Paul Harkin

Great work @nialler9.com and @andreacleary.bsky.social. Thanks for doing what you both did and do. Best wishes for the PhD.
Music and cultures loss is academia's gain.

The critique of Ms Swift's 12th studio album is a thing of beauty. So comprehensive is the review that I have absolutely no desire or need to ever listen to this record.
By contrast, I feel urgently compelled to listen (again) to CMAT's Euro-Country, such is Ms Cleary's joy & eloquent appreciation.

Not quite a year ago, I gave you a gentle prompt to check out @nialler9.com and @andreacleary.bsky.social podcast. I hope that you took my sage advice.
Alas comes the news that with Episode 300, this great podcasting duo have come to their co-presenting conclusion.
But what a way to sign off!

Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.

Unfortunately we seem to have a low enough view of politicians (because of their evasion, not answering questions?) Do we need to devalue the office of President too?
The President is supposed to represent all people. Why ask them to defend the policies of parties that captured 20% votes (at most)?

Maybe it would be better to have a series of 1-to-1 fireside chats where each candidate gets to outline their priorities and approaches without the haranguing from an interviewed determined to get their gotcha moment.
Would put distance between Presidential and TD elections.

The other thing that I take from the #Áras25 debates, is the futility of the entire debate format. The President role won't ever require the incumbent to debate. Instead, it requires them to be able to articulate a compelling vision for the country. Emoter-in-chief.

This #Áras25 Presidential debate is a close run thing. Neck & neck, indeed.
While Kieran Cuddihy performed well, methinks Áine Lawlor nailed it with her ceist as gaeilge.

When the lead candidate is next & neck with undecided, then you'd have to be very cautious about this 'Ireland hasn't yet thought' poll.
Helpfully there's another TV debate win the hour to make this poll obsolete. #Aras25

I have struggled with Irish, and I want to show people that it is worth it to learn Irish. It is difficult, but it is worth it.

💙💛 Our deepest sympathies to the family, friends, and colleagues of Manchán Magan, author, filmmaker and passionate advocate for the Irish language.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

We are pleased to share information about a study on recurrent cervical cancer.
The trial is now open at UCD Cancer Trials and is being conducted at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital (MMUH) in Dublin.

👉 Read more about the trial here: www.ucd.ie/cancertrials...

Can a Diagnosis Make You Better?

🧠📄 Research led by Associate Professor Cliodhna O’Connor of UCD School of Psychology has examined how adults experience receiving a diagnosis of autism.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/03/h... @cliodhna

Leo Varadkar: Former Prime Minister of Ireland on Power and Letting Go

If you aren't listening to Full Disclosure with @mrjamesob.bsky.social, you are missing insightful, thoughtful interviews with interesting people. This one with our own Leo Varadkar is a case in point. Very relaxed, honest and free of political spin.
open.spotify.com/episode/1PYE...

UCD Colleagues: We're recruiting 4 paid Student Partners (Stage 2+) for UCD Teaching & Learning. A great chance for students to help shape the academic experience.

We'd appreciate your help spreading the word.

Deadline 3-Oct-25.

All details & application form via: www.ucd.ie/teaching/wha...

I know that I only catch one tenth of her cultural references but I am loving the brilliant @cmatbaby.bsky.social's Euro-Country shopping centre versions.
Oh the Michael Fry of it all (@bigdirtyfry.bsky.social). Brings me back.
Nostalgia sells!

Delighted to see our new paper Autistic SPACE for Inclusive Education is out in @neurodiversityjrnl.bsky.social just in time for the new school year, with @aoifemunroe.bsky.social, Elaine McGoldrick, Rachel Ferguson & Carina Byrne.

Sending kind thoughts and best wishes from home. Mind yourself well.

Pencil line drawing of an old fashioned radio microphone, the kind you might expect Van Morrison to be caressing as he raves on about John Donne. The cable trails off into the distance. Text in blue writing on lefthand side reads "Pauli's Podcast Picks #PPP" My soul is haunted by the evil depravity of our world. I have to work hard to not fall into the trap of othering those whose actions I cannot understand or forgive. That's how unspeakable horror begins....

Genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression. Whatever label, dehumanising people and indifference leads to evil and inhumane conduct.
This episode is worth a listening to even if only to keep the fragile spark of hope alive. #PPP

open.spotify.com/episode/0ZBm...

In a monumental act of national humility and forgiveness, we could make Ryan Tubridy our President. Or anyone else that Noel Kelly decrees.
If we want a pugilist, why not Katie rather than Conor? If we want a Corkonian, why not Sonia rather than Roy? A Donegal singer, Enya or Daniel? The list is...

Maybe we could run a Late Late Show managed selection process a la the National Song Contest to get our candidate.
Speaking of process, we could reward Jim Gavin for saving gaelic football. Then of course there is always Michael O'Leary (though he might not get the teachers' vote)

Concern for civil liberties, inclusive, fearless courage, a contrarian nature, poetic charm, poise and dignity, and, above all other things, being able to be our 'Emoter-in-Chief'.
We used to want someone who wouldn't embarrass us on the world stage but that stage is now crowded with embarrassment.

If no candidate were put forward by any of the three main political parties, then maybe the campaign could be less politically fraught and could focus on character and integrity.
The three most recent Presidents worked because each reflected something that we wished we had more off in our society.

The men in the shadows that run SF haven't yet told either Mary Lou or Michelle who their candidate will be. They could of course just endorse Catherine Connolly. This would have the advantage of reserving their funding and bolster their (laughable) claim to be a party of the left.

FF's best hope might be to persuade their party leader to summon up every ounce of his well-hidden humility and throw himself at the mercy of the Irish people. This would allow them to avoid the inevitable leadership heave and humanely dispatch the now CMAT-skewered former leader Bertie.

FF's ideal scenario of tacitly backing MMcG, retaining their purse, and writing it all up as another post-Civil War milestone has gone up in smoke with the withdrawal of the FG frontrunner.
It may become a case of "If FG#2 wasn't good enough for FG, then (s)he isn't good enough for FF!"

FF, Ireland's hitherto largest political party with, it seems, no obvious candidate, may need to sit out another campaign. Any search for a party representative risks highlighting how threadbare their shiny political suit actually is. There is also the small matter of squandering €500k on futility.

FG having identified a strong, electable candidate were, it seemed, in pole position. With the unfortunate withdrawal of their candidate (my sincere best wishes to MMcG), FG will now scamble to find an alternative. Whoever emerges will carry an equally indelible 'second choice' mark.

But why should it be for political parties to assemble the candidate field. In our 3.5+ party system, at least 2.5 parties will blow €500k each on an unsuccessful campaign.
Also, being party nominees, the campaign for this non-political role immediately descends into, well, nasty, brutal politics.

The presumption (not unreasonable given it is one of the routes to nomination) is that the field of Presidential candidates should be assembled by political parties.
Anyone putting themselves forward as an independent is immediately dawbed with the indelible 'crackpot' sign.
#Áras25