Dónal Hassett
@donalh.bsky.social
Colonial Historian, Interested in colonial veterans and all things Algeria. Proud Dub .
Can we please take a moment to acknowledge that Danish sovereignty in Greenland is built on centuries of colonial violence and repression, settler colonialism and resource stripping... I am fairly certain a post invasion Trump approved admin would be far worse but this reality needs to be recognised
January 5, 2026 at 8:40 PM
Can we please take a moment to acknowledge that Danish sovereignty in Greenland is built on centuries of colonial violence and repression, settler colonialism and resource stripping... I am fairly certain a post invasion Trump approved admin would be far worse but this reality needs to be recognised
Visited the impressive Mosta Rotunda today, one of the largest unsupported domes in the world. In April 1942 a Luftwaffe bomb penetrated the dome but didn't explode. You can still see the patch on the ceiling. This was considered a miracle by many parishioners. Ps more Maltese Arabic similarities
January 4, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Visited the impressive Mosta Rotunda today, one of the largest unsupported domes in the world. In April 1942 a Luftwaffe bomb penetrated the dome but didn't explode. You can still see the patch on the ceiling. This was considered a miracle by many parishioners. Ps more Maltese Arabic similarities
Saw this pub on Gozo yesterday. Was too afraid to see what horrors it contained 😂
January 4, 2026 at 10:36 AM
Saw this pub on Gozo yesterday. Was too afraid to see what horrors it contained 😂
It is interesting if incredibly grim that a government led by a human rights lawyer has embraced, albeit selectively, this line to defend its foreign policy.
BREAKING: “You must have a view about whether this was lawful?” - Trevor Philips Sky News
“It’s not for politicians to make judgments around international law” - Darren Jones Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister
“It’s not for politicians to make judgments around international law” - Darren Jones Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister
January 4, 2026 at 10:22 AM
It is interesting if incredibly grim that a government led by a human rights lawyer has embraced, albeit selectively, this line to defend its foreign policy.
Remember the wailing and gnashing of teeth in certain quarters when Catherine Connolly said this... www.rte.ie/news/politic...
US is an imperial power adding to volatility - Connolly
Independent presidential candidate Catherine Connolly has described America as an "imperial power" contributing to current volatility.
www.rte.ie
January 3, 2026 at 8:39 PM
Remember the wailing and gnashing of teeth in certain quarters when Catherine Connolly said this... www.rte.ie/news/politic...
It's tempting to see this as almost refreshingly honest imperialism but it is more terrifying when we acknowledge it as an even more brazen and emboldened imperialism.
January 3, 2026 at 3:58 PM
It's tempting to see this as almost refreshingly honest imperialism but it is more terrifying when we acknowledge it as an even more brazen and emboldened imperialism.
Imperialism in all its forms and by all imperial powers has contempt for national sovereignty and international law. Despicable- and some would have us join a military alliance with the US.
January 3, 2026 at 1:14 PM
Imperialism in all its forms and by all imperial powers has contempt for national sovereignty and international law. Despicable- and some would have us join a military alliance with the US.
Malta Workers' Memorial and a Palestine mural in Valetta skate park.
January 2, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Malta Workers' Memorial and a Palestine mural in Valetta skate park.
Mohamed Harbi has passed away- a participant in and historian of revolutionary politics in Algeria and man of principle who fought against tyranny and for social justice. What a life he led maitron.fr/harbi-mohamm...
HARBI Mohammed – Maitron
maitron.fr
January 2, 2026 at 10:05 AM
Mohamed Harbi has passed away- a participant in and historian of revolutionary politics in Algeria and man of principle who fought against tyranny and for social justice. What a life he led maitron.fr/harbi-mohamm...
Ireland is neither magically immune to historical and contemporary antisemitism and its recent exacerbation nor is it some sort of den of unchecked antisemitic violence. There is space for a proper discussion of this but I don't think the celebrities of X discourse should be leading it...
January 1, 2026 at 11:25 PM
Ireland is neither magically immune to historical and contemporary antisemitism and its recent exacerbation nor is it some sort of den of unchecked antisemitic violence. There is space for a proper discussion of this but I don't think the celebrities of X discourse should be leading it...
All my emails consuming me when I return to the office after the holidays.
January 1, 2026 at 4:29 PM
All my emails consuming me when I return to the office after the holidays.
Reposted by Dónal Hassett
On January 1, 1804, revolutionaries established the independent country of Haiti, the first nation to permanently ban slavery. As we begin a year engulfed by the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence, it’s worth reading the Haitian Declaration of Independence in full. 🇭🇹
January 1, 2026 at 1:04 PM
On January 1, 1804, revolutionaries established the independent country of Haiti, the first nation to permanently ban slavery. As we begin a year engulfed by the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence, it’s worth reading the Haitian Declaration of Independence in full. 🇭🇹
Lovely New Year's Eve visit to Mdina. Malta is such a fascinating place. Was struck by this representation of Marianne erected by the French when they captured the city, was vandalized by the locals and then re-erected by the French.
December 31, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Lovely New Year's Eve visit to Mdina. Malta is such a fascinating place. Was struck by this representation of Marianne erected by the French when they captured the city, was vandalized by the locals and then re-erected by the French.
Ending the year by throwing vulnerable people who have been failed by disastrous government policy on housing under the bus. Despicable stuff.
Simon Harris claims ‘significant number’ in emergency accommodation ‘don’t have housing right’
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/hous...
Simon Harris claims ‘significant number’ in emergency accommodation ‘don’t have housing right’
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/hous...
Simon Harris claims ‘significant number’ in emergency accommodation ‘don’t have housing right’
Homeless executive chief rejects Tánaiste’s view, saying people who ‘can’t establish a right to housing ... are sent on their way’
www.irishtimes.com
December 31, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Ending the year by throwing vulnerable people who have been failed by disastrous government policy on housing under the bus. Despicable stuff.
Simon Harris claims ‘significant number’ in emergency accommodation ‘don’t have housing right’
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/hous...
Simon Harris claims ‘significant number’ in emergency accommodation ‘don’t have housing right’
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/hous...
🚨PSA🚨 Brassed Off is available to watch on the Channel 4 app. Nothing more festive than a film about Maggie Thatcher savaging mining communities. It is such a good film- empathy, humour and righteous fury. Pete Postlewhaithe's best performance and that is saying something.
a man in a white shirt and black tie stands in front of a painting that says ' united states ' on it
ALT: a man in a white shirt and black tie stands in front of a painting that says ' united states ' on it
media.tenor.com
December 27, 2025 at 9:27 PM
🚨PSA🚨 Brassed Off is available to watch on the Channel 4 app. Nothing more festive than a film about Maggie Thatcher savaging mining communities. It is such a good film- empathy, humour and righteous fury. Pete Postlewhaithe's best performance and that is saying something.
In fairness to Stephen Collins, a man who gets paid for recycling the same three columns (Sinn Féin are Marxist terrorists, we need to join NATO, stop whining about housing and public services) should be happy with his lot- he is stealing a living.
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Stephen Collins: Here’s the unpopular truth: many of us have never had it so good
Ireland has never been better off, yet a narrative of State failure dominates political debate and much of the media
www.irishtimes.com
December 27, 2025 at 9:29 AM
In fairness to Stephen Collins, a man who gets paid for recycling the same three columns (Sinn Féin are Marxist terrorists, we need to join NATO, stop whining about housing and public services) should be happy with his lot- he is stealing a living.
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
While the current government in Israel, presiding over genocide in Gaza, has been esp proactive in approvals of illegal settlements in West Bank, every Israeli government has approved, protected and expanded settlement. Settlement and the violent displacement it entails is a function of the state.
December 26, 2025 at 7:47 PM
While the current government in Israel, presiding over genocide in Gaza, has been esp proactive in approvals of illegal settlements in West Bank, every Israeli government has approved, protected and expanded settlement. Settlement and the violent displacement it entails is a function of the state.
It was blustery and Baltic but also nice festive fun🥶🎅🏊♂️
December 25, 2025 at 2:59 PM
It was blustery and Baltic but also nice festive fun🥶🎅🏊♂️
For the day that is in it, Mainie Jellett's Virgin and Child
December 25, 2025 at 1:14 PM
For the day that is in it, Mainie Jellett's Virgin and Child
At home for Christmas and we are watching Midsomer Murders with wine and someone was just murdered by means of the cuckoo in a cuckoo clock. Nothing more festive than this😂😂
December 24, 2025 at 6:59 PM
At home for Christmas and we are watching Midsomer Murders with wine and someone was just murdered by means of the cuckoo in a cuckoo clock. Nothing more festive than this😂😂
Meant to keep track of what I read this year but of course that didn't happen. I also have a good habit of giving away books I enjoyed but here are some of my favourite fiction and non fiction reads from this year.
December 23, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Meant to keep track of what I read this year but of course that didn't happen. I also have a good habit of giving away books I enjoyed but here are some of my favourite fiction and non fiction reads from this year.
Warming up for Christmas Dublin style with Damien Dempsey.
December 23, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Warming up for Christmas Dublin style with Damien Dempsey.
Turned up at the National Archives in Algiers in three quarter length shorts because it was too hot for this poor pasty Irish man and I couldn't enter due to the dress code so a soldier that was posted there lent me a pair of his jeans so I could go in. Classic Algerian generosity!
I think we need a mega thread of everyone's craziest archive stories.
December 22, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Turned up at the National Archives in Algiers in three quarter length shorts because it was too hot for this poor pasty Irish man and I couldn't enter due to the dress code so a soldier that was posted there lent me a pair of his jeans so I could go in. Classic Algerian generosity!
Last bit of pre-Christmas admin done (and an exciting one at that!). Now I can properly switch off and prepare for the most festive event of the year- Damien Dempsey at Vicar Street!
December 22, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Last bit of pre-Christmas admin done (and an exciting one at that!). Now I can properly switch off and prepare for the most festive event of the year- Damien Dempsey at Vicar Street!
Not only does the Irish state not charge VAT on private school fees, it actually provided tax relief on them, cross subsidising social segregation. Would be great to see parties of the left across the board agreeing to change this.
www.independent.ie/irish-news/e...
www.independent.ie/irish-news/e...
Fees at private schools hiked by up to €2,000 as highest and lowest costs across country revealed
The cost of fee-paying schools has risen by up to €2,000 this year amid rising costs of energy, staffing and food.
www.independent.ie
December 22, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Not only does the Irish state not charge VAT on private school fees, it actually provided tax relief on them, cross subsidising social segregation. Would be great to see parties of the left across the board agreeing to change this.
www.independent.ie/irish-news/e...
www.independent.ie/irish-news/e...