Aoife Bhreatnach
@aoifeb.bsky.social
Swears, writes, Gaeilge is fáilte. She/í
Makes Censored, a podcast about dirty books and films https://shows.acast.com/censored
Research interests: sex and death
Makes Censored, a podcast about dirty books and films https://shows.acast.com/censored
Research interests: sex and death
Reposted by Aoife Bhreatnach
I gave this to my brother-in-law who grew up in a similar kitchen and now lives in London and he loves it for the conversations it starts. #speirgorm
🎁 Little daily thread of some gift ideas from me aul shop/siopa from now until d'Christmas.
This hard-working canine companion warms themself by a familiar range in this watercolour and pencil illustration of a well-loved, cosy, rural Irish kitchen.
Prints: www.ciaraioch.com/artprints/p/...
This hard-working canine companion warms themself by a familiar range in this watercolour and pencil illustration of a well-loved, cosy, rural Irish kitchen.
Prints: www.ciaraioch.com/artprints/p/...
December 5, 2025 at 10:44 AM
I gave this to my brother-in-law who grew up in a similar kitchen and now lives in London and he loves it for the conversations it starts. #speirgorm
Reposted by Aoife Bhreatnach
"The fact that no one believes that nouns refer to an actual reality means, paradoxically enough, that there is no limit to the numbers of them." Jorge Luis Borges #doubt
December 5, 2025 at 2:46 PM
"The fact that no one believes that nouns refer to an actual reality means, paradoxically enough, that there is no limit to the numbers of them." Jorge Luis Borges #doubt
Reposted by Aoife Bhreatnach
I've said before that Ireland is simply catching up with the rest of the Europe when it comes to the far right, and this "they're all adults, actually" is one of their talking-points from 10-15 years ago.
In Sweden they were called "skäggbarn" (beard-children).
None of this is in good faith.
In Sweden they were called "skäggbarn" (beard-children).
None of this is in good faith.
I see the Indo has a story implying every young person assessed to be an adult is "actually an adult", sharing this story I did in 2022 when a child was told he's an adult and left to live with a bunch of men. When the story ran they accepted it was a mistake. www.dublininquirer.com/after-coming...
After Coming Here Without His Parents Looking for Safety, a Migrant Child Is Left to Live Alone Among Adults - Dublin Inquirer
Although Mthokozisi Ncube has a birth certificate saying he is 16 years old, Tusla does not believe he is a minor.
www.dublininquirer.com
December 4, 2025 at 9:37 AM
I've said before that Ireland is simply catching up with the rest of the Europe when it comes to the far right, and this "they're all adults, actually" is one of their talking-points from 10-15 years ago.
In Sweden they were called "skäggbarn" (beard-children).
None of this is in good faith.
In Sweden they were called "skäggbarn" (beard-children).
None of this is in good faith.
Reposted by Aoife Bhreatnach
Is Swords on a cold day really that bad?
I'd rather tear out one of my ribs, shove that rib right up my hole, and then immediately lean over and bite off one of my testicles.
December 4, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Is Swords on a cold day really that bad?
If you made this up, you'd laughed at
…which leads us directly to this story from 2013, where the tree-dwelling nut chompers of Essex attempt to burn invading humans out of their territory.
www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/news/2155053...
www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/news/2155053...
House fire started by a squirrel disrupts funeral procession through Romford
A funeral car broke rank mid-procession and sped off toward its passenger’s house – where a squirrel had started a fire.
www.romfordrecorder.co.uk
December 4, 2025 at 9:46 AM
If you made this up, you'd laughed at
Reposted by Aoife Bhreatnach
What if thinking doesn’t begin in the brain, but in the ceaseless labour of our cells? Today’s essay rethinks the question of how we become minds, arguing that cognition begins not in the mind but in the collective processes that keep a body alive @annaciaunica.bsky.social
Why you need your whole body – from head to toes – to think | Aeon Essays
Contemplating the world requires a body, and a body requires an immune system: the rungs of life create the stuff of thought
buff.ly
November 27, 2025 at 11:00 AM
What if thinking doesn’t begin in the brain, but in the ceaseless labour of our cells? Today’s essay rethinks the question of how we become minds, arguing that cognition begins not in the mind but in the collective processes that keep a body alive @annaciaunica.bsky.social
Reposted by Aoife Bhreatnach
Imagine being a teenager from Afghanistan who managed to somehow find a way out of the violent chaos that our "developed" countries unleashed on them before fucking off back home, and then you end up getting beaten bloody by thick pricks in Brittas fucking Bay
Horrible story, and I hope those assholes are caught and dealt with
And while I certainly blame far right agitators, Facebook etc, and sleeveens like McGuirk/Gript for fomenting this kind of awful stuff, Simon Harris and others in government need to take a hard look at themselves and their rhetoric
And while I certainly blame far right agitators, Facebook etc, and sleeveens like McGuirk/Gript for fomenting this kind of awful stuff, Simon Harris and others in government need to take a hard look at themselves and their rhetoric
Asylum seekers have told of how they were followed by men on motorcycles before being subjected to an alleged attack in rural Co Dublin yesterday.
The incident – which saw the young men beaten and their car windows smashed – has been condemned.
www.thejournal.ie/brittas-asyl...
The incident – which saw the young men beaten and their car windows smashed – has been condemned.
www.thejournal.ie/brittas-asyl...
December 1, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Imagine being a teenager from Afghanistan who managed to somehow find a way out of the violent chaos that our "developed" countries unleashed on them before fucking off back home, and then you end up getting beaten bloody by thick pricks in Brittas fucking Bay
Reposted by Aoife Bhreatnach
Not long after we started #DerelictIreland someone from a PPN gave us a friendly warning that if we continued we would never get public funding
#HowIrelandWorks #SpeirGorm
#HowIrelandWorks #SpeirGorm
This week I had a meeting with an amazing advocate who works with a local charity. They don't feel safe publicly criticising government failures because they're applying for government funding to do work the state is failing to do. #spéirgorm
Massively important thread!
The people who fundraise for local initiatives, like a hospice, are energetic, engaged, motivated, if they weren't busy with a local campaign imagine what else they could accomplish? I believe it's a SOP for politicians to keep 'keep them busy', to keep community-minded
The people who fundraise for local initiatives, like a hospice, are energetic, engaged, motivated, if they weren't busy with a local campaign imagine what else they could accomplish? I believe it's a SOP for politicians to keep 'keep them busy', to keep community-minded
December 1, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Not long after we started #DerelictIreland someone from a PPN gave us a friendly warning that if we continued we would never get public funding
#HowIrelandWorks #SpeirGorm
#HowIrelandWorks #SpeirGorm
Reposted by Aoife Bhreatnach
🎶Pass the poitín to the left-hand side🎶
"Bígí ag ól go bhfeicidh sibh an gloine ag 'ul tuafal, ansin glanaigí abhaile!"
(Seanrá as Árainn, InaG, 1897)
"Bígí ag ól go bhfeicidh sibh an gloine ag 'ul tuafal, ansin glanaigí abhaile!"
(Seanrá as Árainn, InaG, 1897)
December 1, 2025 at 6:52 PM
🎶Pass the poitín to the left-hand side🎶
"Bígí ag ól go bhfeicidh sibh an gloine ag 'ul tuafal, ansin glanaigí abhaile!"
(Seanrá as Árainn, InaG, 1897)
"Bígí ag ól go bhfeicidh sibh an gloine ag 'ul tuafal, ansin glanaigí abhaile!"
(Seanrá as Árainn, InaG, 1897)
Reposted by Aoife Bhreatnach
There are 3 types of newspapers columns
I am an utter sociopath
I am extraordinarily thick
Thank Christ for nepotism
They can, obviously, overlap
I am an utter sociopath
I am extraordinarily thick
Thank Christ for nepotism
They can, obviously, overlap
July 20, 2025 at 11:07 AM
There are 3 types of newspapers columns
I am an utter sociopath
I am extraordinarily thick
Thank Christ for nepotism
They can, obviously, overlap
I am an utter sociopath
I am extraordinarily thick
Thank Christ for nepotism
They can, obviously, overlap
Where else but Holy-well Street?
"Mum! Mum! It's a raid! We've *prepared* for this, remember?"
December 1, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Where else but Holy-well Street?
Reposted by Aoife Bhreatnach
November 27, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Reposted by Aoife Bhreatnach
The legendary Sir Henry's was located at the back of this hotel
We have Pure Cork now instead
Now that's progress
#DerelictIreland #SpeirGorm #IrishMusic #CorkCity
We have Pure Cork now instead
Now that's progress
#DerelictIreland #SpeirGorm #IrishMusic #CorkCity
So what was once Grand Parade Hotel has become decades of dereliction
Since @judesherry.bsky.social & I arrived we've seen A City Rising Is A Beautiful Thing, A City Remembers & now Pure Cork
Thanks Cork City Council for turning Cork City into leading dereliction tourist destination #DerelictIreland
Since @judesherry.bsky.social & I arrived we've seen A City Rising Is A Beautiful Thing, A City Remembers & now Pure Cork
Thanks Cork City Council for turning Cork City into leading dereliction tourist destination #DerelictIreland
November 28, 2025 at 10:13 AM
The legendary Sir Henry's was located at the back of this hotel
We have Pure Cork now instead
Now that's progress
#DerelictIreland #SpeirGorm #IrishMusic #CorkCity
We have Pure Cork now instead
Now that's progress
#DerelictIreland #SpeirGorm #IrishMusic #CorkCity
Reposted by Aoife Bhreatnach
Colún liom inniu faoin chairdeas agus Féile liteartha an Daingin m.independent.ie/seachtain/ai...
Áine Ní Bhreisleáin: Tá muid Beo arís... gura fada buan cairdeas inár saol a chuireann spion ar dóigh orm
Is geall le leigheas draíochta ó thaisce na mná feasa seal pléisiúrtha i measc do chairde, cuireann sé spion ar dóigh orm féin.
m.independent.ie
November 26, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Colún liom inniu faoin chairdeas agus Féile liteartha an Daingin m.independent.ie/seachtain/ai...
Reposted by Aoife Bhreatnach
Scéal faoi fhoghlaim an Bhéarla ar an Saol ó Dheas ansin 😁
Bhí seanbhean ann gan aon EN aici. Mhúin fear é di:
Abair 'narrative' is tú ag trácht ar 'tale'; 'extinguish' in áit 'put out'.
Léim an cat ar an tábla:
"Catch the cat by the narrative in ainm an diabhail and extinguish him out the door!"
Bhí seanbhean ann gan aon EN aici. Mhúin fear é di:
Abair 'narrative' is tú ag trácht ar 'tale'; 'extinguish' in áit 'put out'.
Léim an cat ar an tábla:
"Catch the cat by the narrative in ainm an diabhail and extinguish him out the door!"
November 26, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Scéal faoi fhoghlaim an Bhéarla ar an Saol ó Dheas ansin 😁
Bhí seanbhean ann gan aon EN aici. Mhúin fear é di:
Abair 'narrative' is tú ag trácht ar 'tale'; 'extinguish' in áit 'put out'.
Léim an cat ar an tábla:
"Catch the cat by the narrative in ainm an diabhail and extinguish him out the door!"
Bhí seanbhean ann gan aon EN aici. Mhúin fear é di:
Abair 'narrative' is tú ag trácht ar 'tale'; 'extinguish' in áit 'put out'.
Léim an cat ar an tábla:
"Catch the cat by the narrative in ainm an diabhail and extinguish him out the door!"
Reposted by Aoife Bhreatnach
Reposted by Aoife Bhreatnach
Applications for the 2026 TSF Poetry Workshop are open and close on Tuesday 2nd December at 5pm Irish time.
More information on how to apply here: stingingfly.org/poetry-works...
More information on how to apply here: stingingfly.org/poetry-works...
November 24, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Applications for the 2026 TSF Poetry Workshop are open and close on Tuesday 2nd December at 5pm Irish time.
More information on how to apply here: stingingfly.org/poetry-works...
More information on how to apply here: stingingfly.org/poetry-works...
Reposted by Aoife Bhreatnach
The CJEU know they’ve blown the bloody doors off on this one.
⚖️ Judgment in Case C-713/23 Wojewoda Mazowiecki:
Can a Member State refuse to recognise a same-sex marriage concluded in another Member State?
🎥 💬 Judge Jan Passer explains — with subtitles in all EU languages 👉 curia.europa.eu/jcms/jcms/p1...
📰 PR 👉 curia.europa.eu/jcms/jcms/Jo...
Can a Member State refuse to recognise a same-sex marriage concluded in another Member State?
🎥 💬 Judge Jan Passer explains — with subtitles in all EU languages 👉 curia.europa.eu/jcms/jcms/p1...
📰 PR 👉 curia.europa.eu/jcms/jcms/Jo...
November 25, 2025 at 11:06 AM
The CJEU know they’ve blown the bloody doors off on this one.
Reposted by Aoife Bhreatnach
The BBC makes itself *extremely* hard to love with this stuff. I’ve worked in more than one small newsroom that’s discovered to its immense frustration that the country’s biggest news org has stolen its work with no credit whatsoever.
I guess it’s a compliment that the top story on BBC London’s TV/online output today is a direct lift of a month-old London Centric story? But once again the BBC is consistently the worst news outlet for actually remembering to credit others.
November 25, 2025 at 8:20 AM
The BBC makes itself *extremely* hard to love with this stuff. I’ve worked in more than one small newsroom that’s discovered to its immense frustration that the country’s biggest news org has stolen its work with no credit whatsoever.
Thanks to Heritage Council funding, digital versions of these parish registers will soon be online. And the precious records of St Luke's Douglas can move from a damp old building to a temperature-controlled archive. #Speirgorm #Ireland 🗃️
November 25, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Thanks to Heritage Council funding, digital versions of these parish registers will soon be online. And the precious records of St Luke's Douglas can move from a damp old building to a temperature-controlled archive. #Speirgorm #Ireland 🗃️
🔥
every poster on #speirgorm has a copy of Soundings
Twitter accounts are based in Russia. BlueSky accounts are based in homes with, frankly, too many books, plants, obsolete cables, and pieces of rustic pottery, that could do with a bit of a tidying up, to be honest.
November 24, 2025 at 1:24 PM
🔥
Reposted by Aoife Bhreatnach
1. The Toronto St. Patrick’s Day Parade used to be so dangerous that it was cancelled for more than a century.
Why? Religious hatred & sectarian violence.
Here’s my annual thread about the bloody riots that rocked our city in the days when Toronto was known as "The Belfast of Canada."
Why? Religious hatred & sectarian violence.
Here’s my annual thread about the bloody riots that rocked our city in the days when Toronto was known as "The Belfast of Canada."
November 24, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Reposted by Aoife Bhreatnach
Two-mile-borris, Co. Tipperary. From the Irish 'Buiríos Léith', probably meaning the borough of the monastery in nearby Leigh.
Also the ideal distancing applicable to certain floppy-haired former British Prime Ministers in a pandemic.
#speirgorm
Also the ideal distancing applicable to certain floppy-haired former British Prime Ministers in a pandemic.
#speirgorm
November 24, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Two-mile-borris, Co. Tipperary. From the Irish 'Buiríos Léith', probably meaning the borough of the monastery in nearby Leigh.
Also the ideal distancing applicable to certain floppy-haired former British Prime Ministers in a pandemic.
#speirgorm
Also the ideal distancing applicable to certain floppy-haired former British Prime Ministers in a pandemic.
#speirgorm
Don't be boring or combative in conversation. It's so simple and restful.
This reminds me of Cardinal John Henry Newman's book Definition of a Gentleman. I often cite Newman's book because it's so instructive. The term gentleman is so overwrought and frequently abused, but to the degree it means anything at all, I think Newman captures it here:
November 24, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Don't be boring or combative in conversation. It's so simple and restful.