Ali Mack
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Ali Mack
@alimack13.bsky.social
830 followers 1.4K following 960 posts
Does Theatre, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, books of all kinds, a bit of IT, some environental caring and a touch of emergency planning. Worries about keeping freedom of choice, how we treat refugees and each other. She/Her
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Reposted by Ali Mack
ciaraioch.bsky.social
For the uninitiated, these are Irish Throwing Stars, an ancient weapon wielded by St. Brigid during the 1916 Rising, striking fear into the hearts of the British, and responsible for the eventual smiting of both Cromwell and Thatcher.
A pair of St. Brigid's crosses on a countertop, next to a mug. #SpéirGorm #SpéirGhorm #Ireland
February 1, 2026 at 2:12 PM
Reposted by Ali Mack
klillington.bsky.social
And once again, a personal appeal if anyone knows a hay supplier in any county around Dublin/Wicklow, I’ve lost mine for the coming months (rain crisis) and only have about a 3,week supply left for a small equine herd 😳
January 31, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Reposted by Ali Mack
donlemonofficial.bsky.social
My first remarks since being arrested last night.
January 30, 2026 at 11:30 PM
Reposted by Ali Mack
mahoganygaspipes.bsky.social
european-alternatives.eu
European Alternatives
We help you find European alternatives for digital service and products, like cloud services and SaaS products.
european-alternatives.eu
January 29, 2026 at 1:49 PM
Reposted by Ali Mack
allanartist.bsky.social
C'mon Ireland, we're nearly there.
Ireland:
8,305 signatures
10,080 quota
82.39%of quota

#gaza #israel #eu #petition #ireland #speirgorm #EuropeanUnion
allanartist.bsky.social Allan @allanartist.bsky.social · 7d
It's baffling to me how Ireland is only on 65.30% of our quota for this (see citizens-initiative.europa.eu/initiatives/...) given our apparently vehement support of Palestinians. If you've not signed yet, do it, and get 5 friends to do it too. eci.ec.europa.eu/055/public/#... #speirgorm
Initiative detail | European Citizens' Initiative
citizens-initiative.europa.eu
January 29, 2026 at 12:42 PM
#spiergorm @octocon.bsky.social short story sessions and because we support our Irish authors. Also #booksky mini. Do we have a #shortstorysky?
jfennellauthor.bsky.social Jack Fennell @jfennellauthor.bsky.social · 3d
My short story "The Cold Moon Crown" will be appearing in the Winter edition of WAXEN, which goes on sale February 1.

If you're into Christmas stories involving weird old-money families with skeletons in the closet, I daresay you might enjoy it.
January 29, 2026 at 7:53 AM
Consultation response time. Save our seaweed, our foreshore, our natural resources, our environment, our Ireland!

Over the top? Maybe a bit, but as we know now, small ripples turn into tsunamis when public opinion comes together to make a difference.
#speirgorm
sinebrien.bsky.social Sinead O'Brien @sinebrien.bsky.social · 4d
Ireland desperately needs to put in place legally enforceable Marine Protected Areas. This is becoming a dangerous joke. The Ascophyllum is already dangerously overharvested as it is and will take 5 years to regenerate the way it's being cut.

www.maritimeregulator.ie/wp-content/u...

#Spéirgorm
www.maritimeregulator.ie
January 29, 2026 at 3:44 AM
Reposted by Ali Mack
sinebrien.bsky.social
While we've all been distracted by the ongoing chaos in the US, cowboys keep cowboying around the world. I'm shocked that anyone would be so bold as to think any of this will get approved. But please write to relevant authorities and TDs to oppose this villainous attempt to destroy our environment.
Text on white background providing details of a non-statutory consultation on a Maritime Usage Licence application. Link to document in next post. Text on black background providing details of a Foreshore Licence application to harvest seaweed. Link to document in next post. Text on black background providing details of a Foreshore Licence application to harvest 40,000 mt of ascophyllum seaweed in 21 specific management areas along the west coast of Ireland. Link to document in next post. Text on black background providing details of a Foreshore Licence application to harvest seaweed. Link to document in next post.
January 28, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Reposted by Ali Mack
oisinmcgann.bsky.social
I've never understood how nobody has ever written a novel about this before, but there was a brief time when the *Irish republican movement* possessed the first fully functional submarine.

Yes, you heard that right.

A short thread . . . 1/

#SpeirGorm #JohnPhilipHolland #Submarine
The full cover, back and front, of my novel, Steel-Plate Subversive. Overall, it’s a deep blue and sea green, the colour of sea at night. On the front, the view is from above, looking down at the deck of a small, steel-grey submarine at night. The hatch in the low-profile turret is open. A bearded white man in a green woollen jumper and brown flat cap is in the open hatch, holding a Thompson submachine gun. He’s lit from below by the red light inside the submarine. The title is vertical, in orange, down the left side, and the tagline is in white, much smaller to the right: ‘Irish revolutionaries, British spies, German mercenaries, and a submarine that shouldn't exist.’ My name is in white at the bottom. The back cover shows the same submarine in the harbour of a small town at night, racing away at speed. The blurb reads: There's something out there in the water. A shaky truce has been established in Ireland's War of Independence. In 1921, as negotiations begin in London to finally free the Irish from British control, a young intelligence agent named Esther Sinclair discovers that a nightmarish weapon has gone missing in France. Akiko Regan and her cousin Liam O'Leary have made their own discovery: Akiko's father, Michael, is the leader of the mysterious rebel group known as the Selkies. Michael is an engineer who trained under the famous John Philip Holland in New Jersey. At the start of the century, Holland's designs had established the submarine fleets of five nations. But the Irishman's very first submarines were built for the Irish republican movement. The Royal Navy have no idea that a Holland vessel has heen operating in the Irish Sea. Michael had hoped to shield Akiko and Liam from the ongoing violence. Now, however, the family find themselves drawn into a crisis that threatens not just their lives but the future of their country. There’s an Arts Council of Ireland logo across from the barcode, to acknowledge funding for the writing of the book.
January 28, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Reposted by Ali Mack
oisinmcgann.bsky.social
There's something in the water . . .

My new novel, coming soon.

#SpéirGhorm #SpeirGorm #Submarine
A painted illustration of a small, steel-grey submarine with a low profile turret moving at speed through a calm sea at night.
January 26, 2026 at 4:50 PM
The alt text for this picture is sublime. All kudos to @georgepenney.bsky.social
georgepenney.bsky.social George Penney @georgepenney.bsky.social · 6d
Here's the beach in question, taken on an unexpectedly charming sunny morning. (More in alt text)
Short description: You're looking at a beach as the tide is going out on a sunny day. Long description: You're looking at possibly the best picture I've ever taken to capture how perfect the beach at Rabbit Island can be. Before you, stretching into the distance is some damp sand that looks shiny and smooth, reflecting the sun's light. It's a greyish brown, almost silver really in this picture. In the sand you can see odd holes and marks that have been made by a group of women in their 80s, doing their daily walk with the aid of some walking poles. There're also some tire marks from a pushbike that was ridden by a woman wearing a floral dress with bare feet. She's just behind the photographer heading into the distance as this picture is taken and you'd hear her tires crunching on the sand if you were standing here. The sea to the left is crystal clear with just a hint of a white foam breaker wave. And in the distance, there are some mountains gently sloping down to the sea. They're violet and blue in colour in this light. Overhead is a blanket of fluffy white clouds in a big blue sky. While standing here you'd hear the click-click whirr of cicadas in nearby pine trees along the beach, the calling of gulls and the wash of the sea. The sand under your feet would be delightfully damp and cool and the sun overhead would be hot on your cheek. The air smells like pine trees and the sea.
January 26, 2026 at 2:53 AM
Reposted by Ali Mack
carlowweather.bsky.social
River Slaney and Derneen very high this morning after the recent rainfall but some blue skies appearing this morning with just the odd shower. Sadly more rain to come with heavy rain Monday and especially Tuesday.
January 25, 2026 at 10:09 AM
Reposted by Ali Mack
tupped.bsky.social
No way we let Sweden get over the line on this ahead of Ireland.

Tell your friends. This isn’t just any old petition, this mechanism has EU clout.
pradaldi.bsky.social Guy Pradel @pradaldi.bsky.social · 8d
358 806 signatures for the full suspension of the EU-Israel association, more than 1/3 of what is needed and 4 of the 7 countries needed over 100%.
tinyurl.com/mv8fzdhu

☑️Belgium 103%
☑️Finland 100.5%
☑️France 296%
Ireland 58.7%
Italy 79.8%
Netherlands 31%
Poland 51.4%
☑️Spain 111.9%
Sweden 81.6%
Number of signatures per country
January 25, 2026 at 10:40 AM
Reposted by Ali Mack
octocon.bsky.social
Our early bird memberships for Octocon 2026 are selling fast! (Weekend Attending & Concession only.)
Get yours asap to make sure you can join in all this year's activities.
octocon.com/join-us
#Octocon #SciFi #Fandom #Fantasy #conventions #Ireland #SpéirGhorm #SpeirGorm
January 24, 2026 at 1:45 PM
Reposted by Ali Mack
pradaldi.bsky.social
358 806 signatures for the full suspension of the EU-Israel association, more than 1/3 of what is needed and 4 of the 7 countries needed over 100%.
tinyurl.com/mv8fzdhu

☑️Belgium 103%
☑️Finland 100.5%
☑️France 296%
Ireland 58.7%
Italy 79.8%
Netherlands 31%
Poland 51.4%
☑️Spain 111.9%
Sweden 81.6%
Number of signatures per country
January 24, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Reposted by Ali Mack
ledbydonkeys.org
Board of Peace - Season 1
January 24, 2026 at 7:45 AM
Reposted by Ali Mack
lbflyawayhome.bsky.social
An observation test for your inner 8-year-old.
You’ll be doing well to spot 12 deliberate mistakes.

From Treasure magazine, 1963
Official answers coming soon

(Even if you don’t reply, could you please ‘like’ or share this one?)
A line drawing of a street scene with children skipping, a bike going by and birds in the sky
January 24, 2026 at 8:17 AM
#speirgorm in case anyone would like to save a bit of history
ucdlibrary.bsky.social UCD Library @ucdlibrary.bsky.social · 8d
UCD #CitizenScience event🌀
Met Éireann is calling on the public to help rescue millions of historic weather observations currently held in handwritten paper records.

Dr. Rhonda McGovern will run a free hands-on workshop on 27 Jan in James Joyce Library Link 3.

Register: buff.ly/sRvPXca
UCD Citizen Science logo in white and Irish Weather Service Met Eireann logo in aqua green, with an images of an open ledger book and weather index card. A portrait of female researcher Dr. Rhonda McGovern is displayed along with the UCD Research and Library logos consisting of the UCD crest and text.
January 24, 2026 at 9:48 AM
Reposted by Ali Mack
jaseomcn.bsky.social
The New Yorker wanted this but I said I’d put it up on Bluesky at half 8 in the morning instead.
2 people in bed together, one looking under the sheets says: “But…the photographs?” Other: “Mercator projection”
January 24, 2026 at 8:36 AM
Reposted by Ali Mack
alexvont.bsky.social
The average winter temperature inside a British house in the early 1970s was 12C. And probably considerably colder 50, 100 or 150 years before then when more people relied on hearths. I usually find it implausible in historical movies set in eg a medieval castle if actors strip off for a sex scene 🥶
beijingpalmer.bsky.social BeijingPalmer @beijingpalmer.bsky.social · 8d
Was intrigued, rereading the wonderful The Ghost of Thomas Kempe, to find somebody’s house having central heating being noted as remarkable. In 1973!

And indeed, only about 30 percent of UK homes would have had central heating when the book was published.
January 24, 2026 at 8:56 AM
Reposted by Ali Mack
carlowweather.bsky.social
Weather models total rainfall forecast up to midday Wednesday on first 2 images are concerning with a lot more rain to come and possibly even more after that as last 2 images show totals up to midday Friday.
January 23, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Reposted by Ali Mack
georgepenney.bsky.social
🧵Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:

Two tiny humans (1?) are being carried in different directions down a busy street. Their mums cross paths and Tiny Human Strangers reach out their hands, momentary touching fingers, expressions marvelling at seeing another so small as themselves. (1)
January 22, 2026 at 9:47 PM
Reposted by Ali Mack
diane.dianeduane.com
Getting ready to fall over for the night, but just to say: Gotta buy a hearing aid soon, and it’s unfortunately gonna be pricey. Want to assist? Buy a stack of DRM-free ebooks, cheap! (Offer not available in the UK due to Brexit—sorry.) https://ebooks.direct/products/ebooks-direct-whole-store-bundle
Ebooks Direct Whole Store Bundle
This ebook bundle (not available in the UK: details below) contains our complete inventory of non-new-release* works. All our ebooks are DRM-free, and come with the usual EBD lifetime replacement guar...
ebooks.direct
January 23, 2026 at 12:36 AM
#speirgorm #booksky @octocon.bsky.social for noting.
sci-fi-ireland.bsky.social Sci-FI-Ireland @sci-fi-ireland.bsky.social · 10d
Commissioned authors announcement!!! We're delighted to announce our third and final commissioned author is the one and only Ian McDonald 🚀🚀🚀

If you'd like to see your work alongside Ian's then get your submissions to us before 31st January!!!

#sciencefiction #ireland #author #kindofabigdeal
January 22, 2026 at 9:07 AM
Reposted by Ali Mack
georgepenney.bsky.social
🧵Spotted While Roaming in Aotearoa New Zealand:

A woman (20s?) in a sunny yellow gingham dress is standing in a sunbeam outside a cafe. Holding a tiny new human to her chest and gently rocking side to side. Looking down at Tiny New Human with a soft smile. This is love. (1)
January 21, 2026 at 11:14 PM