Impossible to disagree with a single word that Ben Rhodes (Obama era NSC official) is saying here:

Issue 87 of GOVERNMENT TIMES, by students and staff of UCC's Dept of Government and Politics, is available at the link 👇. Read about Key to the EU, Limerick Mayoral Model, European Commission appointment, Nicola Sturgeon, Mary McAleese & Garret Kelleher. @ucc.ie www.ucc.ie/en/governmen...

Issue 903 of OFF THE WOODWORK is out, with Roberto De Zerbi on the cover. We assess the challenges he faces on pages 3 and 4. We recall our previous Managers of the Season and Alan Ahern provides a blast from the past. Also, James Tarkowski, Sweden, Virgil van Dijk and Roy Hodgson. #Season25

From a paper delivered in March 1991 by the great Tom Barrington to the ESRI Statistical Society Symposium. Would the commentary be any different in 2026?

#OnThisDay in 2019 the Government published 'Detailed Policy Proposals' in advance of the DEM plebiscites in Cork city, Waterford and Limerick. Despite the title, details were sadly lacking and there was much vagueness. We are seeing the result of that now in Limerick.

Issue 902 of OFF THE WOODWORK is out, with monthly champion, Diarmuid Collins, on the cover. We assess the Golden Boot race, summarise the season to date and discuss Mo Salah's Liverpool exit. Also, Czech Mate, Bill Shankly and traffic cones. Enjoy! #Season25 #FPL

#OnThisDay in 2019, talking to a Joint Oireachtas Committee about restoring Town Councils. What will the current Local Democracy Taskforce recommend? Is the report imminent?

As Ireland’s first directly elected mayor, John Moran has been given a mandate but no way of delivering it, writes @aodhquinlivan.bsky.social www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...

My opinion piece in today's Examiner about the Limerick Mayoral model. What are the issues? Cautious legislation, a failure to build relationships and the weakness of Irish local government. @joh2024.bsky.social @ucc.ie www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm... www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...

On 9 March, Nicola Sturgeon delivered a wonderful Philip Monahan Memorial Lecture at UCC. You can now listen to the lecture at the link below 🇮🇪 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿. ucc.ie/en/government-…https://www.ucc.ie/en/government-and-politics/news/nicola-sturgeon-delivers-annual-philip-monahan-memorial-lecture-at-ucc.html

Eight monthly leagues completed in #Season25. Just two more opportunities to win one of our snazzy trophies 🔥. #FPL

Congratulations to Diarmuid Collins who is now a four-time UCCFFC monthly winner 🎉. Who will be victorious in our 232nd monthly league in April? #Season25 #FPL

Only 9 months to go. It's getting close. It will fly now! 🎅 ☃️ 🤶 🎄 #ILoveChristmas

Issue 901 of OFF THE WOODWORK is out, with Everton's brilliant Beto on the cover. Luke O'Reilly is the Last Manager Standing, Casemiro is set for a great Man Utd send-off and we launch our 'Czech, Mate' competition. Also, Iraola, Danish spuds, Man City cup joy and ball respect.

We have a Bounty Match in the First Round of the UCCFFC League Cup as Michael Stanisic tries to de-throne Euan O'Mathúna. #Season25 #FPL

📯 We will be announcing a super new competition in Sunday's newsletter (Issue 901) 📯 The prizes are: a 'Who got the assist?' tote bag, 'Juve' by Herbie Sykes and an official Juventus FC scarf. #Season25 #FPL.

*LAST MANAGER STANDING* Congratulations 🎉 to Luke O'Reilly who wins a backpack and drinks tumbler from Los Angeles FC as well as an award-winning Easter egg. Enjoy! #Season25 #FPL

Wonderful buzz at the UCC Spring Open night. Great to see the interest in #CK122 which is consistent with the big rise in CAO first preferences. Thanks to Rory for his help on our stand 👍. @ucc.ie @joh2024.bsky.social @jfcryan.bsky.social

Issue 900 🤯 of OFF THE WOODWORK is out now! We reminisce about previous issues & include a photo gallery. The two GW30 Cup Finals are covered, we look ahead to the UCCFFC League Cup & talk about the PL's European woes. Also, the Cloughs, Ronaldo, Brazilian red cards & Karol Coleman. #Season25 #FPL

GW30 BIG WEEKEND! ⚽ March league continues ⚽ Cup of Champions Final ⚽ UCCFFC Shield Final ⚽ Last Manager Standing Rd. 4 ⚽ 900th issue of newsletter #Season25 #FPL

Home, sweet home 🏥.

A few more pictures from #Monahan26 yesterday, courtesy of the wonderful Rob Lamb 📸. @ucc.ie @joh2024.bsky.social @jfcryan.bsky.social

Congratulations 🎉 to Karol Coleman on his 🔥 prize from Surprise Shirts. Teachers FC, an amateur team in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Not a traditional shirt seen on the streets of Ballincollig 🤣. #Season25 #FPL

Thanks to Nicola Sturgeon for delivering a fantastic Philip Monahan Memorial Lecture @ucc.ie today. She was a pleasure to deal with and is a gifted and natural orator. Plenty of humour thrown in too, especially about an upcoming rugby match. #Monahan26 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇮🇪 🏉 @joh2024.bsky.social @jfcryan.bsky.social

Gearing up for #Monahan26 with Nicola Sturgeon at University College Cork. Excitement rising! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇮🇪 #Frankly

Issue 899 (10 pages) of OFF THE WOODWORK is out, with 7-time monthly champion, Frank O'Donovan, the cover star. We summarise the season, preview our GW30 Cup Finals, discuss Arsenal's set-pieces 🥱 and list 29 GW Kings. Also, Osula, Fernandes, Dowman, Salmon, Southampton and Port Vale. #Season25

A wonderful memory from 9 years ago today. It was quite the experience!

TANORA: IT'S A CORK THING! A special night in City Hall with Lucie receiving her Cork Discovers Heritage Project Prize for her brilliant project on Tanora. Congratulations to the prize-winners and all who participated. Well done to Cllr Kieran McCarthy for his Trojan work.

The Philip Monahan Memorial Lecture is a highlight of every year @ucc.ie. We are honoured that Nicola Sturgeon will deliver the 2026 lecture. It takes place on Monday at 12.00 in the Aula Maxima. Registration is required - send an email to [email protected]. #Monahan26 @joh2024.bsky.social

Big night at UCC for the launch of the 'Key to the EU' programme 🇮🇪 🇪🇺. @joh2024.bsky.social @jfcryan.bsky.social @theresareidy.bsky.social @ucc.ie 🗝️

The excitement is building and places are filling up fast. Registration is essential to secure attendance. E-mail [email protected]. #Monahan26

It's seven monthly titles in 10 years for the legendary Frank O'Donovan - congratulations 🎉. Who will win our 231st monthly league in March? It could be YOU! #Season25 #FPL 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

And then, dear reader, only 13 were left standing. #Season25 #FPL ⚽

Issue 898 of OFF THE WOODWORK is out! An inspired Jordan Pickford makes the cover and Jamie Carragher ignites a keeper debate. Tony Pulis offers an insight into the world of management and we also have David McGoldrick 🔥, FIFA Peace Prize, Liverpool's corners and Spurs' woes. #Season25 #FPL

The big lecture is drawing near. While #Monahan26 is free of charge, registration is essential. Send an email to [email protected] 👍. @ucc.ie @corkbeo.bsky.social @joh2024.bsky.social @jfcryan.bsky.social @theresareidy.bsky.social @irishtimes.com

The top two for the month are playing Bench Boosts! Leader, Frank O'Donovan, is captaining Bruno Fernandes. Sam Donnelly has handed the armband to Nico O'Reilly. A big call! #Season25 #FPL

🤓 GW28 ⚽. * Final matches in the February league. * Cup of Champions Quarter-Finals. * UCCFFC Shield Quarter-Finals. * 'Last Manager Standing' Round 2. Wow! #Season25 #FPL

As we approach the 25th anniversary of Patrick O'Sullivan's sad passing on 3 March, I am grateful to our students who keep his memory alive by entering our annual essay competition. The 2026 winner will be announced on 9 March at #Monahan26 with Nicola Sturgeon. @ucc.ie @joh2024.bsky.social

26th Annual Philip Monahan Lecture with Nicola Sturgeon - Aula Maxima, @ucc.ie, 11.45 on Monday 9 March. The event is free of charge, but registration is essential. 📩 Email [email protected]. #Monahan26 @joh2024.bsky.social @jfcryan.bsky.social

Issue 897 of OFF THE WOODWORK is out, with Burnley's Zian Flemming the cover-page star. We look at the phenomenal run-of-form from Saba Loftus, predict what happens next in Managergeddon and raise a glass to James Milner. Also, Nathan Collins, Alexis Mac Allister and Eberechi Eze. #Season25 #FPL

Chelsea, Brentford and Aston Villa fail to win 🤯. Is anyone left in 'Last Manager Standing'? #Season25

'Is the role of directly elected mayor workable? What’s happened in Limerick suggests not.' Happy to have contributed to this piece by Cormac McQuinn. www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

The countdown is on to the 26th Annual Philip Monahan Lecture @ucc.ie with guest speaker Nicola Sturgeon 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿. The event is free of charge but prior registration is essential (e-mail [email protected]). See you on 9 March in the Aula Maxima! #Monahan26 @joh2024.bsky.social @jfcryan.bsky.social

Happy 10th birthday to the Centre for Local and Regional Governance @ucc.ie. We launched on 16 February 2016 and I am immensely proud of the progress we have made since then. Local government matters and it should be researched more. Onwards and upwards. @joh2024.bsky.social @jfcryan.bsky.social

Today, we launch our LAST MANAGER STANDING competition. Win a backpack and drinking tumbler from @lafcmirror.bsky.social as well as an Easter egg. Good luck to all. #Season25 #FPL

Issue 896 of OFF THE WOODWORK is out, with Igor Tudor and Vitor Pereira on the cover. We look at record-breaking Gabriel and examine Thomas Frank's departure from Spurs. Also, James Milner, Peter Shilton, Glenn Hoddle, Sol Campbell, Evangelos Marinakis, Pedro Neto and Seán Dyche. #FPL

Have a listen to Lucie's 'Tanora' interview today with PJ Coogan on 96FM. shows.acast.com/corks-96-fm-...

Delighted to announce that the 2026 Philip Monahan Memorial Lecture @ucc.ie will be delivered by the former Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon. The event takes place on Monday 9 March, 12.00 noon, Aula Maxima. @joh2024.bsky.social @jfcryan.bsky.social @echolive.bsky.social @irishtimes.com