Marc de Faoite
@marcdefaoite.bsky.social
Herbivorous open-water-swimming snowflake bookworm, b. 323.05 ppm. Irish in France. Writer/editor/translator. Work in in Honest Ulsterman, Minor Lit, Irish Times, Courrier International, Cormorant, Incubator, Eastlit, Jaggery, Mekong Review, Esquire ...
Pinned
Marc de Faoite
@marcdefaoite.bsky.social
· Oct 28
A Dubliner returning to France after 15 years away: ‘Here are some of the many changes I noticed’
A Dubliner returning to France finds smoky bars replaced by bubblegum clouds from vapes, that you no longer risk going tealess, and you can even ask directions in English
www.irishtimes.com
I wrote a piece for the @irishtimes.bsky.social about moving back to France after 15 years.
www.irishtimes.com/abroad/2024/...
www.irishtimes.com/abroad/2024/...
Me - I dream of a world with pedestrian crossings.
World - Here you go.
Me - Thanks. I dream of a world where people know how pedestrian crossings work and allow pedestrians to use them safely.
World - Never fucken happy, are ye?
World - Here you go.
Me - Thanks. I dream of a world where people know how pedestrian crossings work and allow pedestrians to use them safely.
World - Never fucken happy, are ye?
February 8, 2026 at 7:16 AM
Me - I dream of a world with pedestrian crossings.
World - Here you go.
Me - Thanks. I dream of a world where people know how pedestrian crossings work and allow pedestrians to use them safely.
World - Never fucken happy, are ye?
World - Here you go.
Me - Thanks. I dream of a world where people know how pedestrian crossings work and allow pedestrians to use them safely.
World - Never fucken happy, are ye?
This is the way.
A real pleasure to meet George Clarke and hear about his experiences growing up on a council estate. We both know the positive impact social housing can have on families’ lives.
That’s why I’m determined to continue delivering more council homes as we build a fairer London for everyone.
That’s why I’m determined to continue delivering more council homes as we build a fairer London for everyone.
February 7, 2026 at 8:39 PM
This is the way.
This is, well, wholesome, but I believe they understand their audience and they make some good points.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q50p...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q50p...
3 American myths we don't believe anymore after living in Europe
YouTube video by Baguette Bound
www.youtube.com
February 7, 2026 at 8:12 PM
This is, well, wholesome, but I believe they understand their audience and they make some good points.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q50p...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q50p...
Reposted by Marc de Faoite
Sara Baume does it again - this is the book equivalent of a deep life affirming breath and it’s been a joy to read over the last few days. Out in July from @grantabooks.bsky.social
February 6, 2026 at 10:17 PM
Sara Baume does it again - this is the book equivalent of a deep life affirming breath and it’s been a joy to read over the last few days. Out in July from @grantabooks.bsky.social
Reposted by Marc de Faoite
The Lonely Crowd will feature a new short story by a different author each month throughout 2026. For February, we are delighted to publish a new piece by @glynedwards.bsky.social.
thelonelycrowd.org/2026/02/06/s...
thelonelycrowd.org/2026/02/06/s...
Short Story of the Month: ‘Heartwood’ by Glyn Edwards
The Lonely Crowd will feature a new short story by a different author each month throughout 2026. For February, we are delighted to publish a new piece by Glyn Edwards. There was once a boy who bec…
thelonelycrowd.org
February 6, 2026 at 8:15 PM
The Lonely Crowd will feature a new short story by a different author each month throughout 2026. For February, we are delighted to publish a new piece by @glynedwards.bsky.social.
thelonelycrowd.org/2026/02/06/s...
thelonelycrowd.org/2026/02/06/s...
"We have cleared away our natural forests, dug out peatlands, converted hills to conifer plantations, drained wetlands, compacted soil under the weight of millions of farm animals and straightened rivers to create yet more grazing land" by @whittledaway.bsky.social
www.thejournal.ie/readme/storm...
www.thejournal.ie/readme/storm...
Ireland in the storms: Flood barriers won't save us if we keep draining the land
After flooding in the past, successive governments promised protections, but instead, doubled down on dredging and delayed land-use reform, leaving communities exposed, writes Pádraic Fogarty.
www.thejournal.ie
February 6, 2026 at 8:10 PM
"We have cleared away our natural forests, dug out peatlands, converted hills to conifer plantations, drained wetlands, compacted soil under the weight of millions of farm animals and straightened rivers to create yet more grazing land" by @whittledaway.bsky.social
www.thejournal.ie/readme/storm...
www.thejournal.ie/readme/storm...
Reposted by Marc de Faoite
The Distance.
My entry into the Super Bowl ad mix.
My entry into the Super Bowl ad mix.
February 6, 2026 at 2:08 PM
The Distance.
My entry into the Super Bowl ad mix.
My entry into the Super Bowl ad mix.
I went to school in Dunshaughlin, which auto-correct changes to "Unlaughing", which is so on the nose in relation to that experience that it has cast me back in time and made me quite upset.
#speirgorm
#speirgorm
February 5, 2026 at 5:35 PM
I went to school in Dunshaughlin, which auto-correct changes to "Unlaughing", which is so on the nose in relation to that experience that it has cast me back in time and made me quite upset.
#speirgorm
#speirgorm
Carney gave a rousing speech at Davos, but he is still in bed with Big Oil. Fossil fuels are almost obsolete. Better, safer alternatives exist. Imagine if every solar panel and wind turbine were incinerated after a few hours use. That's what we do with oil. #keepitintheground #juststopoil
Just about everything PM #MarkCarney does is a step backwards (and sometimes 3 or 4 steps) on #ClimateChange & #EnergyTransition.
www.cbc.ca/news/politic... #cdnpoli #CanadaSky #ClimateSky
www.cbc.ca/news/politic... #cdnpoli #CanadaSky #ClimateSky
Government expected to scrap EV mandate in favour of new fuel efficiency system: source | CBC News
The federal government is expected to announce its national automotive strategy on Thursday that includes scrapping Canada's electric vehicle mandate and replacing it with a new system of fuel efficie...
www.cbc.ca
February 5, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Carney gave a rousing speech at Davos, but he is still in bed with Big Oil. Fossil fuels are almost obsolete. Better, safer alternatives exist. Imagine if every solar panel and wind turbine were incinerated after a few hours use. That's what we do with oil. #keepitintheground #juststopoil
Reposted by Marc de Faoite
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
#Pinks #ProudBlue
February 5, 2026 at 11:50 AM
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
#Pinks #ProudBlue
"Every word is like an unnecessary stain on silence and nothingness." — Samuel Beckett
February 5, 2026 at 12:12 AM
"Every word is like an unnecessary stain on silence and nothingness." — Samuel Beckett
Reposted by Marc de Faoite
We are delighted to host a second course led by @susannacrossman.bsky.social
Through generative exercises, exploring texts from authors like Rebecca Solnit, Joan Didion, Noreen Massud, and Georges Perec we’ll be writing place and time, deciding where we’re standing and making this world alive.
Through generative exercises, exploring texts from authors like Rebecca Solnit, Joan Didion, Noreen Massud, and Georges Perec we’ll be writing place and time, deciding where we’re standing and making this world alive.
February 4, 2026 at 10:19 AM
We are delighted to host a second course led by @susannacrossman.bsky.social
Through generative exercises, exploring texts from authors like Rebecca Solnit, Joan Didion, Noreen Massud, and Georges Perec we’ll be writing place and time, deciding where we’re standing and making this world alive.
Through generative exercises, exploring texts from authors like Rebecca Solnit, Joan Didion, Noreen Massud, and Georges Perec we’ll be writing place and time, deciding where we’re standing and making this world alive.
Reposted by Marc de Faoite
‘When we know someone’s eyes are fixed on us, we cannot function freely, no, we cannot function at all. We want to shoot an arrow into the eye that watches.’
Fiction by Perumal Murugan.
granta.com/the-marketpl...
Fiction by Perumal Murugan.
granta.com/the-marketpl...
The Marketplace | Perumal Murugan | Granta
‘He had gone to school fearful that they might drag him along for some work otherwise. This was how he received an education.’
granta.com
January 29, 2026 at 12:00 PM
‘When we know someone’s eyes are fixed on us, we cannot function freely, no, we cannot function at all. We want to shoot an arrow into the eye that watches.’
Fiction by Perumal Murugan.
granta.com/the-marketpl...
Fiction by Perumal Murugan.
granta.com/the-marketpl...
The leader of France's far-right party is on her way to jail. She won't be able to stand for election for 5 years. But it's far from a fatal blow for the far-right, which has never been more popular. Just how popular, next month's municipal elections will tell.
www.lemonde.fr/politique/ar...
www.lemonde.fr/politique/ar...
Procès en appel des assistants FN : le parquet requiert quatre ans de prison, dont un an ferme, et cinq ans d’inéligibilité contre Marine Le Pen
En première instance, Marine Le Pen avait été condamnée à quatre ans d’emprisonnement dont deux avec sursis, 100 000 euros d’amende et cinq ans d’inéligibilité avec exécution immédiate.
www.lemonde.fr
February 3, 2026 at 9:35 PM
The leader of France's far-right party is on her way to jail. She won't be able to stand for election for 5 years. But it's far from a fatal blow for the far-right, which has never been more popular. Just how popular, next month's municipal elections will tell.
www.lemonde.fr/politique/ar...
www.lemonde.fr/politique/ar...
Reposted by Marc de Faoite
your first draft isn't perfect? what? that's weird. i've never heard of that happening before. maybe you should give up
February 2, 2026 at 9:44 PM
your first draft isn't perfect? what? that's weird. i've never heard of that happening before. maybe you should give up
If Henry David Thoreau was alive today he would be 209 (and he'd still have none of his teeth).
February 3, 2026 at 6:51 AM
If Henry David Thoreau was alive today he would be 209 (and he'd still have none of his teeth).
Word of the Day - Metonymy
Substituting the name of an attribute or adjunct for that of the thing meant, for example suit for business executive, straight for heterosexual, clown for politician.
Substituting the name of an attribute or adjunct for that of the thing meant, for example suit for business executive, straight for heterosexual, clown for politician.
February 3, 2026 at 6:48 AM
Word of the Day - Metonymy
Substituting the name of an attribute or adjunct for that of the thing meant, for example suit for business executive, straight for heterosexual, clown for politician.
Substituting the name of an attribute or adjunct for that of the thing meant, for example suit for business executive, straight for heterosexual, clown for politician.
What does it mean to create? What is music for?
Adam Neely focuses on the use of AI in music. TL;DR, he's not a fan, obvs, because yuck. Slop machines gonna slop.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8dc...
Adam Neely focuses on the use of AI in music. TL;DR, he's not a fan, obvs, because yuck. Slop machines gonna slop.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8dc...
Suno, AI Music, and the Bad Future
YouTube video by Adam Neely
www.youtube.com
February 2, 2026 at 8:56 PM
What does it mean to create? What is music for?
Adam Neely focuses on the use of AI in music. TL;DR, he's not a fan, obvs, because yuck. Slop machines gonna slop.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8dc...
Adam Neely focuses on the use of AI in music. TL;DR, he's not a fan, obvs, because yuck. Slop machines gonna slop.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8dc...
“All Moanday, Tearday, Wailsday, Thumpsday, Frightday, Shatterday.”
Happy Burstday Jimmy Jay
Happy Burstday Jimmy Jay
February 2, 2026 at 6:52 PM
“All Moanday, Tearday, Wailsday, Thumpsday, Frightday, Shatterday.”
Happy Burstday Jimmy Jay
Happy Burstday Jimmy Jay
Reposted by Marc de Faoite
My short, hot, review of Vigil by George Saunders.
I probably need to sit and think a bit more about it, but I wanted to put down some initial thoughts while it was still fresh in my mind.
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
I probably need to sit and think a bit more about it, but I wanted to put down some initial thoughts while it was still fresh in my mind.
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Marc Faoite's review of Vigil
5/5: Dead people. Dying people. Deathbeds. Interventions from the denizens of the the spirit world. Characters with the ability to merge and intrude upon each others inner worlds. It's déjà vu all o...
www.goodreads.com
February 2, 2026 at 5:30 PM
My short, hot, review of Vigil by George Saunders.
I probably need to sit and think a bit more about it, but I wanted to put down some initial thoughts while it was still fresh in my mind.
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
I probably need to sit and think a bit more about it, but I wanted to put down some initial thoughts while it was still fresh in my mind.
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
TL;DR - Car Brain (a.k.a Motornormativity) is at the heart of GMaps
www.youtube.com/watch?v=csHd...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=csHd...
Why I don't use Google Maps in Amsterdam
YouTube video by Not Just Bikes
www.youtube.com
February 1, 2026 at 7:33 PM
TL;DR - Car Brain (a.k.a Motornormativity) is at the heart of GMaps
www.youtube.com/watch?v=csHd...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=csHd...
One of the books I am most looking forward to reading this year.
www.theguardian.com/books/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/books/2026/j...
Glyph by Ali Smith review – bearing witness to the war in Gaza
This second novel in a sharp duology offers a powerful interrogation of language in the age of mechanical mass destruction
www.theguardian.com
February 1, 2026 at 6:46 PM
One of the books I am most looking forward to reading this year.
www.theguardian.com/books/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/books/2026/j...