My article in today's Irish Times looks at the unintended consequences of the free booksheme for physical books in homes.
November 4, 2025 at 7:27 AM
My article in today's Irish Times looks at the unintended consequences of the free booksheme for physical books in homes.
This is from today's Irish Times and reveals just how ridiculous the Junior Cycle English Specification is.
There's no way to cover all the material, yet we are expected to cover it all.
In the same sentence that short stories "non-literary" texts are mentioned.
How many?
What kinds?
No idea.
There's no way to cover all the material, yet we are expected to cover it all.
In the same sentence that short stories "non-literary" texts are mentioned.
How many?
What kinds?
No idea.
October 8, 2025 at 1:09 PM
This is from today's Irish Times and reveals just how ridiculous the Junior Cycle English Specification is.
There's no way to cover all the material, yet we are expected to cover it all.
In the same sentence that short stories "non-literary" texts are mentioned.
How many?
What kinds?
No idea.
There's no way to cover all the material, yet we are expected to cover it all.
In the same sentence that short stories "non-literary" texts are mentioned.
How many?
What kinds?
No idea.
And the last one yesterday.
September 28, 2025 at 5:03 PM
And the last one yesterday.
On Friday there was a reply in the letters page.
September 28, 2025 at 4:42 PM
On Friday there was a reply in the letters page.
And here's a reply to my article, also published in The Irish Times.
September 28, 2025 at 2:49 PM
And here's a reply to my article, also published in The Irish Times.
My article in Tuesday's Irsish Times asked whether it is time to make Shakespeare an option at Higher Level English rather than being compulsory, as he is now.
September 28, 2025 at 12:27 PM
My article in Tuesday's Irsish Times asked whether it is time to make Shakespeare an option at Higher Level English rather than being compulsory, as he is now.
An article in The Echo about my wife, Aislinn, and the work she does. This one looks at the gender affirming tattooing she offers.
August 6, 2025 at 8:44 AM
An article in The Echo about my wife, Aislinn, and the work she does. This one looks at the gender affirming tattooing she offers.
Today's film is Through a Glass Darkly, Ingmar Bergman, 1961.
June 29, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Today's film is Through a Glass Darkly, Ingmar Bergman, 1961.
The Department of Educarion and Youth would like to point out that AI is already being used by students to compete projects, and the Dept is perfectly happy with that.
June 24, 2025 at 9:31 AM
The Department of Educarion and Youth would like to point out that AI is already being used by students to compete projects, and the Dept is perfectly happy with that.
If you think us teachers are a bit over the top in our reaction to exam papers, have a look at the title of this section, in a purely written exam.
Written in a silent exam hall.
This is the nonsense we are dealing with.
Written in a silent exam hall.
This is the nonsense we are dealing with.
June 4, 2025 at 11:16 AM
If you think us teachers are a bit over the top in our reaction to exam papers, have a look at the title of this section, in a purely written exam.
Written in a silent exam hall.
This is the nonsense we are dealing with.
Written in a silent exam hall.
This is the nonsense we are dealing with.
I was at a couple of events at the Fastnet Film Festival this morning and, once again, I can't believe such a quality event is just down the road from me.
Barry Keoghan was fascinating. Such an articulate artist.
Wish I had gone to more!
Barry Keoghan was fascinating. Such an articulate artist.
Wish I had gone to more!
May 25, 2025 at 5:45 PM
I was at a couple of events at the Fastnet Film Festival this morning and, once again, I can't believe such a quality event is just down the road from me.
Barry Keoghan was fascinating. Such an articulate artist.
Wish I had gone to more!
Barry Keoghan was fascinating. Such an articulate artist.
Wish I had gone to more!
Watching this scene from Malcolm X and all I can think of is how shit Shawshank is.
May 24, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Watching this scene from Malcolm X and all I can think of is how shit Shawshank is.
Films on the new JC English text list.
May 21, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Films on the new JC English text list.
None of this deals with the really, fundamental, issues with the rushed Leaving Cert Redevelopment.
May 9, 2025 at 6:02 AM
None of this deals with the really, fundamental, issues with the rushed Leaving Cert Redevelopment.
That time of year again, giving badges to my 6th years.
Thanks, once again, to the brilliant @cigardoesart.bsky.social for them and the awesome stickers!
Thanks, once again, to the brilliant @cigardoesart.bsky.social for them and the awesome stickers!
May 2, 2025 at 7:31 AM
That time of year again, giving badges to my 6th years.
Thanks, once again, to the brilliant @cigardoesart.bsky.social for them and the awesome stickers!
Thanks, once again, to the brilliant @cigardoesart.bsky.social for them and the awesome stickers!
And they said the perfect Conor Murphy record didn't exist...
March 2, 2025 at 10:03 AM
And they said the perfect Conor Murphy record didn't exist...
What better way to spend a Saturday than watching Nosferatu with the children?
(Children 1, 2, and 3 are all present!)
(Children 1, 2, and 3 are all present!)
January 25, 2025 at 6:10 PM
What better way to spend a Saturday than watching Nosferatu with the children?
(Children 1, 2, and 3 are all present!)
(Children 1, 2, and 3 are all present!)
Guidance for completing AACs is written by the NCCA in conjunction with the SEC.
The development group, and the teachers on that group, have nothing to do with them.
The development group, and the teachers on that group, have nothing to do with them.
January 22, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Guidance for completing AACs is written by the NCCA in conjunction with the SEC.
The development group, and the teachers on that group, have nothing to do with them.
The development group, and the teachers on that group, have nothing to do with them.
My point is how easy it is to be duped by someone saying they wrote something themselves but, in fact, used AI to create it for them.
January 18, 2025 at 12:31 PM
My point is how easy it is to be duped by someone saying they wrote something themselves but, in fact, used AI to create it for them.
Films and plays for the new Drama, Film and Theatre course.
January 14, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Films and plays for the new Drama, Film and Theatre course.
Reading a bot of Proust this morning then put on Last Year in Marienbad feeling all superior.
Took me 20 minutes before I realised I'd only watched the film a few months ago, during the summer.
Took me 20 minutes before I realised I'd only watched the film a few months ago, during the summer.
January 5, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Reading a bot of Proust this morning then put on Last Year in Marienbad feeling all superior.
Took me 20 minutes before I realised I'd only watched the film a few months ago, during the summer.
Took me 20 minutes before I realised I'd only watched the film a few months ago, during the summer.
Reading Proust for the first time (not sure for how long) and shocked to see that his mother and grandmother gave him a screen to distract him!
Awful parenting.
Awful parenting.
January 2, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Reading Proust for the first time (not sure for how long) and shocked to see that his mother and grandmother gave him a screen to distract him!
Awful parenting.
Awful parenting.
This is just too much for me to handle.
The willingness, almost eagerness, to just let AI take over education is incredible.
The willingness, almost eagerness, to just let AI take over education is incredible.
December 3, 2024 at 6:09 PM
This is just too much for me to handle.
The willingness, almost eagerness, to just let AI take over education is incredible.
The willingness, almost eagerness, to just let AI take over education is incredible.
