I wrote a piece last May about how return airfares from Dublin to NYC were €30 (ex. taxes, charges and fees.) Now they’ve fallen to €1 return. So I wrote about the numbers of people travelling, and sensationally low fares.

Presidential election: Sinn Féin says it will support Catherine Connolly

Developer Ballymore says it had meetings with ministers, council about its vision for Sheriff Street. They're not on the lobbying register. “For nearly a decade, conversations about the possible demolition of people’s homes have gone on in the background.”

Ta-Nehisi Coates on Charlie Kirk and the pundits and politicians sanitizing his legacy.

The council wasn’t hiring a municipal walker, but she took the job anyway. Once a month since September 2022, artist Lian Bell has done a full circuit of the North and South Circular Roads, observing these 14km through the seasons.

Very normal and totally not unsettling behaviour as usual from Thiel.

Must-read thread about the Irish Public Services Card ⬇️

UN inquiry finds Israel has committed genocide in Gaza

MI5 has admitted it twice unlawfully obtained the data of journalist Vincent Kearney (now RTÉ's Northern Editor).

Honoured to contribute to "Saving The City", a powerful new podcast series presented by journalist Una Mullally. In the first episode, we explore Jane Jacobs’ legacy, the lessons of the pandemic, and how to break the urban doom loop with hopeful, human-centred solutions.

Wrote about the importance of confronting political violence and anti-democratic forces in Irish society. We can - and should - do things differently.

Great reaction to the Saving The City podcast, and it's at #2 in the Irish charts! If you haven't got to it yet, have a listen. We've got global and national experts and doers, and look at solutions for post-pandemic cities across housing, public space, gentrification, biodiversity, and loads more.

Ireland will not take part in 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if participation of Israel goes ahead, RTÉ Director-General says

All ten episodes of the podcast series Saving The City are out now. I hope people enjoy listening.

Wrote about the student accommodation crisis in Ireland.

Ahead of Saving The City (podcast series coming Sept 10), I wrote about ten things that would improve Dublin.

I've a new podcast series coming Sept 10th. Saving The City is about the issues cities are facing, and the solutions to address them. Made in Dublin, for everywhere. Trailer on Insta now, and also wherever you get your podcasts (just search Saving The City). www.instagram.com/savingthecitypodcast

Tá mo C&F seachtainiúil do Scéal anois ar fáil ar líne. An chéad cheann den séasúr: Blue Niall.

In April 2024, the Irish government's Short Term Activation Plan provided €100m funding to universities for student housing. The reality? 2,853 units with planning permission remain unbuilt. There is a student accommodation crisis, PBSA rent is unaffordable, and this "plan" is clearly not working.

Looking forward to Liz's #Aras25 coverage on The Briefing.

An Garda Síochána’s intelligence section paid substantial sums of money to an Israeli spyware company with a history of doing business with repressive regimes. www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/20...

This is a really good listen on weaponised interdependence.

If you're interested in where data centres are located and planned for in Ireland, @thejournal.ie has done some really good mapping of this.

"Unlike other European countries, Germany has no police ombudsman or external affairs office with investigatory powers. Instead, police officers investigate their colleagues, with formal complaints rarely resulting in legal proceedings."

When Ireland was the tradwife capital of the world.

Wrote about the feelings stirred when Irish artists face criticism and censorship in Britain due to their solidarity with Palestine.

Wrote about the Irish trad band Biird, who arrived fully-formed.

Central Bank of Ireland confirms it will no longer approve sale of Israeli ‘war bonds’.

Very much looking forward to seeing Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus' new documentary on Seymour Hersh.

For those at Electric Picnic this weekend, I'm hosting what should be a great chat at the Leviathan tent in Mindfield on Sunday, 4.30pm: MARCH, SHARE, REVOLT: The Shape of Modern Protest feat. Ailbhe Smyth Jenny Maguire Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin Come!

Bígí linn sa Phuball Gaeilge, Electric Picnic, Dé Sathairn.

Good points here. I do feel that framing the US right now a competitive authoritarian system might be a little kind. There's just so much happening all the time, the next major elections are a good while away, and the way things are going the situation will get much worse between now and then.

The data is now landing to back up a lot of the anecdotal stories/vibes RE: people in the US moving to Ireland. 4,900 people left the US for Ireland between April ‘23-‘24. 9,600 April ‘24-‘25. A 96% increase.

Journalists in Dublin: 6pm this evening at the Spire.

Sally Hayden: Israel’s targeting of journalists is an attack on truth and history

Celebrated screenwriter Paul Laverty has been arrested in Edinburgh for wearing a tshirt with the words “Genocide in Palestine, time to take Action”. Laverty wrote The Wind That Shakes The Barley, Sorry We Missed You, and of course, It's a Free World...

Wrote about watching the incredible Russian documentary My Undesirable Friends - Part I: Last Air in Moscow with an audience in New York, where a record of the recent past that speaks to an American future was processed in the present.

Court hearings, huge shows, solidarity protests, admiration for Sally Rooney, and encouraging artists to speak out against genocide. I wrote about the run up to Kneecap's main stage appearance at Electric Picnic.

Hussam al-Masri and Hatem Khaled who both worked for Reuters, Mariam Abu Dagga who worked for AP, Mohammed Salam who worked for Al Jazeera, Moaz Abu Taha who worked for NBC - all killed by Israel.

Friends of the Earth Ireland, An Taisce and Friends of the Irish Environment have called on Kildare County Council to refuse planning permission for a €3 billion data centre due to greenhouse gas emissions.

Wrote about the next phase in Ireland's data centre boom - upcoming legislation on private wires - and how rural Ireland may be "unlocked" for data centre development.

My Undesirable Friends: Part I - Last Air In Moscow is incredible. Essential viewing. 5hrs 24mins long and every second counts.

Sally Rooney: I support Palestine Action. If this makes me a ‘supporter of terror’ under UK law, so be it

Wrote about a bunch of people in Kilfenora in Clare who are hoping to buy and reopen a legendary pub as a community space to preserve the area's traditional music sessions and tunes. A really important project. The GoFundMe link is in the article.

Details of the Stop Killing Journalists protest in Dublin this evening. Please join NUJ members to protest Israel’s ongoing slaughter of media workers and civilians.

Why has Gazans’ hunger attained the status of ‘moral crisis’ when Israel’s genocidal slaughter did not? Another great piece by Mark O’Connell.

Data centres in Ireland involved in this story of mass surveillance of Palestinians.

Wrote about the importance of Ireland passing the Occupied Territories Bill, including trade in services.

The mathematics of starvation: how Israel created famine in Gaza.

Very sad to hear of the death of Seán Rocks, a brilliant broadcaster, and the kind of expert and advocate for the arts who was always so open and curious. A huge loss in so many ways. Thinking of his family, friends, and colleagues.