Claire Castles
@clairecastles.bsky.social
(She/her) PhD Candidate in Sociology at Queen's University Belfast. Interested in evangelical missions & ethnic relations in N. Ireland; qualitative & ethnographic methods
Also into: Food & cooking; public policy; my dog
Views my own
Also into: Food & cooking; public policy; my dog
Views my own
Reposted by Claire Castles
Labour policy is being celebrated by Tommy Robinson.
That's it.
That's all you ever need to say to explain who Labour are.
That's it.
That's all you ever need to say to explain who Labour are.
November 16, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Labour policy is being celebrated by Tommy Robinson.
That's it.
That's all you ever need to say to explain who Labour are.
That's it.
That's all you ever need to say to explain who Labour are.
Reposted by Claire Castles
Sociological Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Queen’s University Belfast
7th – 8th May 2026
**Call for Papers**
mailchi.mp/7a7c78c6bbbc...
sociology.ie
Queen’s University Belfast
7th – 8th May 2026
**Call for Papers**
mailchi.mp/7a7c78c6bbbc...
sociology.ie
September 4, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Sociological Association of Ireland Annual Conference
Queen’s University Belfast
7th – 8th May 2026
**Call for Papers**
mailchi.mp/7a7c78c6bbbc...
sociology.ie
Queen’s University Belfast
7th – 8th May 2026
**Call for Papers**
mailchi.mp/7a7c78c6bbbc...
sociology.ie
Reposted by Claire Castles
Delighted to give the first keynote of the 38th ISSR conference in Kaunas, on “Sociology of Religion and Conflict: A Roadmap for Times of Crisis”. @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social
July 1, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Delighted to give the first keynote of the 38th ISSR conference in Kaunas, on “Sociology of Religion and Conflict: A Roadmap for Times of Crisis”. @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social
Reposted by Claire Castles
If women rioted every time one of us was attacked Northern Ireland would lie in ashes.
June 10, 2025 at 7:16 AM
If women rioted every time one of us was attacked Northern Ireland would lie in ashes.
Reposted by Claire Castles
Last year my wife had breast cancer and a double mastectomy.
This morning, for the first time ever, she was challenged in the changing rooms at the swimming pool. Her breasts were not what make her a woman - but, breasts or not, she is entitled to dignity and protection from vigilantes.
This morning, for the first time ever, she was challenged in the changing rooms at the swimming pool. Her breasts were not what make her a woman - but, breasts or not, she is entitled to dignity and protection from vigilantes.
May 21, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Last year my wife had breast cancer and a double mastectomy.
This morning, for the first time ever, she was challenged in the changing rooms at the swimming pool. Her breasts were not what make her a woman - but, breasts or not, she is entitled to dignity and protection from vigilantes.
This morning, for the first time ever, she was challenged in the changing rooms at the swimming pool. Her breasts were not what make her a woman - but, breasts or not, she is entitled to dignity and protection from vigilantes.
As the life partner of an immigrant, as a researcher on race, and as a human being, I am appalled by Keir Starmer's disgusting pandering to far right xenophobia. Between this, Gaza, and capitulating on trans rights, I'm wondering what's holding him upright anymore, because it's certainly not a spine
May 12, 2025 at 9:51 PM
As the life partner of an immigrant, as a researcher on race, and as a human being, I am appalled by Keir Starmer's disgusting pandering to far right xenophobia. Between this, Gaza, and capitulating on trans rights, I'm wondering what's holding him upright anymore, because it's certainly not a spine
Reposted by Claire Castles
Starmer is the human embodiment of "I have principles, and if you don't like them I have others"
Keir Starmer denies pushing anti-migrant policies in order to chase Reform, saying that "I'm doing this because it is right, because it is fair and because it is what I believe".
A reminder of what he said he believed when he was running for Labour leader.
A reminder of what he said he believed when he was running for Labour leader.
May 12, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Starmer is the human embodiment of "I have principles, and if you don't like them I have others"
Reposted by Claire Castles
Our response to this government white paper on immigration
May 12, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Our response to this government white paper on immigration
Reposted by Claire Castles
Reposted by Claire Castles
First talk about my upcoming monograph at the university of Groningen. Come if you are around! #Sociology #Religion #NorthernIreland #AcademicRe @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social
April 7, 2025 at 11:39 AM
First talk about my upcoming monograph at the university of Groningen. Come if you are around! #Sociology #Religion #NorthernIreland #AcademicRe @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social
Reposted by Claire Castles
They did it. They terminated my NEH grant. Their letter went to my junk mail. This is an active grant that would have finished on June 30.
“Your grant’s immediate termination is necessary to safeguard the interests of the federal government”
They are so afraid of us.
“Your grant’s immediate termination is necessary to safeguard the interests of the federal government”
They are so afraid of us.
April 4, 2025 at 1:56 PM
They did it. They terminated my NEH grant. Their letter went to my junk mail. This is an active grant that would have finished on June 30.
“Your grant’s immediate termination is necessary to safeguard the interests of the federal government”
They are so afraid of us.
“Your grant’s immediate termination is necessary to safeguard the interests of the federal government”
They are so afraid of us.
Reposted by Claire Castles
Absolutely tired of the psychodrama of one country being the problem of the entire planet.
April 3, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Absolutely tired of the psychodrama of one country being the problem of the entire planet.
One of the hardest parts of bereavement isn't even the situation itself: it's the feeling of coming up against those institutional systems and processes which are entirely indifferent to you and what you're going through as a human being
March 31, 2025 at 12:51 PM
One of the hardest parts of bereavement isn't even the situation itself: it's the feeling of coming up against those institutional systems and processes which are entirely indifferent to you and what you're going through as a human being
CW: death stuff. I lost my dad suddenly & unexpectedly recently. A moment for something I know is hard to think about but really important. Please, please make a will and discuss your wishes with your loved ones. It's never fun but it makes a really hard situation slightly more navigable for them
March 28, 2025 at 9:55 AM
CW: death stuff. I lost my dad suddenly & unexpectedly recently. A moment for something I know is hard to think about but really important. Please, please make a will and discuss your wishes with your loved ones. It's never fun but it makes a really hard situation slightly more navigable for them
Reposted by Claire Castles
Solidarity with American academics from Europe. Your fight is our fight, science has no border.
Welcome to the Bluesky account for Stand Up for Science 2025!
Keep an eye on this space for updates, event information, and ways to get involved. We can't wait to see everyone #standupforscience2025 on March 7th, both in DC and locations nationwide!
#scienceforall #sciencenotsilence
Keep an eye on this space for updates, event information, and ways to get involved. We can't wait to see everyone #standupforscience2025 on March 7th, both in DC and locations nationwide!
#scienceforall #sciencenotsilence
March 7, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Solidarity with American academics from Europe. Your fight is our fight, science has no border.
Reposted by Claire Castles
🚨BREAKING. From a program officer at the National Science Foundation, a list of keywords that can cause a grant to be pulled. I will be sharing screenshots of these keywords along with a decision tree. Please share widely. This is a crisis for academic freedom & science.
February 4, 2025 at 1:26 AM
🚨BREAKING. From a program officer at the National Science Foundation, a list of keywords that can cause a grant to be pulled. I will be sharing screenshots of these keywords along with a decision tree. Please share widely. This is a crisis for academic freedom & science.
Hoping the worst of #storméowyn has passed. Thankfully everything's ok with us but my nervous dog has been extra clingy today. This is how she politely tucks herself against my leg to ask for comfort 😭
January 24, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Hoping the worst of #storméowyn has passed. Thankfully everything's ok with us but my nervous dog has been extra clingy today. This is how she politely tucks herself against my leg to ask for comfort 😭
Reposted by Claire Castles
⚠️ Be careful everyone. Don’t make unnecessary journeys & be sure to follow guidance.
January 23, 2025 at 9:20 PM
⚠️ Be careful everyone. Don’t make unnecessary journeys & be sure to follow guidance.
Right, which one of yous is harbouring the Witch King of Angmar? I'm getting concerned. (But seriously, stay safe everyone, and stay indoors) #storméowyn
#StormEowyn
If you want to keep track of the storm as it flies towards us. I always use this site to track its location and wind speeds.
earth.nullschool.net#current/wind...
If you want to keep track of the storm as it flies towards us. I always use this site to track its location and wind speeds.
earth.nullschool.net#current/wind...
January 23, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Right, which one of yous is harbouring the Witch King of Angmar? I'm getting concerned. (But seriously, stay safe everyone, and stay indoors) #storméowyn
Reposted by Claire Castles
All three people killed during Storm Ophelia in 2017 had been outside and killed by trees felled by the wind. Two of them were driving.
Don't make unnecessary journeys is more than a meme.
Don't make unnecessary journeys is more than a meme.
Storm Eowyn is so extraordinary what NOAA has flown of its two Hurricane Hunter aircraft from Florida to Ireland to investigate it further.
If you're in a Red warning area, heed the warning. Stay indoors.
If you're in a Red warning area, heed the warning. Stay indoors.
January 23, 2025 at 9:33 PM
All three people killed during Storm Ophelia in 2017 had been outside and killed by trees felled by the wind. Two of them were driving.
Don't make unnecessary journeys is more than a meme.
Don't make unnecessary journeys is more than a meme.
I've heard from a lot of puzzling from public commentators & friends on how someone like Trump could have been propelled into power (twice) by so many of those who profess to be Christian. As it happens, I've been reading a lot about this recently, so for anyone interested, I have some recs... (1/7)
January 23, 2025 at 2:25 PM
I've heard from a lot of puzzling from public commentators & friends on how someone like Trump could have been propelled into power (twice) by so many of those who profess to be Christian. As it happens, I've been reading a lot about this recently, so for anyone interested, I have some recs... (1/7)
Reposted by Claire Castles
It actually is very important that you do things that you take pleasure in, regularly. That is part of how you survive the things that feel like they are going to destroy you.
January 23, 2025 at 3:50 AM
It actually is very important that you do things that you take pleasure in, regularly. That is part of how you survive the things that feel like they are going to destroy you.
Reposted by Claire Castles
Incredible stuff. Evangelical leader Franklin Graham spent yesterday blasting Rev. Budde and claiming the cathedral had been “taken over by gay activists” — unaware that Trump had frozen a refugee program that Graham supports, and was one of the things Budde was referencing in her sermon.
January 23, 2025 at 6:11 AM
Incredible stuff. Evangelical leader Franklin Graham spent yesterday blasting Rev. Budde and claiming the cathedral had been “taken over by gay activists” — unaware that Trump had frozen a refugee program that Graham supports, and was one of the things Budde was referencing in her sermon.