First fig.

Reminder about this event on August 4th at the Féile with Michael Magee

Stephen O'Neill@oneillsb.bsky.social · last mo.

Doing this talk, 'Writing Belfast in the Age of Partition', with my mate Michael Magee at Féile an Phobail on Tuesday 4th August at St Mary's, 5PM. Free and no booking needed. Lifetime ambition achieved!

Tune into @sundaymiscellany.bsky.social on @rteradio1.bsky.social this Sunday morning where I'll be building up to the All Ireland Hurling Final with hurling memories from my grandfather and the story of the first hurl my father gave to me. From 9am Sunday morning.

These are most of the books I got in Belfast (Yeah yeah “the Hauntologies guy finds two books with Ghost in the title” yeah yeah we get it)

Very pleased to have a chapter in the forthcoming Routledge Companion to George Orwell.

There's only seven of these limited edition, signed, and numbered pre-orders left. If it sounds like your cup of tea then be sure to grab one today. 💚

Irish Literary Times@irishlittimes.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Rooted in memory, place, and music, the essays move between childhood, family, loss, the changing seasons, and growing up in Northern Ireland by Tom Shiels @itstomshiels.bsky.social storiessongsseasons.substack.com/p/stories-so...

Tháinig a lá. Our co-founder (2007), and until last year joint editor, at Books Upstairs in D'Olier Street, Dublin in front of a display of his newly published 'The Dark Side of France: Thirteen Chapters in the History of the French Far Right'. You'd have to say that he doesn't look hugely pleased.

The Storms journal is delighted to be taking part in the @irishwriterscentre.bsky.social journals showcase this evening 🎉

📚 The Royal Irish Academy, in association with the Department of Foreign Affairs, has revealed the six shortlisted titles for the 2026 Michel Déon Prize for non-fiction! www.ria.ie/2026/07/03/s...

Six books shortlisted for the €10,000 Michel Déon Prize for non-fiction - Royal Irish Academy

The Royal Irish Academy in association with the Department of Foreign Affairs has today, 3 July, announced the six shortlisted titles for the 2026 Michel Déon Prize for non-fiction.

ria.ie

Cherry harvest.

Study in grey and white (at Lough Swilly).

Before baking this pie, my very first, I would like to dwell on how perfect it is

Cat: “I cannot convey to you just how much I genuinely despise this food.” Me: “Here, have this instead.” Cat: “OMG I LOVE IT.” Me: “It’s exactly the same bowl of food. I just took it away for six seconds then put it back in the same place.” Cat: “I am fire and the wind. Do not attempt to know me.”

Andy Burnham's incoming chief of staff, James Purnell, ran a lobbying firm that organised a meeting between a Labour minister and its own corporate clients – without declaring any lobbying. Yet another story about Labour and the lobbying industry... 🧵 democracyforsale.substack.com/p/burnhams-c...

Burnham's chief of staff hosted minister for confidential clients

James Purnell’s firm Flint arranged a meeting between Labour minister Douglas Alexander and several of its clients – while declaring no lobbying at all

democracyforsale.substack.com

I have a bumble bee nest in my garden, which makes me very happy, considering how hard I've worked on providing forage for the little blighters. If you build it, they will come.

Photographing Veronica Guerin; painting what you love, as advised by David Hockney: and voyaging back in time to Gola Island, with Brian Farrell @fiachragallagher.bsky.social John MacKenna Gail Seekamp Billy Collins Mícheál McCann Moya Cannon... all on this week's #sundaymiscellany Tune in!

Brilliant nuanced episode Thanks @willdalrymple.bsky.social @zackpolanski.bsky.social

Dr Luke Walker@drlukewalker.com · last mo.

🔥 What a combination - @zackpolanski.bsky.social and @willdalrymple.bsky.social! So much here: - Palestine - India - absence of colonial history in schools - wilful ignorance of politicians & media - and the East India Company's lasting corruption of British democracy 🤑 youtu.be/13zQVPW9LjU?...

Nigella's chocolate-raspberry pudding cake just out of the oven... @nigella.bsky.social

And as I’m on a media role today - i was interviewed here for this article on the revival of the Dyke March www.rte.ie/lifestyle/li...

The grassroots movement reviving Pride's political roots

Sarah Magliocco writes about a revived Dublin Pride march taking place this week, which aims to reclaim a word once used to harm lesbians.

rte.ie

The cooling system was installed by the village AC technician, Thermodynamix 😊

Standplaats Kraków could really use some cash!@standplaatskrk.pl · last mo.

Some show in the sky over Co. Donegal last night ⚡️⚡️⚡️

I love the 'thunderous' bit: 'A high temperature warning – with temperatures up to 29 degrees in many counties – remains in place for Ireland until Saturday morning, with Met Éireann warning of heavy and thunderous showers.'

Some thoughts on the unique and irreplaceable Vjosa-Narta ecosystem at the heart of the #flamingorevolution in Albania right now. Petition against the destruction of the Vjosa-Narta here: c.org/R76Q28MSZY

good morning

Christ Almighty.

Neil Hegarty@neilhegarty.bsky.social · last mo.

'We want change.' 'No, you're getting James Purnell.' www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

'We want change.' 'No, you're getting James Purnell.' www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Burnham’s pick for chief of staff led firm that advised BP, Apple and Amazon

Appointment of James Purnell, former chief executive of Flint Global, described by one Labour MP as ‘very bad sign’

theguardian.com

wrote Patrick White to Janet Frame http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/a-song-of-survival-neil-hegarty-on-janet-frame-and-owls-do-cry-1.2503588 It took her 22 years to reply, she was so overwhelmed...

For those of us who see Palestinians as human beings, this was Starmer's defining moment. It is not sustainable to behave in this way while leading the nominally progressive party in a two party system. Starmer's unpopularity is not one of life's great mysteries. www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8_s...

Keir Starmer denies saying Israel 'has the right' to withhold water and power from citizens in Gaza

YouTube video by LBC

youtube.com