P. O'Leary

John Collison’s analysis of Ireland’s problems is a little naive The Stripe founder has missed a fundamental truth about Irish politics

Great piece, but rather than a change to a FPTP system, why not a semi-open list system (or similar) instead? @insidepolitics.bsky.social @hlinehan.bsky.social
www.irishtimes.com/business/202...

They count on you! Give Blood.

‘Roll up your sleeves’: the IBTS wants your blood this Halloween The Irish Blood Transfusion Service has launched a somewhat spooky seasonal campaign

‘Roll up your sleeves’: the IBTS wants your blood this Halloween

Exclusive: Fianna Fail politicians plan Gavin vote revolt A significant number of Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party members will still vote for Jim Gavin in the Presidential election - despite the fact that the party's

The lowest part of the @fiannafailparty.bsky.social #JimGavin debacle may be yet to come. FF Politicians 'encouraging their supporters to vote for Gavin' - it would be disgusting if the result enables FF claim election costs from the State.
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Fintan O'Toole: What on earth was Micheál Martin thinking? Jim Gavin clearly wasn't ready Getting your followers to agree to a proposition that makes no sense is the ultimate ego trip

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...

Gerard Howlin: In a low-energy presidential debate, only one candidate lit a spark Jim Gavin sounded like he was reading from a PowerPoint, Heather Humphreys was lacklustre and Catherine Connolly had one big advantage

'last night’s thuddingly dull debate suggests that [Connolly's] greatest advantage may be the inarticulation of her competitors.'
Insightful from @gerardhowlin.bsky.social
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...

Michael McDowell: Why I didn't nominate Maria Steen for the presidency As a liberal, I felt Maria Steen’s election would have been a step backwards for the Ireland I believe in

'As a liberal, I felt her election would have been a step backwards for the Ireland I believe in'.
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...

John Banville: ‘You cannot censor me. They would try it now with all this wokeist nonsense’ The author on his latest novel, Venetian Vespers, how Graham Greene treated him ‘very badly’, and his support for Israelis

One thing about Banville is that he always gives good Banville. Lots to enjoy here – @martindoyle.bsky.social holding his own in this shadow boxing interview/quip-a-thon.

www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...

'What ultimately “has form” is a very British refusal to address their own state’s complicity in unforgivable violence'

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...

Jennifer O'Connell: Any parent who can solve the afterschool childcare equation deserves a medal Spoiler alert: the solution, in many cases, is “granny” or, perhaps less often, “granddad”

Great piece from @jenoconnell.bsky.social
Any parent who can solve the afterschool childcare equation deserves a medal

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...

The Standard: Ideological Cornerstone of Catholic Ireland

This looks to be a fantastic upcoming talk:
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Palestine Action ban presents complex challenges for PSNI Police in England arrested over 700 people in recent weeks for wearing Palestine Action t-shirts, while the PSNI has arrested just two, despite many attending a rally in Belfast last weekend. The diff...

RTE news : Palestine Action ban presents complex challenges for PSNI

www.rte.ie/news/analysi...

Michael McDowell: Trump’s deal-making to end the Ukraine war is a sick charade West must ensure it delivers cast-iron security guarantees for Zelenskiy and his embattled nation

'Trump’s deal-making to end the Ukraine war is a sick charade'

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...

What makes Amsterdam a ‘cycling paradise’ compared with the ‘absolutely horrible’ experience of Dublin? Greater uptake of cycling in the Netherlands and Denmark where infrastructure caters better for those on two wheels

Interesting piece from Laoise Murray.
“There is nothing like a dream to create the future. Utopia to-day, flesh and blood tomorrow.” Victor Hugo, Les Misérables

www.irishtimes.com/transport/20...

Dr Morgan McMonagle: As a surgeon in Ireland, I had never seen “wounded child, no surviving family” on a hospital chart A former colleague in Gaza is getting his children to lick salt before bed to stave off the hunger pangs. Even last spring, children were eating weeds and grass

Really powerful piece from Morgan McMonagle: An Irish surgeon in Gaza: I have seen tiny bodies ripped apart, children eating grass

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Views to immigration more negative in disadvantaged areas Attitudes to immigration in Ireland are more negative in disadvantaged communities, particularly where the proportion of migrants has increased since 2011, according to the ESRI.

Attitudes to immigration in Ireland are more negative in disadvantaged communities, particularly where the proportion of migrants has increased since 2011, according to the Economic and Social Research Institute

Parents on summer childcare: ‘Holidays are too long for how families are set up. The cost is ridiculous’ Coping with a ‘dicey hodgepodge’ of camps, annual leave and magnanimous grandmothers

"As long as the Catholic Church continues its stranglehold on Irish educational facilities, such logical and, dare I say it, women-friendly arrangements, can only be a pipe dream.”
**
‘Holidays are too long for how families are set up. The cost is ridiculous’
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/soci...

Children killed collecting water in Israeli drone strike Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli air strikes have killed more than 40 people, including children at a water distribution point, as talks for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas stalled.

😶
'Children killed collecting water in Israeli drone strike'

www.rte.ie/news/world/2...

‘Isn’t it brilliant’ a mother says, photographing her children at the bonfire topped with an effigy of a migrant boat Police Service of Northern Ireland investigates ‘hate crime’ following reports of material atop bonfire

“We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.”
― Jonathan Swift
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
#Moygashel

Ireland has a proud history of opposing anti-Semitism Outrage at the collective torture of Gaza is linked to our historical opposition to oppression

'Ireland has a proud history of opposing anti-Semitism'. Powerful article by @fotoole.bsky.social

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...

'It was an escape into excellence': How music saved the life of a teenage Jewish cellist in Auschwitz After being sent to the Nazi death camp in 1943, Anita Lasker survived by playing in its women's orchestra. In 1996, she spoke to the BBC about her ordeal.

'There is nothing like a dream to create the future. Utopia to-day, flesh and blood tomorrow.'

Victor Hugo, Les Misérables

'Mobilité pour tous' 👏

'It was an escape into excellence': How music saved the life of a teenage Jewish cellist in Auschwitz After being sent to the Nazi death camp in 1943, Anita Lasker survived by playing in its women's orchestra. In 1996, she spoke to the BBC about her ordeal.

'Hate is poison, and ultimately you poison yourself'
Powerful
www.bbc.com/culture/arti...

‘People don’t care that much’: Frustrated sighs audible as students asked the ‘British or Irish’ question

www.irishtimes.com/ireland/educ...
'It depends on your background, but most don’t really care where you’re from, don’t really care what your identity is,”

Opinion: Teachers want religion out of the classroom. Here’s what has to happen next 'Opted-out' children often just sit there – sometimes colouring a picture, listening to every word – segregated, othered and marked as different

'77% of respondent teachers said schools should have no responsibility at all for preparing children for the sacraments, while only 4% thought it should be left to the primary school.' #SecularIrelandNow

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...

Ireland, Saudi Arabia and Iran ‘outliers’ in requiring religious certs to teach in most primary schools Delegates at INTO annual congress highlight ‘mismatch’ between modern society and education system

Ireland, Saudi Arabia and Iran ‘outliers’ in requiring religious certs to teach in most primary schools

www.irishtimes.com/ireland/educ...

Sacraments preparation should happen outside class - INTO An overwhelming majority of primary school teachers believe families or parishes should be responsible for preparing children for the sacraments of communion and confirmation.

An overwhelming majority of primary school teachers believe families or parishes should be responsible for preparing children for the sacraments of communion and confirmation.

Who decides that a helicopter crash in America warrants top spot on RTE radio news? Very sad, but it's such a weird thing to lead with during these times.

Indeed. Worth remembering how 'The Emperor's New Clothes' ends:
'And his servants looked straight ahead and went on carrying the train that wasn't there'.