Author | Lightnews

Caoimhin Björn Ó Laoghaire @kbjornolaoghraigh.bsky.social · 2h

Exactly - Jesus but I hope he’s right

Reposted by Caoimhin Björn Ó Laoghaire

Joe Noonan @joenoonan.bsky.social · 13h

"Connolly’s election is counter-cultural in an EU increasingly moving to the right and a climate of racism, anti-feminism and militarism."

- Justine McCarthy #Áras25
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Catherine Connolly’s election as president has added a new dynamic to Irish politics | Justine McCarthy

After a bizarre contest in which both government candidates blew their chances, the left has shown it can unite to win, says Irish Times columnist Justine McCarthy

www.theguardian.com

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Caoimhin Björn Ó Laoghaire @kbjornolaoghraigh.bsky.social · 9h

Because it’s not about that at all is it?

People who turn up to cause mayhem don’t go home to put their feet up by the fire afterwards, they’re always looking for a word out of place or a sideways look - any excuse to inflict pain. Stranger or “loved one” hardly matters to them.

HyperbolicDub 🍉 @hyperbolicdub.bsky.social · 14h

@izzykamikaze.bsky.social was making this point only the other day: A huge number of men associated with these 'protect our women and kids' riots in the UK have convictions for abuse of women and children. #speirgorm

Nessan Vaughan @nessanvaughan.bsky.social · 14h

This bears repeating.

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Caoimhin Björn Ó Laoghaire @kbjornolaoghraigh.bsky.social · 18h

I think it’s about leveraging the general anxiety and malaise. Thugs burning down asylum centres and rioting. “Patriots” hanging up flags, “conservative” candidates looking to be heard… it’s all great press.

Positive news about unity and progress is so ho hum these days….

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Caoimhin Björn Ó Laoghaire @kbjornolaoghraigh.bsky.social · 18h

Well yes - the media is spending too much time on the squeaky wheel

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Caoimhin Björn Ó Laoghaire @kbjornolaoghraigh.bsky.social · 18h

Catherine Connolly amassing the largest number of votes of any politician ever in the history of the state is of course a smaller story than the minority who spoiled their votes

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Caoimhin Björn Ó Laoghaire @kbjornolaoghraigh.bsky.social · 19h

Plus corruption

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Caoimhin Björn Ó Laoghaire @kbjornolaoghraigh.bsky.social · 21h

Hang in there - you’re doing wonderful work for yourself and the doggies, and it matters!

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Caoimhin Björn Ó Laoghaire @kbjornolaoghraigh.bsky.social · 23h

Fair enough - wasn’t sure where you were coming from. Maybe we’re antiquated

Caoimhin Björn Ó Laoghaire @kbjornolaoghraigh.bsky.social · 23h

Fair enough

Caoimhin Björn Ó Laoghaire @kbjornolaoghraigh.bsky.social · 1d

It’s shocking how far we’ve come that we just want republicans to return to the good old days of Reagan. 🫠

Caoimhin Björn Ó Laoghaire @kbjornolaoghraigh.bsky.social · 1d

In Germany he would have been arrested and thrown in jail the moment he stepped out onto a public street. Nazi cosplay is absolutely disgraceful

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Caoimhin Björn Ó Laoghaire @kbjornolaoghraigh.bsky.social · 1d

For a supposed atheist he certainly seems to focus on just one religion. He’s always been an asshole, I stopped paying attention to him years ago. He and Cuomo can hug it out when Mamdani wins

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Caoimhin Björn Ó Laoghaire @kbjornolaoghraigh.bsky.social · 1d

Such a sad racist 1970s take anyway. IQ has been debunked over and over again as an inadequate and skewed measure of intelligence that has racist undertones.

We don’t need an IQ test to know when someone is a stupid asshole - they just have to open their mouths. Trump is a perfect example.

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Caoimhin Björn Ó Laoghaire @kbjornolaoghraigh.bsky.social · 1d

I really am so relieved that Connolly won the election. Ireland is not immune to Russia’s hybrid war of misinformation and exploitation. The riots and attacks on asylum seekers and immigrants are due, at least in part, to their interference in our society. A result like this shows the best of us.

Caoimhin Björn Ó Laoghaire @kbjornolaoghraigh.bsky.social · 2d

Russia’s pervasive and ongoing campaign against decency. Not sure what can be done to counter except to say that we should all be wary of things that trigger us. The truth is often not what you first think…

www.irishtimes.com/world/europe...

‘Do you have any friends in the IRA?’: how Russia’s hybrid war is sowing chaos across Europe

The trail from a Normandy pig farm has helped expose Russia’s campaign of sabotage across Europe aimed at inflaming division, spreading fear and weakeing support for Ukraine

www.irishtimes.com

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Caoimhin Björn Ó Laoghaire @kbjornolaoghraigh.bsky.social · 1d

This is a very fair analysis. Turnout would have been better with more candidates and better ones from FF and FG. It accurately explains that the presidency is largely ceremonial. At the very least it shows Ireland is not (yet) overtaken by right wing voices.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Catherine Connolly’s landslide shakes Ireland’s establishment – but not its politics

Connolly’s stunning victory humbles old parties and energises the left, yet it’s no revolution: the presidency remains symbolic

www.theguardian.com

Caoimhin Björn Ó Laoghaire @kbjornolaoghraigh.bsky.social · 1d

I don’t agree with her on Ireland’s neutrality (anachronistic and naive in today’s Geo-political situation IMHO) or with her stance on the EU, but I don’t have to agree with her on everything to see she was the best candidate for this role. We needed a moral anchor to succeed Michale D. We got it.

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Caoimhin Björn Ó Laoghaire @kbjornolaoghraigh.bsky.social · 1d

She is NOT “far left”. Being “far-left” assumes there is some agreed centrist axis. Her voting record is pro Palestine, pro women’s rights, pro LGBTQ+ and pro neutrality. She was the first woman to hold be deputy speaker (Leas-Cheann Comhairle) in parliament. She holds consistent heartfelt views.

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Caoimhin Björn Ó Laoghaire @kbjornolaoghraigh.bsky.social · 1d

It was a fucking landslide - don’t be downplaying it now….

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Caoimhin Björn Ó Laoghaire @kbjornolaoghraigh.bsky.social · 1d

Hmm I agree in principle - but is a policeman the best person to provide a diagnosis?

Caoimhin Björn Ó Laoghaire @kbjornolaoghraigh.bsky.social · 1d

In a PR system it’s important to have the tally men and women as it’s next to impossible to have live data from elections with transferable votes. Since Ireland does not do exit polls (or electronic voting) it’s an important way to ensure election integrity. It seems silly in a two horse race I know

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Caoimhin Björn Ó Laoghaire @kbjornolaoghraigh.bsky.social · 1d

Exciting times. We don’t do landslides in Irish politics, particularly for leftwing candidates/parties. This should be the beginning of something big, if we can unite the left behind this result.

We need a renewed republic to give our children a future in Ireland - this makes it possible

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Caoimhin Björn Ó Laoghaire @kbjornolaoghraigh.bsky.social · 1d

Maith thú Catherine Connolly! amazing result - Connolly will be a great president and continue the work of Michael D as the moral compass of Ireland.

Now let’s take this amazing result and build a coalition, for Ireland’s youth in particular, that builds hope and progress.

I’m ecstatic

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Caoimhin Björn Ó Laoghaire @kbjornolaoghraigh.bsky.social · 1d

So it looks like a landslide for the left in the Irish Presidential election. There’s never been a campaign to drive spoiled votes before and it seems to have been effective - it’s a worrying departure if the number is around 15% as it seems to be so far. Hard to know what how to interpret that tbh

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Caoimhin Björn Ó Laoghaire @kbjornolaoghraigh.bsky.social · 1d

As a 12 year old living in Ireland I loved this movie - of course I think 12 year old boys were the main audience demographic they were aiming for. Didn’t take long for me to view the whole thing through a different eye!