Brendan Donlon
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brendandonlon.bsky.social
Brendan Donlon
@brendandonlon.bsky.social
980 followers 770 following 220 posts
Dad; hubby; brand comms; biz owner; cat lover; campanologist; colon cancer in 2018 - no evidence of disease since then..
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brendandonlon.bsky.social
For November, I was asked to represent Bowel Cancer Ireland to launch a campaign from #MarieKeating to encourage men to check the facts about their most common cancers. Make sure to signup for screening that’s open to you, talk to your GP about proactive screening, and never ignore lasting symptoms!
A group of five people stand smiling outside The Grafton Barber in Skerries at the launch of a men’s health awareness campaign. From left to right are actor Simon Delaney, tossing coconuts into the air; Conor and Hugh McAllister of The Grafton Barber; Liz Yeats, CEO of the Marie Keating Foundation; and Brendan Donlon from Bowel Cancer Ireland. Together they hold a large campaign sign featuring two cartoon walnuts with the slogan “Don’t be nuts, check the facts!” promoting men’s cancer checks. The mood is upbeat and light-hearted, encouraging early detection through humour.
November 4, 2025 at 11:04 AM
brendandonlon.bsky.social
This year's #halloween #luna portraits... #cat #blackcat 🐈‍⬛ #proofofcat
In the dim autumn light of a Dublin hallway, a sleek black cat crouches low, her golden eyes glowing like twin lanterns. Through her body we see a strange talisman — a meat-cleaver streaked with crimson. She waits in eerie stillness on the polished wooden floor, halfway between shadow and radiator heat, as though she alone knows what dark mischief lurks in the house tonight. Somewhere, a floorboard creaks — but Luna does not flinch. At the threshold between the warm light of home and the dying glow of dusk, Luna lounges like a sentinel of Halloween itself. A blood-splattered cleaver appears lodged in her side — a trick of costume, but convincing in the fading sun. Her eyes gleam toward the street as though watching for lost souls or late trick-or-treaters. The mat beneath her paws becomes an altar of calm before the night begins to stir. On cold stone steps, beneath a pot of purple blossoms, a black cat crouches beside a pair of pumpkins — one smiling, one sinister. A tiny skull lurks in the shadows. Luna’s fur drinks in the twilight, her yellow eyes catching the last light of day like molten gold. The doorway yawns behind her, open to whatever spirits dare enter. Autumn leaves and whispers of Halloween drift in the air around her, soft but spellbound. Inside a cardboard box labelled Halloween 2025, Luna sits like something summoned. Her gaze is calm, ancient, and faintly amused — as if she alone remembers last year’s hauntings. The label’s tiny pumpkin and vampire-tooth icons serve as warnings: beware what you order when October calls. Around her, the kitchen glows warm and ordinary, yet the cat in the box turns the moment uncanny — a familiar awaiting her midnight cue.
November 1, 2025 at 1:05 PM
brendandonlon.bsky.social
Taking a "what is seldom is wonderful" to #caturday pics of #luna - here are some of her most winsome poses from recent months. We're now entering the time of year when we really appreciate the comfort of a warm & weighty fluffball immobilising us with her purring presence... #proofofcat #blackcat 🐈‍⬛
Luna on the armchair, being petted A sleek black cat with golden eyes, Luna lies on her side on a mustard-coloured tweed armchair, enjoying a gentle belly rub from a human hand. Her expression is calm and content, her white whiskers and a round ID tag visible against her glossy fur. Luna draped over a white chair Luna, a black cat with bright eyes and a small white patch on her chest, lounges with her front legs hanging over the back of a white wooden chair. The background is softly lit with warm, colourful light, giving the scene a cosy, playful atmosphere. Luna perched on a (closed!) toilet seat Seen from above, Luna looks up with wide, curious eyes while sitting neatly on top of the toilet in a tiled bathroom. Her rounded shape and shiny coat make her resemble a perfectly poised loaf. Luna inside a cardboard box Luna sits alert inside an open cardboard box on a kitchen counter. Her head peeks just above the box’s edge, with ears pricked and eyes wide as she surveys the room. The stainless steel oven and counters in the background give the scene a modern, homey feel.
October 27, 2025 at 5:37 PM
brendandonlon.bsky.social
A beautiful, crisp Autumn day to cast a vote. Fingers crossed the turnout here in Dublin Rathdown (and everywhere else) is better than predicted…

#Aras25 #SpeirGorm
This image shows a polling station in the Dublin Rathdown constituency during the Irish Presidential Election of 2025. The setting is a primary school building - Our Lady’s Boys National School - in use as a temporary polling centre. The school has a mid-20th-century architectural style, with flat roofs, large windows, and beige-brick walls trimmed with blue. Voters are seen arriving and departing the site, with a mix of people walking towards and away from the entrance. A modest queue of parked cars suggests steady turnout. A small election signboard is visible outside the door, indicating where voters should enter. The clear blue sky and bright sunlight suggest it’s a crisp autumn morning.
October 24, 2025 at 9:56 AM
brendandonlon.bsky.social
My annual “how will I fill the 15 minute waiting time after vaccination” post! Flu & COVID 19 jabs are now available, and the eligibility for free jabs is growing every year. If you don’t fancy getting sick, or if you’re self-employed and your mean boss doesn’t offer sick leave, why not get yours? 💉
A stylised, retro-style propaganda poster features a determined-looking Brendan in aviation gear—goggles, red flight jacket, and harness straps—set against a bold orange background with a vintage airplane and cityscape in the distance. He holds a large syringe in one hand like a tool or weapon. The text at the bottom reads: “FOR A BETTER WINTER: GET VACCINATED” in capital letters, with the words “GET VACCINATED” highlighted in bright orange. The design evokes wartime posters, reimagined to promote public health action through vaccination.
September 25, 2025 at 12:15 PM
brendandonlon.bsky.social
A belated post after last week's Bowel Cancer in Ireland conference at the @rcsi.bsky.social - prompted by some very welcome coverage and support in the #IrishIndependent today. Fingers crossed for the final HIQA report on lowering the screening age, whenever it's finally published!
Three individuals stand smiling in front of a Bowel Cancer Ireland banner inside a conference venue. The banner reads “Awareness, Advocacy and Peer Support for Colorectal Cancers.” One person wears a colourful headscarf, another wears glasses and a light green blazer, and the third wears red trousers and a white jacket. All are wearing blue lanyards, suggesting they are attendees or speakers at a bowel cancer awareness event. A major news story in the Irish Independent highlights an urgent call from health experts and campaigners to lower the age for bowel cancer screening in Ireland. The country now suffers the highest mortality rate for colorectal cancer in Europe. The article notes a worrying trend: nearly one in five people diagnosed in 2024 were under 60, and one in ten were under 50. Organisations like Bowel Cancer Ireland and the Marie Keating Foundation are urging the Government to lower the screening age from 59 to 50—or even younger—for higher-risk individuals. Bowel cancer survival rates dramatically drop when diagnosed at a later stage: 97% at stage one, but only 14% at stage four. Despite the benefits of early detection, screening uptake remains low compared to European norms. The article also cites a study by RCSI and the HSE’s National Screening Service, which found that mailing test kits directly to people significantly increases participation. Campaigners say the Government must act faster and more decisively to address this emerging public health crisis, particularly the rise in early-onset colorectal cancers linked to diet, lifestyle, and delayed diagnosis. This editorial underscores the importance of earlier bowel cancer screening as a life-saving measure. It argues that earlier detection leads to better outcomes and fewer aggressive treatments. Early-stage diagnosis offers a five-year survival rate of 97%, compared to just 14% at stage four. The editorial points to a sharp rise in bowel cancer cases among younger people—especially those under 50—and attributes this trend to poor diet, low fibre intake, lack of exercise, obesity, and increased consumption of processed foods. One in five diagnoses in Ireland now occurs in people under 60. Despite these alarming trends, Ireland’s screening programme currently starts at age 59. While the Government plans to lower this to 55, the article advocates for a more urgent, population-wide shift to self-screening and earlier age thresholds, particularly for high-risk groups. It concludes that earlier screening not only improves survival but also enhances quality of life by catching cancer before symptoms appear.
September 15, 2025 at 5:22 PM
brendandonlon.bsky.social
It was #GalbraithCup day today in Taney - our annual pot-luck / random-draw team ringing competition… we had all the weathers, but still managed a great BBQ - and the team I was on came second!
A group of six bellringers pose smiling inside Taney bell tower. Two are holding bell ropes with red sallies, and the group stands in front of the tower’s gothic arched window. A man in a purple bellringing polo shirt tends to a sizzling BBQ filled with sausages, burgers, and chicken. Another bellringer, an older woman, stands nearby holding a mug and laughing. They’re under a green tarp, keeping dry from light rain. A row of bellringers in purple uniforms lean over a long table, quickly assembling picture frames for the winning team’s certificates. The image captures concentration and teamwork, as each person carefully places items into their frame. Six smiling participants pose holding framed Galbraith Cup certificates. One person also lifts a silver trophy cup.
August 30, 2025 at 7:33 PM
brendandonlon.bsky.social
A much belated #Caturday catch-up of #Luna pics since our holidays - she’s loved the long days of summer, so we now have the challenge of reintroducing her “be home before dark” curfew… 🐈‍⬛ #blackcat #cat
A black cat with golden eyes and a tracking tag on her collar rests her front paws on the arm of a mustard-yellow sofa. A matching cushion is behind her, and she looks calmly and confidently at the camera. Luna, a black cat with bright eyes and a reflective tag, lies stretched out on a patterned tablecloth. She stares wide-eyed at something off-camera while a blue plastic spring toy balances on the top corner of a white kitchen chair beside her. A black cat rests on a sofa, looking up with intent. Behind her is a child’s colourful rainbow parachute, its bright panels softly out of focus. Her tracking tag is visible on her collar as she lies with her front paws neatly crossed. Luna perches tall and alert on a concrete fence post in a leafy garden. Her black coat contrasts with the bright cloudy sky, and she looks to the left as if watching something in the distance. Her tracking collar is visible on her neck.
August 24, 2025 at 8:44 PM
brendandonlon.bsky.social
Wearing my 💩 hat, please join me in responding to HIQA's consultation on lowering the BowelScreen age in Ireland: Starting at 59, it's over a decade too late compared to best practice. Their draft report says a younger screening age will save lives, but that the HSE may not have the capacity. 1/2
Bowel Cancer Ireland is a peer support, advocacy, and awareness group led by people living with, recovering from, or caring for someone with colorectal cancer. Working with the Marie Keating Foundation and the Irish Cancer Society, we raise awareness of early-onset cancers in patients under 50. We see the rising number of younger patients and the impact of delayed diagnosis. We strongly support lowering the screening age, expanding access to diagnostic pathways for anyone with symptoms, and promoting BowelScreen more actively. We urge HIQA to base screening age decisions on evidence, not capacity limits. The HTA’s role is to assess clinical effectiveness, population impact, and cost-effectiveness – not operational feasibility. Earlier screening saves lives, detects cancers earlier, and reduces treatment costs with minimal risk. Capacity shortfalls are for the HSE and Department of Health to resolve. Delaying a clear recommendation risks penalising patients under 55. Many countries already screen from 50 (or 45). Commentary on capacity constraints is out of scope and should be removed from the final report. We propose smarter testing pathways to ease the transition to screening from age 50: Primary care FIT testing – Proven in Irish and HSE studies to be practical, accepted, and effective in prioritising referrals. Better triage for symptomatic patients – FIT helps identify high-risk patients, reserving urgent colonoscopy slots for those most in need; NPV ≈99.6%. Targeted access – Wider FIT availability outside current BowelScreen ages, especially for symptomatic under-55s, improves detection and reduces delays. This is not a substitute for proper resourcing – it is a practical, evidence-based way to manage the transition while capacity is expanded.
August 8, 2025 at 3:29 PM
brendandonlon.bsky.social
With just ten minutes to go before our chicken dinner in the oven was fully cooked, this happens... 🙄🤬 Banking on residual heat getting us though a slightly longer cooking time now! #PowerCut #ESBNetworks
A screenshot from the ESB Networks PowerCheck system showing a power fault in Sandyford. The alert reports the outage was logged at 17:52 on 28/07/2025, with an estimated restore time of 19:00 the same day. A red warning symbol appears above the word “FAULT.” The message states that 2,705 customers are affected, and apologises for the loss of supply, noting that repair work is in progress to restore power as quickly as possible.
July 28, 2025 at 5:06 PM
brendandonlon.bsky.social
This is #Luna in her favourite pose, languidly looking at (human) dinner being made, and wondering what she might get if she dials up her "cute" emitters even more...
Luna, a black cat with golden eyes, rests her head on the back of a white wooden kitchen chair and looks coquettishly into the camera. She is (very) relaxed, stretched out with a pink handbag hanging on the chair, and a colourful, softly blurred kitchen background behind her.
July 25, 2025 at 7:55 PM
brendandonlon.bsky.social
...and on a #caturday - here's just a tiny subset of the many cats of Catalunya, preceded by #Luna striking a traditional "if I sit in the suitcase you can't leave" pose. (She was very well minded in our absence!)
Luna in suitcase A sleek black cat with golden eyes, wearing a round black and white collar tag, lounges comfortably on folded towels inside an open navy suitcase. The suitcase is neatly packed, with the cat nestled contentedly among clothes. Feral black cat on stone A black feral cat with piercing yellow eyes lies alert on a rough stone surface. Its ears are slightly worn, and it gazes off to the side, framed by dry leaves and the legs of a wooden structure. Tabby cat at green door A short-haired tabby cat with green eyes sits upright on a sandy stone step. Behind it is a bright green wooden door and whitewashed wall, giving a rustic Mediterranean feel. Calico cat on grass A calico cat with striking green eyes and distinct black, orange, and white markings lies on lush grass. The cat stares directly at the camera, with a timber deck structure behind it.
July 19, 2025 at 4:23 PM
brendandonlon.bsky.social
Just back from a great holiday - a week walking along sections of the GR92 Camí de Ronda in Catalunya, followed by a week in a nearby campsite. The coastal route meant lots of cooling breeze & opportunities for impromptu sea swimming. Food, drink and local welcome (from humans & cats) was fabulous!
Aiguablava at sunset – A stunning coastal view of Aiguablava, Catalunya, just after sunset. The sky glows orange and pink, with dozens of boats anchored in the calm bay below. Hills dotted with houses rise in the background. Secluded cove on the GR 92 – A dramatic vista of a small cove along the GR 92 coastal path between Tamariu and Llafranc. Crystal-clear turquoise water is framed by cliffs and windswept pine trees, with a rocky beach at the base. Sunset at L’Estartit marina – A soft evening light over L’Estartit’s marina and beach promenade. The bay is calm, sailboats are moored, and clouds scatter a pink-orange glow across the sky as the sun dips behind the hills. Family selfie at a restaurant in Catalunya – A smiling family group photo taken outside a tapas restaurant. Brendan stands on the right with his wife in the centre and their teenage son on the left. They’re all enjoying a sunny evening out.
July 19, 2025 at 3:47 PM
brendandonlon.bsky.social
A belated batch of #Luna pics for #Caturday - she loves the hiding / stalking potential of all the lush summer greenery, but gets all Blanche DuBois in this hot weather… she only interrupts her naps to stroll around languidly seeking out new nap locations. 🐈‍⬛ #cat #blackcat
Luna - A black cat with golden eyes - lounging with one paw draped over the edge of a grey planter, surrounded by pink and purple flowers and green foliage. Luna sitting on green grass between shrubs and plants, wearing a collar and looking alertly to the side. Luna sitting upright on the centre console of a car, between the front seats, staring straight at the camera with wide eyes. Luna draped across the back of a white chair indoors, resting her head on the chair rail, gazing at the camera with relaxed eyes.
June 29, 2025 at 9:32 PM
brendandonlon.bsky.social
One of the rituals of our suburban summer - stewarding for the Marlay Park concerts for Ballinteer St John's - and today it's for the Olivia Rodrigo gig, so we're getting the best behaved, most joyous group of purple & black wearing concert goers...
Brendan smiling in a high-vis vest beside a weathered green street sign for Heather Lawn (Faiche Fraoigh) in Dundrum, while on volunteer stewarding duty for Ballinteer St John’s GAA Crowds of concertgoers walking up Taney Road past a line of taxis and metal barriers as they head towards the Olivia Rodrigo gig in Marlay Park Groups of young people in festival-style outfits passing the front of Naomh Eoin Baile an tSaoir C.L.G. (St John’s GAA) clubhouse, en route to the Olivia Rodrigo concert Brendan smiling in a Ballinteer St John’s GAA top with ‘Minor 2025’ embroidery while volunteering under leafy trees on concert night in Marlay Park
June 24, 2025 at 7:12 PM
brendandonlon.bsky.social
Snap!
A black cat - called Luna - lounges comfortably on a patterned bedspread, gazing calmly into the distance. Its golden eyes and glossy fur stand out in the natural light, with a paw curled up near its chin and colourful clothes softly blurred in the background.
June 22, 2025 at 3:40 PM
brendandonlon.bsky.social
...and here's just one of the references to our bells in #Ulysses - from the RTE recording. 2/2 www.rte.ie/culture/2025...
June 16, 2025 at 7:53 PM
brendandonlon.bsky.social
I donned my red braces today for #Bloomsday at Taney Tower in Dundrum - our bells were previously in George's church on Hardwicke Street, and they earn multiple references in #Ulysses as Leopold Bloom hears them from his home in nearby Eccles Street. (Our handbells are also from St. George's!) 🔔 1/2
Five bellringers stand beneath the arched window of the ringing room at Taney, dressed in Bloomsday-inspired vintage outfits. Red bell ropes frame the group, who smile in anticipation of ringing the historic bells of St George’s Church. A cheerful black-and-white spaniel pants happily while being held on a blue retractable lead. People in Bloomsday costume can be seen blurred in the background. Two smiling bellringers, one in a white shirt with red braces and bow tie, the other in a straw hat and check shirt, stand outside holding handbells during the Bloomsday celebration. A table with six brass handbells on blue cloth is in front of them.
June 16, 2025 at 7:49 PM
brendandonlon.bsky.social
A cat dad #FathersDay post, belatedly for #Caturday - on a day where #Luna used up another one of her nine lives as she tumbled backwards off our porch roof, having sauntered out an open first floor window... So far, it seems only her pride was wounded!🤞🏻 🐈‍⬛ #cat #blackcat
Luna on a white wall – A sleek black cat with golden eyes balances confidently on a narrow white wall between two houses, flanked by red cars. Luna on a red car bonnet – Luna sits upright on the glossy bonnet of a red car, gazing left, with a palm tree and leafy hedge in the background. Luna hiding in the hot press – Only one bright golden eye and part of a black ear are visible as Luna peers out from a pile of soft, crumpled bedsheets. Luna with pink toy – With wide eyes and a firm grip, Luna clutches a fuzzy pink toy while crouched low on a tiled floor.
June 15, 2025 at 9:13 PM
brendandonlon.bsky.social
It’s been so wet today, even the snails are seeking (slightly) higher ground... #SpeirGorm
Close-up photo of a brown snail crawling over a curled green leaf on a wet footpath. The focus is on the snail, with the background softly blurred, showing a suburban street with a parked blue car and green hedges lining the pavement. The shot is taken from a low angle, level with the ground.
June 12, 2025 at 7:25 PM
brendandonlon.bsky.social
Thanks to @1dan.bsky.social I learnt that Bill Atkinson had passed today - he had a huge (indirect) influence on my hobby-turned-career choices - as these posts from the other place show...
A screenshot of a tweet by Brendan Donlon, referencing the original Macintosh that sparked his interest in design. It includes a quote tweet from Monica Donlon, showing the back of an early Apple Macintosh computer labelled “Model 1.” The tweet mentions it arrived in their home when Brendan was 14, thanks to a prize-winning essay by his sister. Image shows a Rear view of a vintage beige Macintosh Model 1 computer showing ports, vents, and the Apple Computer Inc. model label. The word “Macintosh” appears on a badge with the classic rainbow Apple logo. A tweet by Brendan Donlon recalling his teenage efforts in 1984 to recreate graphic designs using MacPaint. He reflects on preferring the Mac interface over the Apple II, despite having both in the house. Images show Four colourful abstract graphics designed by Gary Mouat for the band Yes. The artworks feature circular forms, bold colour contrasts (cyan, magenta, yellow, black), geometric shapes, and technical design elements. These were originally created on an Apple II computer.
June 7, 2025 at 7:38 PM
brendandonlon.bsky.social
With apologies to Rembrandt, today is the 7th anniversary of my #BowelCancer diagnosis, when a no-nonsense surgeon decided on "colectomy first, questions later" approach. I am hugely lucky to still be here, reminding you to ask your GP about screening when you turn 45 or at any age with 💩 symptoms.
A digital artwork mimicking Rembrandt’s The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp. In this version, the scene features seven men in 17th-century attire gathered around a reclining, smiling man. Instead of a dissection, a birthday cake with seven lit candles rests on the man’s torso. One of the men - who looks *slightly* like Brendan - is wearing glasses and a wide-brimmed hat, and holds a knife poised to cut the cake. The painting maintains dramatic lighting and rich, dark tones characteristic of the original Old Master style.
May 31, 2025 at 4:44 PM
brendandonlon.bsky.social
A brilliantly overwhelming experience at varnishing day for the RHA Annual Exhibition this afternoon - like being in a sweet shop of visual treats. And I caught up with some old friends from my NCAD era, which was also a lovely treat...
Visitors in a gallery closely examine a dense, salon-style arrangement of small artworks on a white wall. The eclectic display includes paintings, photographs, and mixed media pieces of varying styles and subjects, from portraits and landscapes to abstract and sculptural work. The mood is calm and attentive, with people of different ages leaning in for a closer look. A small group of people gather inside a narrow gallery space, seen through a large open door. Three contemporary portraits hang on a beige wall in front of them, featuring expressive depictions of people. One visitor wears a bright red and black jacket, adding a pop of colour to the neutral surroundings. The setting is lively and intimate, suggesting engaged conversation about the artworks.
May 25, 2025 at 3:04 PM
brendandonlon.bsky.social
A brilliantly run day on Saturday at the Murphy Cup (the all Ireland bell ringing finals) - we didn't get a podium finish, with a strong pair of really excellent teams from Northern Ireland setting an impossibly high standard... But great fun, as always. 🔔 #IACR #MurphyCup
Eight bell ringers from Taney ready to compete at the Irish Association of Change Ringing Murphy Cup pose smiling in matching purple uniforms outside the large white door of St. Peter’s Church, Drogheda. A group of Taney bellringers in purple uniforms enter the side door of St. Peter’s Church, gathering for their ring inside the stone Georgian building. A vintage chalkboard mounted on pine-panelled walls displays complex numerical sequences used for bell ringing methods, showing active learning and tradition in the ringing room. A framed black-and-white photo from 1951 shows members of St. Peter’s bellringers’ guild standing beside church bells removed for renovation, dressed in formal attire with names listed below.
May 24, 2025 at 11:08 PM
brendandonlon.bsky.social
👏🏻 Never has the phrase "ear worm" been so appropriate...
A portrait painted in the style of Vincent van Gogh, featuring Van Gogh himself wearing a modern red Manchester United football jersey. The shirt includes visible sponsor logos and the club crest. The background is rendered with Van Gogh’s signature swirling brushstrokes in shades of blue and green, adding a sense of movement and energy. Van Gogh’s expression is intense and contemplative, with his fiery red hair and beard painted in thick, expressive strokes.
May 22, 2025 at 8:56 AM