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Tom Byrne

@tombyr.bsky.social
4K followers 12K following 235 posts

Irish. Carlovian. Historian (now very much intermittent). Scribbles and witters. Possibly the other way around. Coffee powered. History, news, photos, books and writing. Fascinated by the world in general really.

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Reposted by Tom Byrne
RTÉ News @news.rte.ie · 26/09/2026
Visits to public libraries around Ireland have increased by two million in the last two years. New figures show that almost 16 million visits were made to Ireland's libraries in 2025, compared with nearly 14 million in 2023
rte.ie
Public library visits increased by two million nationwide
Visits to public libraries around Ireland have increased by two million in the last two years, new figures show as National Public Libraries Open Day takes place nationwide.
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Reposted by Tom Byrne
James Barr @jamesbarr.bsky.social · 6h
The Alpine Club have an exhibition of some marvellous photos. This one perhaps my favourite.
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 6h
Wordle 1,930 5/6 This one takes the biscuit! 😀 🟨🟨⬜🟨⬜ ⬜🟩🟨🟨⬜ ⬜🟩🟩🟨⬜ ⬜🟩🟩⬜🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
[*Voice of Narrator*] We may never know who built Tofohenge or why...
Small squares of beige coloured tofo arranged on a plate in a shape reminiscent of Stonehenge
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
For all the world, it looks like County Clare emblazoned in the sky - I have an inkling who's winning the Liam MacCarthy Cup this year! 🤣🏆
Grey clouds part, leaving a brighter gap and wispy white clouds that look like the shape of the Irish county of Clare
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Wordle 1,920 X/6 Didn't get the memo! 🤣 ⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜ ⬜🟨⬜🟨🟨 🟨⬜🟨🟩⬜ 🟩🟨⬜🟩⬜ 🟩🟩⬜🟩🟩 🟩🟩⬜🟩🟩
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Wordle 1,919 4/6 It did today! 😃 ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩 🟩⬜⬜⬜🟩 🟩⬜⬜🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Wordle 1,913 4/6 I thought I was going to have to repeat it! 😅 ⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜ 🟨⬜🟨🟨🟨 ⬜🟩🟩🟨🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
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Reposted by Tom Byrne
Edward Luce @edwardluce.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Respect for Ireland's 2mm narrow-mouthed whorl snail. It has more clout than Congress. www.ft.com/content/fe5c...
ft.com
Tiny snail stalls Donald Trump’s Irish golf ambitions
US president arrives in Ireland on Saturday as environmentalists oppose his ‘other ballroom’ to protect the narrow-mouthed whorl snail
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Just spotted a €1.15 special offer for this Kindle book on Amazon's UK site - and then found out the author is Irish! Cracking read so far! 😃👏 📖
A special offer on Amazon.co.uk of a book called Nice Weather for a Killing by Seymour Cresswell for €1.15
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Reposted by Tom Byrne
RTÉ News @news.rte.ie · 10/09/2026
A large sand artwork, protesting against the visit of US President Donald Trump to Ireland, has appeared on a beach in Dublin Bay
rte.ie
Artwork on Dublin beach in opposition to Trump visit
A large sand artwork, protesting against the visit of US President Donald Trump to Ireland, has appeared on a beach in Dublin Bay.
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Wordle 1,894 6/6 This one definitely ruffled my feathers! 🤣 ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨 🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜⬜🟨🟨⬜ 🟩⬜⬜🟩🟨 🟩🟩⬜🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
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Reposted by Tom Byrne
RTÉ News @news.rte.ie · 25/08/2026
The family of Dolly Parton has asked those wishing to honour the late country music star to support one of the causes closest to her heart, her Imagination Library. It is a cause that leaves a lasting legacy in Ireland
rte.ie
How Dolly Parton changed young lives in Ireland
The family of Dolly Parton has asked those wishing to honour the late country music star to support one of the causes closest to her heart, her Imagination Library.
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Reposted by Tom Byrne
Alex Zalben @azalben.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Dolly Parton, among a thousand other amazing things she did in her life, gifted over 330 million books to kids through her Imagination Library program. Her passing is a tremendous loss to the world, but you can support the program today to keep it going imaginationlibrary.com
imaginationlibrary.com
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library | USA, UK, IE, CA, AU
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free books to children from birth until they begin school in participating areas.
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Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library gifted more than 332,000,000 books since it was first created 31 years ago.
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Wordle 1,893 5/6 It really didn't for quite a long time! 🤣 ⬜⬜⬜🟩🟩 ⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩 ⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩 ⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
#Worldle #1667 (15.08.2026) 4/6 (100%) 🔥 Current Win Streak: 1 days 🟩🟩🟨⬜⬜↙️ 🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜⬅️ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟨⬅️ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🎉 worldle.teuteuf.fr/share
worldle.teuteuf.fr
Worldle - Guess the Country
A daily geography game where you guess the country from its shape and get clues with every attempt. Play daily or explore the archive.
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Some handy tips. www.irishtimes.com/technology/2...
irishtimes.com
How to capture the solar eclipse - without frying your phone
Pointing a camera directly at the sun for any length of time is generally considered a bad idea
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Reposted by Tom Byrne
Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 11/08/2026
The catering cart memes are doing me in ☠️😭 Please add any I missed in the replies. We need this laugh.
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Lost out on the time in the semis, but great run! 🥳🇮🇪
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Mahoganygaspipes @mahoganygaspipes.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
#Spéirghorm #Sparegollum
Darth B'fheidir.

A sith lord looks completive
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
I'm imagining a large, vaguely human-shaped, tub labelled "lard" being wheeled across the tarmac... www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Trump reportedly hid in catering container to board secret flight in Turkey amid Iran threat
Elaborate ruse was used to transport president to military flight from Air Force One in July
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
A good news story in many ways! 😀 "Rubber ducks by the thousands splash into Chicago River for annual Special Olympics fundraiser" apnews.com/article/chic...
apnews.com
Rubber ducks by the thousands splash into Chicago River for annual Special Olympics fundraiser
A deluge of 90,000 rubber ducks poured out of a truck and into the Chicago River. They they bobbed along a stretch of the skyscraper-lined river in the annual Chicago Ducky Derby that raises thousands...
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Reposted by Tom Byrne
Personally victimized by iced coffee at a job interview @karimarie.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
@flightradar24.com This is a trash can, or dust bin in the UK. It's for Count Binface, who is running against Nigel Farage in the Clacton election: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Count_B...
Screenshot from app FlightRadar24. Text: 
Received Alerts

PUP163 - G-AZCV (PUP) Sky art interpretation: is this a cupcake or a waste bin? Or maybe something else entirely? Received: 8:06 am, 08 Aug 2026Screenshot of map from app FlightRadar24 that shows the eastern coast of Britain off of Colchester. A plane is about to land, and the track of the plane's flight shows that it has drawn a dust bin (trash can) in the sky as its flight path.
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Reposted by Tom Byrne
Jane Casey @janecasey.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Psst want to buy a cheap ebook? Today only… www.amazon.co.uk/Everything-S...
amazon.co.uk
Everything She Didn’t Say: 'Insanely gripping, full of hairpin twists and turns, I could NOT put it down' Marian Keyes eBook : Casey, Jane: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store
Everything She Didn’t Say: 'Insanely gripping, full of hairpin twists and turns, I could NOT put it down' Marian Keyes eBook : Casey, Jane: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store
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Reposted by Tom Byrne
Count Binface @countbinface.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
There now follows a party election broadcast by the Count Binface Party, And if I do say so myself, it's a banger. #VoteBinface #Clacton
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Reposted by Tom Byrne
Alex Churchill @alexchurchill.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Yup. Tis I.
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Wordle 1,872 5/6 Finishing down this end of the grid seems to be becoming one! 😁 ⬜🟩⬜⬜⬜ ⬜🟩⬜🟨⬜ ⬜🟩⬜⬜🟨 🟨🟩⬜🟩⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
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Chris T. @readyuser.one · 26/07/2026
Everyone in Mayo going to the Odyssey and thinking "She's only been waiting twenty years, what's she complaining about?"
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
Miracles do happen! Congratulations Mayo! 🟩🟥 [And speaking of miracles, here's to Carlow in 2027!🤣]
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Reposted by Tom Byrne
Giles MacDonogh @gilesmacdonogh.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
What to eat when it's hot: open.substack.com/pub/gilesmac...
open.substack.com
Heat-Wave Food
Lasting Out
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Wordle 1,847 3/6 I stayed between the lines! 😃 ⬜🟩⬜🟩⬜ ⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Wordle 1,844 4/6 I almost shot into a three outcome, but foiled at the end! 😂 ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ 🟨⬜⬜⬜🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
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Amílcar Tavares @amilcartavares.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
This is how proud we are of our boys! We will party today! ♥️🇨🇻🦈
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
Well, Cabo Verde were magnificent, matched Argentina every step of the way and could easily, and deservedly, have knocked out the World Cup holders. They'll be missed from the rest of the tournament, but they gave enjoyment to so many people and hope to small countries everywhere! 🇨🇻🙌🥳⚽ #CaboVerde
Cabo Verde players at the end of their so so close 3-2 defeat to Argentina
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
🥳🎊🎉⚽🙌 Cabo Verde!!
Screenshot showing score of 2-2 between Cabo Verde and Argentina in extra time!
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
One goal down, but no downheartedness! #CaboVerdeArgentina
A screen grab of a television picture showing Lionel Messi and Pico Lopes during just at the end of the first half of the Argentina Cabo Verde World Cup game
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
If a fairy tale script was written about this World Cup beforehand, it probably wouldn't have come up with this turn of events! Brilliant! 🇨🇻🤝🇮🇪
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Reposted by Tom Byrne
A Human Being Named Alex @that-human-being.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Spain vs Austria
Charles V, King of Spain from March 1516 to January 1556Charles V, Archduke of Austria from January 1519 to April 1521
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Plashing Vole @plashingvole.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
I do hope Austria v Spain is known as the Habsburg Derby. Whoever loses, I’m sure they’ll take it on the chin.
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Wordle 1,829 6/6 🤣🎊 Last chance, all I could make fit, and I don't even know what it means! ⬜⬜⬜🟩⬜ ⬜🟨🟨⬜🟩 ⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩 ⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩 ⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
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Reposted by Tom Byrne
Barack Obama @barackobama.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
Michelle and I had fun surprising the first group of visitors to the Obama Presidential Center on Juneteenth. Come check it out!
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Cabo Verde might be small geographically, but it's boundless in heart and spirit! 🎉🇨🇻🥳⚽ Massively enjoyable game, even if my heart rate might not come back to normal for a while yet! #CaboVerde #CPV www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...
nytimes.com
Cape Verde earn thrilling draw with Uruguay at 2026 World Cup: Live updates and reaction
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
I'm in need of a hydration break watching this match! 🇨🇻🙌
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Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
"So ... so I said ... why not sign your treaty here, at Versailles?"
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Ralph E @rowdydog.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Libraries all across the country are recataloging The Art of the Deal as "Fiction."
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Simon McGarr @tupped.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Good sky tonight.
A dramatic sunset against some roofs.
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
I'm not sure I'll be able to stay until midnight, but best of luck to Ghana and the League of Ireland's Joseph Anang!! #Ghana 🇬🇭 www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...
nytimes.com
Ghana vs Panama live updates: World Cup 2026 game latest news and buildup
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Elmer J Befuddled strikes again!
An old man resembling the cartoon character Elmer J Fudd (and Donald Trump) carries a pop gun and looks very confused
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Tom Byrne @tombyr.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Wordle 1,823 6/6 Genuinely! That I got there in the end! 😀 ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜ ⬜🟨⬜⬜🟩 ⬜⬜🟩⬜🟩 🟨⬜🟩⬜🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
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