Richard Doran-Sherlock
@richardmactire.bsky.social
Irish healthcare professional
Working on the intersection of human and planetary health
Biopsychosocial model of health, rewilding, ecology, etc.
Working on the intersection of human and planetary health
Biopsychosocial model of health, rewilding, ecology, etc.
Pinned
Joining this platform today, not with the intent of growing a presence, so much as keeping in touch with people and organisations I like to learn from. I'm a musculoskeletal healthcare practitioner based in Dublin with a previous career in the environmental sector. As well as seeing patients as ...
Just back from spending time in Poland in the Carpathians and with my in-laws. Left a wedding gift from them in the taxi from the airport. The driver was an absolute gentleman, from Warrenmount, living in Rathcoole. What are the odds of finding him? #speirgorm
September 13, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Just back from spending time in Poland in the Carpathians and with my in-laws. Left a wedding gift from them in the taxi from the airport. The driver was an absolute gentleman, from Warrenmount, living in Rathcoole. What are the odds of finding him? #speirgorm
The promises made around self-driving cars have been effective ways for the auto/fossil fuel industries to lobby against public transport investment in the USA. Uber, for one, were able to run at a loss (they only became profitable in 2023) because they were getting a lot of Saudi investment. In ...
Dublin’s planned MetroLink will be obsolete because of artificial intelligence, says Dermot Desmond
Dublin’s planned MetroLink will be obsolete because of artificial intelligence, says Dermot Desmond
Businessman says Government should abandon project as AI will lead to rise in self-driving cars
www.irishtimes.com
August 5, 2025 at 12:02 PM
The promises made around self-driving cars have been effective ways for the auto/fossil fuel industries to lobby against public transport investment in the USA. Uber, for one, were able to run at a loss (they only became profitable in 2023) because they were getting a lot of Saudi investment. In ...
Care is a fundamental quality, action, and principle, of our species.
Joking aside, I’ve been to some of the hardest places on earth and seen immense suffering, and I believe we are closer to a beautiful life than many of us think. One thing I see consistently, even amidst war and death, is people taking care of each other without expecting anything in return.
We must believe a better world is possible.
August 2, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Care is a fundamental quality, action, and principle, of our species.
Very important thread. Thanks for writing it, Ketan.
Right-wing abundance-bros operate in an ecosystem of ultra-low-information, mostly on a combination of X and substack, with the big accounts just spewing out vaguely correct-sounding chunks of text that crumble at the slightest interrogation.
This has ~1.2k RTs on X, and it's just....made up
This has ~1.2k RTs on X, and it's just....made up
August 1, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Very important thread. Thanks for writing it, Ketan.
My friend is quoted in this article about his experiences. Racism is a divide and conquer tactic which misdirects from structural drivers of inequality. For what it's worth, I work in Dublin city centre several days per week. If you're reading this, and you are ever made to feel unsafe, reach out.
People from ethnic minority groups say an increase in protests against immigration and asylum seeker accommodation, and experiences of racism, has left them feeling afraid in Ireland.
jrnl.ie/6771483
jrnl.ie/6771483
'I was told to fk off to my country': Our readers on their experiences of racism in Ireland
People from ethnic minority groups say an increase in protests against immigration and asylum seeker accommodation, and experiences of racism, has left them feeling afraid in Ireland.
jrnl.ie
July 28, 2025 at 2:26 PM
My friend is quoted in this article about his experiences. Racism is a divide and conquer tactic which misdirects from structural drivers of inequality. For what it's worth, I work in Dublin city centre several days per week. If you're reading this, and you are ever made to feel unsafe, reach out.
Reposted by Richard Doran-Sherlock
Its a good thing Climate Change is happening everywhere except our island, isn't it?
We're safe, we're secure, we're immune.
We're safe, we're secure, we're immune.
Visitors to the Marble Arch Caves yesterday had to be evacuated after extreme rainfall resulted in a flash flood.
Read more: jrnl.ie/6768933
Read more: jrnl.ie/6768933
July 21, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Its a good thing Climate Change is happening everywhere except our island, isn't it?
We're safe, we're secure, we're immune.
We're safe, we're secure, we're immune.
This is heartbreaking.
The increasingly militarised state border between Poland and Belarus, running through Białowieża Forest (a unique old-growth forest in Europe), is leading to higher tree damage and wildlife roadkill.
🧪☠️🌲
Paper by @katzyna.bsky.social and @michalzmihorski.bsky.social: doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...
🧪☠️🌲
Paper by @katzyna.bsky.social and @michalzmihorski.bsky.social: doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...
July 16, 2025 at 2:18 PM
This is heartbreaking.
Reposted by Richard Doran-Sherlock
Thinking a lot of the quote an unknown source lately
"Climate change is a series of phone videos of extreme natural disasters you witness on social media, until you are the one taking the video."
"Climate change is a series of phone videos of extreme natural disasters you witness on social media, until you are the one taking the video."
INSANE HEAT IN MIDDLE EAST
Crazy MINIMUM TEMPERATURE 38.3C Tuz IRAQ
Dozens of stations allover Middle East (Iran,Iraq,Kuwait,Emirates) with Minimums >35C
Max. temperatures expected up to 52C. Nights up to 40C !
Historic heat wave,one of the worst ever seen anywhere worldwide
it 'll last weeks
Crazy MINIMUM TEMPERATURE 38.3C Tuz IRAQ
Dozens of stations allover Middle East (Iran,Iraq,Kuwait,Emirates) with Minimums >35C
Max. temperatures expected up to 52C. Nights up to 40C !
Historic heat wave,one of the worst ever seen anywhere worldwide
it 'll last weeks
July 15, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Thinking a lot of the quote an unknown source lately
"Climate change is a series of phone videos of extreme natural disasters you witness on social media, until you are the one taking the video."
"Climate change is a series of phone videos of extreme natural disasters you witness on social media, until you are the one taking the video."
Excellent long read on the history of indoor air quality. A significant factor in public health, one which can be easily overlooked.
www.asimov.press/p/better-air...
www.asimov.press/p/better-air...
The Battle for Better Air
A brief history of how our built environments were shaped by everything from flues and humble windows to cutting-edge HVAC systems.
www.asimov.press
May 15, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Excellent long read on the history of indoor air quality. A significant factor in public health, one which can be easily overlooked.
www.asimov.press/p/better-air...
www.asimov.press/p/better-air...
Seeing this place is something special indeed.
It's often claimed Pedunculate Oaks cannot regenerate within forests, and need open ground (savanna/wood pasture), but here 2 km deep in the #Białowieża forest there's oaks at every stage of maturity, from seed/saplings, to juveniles, and mature forest giants 35-40 m tall, in continuous forest.
April 28, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Seeing this place is something special indeed.
Having a patient pass away is a hard part of healthcare work. To the family and colleagues of the person in question: I felt profoundly lucky to have known her. A remarkable woman who was as tough as she was compassionate, and she was both from the very centre of her being.
May she rest in power.
May she rest in power.
April 24, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Having a patient pass away is a hard part of healthcare work. To the family and colleagues of the person in question: I felt profoundly lucky to have known her. A remarkable woman who was as tough as she was compassionate, and she was both from the very centre of her being.
May she rest in power.
May she rest in power.
Wood Anemone (Anemonoides nemorosa) beside a Wicklow stream. Saw a female gooseander 30 minutes later!
April 14, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Wood Anemone (Anemonoides nemorosa) beside a Wicklow stream. Saw a female gooseander 30 minutes later!
If EU financial rules can be changed, then it seems absurd not to fund a moonshot scale project of moving to renewables.
"Notably, EU imports of Russian fossil fuels... surpassed the EUR 18.7 bn of financial aid they sent to Ukraine in 2024."
energyandcleanair.org/publication/...
"Notably, EU imports of Russian fossil fuels... surpassed the EUR 18.7 bn of financial aid they sent to Ukraine in 2024."
energyandcleanair.org/publication/...
EU imports of Russian fossil fuels in third year of invasion surpass financial aid sent to Ukraine – Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air
energyandcleanair.org
March 20, 2025 at 9:16 AM
If EU financial rules can be changed, then it seems absurd not to fund a moonshot scale project of moving to renewables.
"Notably, EU imports of Russian fossil fuels... surpassed the EUR 18.7 bn of financial aid they sent to Ukraine in 2024."
energyandcleanair.org/publication/...
"Notably, EU imports of Russian fossil fuels... surpassed the EUR 18.7 bn of financial aid they sent to Ukraine in 2024."
energyandcleanair.org/publication/...
This is a great book and resource, and I've shared it with patients looking to explore nature-based self management strategies for persistent issues.
March 18, 2025 at 9:27 PM
This is a great book and resource, and I've shared it with patients looking to explore nature-based self management strategies for persistent issues.
And the libraries pay the authors every time you take a book out on loan!
Fuck Jeff Bezos, don’t shop at Amazon
March 18, 2025 at 9:23 PM
And the libraries pay the authors every time you take a book out on loan!
Humpback whale sex recorded for the first time, and it's between two males. Nature is amazing.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/hump...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/hump...
Humpback Whale Sex Observed for the First Time Ever, between Two Males
Photographers captured a healthy male humpback penetrating a weaker individual in the first record of humpback whale sex
www.scientificamerican.com
March 9, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Humpback whale sex recorded for the first time, and it's between two males. Nature is amazing.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/hump...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/hump...
Dr Love's newsletter is very much worth a read.
• Women scientists receive THREE TIMES more personal attacks online than men when discussing science.
• Women scientists are twice as likely to be sexually harassed online.
• Women scientists receive 40% fewer invites to be expert sources for media, even with more qualifications.
1/
• Women scientists are twice as likely to be sexually harassed online.
• Women scientists receive 40% fewer invites to be expert sources for media, even with more qualifications.
1/
March 8, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Dr Love's newsletter is very much worth a read.
It's a moral and societal failing that Ukrainian refugees are having to travel back to an active war-zone to get adequate medical treatment.
www.thejournal.ie/readme/ukrai...
www.thejournal.ie/readme/ukrai...
The dangerous road to health: Why Ukrainians leave Ireland for war to get medical treatment
In Ireland’s healthcare system, Ukrainian refugees face months-long waits for urgent medical treatment — some find it better at home, even during wartime.
www.thejournal.ie
March 1, 2025 at 10:46 AM
It's a moral and societal failing that Ukrainian refugees are having to travel back to an active war-zone to get adequate medical treatment.
www.thejournal.ie/readme/ukrai...
www.thejournal.ie/readme/ukrai...
I'm consistently impressed by the work of Christian Picciolini from the group Life After Hate. He's a former white power leader who works to deradicalise people (especially younger men) from the far right movement. His focus on compassion is remarkable.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSH5...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSH5...
February 24, 2025 at 11:39 AM
I'm consistently impressed by the work of Christian Picciolini from the group Life After Hate. He's a former white power leader who works to deradicalise people (especially younger men) from the far right movement. His focus on compassion is remarkable.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSH5...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSH5...
Important thread. Work by people like Adam helped me to clarify some over-simplifications I held to be true.
Sorry, but while I believe it is spread in good faith, I think this is a good time to call out this common mistruth in the Irish ecological community.
Indulge me for a minute, I just finished 5 years in Europe working with wolves, lynx, and deer.
"Lack of wolves" is not the problem. Short🧵
Indulge me for a minute, I just finished 5 years in Europe working with wolves, lynx, and deer.
"Lack of wolves" is not the problem. Short🧵
Deer population 'out of control' due to lack of wolves.
There are no ifs or buts, if we want to restore Ireland’s decimated ecosystems, we must reintroduce apex predators.
There are no ifs or buts, if we want to restore Ireland’s decimated ecosystems, we must reintroduce apex predators.
February 16, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Important thread. Work by people like Adam helped me to clarify some over-simplifications I held to be true.
Reposted by Richard Doran-Sherlock
Anyone who cares about nature: take note.
The extreme right aren't just the enemy of women, the poor, people of colour, gays, moslems, jews, Palestinians, the disabled, etc., etc... they don't give a damn about the natural world, either.
Our fights are one and the same.
The extreme right aren't just the enemy of women, the poor, people of colour, gays, moslems, jews, Palestinians, the disabled, etc., etc... they don't give a damn about the natural world, either.
Our fights are one and the same.
Heartbreaking news… Tonight, many of our friends were let go, and tomorrow, even more will follow. Word is that all probationary employees at NPS will be let go. 😭
February 14, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Anyone who cares about nature: take note.
The extreme right aren't just the enemy of women, the poor, people of colour, gays, moslems, jews, Palestinians, the disabled, etc., etc... they don't give a damn about the natural world, either.
Our fights are one and the same.
The extreme right aren't just the enemy of women, the poor, people of colour, gays, moslems, jews, Palestinians, the disabled, etc., etc... they don't give a damn about the natural world, either.
Our fights are one and the same.
Reposted by Richard Doran-Sherlock
Question for bat twitter 🦇
Why do you see pairs of Lesser Horseshoes hugging each other when roosting frequently?
Is it parent-last year offspring or something else?
Why do you see pairs of Lesser Horseshoes hugging each other when roosting frequently?
Is it parent-last year offspring or something else?
February 11, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Question for bat twitter 🦇
Why do you see pairs of Lesser Horseshoes hugging each other when roosting frequently?
Is it parent-last year offspring or something else?
Why do you see pairs of Lesser Horseshoes hugging each other when roosting frequently?
Is it parent-last year offspring or something else?
These are always fun to read, and were an inspiration for setting up a newsletter for my own business.
January's newsletter is out now, featuring what St. Brigid and online dating have in common, which Irish national monument you'd go digging under to look for the Ark Of The Covenant, and how you can use a hedgehog to tell the weather. Sign up to the next one for free: www.ciaraioch.com/newsletter
January 31, 2025 at 11:25 AM
These are always fun to read, and were an inspiration for setting up a newsletter for my own business.
I'm a member, it's a great organisation. Quarterly magazine which is always a good read.
Recent storms have caused considerable damage to our nurseries, including the total loss of a polytunnel.
Our rare ancient woods also lost many trees which will require expensive professional intervention to make safe.
If you would like to support our work :
www.nativewoodlandtrust.ie/support-us
Our rare ancient woods also lost many trees which will require expensive professional intervention to make safe.
If you would like to support our work :
www.nativewoodlandtrust.ie/support-us
January 30, 2025 at 5:10 PM
I'm a member, it's a great organisation. Quarterly magazine which is always a good read.
Female blackcap hounding the goldfinches in the back garden - anyone seen that behaviour before?
January 30, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Female blackcap hounding the goldfinches in the back garden - anyone seen that behaviour before?