iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Phelim Birch

RTÉ News @news.rte.ie · 29/09/2026

A new language tool that allows non-verbal children to communicate in the Irish language is being made freely available online

rte.ie

New Irish language tool to help non-verbal children

A new language tool that allows non-verbal children to communicate in the Irish language is being made freely available online.

1329

Reposted by Phelim Birch

UK Parliamentary Constituencies (since 1885) @parlconst.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Harold Wilson was President of the Royal Statistical Society in 1972-73. I once asked a quiz question (in a round of people named Wilson) "J H Wilson was President of the RSS in 1972-73. He was more famous for a job he held either side of this role. What was it?" Surprisingly few people got it.

012

Phelim Birch @phelimbirch.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Lowkey embarrassed that I'm only now finding out about Garret FitzGerald's distinguished career as a statistician. I read a fascinating paper a couple years ago that he seemingly worked on during his campaign season(s) of 1982 and his time serving as Taoiseach

ESTIMATES FOR BARONIES OF MINIMUM LEVEL OF IRISH-SPEAKING AMONGST SUCCESSIVE DECENNIAL COHORTS: 1771-1781 TO 1861-1871

By Garret FitzGerald, M.R.I.A.

[Received after revision 4 October 1983. Read 30 November 1983. Published 13 July 1984.]

ABSTRACT
The object of this paper is to establish an approximate minimum level of Irish-speaking in respect of successive new generations of young people in different parts of Ireland (the geographical unit employed being the barony) from around 1770 to 1870. The age-group tables for Irish-speaking in the 1881 census are the principal source of data, and similar data from the less satisfactory 1851 and 1861 censuses
are also used. The validity of the methodology is discussed. The pattern of decline and survival of Irish in different parts of the island is considered and further possibilities for work in this area are suggested.

(Extract from the RIA's Dictionary of Irish Biography)

FitzGerald privately admitted that he was ill at ease with the populist aspects of Irish politics, preferring intelligent conversation to the loud music characteristic of late-night party social events, and finding relief from the razzmatazz of campaigning in calculating the rate of decline of the Irish language during the nineteenth century. (This research was subsequently published in Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy).

120

Reposted by Phelim Birch

Jay Foreman @jayforeman.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

New #MapMen episode!!! 🗺️ How many languages are there in the world? And can you put them all on one map? (No.) youtu.be/hX21ctsGhNc Share and enjoy!

youtu.be

Why a Language Map of the World is Impossible

YouTube video by Map Men

1128160

Phelim Birch @phelimbirch.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Getting a perfect Redactle score is easily in my top 5 accomplishments

Today's three-word Redactle solved in 3 guesses

001

Reposted by Phelim Birch

Tony - Pod Guy - Groves @tonygroves.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

If an Irish newspaper doesn’t run a “Senior Orangeman Calls For A United Ireland” headline, then the newspapers are dead.

7566163

Reposted by Phelim Birch

Gavan Reilly @gavreilly.com · 10/09/2026

Only 71,850 people have registered to vote in the new Higher Education constituency for the Seanad, despite a potential electorate of between 800,000 and 1,000,000 graduates. The unified 6-seater is open to graduates of over 80 higher level institutions, not just the historic TCD and NUI.

237170

Phelim Birch @phelimbirch.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Comically absurd segregation barrier that makes the real issue at hand glaringly obvious

Peadar Tóibín TD

Aontú is working on a Bill seeking a rudimentary knowledge of the Irish language for those applying for Irish citizenship.

Irish is our first language. Its an enormous part of our heritage & identity.

Its important that new citizens have respect for Irish values & culture.

DÁIL ÉIREANN

[AN BILLE UM NÁISIÚNACHT AGUS SAORÁNACHT ÉIREANN (LEASÚ), 20XX]
[BILLE DÁLA]

[IRISH NATIONALITY AND CITIZENSHIP (AMENDMENT) BILL 20XX]
[DÁIL BILL]

Leasú maidir le Riachtanas Eolais ar an nGaeilge
Irish Language Knowledge Requirement Amendment

[The page and line references in this amendment are to the text of the Bill as initiated / as amended in Committee, as appropriate.]

"Basic Irish language test.

15F.—(1) A certificate of naturalisation shall not be granted to an applicant who is aged 18 years or over under section 15, 15A or 16 unless the applicant has passed, in accordance with this section, a basic Irish language test.

(2) The basic Irish language test shall be free of charge and shall be made available in a reasonable and accessible manner.

(3) The test shall be a short oral assessment designed only to ascertain whether the applicant can—

1. state, in Irish, the official Irish name of the town, city or village and county in which the applicant ordinarily resides;
2. state, in Irish, the names of Baile Átha Cliath, Corcaigh, Luinmeach, Gaillimh and Port Láirge
3. count in Irish from one to 10; and
4. understand and use appropriately in context the expressions 'Sláinte', 'Fáilte', 'Go raibh maith agat' and 'le do thoil'.

000

Reposted by Phelim Birch

Gavan Reilly @gavreilly.com · 03/09/2026

“WELCOME BACK TO day six of our coverage of Election 2049. Let’s go straight to the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght, and the count in Dublin South West, where the marathon count to fill the ninth and tenth seats is nearing completion…” It could happen, you know, if nobody calls a referendum:

thejournal.ie

Gavan Reilly: 7.8 million people and 260 TDs by 2049? How Ireland's population surge affects the Dáil

Ireland now has 5.53 million people, and extrapolating some of the data puts us on course for almost 7.8 million by 2049, bringing the constitutional link between population and TD numbers into sharper focus.

4175

Phelim Birch @phelimbirch.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Oh to be young and doing Tayto research

Reddit post from r/AskIreland

does the tayto emoji app still exist?

hi im not irish nor do i live in ireland
but i really love taytos

i was doing tayto research and found out that there was a tayto emoji app back in 2016

apparently its only available in ireland or something (sorry i have bad memory i did search alot though)

does anyone know if it still exists though i dont think it would be around nowadays but im just a bit curious

thank you
(this is really serious please im so passionate)

110

Phelim Birch @phelimbirch.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Just put up a map of Northern Ireland's District Electoral Divisions at the time of partition (i.e. before they were gerrymandered in 1923) on civgraph.net This may be of interest to those looking to create maps of hypothetical 32-county Dáil constituencies #speirgorm

A map of Northern Ireland's 03/05/1921 District Electoral Divisions on Civgraph

010

Phelim Birch @phelimbirch.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Productive day at the NLI today. Expect a flood of DED maps in the near future

010

Reposted by Phelim Birch

Bruno Dias @brunodias.dev · 21/08/2026

I am becoming incredibly exhausted of this pattern: many people: "AI sucks!" Very Smart Person: ah but have you considered (distinct application of ML or statistical modeling that has no real relationship to what the tech industry is marketing as, and people broadly perceive as, "AI")

6438461144

Reposted by Phelim Birch

crimes new roman @crimesnewroman.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

the irish have suffered enough warcrimes already

2236

Reposted by Phelim Birch

Lara ~ Making BIBDU @bibdu.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

HAND PAINTED IRISH MYTHOLOGY DECKBUILDER RPG INDIE GAME !!! Enough said? 😎 For exclusive rewards, preorder Bibdu on Kickstarter now! www.kickstarter.com/projects/rat... #indiedev #gamedev #irishgame #cosygame #handdrawn #irish #gaeilge

Text saying Bibdu Irish mythology game 24 hours left to back on kickstarter for exclusive rewards, with a handpainted background of tall thin trees in a watercolour style

33317

Reposted by Phelim Birch

Jack Russell @jackru.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Bizarrely, Ulster Scots receives greater support from voters of both nationalist parties than from UUP voters, 41% of whom oppose measures to promote it.

A split bar plot showing the strength of support for measures to promote Ulster Scots amongst supporters of Stormont's five main parties.

121

Phelim Birch @phelimbirch.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

This looks great. Had the pleasure of visiting the Dún Laoghaire LexIcon library last year and I'm glad to see it getting a worthy equivalent in the city centre

100

Phelim Birch @phelimbirch.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

New DED/ward maps on civgraph.net 1944 (Waterford extension) 1943 (Howth ward established) 1942 (Crumlin ward extension) 1941 (Dublin extension) 1936 (Dublin ward reform) 1931 (Dublin extension) We now have a full set of DED/ward maps from 1921 to present day 🥳

List of Civgraph's electoral division maps for the 26 counties

100

Phelim Birch @phelimbirch.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

New local authority maps now on civgraph.net 1927 (Donegal rename reversion) 1921 (Partition) 1920 (Laois, Offaly, Donegal renaming) 1915 (County Antrim extension via Portrush)

List of pre-partition local authority maps on Civgraph

New post-partition local authority maps available on Civgraph

000

Reposted by Phelim Birch

Rob Jacques @knutcrosswords.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

UEFA spokesperson Dietmar Fumm said to reporters "This decision effectively signals that Gianni Infantino is an enemy of world football". tl;dr: FIFA "foe" - Fumm

401700437

Phelim Birch @phelimbirch.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Reading through the profoundly sad in hindsight 1920s Irish Department of Education reports

This order was followed by the issue of a circular in April, 1922, which in announcing the adoption for National schools of the National Conference Programme, described in the previous chapter, outlined clearly the wishes and aims of the new Government in the matter of elementary education on Saorstát Éireann with particular reference to the teaching of Irish and the use of the language in the teaching of the other subjects of the programme. As a result of these steps Irish is now not only a subject in all schools but a medium of instruction in an increasing number.

The Summer Courses are only a transitional method of dealing with the situation until the Training Colleges have trained every teacher thoroughly in Irish. For this latter purpose Irish has been made an essential subject of the programme for candidates for entrance to the Training Colleges, and for the students in training.

Summer Courses - The Department continued to subsidise Summer Courses in Irish, and in the teaching of Secondary School subjects through the medium of Irish, which were organised by the three Colleges of the National University, and by other educational bodies. The number of teachers who availed themselves of these courses fell from 359 in 1925 to 299 in 1927. It is true that attendances at lectures during the month of July makes a heavy demand on the energy of teachers, tired after a hard year's work.

While there is now no Secondary School recognised by the Department of Education in which Irish is not being taught, there is a considerable number of schools which, although teaching the language itself efficiently, confine its use and practice to the actual Irish lesson, neither using it as a medium of instruction for other subjects nor allowing it any part in the general life of the school. In that case, it is not to be wondered at if the pupils, in after life, cling to the habit they have acquired at school, and feel that Irish is a language to be spoken only on special occasions. Such pupils are bound, through want of practice, to forget gradually whatever Irish they have learned.

220

Phelim Birch @phelimbirch.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Just realised I haven't shared citizendata.ie here yet. It's a collection of 60+ mostly citizen run websites (Civgraph being one) that cover everything from Oireachtas votes to bus locations to lobbying. Really cool to see what other people in this space have put together #speirgorm

citizendata.ie

Citizen Data

A curated directory of Irish civic tech tools, platforms, and initiatives that empower citizens and strengthen democratic participation across Ireland.

0105

Phelim Birch @phelimbirch.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Nirvanna an Banna an Clár an Scannán

000

Phelim Birch @phelimbirch.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Found this neat interactive Irish speakers by county site on Reddit yesterday (and promptly sent on my Northern Ireland dataset to complete the map) #speirgorm

acoci86.github.io

Reported ability to speak Irish

100

Phelim Birch @phelimbirch.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

I've now finished digitising the 1947 Dáil constituencies! These were used in the 1948, 1951, 1954 and 1957 elections. civgraph.net#layers=dail-... #speirgorm

151

Phelim Birch @phelimbirch.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Prior to 1946 Dublin had a pretty long streak of defining its wards using its already existing wards. Took me a while to track all this down

Spreadsheet showing where Dublin's 1936 wards are derived from

020

Reposted by Phelim Birch

Oliver Moran 🌻🇮🇪🇪🇺 @oliver.ie · 15/07/2026

This is going to break the first time five people hit it at once — but here's a thing I made to fight ghost buses in Cork. Data is from the NTA, so you can actually see where your bus is instead of just hoping 🤞 it's on its way. Feedback welcome — particularly, if you find it useful.

realtime.prototype.website

Ghost Buster

Who ya gonna call? Ghost Buster! Never get ghosted by a bus again. Real-time tracking busts those invisible buses that should be there but aren't.

12010

Reposted by Phelim Birch

Lara ~ Making BIBDU @bibdu.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

WE ARE LIVE! Check out our trailer over on the Kickstarter page! #indiedev #gamedev #handdrawn

53820

Reposted by Phelim Birch

Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

🔴 NEW: Reform Wrongly Claims In Scotland That Party’s Elections Language Ban ‘Would Not Apply To Gaelic’ By @josiahmortimer.bsky.social Nigel Farage's party hit by outrage after Byline Times revealed its plans would mean candidates being jailed for up to six… Read the full story below.

bylinetimes.com

Reform Wrongly Claims In Scotland That Party’s Elections Language Ban ‘Would Not Apply To Gaelic’

Nigel Farage's party hit by outrage after Byline Times revealed its plans would mean candidates being jailed for up to six months for using Gaelic, Irish or Cornish on election leaflets

66716

Phelim Birch @phelimbirch.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

I doubt the Celts are the intended target here but it really says a lot that their apparent absence in the fascist mind has resulted in this by-product

000

Reposted by Phelim Birch

Ciara | Ciaraíoch 🎨 @ciaraioch.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

With the current political conversation of our Anglosphere neighbours being Trump on our left and Count Binface on our right, there's never been a more urgent need for the Irish population of social media to relearn an Gaeilge and unlearn English entirely, for our collective sanity

49918

Phelim Birch @phelimbirch.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Currently transcribing Dublin's 1946 ward descriptions (example on left). I'm amused by the decision in 1954 to make that year's descriptions (example on right) more wordy

100

Reposted by Phelim Birch

UK Parliamentary Constituencies (since 1885) @parlconst.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

When the parlconst website was in development there used to be a regular series of Bluesky posts (or Tweets as they once were) about the area covered by a newly published page. It's time to start something similar again, but it will be a bit different this time.

parlconst.org

UK Parliamentary Constituencies

This website provides information on the changing composition of parliamentary constituencies in the United Kingdom since 1885. Have you ever wanted to know at a glance: How constituencies created at...

162

Reposted by Phelim Birch

Hannah Daly @hannahdaly.ie · 07/07/2026

The CSO has released data on metered electricity consumption for 2025. The extraordinary headline figures: - Electricity consumption from data centres grew by nearly 10% last year, and now accounts for 23% of Ireland's electricity demand.

7263182

Phelim Birch @phelimbirch.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Civgraph has just launched Independent PRONI Search, an improved version of the Public Record Office NI's online catalogue. civgraph.net/proni #speirgorm

112

Phelim Birch @phelimbirch.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

This is really cool. Crazy how different the Cork boundaries are to reality

Proposed Cork electoral boundaries from the study

Proposed midland county boundaries from the study

000

Reposted by Phelim Birch

🌎🐎John Hyphen🎮🤠 @johnhyphen.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

if terrorists killed this many people, we would see international condemnation, world leaders arm-in-arm in solidarity, pledges and money to stop more attacks and bring perpetrators to justice instead, oil and gas companies can kill these people and just keep getting richer with government approval

513261

Reposted by Phelim Birch

President of Ireland @president.ie · 24/06/2026

Chuir an tUachtarán Connolly fáilte roimh Chéad-Aire na Breataine Bige, Rhun ap Iorwerth, chuig Áras an Uachtaráin inniu. ~~~ President Connolly received the First Minister of Wales, Rhun ap Iorwerth, to Áras an Uachtaráin today.

0152

Phelim Birch @phelimbirch.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Three more sets of digitised Dáil constituency maps now available on civgraph.net 1969 (used in 1969 and 1973 elections) 1961 (used in 1961 and 1965 elections) 1959 (deemed unconstitutional, never used) #speirgorm

010

Reposted by Phelim Birch

Daryl Feehely @darylfeehely.com · 19/06/2026

This is an insane story. There were no security checks on the video APIs for all match & data streams! 😱 This guy was able to access everything & could have stopped the live stream that feeds every TV channel. bobdahacker.com/blog/fifa-ha...