iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

All the best with this, Mike. I love your writing, always look forward to reading the blog.

Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

It was great to listen to @tomflood.bsky.social ‘s talk on communications and road safety in TCD last night. And I have a letter in the Irish Times today which shines a light on how careless driving is just kinda accepted.

Letter to the THE IRISH TIMES.
Sir, - Seán Canney, the Minister of State with responsibility for road safety, stated at an informal meeting of EU transport ministers in Dublin Castle on Monday that "99 per cent of the people on the roads drive with due care".
May I ask where these roads are? Because they sound idyllic - perfect for cycling my primary-school children to school.
In contrast, on our 2km commute this morning, I counted 11 cars in the bus lane, seven drivers looking at their phones in traffic, one woman putting on her make-up and another eating her breakfast. And at least five drivers speeding at least 20km/h or more over the speed limit. - Yours, etc,
NICK ROYLE, Blackrock,
Dublin.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

I’ve always liked Gerald Kaufman’s observation that ‘“Harold Wilson is the only man I know who deliberately acquired a sense of humour’. He says Wilson was an extraordinarily dull speaker early in his career.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

5 hours on the plane. That’s nuts!

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Reminds me of the old joke, which I suspect might be my epitaph. ‘He died doing what he loved - walking into the road, shouting: ‘Pedestrians have right of way.’”

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

That’s a really strange way to frame it. The Greens were incredibly effective in getting meaningful legislation through. Independent Ireland have acknowledged they’ve followed the Green playbook to try and do similar now they’re in government.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Oh yes. That’s a nightmare. The pressure. When you need to chuck the eggs in the middle of the bag because there’s no space to put them while you fill the bag to the top, then place the eggs on top. I feel your pain.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

You need to press the ‘own bag’ button, then put your bag(s) on the scales. The scale recalibrates and then you put your shopping directly into the bags. And this revelation will change your life…

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

One thing I don’t understand is why the UK is so bad at communicating its success at moving towards renewables. It’s an easy win to counter Reform/Daily Mail by hammering home that it’s creating well-paid jobs, and it’s making the UK less vulnerable to Putin/Iran etc.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

I’d argue the UK’s incredible success in adopting renewable energy is because successive governments (Coalition, Tory and now Labour) followed a continuity of policy that encouraged businesses to invest. Allowing limited oil exploration dilutes the message, and takes the focus away from renewables.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

I've just looked and there are a few questions which include road safety measures. Maybe they added them in after you complained!

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

I was lucky enough to see it at its formative stage, at the Southwark theatre. It was a show where every audience member came out, knowing this was going to be massive. Theatrical equivalent of seeing Arcade Fire at the Electric Picnic in 2005.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

The DJ at Croke Park is having a blinder following Mayo’s win. ‘To Win Just Once’ by the Saw Doctors followed by “Dog Days Are Over” by Florence and the Machine.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

‘To Win Just Once’ by the Saw Doctors over the Croke Park tannoy. What a song!

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

I did actually mean to put in a timeframe there, and limit it to after 1970. Because I’d argue Roy Jenkins as Home Secretary was also far reaching, and in Jenkins’ case stretching the electorate and his own party to effect change.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

He’s genuinely the most consequential and successful UK minister ever. A lot of that comes down to institutional memory (he did the job under Brown) and because Conservative governments have also worked towards Net Zero since 2010. Businesses have invested because of political consistency.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

No one has answered this but I think it is a record. Michael Foot was elected in 1945 and became a Cabinet Minister for the first time in 1974. But he wasn’t in the Commons between 1955 and 1960.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Road deaths are preventable, but the political class are unwilling to takes the measures needed. The usual woke, green,pro-cyclist agenda from (checks notes)…former motor racing boss Jean Todt.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

‘Joe Hart….Joe Harrrrrt…’ Ken has been spot on about England this World Cup, looking forward to hearing it. The only downside is Atlanta actually feed the journalists at the game. A rant from a tired, homesick *and* hungry Ken would be even better…

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

I think Ben Stokes retiring mid-match in a live Test series is unbelievably self-indulgent. This match and series was completely winnable, but sacrificed to his ego. I can’t believe he’s getting such a soft interview on Sky Sports.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Incredible series win for Ireland’s men’s cricketers against world T20 champions India. With the women’s T20 World Cup win against WI yesterday, new Cricket Ireland CEO Sarah Keane must think this is the cushiest job in sport!

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

The bus service has been revamped by @humantransit.bsky.social. The bus service has gone from mediocre to good (and will be excellent when the full design is implemented). By a Visitor Leap Card, and enjoy 90 mins of bus, tram and train travel for €2.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

It is. I joined the Bologna membership scheme a few years ago to avail of the cheap tickets. I ended up qualifying for a Coppa Italia final ticket last year. An amazing evening.

Bologna football supporters at the 2025 Coppa Italia final in Rome.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

I often go to Bologna to watch the football. It’s great they pedestrianise Via dell'Indipendenza at weekends too.

Bologna’s vehicle-free Via dell'Indipendenza at night.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

This is a great piece by Mike Whalley. It’s like Dunphy’s ‘Only a Game’, but from the perspective of the journalist. Press huddles outside lower league dressing rooms, you can almost smell the liniment.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

This an excellent piece on how the UK (under both the Tories and Labour) have created a coherent and impressive clean energy policy.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Just catching on SNL UK episodes. The musical guest, Meek, blew me away. Kate Bush, Freddie Mercury and Adele all in one performance. She’s playing Dublin Academy on November 17. m.youtube.com/watch?v=JtQ9...

m.youtube.com

MEEK: Fabulous | SNL UK

YouTube video by Saturday Night Live UK

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

I genuinely bristle every time he interrupts Marina Hyde mid-sentence. One day I will count up the number of interruptions per podcast. I do think he’s interesting, but really dislike his dominating every conversation.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Can’t make it to Belfast, but hope you have a great four days. I imagine shorts will be the outfit of choice this week! Say hi to everyone from me.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Also, Farage is a Politically Exposed Person (PEP) so the solicitors/ estate agents/ banks should have flagged this up at the time. www.lawsociety.org.uk/topics/anti-...

lawsociety.org.uk

Politically exposed persons

Advice on identifying and working with politically exposed persons.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

I used to read the Times’ comments on QL’s parliamentary sketch. Never the sketch itself, just the comments. Even after four years, Times readers were still commenting about how bad he was and how the paper should never have replaced Patrick Kidd. The Times readers hated his writing style.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Happy birthday, Margaret Calvert. She designed the “School children crossing”sign, and purposely placed the girl in front as a small feminist gesture.

Margaret Calvert’s ‘School children crossing’ sign, with the girl leading the boy as a small feminist gesture.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

This is a magnificent match report/reaction piece by Miguel on West Ham 0-1 Arsenal. Snappy opening line, the pointed joke in para 2, then a really impressive overview.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Excellent write-up, Miguel. That’s a corker of an opening line.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

It’s genuinely impressive that so many people saw @daraobriain.bsky.social’s Re-Creation tour and all independently decided not to spoil the show for others by keeping quiet about the INCREDIBLE reveal 3/4 of the way through. It’s now on Amazon Prime, if you want to see it.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Another cyclist killed in Lymm, just down the road from Stretford, last week. It’s so depressing that UK and Ireland just collectively shrug with indifference at all these road deaths. (My 9 y o arrived home safely, thankfully)

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Today, for the first time, I’m letting my nine year old cycle a short distance on his own along a protected cycle lane. I’m going to be a bag of nerves until he returns. I’m thinking of Greta today, and all victims of road traffic collisions.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

I watched ‘Eternity’ recently, and I really enjoyed it. Though, I was not expecting so many jokes about the Korean War!

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

I will. It’s a premium product, at a very competitive price. And the money will go to the club.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

It probably won’t help with this, but do download FixBot to get advice on any thing that goes wrong in your house. You can take a picture and a brief description of what’s wrong. And it provides proper answers. This is what o want from AI! www.ifixit.com/go/fixbot

ifixit.com

Meet FixBot Your AI Repair Helper

Get hands-free guidance, visual analysis, and instant access to the world's repair knowledge.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

That’s not just wrong - it’s criminal.

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Reposted by Nick Royle

Kevin Hargaden @kevinhargaden.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Cycled in the city centre this morning and now my attitude to the Fuel Blockade has changed entirely. I love what they're doing and it should continue. Made it down to TCD in rapid time with zero threat of close passing. These guys make cycling irresistible

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

It's great. And yet hardly anyone knows about it. It really hasn't been publicised properly. I remember being a bit suspicious when it routed me along seemingly busy roads in Sandyford, but actually there were properly segregated cycle lanes running alongside. Stay safe!

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

One interesting side effect of the Dublin city centre fuel protest was the number of gardai patrolling the roads. It meant no cars went into the bus/cycle lane at all, and made my bike journey a lot more relaxed. Thank you, fuel protesters!

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Download the Dublin Cycling Buddy app. It’s a DCC initiative- maps the route using quiet streets or streets with protected cycle lanes. dublincyclingbuddy.com

dublincyclingbuddy.com

Dublin Cycling Buddy App the safer way to navigate Dublin

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

Barry's Tea GOLD...someone has notions...

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Was it Dougal from the Magic Roundabout?

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

It is - lots of good jokes for the grown-ups. TV series far funnier than the books they're based on.

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Nick Royle @nickaroyle.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Just listening now. It was brilliant. He really made it come alive for the listener. I loved how both he and McCarthy are still annoyed about losing in Iran.

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