Brian Leddin
banner
brianleddin.bsky.social
Brian Leddin
@brianleddin.bsky.social
Engineer, runner, rower, former politician.

www.brianleddin.com
Politicians in Counties Clare and Limerick have some explaining to do. It was announced today that Cork is getting massive rail investment through the National Development Plan while the Midwest is getting nothing at all. Did our politicians even lobby for it?

www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster...
Revised National Development Plan delivers €1bn for Cork rail expansion and new stations
More than €1bn will accelerate Cork’s commuter rail expansion as the updated NDP shifts transport spending towards a new 1:1 ratio
www.irishexaminer.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:39 PM
My old phone gave up the ghost but have to say I'm fairly impressed with the camera on the new one! Beautiful night out there.
November 24, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Early morning on the Shannon
November 22, 2025 at 2:08 PM
"what was once a safe road"

What does that mean?

Was it safe for children walking and cycling, for example?
November 20, 2025 at 11:03 AM
There is nobody that I'm aware of who is joining the dots between our economic model and the destruction of nature quite as well as Aislínn Kelly is. This thoughtful and articulate opinion piece deserves to be widely read.

open.substack.com/pub/aislinna...
The Land Calls Again
The fields where freedom once took root now call for protection
open.substack.com
October 19, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Reposted by Brian Leddin
🌍 First episode now live!

With the inspirational @peterthorne.bsky.social

🎧 Climate Change: Off the Record — with @roisinmoriarty.com and myself.
@maynoothuniversity.ie
@ucc.ie @universityofgalway.bsky.social

#ipcc #icca

open.spotify.com/episode/4PWP...
Episode 1: IPCC Scientist Professor Peter Thorne
open.spotify.com
October 13, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Some people want more cars and fewer homes in Limerick City. It beggars belief.

www.limerickleader.ie/news/plannin...
Just 27 parking spots planned for 285-home development in Limerick
Concern raised at affordable housing development at Limerick's docklands
www.limerickleader.ie
September 16, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Good progress being made outside Thomond Park on the TUS to city centre active travel scheme.
September 13, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Limerick folks, can you identify the building marked with the number 27? The map dates to 1786.
September 12, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Was delighted to meet the one and only @thinkorswim.bsky.social at O'Mahony's Bookshop in Limerick last night. John was there to talk about his new book "The Lie of the Land". I've only just started into it but going by the great discussion last night I think it will be very worth reading.
September 11, 2025 at 5:18 PM
This purchase of a large site by Limerick Council, seemingly on the initiative of Mayor John Moran is quite interesting. Here's a thread ..

www.limerickleader.ie/news/propert...
BREAKING: Multi-million euro Limerick farm of land purchased for council
Park and ride facility for Ryder Cup 2027 in Adare Manor is one of the proposals for the site
www.limerickleader.ie
September 6, 2025 at 7:38 PM
What street in Limerick is this?
September 3, 2025 at 9:46 AM
I don't see a compelling argument here. The good folks of Ranelagh and Rathmines are doing such low mileage that switching to EVs won't make any dent on carbon emissions.

www.newstalk.com/news/exempt-...
Exempt EV charging arms from planning rules - Fine Gael TD
TD James Geoghegan said many of his constituents worry about how they would charge an EV, given the low number of public charging points.
www.newstalk.com
September 1, 2025 at 8:12 PM
This is pretty big news for public transport in the Midwest. When Dublin Coach first came on the scene they revolutionised bus travel between Kerry, Clare, Limerick and Dublin. But the service deteriorated dramatically in recent years. Hopefully it'll improve again now.

www.clare.fm/news/ennis-t...
Ennis To Dublin Bus Service Operator Acquired By Galway Company - Clare FM
Ennis To Dublin Bus Service Operator Acquired By Galway Company - News % Clare FM
www.clare.fm
August 28, 2025 at 11:06 AM
This opinion piece in yesterday's Irish Times could be better, to say the least. There are arguments against these kinds of EV chargers that have nothing to do with aesthetics even if that might be where many objectors are coming from.

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Jennifer O'Connell: Objecting to ‘the look’ of EV charging arms is like complaining about the upholstery on the Titanic
Ireland, I have often thought smugly since my return from California, wouldn’t tolerate such pretentious, self-destructive nonsense as a ban on clothes lines. Enter the row over EV charging arms
www.irishtimes.com
July 8, 2025 at 2:52 PM
It's obviously not just a 'legal hurdle' that can be overcome with another cut at planning. Clearly there's a substantive problem with the project but neither the politicians nor those interviewing them want to engage with that.

www.donegaldaily.com/2025/06/24/d...
Donegal demands urgent action as A5 legal hurdle prolongs dangers - Donegal Daily
FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint Every day that the A5 project is delayed carries a risk of more heartbreak, says two Donegal deputies after…
www.donegaldaily.com
June 26, 2025 at 7:01 AM
I'm seeing a few news reports lately which purport to be about road safety but might they be veiled attempts by hedge cutting contractors to get business from Councils? If the concern is road safety surely the main ask would be for motorists to drive carefully?

connachttribune.ie/galway-hedge...
Galway hedge growth leaves drivers’ sightlines restricted - Connacht Tribune - Galway City Tribune
Galway hedge growth leaves drivers’ sightlines restricted
connachttribune.ie
June 25, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Politicians in Clare and Limerick need to step up and speak up and deliver this transformative infrastructure for the Midwest Region.
June 12, 2025 at 10:38 PM
This was published yesterday morning. Later yesterday an elderly woman was killed by a young man driving a tractor in County Clare. There is no doubt that tractors are bigger and faster than ever before and they pose a real risk to other road users.

www.independent.ie/farming/dair...
Peter Hynes: Stop complaining that tractors go too fast on rural roads – it’s just not true
We cut our first-cut silage in the glorious weather last weekend. We mowed it ourselves and then the contractors raked it and picked up the following morning.
www.independent.ie
May 25, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Great to see top quality cycle racing on the medieval streets of Limerick at the weekend. Well done to Greenmount Cycling Academy, @cyclingireland.bsky.social and @limerickcouncil.bsky.social for bringing this spectacular event to the city centre.
May 19, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Brand new cycle lanes, bus stops and landscaping in Raheen, Limerick (between Raheen roundabout and Quinn's Cross roundabout). This section is around St. Nessan's school.
May 13, 2025 at 4:55 PM
If you believe the Galway Ring Road should be given planning permission, this thread may give you pause for thought.
#Galway Ring Road: I’ve now read through the updated Traffic Modelling Report submitted by @GalwayCoCo
to ABP. And I’m more convinced than ever that this project cannot be justified in its current form.🧵
May 5, 2025 at 10:10 AM
The path between Limerick City and @unioflimerick.bsky.social along the bank of the Shannon River is just stunning at this time of year.
May 3, 2025 at 7:50 PM
It's great to see MEPs highlighting the need for improvements in our rail service. However, pointing the finger at @irishrail.bsky.social is not really fair considering Cynthia's own party starved them of the necessary investment for decades.

www.independent.ie/irish-news/i...
‘It is sloppy’ – train delays criticised as Irish Rail data lays bare extent of rail punctuality problems
The Cork to Dublin train service was late 21 out of 26 times over the course of a month, according to data from Irish Rail.
www.independent.ie
April 29, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Reposted by Brian Leddin
Pope Francis, who died on Monday at 88, was a strong and vocal environmental advocate and used his papacy to help inspire global efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions. He framed climate change as an urgent spiritual issue and helped push the world to take action.
How Pope Francis Helped Inspire the Global Movement Against Climate Change
Francis framed climate change as an urgent spiritual issue and helped push the world to take action.
www.nytimes.com
April 21, 2025 at 7:53 PM