Gavan Reilly
@gavreilly.com
Politics guy @virginmedianews.bsky.social; one third of The Group Chat podcast; columns here and there; author of 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞: linktr.ee/gavreilly
December 25, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Middle age is timing your way through the audiobooks of Yes Minister so that you land on Party Games, the hour-long 1984 Christmas Special, on the night of Christmas Eve
December 24, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Middle age is timing your way through the audiobooks of Yes Minister so that you land on Party Games, the hour-long 1984 Christmas Special, on the night of Christmas Eve
It’s that time of year again… and I’m sharing a photo of me from 1993. That’s how seriously I’m taking this.
Going live on Instagram, at 3pm on Christmas Day, to take piano requests. Unplanned, unprepared.
All in aid of the wonderful work of AsIAm.
idonate.ie/gavplayspiano
Going live on Instagram, at 3pm on Christmas Day, to take piano requests. Unplanned, unprepared.
All in aid of the wonderful work of AsIAm.
idonate.ie/gavplayspiano
December 23, 2025 at 9:34 PM
It’s that time of year again… and I’m sharing a photo of me from 1993. That’s how seriously I’m taking this.
Going live on Instagram, at 3pm on Christmas Day, to take piano requests. Unplanned, unprepared.
All in aid of the wonderful work of AsIAm.
idonate.ie/gavplayspiano
Going live on Instagram, at 3pm on Christmas Day, to take piano requests. Unplanned, unprepared.
All in aid of the wonderful work of AsIAm.
idonate.ie/gavplayspiano
[INT. LIVING ROOM ON DECEMBER 23]
FOUR-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER: [suddenly sounding bereft, surrounded by almost empty advent calendars and literally within five feet of the Christmas tree] When is it going to be Valentine’s Day?
FOUR-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER: [suddenly sounding bereft, surrounded by almost empty advent calendars and literally within five feet of the Christmas tree] When is it going to be Valentine’s Day?
December 23, 2025 at 8:50 AM
[INT. LIVING ROOM ON DECEMBER 23]
FOUR-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER: [suddenly sounding bereft, surrounded by almost empty advent calendars and literally within five feet of the Christmas tree] When is it going to be Valentine’s Day?
FOUR-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER: [suddenly sounding bereft, surrounded by almost empty advent calendars and literally within five feet of the Christmas tree] When is it going to be Valentine’s Day?
Thanks @liseinthecity.bsky.social and @paschaldonohoe.bsky.social (the latter on his lunch break from DC, I think) for saying nice things about The Secret Life of Leinster House in the Last Word annual book review www.todayfm.com/podcasts/the...
Non-Fiction Books Of The Year With Paschal Donohoe And Lise Hand
Paschal Donohoe, Managing Director of the World Bank and journalist Lise Hand return to give their non-fiction recommendations of the year. Their choices are...
www.todayfm.com
December 20, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Thanks @liseinthecity.bsky.social and @paschaldonohoe.bsky.social (the latter on his lunch break from DC, I think) for saying nice things about The Secret Life of Leinster House in the Last Word annual book review www.todayfm.com/podcasts/the...
🚨 annual ‘Santa has clearance to enter Irish airspace’ announcement 🚨
December 17, 2025 at 9:56 PM
🚨 annual ‘Santa has clearance to enter Irish airspace’ announcement 🚨
Daughter (4) came into the room and cheered ‘Ally Pallyyyy!’. Parenting goals.
December 17, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Daughter (4) came into the room and cheered ‘Ally Pallyyyy!’. Parenting goals.
Bad news for Fianna Fáil political staff: wheels are now in motion for the internal report into JimGavinGate to be released tomorrow, thus prompting a special meeting/showdown of the FF PP probably tomorrow night… which was supposed to be their staff Christmas drinks
December 15, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Bad news for Fianna Fáil political staff: wheels are now in motion for the internal report into JimGavinGate to be released tomorrow, thus prompting a special meeting/showdown of the FF PP probably tomorrow night… which was supposed to be their staff Christmas drinks
The very tone of this statement from Micheál Martin (who hasn’t yet seen/received THAT internal report) illustrates the pressure he’s under - in 16 years leading the party he has never seen fit to issue a statement as defensive and adversarial as this
December 15, 2025 at 6:03 PM
The very tone of this statement from Micheál Martin (who hasn’t yet seen/received THAT internal report) illustrates the pressure he’s under - in 16 years leading the party he has never seen fit to issue a statement as defensive and adversarial as this
Presented without comment
December 12, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Presented without comment
Was at a press conference earlier where, of the eight reporters present, five work/had worked for @thejournal.ie. That gene pool, man
December 11, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Was at a press conference earlier where, of the eight reporters present, five work/had worked for @thejournal.ie. That gene pool, man
NEW: European Council President Antonio Costa is the first person to publicly identify Russia as responsible for the unidentified drones off Dublin Bay last week - “another example of the hybrid attacks from Russia”, he says.
@virginmedianews.bsky.social
@virginmedianews.bsky.social
December 9, 2025 at 2:36 PM
NEW: European Council President Antonio Costa is the first person to publicly identify Russia as responsible for the unidentified drones off Dublin Bay last week - “another example of the hybrid attacks from Russia”, he says.
@virginmedianews.bsky.social
@virginmedianews.bsky.social
December 5, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Exclusive footage of how they designed the FIFA Peace Prize
December 5, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Exclusive footage of how they designed the FIFA Peace Prize
December 4th: the first “Five Cantonaaaaaas” of the season
December 4, 2025 at 9:21 PM
December 4th: the first “Five Cantonaaaaaas” of the season
Eurovisi-off www.rte.ie/entertainmen...
RTÉ to boycott Eurovision Song Contest over Israel
RTÉ will not participate in or broadcast next year's Eurovision Song Contest after organiser the European Broadcasting Union confirmed today that Israel will be allowed to take part.
www.rte.ie
December 4, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Eurovisi-off www.rte.ie/entertainmen...
POLL: Business Post/Red C
(November 21-26, MoE 3%)
Sinn Féin 22 (-1 in five weeks)
Fianna Fáil 18 (+1)
Fine Gael 17 (-1)
Social Democrats 8 (-1)
Aontú 6 (+2)
Ind Ireland 4 (-1)
Labour 4
PBP-Solidarity 3
Greens 3
Inds/others 14 (+2)
www.businesspost.ie/politics/vot...
(November 21-26, MoE 3%)
Sinn Féin 22 (-1 in five weeks)
Fianna Fáil 18 (+1)
Fine Gael 17 (-1)
Social Democrats 8 (-1)
Aontú 6 (+2)
Ind Ireland 4 (-1)
Labour 4
PBP-Solidarity 3
Greens 3
Inds/others 14 (+2)
www.businesspost.ie/politics/vot...
Voters like the message, but not the messenger: Red C Poll shows strong support for policies of slumping coalition
www.businesspost.ie
November 30, 2025 at 11:18 AM
POLL: Business Post/Red C
(November 21-26, MoE 3%)
Sinn Féin 22 (-1 in five weeks)
Fianna Fáil 18 (+1)
Fine Gael 17 (-1)
Social Democrats 8 (-1)
Aontú 6 (+2)
Ind Ireland 4 (-1)
Labour 4
PBP-Solidarity 3
Greens 3
Inds/others 14 (+2)
www.businesspost.ie/politics/vot...
(November 21-26, MoE 3%)
Sinn Féin 22 (-1 in five weeks)
Fianna Fáil 18 (+1)
Fine Gael 17 (-1)
Social Democrats 8 (-1)
Aontú 6 (+2)
Ind Ireland 4 (-1)
Labour 4
PBP-Solidarity 3
Greens 3
Inds/others 14 (+2)
www.businesspost.ie/politics/vot...
Reposted by Gavan Reilly
Finally getting some theological clarity on the ethics of reclining in one’s plane seat
November 29, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Finally getting some theological clarity on the ethics of reclining in one’s plane seat
“Send him off! Send the dirty git off! Get him off the field! That were diabolical! Walk him, Campbell, if you’ve got any bottle! … He’s give ‘im a yellow card. I can’t spake. You bottless git, Campbell, you dick’ead. You bottless git. I can’t spake.”
November 29, 2025 at 12:53 PM
“Send him off! Send the dirty git off! Get him off the field! That were diabolical! Walk him, Campbell, if you’ve got any bottle! … He’s give ‘im a yellow card. I can’t spake. You bottless git, Campbell, you dick’ead. You bottless git. I can’t spake.”
Legitimate change to consumer law: reintroduce the clause where a ‘discounted’ price can only be advertised if the previous ‘higher’ price was charged for a minimum period of time, e.g. 30 days of previous 90
While they’re at it:
Ban ‘Black Friday’ promotions ending before Black Friday occurs
While they’re at it:
Ban ‘Black Friday’ promotions ending before Black Friday occurs
November 26, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Legitimate change to consumer law: reintroduce the clause where a ‘discounted’ price can only be advertised if the previous ‘higher’ price was charged for a minimum period of time, e.g. 30 days of previous 90
While they’re at it:
Ban ‘Black Friday’ promotions ending before Black Friday occurs
While they’re at it:
Ban ‘Black Friday’ promotions ending before Black Friday occurs
The Dáil has heard a suggestion that Dublin Airport be named after the former Taoiseach Sean Lemass.
Any counteroffers?
Any counteroffers?
November 25, 2025 at 4:40 PM
The Dáil has heard a suggestion that Dublin Airport be named after the former Taoiseach Sean Lemass.
Any counteroffers?
Any counteroffers?
A serving Garda has today been arrested under organised crime legislation, as part of an inquiry into the alleged removal of a significant quantity of drugs from a Garda station in 2024. Five other non-Gardaí have also been arrested
November 19, 2025 at 9:51 PM
A serving Garda has today been arrested under organised crime legislation, as part of an inquiry into the alleged removal of a significant quantity of drugs from a Garda station in 2024. Five other non-Gardaí have also been arrested
Hildegarde Naughton will be new Education Minister. Simon Harris will take finance, Helen McEntee foreign affairs and defence. Emer Higgins will be the new FG super junior at Dept of Children. Frank Feighan will be a junior minister for public procurement. @virginmedianews.bsky.social
November 18, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Hildegarde Naughton will be new Education Minister. Simon Harris will take finance, Helen McEntee foreign affairs and defence. Emer Higgins will be the new FG super junior at Dept of Children. Frank Feighan will be a junior minister for public procurement. @virginmedianews.bsky.social
NEW: Paschal Donohoe is resigning as MInister for Finance, and as a TD, in order to take up a role with the World Bank in Washington. Announcement expected after this morning's Cabinet meeting. @virginmedianews.bsky.social
November 18, 2025 at 9:45 AM
NEW: Paschal Donohoe is resigning as MInister for Finance, and as a TD, in order to take up a role with the World Bank in Washington. Announcement expected after this morning's Cabinet meeting. @virginmedianews.bsky.social