Donal Coffey
@donalcoffey.bsky.social
Constitutional law, legal history. Assistant Prof in Maynooth University, Ireland.
Pinned
Donal Coffey
@donalcoffey.bsky.social
· Oct 22
I've created a Legal History starter pack as I don't think anyone else has and it seems like the type of thing we should have. I'm sure I missed people (apologies!), so hit me up if I have: go.bsky.app/XJxJpA
Sir William Searle Holdsworth. Should academics simply be disqualified from holding a driving licence?
November 25, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Sir William Searle Holdsworth. Should academics simply be disqualified from holding a driving licence?
I'm delighted and honoured to join the Council of the Irish Legal History Society (who gave me my Phd bursary). New members always welcome & get the publications of the society as part of membership (students benefit from a discounted rate). Details here: www.irishlegalhistorysociety.org?page_id=125
BECOME A MEMBER – Irish Legal History Society
Any person with an interest in Irish legal history is cordially invited to apply for membership. Our full members include judges, practicing lawyers, academics from law, history and other disciplines, librarians, and others with an interest in the history of Irish law.
www.irishlegalhistorysociety.org
November 19, 2025 at 4:46 PM
I'm delighted and honoured to join the Council of the Irish Legal History Society (who gave me my Phd bursary). New members always welcome & get the publications of the society as part of membership (students benefit from a discounted rate). Details here: www.irishlegalhistorysociety.org?page_id=125
It has been confirmed now in a number of places (looks like the original news bulletin may have been in breach of an embargo). Dundalk to become, like Stranmillis University College, a college of Queen's University Belfast from 2026.
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/educ...
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/educ...
November 19, 2025 at 5:46 AM
It has been confirmed now in a number of places (looks like the original news bulletin may have been in breach of an embargo). Dundalk to become, like Stranmillis University College, a college of Queen's University Belfast from 2026.
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/educ...
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/educ...
Dundalk Institute of Technology to become a college of Queen's University Belfast, at the 5min mark on the News at One: www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
News At One Tuesday 18 November 2025
News, sport, business and interviews presented by Cian McCormack.
www.rte.ie
November 18, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Dundalk Institute of Technology to become a college of Queen's University Belfast, at the 5min mark on the News at One: www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...
The big question for Dublin Central candidates is who will restore our Good Time Emporia?
November 18, 2025 at 2:53 PM
The big question for Dublin Central candidates is who will restore our Good Time Emporia?
The eldest had a sub teacher in primary school today, and apparently most of the day was taken up with replaying yesterday's goals from a number of angles and the Troy Parrott interview. We are so back. #COYBIG
November 17, 2025 at 7:32 PM
The eldest had a sub teacher in primary school today, and apparently most of the day was taken up with replaying yesterday's goals from a number of angles and the Troy Parrott interview. We are so back. #COYBIG
Reposted by Donal Coffey
Join us at DCU's St Pats campus for an evening seminar comparing the Irish and Indian constitutions, hosted by the Ireland India Institute, next Wed 26 Nov.
Some leading constitutional lawyers and historians will explore shared influences and challenges between 🇮🇳 and 🇮🇪. All welcome
Some leading constitutional lawyers and historians will explore shared influences and challenges between 🇮🇳 and 🇮🇪. All welcome
November 17, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Join us at DCU's St Pats campus for an evening seminar comparing the Irish and Indian constitutions, hosted by the Ireland India Institute, next Wed 26 Nov.
Some leading constitutional lawyers and historians will explore shared influences and challenges between 🇮🇳 and 🇮🇪. All welcome
Some leading constitutional lawyers and historians will explore shared influences and challenges between 🇮🇳 and 🇮🇪. All welcome
Reposted by Donal Coffey
I am thrilled to be the new #ASLH president, receiving the gavel yesterday from former president Barbara Welke at our Detroit conference awards ceremony. My term is 2025-27. Excited to get to work! #legalhistory
November 16, 2025 at 10:51 PM
I am thrilled to be the new #ASLH president, receiving the gavel yesterday from former president Barbara Welke at our Detroit conference awards ceremony. My term is 2025-27. Excited to get to work! #legalhistory
Spoke too soon.
Foolishly brought the kids along tonight, and have given them a false sense of what it means to be an Irish fan. #COYBIG
November 16, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Spoke too soon.
Reposted by Donal Coffey
My article about Catherine Connolly’s inauguration speech, the symbolic power of the presidency, and its limits
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Opinion: Catherine Connolly’s speech was surprisingly political. It doesn’t really matter
It would be difficult to argue that the eloquent speeches of Michael D Higgins had any material effect
www.irishtimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 11:18 AM
My article about Catherine Connolly’s inauguration speech, the symbolic power of the presidency, and its limits
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
The second Trump administration is characterised by an insistence that others accept the administration's characterisatipn of events, whrther or not they are true. This has happened in US media and the courts. Now they are trying to export it to the UK: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Trump says he will take legal action against BBC, despite its apology
US president tells reporters he will sue the corporation for ‘anywhere between a billion and $5bn’
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 7:54 AM
The second Trump administration is characterised by an insistence that others accept the administration's characterisatipn of events, whrther or not they are true. This has happened in US media and the courts. Now they are trying to export it to the UK: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Thoughts on presidential speech by @eoinmauricedaly.bsky.social www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Opinion: Catherine Connolly’s speech was surprisingly political. It doesn’t really matter
It would be difficult to argue that the eloquent speeches of Michael D Higgins had any material effect
www.irishtimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Thoughts on presidential speech by @eoinmauricedaly.bsky.social www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Brice Dickson delivering the Irish Legal History Society winter discourse...
November 14, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Brice Dickson delivering the Irish Legal History Society winter discourse...
The last remnant of the Royal University of Ireland 1884-1909, in Queen's University Belfast.
November 14, 2025 at 5:05 PM
The last remnant of the Royal University of Ireland 1884-1909, in Queen's University Belfast.
The @secondcaptains.bsky.social pod just dropped. Just in time for an Enterprise train to Belfast...
November 14, 2025 at 2:11 PM
The @secondcaptains.bsky.social pod just dropped. Just in time for an Enterprise train to Belfast...
The youngest's reponse to the card was fits of laughter while saying "Ronaldo sucks"
November 14, 2025 at 9:43 AM
The youngest's reponse to the card was fits of laughter while saying "Ronaldo sucks"
What a time to be alive...
November 13, 2025 at 9:08 PM
What a time to be alive...
Strong opening to O'Sullivan v National Parks and Wildlife Service.
November 13, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Strong opening to O'Sullivan v National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Some people are assuming that there will be some sort of faithful reporting of the Epstein-Trump links. If you look at the landing page of Fox News, this is simply not the case. One key issue we have is information systems and the (lack of) regulation that exists in relation to them.
November 12, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Some people are assuming that there will be some sort of faithful reporting of the Epstein-Trump links. If you look at the landing page of Fox News, this is simply not the case. One key issue we have is information systems and the (lack of) regulation that exists in relation to them.
One of the least intuitive set of icon/function pairings I've ever come across.
November 12, 2025 at 6:39 PM
One of the least intuitive set of icon/function pairings I've ever come across.
Interesting idea from @dsquareddigest.bsky.social that the decision to appoint the next Director General of the BBC should be made by Irish universities. Obviously an oversight to omit Maynooth, but that can be sorted before implementation.
(from backofmind.substack.com/p/the-cognit...)
(from backofmind.substack.com/p/the-cognit...)
![I think, though, that it ought to be taken further, even into the heart of our systems. To take a topical example, let’s think about the governance of the British Broadcasting Corporation. This is an absolutely thorny one, because it’s such an intrinsically political role that it’s incredibly difficult to resist the temptation to play politics with selection of key personnel. And once they’re there, it’s equally difficult for those people to avoid the temptation to play up to domestic political interests in order to get reappointed.
So – why not just give the decision to parties who definitionally don’t have a horse in the race, but who benefit in the long term and in general from the BBC’s presence as an independent and stable source of high quality English language media? What I’m saying here is that the Director-General of the Beeb should be chosen by an ad hoc committee of the Oireachtas, possibly including a few representatives from the faculties of Trinity College, UCD and the University of Cork[1]. We could pay them a small fee for the trouble but I bet there would be plenty of volunteers to do it for free.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2xqcbp66zhxk4jpufm6ywg7l/bafkreigrkslf3v2q34i7fngon5anw22ttcobynpgqfpuxcd473ddqpxz4m@jpeg)
November 12, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Interesting idea from @dsquareddigest.bsky.social that the decision to appoint the next Director General of the BBC should be made by Irish universities. Obviously an oversight to omit Maynooth, but that can be sorted before implementation.
(from backofmind.substack.com/p/the-cognit...)
(from backofmind.substack.com/p/the-cognit...)
Reposted by Donal Coffey
Dr Orla Kelleher pushes back against the narrative that judicial reviews are to blame for the housing crisis.
Opinion: Beware of the judicial review red herring
Dr Orla Kelleher pushes back against the narrative that judicial reviews are to blame for the housing crisis.
www.irishlegal.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Dr Orla Kelleher pushes back against the narrative that judicial reviews are to blame for the housing crisis.