Deirdre O'Shaughnessy
@deshocks.bsky.social
Opinion Editor, Irish Examiner |
Host, The Deirdre O’Shaughnessy Podcast | Mother of three.
Interested in news, books, politics, culture, science, climate and life in Ireland - and everywhere else. Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine.
Host, The Deirdre O’Shaughnessy Podcast | Mother of three.
Interested in news, books, politics, culture, science, climate and life in Ireland - and everywhere else. Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine.
“Concerns have also been raised that emergency services relying on drones may be unable to use them when needed.”
Cui bono?
www.irishexaminer.com/business/tec...
Cui bono?
www.irishexaminer.com/business/tec...
New drone flight restrictions to come into force across Cork city
Drone operators in Cork will need two days’ advance permission as the IAA restricts flights across large city areas
www.irishexaminer.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:56 PM
“Concerns have also been raised that emergency services relying on drones may be unable to use them when needed.”
Cui bono?
www.irishexaminer.com/business/tec...
Cui bono?
www.irishexaminer.com/business/tec...
Reposted by Deirdre O'Shaughnessy
Nice piece in the @irishexaminer.bsky.social here. Time for public bodies to stop supporting a social media company that facilitates production of CSAM and hate. #SpeirGorm
Government bodies need to get off X, now
Nobody in Ireland should be exposed to hate speech, bullying, or child sexual abuse images on X just to find out if their train is delayed, writes Clare O'Donoghue Velikic
www.irishexaminer.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Nice piece in the @irishexaminer.bsky.social here. Time for public bodies to stop supporting a social media company that facilitates production of CSAM and hate. #SpeirGorm
In fairness Liz truss hardly got a run at proving just how unpopular she could become
"Sir Keir is the most unpopular British prime minister since records began" www.economist.com/britain/2026...
February 9, 2026 at 9:51 PM
In fairness Liz truss hardly got a run at proving just how unpopular she could become
Oddly I’m being exposed to local media outlets in the US on here in a way I never was on Twitter. Watching the local stories of the ICE concentration camps is very interesting. And encouraging in a way - so much protest and engagement in so many places
February 9, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Oddly I’m being exposed to local media outlets in the US on here in a way I never was on Twitter. Watching the local stories of the ICE concentration camps is very interesting. And encouraging in a way - so much protest and engagement in so many places
Reposted by Deirdre O'Shaughnessy
Local racists may think diseases are confined to detainees, but concentration camps are perfect environments for spreading a mixed stew of infections — including to guards and staff who then spread the germs to the surrounding communities. Yet another reason to close the camps.
Tuberculosis is flourishing in ICE prisons across the country, including in the Anchorage Correctional Complex, Adelanto ICE Processing Center, Eloy Detention Center, Denver Contract Detention Facility, and the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma.
I have been informed by U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar and confirmed by the City of El Paso, Texas that there are two known active cases of tuberculosis registered at Camp East Montana. There are also at least 18 cases of COVID-19.
I had been hearing rumors of this from my contacts for weeks.
I had been hearing rumors of this from my contacts for weeks.
February 8, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Local racists may think diseases are confined to detainees, but concentration camps are perfect environments for spreading a mixed stew of infections — including to guards and staff who then spread the germs to the surrounding communities. Yet another reason to close the camps.
Reposted by Deirdre O'Shaughnessy
At the 2026 Games, Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych paid tribute to fallen Ukrainian athletes.
His helmet features portraits of athletes killed by Russia.
“Some of them were my friends,” he said. (via Suspilne)
His helmet features portraits of athletes killed by Russia.
“Some of them were my friends,” he said. (via Suspilne)
February 9, 2026 at 5:00 PM
At the 2026 Games, Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych paid tribute to fallen Ukrainian athletes.
His helmet features portraits of athletes killed by Russia.
“Some of them were my friends,” he said. (via Suspilne)
His helmet features portraits of athletes killed by Russia.
“Some of them were my friends,” he said. (via Suspilne)
Reposted by Deirdre O'Shaughnessy
Great explainer from @ericlevitz.bsky.social about whether Trump is trying to rig the midterms (yes) and whether it'll work (almost definitely not, but the fact that we're having this conversation at all is not great, bob) ... gift link
Trump has a plan to steal the midterms. It will probably fail.
The nightmare scenario for American democracy is no longer unthinkable.
www.vox.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:44 PM
Great explainer from @ericlevitz.bsky.social about whether Trump is trying to rig the midterms (yes) and whether it'll work (almost definitely not, but the fact that we're having this conversation at all is not great, bob) ... gift link
Reposted by Deirdre O'Shaughnessy
U.K. might lose a prime minister because a guy who worked for him knew another guy who hung out with Epstein. Meanwhile the U.S. opposition party is telling our President, who was Epstein's best friend, that his secret police should get better training so their public street murders look less messy.
February 9, 2026 at 4:07 PM
U.K. might lose a prime minister because a guy who worked for him knew another guy who hung out with Epstein. Meanwhile the U.S. opposition party is telling our President, who was Epstein's best friend, that his secret police should get better training so their public street murders look less messy.
Reposted by Deirdre O'Shaughnessy
a reminder that Tim Allan, who quit Starmer's Downing St today, previously spun for....not only Kazakhstan and Qatar but also Vladimir Putin’s government
www.ft.com/content/a0a8...
www.ft.com/content/a0a8...
From Blair to Putin to Starmer: PR chief Tim Allan’s CV
Former New Labour spin-doctor has faced criticism over his choice of clients, including Russia’s government
www.ft.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:58 PM
a reminder that Tim Allan, who quit Starmer's Downing St today, previously spun for....not only Kazakhstan and Qatar but also Vladimir Putin’s government
www.ft.com/content/a0a8...
www.ft.com/content/a0a8...
Reposted by Deirdre O'Shaughnessy
Reposted by Deirdre O'Shaughnessy
*Green card application in process and work permit, married to US citizen
*Lived in US for 20 years, no criminal record
*In detention for five months with no charge, despite judge approving release
*He disputes ICE claim that he signed forms agreeing to deportation
*Lived in US for 20 years, no criminal record
*In detention for five months with no charge, despite judge approving release
*He disputes ICE claim that he signed forms agreeing to deportation
And here is my story: ‘Absolute hell’: Irishman with valid US work permit held by Ice since September
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
‘Absolute hell’: Irishman with valid US work permit held by Ice since September
Seamus Culleton has been in a detention facility in Texas for nearly five months despite having no criminal record
www.irishtimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 12:29 PM
*Green card application in process and work permit, married to US citizen
*Lived in US for 20 years, no criminal record
*In detention for five months with no charge, despite judge approving release
*He disputes ICE claim that he signed forms agreeing to deportation
*Lived in US for 20 years, no criminal record
*In detention for five months with no charge, despite judge approving release
*He disputes ICE claim that he signed forms agreeing to deportation
Reposted by Deirdre O'Shaughnessy
Have I told the story about how I woke up hungover and then was interviewed by the Gardai Organized Crime Bureau?
February 9, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Have I told the story about how I woke up hungover and then was interviewed by the Gardai Organized Crime Bureau?
Reposted by Deirdre O'Shaughnessy
This is absolutely insane. The sort of Kafka-esque nightmare you would find in a Philip K Dick book set far in the dystopian future. A window on America tumbling into autocracy.
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
‘Absolute hell’: Irishman with valid US work permit held by Ice since September
Seamus Culleton has been in a detention facility in Texas for nearly five months despite having no criminal record
www.irishtimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:59 AM
This is absolutely insane. The sort of Kafka-esque nightmare you would find in a Philip K Dick book set far in the dystopian future. A window on America tumbling into autocracy.
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
Good lord
I wonder what the Irish hospitality industry is going to think of this
@tourismireland.bsky.social @deshocks.bsky.social
@tourismireland.bsky.social @deshocks.bsky.social
Google must have finally incorporated AI into Google Maps. How do I know?
It just told me I needed to leave now to be at Dublin Airport by 13:30 now to catch 9am Citylink that arrives in Dublin Airport at 11am. Then I should take the 11:45 Kells bus to Ballymun and walk back one hour to the airport
It just told me I needed to leave now to be at Dublin Airport by 13:30 now to catch 9am Citylink that arrives in Dublin Airport at 11am. Then I should take the 11:45 Kells bus to Ballymun and walk back one hour to the airport
February 9, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Good lord
Reposted by Deirdre O'Shaughnessy
If my husband reorganised my desktop - with or without AI, with or without deleting 15 years of photos - I would reorganise his entire anatomy.
AI could be great if it wasn't for men who don't understand consent.
AI could be great if it wasn't for men who don't understand consent.
February 8, 2026 at 10:25 PM
If my husband reorganised my desktop - with or without AI, with or without deleting 15 years of photos - I would reorganise his entire anatomy.
AI could be great if it wasn't for men who don't understand consent.
AI could be great if it wasn't for men who don't understand consent.
Reposted by Deirdre O'Shaughnessy
ChatGPT: Sneaky little hobbitses, wicked, tricksy, false.
Sméagol: No, not master...Master’s my friend.
ChatGPT: You're right. I see where the confusion comes from. Thanks for pointing it out. There is indeed only one wicked,tricksy, false hobbit.
Sméagol: No, not master...Master’s my friend.
ChatGPT: You're right. I see where the confusion comes from. Thanks for pointing it out. There is indeed only one wicked,tricksy, false hobbit.
February 8, 2026 at 10:21 PM
ChatGPT: Sneaky little hobbitses, wicked, tricksy, false.
Sméagol: No, not master...Master’s my friend.
ChatGPT: You're right. I see where the confusion comes from. Thanks for pointing it out. There is indeed only one wicked,tricksy, false hobbit.
Sméagol: No, not master...Master’s my friend.
ChatGPT: You're right. I see where the confusion comes from. Thanks for pointing it out. There is indeed only one wicked,tricksy, false hobbit.
One for you @clodaghfinn.bsky.social
I wrote about Patience Strong, almost certainly the best-selling English poet of the twentieth century, who wrote six poems a week for the Daily Mirror (all on a Monday morning) as well as a hit song, greeting cards and calendars, and whose print runs were in the 100,000s
After a Night in Camelot and Arden
The life of Patience Strong, England's best-selling modern poet
substack.com
February 8, 2026 at 10:21 PM
One for you @clodaghfinn.bsky.social
Place your bets ladies and gentlemen
Wondering which Irish political party gives Morgan McSweeney a job first.
February 8, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Place your bets ladies and gentlemen
Reposted by Deirdre O'Shaughnessy
Death by cold: Russia is attempting to freeze millions of Ukrainian civilians #Ukraine
Death by cold: Russia is attempting to freeze millions of Ukrainian civilians
Russia is methodically bombing Ukraine's power and heating infrastructure amid arctic weather conditions in a bid to freeze millions of Ukrainian civilians and make much of the country unlivable, writes Kristina Hook.
www.atlanticcouncil.org
February 7, 2026 at 11:18 PM
Death by cold: Russia is attempting to freeze millions of Ukrainian civilians #Ukraine
Reposted by Deirdre O'Shaughnessy
Reposted by Deirdre O'Shaughnessy
Just heard a man on the radio (who is flogging a carbon capture device still in pilot) say trees aren’t a reliable counter to emissions long term because they only live 100 years…
I actually think my head is going to fall off
I actually think my head is going to fall off
February 8, 2026 at 8:25 PM
Just heard a man on the radio (who is flogging a carbon capture device still in pilot) say trees aren’t a reliable counter to emissions long term because they only live 100 years…
I actually think my head is going to fall off
I actually think my head is going to fall off