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Elva Johnston

@elvabjohnston.bsky.social
1K followers 450 following 422 posts

Historian at University College Dublin | late antique & early medieval Ireland: literacy, gender, saints | posting in a personal capacity | she/her

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Reposted by Elva Johnston
Liz Jarvis MP @lizjarvis.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Many years ago I interviewed a woman who had witnessed the execution of the man who had killed her son and daughter in an armed robbery. She said it gave her no comfort at all, and spent the rest of her life campaigning against the death penalty.
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
The full moon rises above trees
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
theguardian.com
Oxford lets OpenAI train its AI models on Bodleian Library
University staff voice concerns over reputational risk of partnering with company behind ChatGPT
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Reposted by Elva Johnston
Rachel Pope @prehistorian.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
So awful to hear of the passing of Dr Rena Maguire today. A huge loss, and gone far too soon. She had a unique understanding of prehistory as intimately tethered to cultural history. I will miss that insight. Rest in peace.
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Last fruits of the summer - cleared the remaining tomato plants this morning
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
theguardian.com
‘First there’s the gruelling task of trying to charge my laptop’: a day in the life of a university lecturer in Gaza
As the war in Gaza approaches its fourth year, the Guardian follows five ordinary Palestinians as they go about their lives. Each tells the story of their day, revealing the terrible toll of the confl...
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
theguardian.com
Meta bans ads for Virginia Woolf play in Spain because they relate to feminism
Theatre told that Facebook and Instagram filter out ads mentioning ‘social topics’ such as civil rights or feminism
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Reposted by Elva Johnston
Mark Empey @memps2.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Lovely sketched Irish heraldry by #17c historian, Sir James Ware, incl. coat of arms of Ireland with an argent issuing from triple towered tower. However, the three antique crowns is Munster and the armed hand is Connacht. That featuring a (red) stag walking is actually that of the MacCarthy Mór
Sketch of Irish coat of arms of Ireland with an argent issuing from triple towered tower by Sir James Ware. He mistakes Leinster for Munster, and Munster for Connacht, however. The three antique crowns is Munster and the armed hand is Connacht. Also, the kings of Cork featuring a stag walking is actually that of the MacCarthy Mór
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Reposted by Elva Johnston
Chilli Chirps @chillichirps.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Thought I'd better call in some of the harvest today. Still waiting for a lot to ripen, but the nights are getting cool and the days are getting short. Maybe it's going to be a green sauce kind of year 🤷 🌶️🌱
A few hundred chillies in a large wicker trug. Ignoring the mystery ones, there's Fruity Volcano, Peppadew, Shishito, Yatsufusa, Hungarian Black, Candy Cane Chocolate Cherry, Green Trinidad, El Oro de Ecuador, Brazilian Pumpkin, CP115, Poblano, Fatalii, Purple Pumpkin, Apricot Habanero and Hungarian Hot Wax.
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Reposted by Elva Johnston
European Space Agency @esa.int · 16/09/2026
Mars isn't always red. 💜 New images from Mars Express reveal striking purple swirls near the planet's south pole. 🔗 esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Mars_Express/Purple_swirls_on_the_Red_Planet @science.esa.int
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Dr Gillian Kenny @medievalgill.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Today (16 September) is a feast day (he has four) of an Irish exorcist saint. 16 September commemorates Usaille (Auxilius), an early Irish saint-whose name survives in Killashee, Kildare: Cell Usaille, church of Usaille. And here’s a pic of the old church there.
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Back teaching @ucddublin.bsky.social this week- so enjoyable meeting my new classes
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Reposted by Elva Johnston
Marsh's Library @marshslibrary.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
A couple of 17th century limp vellum Spanish bindings. The title in large letters on the spine is typically Iberian. They cover Historica relación del Reyno de Chile, 1648 and Descripcion breve del monasterio de S. Lorenzo el Real del Escorial, 1657.
Photo of two books stacked on top of each other on a desk with other rare books standing on a shelf behind
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Really proud of this volume of Analecta Hibernica, periodical of the Irish Manuscripts Commission. As editor I have encouraged more Irish language texts and more women as editors - thinking about the sources for Irish history in their wonderful diversity
This and the other images show the title page and contents of Analecta Hibernica
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
I finally managed to snap photos fast enough for the fab Hummingbird Hawk-Moth - look at that proboscis!
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Harvest season - I grow half a dozen tomato plants from seed every year - worth it for the flavour & having fun with different varieties🌱
Mixture of heirloom tomatoes (marmade, tigerella & an accidental hybrid)
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
They are brilliant pollinators - I’ve worked to make my garden planting more friendly to them & was rewarded with multiple varieties this summer
Hoverfly on parsley
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Ireland’s hoverfly, crucial to food production, faces significant threats www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...
irishtimes.com
Ireland’s hoverfly, crucial to food production, faces significant threats
Queen’s University Belfast study underscores the role the insects play in supporting food security
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Reposted by Elva Johnston
Adam Serwer @adamserwer.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Some of the richest people in the world want a racial caste system, and they want scholarly backing for that in the form of racist pseudoscience. And a lot of ostensibly non racist people quietly agree, and don’t like to see those who peddle that pseudoscience excluded from mainstream institutions.
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Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Haunted by Arday story. In that state where you surprise yourself by how upset you are.
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Summer foraging - bumblebee explores open-centred dahlia 🌱
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Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Only one student enrolled in West Virginia University’s new Washington Center after GOP lawmakers mandated the creation of the program Lawmakers allocated around $3 million to the program in the last two years
westvirginiawatch.com
One student enrolled in WVU Washington Center after GOP lawmakers mandate creation of program • West Virginia Watch
Only one student has registered for courses at WVU's Washington Center, an academic program mandated by Republican lawmakers for the campus.
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Reposted by Elva Johnston
The Story of Writing @sownow.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
On this day in 1868, the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. It is best known for guaranteeing full citizenship and its protections to Black Americans. It also includes guidelines on disqualifying candidates who participated in insurrection or rebellion against the government.
Illustration in Harper's Weekly, 1965
Two Union veterans, one Black the other white, are shaking each other's hand. Both men have a leg missing and both are using crutches. 
The illustration includes the text:
A MAN KNOWS A MAN
"Give me your hand comrade! We have each lost a leg for the good cause; but, thank god we never lost heart."
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Marsh's Library @marshslibrary.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
The 32 wind directions, from Philippe Briet's 'Parallela geographiae', 1648-9
Plate from a 17th century book showing a compass rose and wind direction
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Reposted by Elva Johnston
Patrick walsh @speakerconolly.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Some wonderful new archival materials for Irish history made scale by the extraordinary @virtualtreasury.bsky.social team. Some great essays here too curating and introducing the archival materials provided by over 100 international partners
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
A hoverfly (one of many) feasting on parsley seedheads, a plant i always let go to seed 🌱
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Reposted by Elva Johnston
Sarah E. Bond @sarahebond.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Heartbroken to hear that the great Italian (micro)historian Carlo Ginzburg died a few days ago in Bologna. He was one of the most masterful storytellers and historians I have ever read. May we all reread his magnum opus this week and consider that there is no history too small to be remembered. 🧀 🪱
share.google
The Cheese and the Worms : Carlo Ginzburg : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
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Reposted by Elva Johnston
Dr Gillian Kenny @medievalgill.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
As thoughts in some households turn to the summer festival season I write about how the people of medieval Ireland were having a great time together in big fields over a thousand years ago and more. Before Electric Picnic, There Was the Óenach open.substack.com/pub/medieval...
open.substack.com
Before Electric Picnic, There Was the Óenach
Irish people were gathering in fields to have a good time long before anyone pitched a tent at Stradbally. The older version also came with its own law court and burial ground.
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
From ripening bud to flower in 24 hours 😊🌱
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Bumblebee foraging in a corn poppy. The poppies are such cheerful annuals, seed easily & the pollinators love them 🌱
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
More than 870,000 jobs created by data centres? Don’t make me laugh www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026...
irishtimes.com
Una Mullally: Over 870,000 jobs created by data centres? Don’t make me laugh
You simply cannot attribute that many jobs to data centres, no more than you can attribute every job in Ireland people commute to by car to the existence of traffic lights
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Foraging - bumblebee feeding on lavendar 🌱
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Reposted by Elva Johnston
Emily Mark-FitzGerald @emilymfg.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Absolutely no sympathy expressed here for the 87 staff members who will lose their jobs at Carlow College. What an appalling article. www.rte.ie/news/2026/05...
rte.ie
Carlow College to wind down operations over two years
Carlow College is to wind down its operations over the course of the next two years, with its land and buildings to be transferred to South East Technological University (SETU).
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Was at a writing retreat organised by @fionnualawalsh.bsky.social today. And came home to find this 😊
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Ed Roberts @ecroberts.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
The proceedings from last summer's medieval 'semana' in Estella-Lizarra, on Languages and Identities in the Early Medieval West, have now been published (OA)! Feat. excellent studies by @francescatinti.bsky.social, @elvabjohnston.bsky.social, @hwaetspur.bsky.social, and many others not on here.
siem-estella.es
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...
theguardian.com
The secret mission to rescue the UN’s vital Palestinian refugee archive
Millions of documents chronicling generations of trauma saved from Gaza and East Jerusalem in 10-month Unrwa operation
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
I love hardy geraniums - here are two already flowering in the garden. I have more to come in shades of magenta and light blue 🌱
Big root cranesbill - a clumping variety with a lovely pink flowerDusky cranesbill - bigger leaved than other varieties & the dark flowers are striking
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
The beauty of green 🌱 - an ostrich fern coming into its season
Ostrich fern - at the bottom, slightly left of centre is a fiddlehead yet to unfurl
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Reposted by Elva Johnston
North Ages @northages.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
Osric, king of the Northumbrians, died #OTD in 729 after appointing Ceolwulf, brother of his predecessor Coenred, as his successor. Galloway seems to have been brought under Osric’s authority in the course of his reign. Bamburgh Castle 📸Clive Hicks
Bamburgh Castle in the background on the right, with some coastal rocks in the foreground on the left and the sea in between.
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
Stately on a Saturday. Swans on the lake @ucddublin.bsky.social
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
The waxing moon, bright through tree branches
The waxing moon is bright in the centre of tree branches
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
First hardy geranium flower of the year - the beautiful dusky cranesbill / geranium phaeum🌱
Flower of geranium phaeum - the deep purple flowrer is brighter in the sun
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North Ages @northages.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
Máel Coluim mac Donnchada was inaugurated king of Alba #OTD in 1058, according to John of Fordun and Walter Bower.
Satellite image of Scotland.
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
Spot the Poolbeg Stacks - normally I photograph them from Sandymount Strand but this is from close to Grand Canal Dock
Poolbeg stacks in centre distance
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Foamflowers (tiarella) coming into their own - pollinator friendly & provide spikes of colour in the shade 🌱
A pink flowering spike of tiarella. Only the lower florets are open yet
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Neil Jackman @neiljackman.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Would any good soul happen to have a copy of Peritia 2 (1983)? Looking for Kenneth Nicholls' article 'Late medieval Irish annals: two fragments' (pp. 87–102). The main thing I'd like to know is if there are any images of the Annals of Duiske in the article.
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Unfortunately the harlequin ladybirds are in the garden - they predate on native ladybirds - I’ve noticed them a lot in south Dublin in recent years 🌱
Harlequin ladybird - notice the domed shape & relatively large size as it sits on a dahlia leaf
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Elva Johnston @elvabjohnston.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
Looking into Dublin Bay blue after a morning & afternoon on zoom
Sandymount strand with the hill of Howh (right of centre) & Poolbeg (far left)
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