Eamonn Sweeney
@sweeneyagonistes.bsky.social
Author. The Last Ditch, paperback coming out in May.
Freelance writer. Lapsed novelist. Cinephile. Substack coming soon.
Freelance writer. Lapsed novelist. Cinephile. Substack coming soon.
Pinned
We shouldn't play Israel.
Its not complicated, the FAI rightly called for Israel to be banned from FIFA, we have a chance to walk the walk. Refuse to play.
Its not complicated, the FAI rightly called for Israel to be banned from FIFA, we have a chance to walk the walk. Refuse to play.
People ask why Russia is banned and Israel isn't. A point made, to his credit, by Ireland's manager.
But FIFA and UEFA only banned Russia because they knew countries would refuse to play them. The onus is on countries to force the hand of governing bodies.
Walk the walk is dead right.
But FIFA and UEFA only banned Russia because they knew countries would refuse to play them. The onus is on countries to force the hand of governing bodies.
Walk the walk is dead right.
Do the FAI think that the likes of Spain and Norway would stand by and allow UEFA to unilaterally punish Ireland for not playing Israel? It seems just as likely that a principled move would crystallise the concerns of other countries and force things to a head.
February 13, 2026 at 1:06 PM
Do the FAI think that the likes of Spain and Norway would stand by and allow UEFA to unilaterally punish Ireland for not playing Israel? It seems just as likely that a principled move would crystallise the concerns of other countries and force things to a head.
Reposted by Eamonn Sweeney
Ostrich legs are objectively ridiculous. Get this guy some pants.
February 13, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Ostrich legs are objectively ridiculous. Get this guy some pants.
People ask why Russia is banned and Israel isn't. A point made, to his credit, by Ireland's manager.
But FIFA and UEFA only banned Russia because they knew countries would refuse to play them. The onus is on countries to force the hand of governing bodies.
Walk the walk is dead right.
But FIFA and UEFA only banned Russia because they knew countries would refuse to play them. The onus is on countries to force the hand of governing bodies.
Walk the walk is dead right.
We shouldn't play Israel.
Its not complicated, the FAI rightly called for Israel to be banned from FIFA, we have a chance to walk the walk. Refuse to play.
Its not complicated, the FAI rightly called for Israel to be banned from FIFA, we have a chance to walk the walk. Refuse to play.
February 13, 2026 at 11:31 AM
People ask why Russia is banned and Israel isn't. A point made, to his credit, by Ireland's manager.
But FIFA and UEFA only banned Russia because they knew countries would refuse to play them. The onus is on countries to force the hand of governing bodies.
Walk the walk is dead right.
But FIFA and UEFA only banned Russia because they knew countries would refuse to play them. The onus is on countries to force the hand of governing bodies.
Walk the walk is dead right.
Reposted by Eamonn Sweeney
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February 12, 2026 at 11:16 PM
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Keir today gone tomorrow.
We’re not in Kansas anymore latest:
Green + Reform 57%
Labour + Conservative 38.6%
In 2024 (18 months ago!) Lab + Con was 81.6%
Green + Reform 57%
Labour + Conservative 38.6%
In 2024 (18 months ago!) Lab + Con was 81.6%
Fletton & Woodston (Peterborough) Council By-Election Result:
➡️ RFM: 29.4% (New)
🌍 GRN: 27.6% (+16.2)
🌳 CON: 21.8% (-11.8)
🌹 LAB: 16.8% (-31.2)
🔶 LDM: 4.4% (-0.7)
No TUSC (-1.9) as previous.
Reform GAIN from Labour.
Changes w/ 2024.
➡️ RFM: 29.4% (New)
🌍 GRN: 27.6% (+16.2)
🌳 CON: 21.8% (-11.8)
🌹 LAB: 16.8% (-31.2)
🔶 LDM: 4.4% (-0.7)
No TUSC (-1.9) as previous.
Reform GAIN from Labour.
Changes w/ 2024.
February 13, 2026 at 10:54 AM
Keir today gone tomorrow.
A wizard, a true star.
27 years ago today, artist John Myatt was sentenced to a year in prison for conspiracy to defraud, after painting around 200 fake works, including Chagalls and Matisses over a period of eight years, which convinced buyers despite usually being rendered in household emulsion mixed with KY Jelly 🧵
February 13, 2026 at 10:38 AM
A wizard, a true star.
Reposted by Eamonn Sweeney
Of course it was.
BREAKING: Britain’s High Court rules that the government’s decision to outlawed the protest group Palestine Action as a terrorist organization was unlawful.
Britain's High Court says it was illegal to outlaw protest group Palestine Action
Britain’s High Court has ruled that the government’s decision to outlawed the protest group Palestine Action as a terrorist organization was unlawful.
bit.ly
February 13, 2026 at 10:35 AM
Of course it was.
Interesting insights into and from someone who's written brilliant stuff for decades in the NYRB.
"The twentieth century's great utopian experiments, including consumer capitalism, are exhausted.
"The twentieth century's great utopian experiments, including consumer capitalism, are exhausted.
“The migration of hungry, desperate people isn’t about to stop, and governments in the Northern Hemisphere can either attempt the ICE solution or plan realistically…toward a repaired environment.” —an interview with Alma Guillermoprieto
The Writer from the Dance | Alma Guillermoprieto, Nawal Arjini
Alma Guillermoprieto has spent her nearly fifty-year career writing about America—North and South, from New York to Argentina. From her earliest essay in
www.nybooks.com
February 13, 2026 at 10:26 AM
Interesting insights into and from someone who's written brilliant stuff for decades in the NYRB.
"The twentieth century's great utopian experiments, including consumer capitalism, are exhausted.
"The twentieth century's great utopian experiments, including consumer capitalism, are exhausted.
French food safety agency report, as reported in Le Monde, says that consumers are subjected to unhealthy levels of chemicals, Cadmium in breakfast cereal, Aluminium in pastries and biscuits, Mercury in fish, among others. Wonder if this situation is mirrored elsewhere in Europe.
February 13, 2026 at 9:56 AM
French food safety agency report, as reported in Le Monde, says that consumers are subjected to unhealthy levels of chemicals, Cadmium in breakfast cereal, Aluminium in pastries and biscuits, Mercury in fish, among others. Wonder if this situation is mirrored elsewhere in Europe.
Shyam Benegal hitting the sweet spot between arthouse and Bollywood, between agit prop and entertainment, between empathy and sentimentality. An inspiring political movie financed by its subjects, the dairy farmers of Gujarat. Benegal's Mandi and Bhumika are also great.
youtu.be/m7uKpeGI6v0?...
youtu.be/m7uKpeGI6v0?...
Manthan | 4k Restored Version | Release Trailer
YouTube video by Amul TV
youtu.be
February 13, 2026 at 9:40 AM
Shyam Benegal hitting the sweet spot between arthouse and Bollywood, between agit prop and entertainment, between empathy and sentimentality. An inspiring political movie financed by its subjects, the dairy farmers of Gujarat. Benegal's Mandi and Bhumika are also great.
youtu.be/m7uKpeGI6v0?...
youtu.be/m7uKpeGI6v0?...
Sondheim at his greatest and saddest. The evanescent quality of it heightened by coming from a TV production recorded live and shown only once. And the song being sung by Charmian Carr (Liesl from Sound of Music) who ended her brief showbiz career shortly after.
youtu.be/UEkR1z4RRq8?...
youtu.be/UEkR1z4RRq8?...
Evening Primrose Clip - Clip I Remember
YouTube video by Michele Martinez
youtu.be
February 13, 2026 at 9:31 AM
Sondheim at his greatest and saddest. The evanescent quality of it heightened by coming from a TV production recorded live and shown only once. And the song being sung by Charmian Carr (Liesl from Sound of Music) who ended her brief showbiz career shortly after.
youtu.be/UEkR1z4RRq8?...
youtu.be/UEkR1z4RRq8?...
The big man desperately wresting beauty from the chaos of his life. Genius.
youtu.be/gcjk6jrPZnA?...
youtu.be/gcjk6jrPZnA?...
Theodore Roethke reads I Knew a Woman
YouTube video by awetblackbough
youtu.be
February 13, 2026 at 9:26 AM
The big man desperately wresting beauty from the chaos of his life. Genius.
youtu.be/gcjk6jrPZnA?...
youtu.be/gcjk6jrPZnA?...
Bridge to nowhere would be a perfect title for a book on the current government. Those sods are not for turning unfortunately.
Ten years after the sod was turned, Cork still has no Event Centre.
Just a derelict site and a bridge to nowhere in the heart of the city.
Cork deserves delivery, not another decade of broken promises.
Just a derelict site and a bridge to nowhere in the heart of the city.
Cork deserves delivery, not another decade of broken promises.
February 13, 2026 at 9:23 AM
Bridge to nowhere would be a perfect title for a book on the current government. Those sods are not for turning unfortunately.
2045. As London finally sinks below the waters of the climate apocalypse a conservative columnist frantically scribbles, "Labour's obsession with Trans rights . . . (bubble, bubble.)"
Absolutely grotesque (and false) quote from a “senior figure” and I’m sure Shipman loved typing it up
This is so infuriating. There was quite a big debate over ruling out tax rises! Rachel Reeves just shut it down by answering every single bloody time "well, being in government would be a nice problem to have"!!!
February 12, 2026 at 8:13 PM
2045. As London finally sinks below the waters of the climate apocalypse a conservative columnist frantically scribbles, "Labour's obsession with Trans rights . . . (bubble, bubble.)"
"Sir' Jim Ratcliffe. 'Lord' Peter Mandelson.
Two finer arguments for republicanism you couldn't find.
Two finer arguments for republicanism you couldn't find.
February 12, 2026 at 8:04 PM
"Sir' Jim Ratcliffe. 'Lord' Peter Mandelson.
Two finer arguments for republicanism you couldn't find.
Two finer arguments for republicanism you couldn't find.
Reposted by Eamonn Sweeney
What good does this information being made public do?
Call me mad, but whatever someone does, I would say they don't deserve to be in a concentration camp because of it.
Odd timing given the family said on the Tonight Show that they haven't had much help from the gov other than consular support.
Call me mad, but whatever someone does, I would say they don't deserve to be in a concentration camp because of it.
Odd timing given the family said on the Tonight Show that they haven't had much help from the gov other than consular support.
Seamus Culleton, the Irish man who has spent months in a Texas immigration detention centre, failed to appear in court in Ireland in 2009 on drugs-related charges
Culleton failed to appear in Irish court on drugs charge
Seamus Culleton, the Irish man who has spent months in a Texas immigration detention centre, failed to appear in court in Ireland in 2009 on drugs-related charges.
www.rte.ie
February 12, 2026 at 7:05 PM
What good does this information being made public do?
Call me mad, but whatever someone does, I would say they don't deserve to be in a concentration camp because of it.
Odd timing given the family said on the Tonight Show that they haven't had much help from the gov other than consular support.
Call me mad, but whatever someone does, I would say they don't deserve to be in a concentration camp because of it.
Odd timing given the family said on the Tonight Show that they haven't had much help from the gov other than consular support.
Reposted by Eamonn Sweeney
Absolutely grotesque (and false) quote from a “senior figure” and I’m sure Shipman loved typing it up
This is so infuriating. There was quite a big debate over ruling out tax rises! Rachel Reeves just shut it down by answering every single bloody time "well, being in government would be a nice problem to have"!!!
February 12, 2026 at 7:21 PM
Absolutely grotesque (and false) quote from a “senior figure” and I’m sure Shipman loved typing it up
Pete Paphides' Broken Greek is a classic, moving and funny account of the lives of immigrants and their children in England (which rings quite a few Irish bells). Ratcliffe should ask someone to read it to him.
His "apology" was even more deplorable than the utterances for which he purported to be apologising. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Fact-checking Jim Ratcliffe's immigration and benefit claims
BBC Verify has been examining some of the Manchester United owner's claims.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 7:35 PM
Pete Paphides' Broken Greek is a classic, moving and funny account of the lives of immigrants and their children in England (which rings quite a few Irish bells). Ratcliffe should ask someone to read it to him.
Good piece which nails the self-serving gymnastics of Starmer's apology.
‘The speech offers no concrete proposals to go with his vague commitments. It’s another empty restatement of patriotic renewal, made while looking over both shoulders and avoiding anything of substance.’
@rachelmalik.bsky.social on Starmer’s Mandelson apology.
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2026/fe...
@rachelmalik.bsky.social on Starmer’s Mandelson apology.
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2026/fe...
Rachel Malik | Starmer apologises
Starmer’s apology to Jeffrey Epstein’s victims is part of a reputational clean-up that may keep him in office, for...
www.lrb.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 3:05 PM
Good piece which nails the self-serving gymnastics of Starmer's apology.
Gerry Hutch's apparent decision to contest Dublin Central is good news for pundits who, after either Sinn Fein or the Social Democrats win the by-electon, will claim that 'the real story' is the smaller level of support for someone to their right. Check presidential election for details.
February 12, 2026 at 10:33 AM
Gerry Hutch's apparent decision to contest Dublin Central is good news for pundits who, after either Sinn Fein or the Social Democrats win the by-electon, will claim that 'the real story' is the smaller level of support for someone to their right. Check presidential election for details.
Reposted by Eamonn Sweeney
This is rather special. Marc Bloch was a titan of modern historiography, and a big influence on me as a young history student. He was a brilliant French medievalist murdered by the Gestapo for both his Jewishness and his contribution to French resistance, but they couldn’t kill his work
Marc Bloch, historien et résistant juif, entrera au Panthéon le 23 juin
Marc Bloch, historien et résistant juif, entrera au Panthéon le 23 juin
La date du 16 juin avait été dans un premier temps pressentie pour son entrée au Panthéon, mais la cérémonie a dû être décalée de quelques jours en raison du G7 à Evian-les-Bains.
www.lemonde.fr
February 8, 2026 at 6:23 PM
This is rather special. Marc Bloch was a titan of modern historiography, and a big influence on me as a young history student. He was a brilliant French medievalist murdered by the Gestapo for both his Jewishness and his contribution to French resistance, but they couldn’t kill his work
Every day one should hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture and, if possible, speak a few sensible words.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
February 12, 2026 at 9:16 AM
Every day one should hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture and, if possible, speak a few sensible words.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Man cannot live by Bread alone. But sometimes it's exactly what you need to start the day.
youtu.be/AeadLurGR1U?...
youtu.be/AeadLurGR1U?...
Bread - Everything I Own (1972)
YouTube video by Dvj Luiz Phanton
youtu.be
February 12, 2026 at 9:12 AM
Man cannot live by Bread alone. But sometimes it's exactly what you need to start the day.
youtu.be/AeadLurGR1U?...
youtu.be/AeadLurGR1U?...
Brilliant number from a great cinematic autobiography, a Hollywood counterpart to Tarkovsky's Mirror. All That Jazz has its harrowing moments but Reinking and Foldi's artistry reminds us that Bob Fosse's ultimate goal was to create transcendent moments. Dancing as Life.
youtu.be/ZRVv2b-hL_0?...
youtu.be/ZRVv2b-hL_0?...
Everything Old Is New Again, Anne Reinking and Erzsebet Foldi
YouTube video by hardballget
youtu.be
February 12, 2026 at 9:08 AM
Brilliant number from a great cinematic autobiography, a Hollywood counterpart to Tarkovsky's Mirror. All That Jazz has its harrowing moments but Reinking and Foldi's artistry reminds us that Bob Fosse's ultimate goal was to create transcendent moments. Dancing as Life.
youtu.be/ZRVv2b-hL_0?...
youtu.be/ZRVv2b-hL_0?...
Reposted by Eamonn Sweeney
FG just tried to get a motion passed on the environment SPC in Dublin City Council relating to bringing back the use of Roundup (glyphosate) herbicide.
Waiting for their motion next month on restoring lead in petrol.
Waiting for their motion next month on restoring lead in petrol.
February 11, 2026 at 6:59 PM
FG just tried to get a motion passed on the environment SPC in Dublin City Council relating to bringing back the use of Roundup (glyphosate) herbicide.
Waiting for their motion next month on restoring lead in petrol.
Waiting for their motion next month on restoring lead in petrol.