Michael O'Connell
@moconnell007.bsky.social
Botanist, palaeoecologist. Research interests: long-term environmental change, local and global; also archaeology, geography, history & a spot of photography
Pinned
Aithbhliain for shéan is fé mhaise daoibh uile. Happy New Year
Earlier today in Loughshinny, nr. Skerries, Co. Dublin
Earlier today in Loughshinny, nr. Skerries, Co. Dublin
#Sunset this evening from historic Burrane graveyard, Co Clare, where Colleen Bawn is buried in grave of ancestor Peter O'Connell, compiler of early Irish dictionary. In foreground, Shannon estuary, beyond Kerry incl. Mount Brandon on Dingle peninsula & Atlantic Ocean @wildatlanticway.bsky.social
January 2, 2026 at 10:42 PM
#Sunset this evening from historic Burrane graveyard, Co Clare, where Colleen Bawn is buried in grave of ancestor Peter O'Connell, compiler of early Irish dictionary. In foreground, Shannon estuary, beyond Kerry incl. Mount Brandon on Dingle peninsula & Atlantic Ocean @wildatlanticway.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael O'Connell
Happy New Year! At midnight on Hogmanay, the Watch Stone will move from its position guarding the approach to the Ness of Brodgar to take a drink from Stenness loch. (Or so it is said!) Wishing you all a wonderful 2026, filled with folklore, fun and many a hike to an ancient site 💚🪨🎉
December 31, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Happy New Year! At midnight on Hogmanay, the Watch Stone will move from its position guarding the approach to the Ness of Brodgar to take a drink from Stenness loch. (Or so it is said!) Wishing you all a wonderful 2026, filled with folklore, fun and many a hike to an ancient site 💚🪨🎉
Reposted by Michael O'Connell
A December sunset on Galway Bay.
Happy Christmas 🎄
Happy Christmas 🎄
December 25, 2025 at 12:57 PM
A December sunset on Galway Bay.
Happy Christmas 🎄
Happy Christmas 🎄
Reposted by Michael O'Connell
Remarkable!
To end the year, here's some fabulous #ArchaeologyNews for #HillfortsWednesday - Ireland's largest hillfort!
Occupied from 1200-400 BC, with over 600 houses found so far, it's even larger than Maiden Castle!
🎆 See you all in 2026! 🎆
#archaeology #news
🏺 phys.org/news/2025-12...
Occupied from 1200-400 BC, with over 600 houses found so far, it's even larger than Maiden Castle!
🎆 See you all in 2026! 🎆
#archaeology #news
🏺 phys.org/news/2025-12...
Scientists have uncovered evidence of Ireland's largest prehistoric hillfort settlement
In a recent study published in Antiquity, Dr. Dirk Brandherm and his colleagues identified more than 600 suspected house platforms in the Brusselstown Ring hillfort, making it the largest nucleated se...
phys.org
December 31, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Remarkable!
Aithbhliain for shéan is fé mhaise daoibh uile. Happy New Year
Earlier today in Loughshinny, nr. Skerries, Co. Dublin
Earlier today in Loughshinny, nr. Skerries, Co. Dublin
December 31, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Aithbhliain for shéan is fé mhaise daoibh uile. Happy New Year
Earlier today in Loughshinny, nr. Skerries, Co. Dublin
Earlier today in Loughshinny, nr. Skerries, Co. Dublin
Merry Christmas / Nollaig shona / & Happy New Year / Aithbhliain faoi shéan is faoi mhaise díobh uile
December 24, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Merry Christmas / Nollaig shona / & Happy New Year / Aithbhliain faoi shéan is faoi mhaise díobh uile
#Equinox on Galway Bay, #Salthill, was special this pm. Occasionally the low winter sun broke through the low cloud; cold but relatively calm. Tide coming in, so shore birds busy making the most of opportunities presented. Brent geese attracting much attention & deservedly so
December 22, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Reposted by Michael O'Connell
In recent years, I usually see the odd pink anemone-like female Hazel catkin before Christmas. I was surprised this week though to see so many fully open male catkins & producing lots of pollen too!!!! #wildflowerhour
December 21, 2025 at 7:34 PM
In recent years, I usually see the odd pink anemone-like female Hazel catkin before Christmas. I was surprised this week though to see so many fully open male catkins & producing lots of pollen too!!!! #wildflowerhour
Recent lecture ‘Mineral Memories’ in Aula Maxima @uniofgalway.bsky.social by Bernie Colhoun www.instagram.com/bernie.colho.... Bernie wowed us by her multifaceted artistic endeavours, portraying #landscapes, #time, #archaeology & #geology of #Ireland; making the complex appear simple & to be enjoyed
December 11, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Recent lecture ‘Mineral Memories’ in Aula Maxima @uniofgalway.bsky.social by Bernie Colhoun www.instagram.com/bernie.colho.... Bernie wowed us by her multifaceted artistic endeavours, portraying #landscapes, #time, #archaeology & #geology of #Ireland; making the complex appear simple & to be enjoyed
December 11, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Reposted by Michael O'Connell
Linguists start compiling first ever complete dictionary of ancient Celtic
Linguists start compiling first ever complete dictionary of ancient Celtic
More than 1,000 words used as far back as 325BC to be collected for insight into past linguistic landscape
www.theguardian.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:43 AM
Linguists start compiling first ever complete dictionary of ancient Celtic
Reposted by Michael O'Connell
Are you a #teacher looking for training opportunities in #geosciences or seeking #financial assistance for events that promote geoscience #education?
Apply now for the 2026 Field School for Teachers and Geoscience Education Event!
📆 31 December 2025: egu.eu/96EKUA
📸 Ole Zeising on #imaggeo
Apply now for the 2026 Field School for Teachers and Geoscience Education Event!
📆 31 December 2025: egu.eu/96EKUA
📸 Ole Zeising on #imaggeo
December 7, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Are you a #teacher looking for training opportunities in #geosciences or seeking #financial assistance for events that promote geoscience #education?
Apply now for the 2026 Field School for Teachers and Geoscience Education Event!
📆 31 December 2025: egu.eu/96EKUA
📸 Ole Zeising on #imaggeo
Apply now for the 2026 Field School for Teachers and Geoscience Education Event!
📆 31 December 2025: egu.eu/96EKUA
📸 Ole Zeising on #imaggeo
Reposted by Michael O'Connell
Ancient forest 🌳 in the Northern of Spain
December 7, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Ancient forest 🌳 in the Northern of Spain
Reposted by Michael O'Connell
I thanked someone working there and they were so nice about it, and even asked me to sign a few copies
So you can probably get those ones at a discount now 😅
So you can probably get those ones at a discount now 😅
December 6, 2025 at 8:33 PM
I thanked someone working there and they were so nice about it, and even asked me to sign a few copies
So you can probably get those ones at a discount now 😅
So you can probably get those ones at a discount now 😅
Ireland's evolving landscape the theme of #IQUA Autumn Symposium at @geolsurvie.bsky.social HQ, Beggars Bush, D4. Lectures ranged widely over time & space; many new ideas & fresh insights on the 11past, present & future at this critical juncture in Ireland's development @quaternaryirl.bsky.social
December 5, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Ireland's evolving landscape the theme of #IQUA Autumn Symposium at @geolsurvie.bsky.social HQ, Beggars Bush, D4. Lectures ranged widely over time & space; many new ideas & fresh insights on the 11past, present & future at this critical juncture in Ireland's development @quaternaryirl.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael O'Connell
🎄 On the fifth day of #12PubsOfChristmas, we’re unwrapping Ireland’s past!
Fintan O’Toole’s A History of Ireland in 100 Objects tells the story of Ireland through artefacts – from a Mesolithic fish trap to a modern AK-47.
🎁 A timeless gift for anyone curious about Ireland’s heritage.
Fintan O’Toole’s A History of Ireland in 100 Objects tells the story of Ireland through artefacts – from a Mesolithic fish trap to a modern AK-47.
🎁 A timeless gift for anyone curious about Ireland’s heritage.
December 5, 2025 at 2:05 PM
🎄 On the fifth day of #12PubsOfChristmas, we’re unwrapping Ireland’s past!
Fintan O’Toole’s A History of Ireland in 100 Objects tells the story of Ireland through artefacts – from a Mesolithic fish trap to a modern AK-47.
🎁 A timeless gift for anyone curious about Ireland’s heritage.
Fintan O’Toole’s A History of Ireland in 100 Objects tells the story of Ireland through artefacts – from a Mesolithic fish trap to a modern AK-47.
🎁 A timeless gift for anyone curious about Ireland’s heritage.
Reposted by Michael O'Connell
Help us unlock the Plants of the Past, by supporting volunteers to digitise decades of paper records & inform C21st science!
@biggive.bsky.social
From #GivingTuesday to 9 Dec, we have £10K in matched funds to unlock: every donation, however small, will be doubled:
donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...
@biggive.bsky.social
From #GivingTuesday to 9 Dec, we have £10K in matched funds to unlock: every donation, however small, will be doubled:
donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...
Unlocking the Plants of the Past – Big Give
Decades of botanical observations of our vital wild plants are trapped in paper records and archives - through the efforts …
donate.biggive.org
December 2, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Help us unlock the Plants of the Past, by supporting volunteers to digitise decades of paper records & inform C21st science!
@biggive.bsky.social
From #GivingTuesday to 9 Dec, we have £10K in matched funds to unlock: every donation, however small, will be doubled:
donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...
@biggive.bsky.social
From #GivingTuesday to 9 Dec, we have £10K in matched funds to unlock: every donation, however small, will be doubled:
donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...
Reposted by Michael O'Connell
Just the Winter One rather than #thewinter10 in Conamara this week! Gorse / Aiteann (Ulex europaeus) can always be relied on for some flowers. #WildflowerHour
November 30, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Just the Winter One rather than #thewinter10 in Conamara this week! Gorse / Aiteann (Ulex europaeus) can always be relied on for some flowers. #WildflowerHour
Thanks to all participants, & esp leader, @johnjfwalsh.bsky.social, & @corkgeological.bsky.social participants for helping make this a trip for the ages. Not forgetting Muintir Árann (esp Noel & Máirtín) for facilitating the group. Got there in a storm! that quickly gave way to glorious sunshine
November 25, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Thanks to all participants, & esp leader, @johnjfwalsh.bsky.social, & @corkgeological.bsky.social participants for helping make this a trip for the ages. Not forgetting Muintir Árann (esp Noel & Máirtín) for facilitating the group. Got there in a storm! that quickly gave way to glorious sunshine
Yesterday, mid-afternoon on the Prom, #Claddagh / #Salthill. A weather front slowly approaching from the west but all still calm in #GalwayBay; people, incl. many new comers, oblivious of approaching rain & wind. Language-wise, the Tower of Babel; diverse tongues most of which I didn't recognise
November 23, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Yesterday, mid-afternoon on the Prom, #Claddagh / #Salthill. A weather front slowly approaching from the west but all still calm in #GalwayBay; people, incl. many new comers, oblivious of approaching rain & wind. Language-wise, the Tower of Babel; diverse tongues most of which I didn't recognise
School of Law @uniofgalway.bsky.social Annual Distinguished Lecture 2025: 'The US Government’s Challenge to Universities: The Attack on University Curricula’ delivered with much eloquence & passion by Prof William Treanor, Dean of Georgetown University Law Center @georgetownlaw.bsky.social
November 18, 2025 at 11:01 PM
School of Law @uniofgalway.bsky.social Annual Distinguished Lecture 2025: 'The US Government’s Challenge to Universities: The Attack on University Curricula’ delivered with much eloquence & passion by Prof William Treanor, Dean of Georgetown University Law Center @georgetownlaw.bsky.social
November 17, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Reposted by Michael O'Connell
The manuscript of the week is RIA MS 23 P 16, Leabhar Breac. Written in Irish by Murchadh Riabach Ó Cuindlis, at Cluain Lethan and Lothra (Lorrha) in Múscraige Tíre, in north Co. Tipperary, it is the largest Irish vellum manuscript by one scribe.
November 17, 2025 at 9:32 AM
The manuscript of the week is RIA MS 23 P 16, Leabhar Breac. Written in Irish by Murchadh Riabach Ó Cuindlis, at Cluain Lethan and Lothra (Lorrha) in Múscraige Tíre, in north Co. Tipperary, it is the largest Irish vellum manuscript by one scribe.
Reposted by Michael O'Connell
A wonderful little fungi family soak up the morning sunshine deep in the ancient woods at Abbeyleix House & Gardens @irishwoodlandtrust.bsky.social @claireissimo.bsky.social @charleenhurtubise.bsky.social
November 17, 2025 at 9:30 AM
A wonderful little fungi family soak up the morning sunshine deep in the ancient woods at Abbeyleix House & Gardens @irishwoodlandtrust.bsky.social @claireissimo.bsky.social @charleenhurtubise.bsky.social
Sure it is a tonic for myself given the weather we are having in Ireland. At least I made it across the Irish Sea just before the present downpours. Hope the bridges of Galway survive the waters of the swollen Corrib river. 😊🤔
Your travels are the perfect tonic to the late semester teaching blues, Michael. Keep us posted!
November 14, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Sure it is a tonic for myself given the weather we are having in Ireland. At least I made it across the Irish Sea just before the present downpours. Hope the bridges of Galway survive the waters of the swollen Corrib river. 😊🤔