Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
@matthewpb.bsky.social
Publisher, Little Island Books @littleislandbooks.bsky.social. The best new Irish writing for young readers.
Pinned
My favourite line in literature is in this book, describing Patrick Kavanagh’s extreme drunkenness during the “first Bloomsday”:
“Even on the journey out, he seemed to have been absorbing refreshment by some secret chemical process known only to himself.”
“Even on the journey out, he seemed to have been absorbing refreshment by some secret chemical process known only to himself.”
Anthony Cronin's acerbic memoir of 1950s literary Dublin 'Dead As Doornails' @lilliputpress.bsky.social. Superb, melancholy portraits of Brendan Behan, Flann O'Brien & Patrick Kavanagh, & from his London years Julian Maclaren-Ross, Robert MacBryde & Robert Colquhoun. New intro by Joseph O'Connor.
January 16, 2026 at 12:27 PM
My favourite line in literature is in this book, describing Patrick Kavanagh’s extreme drunkenness during the “first Bloomsday”:
“Even on the journey out, he seemed to have been absorbing refreshment by some secret chemical process known only to himself.”
“Even on the journey out, he seemed to have been absorbing refreshment by some secret chemical process known only to himself.”
This is THE book to read before you visit Dublin
Anthony Cronin's acerbic memoir of 1950s literary Dublin 'Dead As Doornails' @lilliputpress.bsky.social. Superb, melancholy portraits of Brendan Behan, Flann O'Brien & Patrick Kavanagh, & from his London years Julian Maclaren-Ross, Robert MacBryde & Robert Colquhoun. New intro by Joseph O'Connor.
January 16, 2026 at 12:17 PM
This is THE book to read before you visit Dublin
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
If I win the Nobel Peace Prize, I will happily use the medal (worth $20k in gold value today) to bribe some narcissistic dictator, especially if I get to keep the $1.2 million cash part of the prize.
January 16, 2026 at 12:12 PM
If I win the Nobel Peace Prize, I will happily use the medal (worth $20k in gold value today) to bribe some narcissistic dictator, especially if I get to keep the $1.2 million cash part of the prize.
What value to people get out of reading old classic works of history which have now been surpassed and contain facts or interpretations which have been discredited?
January 16, 2026 at 9:53 AM
What value to people get out of reading old classic works of history which have now been surpassed and contain facts or interpretations which have been discredited?
Troy Parrott’s main competitor at his club is a Dutch striker named Jizz Hornkamp
January 16, 2026 at 8:48 AM
Troy Parrott’s main competitor at his club is a Dutch striker named Jizz Hornkamp
Where do they plan to deport Native Americans to
Officials from the Oglala Sioux Tribe are unable to locate three tribal members after they were arrested by ICE in Minneapolis.
“There’s nobody more American than American Indians,” activist and immigration attorney Chase Iron Eyes said.
📸: Louis Krauss/The Minnesota Star Tribune.
“There’s nobody more American than American Indians,” activist and immigration attorney Chase Iron Eyes said.
📸: Louis Krauss/The Minnesota Star Tribune.
January 16, 2026 at 7:25 AM
Where do they plan to deport Native Americans to
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
Machado is in an impossible position made much worse by Trump, so the dumping on her for trying to eke out a result for her movement and many 1000s of people who sacrificed for it is a bit off.
January 16, 2026 at 7:05 AM
Machado is in an impossible position made much worse by Trump, so the dumping on her for trying to eke out a result for her movement and many 1000s of people who sacrificed for it is a bit off.
This eggcorn had been around for years online, so anyone saying it today is probably doing so knowingly
Heard a lad earlier talking about ‘Belgian whistles’
“A basic website costs 10k or 25k upwards if you want all the Belgian whistles”
BELGIAN WHISTLES
“A basic website costs 10k or 25k upwards if you want all the Belgian whistles”
BELGIAN WHISTLES
January 15, 2026 at 11:11 PM
This eggcorn had been around for years online, so anyone saying it today is probably doing so knowingly
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
Impressive result to top this IMF Skills readiness league which cites tertiary education & lifelong learning programs that help adapt as technology evolves as key.
52.4% of 25-64 y/o Irish people hold a Bachelor's degree or higher, the highest rate globally.
UK is outside top 25.
52.4% of 25-64 y/o Irish people hold a Bachelor's degree or higher, the highest rate globally.
UK is outside top 25.
January 15, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Impressive result to top this IMF Skills readiness league which cites tertiary education & lifelong learning programs that help adapt as technology evolves as key.
52.4% of 25-64 y/o Irish people hold a Bachelor's degree or higher, the highest rate globally.
UK is outside top 25.
52.4% of 25-64 y/o Irish people hold a Bachelor's degree or higher, the highest rate globally.
UK is outside top 25.
Text received from friend in Minneapolis:
“Really appreciate the note. Yeah, it’s terrible. School disrupted, tear gas a block from my office, everyone scared. It feels like a military occupation. We’re personally fine but it seems to only be getting worse.”
“Really appreciate the note. Yeah, it’s terrible. School disrupted, tear gas a block from my office, everyone scared. It feels like a military occupation. We’re personally fine but it seems to only be getting worse.”
January 15, 2026 at 10:29 PM
Text received from friend in Minneapolis:
“Really appreciate the note. Yeah, it’s terrible. School disrupted, tear gas a block from my office, everyone scared. It feels like a military occupation. We’re personally fine but it seems to only be getting worse.”
“Really appreciate the note. Yeah, it’s terrible. School disrupted, tear gas a block from my office, everyone scared. It feels like a military occupation. We’re personally fine but it seems to only be getting worse.”
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
"Officers threw flash bangs and tear gas in my car. I got six kids in the car"
"His wife, Destiny Jackson, told FOX 9 their 6-month-old infant stopped breathing and lost consciousness. She then performed CPR on her baby."
"His wife, Destiny Jackson, told FOX 9 their 6-month-old infant stopped breathing and lost consciousness. She then performed CPR on her baby."
January 15, 2026 at 8:22 PM
"Officers threw flash bangs and tear gas in my car. I got six kids in the car"
"His wife, Destiny Jackson, told FOX 9 their 6-month-old infant stopped breathing and lost consciousness. She then performed CPR on her baby."
"His wife, Destiny Jackson, told FOX 9 their 6-month-old infant stopped breathing and lost consciousness. She then performed CPR on her baby."
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
The chaotic way the US runs elections is weird. But the chaos is amazing protection because nobody can steal 50 elections at once
January 15, 2026 at 5:21 PM
The chaotic way the US runs elections is weird. But the chaos is amazing protection because nobody can steal 50 elections at once
Pee is stored in the balls
January 15, 2026 at 5:43 PM
Pee is stored in the balls
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
This is the sort of thing good people who care about other people say. It’s also very feminist.
January 15, 2026 at 3:25 PM
This is the sort of thing good people who care about other people say. It’s also very feminist.
Literary agents appear to be asking for 85% of rights sales now as standard. Could have sworn it was 70% just a few minutes ago.
What I’d like to know is: what do they think is involved in selling rights and why do they think we do it? Cos I am absolutely not wasting any time selling at 15% margin.
What I’d like to know is: what do they think is involved in selling rights and why do they think we do it? Cos I am absolutely not wasting any time selling at 15% margin.
January 15, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Literary agents appear to be asking for 85% of rights sales now as standard. Could have sworn it was 70% just a few minutes ago.
What I’d like to know is: what do they think is involved in selling rights and why do they think we do it? Cos I am absolutely not wasting any time selling at 15% margin.
What I’d like to know is: what do they think is involved in selling rights and why do they think we do it? Cos I am absolutely not wasting any time selling at 15% margin.
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
It’s Ernest’s birthday tomorrow.
“[He] was getting off a bus with his shopping when the doors closed on him. He immediately cried, ‘Stop! Stop! You are killing a genius!’” (Kenneth Williams)
🎨 Alexander Christie (1937)
“[He] was getting off a bus with his shopping when the doors closed on him. He immediately cried, ‘Stop! Stop! You are killing a genius!’” (Kenneth Williams)
🎨 Alexander Christie (1937)
January 15, 2026 at 12:23 AM
It’s Ernest’s birthday tomorrow.
“[He] was getting off a bus with his shopping when the doors closed on him. He immediately cried, ‘Stop! Stop! You are killing a genius!’” (Kenneth Williams)
🎨 Alexander Christie (1937)
“[He] was getting off a bus with his shopping when the doors closed on him. He immediately cried, ‘Stop! Stop! You are killing a genius!’” (Kenneth Williams)
🎨 Alexander Christie (1937)
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
talk Britain down all you like but we lead the world in petty trolling
January 15, 2026 at 1:15 PM
talk Britain down all you like but we lead the world in petty trolling
Septuagenarian man in this cafe wearing a Palestine badge and an Aontu badge, sitting at a table on his own and doggedly licking a 99 to extinction
January 15, 2026 at 1:13 PM
Septuagenarian man in this cafe wearing a Palestine badge and an Aontu badge, sitting at a table on his own and doggedly licking a 99 to extinction
A friend points out 1999 was also the year of the Blair Witch Project. What mean
January 15, 2026 at 1:05 PM
A friend points out 1999 was also the year of the Blair Witch Project. What mean
Nobody wants to see waste of public money but we’re going to have to accept that the cost of building absolutely anything in Dublin has become unbelievably expensive, and costs rising steeply between initial estimate and final bill is just the way it goes
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/dubl...
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/dubl...
Deer Park steps in south Dublin cost more than €500,000 above original estimate
Fourteen steps and ramp in Mount Merrion park originally estimated at €200,000, official records show
www.irishtimes.com
January 15, 2026 at 10:46 AM
Nobody wants to see waste of public money but we’re going to have to accept that the cost of building absolutely anything in Dublin has become unbelievably expensive, and costs rising steeply between initial estimate and final bill is just the way it goes
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/dubl...
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/dubl...
I’ve only ever known one Greenlander, and he was the most annoying loudmouth you could meet. Trying not to let this colour my opinion of the crisis.
January 15, 2026 at 9:33 AM
I’ve only ever known one Greenlander, and he was the most annoying loudmouth you could meet. Trying not to let this colour my opinion of the crisis.
Does anyone remember “psychogeography”?
January 15, 2026 at 9:02 AM
Does anyone remember “psychogeography”?
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
Saw a reference to ‘dualistic’ thinkers who approach everything with the attitude of whether they agree or disagree with it. I’m afflicted with a different dualism: is it interesting or boring?
January 13, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Saw a reference to ‘dualistic’ thinkers who approach everything with the attitude of whether they agree or disagree with it. I’m afflicted with a different dualism: is it interesting or boring?