Donncha O’Connell

Is the UK's intervention in Iran war legal? Starmer said Britain would intercept Iranian missiles and allow US to use its bases in defensive action. Does that make the UK complicit in an illegal war?

Illegality at every turn - war in Iran explainer

www.middleeasteye.net/explainers/u...

Superb lecture delivered tonight by Judge Dire Tladi of the International Court of Justice at the Annual Distinguished Lecture hosted by @uniofgalwayichr.bsky.social - brilliant discussion of jus cogens and erga omnes followed by a really excellent Q&A session

Conservation measures see corncrake numbers up slightly in past five years The tide is slowly turning for the endangered corncrake, according to recent research by an ATU ecologist.

The tide is slowly turning for the endangered corncrake, according to recent research by an ATU ecologist www.advertiser.ie/galway/artic...

X refused stay in Coimisiún na Meán challenge Judge Cian Ferriter said that in his view, lawyers for X overstated the extent to which the platform would be prejudiced in the event that a stay was not granted

X refused stay in Coimisiún na Meán challenge by Irish High Court. Judge Cian Ferriter said that in his view, lawyers for X overstated the extent to which the platform would be prejudiced in the event that a stay was not granted.

www.irishtimes.com/business/202...

Paid internships in the Legal Division of the Department of Foreign affairs and Trade

Paid internships in the Legal Division, DFA - 2026

www.gov.ie/en/departmen...

Galway launch of A Hosting: Interviews with Irish Writers 1991-2025 with Sarah Kenny of @kennysbookshop.bsky.social @lilliputpress.bsky.social

Protesters highlight housing crisis in the Gaeltacht Protesters from the Tintéain, Banú and other Gaeltacht housing campaign groups took part in a rally outside Leinster House this afternoon to highlight concerns about the growing housing crisis in the ...

Protesters from the Tintéain, Banú and other Gaeltacht housing campaign groups took part in a rally outside Leinster House this afternoon to highlight concerns about the growing housing crisis in the Gaeltacht

Calls on community groups in Galway to apply for Community Heritage Grant Scheme The Heritage Council has launched the 2026 Community Heritage Grant Scheme and is inviting applications from community organisations throughout Galway.

The Heritage Council has launched the 2026 Community Heritage Grant Scheme and is inviting applications from community organisations throughout Galway www.advertiser.ie/galway/artic...

Global economy must stop pandering to ‘frivolous desires of ultra-rich’, says UN expert Olivier De Schutter says new economic agenda needed to tackle crises of rising inequality and ecological collapse The global economy must be reordered to ensure it serves ordinary people around the world rather than the “frivolous and destructive demands of the ultra-rich”, according to a leading UN figure. Olivier De Schutter, the UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, says politicians must stop prioritising “socially and ecologically destructive growth” that only increases the profits – and serves the consumption demands – of the world’s richest individuals and corporations. Continue reading...

Global economy must stop pandering to ‘frivolous desires of ultra-rich’, says UN expert

Many Ipas residents in ‘wholly unsuitable’ living and sleeping arrangements, report finds Overcrowding in asylum seekers accommodation increased by 19 per cent in 2025

Many IPAS residents in ‘wholly unsuitable’ living and sleeping arrangements, HIQA report finds. Overcrowding in asylum seekers accommodation increased by 19% in 2025.

www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...

Big thanks to @uniofgalwaylib.bsky.social for support with open access publication of this article, doi.org/10.1016/j.ac..., which adds to the political dimension emphasised in my recent book on academic library positioning, tinyurl.com/2j93tnp8, ⁦‪@facetpublishing.bsky.social

Galway Co Co asks public to record frog sightings Galway County Council's Biodiversity Office is asking members of the public to help record sightings of the common frog across Co Galway.

Galway County Council's Biodiversity Office is asking members of the public to help record sightings of the common frog across Co Galway

Read this beautiful book, Still, this afternoon, a gorgeous and loving lamentation by Julia Kelly

‘School could be quite cruel. Songs were a saviour for me’: Philip King on music, film and the essentiality of the arts In the week he brought Foo Fighters to Kerry, the man behind Other Voices says the Irish State cannot just pay lip service to the arts’ centrality

I interviewed the brilliant Philip King while I was down in Dingle earlier in the week: www.irishtimes.com/culture/musi...

Statement by President Connolly following strikes on Iran

president.ie/en/media-lib...

In the face of such a flagrant and inflammatory unlawful use of force, the Irish government should be condemning this aggression in no uncertain terms.

This statement from the Minister for Foreign Affairs does not even refer to international law, let alone call for respect for humanitarian law.

GAA Congress disrupted by protesters calling for end to Allianz deal Group of protesters managed to get into level five of Croke Park’s Hogan Stand

GAA Congress disrupted by protesters calling for end to Allianz deal

Funding secured for planning to bring Galway’s Clifden Railway Bridge back to life as walking and cycling route Galway City Council's proposed Clifden Railway Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge is to be brought through to the planning stage after alternative funding has been secured. The proposed bridge is to use the abutments of the former Clifden Railway Bridge, creating a more direct walking and cycling link across the River Corrib between the University of Galway and the Dyke Road area on the city centre side of the river.

Funding secured for planning to bring Galway’s Clifden Railway Bridge back to life as walking and cycling route

Galway City Council's proposed Clifden Railway Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge is to be brought through to the planning stage after alternative funding has been secured. The proposed bridge…

Pressure for public inquiry builds amid new evidence of spying on Northern Ireland journalists A statutory public inquiry into covert surveillance of journalists in Northern Ireland should be launched following fresh revelations from a tribunal, campaigners have said. Amnesty International said...

Pressure for public inquiry builds amid new evidence of spying on Northern Ireland journalists

www.irishlegal.com/articles/pre...

Winning €11m Lotto jackpot ticket sold in Co Mayo shop The winning €11m Lotto jackpot ticket was sold in Co Mayo shop, according to the National Lottery.

It won’t change me…

Winning €11m Lotto jackpot ticket sold in Co Mayo shop

www.rte.ie/news/ireland...

26 Innovators & Innovations from Past to Present Along Ireland’s Westerly Seaboard As part of the wrap-up for our exhibition of Old Ireland in Colour images at Kylemore Abbey last weekend, I gave a presentation with 26…

I've written a blog post based on my presentation, which is now available here: 26 Innovators & Innovations from Past to Present Along Ireland’s Westerly Seaboard

medium.com/@johnbreslin...

Two women stand in front of a purple banner holding two beige-covered reports

The PCSA has published its first Strategy Statement along with two underpinning documents, the PCSA Inspection Plan 2026 and an overview of the PCSA Business Plan for 2026.

For more, see: bit.ly/4bc6g2s

The most significant overhaul of asylum law in three decades shouldn’t be this rushed A system that accelerates decision-making without sufficient legal clarity risks embedding errors, unlawfulness and injustice

Great piece by Liam Herrick of IHREC:

The most significant overhaul of asylum law in three decades shouldn’t be this rushed. A system that accelerates decision-making without sufficient legal clarity risks embedding errors, unlawfulness and injustice…

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026...

Wigmore Soloists at St Joseph’s A truly stellar line-up of musicians from Wigmore Hall, the home of London’s chamber music, will visit Galway city next month.

A stellar line-up of musicians from Wigmore Hall, the home of London’s chamber music, will visit Galway city next month www.advertiser.ie/galway/artic...

Win a car for just €10 with the Galway Hospice Car Raffle Galway Hospice has launched its annual car raffle, giving supporters the chance to win a brand-new car for just €10.

Galway Hospice has launched its annual car raffle, giving supporters the chance to win a brand-new car for just €10 www.advertiser.ie/galway/artic...

New documentary series explores history of Irish women and the law A new documentary series is to explore seminal moments in Irish history where women took on the legal system. Ceartas Crua – Mná v An Dlí, a bilingual two-part documentary series t...

New TG4 documentary series explores history of Irish women and the law

www.irishlegal.com/articles/new...

The @pcsaireland.bsky.social will meet the Garda Commissioner in public, on Thursday 26th February. Here is the agenda:

www.pcsaireland.ie/authority-me...

Communities fight 'corporate' bid for seaweed rights Communities on Ireland's west coast say they will fight to safeguard their traditional seaweed rights against what they describe as a "corporate takeover "of their livelihoods.

West coast communities fight 'corporate' bid for seaweed harvest rights

www.rte.ie/news/ireland...

Tusla has referred five emergency child care providers to Gardaí over vetting concerns A quarter of staff working in Special Emergency Arrangements last year did not have the required documentation to work with vulnerable children.

Tusla has referred five emergency child care providers to Gardaí over vetting concerns. A quarter of staff working in Special Emergency Arrangements last year did not have the required documentation to work with vulnerable children.

www.thejournal.ie/investigates...