Donal Coffey
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donalcoffey.bsky.social
Donal Coffey
@donalcoffey.bsky.social
2.2K followers 410 following 1.7K posts
Constitutional law, legal history. Assistant Prof in Maynooth University, Ireland.
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Donal Coffey @donalcoffey.bsky.social · Oct 22
I've created a Legal History starter pack as I don't think anyone else has and it seems like the type of thing we should have. I'm sure I missed people (apologies!), so hit me up if I have: go.bsky.app/XJxJpA
Reposted by Donal Coffey
donnchalaw.bsky.social
Very good piece by Dr Cian Ó Concubhair on the new Garda powers bill - interestingly, when the Commission on the Future of Policing recommended codification of these powers it did so thinking the preparatory work would be done by the Law Reform Commission

www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
New Garda powers bill could conceal abuses
Gardaí can consistently deny racial profiling because there is no data on who is stopped and searched — but the new powers bill doesn't allow this data to be collected. Why, asks Cian Ó Concubhair
www.irishexaminer.com
February 13, 2026 at 10:43 AM
Reposted by Donal Coffey
alangreene.bsky.social
To explain the ridiculousness of this, holding up a sign at a protest saying that you are pleased with today's HC judgment, could give rise to a 'reasonable suspicion' that you support a proscribed organisation.
goodlawproject.org Jolyon Maugham KC @goodlawproject.org · 8h
I share this only to help those contemplating whether to tweet "I support Palestine Action".
Ban will stay in place until government decides on appeal Judges Victoria Sharp, Jonathan Swift and Karen Steyn said the ban will remain in place while the government considers whether to appeal.
February 13, 2026 at 10:47 AM
donalcoffey.bsky.social
Inaugural lecture of Prof Michael Doherty.
Michael Doherty standing at a lectern in front of a powerpoint slide
February 12, 2026 at 9:26 PM
donalcoffey.bsky.social
Me, watching a snowboarder corkscrewing three times while pitching themselves at a height of a two storey house: "he'll be disappointed with himself there".
February 11, 2026 at 6:55 PM
donalcoffey.bsky.social
My wife's common cold has somehow mutated into the manflu I am currently experiencing.
February 11, 2026 at 8:24 AM
donalcoffey.bsky.social
My prediction is that Starmer won't resign over this, because I think it would be entirely inconsistent with his self-image to resign over Epstein when there is no personal link. He could resign after the local elections if/when Labour take a drubbing.
February 9, 2026 at 5:09 PM
donalcoffey.bsky.social
The UK is currently facing the choice of watching the Starmer administration implode or the women's big air qualification in the winter olympics. It's not even a choice.
February 9, 2026 at 2:21 PM
donalcoffey.bsky.social
Gerard Hogan on the Constitution and Irish Unity.
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
The Irish Constitution: Leading judge on how it could impact the drive for a united Ireland
The Constitution, designed to achieve unity, ‘may ultimately complicate that ambition’, not ‘because it was weak and inflexible’ but ‘rather because it was sufficiently flexible and strong’
www.irishtimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:00 AM
Reposted by Donal Coffey
mitrasharafi.bsky.social
The CFP is now up for the 6th Asian Legal History Conference, which will be in Melaka, Malaysia (6-7 August 2026). Proposals are due by 1 April 2026 (Malaysia time): www.mmu.edu.my/fol/alhc2026/ #LegalHistory
6th Asian Legal History Conference 2026 – FOL
www.mmu.edu.my
February 9, 2026 at 1:06 AM
donalcoffey.bsky.social
Gateway of India.
A 1924 archway commemorating the visit of the British Emperor to Mumbai in 1911.
February 6, 2026 at 8:36 AM
donalcoffey.bsky.social
Pretty significant backing here, but I would anticipate two things: (a) it won't move the Government on the issue, and (b) support could change depending on actual wording.

Two-thirds of voters back insertion of right to housing into Constitution, poll shows

www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
Two-thirds of voters back insertion of right to housing into Constitution, poll shows
Fewer than a third of voters think Government is making progress on housing, Irish Times/Ipsos B&A poll finds
www.irishtimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 6:01 AM
Reposted by Donal Coffey
mitrasharafi.bsky.social
Legal history people: the ASLH conference will be in the Canadian Rockies in Nov.2026! Panel proposals are due March 24, 2026. The Call links to google sheets where you can find co-panelists & chair-commentators 👇 You can @ me if you're looking for fellow panelists, too.
February 5, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Reposted by Donal Coffey
loreldridge.bsky.social
It's publication day!

You can now buy Celebrating Women in Legal History here: www.bloomsbury.com/uk/celebrati...
February 5, 2026 at 10:32 AM
donalcoffey.bsky.social
Patrick Freyne is very good to be fair.
In fairness, Bridgerton is always good, escapist fun. And, to be perfectly honest, I get it. It’s hard to imagine sexual fulfilment without the exploitation of the working class. That is The Irish Times’ motto, after all.
February 5, 2026 at 6:40 AM
Reposted by Donal Coffey
donalcoffey.bsky.social
Lithograph of the preamble of the Indian Constitution. I believe it's an original produced at the time.
An illustrated decorative page with different animals in the corners. It is very ornate.
February 4, 2026 at 2:39 PM
Reposted by Donal Coffey
joenoonan.bsky.social
New: Supreme Court decision in Coolglass judicial review case.

www2.courts.ie/acc/alfresco...
www2.courts.ie
February 4, 2026 at 12:04 PM
donalcoffey.bsky.social
Lithograph of the preamble of the Indian Constitution. I believe it's an original produced at the time.
An illustrated decorative page with different animals in the corners. It is very ornate.
February 4, 2026 at 2:39 PM
donalcoffey.bsky.social
Sinn Féin are going to start climbing back to the levels of support they last had when inflation was hot.
www.irishtimes.com/business/eco...
Price of basic food rising at more than double the rate of inflation
Initial reading on harmonised index of consumer prices shows a slight drop in the annual rate to 2.6% in January
www.irishtimes.com
January 31, 2026 at 5:53 AM
donalcoffey.bsky.social
Hyderabadi Biryani in Hyderabad. God tier.
A mix of chicken and rice.
January 30, 2026 at 5:14 PM
donalcoffey.bsky.social
I'm not saying the driver in India was a bit reckless this morning, but I will say he undertook an ambulance.
January 30, 2026 at 9:34 AM
Reposted by Donal Coffey
tjmcintyre.com
Just received a notice from Apple saying that it has found X to be in breach of the App Store rules due to its nudification functions.
After reviewing your submission of notice 52465e5e-а914-4а3а-8a07- 31b9187ec3b4, we notified the X content provider regarding the identified content. We also found the content violates the App Review Guidelines and requested the content provider take action to come into compliance.
January 29, 2026 at 8:58 AM
donalcoffey.bsky.social
Kingfishers.
I'm going to be honest here - I don't know the name of this one. It has a black head, red bill, and blue wings. Common kingfisher.
January 28, 2026 at 2:24 PM
donalcoffey.bsky.social
I am told Rohit De's book has sold out there!
A weekly list of books
January 28, 2026 at 6:32 AM
donalcoffey.bsky.social
If you find yourself in Trivandrum I would recommend a visit to the Modern Book Centre.
Exterior of the Modern Book Centre in red and white
January 28, 2026 at 6:05 AM
donalcoffey.bsky.social
I overuse "endorse" in this thread, and see the correction to part 7 by Ben Tonra in response, but this is still where I see the Triple Lock argument.
donalcoffey.bsky.social Donal Coffey @donalcoffey.bsky.social · Jun 28
The ‘Triple Lock’ is to be found in the Defence Acts and requires that an operation must be (a) mandated by the United Nations, (b) approved by the Government, and (c) approved by resolution of Dáil Éireann, if more than 12 members of the Defence Forces are sent overseas for peacekeeping operations.
January 27, 2026 at 8:41 AM