Paul O'Donovan
@paulodonovan.eurosky.social
🇪🇺🇮🇪 Cork born, fan of smaller countries. Academic Secretary of University College Cork; Member of Senate, National University of Ireland. Formerly Welsh Gov; WDA; ADAS group. Views own. Photo: Monumental Reckoning by Dana King, Golden Gate Park, SF
The Jason Arday story seems like a cut-and-dried case of bad lying by a bad liar. Agreed! It's just that it seems quite like loads of other cases in similarly specific fields, cases that do not become the biggest story in the world for 2 weeks. It's asinine to pretend that we don't know why his has.
Toby Buckle@polphilpod.bsky.social · 12h agothe media can't even entertain the idea that they decide what stories to focus on
Great to be in #Killkenny again for #KAF26. Looking forward to speaking tomorrow at 1pm & Thursday at 5pm in the parade tower. Come along if you're in the city.
Government have spent over a billion euro on fuel subsidies this year… yet have no room in the budget for new BusConnects phases, Luas expansions or Dart+ projects Opposition parties need to get their priorities straight
RTÉ News@news.rte.ie · 16h agoOpposition parties have urged the Government to postpone plans to return fuel excise duty costs to their full price due to ongoing concerns over the cost-of living crisis
You know what, it would be the most perfect summary of the Infantino era.
Szabolcs Panyi@szabolcspanyi.bsky.social · 2d ago💥🇭🇺 Viktor Orbán may be looking abroad for a job. Hungarian officials and diplomats say the former PM discussed a possible FIFA role during the World Cup, while sources also claim he may be eyeing a top UN post with help from Argentina and the USA. More on my Hungarian Substack. 👇
Hassan Yousef, his wife and their two daughters, aged two and four, are trapped in their home.
Voice4Justice@voices4justice.bsky.social · 2d ago🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️ Settlers have been surrounding the home of a Palestinian family on the outskirts of the village of Qusra, south of Nablus, for more than 24 hours, cutting off the electricity lines and preventing family members from entering or leaving the house🧵
There has been a converted attempt here (including by the current Home Sec) to promote the "Danish model" of anti-immigrant policy as being somehow consistent with social democratic/progressive values. So we should welcome this mask-off moment from the Danish PM.
Olga Nesterova@onestpress.onestnetwork.com · 2d agoMette Frederiksen and Giorgia Meloni issued a statement on Instagram declaring a partnership aimed at “protecting Europe’s Christian cultural heritage” by expelling more migrants, building “return hubs in third countries,” and finding “innovative solutions outside Europe.” Full post below🧵 1/2
I'm leaving Boston College today filled with gratitude: what an amazing six weeks this has been! I've gotten more done on my book project than I have for a very long time thanks to the resources and support of @burnslibrary.bsky.social and @bc-irish-studies.bsky.social.
⚡️Poles take to streets in 22 cities to protest hate crimes against Ukrainians. The demonstrations come amid a surge in physical and verbal assaults against Ukrainians in Poland in recent months, fueled by a crisis in diplomatic relations between the neighboring countries.
Poles take to streets in 22 cities to protest hate crimes against Ukrainians
The demonstrations come amid a surge in physical and verbal assaults against Ukrainians in Poland in recent months, fueled by a crisis in diplomatic relations between the neighboring countries.
kyivindependent.com
We wanted to understand how Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey differs from the Homer original. So we talked to three unvaccinated crypto investors at a Five Guys in Toms River.
Why making Anthony Fauci the enemy will harm US public health for years Melody Schreiber Republicans are trying to scapegoat the infectious disease expert, even as they have gutted healthcare amid outbreaks of measles, cyclosporiasis and Ebola www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Why making Anthony Fauci the enemy will harm US public health for years
Republicans are trying to scapegoat the infectious disease expert, even as they have gutted healthcare amid outbreaks of measles, cyclosporiasis and Ebola
theguardian.com
Russia-linked accounts spread far-right narrative online during Ceuta crisis, analysis finds
Russia-linked accounts spread far-right narrative online during Ceuta crisis, analysis finds
Spanish police and forensic scientists bring in extra staff to identify bodies of 80 migrants who died attempting to reach enclave
irishtimes.com
Discover the story behind the Irish Proclamation. Printed in Defiance: Making the 1916 Proclamation at UCC Library explores how this iconic document was printed in secret. 📜 Original 1916 Proclamation on display 🎟️ Free entry 📅 Until 13 Sept 2026 Discover the document that helped shape a nation. 🇮🇪
Every incoming government announces public procurement reform as one of its big ideas. And then it discovers that reforming it is much harder than it thought.
Oh dear gods, public procurement is hard enough for the purpose of public procurement, let alone as a device for economic policy.
Lucy Fisher@lucyfisher.ft.com · last wk.EXC: UK govt is “stripping back” onerous public procurement rules in pro-growth shake up of system, Louise Haigh tells FT Overhaul will make job creation/skills development the only ‘social value’ requirement for biz competing for Whitehall contracts worth £90bn annually www.ft.com/content/9878...
For comparison, the car park at Mayfield library was recently resurfaced, something that has to be done periodically — at a cost of approximately €3,500 per space.
IrishCycle.com@irishcycle.com · last wk.Bike parking enabling 60 hospital staff to cycle to work is a win for the taxpayer Comment & Analysis: A cost of €85,000, or €1,416 per space, for a secure bicycle shed for the National Maternity Hospital is cheap compared to building car parking, which is estimated to cost €5,000 to €85,000 per…
Bike parking enabling 60 hospital staff to cycle to work is a win for the taxpayer Comment & Analysis: A cost of €85,000, or €1,416 per space, for a secure bicycle shed for the National Maternity Hospital is cheap compared to building car parking, which is estimated to cost €5,000 to €85,000 per…
Bike parking enabling 60 hospital staff to cycle to work is a win for the taxpayer
Comment & Analysis: A cost of €85,000, or €1,416 per space, for a secure bicycle shed for the National Maternity Hospital is cheap compared to building car parking, which is estimated to cost €5,000 to €85,000 per space in 2025. Added to this are the health benefits of staff cycling to work, including the general finding that active commutes mean fewer sick days (sources: …
irishcycle.com
Meta has been boosting hostile far-right content on Ceuta, so much so that local far-right pages have been in overdrive to try to capitalise on monetised traffic. This means real-world harm for N.Ireland as far-right target more and more racialised minorities for engagement. Nothing from UK Gov.
The Welsh just wanna rejoin blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/thinking-wal...
From Leave to Rejoin: Welsh Public Opinion Ten Years On
Showcasing current research, comments and analysis on the law, politics, history, culture, government and political economy of Wales from the Wales Governance Centre.
blogs.cardiff.ac.uk
Pixies appear in CASTLES FOR TWO (1917). The Irish-themed film was intended to charm Irish Americans but proved to be so offensive that it caused violent protest, censorship of the more bigoted bits and complaints from politicians in the homeland.
It’s exhausting. For years, decades, right wing media have lied and told us #climate breakdown was just woke nonsense. Now, it’s whoopsies, yes it’s real, but relax everyone & enjoy our new “Mediterranean” climate as Europe goes up in flames around us.
This is not at all promising. And frankly there is no way this position was not sanctioned by the new PM. Labour pro-Europeans have sold themselves a lie. A 🧵 www.ft.com/content/b08b...
UK business secretary argues against rejoining EU customs union
Labour’s 2024 manifesto position on the bloc ‘absolutely the right one’, says Jonathan Reynolds
ft.com
⚡️Update: 8 killed, 30 injured across Ukraine as Russia launches massive ballistic missile, drone attack.
8 killed, 30 injured across Ukraine as Russia launches massive ballistic missile, drone attack
Russia launched dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as hundreds of drones, towards Ukraine in the early hours of July 30 in yet another large-scale attack. Damage was reported in various ...
kyivindependent.com
Ships belonging to the Estonian company Hansa Shipping are transporting alumina — essential for warfare — from Ireland to Russia.... by ERR in Estonia
Estonian PM vague on alumina shipping firm's Russia ties
Ships belonging to the Estonian company Hansa Shipping are transporting...
news.err.ee
A Government investigation into Aughinish Alumina was unable to get hold of "confidential" documents from Sweden relating to the plant's alleged ownership by sanctioned oligarch Oleg Deripaska It turns out the documents are available publicly for a €25 admin fee www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...
Aughinish investigators did not obtain Swedish document available for €25 fee
Authorities said they were unable to obtain specific information – but judgment is publicly accessible
irishtimes.com
Perfect Brussels response: EU warns FIFA World Cup sell-off could breach competition law
EU warns FIFA World Cup sell-off could breach competition law | Euractiv
The reported scheme to effectively auction off the World Cup could breach EU rules, commissioner warns
euractiv.com
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
Judicial reviews are a fundamental part of democracy — not a dig at the Government by greedy lawyers
A judicial review is any case taken against any public body that may have broken the law — it's the separation of powers working as intended, writes Cathal Malone
irishexaminer.com