Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Margaret Cahill @margaretcahillbsky.bsky.social · 9h

Here's your sister, as we'd say in Offaly. I avoid GenAI, don't use Spotify, don't log on to Google or YouTube or turn location on on my phone (except when needed), don't even own a TV, microwave or dishwasher. (Nothing against the last three, I just don't need them.) I'm sure there's more.

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Margaret Cahill @margaretcahillbsky.bsky.social · 10h

I remember handwriting pages of a new story in a pub in Clare, about getting stuck in the automated toilet outside and having to live there. I thought I was onto something great, until I read it the next day...

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Reposted by Margaret Cahill

Denise Murray/Donnacha Ní Mhuireadhaigh @mousketeer.bsky.social · 20h

Dear Journalists, Muckslingers, adherents to the Ivan the Smearer playbook, and those who genuinely wish to know her position.

Catherine Connolly on Russia/Ukraine.
A thread of primary sources. Pinned on my page for anyone who needs it.

2022
"Blatant breach of international law by Russia"

Deputy Catherine Connolly- speech from 1 Mar 2022

YouTube video by VideoParliament Ireland

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Margaret Cahill

Denise Murray/Donnacha Ní Mhuireadhaigh @mousketeer.bsky.social · 18h

"Since coming to office Minister Humphreys has shown no interest or knowledge of the natural environment which is a part of her brief. "

No To More Slash & Burn - Irish Wildlife Trust

No To More Slash & Burn The Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT) is disappointed but not surprised at the announcement yesterday that Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys TD, has ext...

iwt.ie

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Margaret Cahill @margaretcahillbsky.bsky.social · 1d

50 years in 350 pages for €30 with free delivery.

I hit the order button straight away.

Druid Theatre @druidtheatre.bsky.social · 1d

Cover Reveal! 🤩

We're very excited to reveal the cover of Druid Theatre: Fifty Years

This new book is an illustrated and authorised history of Druid's first fifty years by Professor @pflonergan.bsky.social

Published by @lilliputpress.bsky.social, the book features a foreword by Fintan O'Toole

The front cover of the book featuring a production photo from Waiting for Godot

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Reposted by Margaret Cahill

Jessica Kant @jessdkant.bsky.social · 5d

Energy requirements for AI mean that the only way for the bubble not to burst would require companies to multiply their carbon footprint to an unimaginable degree. Right now, while AI is barely functional and mostly a novelty for the lazy, it requires so much energy that data centers rival cities.

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Reposted by Margaret Cahill

Ronan Voorhees (ki ki ki ma ma ma) @ronandusty.bsky.social · 1d

"While speaking to reporters in Co Tipperary on Friday, Ms Connolly was asked if she was winning over Mr Kelly’s support.

She said: “I’ll leave Alan Kelly to deal with Alan Kelly. That’s a full-time job perhaps.”

She may have a point.

Alan Kelly celebrating like he's just won the Junior B championships

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Margaret Cahill @margaretcahillbsky.bsky.social · 3d

I can't quite believe it but Breda O'Brien has written a column I agree with.

"The priorities should surely be diverting people from crime in the first place, an increase in community-based sanctions and strengthening supports to lower the numbers who reoffend"

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...

Breda O'Brien: What is the justice system for if we don’t believe in rehabilitation?

Serving time in prison should not be the start of a longer sentence of stigma and shame

www.irishtimes.com

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Margaret Cahill @margaretcahillbsky.bsky.social · 3d

One of the best things about Eva in Limerick has always been getting access to places in the city you wouldn't otherwise. Lumen Street Theatre's old warehouse off Roches Street is a stunning space.

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Margaret Cahill @margaretcahillbsky.bsky.social · 3d

👏

Joe Culley @therealculls.bsky.social · 3d

Catherine Connolly always says "comprises of".
#SmearTheBejaysus

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Margaret Cahill @margaretcahillbsky.bsky.social · 4d

It's been such a long, busy week that I can't believe this just happened at the start of it. I haven't been this proud of a piece of writing in a long time. I poured everything I had into it because Mícheál's piece deserved it.

Margaret Cahill @margaretcahillbsky.bsky.social · 9d

I'm so pleased that my review of Mícheál Keating's Live Landscapes Video Excerpts from his exhibition at Spacecraft Studios in Limerick has been published in Void. It's a hugely powerful work that drew me in so much, I felt I had to respond to it.

void.ie/cahills-excu...

Cahill's excursion through Keating's 'Live Landscapes' Exhibition - VOID

Keating improvises with wordless vocals, producing languid, flowing phrases. He unobtrusively processes these on the tablet in his lap in real time, sending them through reverb and delays to produce a...

void.ie

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Reposted by Margaret Cahill

DCminx 🕊🌍🔥🌱 @dcminx.bsky.social · 4d

📣The Freedom Frogs are multiplying‼️

This is the way Portland 🫡❤️🐸
Video @oregonian.com

89 840 3.5K

Margaret Cahill @margaretcahillbsky.bsky.social · 5d

"...time and again I was shown that change wasn’t possible. I voted to elect Labour - I got Fine Gael. I voted to elect the Greens - I got Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. If I just stayed home, I still got Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil."

Rob @robosullivan.bsky.social · 5d

My partner's letter in today's Clare Champion. I'm very proud of her. Catherine Connolly's campaign is giving hope to people who have felt disenfranchised for so long. #spéirgorm ##Áras2025

Young people do have a future in Ireland

I’m not a very political person.

That’s a strange thing to admit as someone with two degrees in politics, but whatever enthusiasm I had for political engagement was quickly snuffed out as I graduated into an Ireland of austerity and dwindling opportunities. I knew change was needed and I was excited to vote for it, but time and again I was shown that change wasn’t possible. I voted to elect Labour - I got Fine Gael. I voted to elect the Greens - I got Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. If I just stayed home, I still got Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.

Time after time, Ireland’s youth begged for changes that would give us some hope for the future, but every time we were told that our lives mattered less than rising house prices. It was obvious there was no future for me in Ireland, so I took the same path as so many others before me and sought a better life in Australia. I had no intention of coming back. Ireland had turned her back on me long before I turned my back on her.

Covid forced me back home and I wasn’t happy about it. I met someone when I returned and we’ve done our best to build a life here, but always with one foot out the door. Melbourne has never stopped calling to me.

On September 22nd, my partner happened to be watching Catherine Connolly’s campaign launch and sitting beside him I felt something stir that I thought was long gone - hope. Catherine Connolly and the people she shared that stage with shared a vision for Ireland’s future that had a place for me in it. I heard Holly Cairns express that the presidency can be a role that highlights who we want to be, not just accepting the shortcomings of who we are right now. I heard Mary Lou McDonald speak of an Ireland where the aspirations and wellbeing of the people come first. I heard Paul Murphy reassure us that there is indeed hope that the 100 year rule of Fine Fáil and Fine Gael can be ended. Finally, when Catherine herself spoke, I saw why each of these le…

A photo of 4 women and a man canvassing for Catherine Connolly. It's a selfie style shot and most people are wearing Catherine Connolly badges or clothing.

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Margaret Cahill @margaretcahillbsky.bsky.social · 7d

I love everything about this. The tape for Frankie's Plastering is so on-brand. It looks like it'd be a one-man operation but to contact them you have to ring Paul. Has he inherited his Dad's business or does Frankie not do phone calls? I have so many questions and that's just about one poster!

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Margaret Cahill @margaretcahillbsky.bsky.social · 8d

I couldn't wait for the morning light to show off my extended @eolai.bsky.social wall, which has now taken in the hotpress door. I put them here so they'll catch my eye every time I go up and down the stairs. These colours and landscapes do something to me that I haven't yet figured out

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Margaret Cahill @margaretcahillbsky.bsky.social · 8d

It's fascinating to see the way they behave.

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Margaret Cahill @margaretcahillbsky.bsky.social · 9d

🤣

Richard Chambers @newschambers.bsky.social · 9d

Where’s your man with the Canada flag on here?

Need his take on it.

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Margaret Cahill @margaretcahillbsky.bsky.social · 9d

You got further than me. I think I only lasted 10 minutes of the first episode before the gore turned me right off. That was the end of it for me.

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Margaret Cahill @margaretcahillbsky.bsky.social · 9d

I'm so pleased that my review of Mícheál Keating's Live Landscapes Video Excerpts from his exhibition at Spacecraft Studios in Limerick has been published in Void. It's a hugely powerful work that drew me in so much, I felt I had to respond to it.

void.ie/cahills-excu...

Cahill's excursion through Keating's 'Live Landscapes' Exhibition - VOID

Keating improvises with wordless vocals, producing languid, flowing phrases. He unobtrusively processes these on the tablet in his lap in real time, sending them through reverb and delays to produce a...

void.ie

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Margaret Cahill @margaretcahillbsky.bsky.social · 10d

I'd never heard of either of them before or how Michael died, which feels like it proves your earlier point of us thinking of the north like it's another planet. I can only imagine how it all impacted and formed you.

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Reposted by Margaret Cahill

Margaret Cahill @margaretcahillbsky.bsky.social · 11d

I'm home in Offaly for the weekend and this young buck has appeared on the permanent altar in the sitting room. I did an image search and saw him described as the first millennial saint. They exhumed his body to put it on permanent display. Mad stuff.

www.radiomaria.ie/tomb-of-carl...

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Margaret Cahill @margaretcahillbsky.bsky.social · 10d

I came home to Offaly to two deliveries of
@eolai.bsky.social's stunning work: a collection of postcards and an original painting. Can't wait to find frames and home for these around the house. I've already got a Liam wall and stickers on the fridge.

liamdaly.com

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Margaret Cahill @margaretcahillbsky.bsky.social · 11d

It's really lovely to see the love, respect & fun between these two. I'm so glad to hear that our President wrote to Manchán recently to tell him how great he was. So often, I've been proud, grateful & relieved to have someone with such heart & humanity representing us as a country & people.

President of Ireland @president.ie · 11d

Statement by President Michael D. Higgins on the death of Manchán Magan president.ie/en/media-lib...

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Margaret Cahill @margaretcahillbsky.bsky.social · 11d

I'm home in Offaly for the weekend and this young buck has appeared on the permanent altar in the sitting room. I did an image search and saw him described as the first millennial saint. They exhumed his body to put it on permanent display. Mad stuff.

www.radiomaria.ie/tomb-of-carl...

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