Sign in

Patrick Bresnihan

@pbresnihan.bsky.social
3.5K followers 520 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 · 16h
Another example of Martin turning legitimate, public action into a 'threat to democracy'. "There doesn't need to be a picket, and I'm saying to all concerned, parliamentary democracy matters, and we shouldn't be just lightly chipping away at it." www.rte.ie/news/ireland...
rte.ie
'Dial it down', says Taoiseach over public sector strike
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has reiterated his opinion that upcoming public service strike action is unnecessary.
6144
Reposted by Patrick Bresnihan
Stephen McCarthy @misterjabsticks.eurosky.social · 20h
... the EPP resolution insists the EU should track down, boycott and cut off any EU funding or affiliation with bodies which use “the vocabulary of fundamental rights, inclusion, diversity, intercultural dialogue, anti-racism and the fight against discrimination.” How very Trump-like.
024
Reposted by Patrick Bresnihan
For Tech’s Sake @fortechssakepod.bsky.social · 20h
Ghost estate data centres, for spooky season 👻 Check out the full interview with @pbresnihan.bsky.social and Patrick Brodie about their recent report: 'How we all pay for Big Tech: The social, economic, and environmental costs costs of data centres in Ireland': podfollow.com/for-techs-sa...
022
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 21h
She actually has a more recent one on her substack which specifically discusses yesterday's EPP resolution (which was voted for by F/FG MEPs). shadaislam.substack.com/p/can-europe...
shadaislam.substack.com
Can Europe’s Witch-Hunt of Muslims Be Stopped Before Halloween?
The EU is engaging in doublespeak when it comes to relations with its European citizens. In an already polarised Europe, the contradictions must be sorted out before Halloween.
010
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 22h
After the US, the EU is moving in a similar, worrying direction re 'internal threats'. 'European democracy is hollowed out rather than reinforced when an entire religious or ethnic minority and its civil society are regarded as permanently suspect.' euobserver.com/232655/europ...
euobserver.com
Europe’s dangerous art of anti-Muslim doublespeak
"Of course, this isn’t against all Muslims," the EPP says reassuringly, only against those who practice "political Islam as an ideology." And of course it is not intended to be a "discriminatory enter...
032
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 23h
We rightly hear about democratic backsliding in the US but this is rarely covered in MSM when it comes to the EU. Yesterday, F/FG MEPs voted for this paranoid EPP resolution attacking Muslim civil society organisations, including @enareurope.bsky.social. www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/docume...
1146
Reposted by Patrick Bresnihan
For Tech’s Sake @fortechssakepod.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Patrick Brodie and @pbresnihan.bsky.social came on the pod to hash out how we should define data centres and therefore determine their place in society following their report: 'How we all pay for Big Tech'. ▶️ Listen here: pod.fo/e/69909e
022
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
@foeireland.bsky.social have been doing great work for years now to stop the toxic expansion of data centres in Ireland. November 7th is the first national demo calling for a moratorium. Remember, data centres don't bring long term jobs, development or 'digital innovation'.
0176
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
When we talk about data centre expansion representing an 'irrational allocation of resources' (@iliasalami.bsky.social), this is what we are talking about. When there are severe deficits in social infrastructure, construction capacity should not be funnelled into speculative AI.
03715
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
'Money for learning not killing.' Heartening to see mass movements across Spain and France objecting to worsening material conditions that name the catastrophic policies and class interests responsible, rather than scapegoating the vulnerable.
000
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Don't read Fintan O'Toole who relies on lazy, anti-republican tropes and superficial 'two-sides = analysis'. Read Eamonn McCann who knows what he is talking about and explains why Drumcree is about the deeply sectarian Orange Order, not 'two sides'. rebelnews.ie/2026/10/02/g...
5185
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Good that the @irishexaminer.bsky.social ran with an image of Micheál Martin telling the UN that 'the situation in Gaza remains an affront to all that is decent.' It is within his power to intervene with Jim O’Callaghan, to grant the Gaza students' visas. www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
irishexaminer.com
Gazan students’ visas must be granted before it is too late
A group of leading Irish academics write that the mass refusal of visas to Palestinian students makes a mockery of the Taoiseach’s speech to the UN General Assembly
062
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
There is nothing new here. EU and member state politicians have been pushing militarisation openly and aggressively for months. The question is: where are the progressive forces opposing this catastrophic trajectory? www.irishtimes.com/world/europe...
irishtimes.com
Europe rearms: files reveal extent of plans for a new ‘defence union’
Documents show capitals encouraged moves towards common ‘European defence culture’ and closer Nato cooperation
062
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Pat Leahy (and other anti-republican, southern commentators) are so detached from a powerful new all-island political culture - growing through the Irish language & music revival, the Connolly campaign, housing & environment movements, and Palestine solidarity.
44311
Reposted by Patrick Bresnihan
Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
We have nearly 1500 names now. Last day to sign
36434
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
By failing to implement strategic policies that reflect the gravity of the situation (i.e. moratorium), the government are outsourcing responsibility to Eirgrid for managing runaway data centre development. Burying their heads in the sand, again. thecurrency.news/articles/240...
thecurrency.news
Data centre power demand hits 1,000MW blackout risk safety threshold - The Currency
The daily peak power demand from data centres hit 1,000 MW in June, reaching the operational safety threshold beyond which a sudden drop in demand risks triggering a system blackout.  The breach of th...
060
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
'Governments speak of “security,” “stability,” and “freedom of navigation.” But the truth is different. Behind these words lie the rivalries over the control of energy routes, trade routes, ports, raw materials and markets.' progressive.international/wire/2026-09...
progressive.international
Istanbul Declaration: "Dockworkers will not become a link in the chain of their wars!"
Dockworkers' unions from over 35 ports across Europe and the Mediterranean declare their refusal to handle weapons and military cargo.
030
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
“There is an unignorable irony in the fact that Ireland intervened in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the ICJ, but cannot recognise the issues that a genocide would pose for students providing original documents in a visa application.” www.middleeasteye.net/news/gaza-st...
middleeasteye.net
Gaza students take Ireland to court over visa refusals
A legal team says the justice minister's decision is irrational and discriminatory, with 26 more cases in the pipeline
083
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Whatever the agenda of all these right wing grifters and extreme centrists attacking Irish people's solidarity with Palestine and opposition to genocide, it all boils down to wanting to be part of white, western empire - they existed under British imperialism and they exist now.
1213037
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
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.
020
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
This sounds like a good thing.
100
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
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 · 01/10/2026
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...
041
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
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 · 01/10/2026
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.
412767
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
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 · 01/10/2026
"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
The CRU ruling also states unequivocally that Eirgrid's efforts to accommodate data centre growth on the grid "have direct negative impacts on costs to consumers and in relation to Ireland’s renewable targets." 2/2 cruie-live-96ca64acab2247eca8a850a7e54b-5b34f62.divio-media.com/documents/Gr...
077
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.
6144
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
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
You might want to read it first! Thanks Lisa
010
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
And here is an op-ed we wrote for the @irishexaminer.bsky.social 6/6 www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
irishexaminer.com
Households are paying the price for energy-guzzling data centres
Data centres increased wholesale electricity costs in Ireland by €360 for the average household between 2015 and 2023
073
Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Data centre development represents a significant opportunity cost: capital and labour allocated to data centres means it is not allocated to building socially-necessary infrastructure like housing. Between 2019-2024, capital allocated to DCs could have built 50,000 homes. 5/6
184