Stíofán Mhac an Bhaird (Stephen Ward)
@stephencward.com
Comic-loving bookworm. Scribbler of words and images. (cis,he/him)
Website: https://stephencward.com
Avatar by Debbie Jenkinson
Website: https://stephencward.com
Avatar by Debbie Jenkinson
Pinned
Black Bolt/ Scream mashup I did for Inktober 2017. Which was printed in the back of Black Bolt #9 :D
Reposted by Stíofán Mhac an Bhaird (Stephen Ward)
Mamdani : you trust fund bitches been whitewashing nazis too much
Mamdani: For too long, those fluent in the good grammar of civility have deployed decorum to mask agendas of cruelty
January 1, 2026 at 8:09 PM
Mamdani : you trust fund bitches been whitewashing nazis too much
Reposted by Stíofán Mhac an Bhaird (Stephen Ward)
It’s going to be so hard to preserve an accurate portrayal of this bizarre time in history, because future generations will not be able to reconcile the scale of evil atrocities with the aesthetics of a 7 year old’s birthday party in 1990
Vanilla Ice performing with a dancing Ninja Turtle at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago New Year’s Eve party
January 2, 2026 at 10:42 PM
It’s going to be so hard to preserve an accurate portrayal of this bizarre time in history, because future generations will not be able to reconcile the scale of evil atrocities with the aesthetics of a 7 year old’s birthday party in 1990
Reposted by Stíofán Mhac an Bhaird (Stephen Ward)
Elon Musk's vanity AI admitted to generating child sexual abuse imagery and it won't get as much attention from the New York Times as whatever panic about trans people they're trying to incite this week
so x dot com’s ai generated CSAM and they admitted it may violate US law and … i haven’t seen in anyone in power say much at all or call to stop using the platform
January 2, 2026 at 9:20 PM
Elon Musk's vanity AI admitted to generating child sexual abuse imagery and it won't get as much attention from the New York Times as whatever panic about trans people they're trying to incite this week
Reposted by Stíofán Mhac an Bhaird (Stephen Ward)
A reminder that I've a book illustration course starting in a couple of weeks in the Irish Writers Centre. You only need basic drawing skills; illustration is a form of communication first, and an art second.
✍️ Finding Your North Star with Anne Tannam
✍️ Book Illustration with Oisín McGann
✍️ BOOKED OUT: Finish Your Novel with Conor Kostick
✍️ The Art of Poetry with Moyra Donaldson
✍️ Book Illustration with Oisín McGann
✍️ BOOKED OUT: Finish Your Novel with Conor Kostick
✍️ The Art of Poetry with Moyra Donaldson
January 2, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Reposted by Stíofán Mhac an Bhaird (Stephen Ward)
see also 'if your AI created revenge porn of underage girls we're treating it as if your CEO personally created and sent CSAM'
see also 'if your AI hit a kid and dragged them 500 feet in your self driving car we're treating it as if your CEO was personally behind the wheel and texting during it'
maybe we just say 'if your AI said it we're treating it as if your CEO said it to their face' for the purposes of liability
November 24, 2025 at 3:32 PM
see also 'if your AI created revenge porn of underage girls we're treating it as if your CEO personally created and sent CSAM'
Reposted by Stíofán Mhac an Bhaird (Stephen Ward)
Also they don't include people like me, living in a box room at a friend's house as a temporary measure (for almost 2 years now), my family split up due to the lack of houses. I'm still hoping to find somewhere so I can get my kids back.
Always remember that these figures do not include those couch surfing, inappropriately in hospitals or nursing home, living in overcrowding, in refuges, and the thousands and thousands on housing waiting lists.
New record high of almost 17,000 homeless, including 5,321 children
New record high of almost 17,000 homeless, including 5,321 children
New record high of almost 17,000 homeless, including 5,321 children
Majority of homeless adults and families are based in Dublin
www.irishtimes.com
January 2, 2026 at 4:36 PM
Also they don't include people like me, living in a box room at a friend's house as a temporary measure (for almost 2 years now), my family split up due to the lack of houses. I'm still hoping to find somewhere so I can get my kids back.
Reposted by Stíofán Mhac an Bhaird (Stephen Ward)
Reposted by Stíofán Mhac an Bhaird (Stephen Ward)
Despite all the gloom, this thread shows there are wins in climate action and a lot worth fighting for.
@foeireland.bsky.social
#ClimateAction
@foeireland.bsky.social
#ClimateAction
This year has been brutal for the #climate movement.
Rollbacks, repression, & outright denial, especially in the US, have made progress feel fragile & uneven.
Which is exactly why it matters to pause & look back at what did move forward in 2025.
Here are 12 real wins 🏆, one for each month 🧵⬇️
Rollbacks, repression, & outright denial, especially in the US, have made progress feel fragile & uneven.
Which is exactly why it matters to pause & look back at what did move forward in 2025.
Here are 12 real wins 🏆, one for each month 🧵⬇️
January 2, 2026 at 9:42 AM
Despite all the gloom, this thread shows there are wins in climate action and a lot worth fighting for.
@foeireland.bsky.social
#ClimateAction
@foeireland.bsky.social
#ClimateAction
Reposted by Stíofán Mhac an Bhaird (Stephen Ward)
In what's now become an annual tradition, I've written another piece for The Gist about how and why I hate A.I.
On a bubble about to burst, a future rotted to its core, and the limits of the Mrs Doyle Theory of artificial intelligence.
www.thegist.ie/guest-gist-2...
On a bubble about to burst, a future rotted to its core, and the limits of the Mrs Doyle Theory of artificial intelligence.
www.thegist.ie/guest-gist-2...
Guest Gist: 2026, Our Already Rotting Future
Seamus O'Reilly warns of AI maximum bubbledrive this year.
www.thegist.ie
January 2, 2026 at 10:25 AM
In what's now become an annual tradition, I've written another piece for The Gist about how and why I hate A.I.
On a bubble about to burst, a future rotted to its core, and the limits of the Mrs Doyle Theory of artificial intelligence.
www.thegist.ie/guest-gist-2...
On a bubble about to burst, a future rotted to its core, and the limits of the Mrs Doyle Theory of artificial intelligence.
www.thegist.ie/guest-gist-2...
Reposted by Stíofán Mhac an Bhaird (Stephen Ward)
Cold weather warnings issued.
January 2, 2026 at 11:54 AM
Cold weather warnings issued.
Reposted by Stíofán Mhac an Bhaird (Stephen Ward)
People can't find anywhere to live cause it's all airbnbs Michael www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...
Healy-Rae urges ‘serious rethink’ of planned short-term lets crackdown
Minister of State tells Taoiseach this should happen ‘before irreparable damage is done to rural Ireland’
www.irishtimes.com
January 2, 2026 at 12:19 PM
People can't find anywhere to live cause it's all airbnbs Michael www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...
Reposted by Stíofán Mhac an Bhaird (Stephen Ward)
This is absolutely true. We all remember reading in our history books about how O'Connell agitated for the right of every Irishman to rent out his 2nd or 3rd home to German tourists for €1,500 a week (€1,800 during high season)
January 2, 2026 at 1:28 PM
This is absolutely true. We all remember reading in our history books about how O'Connell agitated for the right of every Irishman to rent out his 2nd or 3rd home to German tourists for €1,500 a week (€1,800 during high season)
Reposted by Stíofán Mhac an Bhaird (Stephen Ward)
For the legal nerds - X's main defence would be the hosting immunity in Article 6 of the Digital Services Act; however the claim would be that generating these images goes beyond 'the storage of information provided by a recipient of the service'.
Regulation - 2022/2065 - EN - DSA - EUR-Lex
eur-lex.europa.eu
January 2, 2026 at 2:04 PM
For the legal nerds - X's main defence would be the hosting immunity in Article 6 of the Digital Services Act; however the claim would be that generating these images goes beyond 'the storage of information provided by a recipient of the service'.
Reposted by Stíofán Mhac an Bhaird (Stephen Ward)
There is a strong argument that X and its officers are committing offences by providing Grok's nudifying function in Ireland.
January 2, 2026 at 1:55 PM
There is a strong argument that X and its officers are committing offences by providing Grok's nudifying function in Ireland.
Reposted by Stíofán Mhac an Bhaird (Stephen Ward)
A recurring feature of our pundit class is their performative failure to understand something that they actually understand very well indeed.
But can anyone tell me what this bit means? “For too long, those fluent in the good grammar of civility have deployed decorum to mask agendas of cruelty.”
January 2, 2026 at 2:02 PM
A recurring feature of our pundit class is their performative failure to understand something that they actually understand very well indeed.
Reposted by Stíofán Mhac an Bhaird (Stephen Ward)
I know of a nearby village where a couple moved to, thought it was lovely and proceeded to buy the next 11 houses on the market and the urn them into Airbnbs, outbidding several others who wanted to move to the place.
"it's essential to rural Ireland" has become a floating signifier you can use to argue against anything, no matter how nonsensical. Banning fox hunting, doing anything at all for the environment, regulating short-term rental
I'm sure we'll hear that data centres are essential to rural Ireland soon
I'm sure we'll hear that data centres are essential to rural Ireland soon
Healy-Rae urges ‘serious rethink’ of planned short-term lets crackdown
January 2, 2026 at 2:28 PM
I know of a nearby village where a couple moved to, thought it was lovely and proceeded to buy the next 11 houses on the market and the urn them into Airbnbs, outbidding several others who wanted to move to the place.
Reposted by Stíofán Mhac an Bhaird (Stephen Ward)
Britain's Ambassador Kara Owen: "Just use Gaeilge wherever you can – mix it in with Béarla if that’s all you can do – but just do it."
January 2, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Britain's Ambassador Kara Owen: "Just use Gaeilge wherever you can – mix it in with Béarla if that’s all you can do – but just do it."
Reposted by Stíofán Mhac an Bhaird (Stephen Ward)
We need everyone to treat the next election as a referendum on whether we believe this is acceptable. #spéirgorm
Broken social contract
Have no doubt this is down to Irish Government policy that not only lets wealthy owners sit on their assets, it actually rewards them for it
Hang your heads in shame Micheál Martin, Simon Harris, Fianna Fáil & Fine Gael
How can you sleep at night?
#DerelictIreland #SpeirGorm
Have no doubt this is down to Irish Government policy that not only lets wealthy owners sit on their assets, it actually rewards them for it
Hang your heads in shame Micheál Martin, Simon Harris, Fianna Fáil & Fine Gael
How can you sleep at night?
#DerelictIreland #SpeirGorm
January 2, 2026 at 3:07 PM
We need everyone to treat the next election as a referendum on whether we believe this is acceptable. #spéirgorm
Reposted by Stíofán Mhac an Bhaird (Stephen Ward)
Moth number 2 for #InverteFest today!
This guy is slightly upscaled from the last one and I took the time to try a different way to sew the wings in.
I think the last thing I'm going to change is broaden the head so it's less long
#inverts #plushart 🪲🦐
This guy is slightly upscaled from the last one and I took the time to try a different way to sew the wings in.
I think the last thing I'm going to change is broaden the head so it's less long
#inverts #plushart 🪲🦐
January 2, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Moth number 2 for #InverteFest today!
This guy is slightly upscaled from the last one and I took the time to try a different way to sew the wings in.
I think the last thing I'm going to change is broaden the head so it's less long
#inverts #plushart 🪲🦐
This guy is slightly upscaled from the last one and I took the time to try a different way to sew the wings in.
I think the last thing I'm going to change is broaden the head so it's less long
#inverts #plushart 🪲🦐
Reposted by Stíofán Mhac an Bhaird (Stephen Ward)
What does it mean when your doctors keep insisting you redo the cognitive exam
January 2, 2026 at 2:58 PM
What does it mean when your doctors keep insisting you redo the cognitive exam
Reposted by Stíofán Mhac an Bhaird (Stephen Ward)
Ex-Meta chief AI scientist Yann LeCun has Lunch with the FT and in one of those instances so rare that you know he didn't sign an NDA, says exactly why as.ft.com/r/e503690d-8...
January 2, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Ex-Meta chief AI scientist Yann LeCun has Lunch with the FT and in one of those instances so rare that you know he didn't sign an NDA, says exactly why as.ft.com/r/e503690d-8...
Reposted by Stíofán Mhac an Bhaird (Stephen Ward)
Due to feedback from our testers, we have decided to patch "Happy New Year" to "Acceptable New Year" to avoid disappointment and better match the realities of the market.
January 2, 2026 at 12:16 PM
Due to feedback from our testers, we have decided to patch "Happy New Year" to "Acceptable New Year" to avoid disappointment and better match the realities of the market.
Reposted by Stíofán Mhac an Bhaird (Stephen Ward)
Over on my Patreon paid subscribers are getting Terran Omega page 19 in full colour and with pencils and high res full colour scans of the lineart! All from $1 per month! www.patreon.com/posts/147160...
Or read it from the start
Www.pauljholden.com/patreon.pho?via=ks
Or read it from the start
Www.pauljholden.com/patreon.pho?via=ks
Terran Omega The Ghosts of War colour p19 | PJ Holden
Get more from PJ Holden on Patreon
www.patreon.com
January 2, 2026 at 11:45 AM
Over on my Patreon paid subscribers are getting Terran Omega page 19 in full colour and with pencils and high res full colour scans of the lineart! All from $1 per month! www.patreon.com/posts/147160...
Or read it from the start
Www.pauljholden.com/patreon.pho?via=ks
Or read it from the start
Www.pauljholden.com/patreon.pho?via=ks
Reposted by Stíofán Mhac an Bhaird (Stephen Ward)
Hello from Ireland, where the Catholic Church still hasn't paid most of the compensation due to all its child abuse victims after decades of campaigning and litigation, and still has a say in the running of most of the schools in the state.
call me crazy but it really feels like “World’s Richest Man Creates AI Chatbot That Generates Child Porn” would’ve been a huge international outrage requiring a governmental crackdown not even 24 months ago
January 2, 2026 at 11:48 AM
Hello from Ireland, where the Catholic Church still hasn't paid most of the compensation due to all its child abuse victims after decades of campaigning and litigation, and still has a say in the running of most of the schools in the state.
Reposted by Stíofán Mhac an Bhaird (Stephen Ward)
The best part of the Pluribus season finale is when Carol dropped this bomb. Absolute masterclass from Gilligan.
December 31, 2025 at 4:22 PM
The best part of the Pluribus season finale is when Carol dropped this bomb. Absolute masterclass from Gilligan.