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
www.mdpi.com
#Dingle reveals previously unknown features of its post-glacial vegetation & farming history. Pleased to report on strawberry tree (#Arbutus), buckwheat (#Fagopyrum) cultivation & extensive pre-bog #fields at Kilmore Td www.mdpi.com/3378528 @mdpiopenaccess.bsky.social #mdpidiversity #Kerry #Ireland
Reposted by Michael O'Connell
#GGA lecture this evening at 7 pm: The Ethics of Mineral Extraction by Dr Nick O'Neill. The subject matter has seldom been more topical 😳
Tuesday, 11 Nov, 19:00 h, #GGA Zoom lecture: The Ethics of Mineral Extraction by Dr Nick O'Neill, #TCD. Earthrise (Dec 24 1968), by Bill Anders (NASA, Apollo 8), shows earth as a fragile blue marble in blackness of space. It inspired the 1st Earth Day 1970 & this lecture. www.galwaygeology.net
November 11, 2025 at 5:42 PM
#GGA lecture this evening at 7 pm: The Ethics of Mineral Extraction by Dr Nick O'Neill. The subject matter has seldom been more topical 😳
Climbed to the crater of #Vesuvius yesterday. Amazing to see gases emerging & smell S. Unfortunately, no explanations of the complex stratigraphy. Vegetation struggling to gain a foothold on the Volcanic deposits. Panoramic views of the Bay of Naples
November 7, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Climbed to the crater of #Vesuvius yesterday. Amazing to see gases emerging & smell S. Unfortunately, no explanations of the complex stratigraphy. Vegetation struggling to gain a foothold on the Volcanic deposits. Panoramic views of the Bay of Naples
Reposted by Michael O'Connell
Tuesday, 11 Nov, 19:00 h, #GGA Zoom lecture: The Ethics of Mineral Extraction by Dr Nick O'Neill, #TCD. Earthrise (Dec 24 1968), by Bill Anders (NASA, Apollo 8), shows earth as a fragile blue marble in blackness of space. It inspired the 1st Earth Day 1970 & this lecture. www.galwaygeology.net
November 4, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Tuesday, 11 Nov, 19:00 h, #GGA Zoom lecture: The Ethics of Mineral Extraction by Dr Nick O'Neill, #TCD. Earthrise (Dec 24 1968), by Bill Anders (NASA, Apollo 8), shows earth as a fragile blue marble in blackness of space. It inspired the 1st Earth Day 1970 & this lecture. www.galwaygeology.net
End July 2025 retraced my steps to #Inishturk, Co #Mayo on @wildatlanticway.bsky.social. Weather not as good as in April, but managed to get reasonable photos, according to my own lights! #Fulmars still plentiful on western cliffs; single chicks in some of nests. Inishturk awe inspiring as ever
November 1, 2025 at 11:10 PM
End July 2025 retraced my steps to #Inishturk, Co #Mayo on @wildatlanticway.bsky.social. Weather not as good as in April, but managed to get reasonable photos, according to my own lights! #Fulmars still plentiful on western cliffs; single chicks in some of nests. Inishturk awe inspiring as ever
Reposted by Michael O'Connell
The #ClimateEmergency and #NatureCrisis are intimately interlinked.
And we can ill afford to lose these trees on these under-forested islands
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
And we can ill afford to lose these trees on these under-forested islands
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Hot summer and damp autumn cause UK boom in destructive honey fungus
Huge increase in tree-killing disease is result of climate crisis, experts say
www.theguardian.com
November 1, 2025 at 12:18 PM
The #ClimateEmergency and #NatureCrisis are intimately interlinked.
And we can ill afford to lose these trees on these under-forested islands
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
And we can ill afford to lose these trees on these under-forested islands
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Reposted by Michael O'Connell
Some of the extensive remains of Roman Corbridge in Northumberland. A wonderful site with a great museum. 📸 My own. #RomanSiteSaturday #RomanBritain #Corbridge #Northumberland
November 1, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Some of the extensive remains of Roman Corbridge in Northumberland. A wonderful site with a great museum. 📸 My own. #RomanSiteSaturday #RomanBritain #Corbridge #Northumberland
#Macnas weaved its spell on the streets of #Galway last evening. An Treun – Summoning Of The Lost, a tale by Bram Stoker & featuring the haunting call of the vanished corncrake #Halloween #OícheShamhna #Samhain
October 27, 2025 at 11:50 AM
#Macnas weaved its spell on the streets of #Galway last evening. An Treun – Summoning Of The Lost, a tale by Bram Stoker & featuring the haunting call of the vanished corncrake #Halloween #OícheShamhna #Samhain
Reposted by Michael O'Connell
Neanderthal coasteering and the first Portuguese hominin tracksites🏺🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Carlos Neto de Carvalho, @stewartfinlayson.bsky.social, @gibgerry.bsky.social, @clivefin.bsky.social et al
Oldest-known hominin track sites in SW Europe and clues to hunting patterns of Neanderthals
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Carlos Neto de Carvalho, @stewartfinlayson.bsky.social, @gibgerry.bsky.social, @clivefin.bsky.social et al
Oldest-known hominin track sites in SW Europe and clues to hunting patterns of Neanderthals
July 25, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Neanderthal coasteering and the first Portuguese hominin tracksites🏺🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Carlos Neto de Carvalho, @stewartfinlayson.bsky.social, @gibgerry.bsky.social, @clivefin.bsky.social et al
Oldest-known hominin track sites in SW Europe and clues to hunting patterns of Neanderthals
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Carlos Neto de Carvalho, @stewartfinlayson.bsky.social, @gibgerry.bsky.social, @clivefin.bsky.social et al
Oldest-known hominin track sites in SW Europe and clues to hunting patterns of Neanderthals
Prof Clive Finlayson, Director #GibraltarMuseum & Gorham’s Cave Complex UNESCO World Heritage Site wooed a packed house with his lecture on #Neanderthal people in #Gibralter this evening. 7th William King lecture @uniofgalway.bsky.social 📷Clive Finlayson presentation
October 22, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Prof Clive Finlayson, Director #GibraltarMuseum & Gorham’s Cave Complex UNESCO World Heritage Site wooed a packed house with his lecture on #Neanderthal people in #Gibralter this evening. 7th William King lecture @uniofgalway.bsky.social 📷Clive Finlayson presentation
Reposted by Michael O'Connell
One of the most beautiful trees in
Europe is the 550 year old Arbour Oak in Wollaton Park, Nottingham
My youngest son is at university in the City, and took this photo 30mins ago
Europe is the 550 year old Arbour Oak in Wollaton Park, Nottingham
My youngest son is at university in the City, and took this photo 30mins ago
October 22, 2025 at 3:54 PM
One of the most beautiful trees in
Europe is the 550 year old Arbour Oak in Wollaton Park, Nottingham
My youngest son is at university in the City, and took this photo 30mins ago
Europe is the 550 year old Arbour Oak in Wollaton Park, Nottingham
My youngest son is at university in the City, and took this photo 30mins ago
Reminder: 7th William King Lecture 6pm, TODAY in Ó hEocha Theatre, Arts Millennium Building, S. Campus, University of Galway BY Prof Clive Finlayson, Director #GibraltarMuseum & Gorham’s Cave Complex UNESCO World Heritage Site. Introduction by Prof David Burn, President, @uniofgalway.bsky.social
October 22, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Reminder: 7th William King Lecture 6pm, TODAY in Ó hEocha Theatre, Arts Millennium Building, S. Campus, University of Galway BY Prof Clive Finlayson, Director #GibraltarMuseum & Gorham’s Cave Complex UNESCO World Heritage Site. Introduction by Prof David Burn, President, @uniofgalway.bsky.social
Also impressive interview with Oliver Callan on @rteradio1.bsky.social this morning. Go n-éirí an bothar leat, a Shoilse!
‘Bíonn siúlach scéalach’: New British Ambassador to Ireland shows off impressive Irish skills
Kara Owen today presented her Letters of Credence to President Michael D Higgins – it’s the last such ceremony he will preside over.
Kara Owen today presented her Letters of Credence to President Michael D Higgins – it’s the last such ceremony he will preside over.
‘Bíonn siúlach scéalach’: New British Ambassador to Ireland shows off impressive Irish skills
Kara Owen today presented her Letters of Credence to President Michael D Higgins – it’s the last such ceremony he will preside over.
www.thejournal.ie
October 21, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Also impressive interview with Oliver Callan on @rteradio1.bsky.social this morning. Go n-éirí an bothar leat, a Shoilse!
High pressure dominating for days but no sun in #Salthill; only stillness, low cloud & some drizzle. 1 pm on 13th, tide on the ebb, a few strollers explored Grattan Beach, a handful of Brent geese were joined by several others & 3 cormorants sat patiently on a rock awaiting ideal fishing conditions
October 16, 2025 at 3:15 PM
High pressure dominating for days but no sun in #Salthill; only stillness, low cloud & some drizzle. 1 pm on 13th, tide on the ebb, a few strollers explored Grattan Beach, a handful of Brent geese were joined by several others & 3 cormorants sat patiently on a rock awaiting ideal fishing conditions
Reminder: this evening’s (Wed, 15 October at 7pm) GGA @galway-geol-ass.bsky.social Zoom lecture: Coastal boulder deposits on the #AranIslands BY Professor Rónadh Cox (Williams College, MA, USA). For Z link email: galwaygeology@gmail.com 😉🌊 @wildatlanticway.bsky.social
Greatly looking forward to this lecture by Prof Rónagh Cox on this highly topical subject - given the increased frequency of severe storms on the NW Atlantic coasts and especially western Ireland
GGA Zoom lecture (Wed, 15 October 2025 at 19:00 h): Coastal boulder deposits on the #AranIslands record at least 2000 years of extreme wave events
BY Professor Rónadh Cox (WilliamsCollege Williams College, MA, USA). For Z link email: galwaygeology@gmail.com
BY Professor Rónadh Cox (WilliamsCollege Williams College, MA, USA). For Z link email: galwaygeology@gmail.com
October 15, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Reminder: this evening’s (Wed, 15 October at 7pm) GGA @galway-geol-ass.bsky.social Zoom lecture: Coastal boulder deposits on the #AranIslands BY Professor Rónadh Cox (Williams College, MA, USA). For Z link email: galwaygeology@gmail.com 😉🌊 @wildatlanticway.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael O'Connell
Heute beginnt die Frankfurter Buchmesse. hpd-Autor Helmut Ortner gibt aus diesem Anlass zehn Buchempfehlungen zur Wappnung und Warnung in der heutigen Zeit. Aktuelle Neuerscheinungen und einige Bücher, die zwar nicht ganz druckfrisch sind, aber zum Verständnis beitragen können, in welcher Lage sich
Helmut Ortner liest – und empfiehlt Bücher
Heute beginnt die Frankfurter Buchmesse. hpd-Autor Helmut Ortner gibt aus diesem Anlass zehn Buchempfehlungen zur Wappnung und Warnung in der heutigen Zeit. Aktuelle Neuerscheinungen und einige Bücher, die zwar nicht ganz druckfrisch sind, aber zum Verständnis beitragen können, in welcher Lage sich unsere Demokratie und unser Rechtsstaat befinden.
hpd.de
October 15, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Heute beginnt die Frankfurter Buchmesse. hpd-Autor Helmut Ortner gibt aus diesem Anlass zehn Buchempfehlungen zur Wappnung und Warnung in der heutigen Zeit. Aktuelle Neuerscheinungen und einige Bücher, die zwar nicht ganz druckfrisch sind, aber zum Verständnis beitragen können, in welcher Lage sich
Reposted by Michael O'Connell
"👻Long-melted #glaciers 🧊 haunt us, as terraformers that shaped the land👻".
👋Meet Elizabeth Case, a glacial hauntologist. In this #GeoTalk, you will learn about her journey and her science-art projects.
🧵Read more: https://bit.ly/4onOInX
👋Meet Elizabeth Case, a glacial hauntologist. In this #GeoTalk, you will learn about her journey and her science-art projects.
🧵Read more: https://bit.ly/4onOInX
October 15, 2025 at 9:44 AM
"👻Long-melted #glaciers 🧊 haunt us, as terraformers that shaped the land👻".
👋Meet Elizabeth Case, a glacial hauntologist. In this #GeoTalk, you will learn about her journey and her science-art projects.
🧵Read more: https://bit.ly/4onOInX
👋Meet Elizabeth Case, a glacial hauntologist. In this #GeoTalk, you will learn about her journey and her science-art projects.
🧵Read more: https://bit.ly/4onOInX
Reposted by Michael O'Connell
Introduction to EBSCOhost Research Databases at University of Galway
Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Time: 11:00 - 12:30
Online Event - Registration required
More information and Register
on this link: universityofgalway.libcal.com/event/4416526
Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Time: 11:00 - 12:30
Online Event - Registration required
More information and Register
on this link: universityofgalway.libcal.com/event/4416526
October 14, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Introduction to EBSCOhost Research Databases at University of Galway
Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Time: 11:00 - 12:30
Online Event - Registration required
More information and Register
on this link: universityofgalway.libcal.com/event/4416526
Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Time: 11:00 - 12:30
Online Event - Registration required
More information and Register
on this link: universityofgalway.libcal.com/event/4416526
Thoroughly enjoyed the @galway-geol-ass.bsky.social #geology fieldtrip to Co. Offaly on Saturday led by Dr John Feehan, the expert on all things #Offaly and much more besides. This thread of 4 posts gives an idea of the interesting places that fully engaged everybody's attention
October 13, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Reposted by Michael O'Connell
Join us on 14 Oct at the RIA for a Panel event to discuss the future of funding for fundamental scientific research in Ireland. The event includes a keynote by Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, former @erc.europa.eu president.
Tickets available: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/royalirishacademy/1861191
Tickets available: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/royalirishacademy/1861191
October 12, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Join us on 14 Oct at the RIA for a Panel event to discuss the future of funding for fundamental scientific research in Ireland. The event includes a keynote by Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, former @erc.europa.eu president.
Tickets available: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/royalirishacademy/1861191
Tickets available: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/royalirishacademy/1861191
Still some places in this #GGA #geology fieldtrip to #eskers (& more besides) of Co. #Offaly; lots to experience, guided by John Feehan. Weather forecast good. Email: galwaygeology@gmail.com or myself for details. Fáilte roimh cách!
This recalls the fine fieldtrip at around this time of year 2022 that included a magical walk during which we explored the Knockbarron #esker, nr Kinnitty, Co Offaly led by Dr John Feehan. Looking forward greatly to another magical day on Saturday
GGA #fieldtrip on Sat 11 October: Exploring Midland #Eskers (leader: Dr John Feehan). Start point Birr, Co Offaly. For further details email: galwaygeology@gmail.com
October 10, 2025 at 10:45 AM
#Salthill prom: high tide & sun going down on #GalwayBay this evening. I'm told by year-round swimmer, sea temperature 12C; 14C earlier in week. Mackerel appear to be rather scarce but the fishermen still try their luck @wildatlanticway.bsky.social
October 7, 2025 at 10:11 PM
#Salthill prom: high tide & sun going down on #GalwayBay this evening. I'm told by year-round swimmer, sea temperature 12C; 14C earlier in week. Mackerel appear to be rather scarce but the fishermen still try their luck @wildatlanticway.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael O'Connell
October 6 was declared International #GeodiversityDay by the UNESCO in 2021. On this day we celebrate the abiotic beauty and diversity of Earth - including rocks, soils, landscapes, rivers, lakes, minerals & fossils ⛰️🪨🐚💎
October 6, 2025 at 12:14 PM
October 6 was declared International #GeodiversityDay by the UNESCO in 2021. On this day we celebrate the abiotic beauty and diversity of Earth - including rocks, soils, landscapes, rivers, lakes, minerals & fossils ⛰️🪨🐚💎
This recalls the fine fieldtrip at around this time of year 2022 that included a magical walk during which we explored the Knockbarron #esker, nr Kinnitty, Co Offaly led by Dr John Feehan. Looking forward greatly to another magical day on Saturday
GGA #fieldtrip on Sat 11 October: Exploring Midland #Eskers (leader: Dr John Feehan). Start point Birr, Co Offaly. For further details email: galwaygeology@gmail.com
October 7, 2025 at 1:27 PM
This recalls the fine fieldtrip at around this time of year 2022 that included a magical walk during which we explored the Knockbarron #esker, nr Kinnitty, Co Offaly led by Dr John Feehan. Looking forward greatly to another magical day on Saturday
Greatly looking forward to this lecture by Prof Rónagh Cox on this highly topical subject - given the increased frequency of severe storms on the NW Atlantic coasts and especially western Ireland
GGA Zoom lecture (Wed, 15 October 2025 at 19:00 h): Coastal boulder deposits on the #AranIslands record at least 2000 years of extreme wave events
BY Professor Rónadh Cox (WilliamsCollege Williams College, MA, USA). For Z link email: galwaygeology@gmail.com
BY Professor Rónadh Cox (WilliamsCollege Williams College, MA, USA). For Z link email: galwaygeology@gmail.com
October 7, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Greatly looking forward to this lecture by Prof Rónagh Cox on this highly topical subject - given the increased frequency of severe storms on the NW Atlantic coasts and especially western Ireland
Photos from recent travels to mark #InternationalGeodiversityDay. Dalradian metamorphic rocks with quartz veins #Connemara National Park, W Ireland; sandstone, slate etc, medieval tower house, St Marys & All Saints church, Conwy, Wales; dykes & Watt, Langwarder Groden, west of Bremerhaven, Germany
October 6, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Photos from recent travels to mark #InternationalGeodiversityDay. Dalradian metamorphic rocks with quartz veins #Connemara National Park, W Ireland; sandstone, slate etc, medieval tower house, St Marys & All Saints church, Conwy, Wales; dykes & Watt, Langwarder Groden, west of Bremerhaven, Germany