I was talking to Okjver Callan in @rteradio1.bsky.social during the week about the loneliness of teaching. www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

Here's my article from last year on the Book Scheme and its flaws. I'd prefer if students could keep their books. thevideotrolley.blogspot.com/2026/01/book...

My article in today's Irish Times was about the loneliness and isolation of teaching.

I was mentioned in the Irish Times radio review. Moment of the Week! (Told you I was funny!!!)

That's the second time a Munster player has been tackled off the ball

I'm on today's Newstalk Daily podcast talking about Shakespeare again. open.spotify.com/episode/35rE...

I was on @rteradio1.bsky.social easier, talking about Shakespeare. All positive! www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

I was a panel member at a recent celebration of 100 years of the Leaving Cert. This is how the day went. thevideotrolley.blogspot.com/2025/12/100-...

Amazing what can happen when the forwards win lineouts and provide quick ruck ball.

Appaling from Ireland.

My article in today's Irish Times looks at the unintended consequences of the free booksheme for physical books in homes.

This is not an enjoyable game. Ref, surface, coverage, all awful.

Appaling from whomever is directing the TV coverage so far.

Here's a trailer for a doc called Brothers on Three about a West Point rugby team. Seems alright until you see a player jump out of a tackle... (It's against the laws of rugby to jump out of a tackle) youtu.be/hoX_CtU7p8c?...

What happened to Henshaw and Rignrose? Why persist in trying to out muscle Munster? Great win!

Was that a kick for 3 points or for Andy Farrel?

This is from today's Irish Times and reveals just how ridiculous the Junior Cycle English Specification is. There's no way to cover all the material, yet we are expected to cover it all. In the same sentence that short stories "non-literary" texts are mentioned. How many? What kinds? No idea.

My article in Tuesday's Irsish Times asked whether it is time to make Shakespeare an option at Higher Level English rather than being compulsory, as he is now.

Fortnightly 192: Nicholas Carr's 'Superbloom' | Rachel Cusk | @j-amesmarriott.bsky.social on reading in crisis | @conorsmurf.bsky.social on Shakespeare | @timothysnyder.bsky.social on Ukraine and kindness | AI guidelines from @irishsciteach.bsky.social juliangirdham.substack.com/p/192-wherev...

I have been waiting a good many years for a new Shane Meadows to come along and it turns out he is Irish. Canty is a major talent.

Anyone know where I can get a DVD copy of Song of Granite? Want to use it in school. (Easier when it's a dvd)

Highest 2 Lowest doesn’t quite work. The pacing is off and the a turning point feels unearned. But the film is fascinating in its exploration of culture, of doubles, of "class." It's a film with lots to say, and lots for us to discuss. Watch it.

To be fair though the oral is mentioned, and they don't seem capable of implementing it, so isn't this just a fantasy text?

Has Shakespeare been removed as a requirement for HL Leaving Cert English? He's not mentioned in the new spec, published today. He was in the Requirements section if the draft, but absent from it now! www.curriculumonline.ie/getmedia/cea...

Fortnightly 190 is out: Florence Knapp, Adrian Lester on Othello, R.C. Sherriff, Anne Enright and Joseph O’Connor on John McGahern, essays on Leaving Certificate English, Oscar Wilde's trials and more. juliangirdham.substack.com/p/190-all-th...

This blog asks whether it's time for Shakespeare to be optional at Higher Level Leaving Cert English. It opened up an interesting debate on Facebook, but not much on twitter. Which is interesting. thevideotrolley.blogspot.com/2025/08/is-i...

Drama, Film and Theatre, an LC subject, update: 1. No equipment 2. Last minute text change 3. Possibly no computers. Thus, no ability to actually complete the Film aspect of the course. (That's 50% of the course) 4. Schools still struggling with finding, adapting, rooms

Our latest episode is now online, with @conorsmurf.bsky.social and @natashawaugh.bsky.social joining us to talk about Celine Song’s “Past Lives”, which is on the new Drama, Film and Theatre Studies course on the Irish Leaving Certificate. www.soundcloud.com/the250/431-p...

Our latest episode is now online, with @conorsmurf.bsky.social & @niallmurphy.bsky.social talking about "The Quiet Girl", one of the films on the new Leaving Certificate Drama, Film & Theatre Course. We discuss the Irish language, stocism and - of course - biscuits. soundcloud.com/the250/430-a...

An article in The Echo about my wife, Aislinn, and the work she does. This one looks at the gender affirming tattooing she offers.

Our podcast schedule for the next few weeks. AUG. 2: "I'm Not Scared", w/ @conorsmurf.bsky.social AUG. 9: "An Cailín Ciúin", w/ Conor & @niallmurphy.bsky.social AUG. 16: "Past Lives", w/ Conor & @natashawaugh.bsky.social AUG. 23: "The Green Mile", w/ Charlene Lydon & @cethanleahy.com.

This week, we're kicking off the first of three weeks looking at the films added to the Irish Leaving Cert Curriculum with @conorsmurf.bsky.social. This week, a film making a surprise return to the English curriculum, Gabriele Salvatores' "I'm Not Scared." soundcloud.com/the250/429-i...

Ryan has clearly been told to keep an eye on Skelton. Love it.

Darcy Graham coming off upset is the highlight of the tour so far, it shows us cynical tyoes that the team does matter. Feel sorry for the guy. I'd have him over VDM.

SPOILER FOR UNTAMED Yes, that is the twist in Untamed. You knew from the first episode.

This has been an uneventful #Lions tour, this game is more of the same. All just feels like an ad for Lions merch.

The slight time delays between sound and vision is irritating.

He didn't release. We all knew he didn't release. God only knows why the ref didn't make that decision at the time.

Your morning read. AI doesn't write, it merely gives a representation of writing, so why should we ask it to give feedback on students' writing? thevideotrolley.blogspot.com/2025/07/can-...

Hansen is playing well.

Pollock should have given it to Ryan.

I once wrote a film that he was going to star in. He was offered the part of "the baddie" but instead wanted to fly in, do a scene as a seanachai in a pub in Leap, stay for a bit, and fly out. We wanted €10,000. The film was, obviously, never made. Only script I got paid for.

When I met Ryan Coogler several years ago, we were standing in a group of people chatting, when a woman with visible hearing aids walked up, and he casually began to sign the whole conversation so she could participate. She mouthed “thank you”. He nodded and just kept doing his thing.

Today's film is Through a Glass Darkly, Ingmar Bergman, 1961.

Joe McCarthy is having a great game.

I put together a 4-page doc for those wary of the rush to integrate in K-12 schools (though much applies beyond). Four of the main arguments for teachers using AI tools & introducing kids to AI as early as kindergarten are addressed with rebuttals linked to sources.

A clear outline of the current state of LC reform, with an acknowledgement that the CAO is the real issue. www.rte.ie/news/educati...

He blew the whistle...

Well, well, well... www.thejournal.ie/department-o...

I wrote about where we are after 10 years of Junior Cycle English. Spoiler: not in a great place. I tried to keep it short but it still runs over a bit. I could have written a few thousand words more... thevideotrolley.blogspot.com/2025/06/juni...