When I was at school in Dublin in the mid 1970s, the guy who ran the debating society, not a teacher, was an extreme right wing Catholic, affiliated with an org that was either Maria Duce or a successor. He used to hand out literature as prizes that explained the world through the protocols/

One lesson Labour refuses to learn is that disappointed first time voters never come back. Ask the Lib Dems after 2010 when they sold out on student fees. The generation that substantially supports the Greens now will almost certainly never to cajoled back to Labour, and Reform voters will die soon.

Grabbing mancunians by their Parkas and bellowing "well look back in anger now, eh?"

Golf club chortle heard all over south Dublin.

London band @legsssssssss appeal for guitars/gear robbed in Dublin includes “Fender Telecaster Butterscotch, Mexican Fender Vintera 60s Stratocaster Modified Burgundy Mist Metallic PF Fender Squier Stratocaster Pink Fender Classic ‘60s Mustang Bass” www.hotpress.com/music/london...

The University of Essex plans to close their Southend campus and cut up to 400 jobs — around one in five staff! But the staff and students are fighting back. Sign their petition to stop the cuts, save Southend, and protect education www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/sa...

Finished The Last September in a bout of insomnia, somehow appropriate. The only other Bowen I've read is the Heat of Day, probably 40 years ago, and I hadn't remembered how brittle-y funny she could be - or maybe she wasn't later? Specifically at the expense of Gerald/

The Labour party led by a man that sent a man they knew was a friend of a convicted paedophile as ambassador to the court of a convicted rapist? That Labour Party?

Is there a petition for Essex graduates by any chance?

If Adolf Hitler flew in today...

How does he sleep at night?

Long past time to bury the notion that Clinton/ Mitchell/ Blair/ Ahern 'brought' peace to NI. The people of The North get written out of the story. Epstein claims cast shadow over legacy of Northern Ireland peacemakers Clinton and Mitchell | Bill Clinton | The Guardian share.google/Pi65qri4Qh6i...

Should say that you can complete this whether you have experience of this or not. #speirgorm

If you thought Mandelson was charmless before, wait till he's cornered.

When Mandelson complains about 'a baseless rumour' you'd be inclined to believe the rumour.

'Laura was a success in England and so quite brilliant - she was too Irish altogether for her own country' Elizabeth Bowen, Last September

Mixing drinks ends up in headache.

Overdressed when I ventured out of LS6 for the first time in week. It's warm!

Yes please!

There weren't all that keen on reporting it in 'British as Finchley ' Northern Ireland.

Great photo

Well said.

I never before thought about why Mandelson wanted the NI Sec role. Clintons George Mitchell Things are coming into focus. A good journo in NI will be examining Epstein in Hillsborough and who else was there, especially for the big bathtub change.

RIP His leadership campaign

He's definitely a take one for the team kinda guy

I just feel sorry for the Labour canvassers in Gorton and Denton.

Andy, Mandy....

Done about 6 months ago.

"Dublin’s Secret #Socialist #Housing A captivating new book ['Flats and Cottages'] considers the grand #councilhousing complexes of 1930s and 1940s #Dublin, and their legacies today" #publichousing #socialhousing #housingcrisis #homelessness #SpéirGhorm tribunemag.co.uk/2026/01/dubl...

_________and why it matters. Not going to read.

This is a phenomenal record. Laura N. Labelle, Gamble and Huff, with Thom Bell paying tribute to (mostly) Motown. The segue between the two tunes here is up there with the Raggle Taggle Gypsies/ Tabhair Dom so Lamh as shiver down the spine moments www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyRE...

Hambridge - Shakespeare and his wife move to Borsetshire, and come up against Linda Snell in the battle to run the village pageant.

10 random favourite bands/artists to get to know me Laura Nyro Judee Sill Ann Peebles CMAT Carla Bley Wanda Jackson Raincoats Au Pairs June Tabor Aretha

Inevitably

Football version of the 'name three songs' thing; The Kneecap Bohs shirt spotted in Oxfam Books in Headingley. 'Great goal from Devoy the other night wasn't it?' (I didn't)

I'm not in Ireland, so maybe the airwaves are teeming with commies, but somehow I doubt it.

Everytime I get half interested in the 6 nations, I look at the table, and can't make myself understand this bonus point malarkey. 3 for a win, 1 for a draw. What's so wrong with that?

Why are folks not asking more questions about this FBI complaint in the Epstein Files? www.justice.gov/epstein/file...

Do we need anything from the British Museum while we're there?

Good win for Wycombe and a goal for Junior Quitirna, a familiar figure to League of Ireland supporters. Other results currently favourable, so the paly offs still just about tantalisingly possible.

Dawson!

Not a goal fest tonight...

Can't believe Benjamin Wegg-Prosser is not a Wodehouse character.

Can't see him mounting a Kind Hearts and Coronets style campaign to climb the ladder somehow.

Labour lost three council seats last night. 1 each to the Greens, Lib dems and Plaid. Reform were 2nd or 3rd in each. The Greens also won and beat Reform in another local election. So when they say vote Labour to stop Reform, they couldn't be more wrong. Vote almost anyone but Labour to beat Reform.

How much proof do we need? This is not 'like' Fascism.

The Ballad of Wallis Island. Warp factor twee.

Two cheers.

If Andy goes down and Chas deigns to visit, will he be searched like any other prison visitor?