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cathyby.bsky.social
Cathy
@cathyby.bsky.social
580 followers 510 following 3.1K posts
"We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." - Benjamin Franklin

Header description with alt-text: https://bsky.app/profile/cathyby.bsky.social/post/3m6s24wtixc27


#SpéirGorm
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cathyby.bsky.social
Fun fact: In the Marshall Plan the US suggested "the development of economic cooperation" in Europe on the model of the "large domestic market with no trade barriers" of the US.
www.archives.gov/milestone-do...
The accomplishment of these objectives calls for a plan of European recovery, open to all such nations which cooperate in such plan, based upon a strong production effort, the expansion of foreign trade, the creation and maintenance of internal financial stability, and the development of economic cooperation, including all possible steps to establish and maintain equitable rates of exchange and to bring about the progressive elimination of trade barriers. Mindful of the advantages the United States has enjoyed through the existence of a large domestic market with no internal trade barriers and believing that similar advantages can accrue to the countries of Europe, it is declared to be the policy of the people of the United States to encourage these ...
December 8, 2025 at 3:18 PM
cathyby.bsky.social
US want to stop any adversary overtaking Europe, yet ignore risks that Russia poses, which Europeans point out.

They want patriotic European countries, which also do as they are told by US.

Theres some serious fault lines in this strategy.
Yet Europe remains strategically and culturally vital to the United States. Transatlantic trade remains one of the pillars of the global economy and of American prosperity. European sectors from manufacturing to technology to energy remain among the world's most robust. Europe is home to cutting-edge scientific research and world-leading cultural institutions. Not only can we not afford to write Europe off doing so would be self-defeating for what this strategy aims to achieve. American diplomacy should continue to stand up for genuine democracy, freedom of expression, and unapologetic celebrations of European nations' individual character and history. America encourages its political allies in Europe to promote this revival of spirit, and the growing influence of patriotic European parties indeed gives cause for great optimism. Our goal should be to help Europe correct its current trajectory. We will need a strong Europe to help us successfully compete, and to work in concert with us to prevent any adversary from dominating Europe.
December 5, 2025 at 2:30 PM
cathyby.bsky.social
Cork and Kerry are under yellow rain warnings, with wind warnings as shown below.
Yellow wind warnings today, 5th December, cover all of Northern Ireland, Louth, Dublin, Wicklow, Wexford, Waterford, Cork, and Kerry, plus all seas around Irish coasts.
December 5, 2025 at 12:05 PM
cathyby.bsky.social
Royal Canal Sunset today.
Bare November trees are silhouetted against a glorious sunset of pink and gold and reflected in the Royal Canal at their feet.
November 29, 2025 at 6:36 PM
cathyby.bsky.social
Classic Far Side cartoon: cow standing at a bench with misshapen objects on it, barn in background. Text beneath is "cow tools" altered to read "cow weapons".
November 26, 2025 at 2:46 PM
cathyby.bsky.social
Article also includes European reaction (with no sign it had any effect on what happened re downgrading of proposals for Ukraine). (7)

www.bbc.com/news/article...
Ukraine's allies have already publicly pushed back against the plan, saying in a joint statement issued at the G20 summit in South Africa that it "would leave Ukraine vulnerable to attack". It said the plan had elements "essential for a just and lasting peace" but would "require additional work", citing concerns over border changes and caps on Ukraine's army. The statement was signed by the leaders of Canada, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK, Germany and Norway. Two senior EU officials were also among the signatories.
November 23, 2025 at 10:22 AM
cathyby.bsky.social
Sick as a parrot? Not @dublinairport.bsky.social (on X)
Troy Parrott International Airport @DublinAirport Feck it. Doing it. (Parrot emoji) Image: Big sign at entrance to Dublin Airport saying "Troy Parrott International Airport". 4:24 PM · Nov 16, 2025 on X.com
November 16, 2025 at 6:11 PM
cathyby.bsky.social
Confluence of Lyreen and Joan Slade rivers from the new bridge on Mill St, Maynooth yesterday.

Usually Joan Slade is barely noticeable. Watch for floods as today's heavy rain goes through.
The Lyreen and the Joan Slade (entering Lyreen from the left) are high and brown with silt. Between them, a stand of trees mostly covered in green ivy with some surviving orange leaves bright against it.
November 14, 2025 at 9:34 AM
cathyby.bsky.social
From the other place, on Trump's threat against BBC.
Robert Peston @Peston The legal advice to the BBC I am told is that President Trump was not meaningfully damaged by Panorama's manipulation of his 6 January speech, and that therefore there is no legal necessity to pay him compensation. The BBC board is therefore likely to resist and fight his demand to be "appropriately compensated" out of court, and will risk him carrying through on his threat to seek $1bn in damages by going to court. 7:36 AM Nov 11, 2025
November 11, 2025 at 8:09 AM
cathyby.bsky.social
Grok summarising news from the other place. Would love to know what tweets were used for the candidate name.

#AI
Fianna Fáil Admits Delay in Presidential Campaign Review Amid Internal Criticism Last updated 23 minutes ago Ireland's Fianna Fáil party has indicated that its independent review of the failed 2025 presidential campaign, where candidate Fiona O'Malley received only 4.2% of votes, will likely miss the November 12 deadline. TDs including Pádraig O'Sullivan and John McGuinness have voiced disappointment over the slow progress, despite recent assurances from leader Micheál Martin and Whip Mary Butler. The party defends the extension as necessary for a thorough and impartial analysis, while social media highlights concerns about leadership amid coalition tensions. This story is a summary of posts on X and may evolve over time. Grok can make mistakes, verify its outputs.
November 8, 2025 at 7:45 PM
cathyby.bsky.social
#SpeirGorm

Had to be done...
Mamdani campaign poster style Text says: MAYO for SAM 2026
November 8, 2025 at 6:54 PM
cathyby.bsky.social
The quintessential bread boy: a young lad pushes a bike up a steep cobbled Yorkshire street in the classic ad for Hovis bread.
November 6, 2025 at 7:41 PM
cathyby.bsky.social
Edit of original picture in quoted tweet, of the West Wing bearing a new "Oval Office" sign in a calligraphy style font. Picture bears a comment, "There's a new sign outside the Oval now". The edit replaces the "Oval Office" sign with one reading "Abandon Hope all ye who enter here".
November 6, 2025 at 11:11 AM
cathyby.bsky.social
(Taps the sign)
Smart guy discussing the deluded actions of others: ESTABLISHED PARTIES COPY THE TALKING POINTS OF ANTI-MIGRANT PARTIES, TO TAKE VOTES FROM THEM. WELL DID IT WORK FOR THOSE PEOPLE? NO, IT NEVER DOES, I MEAN, THESE PEOPLE SOMEHOW DELUDE THEMSELVES INTO THINKING IT MIGHT, BUT... ...BUT IT MIGHT WORK FOR US.
November 5, 2025 at 10:23 AM
cathyby.bsky.social
Paul Hosford calling for an overhaul of the Irish political system (number of TDs, how presidential nominations work etc).
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/colu...

Most interesting is exit poll results by Ireland Thinks tho 👇
Irish Examiner 50% said their driver was a lack of choice or that they didn't like the candidates; 18% cited an "undemocratic process"; 12% made what was classed as a general spoiled ballot statement; 8% classed themselves as a protest/anti-Government voter; 8% expressed support for a candidate who didn't make it on to the ballot, principally barrister Maria Steen; And 5% said they acted out of frustration or called the election a "farce".
November 1, 2025 at 10:56 AM
cathyby.bsky.social
As always at Halloween, remembering the non-Irish boss many years ago who we forgot to tell about the ring in the brack, so inevitably got the ring in the brack.
Barm brack, traditional Halloween fare (a round loaf of bread with a lot of fruit, or a very plain fruitcake, you decide). On a grey plate, one slice of brack, the rest beside it, with a white papery object visible at the bottom left. It's the ring!
October 31, 2025 at 6:15 PM
cathyby.bsky.social
Plastic pumpkin with electric candle, a lame modern nod at the classic vegetable carving tradition.
October 31, 2025 at 5:28 PM
cathyby.bsky.social
Autumn colour at St Joseph's Square, Maynooth, today.

@maynoothuniversity.ie @stpatsmaynooth.bsky.social

#autumn
On the left the gothic styled buildings of St Patrick's House (taupe stone, dark grey dormer roof), on the right the more restrained lines of New House with the walls covered in vivid red creeper. In the middle, trees and shrubs are a riot of red, orange, russet and yellow, with one tree almost obscuring the steeple of the Chapel. Grass is a vivid green, criss-crossed by grey paths.
October 24, 2025 at 5:03 PM
cathyby.bsky.social
Looks pretty central already tbh.

ourworldindata.org/grapher/per-...
Chart showing US meat consumption per person (ignoring waste). Lowest beef consumption was 34.61 kg in 2015. Its up to 37.65 kg in 2022. For comparison it was 42.52 kg in 1961. The big story of this graph is the large increase in poultry consumption: 16.96 kg in 1961 versus 53.03 kg in 2022.
October 23, 2025 at 1:44 PM
cathyby.bsky.social
I was there in 2016 and half at least were Trump. 😁
Pumpkin art from 2016, Botanic Gardens Glasnevin. A purple Cheshire Cat, a blue Cheshire cat, and a shouting Trump.
October 19, 2025 at 4:06 PM
cathyby.bsky.social
Love the pun in this HOP sign.
Close-up of picture in quoted post: in Barcelona, a person in frog costume, a round sign saying "frogs against fascism" and in front, a frog in profile over the word "HOP"
October 18, 2025 at 5:48 PM
cathyby.bsky.social
Zelenskyy is already home.

This is a beautiful example of even-handedness which is unbalanced and out of touch with reality.
The meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine was very interesting, and cordial, but I told him, as I likewise strongly suggested to President Putin, that it is time to stop the killing, and make a DEAL! Enough blood has been shed, with property lines being defined by War and Guts. They should stop where they are. Let both claim Victory, let History decide! No more shooting, no more Death, no more vast and unsustainable sums of money spent. This is a War that would have never started if I were President. Thousands of people being slaughtered each and every week NO MORE, GO HOME TO YOUR FAMILIES IN PEACE!
October 18, 2025 at 5:02 PM
cathyby.bsky.social
Bitcoin continues to slide.

The total value of the crypto market has shrunk by over $600 billion since last Friday, data compiled by CoinGecko shows.

finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin...
The chart shows total market capitalisation since 15 July 2025. October 10th is marked "market crash" which is followed by a steep fall, a brief rally and then another fall to under 3.6 trillion dollars, the lowest value in this chart. This fall is markedly different from previous fluctuations.
October 17, 2025 at 4:44 PM
cathyby.bsky.social
Obviously, easier said than done, and the vulnerability to China looks both more urgent & harder to do.
True, Brussels has developed a critical raw materials strategy but attempts to exploit its own key mineral resources have encountered stiff political resistance from environmental groups.
October 17, 2025 at 9:14 AM
cathyby.bsky.social
Oval Office Ready.
Gold cup with curvy handles, backed by a gold laurel wreath, bearing the words PRESIDENT TRUMP CONGRESS PEACE PRIZE
October 10, 2025 at 1:42 PM