DeclanKavanagh.bsky.social
@drdeclankavanagh.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer in 18th-century Studies (Queer & Disability Studies). Author of *Effeminate Years* (2017); co-editor of *The Edinburgh Companion to Queer Reading* (2025). Views my own, not employer’s.
Pinned
Finally on 10 December we're delighted to be joined by @drdeclankavanagh.bsky.social who is giving a paper on Michael Clancy and queer/crip life-writing
Very happy that Catherine Connolly is just about to be inaugurated as the tenth president of Ireland #Spéirgorm
November 11, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Very happy that Catherine Connolly is just about to be inaugurated as the tenth president of Ireland #Spéirgorm
Today, in a very short section of a two hour seminar on queer poetry, I’ll invite my students to make a #blackoutpoem using the text of #Section28 I have the sharpies at the ready. This is my favourite part of teaching this Queer Lit course.
![The print out reads:
8 Prohibition on promoting homosexuality by teaching or by publishing material
(1)The following section shall be inserted after section 2 of the [1986 c. 10.] Local Government Act 1986 (prohibition of political publicity)
*ZA Prohibition on promoting homosexuality by teaching or by publishing material
(1) A local authority shall not—
(a) intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality;
(b) promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship.
(2) Nothing in subsection (1) above shall be taken to prohibit the doing of anything for the purpose of treating or preventing the spread of disease.
(3) In any proceedings in connection with the application of this section a court shall draw such inferences as to the intention of the local authority as may reasonably be drawn from the evidence before it.
(4) In subsection (1)(b) above "maintained school" means,—
(a) in England and Wales, a county school, voluntary school, nursery school or special school, within the meaning of the Education Act 1944; and
(b) in Scotland, a public school, nursery school or special school, within the meaning of the Education (Scotland) Act
1980."
(2) This section shall come into force at the end of the period of two months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:um2urgwzbwn56p742s6zwivq/bafkreignzqoxz7whkz7apfbgcw7gnadl3u3pj64nmmin2ud6ju7uxq5fo4@jpeg)
November 11, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Today, in a very short section of a two hour seminar on queer poetry, I’ll invite my students to make a #blackoutpoem using the text of #Section28 I have the sharpies at the ready. This is my favourite part of teaching this Queer Lit course.
A free press is something worth standing for and probably a good moment for Keir Starmer to tell Trump that the BBC isn’t up tor debate or attack. And, yes, I know the BBC isn’t perfect. Let’s hope Labour get this much right.
November 11, 2025 at 9:57 AM
A free press is something worth standing for and probably a good moment for Keir Starmer to tell Trump that the BBC isn’t up tor debate or attack. And, yes, I know the BBC isn’t perfect. Let’s hope Labour get this much right.
Reposted by DeclanKavanagh.bsky.social
Nowhere in the hysterical pile-on against the BBC in the British press has anyone mentioned that BBC News now has 77 million viewers & listeners in the US and has established itself as the second most trusted news source there.
November 11, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Nowhere in the hysterical pile-on against the BBC in the British press has anyone mentioned that BBC News now has 77 million viewers & listeners in the US and has established itself as the second most trusted news source there.
Reposted by DeclanKavanagh.bsky.social
Remember, when journalists just let trans people live their lives in peace, it’s “ideological capture”, but when they use their own personal anti-trans beliefs to lead a campaign to close down the only place in the country trans youth received healthcare, it’s absolutely fine, nothing to see here.
Emily Maitlis admitting she worked at the bbc to try and get healthcare for trans people shut down
November 10, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Remember, when journalists just let trans people live their lives in peace, it’s “ideological capture”, but when they use their own personal anti-trans beliefs to lead a campaign to close down the only place in the country trans youth received healthcare, it’s absolutely fine, nothing to see here.
Reposted by DeclanKavanagh.bsky.social
We cannot understand the emboldening of racists/fascists on the ground without centring the role of the discourse of mainstream elite
This Labour government, anything right of it and any media that does not cover them as enablers are responsible for this
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
This Labour government, anything right of it and any media that does not cover them as enablers are responsible for this
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
NHS staff who visit patients at home say St George’s flags can mean ‘no-go zones’
Black and Asian staff left feeling ‘deliberately intimidated’, according to chief executive of one NHS trust
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:35 AM
We cannot understand the emboldening of racists/fascists on the ground without centring the role of the discourse of mainstream elite
This Labour government, anything right of it and any media that does not cover them as enablers are responsible for this
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
This Labour government, anything right of it and any media that does not cover them as enablers are responsible for this
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by DeclanKavanagh.bsky.social
Once every 20 years or so, the director-general of the BBC is forced to resign for being insufficiently rightwing. Alastair Milne in 1987. Greg Dyke in 2004. Tim Davie in 2025. The great irony is that the BBC was in all cases profoundly biased towards established power. But just not biased enough …
November 10, 2025 at 5:44 AM
Once every 20 years or so, the director-general of the BBC is forced to resign for being insufficiently rightwing. Alastair Milne in 1987. Greg Dyke in 2004. Tim Davie in 2025. The great irony is that the BBC was in all cases profoundly biased towards established power. But just not biased enough …
I always think that Stoker has a face that wouldn’t seem out of place in a Dublin jersey.
Bram Stoker born November 8, 1847, Marino Crescent, Dublin:
"The last I saw of Count Dracula was his kissing his hand to me, with a red light of triumph in his eyes, and with a smile that Judas in hell might be proud of."
"The last I saw of Count Dracula was his kissing his hand to me, with a red light of triumph in his eyes, and with a smile that Judas in hell might be proud of."
November 8, 2025 at 7:13 PM
I always think that Stoker has a face that wouldn’t seem out of place in a Dublin jersey.
Delighted to attend the 2025 Kent Staff Recognition Awards in my capacity as a staff rep. Looking forward to cheering on all of the wonderful awardees. Also looking forward to seeing what the illuminated cube does … I am guessing strobe light effects @kent.ac.uk
November 6, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Delighted to attend the 2025 Kent Staff Recognition Awards in my capacity as a staff rep. Looking forward to cheering on all of the wonderful awardees. Also looking forward to seeing what the illuminated cube does … I am guessing strobe light effects @kent.ac.uk
I didn’t love Bugonia. It jumps the shark towards the end.
November 5, 2025 at 9:16 PM
I didn’t love Bugonia. It jumps the shark towards the end.
Reposted by DeclanKavanagh.bsky.social
Meanwhile, the UK government just huff and try to be as horrible as they can to minorities to out-Farage Nigel. They tank in the polls and assume all the left-leaning voters will “come home”. Their sole learning from this election will probably be to make Hot Girls For Starmer t-shirts
Mamdani: Whether you are an immigrant, a member of the trans community, one of the many black women that Donald Trump has fired from a federal job, a single mom still waiting for the cost of groceries to go down, or anyone else with their back against the wall—your struggle is ours too
November 5, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Meanwhile, the UK government just huff and try to be as horrible as they can to minorities to out-Farage Nigel. They tank in the polls and assume all the left-leaning voters will “come home”. Their sole learning from this election will probably be to make Hot Girls For Starmer t-shirts
Always remember to click the ‘save progress’ button
November 4, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Always remember to click the ‘save progress’ button
Very interesting tour of Abney Park cemetery focusing on the women buried there for #LondonMonthoftheDead
November 1, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Very interesting tour of Abney Park cemetery focusing on the women buried there for #LondonMonthoftheDead
I like eating the trick or treater sweets myself, turning all the lights off and ignoring the knocks. If I open the door how will I know that a ghost hasn’t slipped in?
October 31, 2025 at 6:59 PM
I like eating the trick or treater sweets myself, turning all the lights off and ignoring the knocks. If I open the door how will I know that a ghost hasn’t slipped in?
Happy Samhain! 🎃
October 31, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Happy Samhain! 🎃
Reposted by DeclanKavanagh.bsky.social
I hope this email kills us both
October 29, 2025 at 4:33 PM
I hope this email kills us both
Reposted by DeclanKavanagh.bsky.social
I really hope outrage builds over historic abuse in institutions *not* run by nuns or brothers.
www.thejournal.ie/investigates...
www.thejournal.ie/investigates...
‘They have been sidelined’ - historic trauma at Ireland's mental institutions
The Journal Investigates hears allegations of historic neglect, forced labour and isolation in Ireland’s shuttered state-run asylums from the 1950s to the early 2000s.
www.thejournal.ie
October 28, 2025 at 9:54 AM
I really hope outrage builds over historic abuse in institutions *not* run by nuns or brothers.
www.thejournal.ie/investigates...
www.thejournal.ie/investigates...
Reposted by DeclanKavanagh.bsky.social
And people say the British press doesn't know anything about Ireland. They got this scoop, didn't they.
October 26, 2025 at 6:21 PM
And people say the British press doesn't know anything about Ireland. They got this scoop, didn't they.
I couldn’t vote because Irish citizens living abroad can’t, but I am delighted that Catherine Connolly won the Irish presidential campaign. You’ll hear lots about how this win isn’t actually a win for the Left but it is & more. It is a win for everyone who wants to live in decent world #Spèirgorm
October 25, 2025 at 8:54 PM
I couldn’t vote because Irish citizens living abroad can’t, but I am delighted that Catherine Connolly won the Irish presidential campaign. You’ll hear lots about how this win isn’t actually a win for the Left but it is & more. It is a win for everyone who wants to live in decent world #Spèirgorm
Reposted by DeclanKavanagh.bsky.social
Veteran far-left lawmaker Catherine Connolly wins Irish presidency in landslide.
https://cnn.it/4hpeTrW
https://cnn.it/4hpeTrW
October 25, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Veteran far-left lawmaker Catherine Connolly wins Irish presidency in landslide.
https://cnn.it/4hpeTrW
https://cnn.it/4hpeTrW
Reposted by DeclanKavanagh.bsky.social
Just a reminder that #SoldierF (David Cleary) who shot and murdered unarmed civilians on #BloodySunday, also operated a "mobile torture chamber" to electrocute and mutilate Irish nationalists in the 6 counties after Bloody Sunday.
So much for British Justice.
villagemagazine.ie/bloody-sunda...
So much for British Justice.
villagemagazine.ie/bloody-sunda...
October 23, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Just a reminder that #SoldierF (David Cleary) who shot and murdered unarmed civilians on #BloodySunday, also operated a "mobile torture chamber" to electrocute and mutilate Irish nationalists in the 6 counties after Bloody Sunday.
So much for British Justice.
villagemagazine.ie/bloody-sunda...
So much for British Justice.
villagemagazine.ie/bloody-sunda...
Reposted by DeclanKavanagh.bsky.social
There was no conceivable world in which the British justice system would find one of their own guilty of war crimes when they're enthusiastically supporting a genocide. But even still, the Bloody Sunday verdict is a slap in the face for all Irish people.
October 23, 2025 at 11:48 AM
There was no conceivable world in which the British justice system would find one of their own guilty of war crimes when they're enthusiastically supporting a genocide. But even still, the Bloody Sunday verdict is a slap in the face for all Irish people.
ENGLISH STAFF COFFEE + CAKE morning was a huge success! My earl grey Barmbrack told many fortunes 🔮 & people brought some lovely bakes to the table as well as much laughter! Excited for the next one @kent.ac.uk
October 21, 2025 at 1:54 PM
ENGLISH STAFF COFFEE + CAKE morning was a huge success! My earl grey Barmbrack told many fortunes 🔮 & people brought some lovely bakes to the table as well as much laughter! Excited for the next one @kent.ac.uk
Home made Irish barmbrack
October 20, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Home made Irish barmbrack
This crypt is purportedly said to house a Time Machine: cemeteriesroute.eu/projects/sto... #LondonMonthoftheDead
October 19, 2025 at 7:15 PM
This crypt is purportedly said to house a Time Machine: cemeteriesroute.eu/projects/sto... #LondonMonthoftheDead