Orla Flynn

The Last Briquette by Marion McGarry On a father’s appreciation of that iconic Irish design item: the Bord Na Móna peat briquette

Lovely to feature on Sunday Miscellany on RTE Radio 1 reading my piece about BNM peat briquettes and bungalow bliss.
The theme was ‘Writing the Bog’ in association with the Irish Architecture Foundation & 12th Field
@atu-ie.bsky.social @oflynnatu.bsky.social

www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

A laptop screen on a table with a view out a train window over the Irish countryside.

On the early train to @atu-ie.bsky.social Sligo for the HEA/National Forum Teaching and Learning meeting. Looking forward to hearing from Mark Kelly and others about the great work being done in ATU. @carinaginty.bsky.social @oflynnatu.bsky.social @perryshare.bsky.social
@iltasky.bsky.social

Update on yellow-legged hornets
W/E 24 Oct

527 sightings

6 more nests

Kent
Alkham
Womenswold
Brook
St Margaret’s
Godmersham

East Sussex
Wadhurst

155 confirmed nests

A terrific afternoon for sure after the excellent morning with @mynwtec.bsky.social - so many different perspectives on #digital and #AI across many layers!

Minister James Lawless speaking at conference

Cover page of conference brochure

Brilliant to have Minister James Lawless speaking at our #NWDEPTH @mynwtec.bsky.social conference in @atu-ie.bsky.social Donegal #AI #DigitalSkills

We hosted an excellent talk on swift conservation with Edward Mayer who has worked extensively in this area in the UK. We were pleased to welcome students from St Joseph’s Secondary School in Castlebar and their teachers. @oflynnatu.bsky.social @perryshare.bsky.social

Thanks to Dr Benjamin Thébaudeau for a very interesting talk on the Joyce Country & Western Lakes Geopark yesterday evening. @atumayo.bsky.social @oflynnatu.bsky.social @perryshare.bsky.social

Conference organised by @mynwtec.bsky.social 🙌🏻

Cover page of conference brochure with a typical digital image

Close up of Matt Cooper, CEO of Volta, delivering his keynote.

Wide view of stage at conference

Hosting the “Shaping our Digital Futures” conference today @atu-ie.bsky.social in Letterkenny. Super keynote from Matt Cooper, CEO of Volta in Halifax NS.

How Bord na Móna peat briquette became an icon of Irish design The briquettes were not only once a convenient, inexpensive fuel for Irish people, they were also an industrial design icon

My piece @rtebrainstorm.bsky.social
on the Bord na Móna peat briquette, a once popular fuel for Irish people & an Irish industrial design icon.
Their memory is the source of much nostalgia and their demise, while good for the environment, represents the end of an era.
www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2...

Halloween non-spooky trail this evening at ATU Mayo. All welcome, please dress for the weather. @oflynnatu.bsky.social @atu-ie.bsky.social @justinkerr123.bsky.social

Because we are overly centralised as a country in European terms, we are complete outliers when it comes to devolved budgetary authority to the regions, to enable decision and actions on regional priorities. Being an outlier is fine if you are best in class.

Agency in North seeks Asian hornet advice from Waterford centre Further sightings of Asian hornets in Belfast suggests nest, environment agency says

Agency in North seeks Asian hornet advice from Waterford centre

We are hosting a talk on swifts tomorrow at lunchtime as part of climate action week. All welcome but please register in advance here: Https://forms.office.com/e/Nph33UgaDU @oflynnatu.bsky.social

Dr Benjamin Thébaudeau will begin our series of evening lectures with a talk on the Joyce Country & Western Lakes Geopark on Wednesday 22nd October at 7.30pm. All welcome. @atumayo.bsky.social @atu-hrg.bsky.social @oflynnatu.bsky.social

7 things you probably didn't know about Áras an Uachtaráin Here are some things you may not have known about the presidential residence in the middle of Dublin's Phoenix Park

Like Versailles it began as a hunting lodge, and it’s design may have inspired the White House... As we approach the presidential election in Ireland, my piece for @rtebrainstorm.bsky.social on Áras an Uachtaráin
@atu-ie.bsky.social @oflynnatu.bsky.social
www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2...

Ambassadors repeat calls for solidarity with Ukraine Eastern European diplomats have warned that continued solidarity is needed across Europe as Russian aggression continues in Ukraine.

Eastern European diplomats have warned, during an event at ATU Sligo, that continued solidarity is needed across Europe as Russian aggression continues in Ukraine

Congratulations Emil - President Sligo Students Union @atu-ie.bsky.social on your election as President of @eugreenalliance.bsky.social Students Council!!

Brian Caulfield: Now Metrolink is going ahead, what’s the next rail project for Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway? If Luas Finglas is delivered on time, there will have been a 15-year gap since the last Luas extension

Imagine if Ireland could lay rail tracks as quickly as it builds roads

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

Very interesting talk on Dark Skies coming up this weekend at the National Museum. Highly recommended! @mayodarkskies.bsky.social

Visiting delegation from ATU with EU GREEN banner

Visiting delegation from ATU on the street in Angers France

Visiting delegation from ATU at a museum in Angers

Always a pleasure to work with @atu-ie.bsky.social staff and students on @eugreenalliance.bsky.social work, this time in Université Angers, France! @ec.europa.eu

Who doesn’t love an Irish cottage?
‘Lost Houses’ showcases forgotten homes & overlooked architectural fragments in Galway City’s rich cultural & social landscape, in the Architecture At The Edge exhibition 2025 👏 Visited with students from BA Design @atu-ie.bsky.social @oflynnatu.bsky.social

Dr Carmel Heaney and Dr Maura Fitzsimmons at the Explorations National Palliative Care Conference in Sligo promoting the MSc in Palliative and End of Life Care and the MSc in Quality and Safety in Healthcare available in ATU Mayo @atu-ie.bsky.social @justinkerr123.bsky.social @oflynnatu.bsky.social

Congratulations to our History & Geography students at ATU Mayo who received Fáilte Ireland recognition as guides having completed our guiding module. @atumayo.bsky.social @oflynnatu.bsky.social @atu-hrg.bsky.social

ATU Mayo will host the 8th International Swift Conference next May in association with Swift Conservation Ireland/Mayo, Mayo Co Co, Fáilte Ireland, NPWS, OPW and other sponsors. The event was launched by ATU President Dr Orla Flynn @oflynnatu.bsky.social @perryshare.bsky.social @atu-ie.bsky.social

I’ve been saying for years that we need to move to an impact based warning system like the UK Met Office use. The winds we saw yesterday have a much bigger impact this time of year and also when peak of storm is during work day. The Met Éireann system is based on specific thresholds being met.

Proud day for the campus this week as ATU President Dr Orla Flynn raised our Green Flag, marking renewal of Green Campus status from An Taisce. A word of thanks to all the students and staff who contribute to the work of Green Campus at ATU Mayo. @oflynnatu.bsky.social @atu-ie.bsky.social

Donegal has now being upgraded to a Red wind warning from 4pm to 6pm. Please heed this warning with risk of severe and damaging gusts. #StormAmy

earth :: a global map of wind, weather, and ocean conditions See current wind, weather, ocean, and pollution conditions, as forecast by supercomputers, on an interactive animated map. Updated every three hours.

earth.nullschool.net#current/wind...

#StormAmy #Speirgorm Getting very scary now out west! Be safe everyone!