Adrian Weckler
@adrianweckler.bsky.social
Tech editor, Irish & Sunday Independent. Podcaster. Photographer. Dublin, Ireland.
Moonrise over Roscommon
January 3, 2026 at 11:41 PM
Moonrise over Roscommon
A January morning in west of Ireland
January 3, 2026 at 10:05 AM
A January morning in west of Ireland
So the US president doesn’t need to consult US Congress now to start a war
The U.S. captured Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro and his wife and extracted them from the country, Trump said.
U.S. Captures Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro
The U.S. captured Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and extracted them from the country in a military operation carried out in conjunction with U.S. law enforcement, President Trump announced early Saturday.
“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale st
on.wsj.com
January 3, 2026 at 9:49 AM
So the US president doesn’t need to consult US Congress now to start a war
2025 EV sales in Europe: ⬆️ 28%
In Ireland: ⬆️ 36%
= noticeable growth/demand for EVs.
…
Except Tesla (once the leader):
EU ⤵️ -7% to -60% depending on country
Ireland ⤵️ -5%
(Globally, it’s ⤵️ -9%)
What’s going on? Why are Tesla car sales falling in a booming EU market?
In Ireland: ⬆️ 36%
= noticeable growth/demand for EVs.
…
Except Tesla (once the leader):
EU ⤵️ -7% to -60% depending on country
Ireland ⤵️ -5%
(Globally, it’s ⤵️ -9%)
What’s going on? Why are Tesla car sales falling in a booming EU market?
January 2, 2026 at 3:52 PM
2025 EV sales in Europe: ⬆️ 28%
In Ireland: ⬆️ 36%
= noticeable growth/demand for EVs.
…
Except Tesla (once the leader):
EU ⤵️ -7% to -60% depending on country
Ireland ⤵️ -5%
(Globally, it’s ⤵️ -9%)
What’s going on? Why are Tesla car sales falling in a booming EU market?
In Ireland: ⬆️ 36%
= noticeable growth/demand for EVs.
…
Except Tesla (once the leader):
EU ⤵️ -7% to -60% depending on country
Ireland ⤵️ -5%
(Globally, it’s ⤵️ -9%)
What’s going on? Why are Tesla car sales falling in a booming EU market?
Finished Pluribus. Pros and cons. But overall, the most thought-provoking TV series, by a mile, in quite some time.
—> Which is better, sustainability or freedom? Art and self determination or peace, security and harmony?
So many big, big questions. It’s VERY well done.
—> Which is better, sustainability or freedom? Art and self determination or peace, security and harmony?
So many big, big questions. It’s VERY well done.
January 1, 2026 at 1:18 PM
Finished Pluribus. Pros and cons. But overall, the most thought-provoking TV series, by a mile, in quite some time.
—> Which is better, sustainability or freedom? Art and self determination or peace, security and harmony?
So many big, big questions. It’s VERY well done.
—> Which is better, sustainability or freedom? Art and self determination or peace, security and harmony?
So many big, big questions. It’s VERY well done.
Every year, I make 10 predictions about what will happen in the coming 12 months. (Mostly tech and tech-adjacent.)
Here are my 2026 predictions. From AI to dodgy boxes; transatlantic tension to mandatory-but-not-compulsory digital ID for social media.
m.independent.ie/business/tec...
Here are my 2026 predictions. From AI to dodgy boxes; transatlantic tension to mandatory-but-not-compulsory digital ID for social media.
m.independent.ie/business/tec...
Adrian Weckler’s 10 big predictions for the changing world of tech in 2026
How will tech affect the world, and your life, in 2026? Will the EU cave to the US on tech regulation? Will the AI bubble burst? Which big tech companies look likely to thrive or dive? And will dodgy ...
m.independent.ie
January 1, 2026 at 10:14 AM
Every year, I make 10 predictions about what will happen in the coming 12 months. (Mostly tech and tech-adjacent.)
Here are my 2026 predictions. From AI to dodgy boxes; transatlantic tension to mandatory-but-not-compulsory digital ID for social media.
m.independent.ie/business/tec...
Here are my 2026 predictions. From AI to dodgy boxes; transatlantic tension to mandatory-but-not-compulsory digital ID for social media.
m.independent.ie/business/tec...
Reposted by Adrian Weckler
Who will stop the Piano Man's reign of terror?!
December 31, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Who will stop the Piano Man's reign of terror?!
Dublin Airport says it issued 1,931 fines in 2025 to cars sneakily dawdling in its departure drop-off zones.
Over 300 extra fines for ‘tailgating’ through the car park gates.
And top 5 ‘lost property’ items named: bags, sunglasses, phones, keys, laptops
www.independent.ie/business/193...
Over 300 extra fines for ‘tailgating’ through the car park gates.
And top 5 ‘lost property’ items named: bags, sunglasses, phones, keys, laptops
www.independent.ie/business/193...
1,931 fines in 2025 for drivers who dawdled too long at Dublin Airport’s drop-off zones
Drivers dawdling too lone at drop-off points outside Dublin Airport’s departure terminals accumulated a total of 1,931 fixed penalty notices, according to the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA).
www.independent.ie
December 31, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Dublin Airport says it issued 1,931 fines in 2025 to cars sneakily dawdling in its departure drop-off zones.
Over 300 extra fines for ‘tailgating’ through the car park gates.
And top 5 ‘lost property’ items named: bags, sunglasses, phones, keys, laptops
www.independent.ie/business/193...
Over 300 extra fines for ‘tailgating’ through the car park gates.
And top 5 ‘lost property’ items named: bags, sunglasses, phones, keys, laptops
www.independent.ie/business/193...
The idea that you’d need to upload your passport (or equivalent digital ID) to wish your auntie happy birthday on Facebook, or send a WhatsApp, will make for an interesting national debate.
Maybe entering a new era of ‘mandatory but not compulsory’ for national IDs in Ireland.
Maybe entering a new era of ‘mandatory but not compulsory’ for national IDs in Ireland.
December 28, 2025 at 9:51 PM
The idea that you’d need to upload your passport (or equivalent digital ID) to wish your auntie happy birthday on Facebook, or send a WhatsApp, will make for an interesting national debate.
Maybe entering a new era of ‘mandatory but not compulsory’ for national IDs in Ireland.
Maybe entering a new era of ‘mandatory but not compulsory’ for national IDs in Ireland.
Reposted by Adrian Weckler
Today's column is on the relentless march of blithering idiocy, which includes denying climate science while your house is - literally in this case - burning down.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
A conversation between Joe Rogan and Mel Gibson summed up 2025 for me – and not in a good way | George Monbiot
From merrily dismissing climate science, to promoting irresponsible health claims, the podcast was an unintentional warning for our times, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
December 27, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Today's column is on the relentless march of blithering idiocy, which includes denying climate science while your house is - literally in this case - burning down.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
8.40am sunrises in Dublin’s Dollymount
December 27, 2025 at 9:53 AM
8.40am sunrises in Dublin’s Dollymount
Christmas pressies. (Also: is this the most iconic character who never appears in the film?)
December 26, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Christmas pressies. (Also: is this the most iconic character who never appears in the film?)
Happy Christmas! And merry Winterval!
December 24, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Happy Christmas! And merry Winterval!
Grand stretch in the evenings
December 23, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Grand stretch in the evenings
2025 footnote —
Google became a bigger company than Microsoft ($3.75tn market cap Goog vs $3.6tn Msft)
The only non-Nvidia tech giant making actual gains from AI?
Google became a bigger company than Microsoft ($3.75tn market cap Goog vs $3.6tn Msft)
The only non-Nvidia tech giant making actual gains from AI?
December 23, 2025 at 12:42 PM
2025 footnote —
Google became a bigger company than Microsoft ($3.75tn market cap Goog vs $3.6tn Msft)
The only non-Nvidia tech giant making actual gains from AI?
Google became a bigger company than Microsoft ($3.75tn market cap Goog vs $3.6tn Msft)
The only non-Nvidia tech giant making actual gains from AI?
Ireland’s newest world champion, Excel World Champ Dermot Early, tells me why he’s so good between the sheets
(Pod)
open.spotify.com/episode/2gtu...
(Pod)
open.spotify.com/episode/2gtu...
December 23, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Ireland’s newest world champion, Excel World Champ Dermot Early, tells me why he’s so good between the sheets
(Pod)
open.spotify.com/episode/2gtu...
(Pod)
open.spotify.com/episode/2gtu...
20,000 Irish Vodafone customers to be refunded almost €900k in roaming fees
m.independent.ie/business/tec...
m.independent.ie/business/tec...
20,000 Vodafone customers to be refunded €894,000 in roaming fees unfairly charged
Vodafone has been ordered by the telecoms regulator, ComReg, to pay €894,000 to around 20,000 Irish customers who were charged roaming fees without due explanation.
m.independent.ie
December 22, 2025 at 12:12 PM
20,000 Irish Vodafone customers to be refunded almost €900k in roaming fees
m.independent.ie/business/tec...
m.independent.ie/business/tec...
Not sure people know — HSE is starting to pay out (€750+ per person) to people affected by the 2021 ransomware cyberattack.
90,000+ people were affected (says HSE).
BUT unclear whether it’s everyone (you) or just those with lawyers.
Worth asking them
www.independent.ie/irish-news/h...
90,000+ people were affected (says HSE).
BUT unclear whether it’s everyone (you) or just those with lawyers.
Worth asking them
www.independent.ie/irish-news/h...
HSE prepares to begin paying cash settlements to 90,000 victims of 2021 cyber attack
The HSE will shortly begin to send cash compensation to up to 90,000 Irish victims of the cyber-attack on the health service in 2021, with solicitors seeking administrative details from victims to fin...
www.independent.ie
December 20, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Not sure people know — HSE is starting to pay out (€750+ per person) to people affected by the 2021 ransomware cyberattack.
90,000+ people were affected (says HSE).
BUT unclear whether it’s everyone (you) or just those with lawyers.
Worth asking them
www.independent.ie/irish-news/h...
90,000+ people were affected (says HSE).
BUT unclear whether it’s everyone (you) or just those with lawyers.
Worth asking them
www.independent.ie/irish-news/h...
A Grafton Street Christmas
December 19, 2025 at 11:15 PM
A Grafton Street Christmas
TikTok’s US unit has been sold to Oracle and others (TikTok calls it a ‘joint venture’).
Explainer on what it means for TikTok in Ireland, including what you see in the app and its employment here
www.independent.ie/business/tec...
Explainer on what it means for TikTok in Ireland, including what you see in the app and its employment here
www.independent.ie/business/tec...
Explainer: what impact will the sale of TikTok’s US operation to Oracle and others have on TikTok in Ireland?
TikTok’s US operation will transfer into majority US and international ownership under a binding agreement struck by the social media platform’s Chinese owner, Bytedance, and multiple acquirers.
www.independent.ie
December 19, 2025 at 8:39 AM
TikTok’s US unit has been sold to Oracle and others (TikTok calls it a ‘joint venture’).
Explainer on what it means for TikTok in Ireland, including what you see in the app and its employment here
www.independent.ie/business/tec...
Explainer on what it means for TikTok in Ireland, including what you see in the app and its employment here
www.independent.ie/business/tec...
Eerie lull in +44 scam robocallers…
We scared them off*
We scared them off*
December 18, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Eerie lull in +44 scam robocallers…
We scared them off*
We scared them off*
For flu/Covid jab before Christmas — lots of local pharmacies doing walk-ins. As I just discovered :)
Wouldn’t have known from HSE’s online portal on where to get it, as it mainly points to online reservations with big chains (Boots, McCabe’s etc), which are mostly booked out.
Wouldn’t have known from HSE’s online portal on where to get it, as it mainly points to online reservations with big chains (Boots, McCabe’s etc), which are mostly booked out.
December 18, 2025 at 10:53 AM
For flu/Covid jab before Christmas — lots of local pharmacies doing walk-ins. As I just discovered :)
Wouldn’t have known from HSE’s online portal on where to get it, as it mainly points to online reservations with big chains (Boots, McCabe’s etc), which are mostly booked out.
Wouldn’t have known from HSE’s online portal on where to get it, as it mainly points to online reservations with big chains (Boots, McCabe’s etc), which are mostly booked out.
Often slagged but O’Connell St looks great this year — really Christmassy and loads of people
December 15, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Often slagged but O’Connell St looks great this year — really Christmassy and loads of people
Dublin’s new tallest building (left) and its 7th tallest (right).
The skyline of Ireland’s capital is changing quickly — 4 of the tallest 6 built in the last 7 years
The skyline of Ireland’s capital is changing quickly — 4 of the tallest 6 built in the last 7 years
December 15, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Dublin’s new tallest building (left) and its 7th tallest (right).
The skyline of Ireland’s capital is changing quickly — 4 of the tallest 6 built in the last 7 years
The skyline of Ireland’s capital is changing quickly — 4 of the tallest 6 built in the last 7 years