It has to be named after Maureen Sweeney, the Irish meteorologist who gave the Allies a critical weather report before D Day. Irish aviation history and meteorological history are intimately linked, and we're a Republic - we don't name things after Taoisigh here (except in Cork).

Rest in Peace and Power, the incomparable Margaretta D'Arcy. 90 years of activism for #peace. She never gave up. Ní bheidh a leithéad arís ann.

Here's a lovely piece from Jennifer McMahon of @frazzledlit.bsky.social capturing the essence of the UL Creative Writing Winter School last week #writing www.frazzledlit.com/p/i-fell-in-...

So basis for #FineGael's barrel-scraping attack video on Catherine Connolly is that as a barrister, she worked for clients she didn't choose. Assume since this is now a bad thing, they'll be firing the ministers for health, justice & housing & all the other barrister TDs?

here is the @irishpen.bsky.social statement on the Global Sumud Flotilla irishpen.com/2025/10/02/g...

Don't forget to vote for your favourite independent bookshop here: www.anpost.com/Irish-Booksh...

Excited to announce that The Cork International Short Story Festival takes place from 15th - 18th October. All the details on the programme and how to book your tickets go to www.corkshortstory.net #shortstory #corkevents #shortstoryfestival

We are recruiting a new Commissioning Editor for fiction. Like all Faber editors, they will publish with dynamism and creativity, sensitivity and bravery – apply by 7 September. faber.co.uk/careers/fict...

ℹ️ If you're having difficulty filling out the expression of interest PDF for representation on the National Centre for Research & Remembrance panels/Special Advocate's Advisory Council, there's a Word version of the form on this page that's not flagged in the dept's email: www.gov.ie/en/departmen...

@sheilakillian.bsky.social I’ve just finished reading Something bigger. It’s a fantastic read. Marcella and Jimmy will stay with me for a while.

Folks, if any of you want to support a good cause while encouraging me to jump off a rugby stadium - well this is your moment! www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/s...

Though there are torturers

Folks, if any of you want to support a good cause while encouraging me to jump off a rugby stadium - well this is your moment! www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/s...

Delighted to have a story included in this anthology of long-listed entries to the @wcorklitfest.bsky.social Short Story competition. Great evening, lovely to meet some old friends and really great reading too

here's the end of the #heatwave on the #WildAtlanticWay with thunderstorms incoming. #Achill #fluich #Áileann

Here's a shiny new #writing substack from none other than @kitdewaal.com - looking forward to this one! Subscribe, why don't you? substack.com/@kitdewaal

the great @anneoleary.bsky.social has a fabulous list of short story competitions closing in the next few months, here: anneolearyblog.wordpress.com/2025/06/26/s...

if you want a Nobel Peace Prize, surely getting nominated by someone the ICC wants to arrest for war crimes shouldn't help?

Thank you to the wonderful academics & policy makers calling for an Irish suspension of trade with Israel in order to help end the systematic bombing and starvation of the Gazan people www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025... @pbresnihan.bsky.social @seanmacr.bsky.social @sheilakillian.bsky.social

I got a soundbite today from Prof. @sheilakillian.bsky.social today on @nearfm.ie about this story in the news today: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhLt...

Giotán cainte faighte ag @darrenjprior.bsky.social le Dr. Nessa Ní Chasaide ar @nearfm.ie inniu: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRTZ...

Urgent action called for www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41...

Academics and experts from 11 Irish universities calling for urgent action in the face of this well-televised genocide Glad to be part of it. www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...

UL Creative writing winter school is an intensive 4-day, 3-night writing development retreat for mid-career writers. We're delighted that from this year, we offer one free place (The Patrick Kelly Winter School Bursary). Applications and details from me at [email protected] 617b1c91637ae.site123.me

lots of free short #writing courses here: nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/academy/self... Not all free, but lots are

"We cannot give everyone a trial," says the president of these United States.

“CAUT recommends that academics who fall into the following categories exercise particular caution… • Those who have expressed negative opinions about the current U.S. administration or its policies” #Trumpland #Academia #HigherEducation dailynous.com/2025/04/15/c...

Irish #writers: here's a petition you can sign and spread from the Irish Writers Union, asking for action on Meta's copyright theft of written work. my.uplift.ie/petitions/pr...

A fine list of poetry, visual art and fiction competitions closing today or tomorrow here from the Irish Writers Centre, for anyone needing some Monday Motivation irishwriterscentre.ie/resources/co...

Migrants more likely to be educated, working & facing poverty means they're taking poorly-paid jobs for which they're over-qualified, in an effort pay rent, tax and build a new life. It's the opposite of stealing good jobs or sponging off the state. www.independent.ie/irish-news/m...

We know @jeffreygoldberg.bsky.social is the 1st to come forward, ethically, and tell the world how he was accidentally added to a "top secret" signal group chat. We've nothing at all to indicate he was the 1st person added to discussions like that though - if the system is insecure, who knows?

Today the good people of @rteradio1.bsky.social broadcast this to all the early risers - a thing I learned in Rome, 5 years ago today www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

Really delighted to have a short piece being broadcast on @rteradio1.bsky.social tomorrow morning, on Rising Time, to suit all ye early birds, going out just as the sun gets up! #writing It's about a morning five years ago in Rome, just as Covid was about to close Europe down

Go well, Pat Ingoldsby, and thanks. See you on the other side.

Ah, Jennifer Johnston!

Thanks to #Limerick Library for hosting the Writepace group of writers and readers yesterday as part of #IrelandReads - it was lovely to read as part of the group

Landscape with Red Spots, No. 2 by Vasily Kandinsky, 1913 https://botfrens.com/collections/212/contents/137694

Dia duit 👋 The #IrishBookAwards are now here on Bluesky, bringing you Ireland's biggest celebration of Irish books and authors. Follow along 🎉

Delighted to be part of this #IrelandReads event in #Limerick next Saturday with such an interesting group of writers. Drop in to the library at lunchtime and check it out www.facebook.com/LimerickLibr... #Spéirgorm

lots of great literary events coming up next week in Limerick - check out limerickliteraryfestival.com #Spéirgorm #writingcommunity

My new novel, Let Me Go Mad in My Own Way is out May 29th!! @kennysbookshop.bsky.social have signed first editions, you can pre order at the link below 🐎

Hey! HEY! WE are at 77% of target right now and we ought to be at over 80% by now. This is evidence of Slacking. Whattaya want, Poland coming up behind us and taking the next spot? Think of somewhere new to share that link. Go on, tell em I sent ya. eci.ec.europa.eu/043/public/#...

OK, we have now passed the 80% mark, and while I don't want to see any such lackidasical attitudes again, we can all agree that it's a good job done since Wednesday. Now, to get from 80 to 100 we need less than 2k more. We've done more than that already, just from Bluesky #speirgorm Easy.

Please share :)

Colombian President Gustavo Petro's full post ordering an increase of import tariffs on U.S. goods, says he doesn't really like traveling to the U.S. because it's “a bit boring” and invokes the ancestors

Wishing them well in their new jobs and all, but you'd almost think we'd adopted a Trumpian approach to diversity with the whiteness and maleness of this new cabinet Picture credit to @news.rte.ie

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

It's 2025, I'm 70 years old, and I wish to comment on the following statements:- a/ "You can't turn back the clock" b/ "You can't put the genie back in the bottle" a/ You literally can turn back a clock b/ You need to read folklore #writingcommunity #booksky #SpéirGorm #1001Nights