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graemewsmith.bsky.social

@graemewsmith.bsky.social
142 followers 231 following 64 posts

Newspaper journalist for 28 years. Former editor of The Herald. Now in public sector comms.

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Reposted by @graemewsmith.bsky.social
Graeme Thomson @graemethomson.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Our street WhatsApp group is aflutter with news of this wee guy hopping around the back gardens. There's a pair of them, apparently...
An albino squirrel descending a tree in an Edinburgh garden.
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Dani Garavelli @danigaravelli.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
"We are now almost as far from the Troubles as the Troubles lasted. But the wounds caused by 30 years of sectarian violence run simultaneously deep & close to the surface & are easily reinfected by bad faith actors with malign agendas." My column on Drumcree. www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
heraldscotland.com
I saw Drumcree burn in 1999. What’s happening in Portadown now worries me as much
Dani Garavelli on why the latest Drumcree dispute in Northern Ireland raises fresh concerns about anti-immigration division, extremism and community relations.
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
This is very true.
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
When I worked on The Journal, it ran a story about a couple in rural Northumberland whose home won an award. Sub described them as cottagers in the headline and the editor, rightly, went mental at him.
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
It was indeed appalling and unrelenting but is now dry and even bright. Too late to put the washing out though.
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London Review of Books @lrb.co.uk · 20/09/2026
‘For more than seventy years after the war ended, Predappio elected only left-wing mayors. And yet, ever since 1957, when Rachele reclaimed her husband’s corpse, the town has relied on Mussolini for its living.’ @danigaravelli.bsky.social on Mussolini’s birthplace: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
lrb.co.uk
Dani Garavelli · Diary: Cult of Mussolini
A couple of days before I arrived in Predappio, I read that Hitler’s birthplace in Austria had been compulsorily...
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
😀 noted re pizza.
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
@bsrg1.bsky.social COYR, apparently..
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
From the tacky Fascist souvenir shops to the black-shirted marchers outside Mussolini’s tomb, read this insightful dispatch from the birthplace of Il Duce.
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Dani Garavelli @danigaravelli.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
That’ll be me home, then, I guess
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Libby Brooks @libbybrooks.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Good to see another #passthemic writer Sanghmitra Singh in Guardian Opinion - thanks to @talatyaqoob.bsky.social who made it happen www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
When I first moved to Glasgow from India, I felt welcomed and included. Now I just feel scrutinised | Sanghmitra Singh
The city that used to be full of kind strangers is increasingly witnessing racist disorder. I hope it can find its way back to its old friendliness, says human rights lawyer and farmer Sanghmitra Sing...
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
A fascinating piece.
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Association for Scottish Literature @asls.org.uk · 14/08/2026
Acknowledging Agnes Owens: a celebration of her writing & legacy 24 Sep, Glasgow – free Launch event for the Byres Road Book Festival, in collaboration with the @aowensarchive.bsky.social – with Dani Garavelli, Kirstin Innes, William Letford, & Chitra Ramaswamy www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/acknowledg...
eventbrite.co.uk
Acknowledging Agnes Owens: a celebration of her writing and legacy
Join us at the Byres Road Book Festival for a special launch evening, presented in collaboration with the Agnes Owens Archive.
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The Herald @heraldscotland.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
The solar eclipse at 7:13pm on Wednesday, with the University of Glasgow's tower in the foreground, in a series of photos taken by Colin Mearns MORE IMAGES: www.heraldscotland.com/news... 𝘐𝘔𝘈𝘎𝘌𝘚: 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘯 𝘔𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘴
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Dani Garavelli @danigaravelli.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Universities across the UK are facing so many problems - marketisation, cuts, redundancies etc - why are we so obsessed by Jason Arday? (This is rhetorical; I know why). My @heraldscotland.bsky.social column. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2644807...
heraldscotland.com
Yes, the Jason Arday scandal is fascinating but it plays into the hands of racists
I’m not going to pretend this isn’t a fascinating tale, writes Dani Garavelli
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Great hire.
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Dani Garavelli @danigaravelli.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Mathew’s Writer’s Bookshelf is one of my favourite substack reads (I mean all of Mathew’s pieces are brilliant) so it was an honour to be asked to take part and a delight to have the chance to talk about books I love.
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
David Byrne in Edinburgh tonight was the most visually stunning show I think I’ve seen since The Fall collaborated with Michael Clark’s ballet company at the festival in 1988. Marching musicians, creative dancers/vocalists and the great man himself, strong and thoughtful.
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
This looks amazing. Can’t wait to visit!
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
Can’t wait to visit.
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David Leask @leaskyd.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
I am not sure that we appreciate how much hostility there is from the far right to the learning and speaking of languages. 1/2 www.thetimes.com/article/9a33...
thetimes.com
Language centre closes after ‘far-right intimidation’
The director of the Language Hub in Glasgow claimed the premises were no longer safe for staff after a ‘surveillance’ campaign by anti-migration activists
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
And if that's the best bits they can come up with for the trailer...
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
'from all backgrounds'
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Decent opportunity.
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Dani Garavelli @danigaravelli.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
"Even when he announced he would be making an announcement, there was a breathlessness about the coverage..as if he were a prime minister‑in‑waiting instead of – hopefully – a man about to reach the end of his road." My @heraldscotland.bsky.social column. www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
heraldscotland.com
'Nigel Farage may finally have reached the end of his very long road'
Nigel Farage’s attempt to dodge scrutiny of a £5 million donation by triggering a Clacton by‑election has instead intensified questions about…
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Fox next door completely unperturbed by circling magpie.
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Mairi Damer @marzid.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Postie’s been, part 2. Check it out @mickeyundertone.bsky.social - a cracking birthday gift from my kid. He knows his mammy very well indeed ❤️
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The Herald @heraldscotland.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Deacon Blue pictured after receiving their honorary degrees at the University of Glasgow on Monday. The Scottish band, whose hits include Dignity, Real Gone Kid, and Fergus Sings the Blues, were presented with Doctor of Music degrees. 𝘐𝘔𝘈𝘎𝘌: 𝘎𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘰𝘯 𝘛𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘴/𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘥 & 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴
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Dani Garavelli @danigaravelli.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
I see the carnival is over, but here's my wee @heraldscotland.bsky.social tribute to the Tartan Army www.heraldscotland.com/news/2623408...
heraldscotland.com
Tartan Army defied Trump to save what was destined to be the worst World Cup
WHEN my three boys announced they were buying my husband a flight to Boston for his 60th birthday so he could join the oldest and the youngest on…
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Good to see some traditions survive. Copies of The Herald on sale in the cloisters at Glasgow Uni so you can see your kid’s name in print. Well, as long as they haven’t ticked the no publicity box.
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
No marquees in our day (38 years ago!). At a very hot Glasgow Uni for the graduation of our youngest.
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Dani Garavelli @danigaravelli.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
"Rothko’s paintings are..numinous tempests, violent force fields, mercurial landscapes you can feast on, roll with, drown in." I visited Rothko in Florence while deaf & loved it so much I wrote this essay on the artist & silence. It's free to read/subscribe. Thanks. open.substack.com/pub/danigara...
open.substack.com
Silence is so Accurate
Rothko in Florence
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Back in Boston, where this theme is developing quite nicely.
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Some more images from the great city of Providence.
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Becoming slightly obsessed with the historic buildings on the east side of Providence.
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
As backdrops go for a fanzone…
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Our Airbnb in Providence, complete with putting green in the garden.
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Straight Outta Boston, to a cloudy Cape Cod 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🦈
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
One of our party who was not there did remind me later this was where Jaws was set 🦈
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
Scotland also won the tips jar contest in this downtown coffee joint.
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
Blagged our way into the main Boston fanzone for what turned out to be a great night.
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Dani Garavelli @danigaravelli.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
"Communities built on mutual trust have fewer cracks into which Reform and others can pour their poison." My @heraldscotland.bsky.social column on "neighbourism" and what we can do as individuals when political leaders refuse to lead. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2619226...
heraldscotland.com
Farage, Musk and their ilk have put us all on a rudderless ship halfway to disaster
IN a fortnight which saw pogroms in Belfast, and immigrants in Scottish towns and cities afraid to walk the streets, it was left to the families…
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Game day, Boston. Some pix from yesterday 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Just about packed. Do I need anything else?
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Dani Garavelli @danigaravelli.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
The Tartan Army heading off to the World Cup made me think of this piece I once wrote about all those who travelled to watch the Lisbon Lions so I uploaded it to Substack. I loved writing it. Different fans, same dreams, same spirit of adventure. Lots of stories to pass to their children.
danigaravelli.substack.com
Vincerò, Vincerò
Watching the Lisbon Lions: When the most important trophies are the stories you bring home.
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Nutmeg Magazine @nutmegmagazine.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
🚨Apply for the Nutmeg Academy. We're seeking the next great voice in Scottish football content. Read more about our paid, season-long apprenticeship covering print, digital and broadcast football media below: 🔗 shorturl.at/w63Oc
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Paul Sweeney @paulsweeney.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
The impending closure of Queen's Park Glasshouse due to @srucnews.bsky.social leaving is disappointing. I have a keen interest in Glasgow's hothouses. There is an interesting proposal in development. www.heraldscotland.com/news/26166410.fresh-hope-glasgows-queens-park-glasshouse-amid-closure-plans
heraldscotland.com
Fresh hope for Glasgow's Queen's Park Glasshouse after closure announcement
There are fresh hopes for the future of Queen's Park Glasshouse in Glasgow after it was announced it would close later this year, amid fears it…
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Dani Garavelli @danigaravelli.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
"To suggest she has no responsibility for that, and to link that lack of responsibility to her sex, is a form of infantilisation that will do women no good in the long-run." My @heraldscotland.bsky.social column on Murrell and Sturgeon. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2615250...
heraldscotland.com
Criminals like Murrell only flourish under Groundhog Day of tribalism
No-one wants to know how much Murrell’s betrayal upset Nicola Sturgeon, writes our award-winning columnist Dani Garavelli - what they want to know…
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graemewsmith.bsky.social @graemewsmith.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
With some of the most significant changes taking place today, this is a timely overview from @libbybrooks.bsky.social on the sad state of affairs at BBC Radio Scotland.
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Dani Garavelli @danigaravelli.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
It's the centenary of the wonderful Agnes Owens' birth today, so here's the longread I wrote on her life/work. It has interviews with her son; her 1st publisher, @peterkravitz.bsky.social; @sorchadallas.bsky.social; some of those who wrote introductions to the new edition & @damianbarr.bsky.social.
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