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Dr. Hilary Lennon

@hilarylennon.bsky.social
2.2K followers 598 following 1.1K posts

Literary historian, teacher of literature, working on a cultural history of Irish letter writing.

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Reposted by Dr. Hilary Lennon
Mark Little @marklittle.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
When I founded Storyful, I sat down with @patrickfreyne.bsky.social to talk about my hopes for democratic technology. Many years later, we sat down again to chat about my book, The Last Good Day on the Internet. A welcome moment for reflection on what went wrong and what we can make right:
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Eoghan Daltun 🌍 @irishrainforest.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
If you pick up this book and read even just a page or two, you'll understand immediately why it's doing so well. It's phenomenal. A manual on the fightback for life on Earth.
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Joe Griffin @thejoegriffin.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Really feel like the mainstream narrative has shifted in America these past few weeks. Ed Sheeran might end up in history books.
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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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John Breslin @cloud.eurosky.social · 30/09/2026
Arya Satheesh, an 18-year-old student from Letterkenny in County Donegal, Invented a Plant-Based Plastic That Removes Microplastics From the Environment as It Biodegrades www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/t...
smithsonianmag.com
This High Schooler Invented a Plant-Based Plastic That Removes Microplastics From the Environment as It Biodegrades
Eighteen-year-old Arya Satheesh created her award-winning Eco Purge to help address the global problem of plastic pollution
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Extinction Rebellion Ireland @xr-ireland.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Great to see locals in Naas standing up against yet another energy/water guzzling, land-hogging, noise-polluting data centre, being pushed on them. Data centres have become a blight on this country, worsening the climate crisis and water shortages. www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...
People in Ireland are joining the dots and fighting back against datacentres. Extinction Rebellion Ireland
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Extinction Rebellion Ireland @xr-ireland.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
The anger of the people of Naas at the prospect of data centres in their town was clear yesterday. Kildare County Councillors need to listen. We already have too many data centres in this country - using our precious energy and water and being a general scourge.
Woman holding a sign at protest: "Is fearr Nás na Rí gan ionaid sonraí"Woman holding a sign at protest: "The plague of data centres"People holding XR flags and signs at protest "Stop Trump's War on life" with data centre picture, "Power FOR the people - our bills are already too high"
"Is fearr Nás na Rí gan ionaid sonraí"
"No More Data centres Here!"Woman holding a sign at protest: "Is fearr Nás na Rí gan ionaid sonraí"
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Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
F/FG councillors yesterday rejected a council motion to reverse land zoning in Naas that will allow a second data centre to be built in the town. This is from their joint statement. 'It is not our role to regulate these complex entities.' Pretty much sums up F/FG.
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Rabih Alameddine @rabihalameddine.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Duane Keiser Water and Lemon Oil on Canvas - 9 x 7.5 inches 2022
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The Journal @thejournal.ie · 24/09/2026
An Post has released four literary-themed stamps celebrating significant works of modern Irish fiction. jrnl.ie/7172248
jrnl.ie
You can now buy stamps celebrating modern Irish literature
Emma Donoghue, author of Room, said she “shed a tear” when she heard that her book would appear on the stamps.
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Una Mullally @unamullally.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
New polling from the National Youth Council of Ireland: - 68% of 18–24-year-olds are considering emigrating - 71% believe they'd have a better quality of life outside Ireland - 83% support stronger government regulation of AI - 89% agree the housing crisis disproportionately affects young people
youth.ie
RED C: 7 in 10 young adults considering leaving Ireland for a better quality of life - National Youth Council of Ireland
RED C: 7 in 10 young adults considering leaving Ireland for a better quality of life - National Youth Council of Ireland Young people are responding to unaffordable housing, the rising cost of everyda...
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Dr Abeba Birhane @abeba.blacksky.app · 21/09/2026
"In a leaked document, the Irish Presidency proposes to EU Member States that the interest of OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta and SpaceX to make profits should take precedence over the fundamental right to data protection" noyb.eu/en/ai-eu-mem...
noyb.eu
AI: EU Member States plan “digital expropriation” of Europeans in the interest of AI companies
In a leaked document, the Irish Presidency proposes to EU Member States that the interest of AI companies to make profits should take precedence over the fundamental rights of Europeans.
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Dr Abeba Birhane @abeba.blacksky.app · 14/07/2026
"Ireland's Enterprise Minister Peter Burke attended a private dinner with tech giant Meta at the US ambassador’s residence in February to discuss the “digital agenda for Ireland’s EU presidency,” amid a US drive to soften Europe’s policing of big tech." www.independent.ie/business/min...
independent.ie
Minister dined with Meta lobbyists at US ambassador’s residence amid US drive to soften Europe’s policing of big tech
Peter Burke’s intimate dinner with the tech giant’s reps was aimed at discussing ‘the digital agenda for Ireland’s EU presidency’
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Woodland Trust Scotland @wtscotsocial.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
🦔 Do you have a hedgehog visiting your garden? Sadly, hedgehogs are facing increasing challenges, but there are simple things we can all do to give them a helping hand 🧡 Our blog will help you make your garden a hedgehog haven 👉️ buff.ly/1mwvioN #Hedgehogs #HedgehogFriendly #GardenWildlife
Small hedgehog peering out from leaf litter and tree roots, snout and dark eyes visible as it shelters on the forest floor. Credit: Anne-Marie Klaus/WTML
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Little Green Space @lgspace.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
A single 400-year-old ancient oak produces 234,000 litres of oxygen a year while soaking up carbon dioxide, and can support more than 2,000 species of bird, insect, fungus, and lichen. Nature is amazing - we need more of it, not less. Please repost if you agree 🌳
Mature oak trees with bare branches in an autumn woodland
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Una Mullally @unamullally.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
The Irish musicians, Beoga, who play alongside Ed Sheeran, have withdrawn from Sheeran’s tour. This is the statement they published on Instagram:
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Elizabeth Boyle @thecelticist.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
In-person research seminars @ceilteachomn.bsky.social in Maynooth this semester! All welcome.
Maynooth University Early Irish and Celtic Studies Research Seminars. 15 October, Dr Hannah Mac Auliffe (MU), The Good, the Bad and the Saintly: Clonard in Medieval Irish Hagiography. 5 November, Dr Simon Rodway (Aberystwyth), Peis Dinogat from the Book of Aneirin and Rewilding. 10 December, Dr Liam Ó hAisibéil (Galway), Snub-nosed, Scabby and Toothless: Descriptive Bynames in the Irish Personal Naming System. All seminars are at 5pm in Room 1.33, Iontas Building, North Campus.
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Department of History, Trinity College Dublin @historytcd.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
This term's schedule for the Research Seminar in Modern and Contemporary Irish History is here www.tcd.ie/history/rese...
tcd.ie
Trinity Research Centre for Contemporary Irish History Seminars - Department of History - Trinity College Dublin
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Irish Women's Rugby Supporters Club @irishwomens.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Zero tolerance, not quiet acceptance
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Darryl Jones @profdarryljones.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Hem hem. ‘An excellent new biography by Darryl Jones. … A very good book about a very interesting man’ unherd.com/2026/09/mr-j...
unherd.com
MR James still haunts England
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Darach Ó Séaghdha @darach.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
“I get down on my knees and do what must be done And kiss Achilles’ hand, the killer of my son”. Layers of symbolism in Connolly giving Trump that poem. troublesarchive.com/artforms/poe...
troublesarchive.com
Ceasefire | Troubles Archive
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Jen Keane @zenbuffy.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Here's some figures, apropos of nothing. Median cost to retrofit a mid-terrace is €55,250, rising to €60,805 for a semi D. Median salary in Ireland is €41,500. Senior minister salary is €217,136.
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Josef O'Shea @josefoshea.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Leo Varadkar said this in 2017 - borrowed from Nick Clegg's 'Alarm Clock Britain' in 2011. A decade on from Leo, we still have the housing, rental, and cost-of-living crises & working Irish people still pay the most for goods and services in the EU. 50% above av. But this time - they mean it.
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Jo Ní Ghiolla Shúiligh @jogil.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Changes to your energy costs

Hi there,
We're writing to let you know about changes to our standard variable energy prices from 5
October 2026. Electricity unit rates will increase by 9.4%, electricity standing charges by 6.12%, and gas unit rates by 11.6%.
We understand this is unwelcome news.
Increasing our prices is never a decision we take lightly. This is a result of volatility in global energy markets and increases in network charges that are outside of our control. We continue to do everything we can for our customers to limit the impact of the ongoing volatility in the energy market.
These changes will be automatically reflected on bills from 5 October 2026.
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Ireland against Fascism @irlagainstfascism.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Katie Taylor gets the win and ends her career as a three-time undisputed champion 🥊
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Hugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Women weren't allowed to box in Ireland when Katie Taylor was born. 80,000 in Croke Park tonight to watch her finish her career. An inspiration and a hero.
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casualboxfan.bsky.social @casualboxfan.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
last fight youtu.be/JNqNfgGkq-4?...
youtu.be
Katie Taylor vs. Flora Pili | FIGHT HIGHLIGHTS
YouTube video by DAZN Boxing
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The Irish Times @irishtimes.com · 04/09/2026
Former Irish Times art critic Brian Fallon dies aged 93
irishtimes.com
Former Irish Times art critic Brian Fallon dies aged 93
A literary editor of The Irish Times, and its chief critic for 35 years, Brian Fallon also founded the newspaper’s Weekend supplement
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Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
When Gloria Steinem co-founded Ms. Magazine in 1972, the honorific “Ms.” was virtually unheard of. Unmarried women were referred to as “Miss [father’s last name]” and married women as “Mrs. [husband’s last name].” “Ms.” was an assertion of individual identity. Women who used it were widely mocked.
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Joseph Rezek @rezekjoe.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
New York City bans AI in the classroom up through 8th grade!!! “Kids need to learn for themselves,” says the Mayor of My Heart
Pic of Mamdani with this quote
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Lisa Carey @msleedy.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
This government's attitude that spending money on public services is some kind of terrible loss to the state coffers rather than THEIR ACTUAL JOB is going to tip me over the edge, I stg.
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Anakana Schofield @anakanaschofield.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
I'm in London, UK til Saturday afternoon, if anyone wants to interview me about my new novel LIBRARY OF BROTHEL out Jan 12, 2027 from @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social and in Dublin next week, then NYC .. Drop me a line 22seriousladies@gmail.com or my UK publicist God knows I've plenty things to say.
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Simon McGarr @tupped.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
So about that Collison-funded think tank whose policies the Govt has been so receptive to… www.alilleybrinker.com/blog/1passwo...
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Cethan Leahy @cethanleahy.com · 12/08/2026
Dead Teenager Launch! If you are in Cork, come along! @littleislandbooks.bsky.social
Join us to celebrate CETHAN LEAHY'S BOOK LAUNCH
ENJOY THE PARTY IT MAY BEYOUR LAST. DEAD TEENAGER MOVIE
at Dubray Books, Cork on 3 September 2026 from 6.30pm Launched by Noel O'Regan
Little Island books create waves
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Philip Oldfield @sustainabletall.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Design for 15 social housing apartments in Paris, by Parages Architects Renovation of the first three floors, with two news floors added atop. Wooden structure, stone facade, straw insulation and lime render! Beautiful to boot!
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Tuatha @tuatha.ie · 02/09/2026
The Meehambee Dolmen • Roscommon Located in the south of Roscommon, this c.5,500 year old Neolithic portal tomb is reached by walking along an atmospheric bridleway. One of those old hollow ways where it feels like you might encounter an Otherworldly figure or two. #Ireland #Archaeology
An enormous mossy capstone supported by equally mossy upright stones alongside a path in a wood in Roscommon, Ireland
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MꙬse Allain @mooseallain.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
The Art School
Ink line and wash drawing of an imaginary city Detail of ink line and wash drawing of an imaginary city Detail of ink line and wash drawing of an imaginary city Detail of ink line and wash drawing of an imaginary city
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Christine Kooi @christinekooi.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Hear, hear. GenAI LLMs are indeed quite useless in classroom history instruction. This is an insightful thread. 🗃️
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Natalie Bennett @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Powerful and important letter about artificial so-called intelligence from Sheila Hayman from Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy, University of Cambridge, in the FT today
Margaret McGirr’s letter (“AI can lend a hand, but it will struggle to replace one”, July 21) and Chine McDonald’s guest column (“This retro revival is more than a longing for the past”, Opinion, August 7) both touch (sic) on something that should be obvious, but is carefully ignored by almost everyone in the tech world. Namely that our intelligence is embodied, evolved and biological, and inseparable from our bodies.
The brain’s job is to control the body in the world; it is the last organ to develop.
Every square centimetre of our hands (and of the rest of our skin) contains about a 170 touch sensors or nerve endings, sensitive to different kinds of touch: a slap, a burn, a caress, a hug — each of which travels to different parts of the midbrain, prompting the appropriate response. Quickly to the autonomic nervous system for something dangerous; more slowly via a different channel for something carrying meaning.
In addition to the hand’s limitless versatility, it is self-repairing, regulates its own temperature, knows without being programmed how much pressure to exert on an egg, a tennis ball or a day-old chick, and can fuse neurologically to whatever it holds.
So when we put a glass down on the table or slide a knife through an apple, we feel the table, or the apple, not the glass or handle in our hand (try it!).
Finally, and most urgently, the entire human body — including the hands — does everything on 25 or so watts of completely renewable energy: a tiny fraction of what a humanoid robot, even one of the current primitive iteration of robots, needs.
The “retro revival” is thus not cultural nostalgia.
It’s millions of years of evolution crying out to be heard, before we suppress it totally in the service of an automated — and dead — planet.
Sheila Hayman
Member of the Advisory Board, Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy, University of Cambridge, London NW1, UK
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Not Here Not Anywhere @nhna.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
“They push up [electricity] costs without generating commensurate benefits to the local economy. Because once the data centre is built, it is just a hulking structure with a bunch of computers inside...” No wonder they don't want them - but neither do we! www.thejournal.ie/data-centres...
thejournal.ie
Backlash to data centres stateside means US may 'prefer to see them built in Ireland'
Former White House adviser Brad Setser said data centres are increasingly viewed by Americans as facilities “with a bunch of computers inside and not many jobs”.
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Honorary Consul of France, Limerick 🇫🇷🇪🇺🇮🇪 @francemidwest.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
🔴 #SarsfieldHomecoming Project Update Delighted to be in Paris for three full days of filming for the RTÉ TV documentary on Patrick Sarsfield produced by Scratch Films and directed by Maurice Sweeney. 1/
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hookland.bsky.social @hookland.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
All of us stone botherers – archaeologists, ley hunters, lithic pilgrims – have reverence for the artefacts of the Long Neolithic. However, some of us cross into devotion. It's not uncommon to find a stone dressed with garland. – Dr. K. Brophy, 1982 #StandingStoneSunday
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Clodagh Finn @clodaghfinn.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Roshana D set up a secret school for girls in Afghanistan but fled to Pakistan when she was discovered by the Taliban. She is now in hiding - but still spoke to Irishwoman's Diary to ensure that women's voices are heard. Such courage 🙏 #SpeirGorm www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/colu...?
irishexaminer.com
Clodagh Finn: A window into life of an Afghan woman who set up a secret school for girls and now lives in hiding
Roshana Dadgar set up a secret school in Afghanistan to educate young girls. She was later forced to flee to Pakistan and now lives under the threat of deportation, writes Clodagh Finn
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Bogshuffler 🪿📷 @bogshuffler.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Two years now since this yellow crowned night heron showed up in Belcarra, Co. Mayo - the only ever recorded in Ireland. Was such a treat to see and photograph #birds #fabulouswaders
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Bogshuffler 🪿📷 @bogshuffler.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Migrant hawker wing
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Bogshuffler 🪿📷 @bogshuffler.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Golden hour blue
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Neil Jackman @neiljackman.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
As well as the damage to artists, the tidal wave of AI is totally drowning out educational and good travel accounts. We are being buried alive by it. For me to do one post for @tuatha.ie I have to visit the site, edit the images, research info and write a post balanced to a general audience...
An AI post of Poulnabrone Dolmen, though this one is reasonably realistic and not as obvious, you can tell it's AI as Poulnabrone does not have a sea view, also the gentians dont flower there like in the image. But this shows how difficult it is becoming to tell the real from fakeAnother AI image, this time I think it is supposed to be Knowth in the Boyne Valley, this is more obviously fake but only if you know the real siteAnother AI image supposedly representing the Grianán, this is pretty rubbishA truly terrible AI representation of Newgrange
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Sonja Tiernan @sonjatiernan.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Delighted to see the exciting Dublin Festival of History 2026 program. Thrilled to be scheduled on the Big Weekend. Bookings now open to all events! dublinfestivalofhistory.ie/event/eva-go...
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Clare Moriarty @quiteclare.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
This is the most insidious stuff on earth.
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