Rob O’Connor

Ah Dónal Lunny. Where to even start with his work? Planxty? Moving Hearts? Producing records? Maybe The Bothy Band. A giant of Irish music. RIP youtu.be/jY6QJmJ_Pl4?...

I’ve been working on a Python audio project this past week that’ll be part of Spraoi’s Wicked Woods experience this weekend in Waterford. It’s not horror, but it’s pretty creepy!

“What a fine thing capital punishment is! Dead men never repent; dead men never bring awkward stories to light. Ah, it’s a fine thing for the trade! Five of ’em strung up in a row, and none left to play booty, or turn white-livered!” -Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist (1839)

Thanks Donald 😞

Muchos gracias to @waterfordvinyl.bsky.social for having me play a set in Downes’ at the weekend. Thoroughly enjoyed selecting some fine tunes for fine people. Indie bangers, punk vibes, electro-pop and with a fine helping of cheese! Thanks to Frank Ryan for the photos too!

The FAI reveal themselves to be spineless once again with the Ireland v Israel debacle. One way out I see now is if Ireland “play” the game, but the players just stand there on the pitch. Let Israel win 100-0. Just stand there and let the record show what a farce this is. Respect to Gavin Bazunu

Vinyl … the Final Frontier… these are the voyages of middle aged men who should know better …

I’m honoured to DJ with @waterfordvinyl.bsky.social in Downes on Friday evening. Currently whittling down my records into a manageable 60 min set - not easy!! Anyway, if you’re interested in hearing some news, used and abused tunes while quaffing fine ale, we’ll be in Downes

“I’m here today because I believe we must continue to stand for free expression.” Mark Zuckerberg, Georgetown University. October 2019. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

I’m late to the #WidowsBay party. My god, it’s brilliant! Just finished Ep 4. Please give Kate O’Brien all of the awards.

There’s something amiss in seeing #CultureNight posters that are AI-generated 🤔

"Clothing plays a vital role in everyday comfort and wellbeing, yet the sensory needs of autistic children are often overlooked," says SETU PhD researcher Syeda Maryam Hussain.

I don’t care if it’s the obvious choice, but ‘Jolene’ is a total banger. Dolly Parton, a legend. RIP youtu.be/CPr0IpYzNv8

Make a band bigger: The Rolling Cairns

Seen in @picturehouse.bsky.social Central London last week. Love it. #TheOdyssey #SpiderMan

10/10 for @patrickfreyne.bsky.social’s review of Reacher and Lanterns in today’s @irishtimes.com “The point is watching Reacher eat junk food … and for us to then gleefully shout “Kill ’em, Reacher!” as the violent wall of beef assaults goons. www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-r...

Slow Runners Sent To Meat Factory, 62 Times More Funding; If Irish Athletics Was Treated Like Racehorse Industry https://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2024/06/13/slow-runners-sent-to-meat-factory-62-times-more-funding-if-irish-athletics-was-treated-like-racehorse-industry/

Irish medal wins are rare events. To see TWO within twenty minutes is something else entirely!! Absolutely amazing to be in Birmingham for Mark English’s Gold and Rhasidat Adeleke’s silver. Legends #Birmingham26

#ColanderArt

That’s some run from Mark English! Breaking a championship record that has held since 1978 too (I think!!) #Birmingham2026

Cat Dowling created amazing music. Whether it’s with Alphastates, Bablefish, solo or collaborating with others. Gone too soon. RIP www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...

Downplay a book or movie: The “grand” Gatsby

I am genuinely floored by the news of Glen Hansard’s death. I’ve always loved his music and in many ways grew up with it. RIP. www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...

the last 2 minutes commentary by Midwest radio, based in County Mayo. Absolute Quality. #speirgorm Context for those not familiar: Mayo have lost 11 finals in the last 75 years and weren't expected to beat Kerry today in a spectacular final at Croke Park.

Heads up America - you’re about to experience a Botox shortage. There won’t be a gram made in Westport this week! #KERvMAY

Mucking about with the ukulele in the garden on a sunny day. Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got a Friend In Me” from Toy Story

Is this all being engineered so Infantino can get a photo of himself and Trump with Messi and the World Cup??

I wonder if the future of music is acoustic and full of dirt under the fingernails?

Saw #TheOdyssey with the full family today. Every single one of us - from age 48 down to 10 - loved it. What a spectacle, full of big visuals and big ideas. The 10 year old is a big Greek myth but and says it’s true to Homer’s source material - so there you go.

“You can’t always get what you want”

Clacton faces the ultimate choice 🗑️ 33% of Brits would prefer Count Binface to win the by-election in Clacton, while 21% would prefer Farage to win.

It’s that time of year again. The CONTENT you’ve all been waiting for! #content #powerwashporn

Greetings, followers of my reader! This is Cory Doctorow @doctorow.pluralistic.net writing to you, and your friend has finished reading my excellent 2025 book, Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It, available at finer (+ not so fine) bookstores everywhere

Another magical night in Luca Records #Waterford with #SOAK and #EoinDalton providing beautiful music. So lucky to be there!

A blistering night in the @3arena.bsky.social getting to finally witness the full majesty of #Robyn unleashed on the stage! Synthpop heaven! And getting to be there with Jenny was just magic.

I have one unread notification in Teams and I cannot find it. Been all over the app and it’s a mystery. It’s like a splinter in my mind. Thank you for your attention.

Another fabulous podcast from the audio elves at #EPOD. In this one, @carlhartley.co.uk is chatting with Milica Hinic about Academic Podcast Entanglements, which she’s also written about in the 1st EPOD book. Again, making me question my approaches to things. Listen up! overcast.fm/+ABP-lswmB4o

“Can't bring back time. Like holding water in your hand.” #BloomsDay

Fantastic night of music in Bank Lane last night. The Bluetones belting out jangly guitar hits with some excellent new material. Waterford’s Shane Barry opened with a magic bag of songs. BTW @markmorriss.bsky.social could have a fine side career as a stand-up comedian- crickey!

My kids have been baking and putting stuff onto the shopping list. I think they might have taken on a contract with the witch from Hansel & Gretel

I’m listening to MONO, a Japanese post-rock band who create beautiful instrumental music, whilst reading the Pope’s encyclical letter Magnifica Humanitas. A sentence I didn’t have on my bingo card last week

Fascinating story about how a Starbucks campaign in South Korea led to mass boycotts. It seems that thoughtless AI usage is central to the problems. Shock! www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...

So many things of today’s geopolitical problems are caused by the British Empire drawing lines on maps, clapping their hands and saying “well that’s sorted. Huzzah!”

Jenny O'Connor and I spoke with @carlhartley.co.uk for the latest episode of the EPOD podcast. We chatted about creating podcasts in a university space, some of the challenges but also the benefits. Available in all the usual podcast places morleyradio.co.uk/programmes/e... #PodcastStudies #Academia

If Helen McEntee (Irish foreign minister) was seen mocking bound & gagged Israeli citizens, she’d be rightly condemned. But it’d never happen, because no serious or empathetic person would ever do this. Once again Ben-Gvir displays his true colours. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...