iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Brilliant article by Seanín Graham after spending the day with Young Spencer up the Shankill. Yet another example of how much the north has changed archive.ph/lTDFa ‘Protestant and proud’ Young Spencer: Meet the Shankill Road’s answer to Kneecap

archive.ph

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Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

One of my favourite things about the last few days, is stories from trade unionist, artist, environmentalist circles… when the letter started circulating, people realised they didn’t actually know who was a Prod. Cue hilarious conversations. Happily, that’s how many of us in the north live now.

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Kris (he/him) @portlandkris.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Letter with ALT-text. Also available here docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

We write as a group of concerned individuals from a Protestant background. We hold a wide range of views on politics, faith and identity, and no single label captures our diversity. But we are committed to our shared society, and we feel compelled to speak publicly about what is happening in Portadown. We value the peace and progress built since the 1998 Agreement. We want our children and grandchildren to inherit a future free from the anguish of the past, and we are anxious that some now seem willing to reopen old wounds. While we recognise that the Portadown District LOL regard Drumcree as unfinished business, we are distressed by the trauma that is being visited on the residents of the Garvaghy Road after 28 years of calm. This is a community that has suffered deeply and still lives with the legacy of the parading disputes of the 1990s, which cost lives and left lasting scars. Many of us have family and friends for whom parading is a valued tradition, and some of us have been directly involved ourselves. We recognise its importance to many in our community. The vast majority of loyal order parades take place each year without restrictions - an outcome enabled by agreements and arrangements reached after exhaustive efforts. All of that is now being called into question, with potentially devastating consequences far beyond Portadown. We appeal to the Orange Order to look towards the bigger picture and bring this impasse to an end in the interests of our entire community. We urge the British and Irish Governments to act together and without delay: to restore stability, to ensure that the parading framework is robust and trusted, and to spare the residents of the Garvaghy Road a return to the fear they endured for so many summers. This is a time when all of us committed to a better future have a responsibility to raise our voices to protect peace, progress and a shared society free from sectarianism. We must avoid the abyss we are currently staring into. For the fut…

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Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

We have nearly 1500 names now. Last day to sign

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Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

🚨 Open letter from people of Protestant backgrounds concerning the Garvaghy Road 🚨 We feel compelled to speak publicly about what is happening in Portadown 🚨Over the past few hours we have collected over 140 signatures

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Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Spent the afternoon with friends on the Garvaghy Road, listening to stories of local people’s grief and trauma from the last time around. This is no way to live. Love and solidarity, peace and progress to all. We have come so far. We are one society, one community. We cannot go back.

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Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

I think this is excellent. I share the same frustrations and thoughts about remedies.

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Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Claire JC’s ‘Ulster Says Maybe’ group is live. A progressive space for ordinary people of all backgrounds to talk to each other about Irish unity… there’ll be interviews, a book club, discussion topics and zero tolerance for sectarianism… Join here - www.patreon.com/ulstersaysmaybe

patreon.com

Ulster Says Maybe — A community for people who care about Northern Ireland

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Tony - Pod Guy - Groves @tonygroves.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Ulster Says Maybe with former Unionist and Irish-Northern-Irish-British identity Tik Tok creator, Claire JC, is out now. And no Andy, a border poll is not off the table. podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/t...

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Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Talking today with a friend whose family are DUP & Orange Order. Her dad was also really emotional when he saw the Shankill Defenders in the finale. He was so happy to share his world with people and for them to see it’s not all bad. He feels it is a miracle of understanding and is filled with hope.

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Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Amidst the complete and utter joy of the Fleadh, I'm hearing Protestant friends express a real pang, or almost grief, about the parallel universe we missed out on, because we... weren't allowed, felt we couldn't? I think it's our age - sandwiched between conflict and peace.

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Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Fuck me, the Fleadh is an emotional experience. Just beautiful to experience Belfast like this.

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Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Going to the Fleadh. Dundonald Park and Ride so rammed can’t even get on the Glider!

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Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

I’m so tired I just tried to mute my dog barking with the tv remote lol

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Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Yesterday was some craic.This in the Irish News and a Féile panel on Irish unity. I wanted to say something about the emotional journey many of us are on with all this.

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Lee Hurley @hleehurley.com · 26/07/2026

150,000 marched yesterday in London for trans rights. Opened the Sky News app. Scrolled and scrolled. Nothing. BBC News app. Nothing. Guardian app. Nothing. This is what actual silencing looks like.

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Kellie Turtle @kellieturtle.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

I've just talked to Caroline Litman @alicemydaughter.bsky.social before our @causewaypride.bsky.social next week. She is open, passionate, committed and has a powerful story to share that is changing hearts & minds. It's a conversation you don't want to miss! Infuse Cafe Coleraine Fri 31 July 7pm

Photo of Caroline Litman standing in front of fields. She is wearing a black coat, brown trousers and a black t shirt with the slogan 'Safety, dignity and healthcare for all trans people'. Her hands are in her pockets.

A photo of the cover of caroline litmans book 'her name is Alice' with the words 'out now' beneath it.

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Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Just spotted that this from last year is open access now - The Republic of Newtownards. It imagines the good version of a reunified Ireland. It's in An Clogán, a new socialist republican magazine - well worth checking out the whole thing. www.anclogan.ie/the-republic...

anclogan.ie

The Republic of Newtownards

A republic is more than identity or law, writes Claire Mitchell, author of The Ghost Limb. Seeking a republic giving real power to people, she finds hope in community initiatives in her hometown of Ne...

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Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

In the 10 years since Brexit, my political imagination has increasingly detached from the UK. To the point where Andy Burnham is new PM today and I'm meh, that's nothing to do with me. Except of course that just isn't true :-/

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Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Bit by the ghost limb docs' fabulous and longsuffering producer, Dónall Ó Maolfabhail. www.rte.ie/culture/2026...

rte.ie

The Ghost Limb - a Northern writer's magical journey to belonging

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Luke Butterly @lukejbutterly.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Last week there was a joint session by the NI Affairs and Home Affairs committees into the recent riots in Belfast. Davy Beck (PSNI) said "this is the third year in a row" of "atrocious violence and racism." The initial protest calls "had a clear anti-immigration and extreme right-wing theme."

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Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

How to be real about the hate and harm that happens around the Twelfth July, while honouring the experience of so many Prods, for whom the Twelfth actually is a family day of craic. The annual head pickler.

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Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

The Ghost Limb is on RTÉ radio tonight! A four part documentary series, about the story of the book and its afterlife. Hopefully on the Docs on One podcast in due course. A labour of love from producer Dónall Ó Maolfabhail from Scun Scan Productions. www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

rte.ie

The Ghost Limb - RTÉ Radio 1

Northern Ireland Protestant author, Claire Mitchell, frustrated at having no place to call home, embarks on a historical and magical journey, to heal what she calls her Ghost Limb.

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Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Alternative 12th of July under a tree on a friend’s farm for a hedge school on food politics. The glorious revolution.

A group of people in the distance gathered under a tree. Blue sky and rows of planted veg and turned over soil in the I foreground.

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Tony - Pod Guy - Groves @tonygroves.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

While the “protesters” kicked in doors in Belfast, community support groups stepped up. The State was found wanting. The majority of the people were not. @elainecrory.bsky.social on the tortoise shack. No paywall 👇 podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/t...

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Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Very interesting analysis, especially around dynamics in the wider republican movement.

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Jan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

France 🇫🇷 doubles electrification support to €10bn/year through 2030 — EVs, heat pumps, industry. The reason? The Strait of Hormuz crisis making fossil fuel dependence impossible to ignore. Geopolitical shocks don’t just raise prices. They change what’s politically possible.

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Paul Price @swimsure.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

“The reality is that we don’t have any food security in Ireland because the vast majority of what we consume is imported and the vast majority of what we produce is exported” – Emma Howard, economist, Technological University Dublin. Another excellent article by @codohertynews.bsky.social

irishtimes.com

Fuel protests reveal flawed relationship between farms, fertilisers and food

Farmers have warned of food shortages but Ireland imports most of what it eats

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Louth For Ever 🦋 @louthforever.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

I’ve managed to string together my thoughts through the rage this week, please read & share 💭✍🏼 #Spéirghorm #IrishPolitics #Fascism 🔗 tinyurl.com/wak45j7d

Article Link: The Blockade Is the Message, How a fuel price spike became a fascist audition

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Eils_G 📎 @eils1.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

Please see the post on Muslim Sisters of Éire's facebook page. Shame on these feral thugs, they are far from patriots. If you'd like to donate to the Muslim Sisters of Éire to help them feed our homeless - msoe.ie/donate/ www.facebook.com/muslimsister... #Ireland #SpéirGhorm

We’ve spent the last 48 hours coordinating the logistics and prep work necessary to get our soup run stationed at the GPO. When we got to the top of O’Connell Street, the Guards wouldn’t allow us to go through, but after much persuasion, they escorted us with a patrol car up to the GPO. Given the current situation, we truly appreciate them assisting us despite having their hands full.
We arrived and were surprised that the queue was not as large as expected. When we got there, a lot of people thought that we wouldn’t be able to get through. Soon the word got out and the queue became much longer.
Everything went well; we had a lot of food and donations. A huge shout out to little Amelia who came to our office and donated €50 from her birthday money as well as her Easter eggs—such kindness and beauty in such a young child. A credit to her mammy and daddy.
Tonight took a deeply upsetting turn. As we were finishing our service, we were approached by a group of five or six individuals carrying Irish flags. They began shouting xenophobic rhetoric, telling us this country is "only for the Irish," that we don't belong here, and that we should "go home."
In a beautiful show of solidarity, those around the GPO immediately spoke up, asserting that we are Irish. However, the situation turned hostile. Our Chairperson and founder was targeted with verbal abuse and told to "go back where she came from"—despite being from Coolock. It was clear that because she wears a hijab, her identity as an Irish woman was being questioned.

n 11 years of service, we have never experienced such verbal abuse. It was difficult to maintain the peace, but the homeless community—truly amazing people—stepped up to protect us. We are grateful that the situation eventually de-escalated and the Gardaí arrived to disperse the group.
Providing 300 meals to those in need only to be met with hate is sickening. But let it be known: we remain undeterred. We are united, and we will always be there for the less fortunate, regardless of their background. In Ireland, you don’t need an ID to receive a warm meal from a soup run.
We can’t do this without your constant support. If you would like to help us or donate, please visit https://msoe.ie/donate/.

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Sally Hayden @sallyhayd.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Today in Beirut. #lebanon

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Tara Goddard @drtaragoddard.com · 07/04/2026

I have a father and mother in law in Iran. I have a sister in law. A niece. She's 14. She likes silly pink headbands and purses and dresses, just like kids her age all over the world. There are 93 million people like her in Iran. People who do all the normal mundane life things as the rest of us.

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Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

The Prod squad had an interesting day in the Oireachtas last week. The gist from all 3 of us being that we need to hurry up with unity specifics. A Farage (or a progressive rainbow) coalition at next U.K. election could bring a new timeline, and groundwork is urgent in this context.

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Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

Lovely day with neighbours in Newtownards. Islamic Centre guys made biryani for a meetup, and my fridge is full of leftovers from Eid. Just what the heart needed.

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Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Lovely interview with guys from Belfast’s Imperial Guards Flute Band, who headed up the St. Patrick’s Day parade yesterday. Fair play to all involved. 2:21:22 in www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

bbc.co.uk

Good Morning Ulster - 18/03/2026 - BBC Sounds

The day's news agenda, including regular news, travel and sport updates.

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ᚔᚅᚄᚓᚏᚈ ᚄᚉᚐᚏᚍ ᚅᚐᚋᚓ @ciara2001.eurosky.social · 13/03/2026

Imagine moving to Ireland with a condition like diabetes and being told that, no, while you may have been diagnosed elsewhere, you have to wait 18 years for assessment to make sure you really have diabetes before you are prescribed insulin

thejournal.ie

Transgender people moving to Ireland put on long waitlist for vital healthcare until assessed

The Journal Investigates spoke to transgender people who moved to Ireland and couldn’t continue the care they received abroad

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Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

This is a good listen for anyone wanting to understand the roles bands can play for many working class Protestants. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

podcasts.apple.com

Made to Parade

Podcast Episode · The Shrapnel Podcast · 13 March · 54m

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Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

Carole Cadwalladr: "Hooked on dopamine, fuelled by testosterone, powered by AI: this is the broligarchs’ war. ....a global power structure in which state violence, commercial profit and the control, domination and violation of women are inextricably entwined." www.thenerve.news/p/carole-cad...

thenerve.news

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Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

Electricity rate with Share up 26% from 1st April. An extra £500-600 a year for us. Have other suppliers raised unit prices yet, or is that to come I wonder? Before I start shopping around…

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Dr. Genevieve Guenther (she/they) @doctorvive.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

This is the cloud of oil currently hovering over Tehran, released when the US bombed the city's oil depots. A stew of particulate matter, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, heavy metals & volatile organic compounds is raining down into the city right now. 1/2

a picture of a huge, low, heavy cloud of black oil over Tehran

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Brónagh 🇮🇪🇵🇸🚴‍♀️ @beebsymca.eurosky.social · 06/03/2026

Yallaa would love 100 responses by the end of today and they're only 10 away. TBH, that doesn't seem like enough voices to me so please complete this and share. They are the best people.

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