Caoimhin Björn Ó Laoghaire

Can he explain each one in layman’s terms?

They pretty much run the country at this stage. I mean run it into the ground of course

Of course Halloween is tonight not yesterday

Ah well Oíche Shamhna all the same

Andrew Windsor Saxe-Coburg and Gotha should be sent back to the Falklands to live out his days.

Two options.

1. Abolish it completely and send them to a remote part of the remaining colonial outposts (Tristan de Cunha seems like the right choice to me)
2. Strip them of their Royal lands and inheritances and then turn them into a bicycle monarchy as they’ve done across Europe

As in - no words



The top three things Jesus was on about were feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and welcoming the stranger. Rich men have convinced so-called Christians to starve the hungry, gut health care, and deport the stranger to enrich themselves. It’s astoundingly anti-Christ.

Bought and read. Great book!

Geert Wilders convinced Dutch voters the far right could run the country. What is their verdict now? A failed two-year experiment has lessons for the rest of Europe about the appeal – and the limits – of populism • Don’t get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up here

Probably not as seismic as the Irish election given how almost all the parties have moved to the right in the Netherlands. All the same it shows that populist far right governments are a shambles, here’s hoping the message sinks in elsewhere in Europe.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

We’ve had our fair share of Muslim Mayors in Europe, thank you very much….

Just don’t show up - make it a strike. Make it a general strike.

Unhinged

The problem is that the damage won’t be demonstrable before they’re all dead and gone.

Why I spoiled my vote: ‘I feel invisible to the Irish political classes’ Absence of choice proves to be overwhelming motivation behind record number of protest votes

Predictable mix of messages

There doesn’t HAVE to be a conservative candidate you know. If Steen had put some work in she would have been on the ballot.

What’s clear is that if this is a representative sample there is no “movement” around spoiled votes.

www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

WTF is wrong with the Democrats!!??? They have a real example of what will motivate voters in Mamdani - it’s not about appealing to the Center that no longer exists. It’s about a real alternative.

The Dem’s establishment seem to believe in an America that simply does not exist anymore.

Ireland's left-wing independent Catherine Connolly wins presidential election. 💙

From that article

“In the end, Connolly would amass 914,143 votes — the most of any Irish politician ever. While some will focus on the historic number of spoiled votes which racked up in the face of a narrow field and an online campaign, Connolly's victory comes with no asterisk. “

The “spoil the vote” party must be heard!!! Can’t wait to hear their vision for Ireland.

🙄

And people say the British press doesn't know anything about Ireland. They got this scoop, didn't they.

Exactly - Jesus but I hope he’s right

Catherine Connolly’s election as president has added a new dynamic to Irish politics | Justine McCarthy After a bizarre contest in which both government candidates blew their chances, the left has shown it can unite to win, says Irish Times columnist Justine McCarthy

"Connolly’s election is counter-cultural in an EU increasingly moving to the right and a climate of racism, anti-feminism and militarism."

- Justine McCarthy #Áras25
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Because it’s not about that at all is it?

People who turn up to cause mayhem don’t go home to put their feet up by the fire afterwards, they’re always looking for a word out of place or a sideways look - any excuse to inflict pain. Stranger or “loved one” hardly matters to them.

I think it’s about leveraging the general anxiety and malaise. Thugs burning down asylum centres and rioting. “Patriots” hanging up flags, “conservative” candidates looking to be heard… it’s all great press.

Positive news about unity and progress is so ho hum these days….

Well yes - the media is spending too much time on the squeaky wheel

Catherine Connolly amassing the largest number of votes of any politician ever in the history of the state is of course a smaller story than the minority who spoiled their votes

Plus corruption

Hang in there - you’re doing wonderful work for yourself and the doggies, and it matters!

Fair enough - wasn’t sure where you were coming from. Maybe we’re antiquated

Fair enough