BEST food we got in our 2+ week Europe vacation. They've got this smoked fish entree that was possibility the best dish I've ever had, "hand smoked haddock." Absolutely phenomenal place. read more

My friend and I spent a few days in Dublin this past week, and our last dinner in Dublin was at The Winding Stair (which had come highly recommended by a friend). It was a great dinner. It's a small restaurant up a winding staircase from a bookshop - small, but charming, cozy, homey. My friend and I shared the potted Dingle Bay crab with pickled cucumber, toasted soda bread, and salad; roasted Kinsealy aubergine with mandi (Middle Eastern-spiced cinnamon, coriander, and tomato jam), chili oil, and coconut yogurt); and Doyle's hand-smoked haddock, poached in milk with onions and white cheddar mash, a dish we were told had been on the menu for years. The starters were good, but it was the haddock that was the star of the night for me. No wonder it's stayed on the menu all these years! The service was good, and they had a great wine selection! A charming dinner, great for our last meal in Dublin! read more

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I really enjoyed my time at The Winding Stair. It was recommended to me by a friend and I was informed that it used to be a former bookstore turned into a restaurant. The view and the ambiance was very welcoming and you could see one of the main streets from the dining room windows. The tables are pretty closed together, but you're still not really sitting on top of each other. The staff was very pleasant. Now on to the food.. I ordered the Doyle's hand smoked haddock and it was extremely delicious and fresh. It was poached in milk with onions and white cheddar mash potatoes. The pricing was also reasonable as well. My friend (who does not consume meat) ordered the Lentil stuffed aubergine in which she stated was extremely delicious and flavorful. Now on to my favorite part and the part I look forward to the most is the desert. I ordered the chocolate cake and it was so divine. It was topped with fresh strawberry preserves and was elegantly presented. I still think of that chocolate cake to this day and that will be the one reason that I return to The Winding Stair. read more

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The four of us did not have s reservation but they made room for us. The food was great, well cooked, tasty and piping hot. Decent prices for a great restaurant that was pretty much full. read more

we went to the winding stair on our last night in dublin and the only regret we had was that we wished we found this place sooner? by our last night we had eaten a many irish meals - the good thing about dublin is that most of the restaurants source their ingredients locally, producing at the very least, fresh, sustainable dishes. none of the meals I had in the city were bad, but of the restaurants we tried, the winding stair might be the only restaurant I'd go back to. they were out of the scottish egg which we were curious to try and instead got the: - tomato and halloumi: delicious!! the tomatoes in ireland hit different - gem salad: loved this!! we love anchovies and the ones featured in the salad were not salty and had amazing flavor - but i will note that irish people really love their dressing and this dish was no different in that regard - pork chops: amazing! fresh, juicy, packed with flavor - whole sole: so so fresh and so much flavor we ended the night with the bread pudding with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and it was deeeelish / diii(r)ish!! see what i did there heh. good, friendly, attentive service as well! one thing to note is that they only serve wines and beers - no spirits. read more

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Super great atmosphere. Great wine list, mocktails were fire. Steak was very good! Great dinner spot!

Fun and cozy dining room with a charming attentive staff - eclectic menu heavy on seafood but plenty of land-sourced options too. And a nice wine list that compliments the menu. We leaned heavy into the seafood options(and a delicious scotch egg!)..ended with a couple delicious desserts...not for us tonight, but there are also options for vegans and vegetarian too. read more

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