Prof John O Brennan
@jobmaynooth.bsky.social
Professor of European Politics, Maynooth University, Ireland.
Posts on EU, Balkans and International Politics.
Author: The Eastern Enlargement of the EU.
Director, Centre for European and Eurasian Studies: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/europe
Posts on EU, Balkans and International Politics.
Author: The Eastern Enlargement of the EU.
Director, Centre for European and Eurasian Studies: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/europe
Pinned
A complete trade embargo with Israel is now needed
If Ireland really wanted to make a difference, and help end the genocidal Israeli onslaught on Palestinians, it should enact a comprehensive trade embargo on Israel and dare the EU authorities to inst...
www.irishexaminer.com
In this new piece, I argue that enacting the Occupied Territories Bill is not enough - Ireland should go further and institute a FULL trade embargo against Israel.
We should be aiming for a EU judicial test if the meaning of Article 2 of the Association agmt
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
We should be aiming for a EU judicial test if the meaning of Article 2 of the Association agmt
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
On the Brendan O Connor show on RTE Radio One, I talk about the drones discovered over Dublin as President Zelensky arrived in Dublin this week.
The Irish state continues to neglect security and defence and there are very hard questions thrown up by what happened.
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
The Irish state continues to neglect security and defence and there are very hard questions thrown up by what happened.
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
The Newspaper Panel
Joining Brendan to dissect the stories making the headlines today, are Executive Director of TASC, Shana Cohen; Special Correspondent for the Irish Examiner, Mick Clifford; Chief Economist with Deloit...
www.rte.ie
December 7, 2025 at 3:56 PM
On the Brendan O Connor show on RTE Radio One, I talk about the drones discovered over Dublin as President Zelensky arrived in Dublin this week.
The Irish state continues to neglect security and defence and there are very hard questions thrown up by what happened.
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
The Irish state continues to neglect security and defence and there are very hard questions thrown up by what happened.
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
It shouldn’t be controversial to say that everyone who earns money should pay SOME income tax and social insurance.
Ireland’s tax base is dangerously unbalanced. And this isn’t just about corporate tax. We need a serious conversation about income tax.
Ireland’s tax base is dangerously unbalanced. And this isn’t just about corporate tax. We need a serious conversation about income tax.
December 6, 2025 at 10:34 AM
It shouldn’t be controversial to say that everyone who earns money should pay SOME income tax and social insurance.
Ireland’s tax base is dangerously unbalanced. And this isn’t just about corporate tax. We need a serious conversation about income tax.
Ireland’s tax base is dangerously unbalanced. And this isn’t just about corporate tax. We need a serious conversation about income tax.
Good to see Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia. Belgium, and Spain announce that they will NOT participate in next year’s Eurovision (other countries to follow).
The EBU is a disgraceful organisation, completely oblivious to the genocide Israel has been committing in Gaza.
A watershed moment.
The EBU is a disgraceful organisation, completely oblivious to the genocide Israel has been committing in Gaza.
A watershed moment.
December 4, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Good to see Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia. Belgium, and Spain announce that they will NOT participate in next year’s Eurovision (other countries to follow).
The EBU is a disgraceful organisation, completely oblivious to the genocide Israel has been committing in Gaza.
A watershed moment.
The EBU is a disgraceful organisation, completely oblivious to the genocide Israel has been committing in Gaza.
A watershed moment.
This is an image that speaks volumes about what is really going on between Moscow and Washington: these Trumpist hucksters are trying to get Ukraine to surrender so they can go into business with Putin and the gang of thieves and killers that surround him.
They are the worst of the worst.
They are the worst of the worst.
December 2, 2025 at 10:34 PM
This is an image that speaks volumes about what is really going on between Moscow and Washington: these Trumpist hucksters are trying to get Ukraine to surrender so they can go into business with Putin and the gang of thieves and killers that surround him.
They are the worst of the worst.
They are the worst of the worst.
I spoke to Ireland’s Newstalk FM about today’s visit by Ukraine’s President Zelenskiy to Ireland, and why the security management of his visit constitutes a trial run for Ireland’s EU presidency next year.
www.newstalk.com/podcasts/new...
www.newstalk.com/podcasts/new...
Dublin on Lockdown: The Real Threats Behind Zelensky’s Visit | Newstalk
Volodymyr Zelensky is in Dublin at a moment of extraordinary pressure — both for Ukraine and fo...
www.newstalk.com
December 2, 2025 at 11:08 AM
I spoke to Ireland’s Newstalk FM about today’s visit by Ukraine’s President Zelenskiy to Ireland, and why the security management of his visit constitutes a trial run for Ireland’s EU presidency next year.
www.newstalk.com/podcasts/new...
www.newstalk.com/podcasts/new...
Simon Tisdall analyses what is at stake in Taiwan and argues that Donald Trump’s cluelessness is placing Taiwan in mortal danger, like Ukraine, or Czechoslovakia in 1938.
Xi Jinping is absolutely determined to take possession of Taiwan.
Who will stop him?
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Xi Jinping is absolutely determined to take possession of Taiwan.
Who will stop him?
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
China is bearing down on Taiwan – enabled by Trump’s weakness and vacillation | Simon Tisdall
The US hasn’t just left Ukraine vulnerable; it is also provoking Xi’s intensifying attitude towards what he considers a renegade province, says Guardian foreign affairs commentator Simon Tisdall
www.theguardian.com
November 30, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Simon Tisdall analyses what is at stake in Taiwan and argues that Donald Trump’s cluelessness is placing Taiwan in mortal danger, like Ukraine, or Czechoslovakia in 1938.
Xi Jinping is absolutely determined to take possession of Taiwan.
Who will stop him?
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Xi Jinping is absolutely determined to take possession of Taiwan.
Who will stop him?
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Performative cruelty at its worst.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
UK asylum seekers to be banned from taking taxis to medical appointments
Move, which is part of crackdown on costs, comes after it emerged Home Office spends £15.8m a year on service
www.theguardian.com
November 29, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Performative cruelty at its worst.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
How do we convince these ‘pacifists’ that you cannot make peace with tyrannical dictators? You have to defeat them.
One might think that Germans, above all other people, would understand this.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
One might think that Germans, above all other people, would understand this.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Germany raised its citizens to hate war. Now it wants us to enlist in the army – but we say no | Mithu Sanyal
The war in Ukraine is a crime. But European leaders should be working for peace, not preparing young people to fight and die, says German academic Mithu Sanyal
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:38 AM
How do we convince these ‘pacifists’ that you cannot make peace with tyrannical dictators? You have to defeat them.
One might think that Germans, above all other people, would understand this.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
One might think that Germans, above all other people, would understand this.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
What is one more lie when they spend day and night lying to their supporters?
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
RFK Jr taunts Donald Trump with pointed 'Thanksgiving dinner' photo
RFK Jr. trolled President Donald Trump after sharing an edited Thanksgiving photo with him, Elon Musk , and Donald Trump Jr.
www.dailymail.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 9:54 PM
What is one more lie when they spend day and night lying to their supporters?
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
A beautiful winter sunset on Dublin’s River Liffey.
November 25, 2025 at 5:28 PM
A beautiful winter sunset on Dublin’s River Liffey.
This should be mandatory reading in every chancellery and university in Europe.
November 23, 2025 at 8:16 PM
This should be mandatory reading in every chancellery and university in Europe.
Should have been obvious to EU leaders from earliest point of 2025 that NATO was dead. Instead of ramping up support for Ukraine, Europeans have deluded themselves into thinking that ‘Trump whispering’ will work, and save Ukraine from dismemberment.
It won’t.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
It won’t.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Trump says Ukraine has ‘zero gratitude’ for peace plan amid international talks
US president appears to roll back from demand Zelenskyy sign by Thursday amid claims Russia authored the text
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Should have been obvious to EU leaders from earliest point of 2025 that NATO was dead. Instead of ramping up support for Ukraine, Europeans have deluded themselves into thinking that ‘Trump whispering’ will work, and save Ukraine from dismemberment.
It won’t.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
It won’t.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
What will it take for Irish people to understand that Russia does not 1/ recognise or 2/ respect our military neutrality?
November 22, 2025 at 10:35 AM
What will it take for Irish people to understand that Russia does not 1/ recognise or 2/ respect our military neutrality?
There are a LOT more Nathan Gills around, including some in Ireland. Let this stern sentence be a warning to them that if you take Putin’s money you run the risk of a stern sentence like this one.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform UK’s former Wales leader jailed for taking bribes for pro-Russia speeches
Police say Nathan Gill received at least £40,000 while he was an MEP from Oleg Voloshyn, an alleged Russian asset
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM
There are a LOT more Nathan Gills around, including some in Ireland. Let this stern sentence be a warning to them that if you take Putin’s money you run the risk of a stern sentence like this one.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Prof John O Brennan
All the rape, torture, and murder will be brushed under the carpet, a great lesson for any future war criminals.
November 21, 2025 at 7:08 AM
All the rape, torture, and murder will be brushed under the carpet, a great lesson for any future war criminals.
Trump’s plan for Ukraine
November 21, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Trump’s plan for Ukraine
Reposted by Prof John O Brennan
Welcome to Donald Trump’s America—where it’s fine to be a Nazi or in the KKK.
U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
The military service, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, has drafted a new policy that classifies such items “potentially divisive.”
www.washingtonpost.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Welcome to Donald Trump’s America—where it’s fine to be a Nazi or in the KKK.
This is *nothing* like a peace plan.
It is a surrender plan.
It is akin to what Hitler did to Czechoslovakia in 1938, browbeating its president into accepting brutal occupation.
It is a surrender plan.
It is akin to what Hitler did to Czechoslovakia in 1938, browbeating its president into accepting brutal occupation.
Breaking news: Ukraine is coming under intense pressure to accept a sweeping peace plan drawn up by the Trump administration with Moscow’s input to end Russia’s war in the country, according to Ukrainian officials. on.ft.com/3K0onha
November 20, 2025 at 9:51 PM
This is *nothing* like a peace plan.
It is a surrender plan.
It is akin to what Hitler did to Czechoslovakia in 1938, browbeating its president into accepting brutal occupation.
It is a surrender plan.
It is akin to what Hitler did to Czechoslovakia in 1938, browbeating its president into accepting brutal occupation.
Surely it is only a matter of time before Trump’s violent rhetoric gets another Democratic lawmaker killed? Every day he plunges new depths of indecency.
Every day he drags the United States deeper into a morass of sociopathic extremism.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Every day he drags the United States deeper into a morass of sociopathic extremism.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Democrats condemn Trump after he says they should be punished ‘by death’ over video post
Trump calls group of lawmakers ‘traitors’ over X video of them urging US military members to refuse illegal orders
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Surely it is only a matter of time before Trump’s violent rhetoric gets another Democratic lawmaker killed? Every day he plunges new depths of indecency.
Every day he drags the United States deeper into a morass of sociopathic extremism.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Every day he drags the United States deeper into a morass of sociopathic extremism.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Prof John O Brennan
UK Covid Inquiry concludes: 23,000 deaths could've been prevented if the March 2020 lockdown had been imposed just a week earlier.
No mistake by any prime minister in living memory has caused so many deaths in the UK.
The tragic and catastrophic price of Boris Johnson's incompetence & negligence.
No mistake by any prime minister in living memory has caused so many deaths in the UK.
The tragic and catastrophic price of Boris Johnson's incompetence & negligence.
November 20, 2025 at 4:40 PM
UK Covid Inquiry concludes: 23,000 deaths could've been prevented if the March 2020 lockdown had been imposed just a week earlier.
No mistake by any prime minister in living memory has caused so many deaths in the UK.
The tragic and catastrophic price of Boris Johnson's incompetence & negligence.
No mistake by any prime minister in living memory has caused so many deaths in the UK.
The tragic and catastrophic price of Boris Johnson's incompetence & negligence.
This is by far the best piece I have read on what is happening on the extremes of the MAGA movement in the US.
Turmoil at the Heritage Foundation is put in context of wider fissures associated with white nationalism and neo-nazism.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
Turmoil at the Heritage Foundation is put in context of wider fissures associated with white nationalism and neo-nazism.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
White nationalist Nick Fuentes is exposing a civil war among US Republicans: ‘We look like clowns’
Tucker Carlson’s interview with the activist revealed the mainstream right is being flooded by extremism – and it’s now impossible to contain
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:21 PM
This is by far the best piece I have read on what is happening on the extremes of the MAGA movement in the US.
Turmoil at the Heritage Foundation is put in context of wider fissures associated with white nationalism and neo-nazism.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
Turmoil at the Heritage Foundation is put in context of wider fissures associated with white nationalism and neo-nazism.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
Reposted by Prof John O Brennan
🤬 At least 25 killed, 73 injured in Russia’s missile attack against Ternopil on November 19, State Emergency Service reported.
There are 16 kids among the injured. Rescuers continue to clear the rubble at the sites of the strikes.
There are 16 kids among the injured. Rescuers continue to clear the rubble at the sites of the strikes.
November 19, 2025 at 1:43 PM
🤬 At least 25 killed, 73 injured in Russia’s missile attack against Ternopil on November 19, State Emergency Service reported.
There are 16 kids among the injured. Rescuers continue to clear the rubble at the sites of the strikes.
There are 16 kids among the injured. Rescuers continue to clear the rubble at the sites of the strikes.
The EU should ban all arms producers within its member states from selling arms for anything except explicit EU defence purposes.
Sudan is a case in point but there are lots of other conflicts where EU-based companies arms products have caused enormous damage.
www.politico.eu/article/suda...
Sudan is a case in point but there are lots of other conflicts where EU-based companies arms products have caused enormous damage.
www.politico.eu/article/suda...
EU-made weapons fuel war crimes in Sudan, envoy says
European countries must stop selling arms to the UAE, urges Sudanese ambassador, as probes trace flow of military gear from Abu Dhabi to rebel group.
www.politico.eu
November 17, 2025 at 7:59 PM
The EU should ban all arms producers within its member states from selling arms for anything except explicit EU defence purposes.
Sudan is a case in point but there are lots of other conflicts where EU-based companies arms products have caused enormous damage.
www.politico.eu/article/suda...
Sudan is a case in point but there are lots of other conflicts where EU-based companies arms products have caused enormous damage.
www.politico.eu/article/suda...
Reposted by Prof John O Brennan
The Home Secretary says "we have become the destination of choice in Europe, clearly visible to every people smuggler and would-be illegal migrant across the world"
That is a factually untrue claim: the Home Office shows that the UK is fifth, getting 1/10 claims, while Germany gets 1/5 claims
That is a factually untrue claim: the Home Office shows that the UK is fifth, getting 1/10 claims, while Germany gets 1/5 claims
November 17, 2025 at 3:51 PM
The Home Secretary says "we have become the destination of choice in Europe, clearly visible to every people smuggler and would-be illegal migrant across the world"
That is a factually untrue claim: the Home Office shows that the UK is fifth, getting 1/10 claims, while Germany gets 1/5 claims
That is a factually untrue claim: the Home Office shows that the UK is fifth, getting 1/10 claims, while Germany gets 1/5 claims
In a huge surprise, Elon Musk’s much vaunted Grokepedia is spewing out racism and white nationalist propaganda, just like its owner does.
What is the use of the European Union’s new AI act if it does not go after and ban Musk from the EU?
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
What is the use of the European Union’s new AI act if it does not go after and ban Musk from the EU?
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
White nationalist talking points and racial pseudoscience: welcome to Elon Musk’s Grokipedia
World’s richest person wanted to ‘purge’ propaganda from Wikipedia, so he created a compendium of racist disinformation
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:54 PM
In a huge surprise, Elon Musk’s much vaunted Grokepedia is spewing out racism and white nationalist propaganda, just like its owner does.
What is the use of the European Union’s new AI act if it does not go after and ban Musk from the EU?
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
What is the use of the European Union’s new AI act if it does not go after and ban Musk from the EU?
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...