iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

I’m late to the #WidowsBay party. My god, it’s brilliant! Just finished Ep 4. Please give Kate O’Brien all of the awards.

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Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

There’s something amiss in seeing #CultureNight posters that are AI-generated 🤔

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Silicon Republic @siliconrepublic.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

"Clothing plays a vital role in everyday comfort and wellbeing, yet the sensory needs of autistic children are often overlooked," says SETU PhD researcher Syeda Maryam Hussain.

siliconrepublic.com

This SETU expert studies sensory-friendly clothes for autistic children

Syeda Maryam Hussain joined SETU's Walton Institute as a PhD researcher focusing on textile design and functional garment development.

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Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

I don’t care if it’s the obvious choice, but ‘Jolene’ is a total banger. Dolly Parton, a legend. RIP youtu.be/CPr0IpYzNv8

youtu.be

Dolly Parton - Jolene (1973)

YouTube video by Dolly Parton HD

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Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Make a band bigger: The Rolling Cairns

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Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

10/10 for @patrickfreyne.bsky.social’s review of Reacher and Lanterns in today’s @irishtimes.com “The point is watching Reacher eat junk food … and for us to then gleefully shout “Kill ’em, Reacher!” as the violent wall of beef assaults goons. www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-r...

irishtimes.com

This Jack Reacher could carry Tom Cruise around in a BabyBjörn. He should

Alan Ritchson moves down streets like an annoyed wall of beef in the new Prime Video series

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Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Nerd alert! Visited the British Science Museum today and sought out the replica of Charles Babbage’s Difference Engine. A computation machine designed in the 1800s but never built until the late 20th century - and yes, it works. It reinforces the truth that most “new” ideas are modified “old” ideas.

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WWN @waterfordwhispers.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Slow Runners Sent To Meat Factory, 62 Times More Funding; If Irish Athletics Was Treated Like Racehorse Industry waterfordwhispersnews.com/2024/06/1…

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Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Irish medal wins are rare events. To see TWO within twenty minutes is something else entirely!! Absolutely amazing to be in Birmingham for Mark English’s Gold and Rhasidat Adeleke’s silver. Legends #Birmingham26

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Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

That’s some run from Mark English! Breaking a championship record that has held since 1978 too (I think!!) #Birmingham2026

Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Cat Dowling created amazing music. Whether it’s with Alphastates, Bablefish, solo or collaborating with others. Gone too soon. RIP www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...

irishtimes.com

Singer-songwriter Cat Dowling dies aged 54

Dowling enjoyed success for more than two decades in the Irish music scene

Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Downplay a book or movie: The “grand” Gatsby

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Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

I am genuinely floored by the news of Glen Hansard’s death. I’ve always loved his music and in many ways grew up with it. RIP. www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...

irishtimes.com

Oscar-winning musician and actor Glen Hansard dies in Dublin motorbike crash

Singer found fame after starring in The Commitments and with his band The Frames

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GylesNaMopaleen @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

the last 2 minutes commentary by Midwest radio, based in County Mayo. Absolute Quality. #speirgorm Context for those not familiar: Mayo have lost 11 finals in the last 75 years and weren't expected to beat Kerry today in a spectacular final at Croke Park.

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Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Heads up America - you’re about to experience a Botox shortage. There won’t be a gram made in Westport this week! #KERvMAY

Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Mucking about with the ukulele in the garden on a sunny day. Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got a Friend In Me” from Toy Story

Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Is this all being engineered so Infantino can get a photo of himself and Trump with Messi and the World Cup??

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Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

I wonder if the future of music is acoustic and full of dirt under the fingernails?

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Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Saw #TheOdyssey with the full family today. Every single one of us - from age 48 down to 10 - loved it. What a spectacle, full of big visuals and big ideas. The 10 year old is a big Greek myth but and says it’s true to Homer’s source material - so there you go.

Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

“You can’t always get what you want”

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Ipsos in the UK @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Clacton faces the ultimate choice 🗑️ 33% of Brits would prefer Count Binface to win the by-election in Clacton, while 21% would prefer Farage to win.

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Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

It’s that time of year again. The CONTENT you’ve all been waiting for! #content #powerwashporn

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Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Greetings, followers of my reader! This is Cory Doctorow @doctorow.pluralistic.net writing to you, and your friend has finished reading my excellent 2025 book, Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It, available at finer (+ not so fine) bookstores everywhere

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Sheryl Weikal says Prosecute ICE @leftistlawyer.com · 02/07/2026

Today is the one thousandth day of the genocide in Occupied Palestine.

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Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Another magical night in Luca Records #Waterford with #SOAK and #EoinDalton providing beautiful music. So lucky to be there!

Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

A blistering night in the @3arena.bsky.social getting to finally witness the full majesty of #Robyn unleashed on the stage! Synthpop heaven! And getting to be there with Jenny was just magic.

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Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

I have one unread notification in Teams and I cannot find it. Been all over the app and it’s a mystery. It’s like a splinter in my mind. Thank you for your attention.

Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Another fabulous podcast from the audio elves at #EPOD. In this one, @carlhartley.co.uk is chatting with Milica Hinic about Academic Podcast Entanglements, which she’s also written about in the 1st EPOD book. Again, making me question my approaches to things. Listen up! overcast.fm/+ABP-lswmB4o

overcast.fm

S2 Ep5: Milica Hinic — EPOD Podcast

EPOD PodcastSeries 2 Episode 5: Milica Hinic This podcast is an opportunity to learn about the great work and projects being done in education that are taking advantage of what podcasts have to offer....

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Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

“Can't bring back time. Like holding water in your hand.” #BloomsDay

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Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Fantastic night of music in Bank Lane last night. The Bluetones belting out jangly guitar hits with some excellent new material. Waterford’s Shane Barry opened with a magic bag of songs. BTW @markmorriss.bsky.social could have a fine side career as a stand-up comedian- crickey!

Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

My kids have been baking and putting stuff onto the shopping list. I think they might have taken on a contract with the witch from Hansel & Gretel

Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

I’m listening to MONO, a Japanese post-rock band who create beautiful instrumental music, whilst reading the Pope’s encyclical letter Magnifica Humanitas. A sentence I didn’t have on my bingo card last week

Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Fascinating story about how a Starbucks campaign in South Korea led to mass boycotts. It seems that thoughtless AI usage is central to the problems. Shock! www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...

theguardian.com

How a Starbucks marketing stunt spiralled into mass boycotts in South Korea

A botched tumbler promotion on the anniversary of a pro-democracy massacre unleashed a boycott, police investigation and political firestorm

Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

All six of the O’Connors got out of the rain and went to see John Carney’s new film Power Ballad yesterday. Thoroughly enjoyable time and some deadly songs. At 90 mins, it doesn’t wear out it’s welcome either! Well worth the time

Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

So many things of today’s geopolitical problems are caused by the British Empire drawing lines on maps, clapping their hands and saying “well that’s sorted. Huzzah!”

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Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Jenny O'Connor and I spoke with @carlhartley.co.uk for the latest episode of the EPOD podcast. We chatted about creating podcasts in a university space, some of the challenges but also the benefits. Available in all the usual podcast places morleyradio.co.uk/programmes/e... #PodcastStudies #Academia

morleyradio.co.uk

EPOD Podcast-S2Ep3 - Morley Radio

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Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

If Helen McEntee (Irish foreign minister) was seen mocking bound & gagged Israeli citizens, she’d be rightly condemned. But it’d never happen, because no serious or empathetic person would ever do this. Once again Ben-Gvir displays his true colours. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...

theguardian.com

Israeli security minister stirs diplomatic outrage with flotilla activist abuse video

Far-right figure Itamar Ben-Gvir shares footage of himself taunting bound international detainees

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Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

I recently sat down with Mary O'Neill for the first episode of CourseCast, the new podcast from South East Technological University, to talk about the BSc (Hons) in Computer Science. Worth a listen if you're considering a career in tech - or know someone who is. podcasts.setu.ie/podcasts/com...

podcasts.setu.ie

Computer Science – SETU Podcasts

This episode is all about the BSc (Hons) in Computer Science at SETU. Mary speaks to Dr Rob O'Connor, Programme Leader and Lecturer on the course. She's also joined by Kyla Franks, a recent graduate, ...

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Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Was digging around in a backpack this morning and found my wife Jenny’s old iPod mini. Have no idea if it still works, the hot pink metallic finish is cool looking. Back from a time when devices were getting smaller …

Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

OK. @reckless.bsky.social has managed to articulate many muddled thoughts I've had about AI. I'm a software guy, a tech nerd - but the hype and discourse around GenAI technologies gives me the ick. I couldn't put a name on it, but Nilay sums it up perfectly here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RKG...

youtube.com

THE PEOPLE DO NOT YEARN FOR AUTOMATION | Decoder

YouTube video by Decoder with Nilay Patel

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Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

On YouTube, I keep being served ads for "comfortable" sandals and Old Spice. Is the algorithm is trying to tell me something?

Rob O’Connor @roboconnor.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

If you see this post something Orange