iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Michael Gallagher @michaelgtcd.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Vincent Browne / Magill produced some excellent election books as well during the 1980s.

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Michael Gallagher @michaelgtcd.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Not much doubt as to which team in England League One Maximilien Robespierre would be supporting this season …

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Michael Gallagher @michaelgtcd.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

David McCullagh launches Gary Murphy biog of Brian Cowan, Taoiseach 2008–11, soon to be in bestseller lists. Book quotes Tacitus on short-lived Roman Emperor Galba (Jun 68–Jan 69), and how he would have seemed eminently fit to rule, had he never ruled.

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Michael Gallagher @michaelgtcd.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

For the day that it is – a photo from 1997.

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Michael Gallagher @michaelgtcd.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Interesting article. Past hopes in UK have foundered on catch-22 of, as Paul Mitchell puts it (Politics of Electoral Systems, 2008), when a party has the will to change the electoral system it lacks the power, & when it has the power it lacks the will. Seems this may be changing. Some more thoughts:

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Michael Gallagher @michaelgtcd.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

32 excellent volumes in the Geography Publications County History series overseen by Prof Willie Nolan, and one in particular is apparently flying off the shelves just now. Includes a chapter on the GAA by Arlene Crampsie (plus one on post-independence political history).

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Michael Gallagher @michaelgtcd.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

When 8 finals in a row display the same pattern, we have to infer that that’s not a coincidence. Fifa & Uefa really need to fix the two semi-finals for the same day in future.

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Michael Gallagher @michaelgtcd.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

World Cup 26 semi-finals were on Tues & Wed, so Spain have 5 days to recover before final, Argentina only 4. Does this confer an advantage on former? Possibly: over past 60 yrs pattern not strong, but last 7 Euros / WCs all won by the team that had the extra day to rest / prepare.

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Michael Gallagher @michaelgtcd.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

At every international competition where England make it to the later stages, qn is asked in Ireland (and probably Scotland and Wales too): ‘Should we not support England since they’re a close neighbour?’ Short answer: absolutely no obligation to do so. Longer answer:

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Michael Gallagher @michaelgtcd.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Nigel Farage resignation in UK raises qn of whether any TD has ever resigned and then contested the resulting by-election – which would be unwise under PR-STV as median TD in 2024 won only 14% of first preference votes cast in their constituency. No is the answer. Two cases from 1920s come closest.

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Michael Gallagher @michaelgtcd.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Posters for yesterday's by-election for Nova Scotia House of Assembly in newly-created French-speaking riding / constituency, won as expected by the Progressive Conservative candidate Claude Bourgeois ahead of Liberal Denis Cormier, both a long way ahead of NDP and Green candidates.

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Michael Gallagher @michaelgtcd.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

So, which of the teams placed third in their World Cup group will qualify for the round of 32? History suggests that 4 points will suffice, 2 points won’t, and 3 points might or might not depending on the team’s goal difference.

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Michael Gallagher @michaelgtcd.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Constituency configuration an issue that won’t go away. 3-seat consts not really compatible with principle of proportional representation. A move to 4-, 5- and 6-seat consts would be step in right direction; ultimately, fixing size of both Dail (eg at 180 seats) & const config the best approach.

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Michael Gallagher @michaelgtcd.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Given the day that’s in it, 40 years on: Celso Borges surely the most capped player ever to play in the Estadio Riazor (over 160 caps for Costa Rica). He used to weave labyrinthine patterns in midfield.

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Michael Gallagher @michaelgtcd.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

How do Irish parties line up on left–right spectrum? Attached is from Chapter 5 (by Gail McElroy & Stefan Müller) in the book How Ireland Voted 2024 (Palgrave). Scores are based on analysis of manifestos at Nov 2024 election, and authors discuss in particular the surprising placement of Green Party.

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Michael Gallagher @michaelgtcd.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

By-elections 22 May: Analysis of transfers at 2024 election in How Ireland Voted 2024 shows that ‘soft left’ (Soc Dems / Labour / Greens) attract transfers both from FF & FG, who prefer them (esp Labour) to SF & other left, and from SF & other left, who prefer them (esp Soc Dems) to FF & FG.

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Michael Gallagher @michaelgtcd.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Of the 138 TDs elected at the 136 Dáil by-elections (two by-elections in 1925 each returned two TDs), nine (so far) have gone on to become a party leader, and a further two party leaders were first elected at Westminster by-elections in the summer of 1917.

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Michael Gallagher @michaelgtcd.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Irish Labour Party @labour.ie has won 10 of the 136 by-elections to have taken place since the foundation of the independent Irish state. Its first success, exactly 100 years ago today (18 Feb 1926), came in Dublin County, when future party leader William Norton was elected.

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Michael Gallagher @michaelgtcd.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

Concerns about stocks of How Ireland Voted 2024 running low have been allayed, temporarily at least, as Hodges Figgis on Dawson St Dublin 2 have plenty of copies at the moment.

Copies of How Ireland Voted 2024 on display.

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Michael Gallagher @michaelgtcd.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

Some high quality football action, and a good book to read during half-time.

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Michael Gallagher @michaelgtcd.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

Co-editors Theresa Reidy and Eoin O'Malley, with distinguished launcher Pat Leahy of Irish Times, at launch of How Ireland Voted 2024 in Hodges Figgis Dublin on 21 Jan 26, definitive study of Ireland’s 2024 elections (general, local and Euro Parliament). Copies still available to purchase.

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Michael Gallagher @michaelgtcd.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

A great view, and some good reading to hand as well.

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Michael Gallagher @michaelgtcd.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

Intriguing match coming up tomorrow in Spanish Segunda division (futbol), AD Ceuta vs FC Andorra. One team in Europe but not in Spain, the other in Spain but not in Europe.

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Michael Gallagher @michaelgtcd.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

It really is a special time of the year ... tcd.ie/Political_Science/about/people/michael_gallagher/HowIrelandVoted2024.php

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Michael Gallagher @michaelgtcd.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

The time between christmas and new year is usually a time of little political activity. But not this year in Kosovo, where a general election will take place on 28 December. Kosovo becomes the 12th European country since 1945 to hold more than 1 election in a calendar year.

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Michael Gallagher @michaelgtcd.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

How Ireland Voted 2024 now available (in full colour printing) from all good bookshops and probably some bad ones too. Full of outstanding analysis and fascinating facts. 13 chapters, 6 Appendices, 33 Tables, 41 Figures, 19 pages of great photos.

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