Mike Spillane
@spillanemike.com
Cork sometimes Connemara
Working in the data engineering
Into all things tech, Raspberry Pi
Love cycling, ditched my car in early 2022 and replaced it with a cargo bike and taking public transport
Love a good craft beer
Often found eating bread and cheese
Working in the data engineering
Into all things tech, Raspberry Pi
Love cycling, ditched my car in early 2022 and replaced it with a cargo bike and taking public transport
Love a good craft beer
Often found eating bread and cheese
Pinned
Mike Spillane
@spillanemike.com
· Nov 23
Antonia's Bookstore
Independent Bookshop based in Trim, Co. Meath, Ireland
buff.ly
I don't buy from Amazon, so I try to buy books from Irish stores (where possible) (posted similar previously)
Here are my go to stores
antoniasbookstore.com
booksatone.ie
alanhannas.com
philipsbookshop.com
gutterbookshop.com
kennys.ie
vibesandscribes.ie
#independentBookshopsIreland
#supportLocal
Here are my go to stores
antoniasbookstore.com
booksatone.ie
alanhannas.com
philipsbookshop.com
gutterbookshop.com
kennys.ie
vibesandscribes.ie
#independentBookshopsIreland
#supportLocal
"Kathriona Devereux: Damn it! To beat future floods, we need to think and act smart"
www.echolive.ie/corkviews/ar...
www.echolive.ie/corkviews/ar...
Kathriona Devereux: Damn it! To beat future floods, we need to think and act smart
We have heated the planet, there is more water circulating in the atmosphere than there used to be, and that has consequences - wet ones, writes ...
www.echolive.ie
February 11, 2026 at 9:26 PM
"Kathriona Devereux: Damn it! To beat future floods, we need to think and act smart"
www.echolive.ie/corkviews/ar...
www.echolive.ie/corkviews/ar...
Cyclist crushed twice by SUV in Dublin city centre recalls ‘the worst day of my life’ in court
www.thejournal.ie/courts-cycli...
www.thejournal.ie/courts-cycli...
February 11, 2026 at 7:56 PM
Cyclist crushed twice by SUV in Dublin city centre recalls ‘the worst day of my life’ in court
www.thejournal.ie/courts-cycli...
www.thejournal.ie/courts-cycli...
Reposted by Mike Spillane
This is a very important point. One of the mistakes I feel we’ve made around active travel delivery in Ireland is the prioritisation of long-distance commuter routes above local network provision. We did so mainly because their value for money and the “business case” is easier to demonstrate.
"School Streets" have become a thing to watch. Even the loudest high-traffic neighbourhood trumpets will mumble "Except outside schools, of course", but this ignores how (1) kids don't live next to their schools and need to get to the School Street safely and (2) kids go to places that aren't school
This is a good read about the idea of "Kids Streets" in #Birmingham & #Coventry. It's one thing to make the journey to school safer, but if we want our children to be able to travel independently and safely to sports clubs, friends' houses & more, we need to think bigger. #SchoolStreets #RoadDanger
February 11, 2026 at 1:36 PM
This is a very important point. One of the mistakes I feel we’ve made around active travel delivery in Ireland is the prioritisation of long-distance commuter routes above local network provision. We did so mainly because their value for money and the “business case” is easier to demonstrate.
Reposted by Mike Spillane
Couldn't agree more, also the prioritisation of Greenway reveals the official view that cycling is a recreational activity to be monetised and not a routine mode of transport
This is a very important point. One of the mistakes I feel we’ve made around active travel delivery in Ireland is the prioritisation of long-distance commuter routes above local network provision. We did so mainly because their value for money and the “business case” is easier to demonstrate.
"School Streets" have become a thing to watch. Even the loudest high-traffic neighbourhood trumpets will mumble "Except outside schools, of course", but this ignores how (1) kids don't live next to their schools and need to get to the School Street safely and (2) kids go to places that aren't school
February 11, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Couldn't agree more, also the prioritisation of Greenway reveals the official view that cycling is a recreational activity to be monetised and not a routine mode of transport
Reposted by Mike Spillane
Jim lives in Monaco as an immigrant so he doesn't have to support the British State by paying taxes. To say "Jim is a Muppet" would be very unfair on The Muppets.
'The UK has been colonised by immigrants', says INEOS boss and Man Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe
'The UK has been colonised by immigrants', says INEOS boss and Man Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Britain has been "colonised" by immigrants, who are draining resources from the state, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, one of the country's richest and most influential men, has told Sky News.
news.sky.com
February 11, 2026 at 5:56 PM
Jim lives in Monaco as an immigrant so he doesn't have to support the British State by paying taxes. To say "Jim is a Muppet" would be very unfair on The Muppets.
Reposted by Mike Spillane
About 20,000 entire family homes around the country are listed as short-term lets.
We badly need to mainstream the idea that Airbnb-ing a property is disgusting speculation that denies a home to a potential renter or buyer.
We badly need to mainstream the idea that Airbnb-ing a property is disgusting speculation that denies a home to a potential renter or buyer.
Government has rowed back on plans that would ensure short-term let planning permissions would be required in towns with populations over 10,000. jrnl.ie/6952490
Government rows back on short-term let regulations for towns with populations over 10,000
The government has decided the restrictions will only apply to towns with a population of over 20,000.
jrnl.ie
February 10, 2026 at 9:18 PM
About 20,000 entire family homes around the country are listed as short-term lets.
We badly need to mainstream the idea that Airbnb-ing a property is disgusting speculation that denies a home to a potential renter or buyer.
We badly need to mainstream the idea that Airbnb-ing a property is disgusting speculation that denies a home to a potential renter or buyer.
Reposted by Mike Spillane
The list of towns in Ireland with a 20,000 pop. can fit in a single post:
Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford, Drogheda, Dundalk, Swords, Navan, Bray, Ennis, Carlow, Kilkenny, Naas, Tralee, Newbridge, Balbriggan, Portlaoise, Athlone, Mullingar, Letterkenny, Greystones-Delgany, Wexford, Sligo.
Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford, Drogheda, Dundalk, Swords, Navan, Bray, Ennis, Carlow, Kilkenny, Naas, Tralee, Newbridge, Balbriggan, Portlaoise, Athlone, Mullingar, Letterkenny, Greystones-Delgany, Wexford, Sligo.
This confirmed by the Taoiseach in the Dáil just now – a significant backtrack by the Government in the midst of an acute housing shortage, now allowing more properties to stay in use for short-term lettings without needing to register/amend their property designation as 'commercial'
Irish Examiner: Government climbdown on proposals to regulate short-term lets
February 10, 2026 at 3:33 PM
The list of towns in Ireland with a 20,000 pop. can fit in a single post:
Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford, Drogheda, Dundalk, Swords, Navan, Bray, Ennis, Carlow, Kilkenny, Naas, Tralee, Newbridge, Balbriggan, Portlaoise, Athlone, Mullingar, Letterkenny, Greystones-Delgany, Wexford, Sligo.
Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford, Drogheda, Dundalk, Swords, Navan, Bray, Ennis, Carlow, Kilkenny, Naas, Tralee, Newbridge, Balbriggan, Portlaoise, Athlone, Mullingar, Letterkenny, Greystones-Delgany, Wexford, Sligo.
Reposted by Mike Spillane
www.rte.ie/news/politic... Climate change? Congestion? Balanced regional development? Whatever…. #SpeirGorm
Approval sought on law to end airport passenger cap
The end of the passenger cap at Dublin Airport will come a step closer when Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien asks for Cabinet approval to draft the required legislation.
www.rte.ie
February 10, 2026 at 9:31 AM
www.rte.ie/news/politic... Climate change? Congestion? Balanced regional development? Whatever…. #SpeirGorm
At the cinema, missed my last bus (10.26 very early if you ask me). Currently on a 220 to intercept a 225 in carrigaline....
The things I'll do to avoid getting a taxi 🤣
The things I'll do to avoid getting a taxi 🤣
February 9, 2026 at 10:55 PM
At the cinema, missed my last bus (10.26 very early if you ask me). Currently on a 220 to intercept a 225 in carrigaline....
The things I'll do to avoid getting a taxi 🤣
The things I'll do to avoid getting a taxi 🤣
Reposted by Mike Spillane
Why??
February 9, 2026 at 7:38 PM
Why??
Reposted by Mike Spillane
The impact of visible speed limit enforcement is literally instant. As soon as drivers see that they are being actively monitored, they slow down.
Test the hypothesis for yourself.
Go out wearing a high vis vest, stand at the side of the road, and point a hairdryer at passing motorists.
Test the hypothesis for yourself.
Go out wearing a high vis vest, stand at the side of the road, and point a hairdryer at passing motorists.
Analysis finds that “comparing a single day before the speed camera implementation with one day after, average speeds came down at every single one of those 15 corridors last month. It also found that the share of vehicles speeding by more than 10 miles an hour over the limit fell by a whopping 78%“
S.F. speed cameras are generating mountains of tickets and fines. Here are the totals so far
August was the first month that San Francisco’s automated speed cameras generated citations with a fine. One camera accounted for a quarter of all the tickets, according to data.
www.sfchronicle.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:59 PM
The impact of visible speed limit enforcement is literally instant. As soon as drivers see that they are being actively monitored, they slow down.
Test the hypothesis for yourself.
Go out wearing a high vis vest, stand at the side of the road, and point a hairdryer at passing motorists.
Test the hypothesis for yourself.
Go out wearing a high vis vest, stand at the side of the road, and point a hairdryer at passing motorists.
Reposted by Mike Spillane
this is an important intervention by the Taoiseach because it highlights how wrongheaded the “we need more engineers” line from David McWilliams was - what we actually need is more political will, greater levels of devolved decision making and more subsidiarity to get basic things done
February 9, 2026 at 6:28 PM
this is an important intervention by the Taoiseach because it highlights how wrongheaded the “we need more engineers” line from David McWilliams was - what we actually need is more political will, greater levels of devolved decision making and more subsidiarity to get basic things done
Reposted by Mike Spillane
the ultimate expression of motornormativity is the degree of appeasement involved in building any infrastructure which might result in even the smallest change to current mobility patterns
(setting aside the fact that modal shift has been a target of national transport policy for the last 20 years)
(setting aside the fact that modal shift has been a target of national transport policy for the last 20 years)
The Taoiseach has called for greater engagement on cycle projects.
He then presents costs of active travel projects using people-focused and emotive terms: 'communities with older populations', 'uproar, 'against people's wishes', 'health and safety'
1/2
www.echolive.ie/corknews/ari...
He then presents costs of active travel projects using people-focused and emotive terms: 'communities with older populations', 'uproar, 'against people's wishes', 'health and safety'
1/2
www.echolive.ie/corknews/ari...
Taoiseach: Greater levels of engagement needed for active travel plans
Micheál Martin's comments come following controversy around active travel plans on Cork city’s northside.
www.echolive.ie
February 9, 2026 at 6:24 PM
the ultimate expression of motornormativity is the degree of appeasement involved in building any infrastructure which might result in even the smallest change to current mobility patterns
(setting aside the fact that modal shift has been a target of national transport policy for the last 20 years)
(setting aside the fact that modal shift has been a target of national transport policy for the last 20 years)
Reposted by Mike Spillane
The Taoiseach has called for greater engagement on cycle projects.
He then presents costs of active travel projects using people-focused and emotive terms: 'communities with older populations', 'uproar, 'against people's wishes', 'health and safety'
1/2
www.echolive.ie/corknews/ari...
He then presents costs of active travel projects using people-focused and emotive terms: 'communities with older populations', 'uproar, 'against people's wishes', 'health and safety'
1/2
www.echolive.ie/corknews/ari...
Taoiseach: Greater levels of engagement needed for active travel plans
Micheál Martin's comments come following controversy around active travel plans on Cork city’s northside.
www.echolive.ie
February 9, 2026 at 5:53 PM
The Taoiseach has called for greater engagement on cycle projects.
He then presents costs of active travel projects using people-focused and emotive terms: 'communities with older populations', 'uproar, 'against people's wishes', 'health and safety'
1/2
www.echolive.ie/corknews/ari...
He then presents costs of active travel projects using people-focused and emotive terms: 'communities with older populations', 'uproar, 'against people's wishes', 'health and safety'
1/2
www.echolive.ie/corknews/ari...
The will for change just isn't there is it.
Taoiseach: Greater levels of engagement needed for active travel plans
www.echolive.ie/corknews/ari...
Taoiseach: Greater levels of engagement needed for active travel plans
www.echolive.ie/corknews/ari...
Taoiseach: Greater levels of engagement needed for active travel plans
Micheál Martin's comments come following controversy around active travel plans on Cork city’s northside.
www.echolive.ie
February 9, 2026 at 5:42 PM
The will for change just isn't there is it.
Taoiseach: Greater levels of engagement needed for active travel plans
www.echolive.ie/corknews/ari...
Taoiseach: Greater levels of engagement needed for active travel plans
www.echolive.ie/corknews/ari...
Reposted by Mike Spillane
Texaco sponsor an art competition in Ireland for children and teenagers.
Amsterdam will ban fossil fuel and meat advertisements in public spaces and on public transport starting May 1st. 🥳
The European city banning all fossil fuel and meat adverts in public
Amsterdam initially proposed the move in 2020, becoming the first city in the world to do so.
www.euronews.com
February 8, 2026 at 7:52 PM
Texaco sponsor an art competition in Ireland for children and teenagers.
Reposted by Mike Spillane
“You don’t treat a flood where it ends up, you treat it where it starts. Upstream at the top of the catchment”
How to use the land more cleverly to adapt to changing weather and future floods.
#RTECountrywide #SpeirGorm
Listen: 👉 www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
How to use the land more cleverly to adapt to changing weather and future floods.
#RTECountrywide #SpeirGorm
Listen: 👉 www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
Flood Prevention
Is the way we are farming partly responsible for flooding, and what changes might decrease damage in the future? Geomorphologist Prof Mary Bourke. Sligo Farmers Eddie Davitt and Joe Leonard. Farming F...
www.rte.ie
February 7, 2026 at 10:49 AM
“You don’t treat a flood where it ends up, you treat it where it starts. Upstream at the top of the catchment”
How to use the land more cleverly to adapt to changing weather and future floods.
#RTECountrywide #SpeirGorm
Listen: 👉 www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
How to use the land more cleverly to adapt to changing weather and future floods.
#RTECountrywide #SpeirGorm
Listen: 👉 www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
Reposted by Mike Spillane
consult.corkcity.ie/en/consultat... have your say for a safer and calmer Cork
February 7, 2026 at 9:34 PM
consult.corkcity.ie/en/consultat... have your say for a safer and calmer Cork
Reposted by Mike Spillane
I cannot recall another UK-style campaign by a publisher in Ireland like this one.
The bullet points below the headline ("Battle won") give lie to the notion that this is a newspaper reporting journalistically on a matter of public interest — rather a vehicle driving an agenda for vested interests.
The bullet points below the headline ("Battle won") give lie to the notion that this is a newspaper reporting journalistically on a matter of public interest — rather a vehicle driving an agenda for vested interests.
February 8, 2026 at 3:33 PM
I cannot recall another UK-style campaign by a publisher in Ireland like this one.
The bullet points below the headline ("Battle won") give lie to the notion that this is a newspaper reporting journalistically on a matter of public interest — rather a vehicle driving an agenda for vested interests.
The bullet points below the headline ("Battle won") give lie to the notion that this is a newspaper reporting journalistically on a matter of public interest — rather a vehicle driving an agenda for vested interests.
Reposted by Mike Spillane
There are good politicians/parties in Ireland with progressive, valuable ideas & policies who are just way, way to polite and civil in their messaging.
Like, speak the feck up - get aggressive - make some noise. The other guys sure are.
Like, speak the feck up - get aggressive - make some noise. The other guys sure are.
February 8, 2026 at 1:26 PM
There are good politicians/parties in Ireland with progressive, valuable ideas & policies who are just way, way to polite and civil in their messaging.
Like, speak the feck up - get aggressive - make some noise. The other guys sure are.
Like, speak the feck up - get aggressive - make some noise. The other guys sure are.
Reposted by Mike Spillane
This is the closest thing we have to realtime rail updates here on Bluesky. #Speirgorm
0700 Heuston Cork cancelled after breakdown
0800 Heuston Cork +29
0705 Tralee Heuston +37
0855 Limerick Heuston +33
0900 Heuston Cork +29
1000 Heuston Cork +39
0800 Heuston Cork +29
0705 Tralee Heuston +37
0855 Limerick Heuston +33
0900 Heuston Cork +29
1000 Heuston Cork +39
February 7, 2026 at 11:42 AM
This is the closest thing we have to realtime rail updates here on Bluesky. #Speirgorm
Reposted by Mike Spillane
Doing a bit of tidying and came across this map of the CIE network. How things have changed with lines closed and fine hotels sold off.
If I recall correctly this would have been in a MK2 "Supertrain" carriage. #Speirgorm
ifiarchiveplayer.ie/cie-supertra...
If I recall correctly this would have been in a MK2 "Supertrain" carriage. #Speirgorm
ifiarchiveplayer.ie/cie-supertra...
February 7, 2026 at 12:45 PM
Doing a bit of tidying and came across this map of the CIE network. How things have changed with lines closed and fine hotels sold off.
If I recall correctly this would have been in a MK2 "Supertrain" carriage. #Speirgorm
ifiarchiveplayer.ie/cie-supertra...
If I recall correctly this would have been in a MK2 "Supertrain" carriage. #Speirgorm
ifiarchiveplayer.ie/cie-supertra...
Reposted by Mike Spillane
Galway cyclists seek a ‘safe space’ four years on from collapse of Salthill project www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...
Galway cyclists seek a ‘safe space’ four years on from collapse of Salthill project
‘You are caught between parked cars where you could be ‘doored’ at any moment, or fast-moving traffic’
www.irishtimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 9:57 AM
Galway cyclists seek a ‘safe space’ four years on from collapse of Salthill project www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...
Reposted by Mike Spillane
Not the most egregious aspect of the whole thing but those ChatGPT "caricatures" aren't even caricatures, they're slightly stylised versions of a person's photos where they just made the heads big and the bodies smaller
February 7, 2026 at 10:29 PM
Not the most egregious aspect of the whole thing but those ChatGPT "caricatures" aren't even caricatures, they're slightly stylised versions of a person's photos where they just made the heads big and the bodies smaller
Reposted by Mike Spillane
As a keen forager whose speciality is seaweed and sustainable sourcing I beg you to sign this. There are currently two corps with applications to strip the Irish west coast of seaweed. We cannot let this happen.
Please sign and share. #irish #ireland
Please sign and share. #irish #ireland
''Acadian Seaplants, a massive Canadian corporation and owner of Arramara Teoranta, has put in an application to harvest tens of thousands of tons of wrack from huge swathes of the west coast.''
Sign the petition and lets stop this from happening ✊️
#SpeirGorm
my.uplift.ie/petitions/st...
Sign the petition and lets stop this from happening ✊️
#SpeirGorm
my.uplift.ie/petitions/st...
Stop a Canadian corporation harvesting huge forests of seaweed from the west coast
There should be a public consultation on this plan opening soon but lets gather signatures to demonstrate the fact that up and down the west coast, thousands of people don't want our seaweed rights gi...
my.uplift.ie
February 6, 2026 at 4:55 PM