“Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

"You know how in the Renaissance they suggested birds wintered on the Moon? Yeah, they were wrong…except for puffins!"

This always sounds so generous until you realize that’s like 2% of their net worth That’s like a regular person donating a couple hundred. And they feel it even less because at their wealth a couple extra million more or less makes no difference in their day to day life.

Aaaannnnd he is chair of the Governing Authority of UCC, an institution that prides itself on its green/sustainability successes.

This is Bob this is the equivalent of Bob giving 34 c to charity

Every time we see this kind of capitalist propaganda I want to post a photo of a regular tax-payer. This is Bob. Bob gives 20-40% of his income to paying for schools, hospitals, welfare programs and more. Bob can't afford his rent, much less a private jet, but Bob's still doing his part for society

Billionaires not getting taxed enough is why we *need* fucking charities

Important update

A week after UCC becomes the first Irish university receive one of the world’s most prestigious sustainability rankings, the Chair or its Governing Authority says Ireland should relax its environmental standards. www.ucc.ie/en/news/2026... #ClimateEmergency #SpeirGorm

I'm still astonished that a guy sent me an email asking if I'd like to spend 10 quid for this photo of me regretting my decision to run a half marathon

We've moved past the point where this contrarian bullshit should be treated as a simple difference of opinion. This person is advocating for harm to others. To poison their water, to pollute their air, and to make their climate more dangerous. This person is extremely dangerous. #spéirgorm

This feels like every cartoon I saw as a child where a lazy character swept a chaotic mess under a rug and thought they got away with it

#spéirgorm www.irishtimes.com/opinion/edit...

My posts most days. I'm sorry.

I know we’re all very busy, but I do think the Minister for Justice passing a law to invent a carve out for the police’s requirement to have Judicial oversight of their use of Facial Recognition of public places was worth a bit of attention. www.thegist.ie/the-gist-hum...

The @irishexaminer.bsky.social have covered this story again and again over the years. When I tell people about it they’re shocked, yet there are plans to build over likely burial sites without much more than a whisper… 800+ missing children #bessborough www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/colu...

TDs clashed in the Dáil today over government's decision to oppose a bill that would ban hare coursing. jrnl.ie/7089150

I used to busk on Oliver Plunkett St in Cork and legit had larger audiences at 2am 😂

ICCL has previously raised concerns about giving gardaí these powers and about the practice of amending draft legislation, thereby bypassing debate and scrutiny in the Oireachtas.

The Minister has repeatedly stated that this Bill would provide gardaí with the power to compel a person to remove a face covering but after the completion of pre-legislative scrutiny and Dáil debate, and on the day of the final Seanad debate. The minister has published amendments to do this!

I dunno, feels like we should be paying more attention to Mamdani rather than what the English are up to.

This 👇 "I was shocked when all those 900 names were printed on the front page of the Examiner. I thought there would be an outrage,” she said. "Do Cork people not care? All those little children and young babies. And does the church not care?” #Bessborough www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/colu...

This is, if not quite unbelievable, absolutely appalling. Read the thread - it affects every one of us.

Martin practically falling asleep while responding is a good indication of how disinterested Fianna Fáil are in considering the chaos they've inflicted haphazardly. I have very serious concerns about the government's consistent attacks on people's access to justice. #spéirgorm

All over the country, solicitors are removing themselves from the free legal aid scheme. It's causing thousands of cases to be adjourned, and is leaving victims and their families in limbo. Why is the govt so intent on dismantling this scheme? And why are they doubling down on causing chaos?

More than 70% of Cathaoirleach/ Mayor seats go to men. Just 9 women take up roles as First Citizens of their county, out of 31 county councils. Read more here: www.seeherelected.ie/more-than-70... #SpeirGhorim #SpeirGorm #WomenInPolitics #IrishPolitics #LocalElections2029

"Neither my credit card, which I use to pay, works, nor can I make transfers; my health insurance has been canceled, and I can't book hotels. I feel like Pablo Escobar. All because I said, 'In Gaza, Israel is committing genocide.'" Francesca Albanese UN Special Rapporteur (Palestine)”

I say this without one bit of hyperbole. Harris, O' Callaghan, Martin and every other arrogant ignoramus who disregarded this report have blood on their hands. They've chosen to keep pursuing options that they've been shown will kill people without addressing the issue. Death for death's sake.

People will die in the coming years because Fine Fáil and Fine Gael stopped the rest of us from giving them the help they need to survive. It's that fucking simple. We have the highest rate of drug deaths in Europe. We know how to stop that. FFG chose not to. They chose death over compassion.

And yet that's the position we're in today in Ireland, in 2026. Our government are sacrificing people to appease an idea they hold without any evidence of efficacy. We know how to reduce drug-related deaths and the harms associated with criminalisation. Our government choose not to.

This interview is really important. I implore everyone to give it a listen. The gravity of what our government is doing can't be ignored. We're ruining lives and failing to save others because our government are too arrogant to listen to expert advice. #spéirgorm

1/6 The Council is today releasing a new working paper: The hidden costs of inaction—why a failed climate transition will prove costly.

As the opening ceremony of Ireland’s EU presidency continues, a Palestine solidarity protest has also taken place nearby on Dame Street. Live updates: jrnl.ie/7086974

Our community conversations on how we can manage mis and disinformation are continuing next week. They are free and open to the public if you'd like to join us- this one is in De Valera Library, Ennis, County Clare next Monday 6th July at 11 am- until 1 PM.

Significant update on Aughinish this am. Sweden has determined sanctioned oligarch Deripaska retains control of Rusal (and therefore Aughinish). It states the company should fall under EU sanctions. Right now, this only applies Rusals's Swedish assets www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...

The Oireachtas is leaning into Microsoft for its comms, even as other European governments abandon US tech. Switching to the US big tech provider, for phone systems and more, comes at a time of fierce debate about tech sovereignty.

On the first day of Ireland's term in the EU Presidency, you may be wondering – what's this all about? But never fear: Patricia Stephenson is here to break down the govt's agenda for the next six months (and all in under a minute!)

A side note. The Echo Chamber and Reboot Republic are incredibly valuable podcasts. I'd be completely overwhelmed trying to stay informed without them. I've just started supporting for the small tier I can afford. I encourage anyone who can afford it to do the same #spéirgorm

On a related matter Rob, the system for treating alcoholism is not very good either. It's effectively subcontracted out to AA and there's a shortage of treatment places. The same tendency to regard addiction as a moral failing on the part of the addict seems evident.

Despite this incredibly high rate, so many people see themselves above it and like homelessness, don’t realise they are probably one or two things going wrong in their life away from it. The evidence is there to do the right thing but the government would rather put their heads in the sand as usual.

This interview is really important. I implore everyone to give it a listen. The gravity of what our government is doing can't be ignored. We're ruining lives and failing to save others because our government are too arrogant to listen to expert advice. #spéirgorm

An inability to imagine change as a positive, even as potentially positive, has frozen our 100 year Government into universal inaction, as a main policy. Whatever you’re doing now, they want you to keep doing. Doing anything else is to be discouraged, blocked or banned.

This headline and article are very misleading. That's not the cumulative cost by 2050, that's the ANNUAL cost. An Apple Tax windfall every year because Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael refuse to act now on solutions that cost much less. #spéirgorm

Enjoyed poking a few holes in the government’s plans to have a free-for-all when it comes to one-off rural housing on @tonightvmtv.bsky.social this evening.

Israel destroying entire villages in Southern Lebanon with HUGE explosions and almost 0 coverage. I can't find any coverage on this besides Al Jazeera and individual Lebanese accounts on X. Same play like Gaza, just saying it is to root out Hezbollah, targeting tunnels bs

A grim reminder that generational upward-faller Michael McDowell still has a regular op-ed column in Ireland's national media - despite both his demonstrable penchant for malice, like that referendum, and his unstoppable urge to say stupid shit for attention. #spéirghorm #ireland

Plans, plans, more plans & not enough action. 'We need to move from talking & planning, to seeing evidence-based action on the ground. Until we do that, our waterbodies will continue to disimprove.. Clean water is the essence of life, it’s time to treat it like the critical resource that it is. '

The truth of what happened to children at Bessborough lies on its grounds. Forced family separation and human trafficking are part of the shameful history of this Mother and Baby Home and many others. So why is the govt standing by as the site and its history is built over? Shame on them.

Decades? Centuries.