Michael Carley
@drmcarley.bsky.social
If the men of property will not support us, they must fall. Our strength shall come from that great and respectable class, the men of no property. Lefty migrant
Reposted by Michael Carley
🗞️ A bumper edition of the newsletter is out now, featuring Ireland's first female engineer, a missed opportunity to fly a tractor, and how an Armagh woman might use mistletoe to sort her Christmas wishlist. Also, a gift guide and more - sign up free for the next one here www.ciaraioch.com/newsletter
December 1, 2025 at 2:43 PM
🗞️ A bumper edition of the newsletter is out now, featuring Ireland's first female engineer, a missed opportunity to fly a tractor, and how an Armagh woman might use mistletoe to sort her Christmas wishlist. Also, a gift guide and more - sign up free for the next one here www.ciaraioch.com/newsletter
Reposted by Michael Carley
Gaidhlig & Gaelainn ag deireadh na bliana.
December 1, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Gaidhlig & Gaelainn ag deireadh na bliana.
Reposted by Michael Carley
Your annual reminder that the most revealing difference between Irish and Scottish Gaelic is definitely in the words for December: Mí na Nollag (Month of Christmas) in Ireland, and An Dubhlachd (the Blackness) in Scotland. So once again may I wish you all a lovely Blackness.
December 1, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Your annual reminder that the most revealing difference between Irish and Scottish Gaelic is definitely in the words for December: Mí na Nollag (Month of Christmas) in Ireland, and An Dubhlachd (the Blackness) in Scotland. So once again may I wish you all a lovely Blackness.
Reposted by Michael Carley
As a now old man I recall my incredulity when the Serious People admitted that the Iraq war was based on a series of lies, but then went to “of course, there is no way we could have known at the time.”
Hundreds of thousands of people were in the street telling you so at the time. How did they know?
Hundreds of thousands of people were in the street telling you so at the time. How did they know?
December 1, 2025 at 12:20 PM
As a now old man I recall my incredulity when the Serious People admitted that the Iraq war was based on a series of lies, but then went to “of course, there is no way we could have known at the time.”
Hundreds of thousands of people were in the street telling you so at the time. How did they know?
Hundreds of thousands of people were in the street telling you so at the time. How did they know?
Reposted by Michael Carley
Worth remembering now
Protest by the United States Against Attacks by Japanese Naval Forces on Survivors of Torpedoed American Merchant Vessels June 1944
"The United States Government protests most emphatically against this inhuman form of warfare ..."
Protest by the United States Against Attacks by Japanese Naval Forces on Survivors of Torpedoed American Merchant Vessels June 1944
"The United States Government protests most emphatically against this inhuman form of warfare ..."
December 1, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Worth remembering now
Protest by the United States Against Attacks by Japanese Naval Forces on Survivors of Torpedoed American Merchant Vessels June 1944
"The United States Government protests most emphatically against this inhuman form of warfare ..."
Protest by the United States Against Attacks by Japanese Naval Forces on Survivors of Torpedoed American Merchant Vessels June 1944
"The United States Government protests most emphatically against this inhuman form of warfare ..."
Reposted by Michael Carley
Two future presidents of Ireland protesting Tony Blair and GWB's illegal war of enrichment in 2003.
Well done Oisín.
Two future Presidents were also seen among the protesters. Galway 2003. Photo by Joe O'Shaughnessy.
Two future Presidents were also seen among the protesters. Galway 2003. Photo by Joe O'Shaughnessy.
December 1, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Two future presidents of Ireland protesting Tony Blair and GWB's illegal war of enrichment in 2003.
Reposted by Michael Carley
Galway 2003: two future Presidents.
December 1, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Galway 2003: two future Presidents.
Reposted by Michael Carley
For non-Brits: this is the former anti-corruption minister, now resigned.
December 1, 2025 at 12:49 PM
For non-Brits: this is the former anti-corruption minister, now resigned.
Reposted by Michael Carley
"1934, he was arrested for writing "all out against fascism" on three sides of Nelson's Column, having later returned to the scene to admire his work, while still carrying the paintbrush" ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
I think since they couldn't call it after Hind Rajab for reasons of precedent, the idea of naming it after Max Levitas was a good one.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Lev...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Lev...
Max Levitas - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
December 1, 2025 at 12:35 PM
"1934, he was arrested for writing "all out against fascism" on three sides of Nelson's Column, having later returned to the scene to admire his work, while still carrying the paintbrush" ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
Reposted by Michael Carley
People have said this to me on Bluesky recently, how the US had unanimous support and nobody opposed the Iraq war, which is pretty galling when I had a story published in an anthology entitled 'Irish Writers Against War', and I'm in the march against that war, which features on the front cover.
December 1, 2025 at 12:46 PM
People have said this to me on Bluesky recently, how the US had unanimous support and nobody opposed the Iraq war, which is pretty galling when I had a story published in an anthology entitled 'Irish Writers Against War', and I'm in the march against that war, which features on the front cover.
Reposted by Michael Carley
Headline comment: If “closed” isn’t in quotation marks then neither should “colonial threat” be
apnews.com/article/trum...
apnews.com/article/trum...
Trump says Venezuelan airspace should be viewed as closed. Maduro government slams 'colonial threat'
The Venezuelan government is accusing President Donald Trump of making a ”colonial threat” and seeking to undermine the South American country’s sovereignty.
apnews.com
December 1, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Headline comment: If “closed” isn’t in quotation marks then neither should “colonial threat” be
apnews.com/article/trum...
apnews.com/article/trum...
Reposted by Michael Carley
Death Before Depilation
My favourite detail from the life of Maximilian I of Mexico is that, having been tried and condemned to death, a plan was hatched to break him out of jail before his execution by bribing the guards. He refused "because he felt that shaving his beard to avoid recognition would undermine his dignity".
December 1, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Death Before Depilation
Reposted by Michael Carley
My favourite detail from the life of Maximilian I of Mexico is that, having been tried and condemned to death, a plan was hatched to break him out of jail before his execution by bribing the guards. He refused "because he felt that shaving his beard to avoid recognition would undermine his dignity".
December 1, 2025 at 11:50 AM
My favourite detail from the life of Maximilian I of Mexico is that, having been tried and condemned to death, a plan was hatched to break him out of jail before his execution by bribing the guards. He refused "because he felt that shaving his beard to avoid recognition would undermine his dignity".
Reposted by Michael Carley
Jonathan Gullis defects to Reform saying his former party has "lost touch with the people it was meant to serve".
He should know. When he was in Government he took a five-figure donation from JCB, then stayed silent when it axed hundreds of his constituents' jobs just two weeks later
He should know. When he was in Government he took a five-figure donation from JCB, then stayed silent when it axed hundreds of his constituents' jobs just two weeks later
Conservatives Promote JCB's 'Revolutionary' Pothole Machine While Taking Millions of Pounds in Donations from the Company
Senior Conservatives have repeatedly promoted a pothole repair machine made by a company which has donated huge sums to the party and its MPs
bylinetimes.com
December 1, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Jonathan Gullis defects to Reform saying his former party has "lost touch with the people it was meant to serve".
He should know. When he was in Government he took a five-figure donation from JCB, then stayed silent when it axed hundreds of his constituents' jobs just two weeks later
He should know. When he was in Government he took a five-figure donation from JCB, then stayed silent when it axed hundreds of his constituents' jobs just two weeks later
Reposted by Michael Carley
Reposted by Michael Carley
special forces shot at a mosquito net until there was no movement. He said: “When the net was uncovered it was women and children. The incident was covered up and the individual who did the shooting was given some form of award to make it look legitimate.”
Special forces chief tried to cover up concerns about SAS conduct in Afghanistan, inquiry told
Whistleblower says chain of command failed to stop extrajudicial shootings, including of children, after alarm was raised
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 10:54 AM
special forces shot at a mosquito net until there was no movement. He said: “When the net was uncovered it was women and children. The incident was covered up and the individual who did the shooting was given some form of award to make it look legitimate.”
Reposted by Michael Carley
COMING SOON: AI + Guy™
December 1, 2025 at 1:11 AM
COMING SOON: AI + Guy™
Reposted by Michael Carley
The French are finally showing up after letting us down in 1798. Better late than never I suppose
A French naval vessel in Cork Harbour this morning (if you leave the sound on you can hear the bells of St Colman’s Cathedral, Cobh).
December 1, 2025 at 10:05 AM
The French are finally showing up after letting us down in 1798. Better late than never I suppose
Reposted by Michael Carley
So chosen because of the way it will prompt those online to say "actually, that is two words".
qed.
qed.
CONFIRMED: Oxford University Press has named ‘rage bait’ as the Oxford Word of the Year 2025.
#OxfordWOTY
#OxfordWOTY
December 1, 2025 at 8:31 AM
So chosen because of the way it will prompt those online to say "actually, that is two words".
qed.
qed.
Reposted by Michael Carley
But this time the Labour government seems to be in agreement with its opponents.
What we're seeing is exactly what we saw in the late 1940s, the late 1960s and the mid- to late 1970s: a concerted and hysterical campaign to delegitimise a Labour government, and indeed the very idea of Labour governments at all.
December 1, 2025 at 9:29 AM
But this time the Labour government seems to be in agreement with its opponents.
Reposted by Michael Carley
Ah, module "evaluation" season: when the opinions of sulking teenagers suddenly become the voice of G-d.
I'm reminded of one of my lecturers, who used to pass round the end-of-module forms along with a big tin of chocolates, announcing happily "This is a bribe".
I'm reminded of one of my lecturers, who used to pass round the end-of-module forms along with a big tin of chocolates, announcing happily "This is a bribe".
December 1, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Ah, module "evaluation" season: when the opinions of sulking teenagers suddenly become the voice of G-d.
I'm reminded of one of my lecturers, who used to pass round the end-of-module forms along with a big tin of chocolates, announcing happily "This is a bribe".
I'm reminded of one of my lecturers, who used to pass round the end-of-module forms along with a big tin of chocolates, announcing happily "This is a bribe".
Reposted by Michael Carley
When you see stuff like this, you should ask yourself: what would happen if a PM was ever elected who was not 100% reliably One Of The Lads, and he or she asked to see the Northern Ireland files from the 1970s? What then.
Special forces chief tried to cover up concerns about SAS conduct in Afghanistan, inquiry told
Whistleblower says chain of command failed to stop extrajudicial shootings, including of children, after alarm was raised
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 9:28 AM
When you see stuff like this, you should ask yourself: what would happen if a PM was ever elected who was not 100% reliably One Of The Lads, and he or she asked to see the Northern Ireland files from the 1970s? What then.
Reposted by Michael Carley
When anyone on my Team messages me that they are running late, and the begin to apologise I send them this.
Remember the words of our lord and saviour Marc Rebillet tomorrow morning
December 1, 2025 at 9:17 AM
When anyone on my Team messages me that they are running late, and the begin to apologise I send them this.
Reposted by Michael Carley
The British government and forces left their local translators and interpreters to be killed by the Taliban so they couldn't give evidence in any war-crimes trials
December 1, 2025 at 6:25 AM
The British government and forces left their local translators and interpreters to be killed by the Taliban so they couldn't give evidence in any war-crimes trials
Reposted by Michael Carley
Eleven years ago, I wrote to Tom Stoppard to ask about this coup de théâtre from 1949. It took me down an unexpected rabbit hole - in memory of Stoppard, here's what I found.
November 30, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Eleven years ago, I wrote to Tom Stoppard to ask about this coup de théâtre from 1949. It took me down an unexpected rabbit hole - in memory of Stoppard, here's what I found.