iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Dr Laura Watson

Mary Gilmartin @marygilmartin.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Members of my union, IFUT, will have a one hour work stoppage today, from 12-1, as part of the broader public sector union dispute. Read about it here: www.ifut.ie/content/ifut... - solidarity welcome on World Teachers Day

ifut.ie

IFUT Public Service Dispute Hub 2026 | Irish Federation of University Teachers

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Dr Laura Watson @lauracwatson.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Yep, it's great to have Linda Buckley's work there. Nobody in Maynooth was consulted anyway. No idea who was...

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Dr Laura Watson @lauracwatson.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

The new Leaving Cert Music set works syllabus is very disappointing. Although we finally have a (1) woman composer (!), there is nothing from the classical era nor any popular music. But there are TWO fairly bland pieces from 20th-C US composers (Bernstein and Williams). Seriously. 🤯🤔

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Reposted by Dr Laura Watson

Ireland against Fascism @irlagainstfascism.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

'Peadar Browns' (best pub in Dublin in oh so many ways) has been compiling a list over pubs in Ireland and abroad who will not show the game between Ireland and IsraHell. We'll add them below. 100 and counting as more join in #BoycottIsrael #StopTheGame stopthegame.ie?fbclid=IwdGR...

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Reposted by Dr Laura Watson

Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign @ipsc.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Gavin Bazunu's statement on pulling out of tomorrow’s game against apartheid Israel. We salute him, he will go down in history for this, a legend. And we hope more of the players will take such a principled stand. There is still time for the FAI to do the right thing. #StopTheGames

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Dr Laura Watson @lauracwatson.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Very proud of my husband's contributions to this meeting, quoted extensively here. Mark articulates brilliantly why we should object to the proliferation of data centres in Ireland. www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...

irishtimes.com

‘We just don’t want them’: Hundreds gather in a Kildare town over data centre plans

Noise issues in Clondalkin are a cautionary tale – but it’s not too late for Kildare, town meeting hears

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Dr Laura Watson @lauracwatson.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

I enjoyed speaking about Sinéad O'Connor at Queen's University, Belfast as part of the SMI-RMA-EADH conference yesterday.

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Dr Laura Watson @lauracwatson.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Too much death lately. RIP, Dolly.

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Reposted by Dr Laura Watson

Paul Bernal @paulbernal.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

For those that don’t know, mental health issues, stress, imposter syndrome, insecurities of all kinds are very, very common in academia at the best of times.

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Dr Laura Watson @lauracwatson.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

A certain prof in my field was relentlessly posting and writing about Jason Arday over the past fortnight. This is an abuse of power.

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Dr Laura Watson @lauracwatson.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

rip.ie/death-notice... My dear father-in-law, Michael, died a few days ago. He played violin in the Abbey Theatre orchestra in his youth, and one of the few I've met outside musicology and academia who knew of Rhoda Coghill. Trying to honour his musical side in the funeral planning. Rest in peace.

rip.ie

Death Notice of Michael J. Walsh (Leixlip, Kildare) | rip.ie

The death has occurred of Michael J. Walsh of Leixlip, Kildare Ireland, on 11/08/2026. You can view the full death notice and add your condolences here.

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Reposted by Dr Laura Watson

Dean Van Nguyen @deanvannguyen.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

The great Jess Kav on the soul-searching (or lack thereof) in the Irish music scene over the last week or so

open.substack.com

Angel At The Table

The thicket of un-grooming and the Irish music industry

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Reposted by Dr Laura Watson

Leah Broad @leahbroad.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

For women's music to stay in the repertoire, we don't just need recordings. We also need score publication, composer info & advocacy. So I'm delighted to announce the launch of UNHEARD HERITAGE, a recording initiative marrying research & performance leahbroad.substack.com/p/announcing...

if a work can't be heard, performers won't play it, so we desperately need good recordings of women's compositions if they're going to enter the repertoire.

So this month I am really delighted to announce the launch of my recordings initiative, Unheard Heritage, which is dedicated to bringing forgotten works out of archives and bringing them to life in world-class recordings.

Because women have always been composers. No matter how difficult it was, no matter how trying the circumstances, historical women fought to make their voices heard. We only have to listen.

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Dr Laura Watson @lauracwatson.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Oh Lord, heading to London for work for a few days tomorrow and the forecast goes from 27 to 34 degrees. 🥵

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Dr Laura Watson @lauracwatson.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

So glad to watch Spain win. As for the appalling closing ceremony and half-time show (wtf) and other atrocious US sports traditions inflicted on football audiences...#WorldCup

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Reposted by Dr Laura Watson

Ola Løkken Nordrum @olaln.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

A sad day for the planet. The Irish Minister for Climate Action 'delighted' that Dublin Airport can expand indefinitely and increase emissions in the midst of a catastrophic climate crisis.

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Dr Laura Watson @lauracwatson.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

www.cambridge.org/core/books/e... Happy to have a chapter in this new edited collection on #IrishComposer Elizabeth #Maconchy! ELIZABETH MACONCHY IN CONTEXT ed. Justin Vickers & Lucy Walker, Cambridge University Press, is out now. #spéirghorm #spéirgorm @maynoothuniversity.ie @muahi.bsky.social

Screen shot of first page of my chapter.

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Dr Laura Watson @lauracwatson.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Finally saw the brilliant Stewart Lee in Dublin tonight, after seeing him in Liverpool twice in the last few years. Funnier than ever 🌚

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Dr Laura Watson @lauracwatson.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Recommend watching the full #CMAT acceptance speech. She condemns Bertie Ahern's racist comments and calls for artists not to sit on the fence when fascism is on the rise. #spéirghorm

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Dr Laura Watson @lauracwatson.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

The perennial feeling of how did I have it in me to correct the first 30 essays over the past few days but the last 5 feel impossible.

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Dr Laura Watson @lauracwatson.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Jan Carson, Few and Far Between (2026) is one of my favourite novels so far this year. Thought-provoking, funny, alternative-reality story of Lough Neagh and the North. Bonus features include some sharp observations about academia.

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Reposted by Dr Laura Watson

Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign @ipsc.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Great to see! Ireland's official Eurovision fan club is boycotting the competition due to apartheid Israel's participation. Eurovision fans know what's what, they won't go along with the artwashing of Israel’s ethnic cleansing and genocide of the Palestinians people. #BoycottEurovision

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Reposted by Dr Laura Watson

Liam Hogan @liamhogan.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Learning is a difficult and slow process. There are no shortcuts. And it is this process (reading, thinking, engaging) that makes analysis itself possible - to suggest that the heavy lifting can be outsourced in this way fundamentally misunderstands, and indeed undermines, the purpose of education.

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Reposted by Dr Laura Watson

Dr Panti Bliss-Cabrera @pantibliss.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

I'm in Mary Lou's constituency and those pricks on O'Connell St didn't make me or my neighbours of colour feel safe. A few years ago I considered giving SF my vote but over and over again they keep proving they don't deserve it. Always siding with the very worst of us

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Dr Laura Watson @lauracwatson.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Watched The Voice of Hind Rajab tonight. No words.

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Dr Laura Watson @lauracwatson.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Given the festival in Maynooth this week, I'm once again reflecting on how some academics in very secure positions and who are frequently on social media discussing all kinds of things have said nothing about the genocide in Gaza.

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Dr Laura Watson @lauracwatson.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Discussed #CMAT as part of an undergrad musicology lecture in Maynooth today! #musicology #speirghorm #WomenInMusic

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Dr Laura Watson @lauracwatson.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Day 2 of Maynooth Festival of Palestinian Culture today. Circus workshops, dance, and a talk by historian Rashid Khalidi. Can't wait! PS my wonderful husband is one of the main organisers and I couldn't be prouder. #palfest26 #maynooth #freepalestine sites.google.com/view/maynoot...

sites.google.com

MaynoothPalFest - Programme

2026 Festival Programme The images used on this site are a small sample of the extraordinary work of photographer Eman Mohammed and subject to copyright. We display them here with kind permission.

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Dr Laura Watson @lauracwatson.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

Meanwhile, Annie Patterson - occupation: 'Doctor of Music' - was not born in 1868 as history books and websites say: she was 70 in 1926 so was presumably born in 1855 or 1856. #1926Census #womeninmusic #musicology #speirghorm #ireland #anniepatterson

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Dr Laura Watson @lauracwatson.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

In contrast, ***composer*** #InaBoyle has her occupation listed as 'home duties' on the #1926Census. Sad but not really surprising. @inaboyle.bsky.social #speirghorm #musicology #womeninmusic #ireland

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Dr Laura Watson @lauracwatson.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

What a rich resource #1926Census is. All credit to our National Archives. Learning about the early lives of the three of my four grandparents born by then, two of whom I knew, and one who died a decade ago. So much grinding poverty then, both in rural Ireland and inner-city Dublin. #speirghorm

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Reposted by Dr Laura Watson

Eoin Murray @eoin-murray.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

Wrote a lengthy essay about Clannad and how they deserve to be critically reevaluated in the same way Enya (former member, and Moya's sister) rightly has over the past decade or so. So much special music in their discography, carried in huge part by Moya's voice. You can read it here.

substack.com

The requisite Celtic soul, man

On Clannad, Enya and reappraising our Celtic New Age pioneers

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Dr Laura Watson @lauracwatson.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

sites.google.com/view/maynoot... This year's MaynoothPalFest - organised entirely independently by a handful of faculty and student volunteers - is on next week, 20 - 23 April. One highlight promises to be the Gig for Gaza. All are welcome. Please support! #freepalestine #maynoothpalfest

sites.google.com

MaynoothPalFest - Gig for Gaza

Thursday 23 April 7.30pm - SU Venue Gig for Gaza Featuring Jafra, Niamh Keady-Tabbal & Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Don Monté, Cormac Reynolds, MU Music Society Pop&Rock/Jazz&Blues Bands. Compèred by Seamus...

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Dr Laura Watson @lauracwatson.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

A friend just spotted our book, Women and Music in Ireland, next to Sinéad O'Connor's memoir in Charlie Byrne's bookshop in Galway!

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Reposted by Dr Laura Watson

Claire Mullaly @clairemullaly.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Irish far-right are making speeches about migrants at their fuel protests.. meanwhile: 'Ireland’s energy-hungry datacentres consumed more electricity last year than all its urban homes combined, according to official figures.' Amazon AWS, Google, Equinix, Microsoft, Digital Realty, Edge Connex..

theguardian.com

Ireland’s datacentres overtake electricity use of all urban homes combined

Statistics raise concerns that rise in demand for data processing driven by AI could derail climate targets

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Reposted by Dr Laura Watson

TheBookshop.ie @thebookshopie.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

An appeal to anyone with deeper knowledge of 20th century Irish traditional music - are the other names here also musicians? Frank O'Higgins was a notablfiddle player, but Michael Corbett and Pádraig S Ó Coirbard and Séamas Mac Mathúna? The 2nd page is pre WW1, but the names are later #irishMusic

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Dr Laura Watson @lauracwatson.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Yep. Also noticed that they all appear to be men - a small cohort of men who don't seem to care about other people's needs, work obligations, caring responsibilities, or simply our rights to access public spaces.

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Reposted by Dr Laura Watson

Dr Panti Bliss-Cabrera @pantibliss.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

I fully support people's right to protest but I don't support far right bullshit pretending to be about farmers and hauliers and I can't recall another protest ever being allowed to bring the city to a halt for 36 hours and still going without any consequences whatsoever

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Dr Laura Watson @lauracwatson.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

sites.google.com/view/maynoot... The programme for Maynooth PalFest26 is now available! Check out the website: lots of great events including a Gig for Gaza and a film screening. All welcome.

sites.google.com

MaynoothPalFest

Welcome to Maynooth PalFest26 This celebration of Palestinian culture will take place between 20 and 23 April across the university campus and in Maynooth town. Most events are free and all are ope...

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Dr Laura Watson @lauracwatson.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

What the fuck is wrong with people? How is this misogyny entertainment? #speirghorm

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