For #ThickTrunkTuesday the largest Sweet Chestnut in the world (Sicily). All one tree. Bent double, broken, anywhere between 2 & 4 thousand years old & growing on the slopes of a volcano!🌳 @nickakers54.bsky.social @nicwilson.bsky.social @drtonygillie.bsky.social

Ireland won't be the 1st country to meet its quota but we can't let Italy beat us Only 2,450 more signatures needed 📍 SIGN NOW 📝 Demand the full suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement in view of Israel’s violations of human rights #spéirgorm eci.ec.europa.eu/055/public/#...

I've had a promotional VHS for the test animation that became Batman: The Animated Series for a long time, I bought it on eBay in like...1999? The version they put as a bonus on the DVD said they lost the audio but uh, here it is. You're welcome Bruce Timm.

I’m in group counselling for people who talk too much. It’s called People Who Go On Anon.

Not even pretending to be a non-apartheid regime then.

I saw a "Primark" label on somebody's coat today and I misread it as "Grimdark".

It's baffling to me how Ireland is only on 65.30% of our quota for this (see citizens-initiative.europa.eu/initiatives/...) given our apparently vehement support of Palestinians. If you've not signed yet, do it, and get 5 friends to do it too. eci.ec.europa.eu/055/public/#... #speirgorm

Vote Loki! @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social

This is one of my favourite books. You can check out my review for The Call here: markkieltywriter.com/2024/12/09/f... #IrishBookBlogger #Octobooks #Octocon #YA #YAFantasy #BookSky

Congratulations to our 2026 GOH @aptshadow.bsky.social, last year's guests T.L. Huchu, @justmarvewrites.bsky.social and @khanwong.bsky.social, and all other past guests of Octocon who are on this year's BSFA Awards longlist!

Board of Peace - Season 1

Just in the door from the lovely folks at @dfbstoryhouse.bsky.social This new edition will be available in Ireland and the UK from February 12 😊

Really enjoyed the first episode of Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The show it most reminded me of? The Detectorists. Gormless character. Lovely music. Bucolic setting. Small humiliations and plenty of humour.

This is brilliant!

At the Court of the Sun King. Nonfiction book illustration showing the dinner of Louis XIV as a court performance in the early 1680s. Can you guess I love painting very detailed scenes? 😆 Client: Noordhoff Uitgevers

Want to join in on the Dublin 2029 fun? Volunteer with us! We’re always looking for new people to join our team - no experience needed 💚 Just fill in this quick volunteer form so we get to know you and we’ll be in touch - docs.google.com/forms/u/0/d/...

I really want to enjoy this post but it involves absolutely zero citations

Eastercon is the UK's annual science fiction convention for book lovers & writers Iridescence, 2026's Eastercon will be at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel, 3-6 April 2026. Tickets on sale now Guests of Honour include @rjbarker.bsky.social @emmanewman.bsky.social & @drkarenlord.bsky.social

A hilarious, but true, song about Elon Musk by the amazing Carsie Blanton. youtube.com/shorts/8SJxk...

Hola Bluesky. Does anybody know of a good book, or other resources, to help an absolute beginner to learn Korean? This learner is not afraid of grammar of looking foolish. Many thanks! May you all get the triangle and not the umbrella.

Pre-order links for the new @thecallya.bsky.social novel now available: wizardstowerpress.com/books-2/book...

Moebius

The EU is preparing a gift for pesticide giants: toxic pesticides could stay on the market forever, with no safety tests at all. Yes, forever approvals. Yes, this is real. Sign now to stop it. action.wemove.eu/sign/2025-12...

New to #Bluesky? Here's a starter pack for Bricks & Mortar Bookshops on the Island of Ireland #BookSky go.bsky.app/G4kmxVq

This is also what Yvette Cooper, when she was UK Home Secretary, said about #PalestineAction. If you knew the secret stuff I know, you'd agree with me that they're terrorists. It's the cheapest and basest way for a politician to malign someone, and a clear sign of a flailing, undemocratic state.

You’re right—swallowing the bird was a half-measure. The bird did eat the spider, as planned, but now you have a bird in you. It reminds you of swallowing the spider to catch the fly. You’re seeing the pattern. Would you like me to suggest some animals which could eat the bird?

Sir Joseph Lister, 'father of antiseptic surgery', whose principles of cleanliness transformed medicine, born #OTD 1827; conducted first antiseptic operation 1865. One of only two physicians to be accorded a London memorial. Photo 1860 Wellcome Collection | Lord Lister memorial 1924, Portland Place

it’s come to my attention that my tumblr post has been crossposted to bluesky, so I’m posting it on my account here #AntiAI #GenAI

Worked in Gort when most phones were still butterboxes and everything went through an operator. Me: "Hi, can I have Gort 89?" Operator: "Are you looking for Helen?" Me: "Yes." Operator: "I'll put you through to Sullivan's, she's over there having her dinner."

Just going to sit here with my finger hovering over the keyboard, ready to smash that pre-order button...

Yay! A superb writer. I'm looking forward to this.

It is SO GOOD. And SO SCARY.

Cover Reveal for The Sword Garden! Available for preorder soon at wizardstowerpress.com/books-2/book... A million thanks to the brilliant artist, Ben Baldwin, and of course to my editor, @cherylmorgan.bsky.social

Ignoring my failed proofreading⤵️🤦‍♀️, let's talk about Eilish Fisher. Her first book, Fia and the Last Snow Deer, was published in Sept 2024. I have only the proof so you'll have to trust me that the actual book is stunning. Dermot Flynn's illustrations are superb and perfectly compliment Eilish's text

Folks, @womensaidireland.bsky.social have closed their X account on principle. Follow them here, give them some real engagement to acknowledge both the rightness of that decision, but also of letting go of high follower numbers (even if the algorithm meant that no longer signified actual reach).

A back-to-work cartoon for @newscientist.com

That depends. Is #4 a chocolate log?

I agree. Full of gems like this: "A complicated childhood full of privation and catastrophe isn’t an inheritance that sets up a writer for life."

We are now as far away from the release of Raiders of the Lost Ark as audiences in 1981 were from its setting of 1936

Alexa - What does genocide culture look like?

Hi, I am my own stupidity.

Don't go mad with those #newyearresolutions ... @privateeyenews.bsky.social #gym #fitness #weightloss #accident #cartoon #originalart #dippenandink #watercolour Available here: www.chrisbeetles.com/artist/537/j...

Start as you mean to go on! Stats for 2026: Resolutions made: 0 Resolutions broken: 0 Chapters edited: 2 Tasty Dahls cooked: 1 Bluesky Posts: Already too many.

Daily bunny no.3186 says good riddance

It continues - to describe those who continue to defend actions like this as “apologists” doesn’t seem to be enough.

“The most important challenge in 2026 will be the protection of human rights and human rights defenders.” ~Andrée Murphy @ATownNews

One of the most unforgettable images capturing the vibrant promise of the new year, by the great Bauhaus artist László Moholy-Nagy: 7 A.M. (New Year's Morning), c. 1930 www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...

"It would be pleasant, son of my god, in wondrous journeys to go, over the wave, like a well of deluge, to Ireland. To Mag nÉolairg, past Benevenagh, across Lough Foyle, where I might hear musical harmony from the swans." (Middle Irish, ascribed to Colum Cille; @ria.ie 23 N 10 p. 91)

🎶 I wish everyone a successful and joyful New Year 2026 🥂🍾 Robad mellach, a meic mo Dé, dingnaib réimenn ascnam tar tuinn topur ndílenn dochum nÉirenn. Co Mag nÉolairg, sech Beinn Foibne, tar Loch Febail, airm i·cluinfinn cuibdius cubaid ocna helaib.