Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Mike Spillane

@spillanemike.com

1.2K followers 1K following 1.3K posts

Cork, cycling, tech, data, beer, bread, cheese, car free, cranky bollox, sometimes Connemara mastodon @[email protected] #cork #cycling

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Mike Spillane @spillanemike.com · Nov 23

I don't buy from Amazon, so I try to buy books from Irish stores (where possible) (posted similar previously)

Here are my go to stores

antoniasbookstore.com
booksatone.ie
alanhannas.com
philipsbookshop.com
gutterbookshop.com
kennys.ie
vibesandscribes.ie

#independentBookshopsIreland
#supportLocal

Antonia's Bookstore

Independent Bookshop based in Trim, Co. Meath, Ireland

buff.ly

4 7 31

Reposted by Mike Spillane

Philip Boucher-Hayes @philipb-h.bsky.social · 7h

Q: Why was the person responsible for the Blackwater fish kill never found?

A: it wasn’t anybody’s job.

I talked to the heads of all the agencies involved in the investigation, about why the biggest pollution event in Irish history fell between the cracks.

Listen: 👉 www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

CountryWide - RTÉ Radio 1

The CountryWide team feature the events, people and happenings that bring colour and life to communities, towns and villages across the country.

www.rte.ie

4 42 66

Reposted by Mike Spillane

Hannah Daly @hannahdaly.ie · 1d

Grand rhetoric isn't enough and making targets isn't enough. Climate leadership requires being willing to challenge the power of polluting industries. That doesn't have to be divisive, but certainly will be as the government still drags its feet.

1 12 39

Reposted by Mike Spillane

Hannah Daly @hannahdaly.ie · 1d

The full quote as reported:

“I don’t think we can mitigate for climate change,” he said.
“This might be controversial, because I believe in addressing climate change....

Joe Noonan @joenoonan.bsky.social · 1d

“I don’t think we can mitigate for climate change.”

- Mícheál Martin, Taoiseach.

www.independent.ie/business/tec...

Taoiseach says some climate projects will not be fulfilled because they risk polarising society

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has rowed back on climate change commitments, saying Ireland may not be able fulfil all current initiatives due to the polarising effect it could have on society.

www.independent.ie

2 19 34

Mike Spillane @spillanemike.com · 1d

We know how to elect them...

Councillor complains taxis unable to pull into Ranelagh’s protected cycle lanes used by school children and commuters

irishcycle.com/2025/10/09/c...

Councillor complains taxis unable to pull into Ranelagh’s protected cycle lanes used by school children and commuters

A city councillor — who cycles himself but who also previously objected to the proposed Strand Road route taking up a traffic lane — said that he thinks the protected cycle lanes in Ran…

irishcycle.com

Reposted by Mike Spillane

John Gibbons 🇵🇸 🇺🇦 🇪🇺 @thinkorswim.bsky.social · 2d

Pod of this week’s Last Word on the Environment with Matt Cooper on Today FM now available.

Astute listeners may spot that I’m deeply unimpressed by our so-called “climate” minister, Darragh O’Brien, a man as out of touch with reality as he is out of his depth.

www.todayfm.com/podcasts/the...

Did The Government Ignore The Climate Crisis In Budget 2026?

Critics have accused the government of failing to adequately tackle climate change in Budget 2026, which was announced by Minister for Finance Paschal Donoho...

www.todayfm.com

2 5 17

Mike Spillane @spillanemike.com · 2d

A view from the Economist 😯

Forget EVs. Cycling is revolutionising transport

archive.ph/202510091516...

archive.ph

2 2

Reposted by Mike Spillane

Susan Lanigan @susanlanigan.bsky.social · 3d

All that money spent on the Dunkettle Interchange!

The sooner they get the cycle route hooked up from Carrigtwohill and Midleton into Cork Kent Station the better because the best thing about commuting by bike is knowing it will always only and ever take X amount of time to get to your destination.

CorkBeo.ie @corkbeo.bsky.social · 3d

Delays both directions on the N40 ⚠️

Live: Cork traffic updates as collision on South Ring causes rush hour chaos

All the latest updates here

www.corkbeo.ie

3 5

Reposted by Mike Spillane

Conn Donovan @conndonovan.bsky.social · 3d

Martin:

"We would have been totally unaware of the issue despite very comprehensive due diligence"

Crime World podcast:

"So Niall this story was one of your party pieces".

'yeah everyone who worked with me [in a leading national newspaper] knew my history with Jim Gavin'.

Irish Examiner @irishexaminer.bsky.social · 3d

Taoiseach: 'I’m not responsible for everything that unfolded' around Jim Gavin’s exit

Mr Gavin withdrew from the presidential campaign on Sunday evening after he failed to address questions surrounding €3,300 he did not repay to a former tenant

dlvr.it

1 3

Reposted by Mike Spillane

Joe Noonan @joenoonan.bsky.social · 3d

"Safe, accessible bike parking at a maternity hospital is imperative to enable healthy, lower-impact travel for staff, patients and visitors.”

- cllr Eva Dowling

The need for this - and especially the value of it - is being underestimated by some still.

1 4

Reposted by Mike Spillane

Barry McMullin @autofac.bsky.social · 3d

Well ... if we're going to talk about "sustainable funding models" for transport, I'm *really* looking forward to hearing when aviation and ICE vehicles will start paying for their utterly unsustainable pollution damage...

Irish Examiner @irishexaminer.bsky.social · 3d

Minister 'not writing off' future bus and train fare hikes

Darragh O’Brien says there must be a 'sustainable' funding model for public transport systems

dlvr.it

2 6

Reposted by Mike Spillane

Eoin Lettice @eoinlettice.bsky.social · 3d

A few days more tomake a submission on the Blackpool Flood Relief Scheme which proposes to denude the area of yet more biodiversity. #Cork #Speirgorm

Eoin Lettice @eoinlettice.bsky.social · 9d

Until 10th October to make a submission on the Blackpool (River Bride) Flood Relief Scheme which will concrete over the last stretch of river in Blackpool. This over-engineering would have been out-dated in the 1980s never mind 2025 (Image @saveourbrideotters.bsky.social )
www.gov.ie/en/departmen...

6 3

Reposted by Mike Spillane

Eoin Lettice @eoinlettice.bsky.social · 4d

If he had owed money for almost any other reason he might have got away with. The toxic behaviour of many of his fellow landlords, amplified by a power imbalance caused by the housing crisis is what did it. #aras25

The Journal @thejournal.ie · 5d

Martin said he was aware that Gavin was a landlord and that Gavin was 'repeatedly' asked if he ever had 'any issue with a tenant'.
http://jrnl.ie/6836131

Taoiseach says Jim Gavin told Fianna Fáil he had ‘absolutely’ no issue with tenants

‘The consequences of that have now come home,’ said Martin when asked about claims Gavin did not repay a tenant €3,300 in rent mistakenly paid around 2009.

jrnl.ie

2 4

Reposted by Mike Spillane

Aidan Fitzmaurice @fancyvegaspro.bsky.social · 4d

What a wonderful piece of pure cut unfiltered good news. Drink it deep!

Little Deer Comics @littledeercomics.bsky.social · 5d

🎉

Budget 2026: State’s basic income scheme for artists made permanent

www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

Budget 2026: State’s basic income scheme for artists made permanent

Negotiations down to the wire, with five big-spending departments yet to agree their budget allocations

www.irishtimes.com

10 36

Mike Spillane @spillanemike.com · 4d

Had to drive to Limerick yesterday, lots of 30km/h zones there en route to destination, no issues sticking to it despite people up your ass

"30km/ph speed limits could cut car insurance cost - Love 30 campaign"

www.newstalk.com/news/30km-ph...

30km/ph speed limits could cut car insurance cost - Love 30 campaign

In Britain, where a significant number of local authorities have adopted 20m/ph speed limits in built areas, car insurance costs have fallen.

www.newstalk.com

Mike Spillane @spillanemike.com · 7d

This is a real pity to read

"The Killarney Coffee Cup Project has lost all of its participating cafes, with just a few hotels and clubs carrying on"

www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...

Kerry town that banned disposable coffee cups sees project falter amid Government U-turn

Two projects in Dublin, inspired by Killarney Coffee Cup Project, now in doubt

www.irishtimes.com

1 3 9

Mike Spillane @spillanemike.com · 7d

Do I dare mention the flags too? 😬

Mike Spillane @spillanemike.com · 7d

This was a great listen

www.irishexaminer.com/business/com...

shows.acast.com/the-iebusine...

The ieBusiness Podcast: Publican Benny McCabe slams overbearing regulations

The publican is one of Cork's top proponents of city living

www.irishexaminer.com

Mike Spillane @spillanemike.com · 7d

"Shandon regeneration 'will give Cork a bit of its history back'"

Good to see some tlc coming for Shandon

www.irishexaminer.com/news/spotlig...

Shandon regeneration 'will give Cork a bit of its history back'

Sarah Horgan speaks to locals about regeneration efforts around the Cork area, and finds out what more they think must be done to revive this historic and culturally important locale

www.irishexaminer.com

Mike Spillane @spillanemike.com · 7d

Cork Council's litter warden removes anti-speed signs erected by concerned residents

Amazing how proactive they were in removing these....

www.echolive.ie/corknews/ari...