“I think corruption is now like the system under which America and the world operates. It's not like a corruption of the system.” “You can't understand what's happening in the world right now if you don't understand corruption and oligarchy” Ben Rhodes, Pod Save The World.
“22 of 27 EU governments signed the letter after the Ceuta crisis; France, Ireland, Luxembourg and Portugal did not.”
‘Outfoxed,’ says the Financial Times for a tragedy where more than 70 of his people died.
Lovely Real Betis tribute in Dublin to former manager Patrick O’Connell 🍀
I’m at Kerry FC v Cobh Ramblers standing near a fella and between us we have seven premier league medals. Roy Keane in Tralee, County Kerry to watch his former club lose 3-0. The crowd behaving like the principal was after walking into the classroom😂
“Imagine a team playing in one of the top professional football leagues, fresh off its best season ever and a European final, with no stadium and nowhere to train just two weeks before the season starts.” Marca on the Rayo Vallecano situation #LaLiga
🇪🇸🍽️🍷 “Given their culinary reputations you might think that France or Italy would be my pick, but much as I love them, I think Spain is my favourite destination for food and wine pleasures.”
I would recommend this book to anyone moving to Ireland. A brilliant exploration through one man of our aversion to conflict, our affection for ambiguous language, our culture of alcohol, begrudgery, losing the run of ourselves, and of course Cork.
“The Madrid government temporarily suspended Rayo Vallecano's license to use its stadium so it could undertake a series of urgent works (2-6 months). It made the decision after detecting serious safety, maintenance, and sanitation issues during an audit of the facilities.” (El País)
The fourth heatwave of the summer (and it’s still only July) arriving in Spain as parts struggle to contain ongoing brutal wildfires. Large chunks of the country at extreme wildfire risk.
The post-mortem will be extensive, the winter long down here in Kerry. But not an ounce of begrudgery towards a brilliant Mayo team that ended Ireland’s most famous sporting drought.
I can’t think of any equivalent in others sports to Mayo winning Gaelic Football’s ultimate prize after 75 years and 11 final losses. Plenty of teams have had ridiculously long droughts, but can’t think of any team that suffered such agony so close to glory.
Liking Carlos Alcaraz’s Euro 96 Spanish centre back hairstyle at the moment.
Hard to believe this happened in Spain just 29 years ago. Brutal documentary. The father finding out his son was kidnapped by ETA by news reporters at his door as he arrived home from work. Two facts troubled me:
Hard to believe this happened in Spain just 29 years ago. Brutal documentary. The father finding out his son was kidnapped by ETA by news reporters at his door as he arrived home from work. Two facts troubled me:
📚🇪🇸 Reposting this from last year: Spain-related summer reading recommendations from David Price, owner of the wonderful Secret Kingdoms bookstore in Madrid. History, fiction, travel, short stories, poetry - it’s all here⬇️ open.substack.com/pub/brendybo...
Summer reading - Spain special
A conversation with bookfluencer David Price of Secret Kingdoms bookstore, Madrid.
open.substack.com
My favourite tradition when Spain wins a trophy: Andalusian town Los Palacios presents its victorious sons with their weight in tomatoes🤣 🇪🇸
July 2026: “Spain is a wasted cause. I don't want anything to do with Spain. Cut off all trade with Spain, please. Including visits,” said Donald Trump. Also July 2026: Spain presented with the World Cup trophy in New York by Donald Trump. Delicious turn of events.
In Spanish cities >500k population, 41% of people commute to work using public transport. Overall across all municipality sizes in Spain, 64% go by car, 11.8% walk, and only 2% cycle! (El País)
Epic evening in Madrid to welcome home the world champions 🇪🇸
The sound of Spain today is every second person at bus stops and in metro carriages watching videos from the World Cup final. Goal replays, post-game interviews, street celebrations.
Argentina had the look of a team who played their final four days earlier. Mentally, maybe they did. An abominable showing, their only intention was roughing Spain all the way to penalties. There can be no great lament for Messi’s last dance defeat.
Only one team tried to win this World Cup final. And they won it. Eamon Dunphy would have said that “Tonight was a victory for football,” and he would have been right. Vamos España 🇪🇸 🇪🇸 🇪🇸
Buenos días from Madrid☀️ 🇪🇸 The 104th and final game of the 2026 World Cup takes place tonight. Spain v Argentina - an epic on paper, long day ahead.
📬 Latest Settling in Spain piece: Mailbag special. I answer questions about: 📑Paperwork 🏡 Piso hunting 👨⚕️ Healthcare 💰 Budgeting 📚Book recommendations 🇪🇸 How to make the most of your first 90 days in Spain Enjoy, share, gracias! open.substack.com/pub/brendybo...
La Comunidad Mailbag: Settling in Spain
Paperwork and piso hunting, healthcare matters and making the most of the first 90 days in Spain.
open.substack.com
Sunday read: Trumplona Bulls and BS, Trump tantrums and Pamplona lets loose. open.substack.com/pub/brendybo...
Trumplona: Bulls and BS
FIFA folds, (more) Trump tantrums, and Pamplona lets loose.
open.substack.com
Sunday read: Trumplona Bulls and BS, Trump tantrums and Pamplona lets loose. open.substack.com/pub/brendybo...
Trumplona: Bulls and BS
FIFA folds, (more) Trump tantrums, and Pamplona lets loose.
open.substack.com
Buenos días ☀️ A tired one after a few late nights ✍️⚽️😅
🇪🇸🗞️Weekend read with your café con leche☕️ Trump's bully flop as Spain lets loose for San Fermín. Btw, anyone up for a trip to Pamplona next year? Link below - enjoy, share, gracias!
