Alan Johnston
@alanmacseain.bsky.social
Electronics Engineer. Tá beagán Gaeilge agam.
Damn! Move off clouds.
There's colour in the clouds (that's a 5sec exposure - it's pitch black outside) so the aurora is probably doing its thing.
There's colour in the clouds (that's a 5sec exposure - it's pitch black outside) so the aurora is probably doing its thing.
November 12, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Damn! Move off clouds.
There's colour in the clouds (that's a 5sec exposure - it's pitch black outside) so the aurora is probably doing its thing.
There's colour in the clouds (that's a 5sec exposure - it's pitch black outside) so the aurora is probably doing its thing.
My daughter's latest oil painting. "Tlachtga", druidess of The Hill of Ward. Prints available.
www.instagram.com/p/DQ7qWxWDLn2
#speirgorm
www.instagram.com/p/DQ7qWxWDLn2
#speirgorm
November 12, 2025 at 12:44 AM
My daughter's latest oil painting. "Tlachtga", druidess of The Hill of Ward. Prints available.
www.instagram.com/p/DQ7qWxWDLn2
#speirgorm
www.instagram.com/p/DQ7qWxWDLn2
#speirgorm
Tonight is "Oíche idir dhá Uachtarán", a rare event rumoured to occur every seven years*, where the former Taoisigh have free reign to haunt the halls of the Áras.
*or multiples of 7.
*or multiples of 7.
November 10, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Tonight is "Oíche idir dhá Uachtarán", a rare event rumoured to occur every seven years*, where the former Taoisigh have free reign to haunt the halls of the Áras.
*or multiples of 7.
*or multiples of 7.
You can stop looking at me, I'm NOT paying the cheese tax on Cashel Blue.
November 3, 2025 at 11:16 PM
You can stop looking at me, I'm NOT paying the cheese tax on Cashel Blue.
There are Hallowe'en feels to the Moon this evening.
October 26, 2025 at 6:18 PM
There are Hallowe'en feels to the Moon this evening.
Rx Tx wrong. Again!
October 12, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Rx Tx wrong. Again!
Rx Tx wrong. Again!
October 12, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Rx Tx wrong. Again!
The fitting room had three steps up to the door, so Mr Benn's adventures were, unfortunately, prematurely ended due to the Shopkeeper's failure to implement basic accessibility features.
October 1, 2025 at 10:08 PM
The fitting room had three steps up to the door, so Mr Benn's adventures were, unfortunately, prematurely ended due to the Shopkeeper's failure to implement basic accessibility features.
I remembered a song my mother used to sing when I was a tot, bouncing on her knee.
I Googled the lyrics and got this, but *I* didn't misremember the words. I noticed the song is from 1907 and realised that that was WAY before her time, so her mother must have sang it to her, bouncing on her knee.
I Googled the lyrics and got this, but *I* didn't misremember the words. I noticed the song is from 1907 and realised that that was WAY before her time, so her mother must have sang it to her, bouncing on her knee.
September 29, 2025 at 11:21 PM
I remembered a song my mother used to sing when I was a tot, bouncing on her knee.
I Googled the lyrics and got this, but *I* didn't misremember the words. I noticed the song is from 1907 and realised that that was WAY before her time, so her mother must have sang it to her, bouncing on her knee.
I Googled the lyrics and got this, but *I* didn't misremember the words. I noticed the song is from 1907 and realised that that was WAY before her time, so her mother must have sang it to her, bouncing on her knee.
Níl ní ar bith níos áille ná 'n ghealach os cionn 'n tsáile.
September 8, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Níl ní ar bith níos áille ná 'n ghealach os cionn 'n tsáile.
There's a glut of sloes here at the moment, so I tried my hand at Sloe and Apple Jelly.
100% recommend it. It has a unique taste and just a hint of tannins like a nice red wine. Yum!
100% recommend it. It has a unique taste and just a hint of tannins like a nice red wine. Yum!
September 5, 2025 at 7:48 PM
There's a glut of sloes here at the moment, so I tried my hand at Sloe and Apple Jelly.
100% recommend it. It has a unique taste and just a hint of tannins like a nice red wine. Yum!
100% recommend it. It has a unique taste and just a hint of tannins like a nice red wine. Yum!
These guys are taste explosions! "Sunburst", ripe when orange. (Most are a bit larger than this wee guy.)
September 4, 2025 at 9:46 PM
These guys are taste explosions! "Sunburst", ripe when orange. (Most are a bit larger than this wee guy.)
Seo mo bhean chéile ar an lá céanna le do chuairt. Má éisteann tú go cúramach, screadann Lia Fáil nuair a nascann sí leis!
September 3, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Seo mo bhean chéile ar an lá céanna le do chuairt. Má éisteann tú go cúramach, screadann Lia Fáil nuair a nascann sí leis!
I love how the reedmace is called 'cuigeal nam ban-sìthe.' It has that name in Irish too.
August 26, 2025 at 9:35 AM
I love how the reedmace is called 'cuigeal nam ban-sìthe.' It has that name in Irish too.
Those directions only make sense when the land is viewed facing east.
August 24, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Those directions only make sense when the land is viewed facing east.
I found out tonight (thanks to Cedrusk on Instagram) that historically east was up on maps.
In Irish deas/right and deisceart are from the same root. Also, iarthar (west) derives from 'iar' 'thar' "behind beyond", and east (oirthear) from 'air' 'thar' "front beyond".
Ireland IS dog-shaped!
In Irish deas/right and deisceart are from the same root. Also, iarthar (west) derives from 'iar' 'thar' "behind beyond", and east (oirthear) from 'air' 'thar' "front beyond".
Ireland IS dog-shaped!
August 24, 2025 at 10:34 PM
I found out tonight (thanks to Cedrusk on Instagram) that historically east was up on maps.
In Irish deas/right and deisceart are from the same root. Also, iarthar (west) derives from 'iar' 'thar' "behind beyond", and east (oirthear) from 'air' 'thar' "front beyond".
Ireland IS dog-shaped!
In Irish deas/right and deisceart are from the same root. Also, iarthar (west) derives from 'iar' 'thar' "behind beyond", and east (oirthear) from 'air' 'thar' "front beyond".
Ireland IS dog-shaped!
I'm clearing years of accumulated crud from my garage. I have one of these, with all its bits and pieces. Thunder Tiger Raptor 50. Was working when last parked up many years ago.
I don't suppose anyone wants it? Do I just lay it to rest in the skip?
I don't suppose anyone wants it? Do I just lay it to rest in the skip?
July 17, 2025 at 10:33 PM
I'm clearing years of accumulated crud from my garage. I have one of these, with all its bits and pieces. Thunder Tiger Raptor 50. Was working when last parked up many years ago.
I don't suppose anyone wants it? Do I just lay it to rest in the skip?
I don't suppose anyone wants it? Do I just lay it to rest in the skip?
I love how this card by my daughter fits so perfectly into the Gap of Dunloe.
@chubbycherub on Instagram
@chubbycherub on Instagram
July 13, 2025 at 10:34 PM
I love how this card by my daughter fits so perfectly into the Gap of Dunloe.
@chubbycherub on Instagram
@chubbycherub on Instagram
Tonight's full moon brings a pleasant temperature change from today's full sun.
July 11, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Tonight's full moon brings a pleasant temperature change from today's full sun.
Here's a challenge: What "home forts" of two Irish mythological heroes are connected by the sunset on the summer solstice?
I'll add a clue if you repost.
I'll add a clue if you repost.
June 16, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Here's a challenge: What "home forts" of two Irish mythological heroes are connected by the sunset on the summer solstice?
I'll add a clue if you repost.
I'll add a clue if you repost.
How does a body entice this wee lad out of the house? We leave in the morning and I've no idea when the next person arrives.
June 14, 2025 at 10:58 PM
How does a body entice this wee lad out of the house? We leave in the morning and I've no idea when the next person arrives.
Níl ní ar bith is áille,
Ná'n ghealach os cionn 'n tsáile.
Bríd Óg Ní Mhaille
Ná'n ghealach os cionn 'n tsáile.
Bríd Óg Ní Mhaille
June 10, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Níl ní ar bith is áille,
Ná'n ghealach os cionn 'n tsáile.
Bríd Óg Ní Mhaille
Ná'n ghealach os cionn 'n tsáile.
Bríd Óg Ní Mhaille
Maybe you would include "pinkeen" and "pincín" in your feed?
May 30, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Maybe you would include "pinkeen" and "pincín" in your feed?
Cúchulainn learned his art from Scáthach, presumably equivalent to Sgòthach, then the essence of his power originates in clouds (not shadows, as the Irish word suggests). You could call this essence Uisge or maybe Ishka.
May 19, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Cúchulainn learned his art from Scáthach, presumably equivalent to Sgòthach, then the essence of his power originates in clouds (not shadows, as the Irish word suggests). You could call this essence Uisge or maybe Ishka.