Ken McDonagh
@kenmcdonagh.bsky.social
Associate Prof in IR, DCU, research EU security & defence, occasional runner, dad of triplets, mo thuairim fèin
Reposted by Ken McDonagh
"What we need is a transport system that supports heath. This means safe, high-quality infrastructure for walking and cycling integrated with high quality public transport that is complimented by car use when needed."
Excellent article by Dr. Catherine Conlon.
www.thejournal.ie/readme/road-...
Excellent article by Dr. Catherine Conlon.
www.thejournal.ie/readme/road-...
Opinion: 2025 was a devastating year on Irish roads. We need a transport system that keeps us safe
Safety of pedestrians and cyclists on Irish roads is going in exactly the wrong direction, writes Dr Catherine Conlon.
www.thejournal.ie
January 3, 2026 at 8:40 PM
"What we need is a transport system that supports heath. This means safe, high-quality infrastructure for walking and cycling integrated with high quality public transport that is complimented by car use when needed."
Excellent article by Dr. Catherine Conlon.
www.thejournal.ie/readme/road-...
Excellent article by Dr. Catherine Conlon.
www.thejournal.ie/readme/road-...
Reposted by Ken McDonagh
If this is true, the closest comparison for the Venezuela operation isn't Iraq but Panama. In both cases, the invasion was portrayed as a police action to capture a head of state to stand trial in the US for drug trafficking...
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was arrested to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States and no further military action is expected, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Senator Mike Lee.
January 3, 2026 at 11:39 AM
If this is true, the closest comparison for the Venezuela operation isn't Iraq but Panama. In both cases, the invasion was portrayed as a police action to capture a head of state to stand trial in the US for drug trafficking...
Reposted by Ken McDonagh
It means absolutely nothing to anyone concerned right now but here's what the United Nations says about kidnapping Heads of State.
legal.un.org/ilc/texts/in...
legal.un.org/ilc/texts/in...
January 3, 2026 at 9:45 AM
It means absolutely nothing to anyone concerned right now but here's what the United Nations says about kidnapping Heads of State.
legal.un.org/ilc/texts/in...
legal.un.org/ilc/texts/in...
Reposted by Ken McDonagh
A note that just because the President of the United States used the word 'captured' doesn't mean news organisations should just use it without attribution... or maybe at all really?
January 3, 2026 at 9:51 AM
A note that just because the President of the United States used the word 'captured' doesn't mean news organisations should just use it without attribution... or maybe at all really?
Reposted by Ken McDonagh
guys, "the judges at the ICC are being sanctioned by the USA and can't access their iphones or bank accounts" and "why aren't any countries banning twitter or prosecuting elon musk for owning a site that manufactures CSAM" stories are the same story
January 2, 2026 at 6:58 PM
guys, "the judges at the ICC are being sanctioned by the USA and can't access their iphones or bank accounts" and "why aren't any countries banning twitter or prosecuting elon musk for owning a site that manufactures CSAM" stories are the same story
Reposted by Ken McDonagh
New Guest Gist: 2026, Our already rotting future
Séamas O’Reilly somehow failed to stop AI with his Gist pointing out its many many lies last year. Surely this time he will see it off?
www.thegist.ie/guest-gist-2...
Séamas O’Reilly somehow failed to stop AI with his Gist pointing out its many many lies last year. Surely this time he will see it off?
www.thegist.ie/guest-gist-2...
Guest Gist: 2026, Our Already Rotting Future
Seamus O'Reilly warns of AI maximum bubbledrive this year.
www.thegist.ie
January 2, 2026 at 9:50 AM
New Guest Gist: 2026, Our already rotting future
Séamas O’Reilly somehow failed to stop AI with his Gist pointing out its many many lies last year. Surely this time he will see it off?
www.thegist.ie/guest-gist-2...
Séamas O’Reilly somehow failed to stop AI with his Gist pointing out its many many lies last year. Surely this time he will see it off?
www.thegist.ie/guest-gist-2...
Reposted by Ken McDonagh
A not-so-brief summary of where we are at heading into the new year in terms of polling, with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael trending down, an Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats trending up. Featuring analysis for every constituency, read below 👇
irishelectionprojections.com/2025/12/30/e...
irishelectionprojections.com/2025/12/30/e...
End of 2025 Projections Update
2024 Result Fianna Fáil 48Sinn Féin 39Fine Gael 38Independents 16Social Democrats 11Labour 11Independent Ireland 4PBP/Solidarity 3Aontú 2Green Party 1100% Redress 1 Current Projection Fianna Fáil 4…
irishelectionprojections.com
December 30, 2025 at 2:28 PM
A not-so-brief summary of where we are at heading into the new year in terms of polling, with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael trending down, an Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats trending up. Featuring analysis for every constituency, read below 👇
irishelectionprojections.com/2025/12/30/e...
irishelectionprojections.com/2025/12/30/e...
Reposted by Ken McDonagh
Famously Sauron is known for never allowing his home to he penetrated by intruders.
Sauron is appearing on the scene as concerns rise about crime among the most wealthy.
Sauron, the high-end home security startup for "super premium" customers, plucks a new CEO out of Sonos | TechCrunch
Sauron is appearing on the scene as concerns rise about crime among the most wealthy.
techcrunch.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Famously Sauron is known for never allowing his home to he penetrated by intruders.
Reposted by Ken McDonagh
You'll never see a professional cleaner using a Dyson, but they all love Henrys.
Reminder that Henry Hoovers are made in Britain by a unionised workforce
He sucks
December 27, 2025 at 4:40 PM
You'll never see a professional cleaner using a Dyson, but they all love Henrys.
Dollymount sunset, St Stephen’s Day 2025
December 26, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Dollymount sunset, St Stephen’s Day 2025
Reposted by Ken McDonagh
December 23, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Reposted by Ken McDonagh
My entire X timeline is anti-EU posts from people I don't follow.
Even if I change it from 'for you' to 'following', it switches back to 'for you' each time I open the site.
X is being weaponised against the EU. And unfortunately X is still the public square for European journalists & politicians.
Even if I change it from 'for you' to 'following', it switches back to 'for you' each time I open the site.
X is being weaponised against the EU. And unfortunately X is still the public square for European journalists & politicians.
December 21, 2025 at 1:47 PM
My entire X timeline is anti-EU posts from people I don't follow.
Even if I change it from 'for you' to 'following', it switches back to 'for you' each time I open the site.
X is being weaponised against the EU. And unfortunately X is still the public square for European journalists & politicians.
Even if I change it from 'for you' to 'following', it switches back to 'for you' each time I open the site.
X is being weaponised against the EU. And unfortunately X is still the public square for European journalists & politicians.
Reposted by Ken McDonagh
A big part of being a historian is being a detective! Who did this? Why? Where? Why does it matter in the grand scheme of things? You have to learn how to probe, how to uncover, how to read against the grain, how to find unusual sources, how to interpret those sources. How to piece together a puzzle
It also robs students of learning *how* to research.
December 21, 2025 at 2:01 PM
A big part of being a historian is being a detective! Who did this? Why? Where? Why does it matter in the grand scheme of things? You have to learn how to probe, how to uncover, how to read against the grain, how to find unusual sources, how to interpret those sources. How to piece together a puzzle
Reposted by Ken McDonagh
I have a letter in today’s Irish Times about Ireland and the ECHR and the apparent shift in the Irish government’s position towards reform of the Convention signalled recently by the Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan TD #ECHR
December 20, 2025 at 6:55 AM
I have a letter in today’s Irish Times about Ireland and the ECHR and the apparent shift in the Irish government’s position towards reform of the Convention signalled recently by the Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan TD #ECHR
Reposted by Ken McDonagh
Move over Bluetooth: wired headphones are back – and suddenly cool again
Move over Bluetooth: wired headphones are back – and suddenly cool again
From celebrity endorsements to digital fatigue, the once-obsolete white wire has become a fashion statement and a quiet act of opting out
www.theguardian.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Move over Bluetooth: wired headphones are back – and suddenly cool again
Reposted by Ken McDonagh
Our neighbours at @tcdpoliticalsci.bsky.social are hiring 3 (!) tenure-track faculty members:
– Assistant Professor in Political Economy
– Assistant Professor in International Politics
– Assistant Professor in Political Science
Deadline: 15 Jan 2026
More details: jobs.tcd.ie
@tcddublin.bsky.social
– Assistant Professor in Political Economy
– Assistant Professor in International Politics
– Assistant Professor in Political Science
Deadline: 15 Jan 2026
More details: jobs.tcd.ie
@tcddublin.bsky.social
December 19, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Our neighbours at @tcdpoliticalsci.bsky.social are hiring 3 (!) tenure-track faculty members:
– Assistant Professor in Political Economy
– Assistant Professor in International Politics
– Assistant Professor in Political Science
Deadline: 15 Jan 2026
More details: jobs.tcd.ie
@tcddublin.bsky.social
– Assistant Professor in Political Economy
– Assistant Professor in International Politics
– Assistant Professor in Political Science
Deadline: 15 Jan 2026
More details: jobs.tcd.ie
@tcddublin.bsky.social
Reposted by Ken McDonagh
Women, Peace and Security in the Age of Fragmentation
LauraWise, Kasia Houghton, and Fiona Campbell discuss an SCGA Insight report following a workshop - with their colleague Salma Yusuf - supported by SCGA and PeaceRep, held at Edinburgh Law School on 02.10.2025
open.spotify.com/episode/0BBZ...
LauraWise, Kasia Houghton, and Fiona Campbell discuss an SCGA Insight report following a workshop - with their colleague Salma Yusuf - supported by SCGA and PeaceRep, held at Edinburgh Law School on 02.10.2025
open.spotify.com/episode/0BBZ...
Women, Peace and Security in the Age of Fragmentation
open.spotify.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Women, Peace and Security in the Age of Fragmentation
LauraWise, Kasia Houghton, and Fiona Campbell discuss an SCGA Insight report following a workshop - with their colleague Salma Yusuf - supported by SCGA and PeaceRep, held at Edinburgh Law School on 02.10.2025
open.spotify.com/episode/0BBZ...
LauraWise, Kasia Houghton, and Fiona Campbell discuss an SCGA Insight report following a workshop - with their colleague Salma Yusuf - supported by SCGA and PeaceRep, held at Edinburgh Law School on 02.10.2025
open.spotify.com/episode/0BBZ...
Reposted by Ken McDonagh
My IR department at the CEU in Vienna, Austria is hiring a security scholar. I am happy to answer questions.
careers.ceu.edu/job/Vienna-A...
careers.ceu.edu/job/Vienna-A...
Assistant Professor (f/m/d)
Assistant Professor (f/m/d)
careers.ceu.edu
December 17, 2025 at 6:07 PM
My IR department at the CEU in Vienna, Austria is hiring a security scholar. I am happy to answer questions.
careers.ceu.edu/job/Vienna-A...
careers.ceu.edu/job/Vienna-A...
Reposted by Ken McDonagh
Building social cohesion by identifying certain groups in society, blaming them for all ills and demanding they be cast out
I am very smart. Make me Taoiseach.
I am very smart. Make me Taoiseach.
December 17, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Building social cohesion by identifying certain groups in society, blaming them for all ills and demanding they be cast out
I am very smart. Make me Taoiseach.
I am very smart. Make me Taoiseach.
Reposted by Ken McDonagh
As an ex Erasmus student and coordinator, I'm delighted both for our @nclpolitics.bsky.social students who will benefit from more funding clarity, and for our partner universities' students, for whom a semester or year with us will be more affordable again. Good news for a change!
EXCL: An agreement to rejoin Erasmus – the EU’s student exchange programme – set to be announced on Wednesday as part of UK government’s drive towards closer relations with Brussels.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
UK to rejoin EU’s Erasmus student exchange programme
Exclusive: British students will be able to participate in EU-wide scheme from January 2027, sources say
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 8:15 PM
As an ex Erasmus student and coordinator, I'm delighted both for our @nclpolitics.bsky.social students who will benefit from more funding clarity, and for our partner universities' students, for whom a semester or year with us will be more affordable again. Good news for a change!
Reposted by Ken McDonagh
I read the new security strategy that Switzerland published a few days ago.
It’s really quite good in my view!
A 🧵
The whole strategy is available in English here
www.news.admin.ch/en/newnsb/BL...
It’s really quite good in my view!
A 🧵
The whole strategy is available in English here
www.news.admin.ch/en/newnsb/BL...
December 16, 2025 at 5:00 PM
I read the new security strategy that Switzerland published a few days ago.
It’s really quite good in my view!
A 🧵
The whole strategy is available in English here
www.news.admin.ch/en/newnsb/BL...
It’s really quite good in my view!
A 🧵
The whole strategy is available in English here
www.news.admin.ch/en/newnsb/BL...
Reposted by Ken McDonagh
Sanctuary Runners reject Justice Minister’s claims of a breakdown in social cohesion caused by people seeking international protection
December 16, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Sanctuary Runners reject Justice Minister’s claims of a breakdown in social cohesion caused by people seeking international protection
Reposted by Ken McDonagh
Saying that the European Convention on Human Rights has gone too far is like saying that seat belts have gone too far. Because really, seat belts are non invasive, a minor thing, something you hardly notice. That is, of course, until things get really bad. Then you’re really glad about the seat belt
December 16, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Saying that the European Convention on Human Rights has gone too far is like saying that seat belts have gone too far. Because really, seat belts are non invasive, a minor thing, something you hardly notice. That is, of course, until things get really bad. Then you’re really glad about the seat belt
Reposted by Ken McDonagh
The thing about tying attacks on Jews back to Israel is that people have never needed Israel as an excuse to attack Jews
If you don't understand this you don't know enough to be talking about anti-semitism and should shut the fuck up
If you don't understand this you don't know enough to be talking about anti-semitism and should shut the fuck up
December 15, 2025 at 12:15 PM
The thing about tying attacks on Jews back to Israel is that people have never needed Israel as an excuse to attack Jews
If you don't understand this you don't know enough to be talking about anti-semitism and should shut the fuck up
If you don't understand this you don't know enough to be talking about anti-semitism and should shut the fuck up
This is generating a lot #spéirgorm activity today, a few thoughts 1) the requirement for a UN resolution has been there since 1960, the term “triple lock” dates from the Nice referendum debates but nothing actually changed in terms of deployment 2) we do still have a constitutional prohibition 1/n
Triple-lock reforms are about ‘taking back sovereignty’, Helen McEntee says
Triple-lock reforms are about ‘taking back sovereignty’, Helen McEntee says
Government moving ‘quickly’ on legislation to remove need for UN mandate for peacekeeping missions
www.irishtimes.com
December 15, 2025 at 10:44 AM
This is generating a lot #spéirgorm activity today, a few thoughts 1) the requirement for a UN resolution has been there since 1960, the term “triple lock” dates from the Nice referendum debates but nothing actually changed in terms of deployment 2) we do still have a constitutional prohibition 1/n