Dave Kitching

Genuinely saddened to hear this morning that Seán Rocks has passed on. I was something of a latecomer to Arena but greatly valued it in recent years, always learning so much from his interviews and really enjoying his warm banter with guests.

UK to recognise Palestine unless Israel meets conditions Britain will recognise the state of Palestine in September unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the "appalling situation" in Gaza and meets other conditions, British Prime Mini...

Do I have this right? The UK will do what it should do anyway unless Israel stops doing what it shouldn't be doing in the first place?

#Gaza #CeasefireNow #Palestine

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

I had a very enjoyable afternoon in Athlone, providing a training workshop on effective communications to @forsatradeunion.bsky.social representatives.

As expected, they were a very engaged and committed group who care a lot about what they do.

#communications #messaging #training #union

Complacency on the basis of poor public support is the equivalent of correctly storing the deckchairs on the Titanic.

Polls don’t matter a curse when the powerful irrevocably shift norms of governance.

LA is a now a testing ground.

Mayo Pride apologises for 'Child of Drag' post and has reviewed social media policy The joke image was posted “in a spirit of fun, not mockery”, Mayo Pride told The Journal.

People sent abusive comments over this? I guess some snowflakes just can’t take a joke. #UpMsyo

Mayo Pride apologises for 'Child of Drag' post and has reviewed social media policy jrnl.ie/6722851

That's right! I went to some pretty happening parties when I lived in Belgium 😂

Good luck to everyone starting the Leaving Cert today. It’s not the be all & end all (and other cliches). But …

A decade or more later, when you live in another country, there will still be a gobshite who asks you how you did.

From Gary Lineker’s instagram in the last 24 hours.
Thank you for keeping on 🙏

Two Irish diplomats among delegation fired at by Israeli army in the West Bank Two Irish diplomats are safe after they were fired at as part of a delegation working in the West Bank earlier today.

Israel is a rogue and hostile state, deserving of EU sanctions. The double standard can't be allowed to continue. www.independent.ie/irish-news/p...

UN warns thousands of babies in Gaza could die in next 48 hours without aid as Israeli air strikes kill at least 50 people Tuesday’s fatalities bring toll to more than 500 people in last eight days since Israeli military campaign intensified

The sheer obscenity of Israel's actions goes from bad to worse. In what kind of civilization is a headline like this unsurprising, let alone possible?
www.irishtimes.com/world/middle...

Has the Camogie Association stated its position on the new Pope yet?

Camogie Association could be brought before Oireachtas Sports Committee over skorts ‘own goal’ The row over camogie players’ right to wear shorts could result in the ­Camogie Association being called before the Oireachtas Sports Committee.

I presume the Camogie Association representatives will be told what to wear in advance of their appearance.

“Camogie Association could be brought before Oireachtas Sports Committee over skorts ‘own goal’”

Brendan McDonagh withdraws name for housing czar role following days of controversy The Business Post revealed last week the Nama boss was expected to be named head of the new Housing Activation Office

There's something very strange about using the word "tsar" or "czar" to denote someone who can take care of business. The tsarist regime in Russia was marked by greed, incompetence, inbreeding, corruption & cruel indifference. Hardly a source of inspiration. www.businesspost.ie/news/breakin...

New Building for Portadown Integrated Primary School I'm going to undertake the Gaelforce West challenge to raise awareness: https://gaelforceevents.com/en/gaelforce-west-route I've worked at Portadown Integrated Primary School (PIPS) for 3 years as ...

A great cause, pursued by a great guy- please sign: my.actnowni.org/petitions/ne...

This is such a weird perspective. The guy is potentially going to reach one of his career peaks and there’s an article about how, if he does, he’d have to pay tax like everyone else.

It’s effective clickbait, in fairness.

If there’s one thing that Conor McGregor visit to the White House shows, it’s that all the arse kissing in the world won’t save you from deliberate humiliation by the Trumpian far right if that’s what they have in mind for you.

Palantir: the world's most evil company At the cutting edge of dystopia and genocide

Palantir presents quite the dystopian vista open.substack.com/pub/politica...

"Gulf of America" more accurately describes the polarised nature of that country's politics than any known geographical feature. #Inauguration2025

Apparently the changes at Meta include the rebranding of Facebook friends as "Zuckbuddies".

Ginger cat above table and tuxedo cat below. Both look menacingly at the photographer.

We moved to the ground floor in the hope that these two would finally go outside and they refuse. Here they are plotting our downfall.

Unexpected discovery from parenthood. If you have broken, chapped skin on your hands during cold weather, put a bit of nappy rash cream on the affected area. Works a charm.

Research Report - Shifting Landscapes and Language: Democratic volatility and the evolving political discourse in Ireland This project is collaboration by Bassline Strategy and Frameshift with the German foundation, the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and the Irish organisation TASC - Think-tank for Action on Social Change as part of their respective Democracy streams. To read the full report, click HERE.While there has, hitherto, been a degree of complacency among  political actors and media about the prospect of an insurgent far right in Ireland, the increased intensity and violence of far right protest has brought the

During 2024, I ran a project with Irish think tank TASC & German foundation @fesonline.bsky.social on the impact of far right rhetoric on political communication in Ireland. Here is the report by myself and Cathal Lathrop.

www.bassline.ie/post/researc...

A Stone Roses record and a decent beer make writing ‘thank you’ cards far more manageable.

More power usually brings more options – in Ireland, not so much - Foundation for European Progressive Studies

Last week, I wrote a short piece on the Irish General Election for my old friends at the Foundation for European Progressive Studies. I should probably post it before events overtake my analysis!
#GE242 #IrishPolitics

feps-europe.eu/more-power-u...

Let he who has not imposed martial law cast the first stone 🤷🏻‍♂️

I'm voting @ivanabacik.bsky.social #1 today.

Change is easy to talk about; much harder to deliver. Ivana has spent her whole adult life campaigning for progress in Ireland - and staying at it until she succeeds. We need more like her in Dáil Éireann.

#GE24 #DBS @labourpartyireland.bsky.social

Dick Spring: Voters encouraged to sleepwalk into more of the same old, same old The public doesn’t need another five years of a book-keeping Government, writes former Labour leader Dick Spring

With the benefit of history and experience, Spring captures a malaise affecting Irish public life: the bean counter mentality.

“Book-keeping is necessary, of course it is, but a strong economy that exists for its own sake is meaningless.”

#GE24

www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...

Podcast Episode: The Irish General Election David Kitching was back on the "Socially Democratic" podcast with Stephen Donnelly to discuss the upcoming General Election in Ireland. They covered a lot of ground from key issues to political positi...

I enjoyed catching up with Stephen Donnelly to discuss the Irish general election on his Socially Democratic podcast. I am sure there are plenty who will disagree with my analysis but that's the beauty of a respectful democracy.
#GE24 #elections #podcast
www.bassline.ie/post/podcast...

As was the custom at the time, he bought pints for all the children.