Sign in

Patrick Bresnihan

@pbresnihan.bsky.social
3.5K followers 514 following 1.5K posts

Lecturer Geography // political ecology, green transition // From the Bog to the Cloud. Dependency and Eco-modernity in Ireland (2025)

PostsRepliesMedia
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 7h
While tech CEOs distract with existential speculation to raise share value, AI militarism is making a killing. “Our idea is to combine engineers, startups and capital into one ecosystem so we can launch humanoid-like robots on the battlefield.” www.defensenews.com/unmanned/202...
defensenews.com
Ukraine’s former defense minister launches ‘Manhattan Project’ for killer robots
Mykhailo Fedorov told Defense News he wants humanoid-like robots on the battlefield within six months and an assault without infantry within a year.
010
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 10h
This sounds like a good thing.
100
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 12h
The arguments put forward here by Malcolm Byrne in support of further data centre development are the same we have heard since 2018 - ignoring not only the growing risks and costs but also the speculative, debt-fuelled nature of the current AI bubble. www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026...
irishtimes.com
Debate: Should we put a pause on data centre development? Lynn Boylan vs Malcolm Byrne
Our electricity grid is under pressure, leading to calls for a moratorium on data centres
141
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 13h
V good essay by @tomstevenson.bsky.social on the troubling blend of speculative war-fiction, war gaming, news reporting and political commentary that are, fundamentally, making the likelihood of all out war with Russia far more likely. www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
lrb.co.uk
Tom Stevenson · The Russians are coming
War-fi accounts accurately depict the frontier between Europe and Russia as being in an unstable equilibrium. But they...
020
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 15h
Yesterday, the CRU backed new measures for data centres because they pose an ‘urgent and serious risk’ to grid security with 'negative impacts on costs to consumers and decarbonisation.' And this is what @news.rte.ie runs with today. www.rte.ie/news/2026/10...
rte.ie
5% of Ireland job postings mention data centres - Indeed
Just under 5% of all job postings on the Indeed hiring platform now mention data centres, according to hiring platform Indeed.
185
Reposted by Patrick Bresnihan
Wendy Lyon @wendylyon.eurosky.social · 16h
Once again it needs to be stressed that this is something happening across the board in Irish immigration- changes in practice leading to refusals that would not have occurred in previous years. We are in a very dark time for the rights of people migrating to Ireland and their families.
412066
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 16h
Above all this is cruel, but it is also undemocratic. 'It seemed the refusal followed “a significant change in practice” by the Minister that came “out of the blue” and about which neither visa applicants nor universities here were informed.' www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/co...
irishtimes.com
Four students from Gaza challenge ‘irrational’ visa refusal to pursue studies
Court hears of ‘significant’ and ‘out of blue’ change of practice by Minister for Justice
0122
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 16h
"EirGrid is pausing elements of the work required to change operational policy which is necessary to integrate more renewables on the electricity system." CRU clearly stating that data centre demand on the grid is directing capacity away from decarbonisation (and cheaper household bills).
064
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
This is a significant move by the CRU and shows the risks of embedding data centres further into our grid. The response by the industry also highlights that tech companies are not 'good energy citizens' that will provide public services for free. 1/2 www.businesspost.ie/tech/irish-e...
businesspost.ie
Irish energy regulator: Data centres pose ‘urgent and serious risk’ to grid security
12015
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
25 yrs ago, Bertie's FF govnt presented the 'Triple Lock' as a promise to the Irish people that neutrality would be protected if they voted for Nice II. Now, Micheál Martin's F/FG govnt are trying to abolish it. This poster from the anti-Nice campaign saw the writing on the wall.
082
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Between the Houthis disrupting fossil fuel production and Cuba advancing solar energy transition (under extreme duress from US), anti-imperialist forces are leading on climate action.
2101
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
A new report from the Norwegian Technology Council makes the same arguments that Seán Fearon, Pat Brodie and I made in our recent report on data centre development in Ireland. www.nrk.no/vestfoldogte...
083
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Anthropic spent $12.6b in 2025, including $7.33b on compute (data centres), for revenue of $4.6b. It should be obvious to anyone now that AI is a hype and debt-fuelled speculative bubble. There is no market for the technology. F/FG: we need more data centres.
185
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Compare this to how one-off 'drone incidents' are treated as evidence of escalating hybrid warfare. "We cannot keep treating extreme events as one-off emergencies, simply repairing the damage while people continue to live in fear of the next major event." www.rte.ie/news/2026/09...
rte.ie
Ireland must prepare for climate extremes, CCAC warns
Ireland must stop treating floods, storms, droughts and extreme heat as individual emergencies and begin preparing systematically for a climate of increasingly severe extremes, the Climate Change Advi...
1149
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.
7144
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
In 2013, Micheál Martin said the Triple Lock was at the core of Irish neutrality. Now he says removing it is essential to our 'peacekeeping tradition'. He is twisting words to deceive the Irish people. www.irishexaminer.com/news/politic...
irishexaminer.com
Taoiseach says abolishing 'Triple Lock' is essential to retain peacekeeping tradition
The Government is pressing ahead with controversial legislation that would drop the requirement to get UN Security Council approval before sending peacekeeping troops abroad
0115
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Pope calls out EU militarisation. "Today we must ask whether we are truly making creative efforts to advance world peace, or whether we are simply seeking to 'stem the tide of war' and better prepare ourselves for wars that we assume are still to come." www.rte.ie/news/europe/...
rte.ie
Pope urges concessions for peace as Ukraine war drags on
Pope Leo has said ⁠that negotiators seeking to end war in Europe must be willing to sacrifice some positions to achieve peace, as efforts to end Russia's bloody war in Ukraine continue to fail.
040
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
The FAI responded to popular pressure by doing nothing except damage limitation. Just like the Irish government did with the OTB - dragging it out, avoiding decisive action, failing to provide any leadership, the antithesis of Gavin Bazunu. www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...
irishtimes.com
Ireland v Israel: Day of infamy exposes serious lack of leadership in FAI
Gavin Bazunu has been left brutally isolated as any semblance of squad unity has been utterly sundered
0151
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
A majority of people in Ireland want a moratorium on data centres. As community opposition to new developments intensifies and energy costs increase, this majority will only grow. The government will continue to call it NIMBYism and anti-tech populism. www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
irishtimes.com
How Ireland feels about data-centre construction revealed in new Irish Times poll
More than two-thirds of respondents say they support Ireland’s ‘current model of neutrality’
0146
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Love how despite relentless criticism of the Triple Lock, constant media talk about Ireland being a 'weak spot' in European defence, and biased polling questions, the Irish people continue to support the existing policy of neutrality. www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
irishtimes.com
Irish Government may face battle to remove triple lock as voters align with Opposition
Irish Times poll results suggest Irish public strongly backs ‘current model of neutrality’ but hasn’t definitely made its mind up
093
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
That this came down to a vote amongst the players (no doubt under strong pressure from the FAI), up to 7 players voted against playing the game, and yet it is still being played. Shambolic. And the 1 player who has withdrawn is a hero we need to protect. www.rte.ie/sport/soccer...
rte.ie
Ireland players vote to play against Israel - recap
The Republic of Ireland press conference will take place at 2.30pm after the squad spent the morning deliberating whether to fulfil tomorrow's UEFA Nations League game against Israel. Follow the lates...
01911
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
'When the true Gaza horror is revealed it will shame the world'. What does he even mean? The horror has been live streamed for nearly 3 years and he and his government have done nothing. Micheál Martin grandstanding on the UN stage is shameful. www.rte.ie/news/2026/09...
rte.ie
When true Gaza horror revealed 'it will shame the world'
When the true horrors of Gaza "are finally and fully revealed, it will shame the world", Micheál Martin has said in his New York address at the UN.
12011
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Reported just yesterday that Swiss tech company Eryce has bought a data centre site in Coleraine with the goal of developing it for AI. www.colerainechronicle.co.uk/news/2026/09...
colerainechronicle.co.uk
Tech firm buys data centre as part of major AI investment
A GLOBAL tech company has acquired Coleraine’s data centre as part a multi-million pound investment in AI. And the firm has plans to expand operations across acres of nearby vacant land at the data ce...
020
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Pat Brodie, @seanfearon.bsky.social and me on why the north must not follow the south in becoming a data centre haven. 'In an era of widespread social deprivation and ecological crises, we need a radical change in economic and industrial policy.' www.irishnews.com/opinion/stor...
irishnews.com
Stormont should change course and resist data centre gold rush
Irish academics Seán Fearon, Patrick Bresnihan and Patrick Brodie argue that the north must learn lessons from the south, where data centres now consume almost a quarter of the state’s electricity
031
Reposted by Patrick Bresnihan
Not Here Not Anywhere @nhna.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Taxpayers' money spent to justify ramming through data centre development contrary to public interest Who is The Government serving? Disturbing report by Seán Fearon, @pbresnihan.bsky.social & Patrick Brodie outlines what we've lost so far bit.ly/4jlJ5ak www.thejournal.ie/government-d...
thejournal.ie
Government report on data centres was 'flawed' and 'exaggerated', new research claims
The study also suggests that nearly 50,000 homes could have been built if the resources in the data centre build-out were directed elsewhere.
01311
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
This is effectively a cyber attack but also what big tech companies have basically been doing for years - taking data without obvious permission and using it to optimise their business models for profit. www.rte.ie/news/world/2...
rte.ie
Australia condemns 'unacceptable' rogue OpenAI hack
A rogue OpenAI model bypassed safeguards during training and hacked an Australian government website, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said as he admonished the ChatGPT creator over an "obviously unacc...
082
Reposted by Patrick Bresnihan
Maynooth University Social Sciences Institute (MUSSI) @mu-ssi.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
New report: How We All Pay for Big Tech examines the economic, social and environmental costs of data centre expansion in Ireland. By Seán Fearon, @pbresnihan.bsky.social & Patrick Brodie. Read more: bit.ly/4jlJ5ak #DataCentres #Research #Energy #DigitalInfrastructure
12920
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Myself, Seán Fearon and Pat Brodie have published a report today examining the exaggerated benefits and significant costs of data centres to Ireland. Below is a short thread on some of the key takeaways. Read the full report here: mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/id/eprint/21... 1/6
25040
Reposted by Patrick Bresnihan
Richard Chambers @newschambers.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Exclusive: New report says Ireland could have built 50,000 new homes over the five years of the data centre boom - and cannot “afford” to continue building. Authors called for a moratorium on new data centres - and have hit out at government comparisons painting them as “our German car industry.”
915177
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Construction capacity directed towards building data centres driven by speculative, debt-driven market demand, rather than socially-necessary housing and infrastructure projects. This is highly irrational allocation of resources can only be reversed by a progressive, green industrial strategy.
02714
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Latest poll on neutrality is full of the patronising, anti-neutrality bias the Irish public have become accustomed to. 8000 US troops passed through Shannon between Jan and March 2026 as the US waged illegal war on Iran. Of course a neutral Ireland should not be enabling this.
195
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Ireland has highest domestic electricity bills in Europe, directly linked to runaway growth in data centres since 2015. Ireland could be a world leader in clean energy, which would insulate us from energy price volatility. These are policy decisions. www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...
irishtimes.com
Households ‘put on the hook’ for cost of data centre expansion to electricity grid
Irish consumers pay disproportionately more for electricity than large data centres, report suggests
43117
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
It took 8 years for McEntee's F/FG government to pass a watered down version of the Occupied Territories Bill. They could have supported boycott of the Ireland-Israel football match, a potentially huge moment in the global cultural boycott campaign. Such hollow words. www.rte.ie/news/ireland...
rte.ie
'We are failing' - McEntee questions EU's Israel response
The Minister for Foreign Affairs has said the EU's credibility "is gone" regarding its response to the actions of the Israeli government in the occupied Palestinian territories.
01710
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
"Putting on the Irish jersey and representing your country means something. But the Ireland we want represented is the one that remembers its roots in anti-colonial and anti-imperial resistance, which Irish sport played a large part of."
063
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Typical EU response to fundamental contradiction between social and ecological costs of digital infrastructure and EU commitment to triple data centre capacity in seven years. Create an opaque certification system rating data centre efficiency. www.rte.ie/news/europe/...
rte.ie
EU proposes energy consumption rating for data centres
Data centres in Europe will be rated on energy and water consumption under an EU proposal put forward today to pre-empt possible public discontent as the bloc pushes to boost its computing capacity.
052
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
'The Wargame' is a new docudrama featuring former politicians acting as real politicians in a scenario where Britain is the victim of escalating Russian hybrid warfare. What is it called when our news feeds and tv shows become indistinguishable?
020
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
'In the later decades of the Cold War, despite Western fears of Soviet aggression, the risk of escalation leading to nuclear catastrophe produced a serious will to détente among Western establishments....It needs to be recovered, before it is too late.' newleftreview.org/sidecar/post...
newleftreview.org
Anatol Lieven, Mutual Delusion — Sidecar
The war in Ukraine.
020
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Excellent & important conversation w/ Rory Rowan on moves in EU to counter 'hybrid warfare'. Despite dangers to supposed liberal, democratic values (repressing dissent, censoring opposition), there is little public debate or pushback. @wereontheditch.bsky.social youtu.be/aP7jxmFuH_I?...
youtu.be
Ep 28: Is 'Hybrid Warfare' a Psy-Op? w Rory Rowan
YouTube video by The Ditch
020
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
F/FG claim they are committed to Irish neutrality while: - trying to change the only law that keeps Irish forces out of overseas conflicts - hosting a major US military logistics hub in Shannon - wanting to be part of the British-led Joint Expeditionary Force This is gaslighting.
062
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Politicians & MSM in Ireland have been talking about the proposal to admit Canada as 'associate member' of the EU as though it is happening. The real story is that von der Leyen announced it without member support. All works to further normalise the undemocratic nature of EU.
5186
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
This is a blow to the Government's 'energy parks' strategy, intended to co-locate data centres beside large wind/solar generation and relieve pressure on the Dublin region. They are running out of answers to runaway data centre growth. www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
irishtimes.com
Data centre opposed by author Sally Rooney has planning overturned on climate concerns
US firm had chosen Mayo because of electricity constraints around Dublin
1132
Reposted by Patrick Bresnihan
Róisín Moriarty @roisinmoriarty.com · 17/09/2026
Like the song says, if Ireland is willing to lead, then this could be the start of an all out football boycott, which would really be something but it needs to start somewhere #COYBIG martinleahy.bandcamp.com/album/dont-p...
062
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
We need to ride the Macklemore wave and get the match with Israel stopped. €1 will buy you Martin Leahy's song "Don't Play" (all funds to GazaGoBragh) and help it get to no. 1. It's at No.2 at the moment. We've only got until midnight today. martinleahy.bandcamp.com/track/dont-p...
martinleahy.bandcamp.com
Don't Play (feat Leen Maarouf and Brian Kerr), by Martin Leahy
from the album Don't Play (feat Leen Maarouf and Brian Kerr)
080
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Children dying in bomb-damaged buildings because they have nowhere else to shelter and the Irish government refuse visas to students from Gaza because they don't have the correct bank statements. Eternal shame on them. www.rte.ie/news/middle-...
rte.ie
At least 20 dead after Gaza apartment building collapses
Rescuers in Gaza searched through the ⁠wreckage of a bombed-out apartment building that collapsed overnight, killing at least 20 people, including children, and trapping dozens of others beneath the r...
0134
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Another clarifying essay on imperialism and anti-imperialist struggle today from Bikrum Gill. 'Amin makes a crucial point: if imperialism walks on two legs of military and economic power, anti-imperialism must also walk on two legs.' progressive.international/blueprint/a8...
progressive.international
Gill: Imperialism — Then and Now
Imperialism, the denial of sovereignty that underwrites global capitalism, is the primary contradiction.
001
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
'A territorial war of aggression is raging ‌on our continent. A ‌fight for industrial capacities is shaping ⁠global ‌competition. And a battle of narratives is seeking ⁠to weaken confidence in ⁠Europe.' - Ursula VdL Red in tooth and claw. www.rte.ie/news/europe/...
rte.ie
EU 'opening door' for Canada to become associate member
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said ⁠the European Union is opening the door for Canada to become the first associate member, a status that does not exist under the bloc's ‌trea...
021
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Who needs AI when you can just publish the same article over and over again (and never do any critical interrogation of the claims and context that is being reported on)? www.wsj.com/world/europe...
wsj.com
Russia’s Shadow Fleet Is Sailing in NATO’s Blind Spot: Irish Waters
A growing number of suspected Russian shadow fleet ships regularly ply waters near Ireland that hold many crucial undersea cables.
041
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
The Irish government is desperately trying to develop a defence industry to take advantage of EU defence spending that we fund through a common budget that is being diverted away from critical social need & climate adaptation towards preparation for war. www.thejournal.ie/defence-spen...
thejournal.ie
Ireland losing out financially as Europe ramps up defence spending, minister admits
Thomas Byrne said the Government is working to get more Irish firms involved in defence contracts, while insisting there is “literally zero pressure” on Ireland’s neutrality.
073
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
This shouldn't be behind a paywall because it should be covered by every national media outlet. Govt approved exports of dual-use goods to Israel at the height of the genocide despite officials raising serious concerns over military diversion. thecurrency.news/articles/236...
thecurrency.news
Irish officials flagged "high risk" before sign-off on dual-use exports to Israeli weapons industry - The Currency
The Government approved exports of military-capable dual-use goods to the Israeli weapons industry at the height of the country’s assault on Gaza despite officials raising serious concerns over milita...
0115
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Webinar with myself, Pat Brodie, Miriyam Aouragh and Mona Shtayya this Wednesday (16th) @tninstitute.bsky.social 'Considering how imperial digital infrastructures materialise and formulate across geographies and in local settings, from Ireland to Palestine.' www.tni.org/en/event/dig...
tni.org
Digital Fortresses Webinars | Transnational Institute
The Digital Fortresses Project is hosting a webinar series where we hope to learn from and with researchers and activists working on understanding and exposing digital infrastructures that underpin an...
052