dr emer mchugh
@emer.bsky.social
professional shakespeare opinion haver, theatre historian, shoegaze fan, and habitual cinema-goer. she/her. i write about irish shakespeares and irish shakespeareans in performance & culture. my opinions are very nice and very much mine too.
Pinned
The sea of change
why Maria Somerville's Luster defined my 2025
emer.beehiiv.com
I have a (resurrected) newsletter! I wrote about Maria Somerville.
Reposted by dr emer mchugh
The government’s own economic advisers are giving it perfect political cover to reject Jim O’Callaghan’s increasingly brutal immigration policies but it won’t because our government ministers are amoral spoofers who don’t care about anything beyond the next poll
www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...
www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...
Immigration ‘vital’ for future of Irish society, economy and HSE
Report outlines necessity of overseas workers to offset population decline in a country where healthcare is already reliant on recruits from outside the EU
www.thetimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 11:00 AM
The government’s own economic advisers are giving it perfect political cover to reject Jim O’Callaghan’s increasingly brutal immigration policies but it won’t because our government ministers are amoral spoofers who don’t care about anything beyond the next poll
www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...
www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...
Reposted by dr emer mchugh
And from Grogan’s STITCH, UNSTITCH !
February 7, 2026 at 4:00 PM
And from Grogan’s STITCH, UNSTITCH !
Reposted by dr emer mchugh
There is no possible way to be an honest academician if you don’t start with the premise that absolutely all of your beliefs have some possibility of being wrong.
If you get so convinced by your own theory that you no longer assign any probability to the opposite being true, it’s time to resign.
If you get so convinced by your own theory that you no longer assign any probability to the opposite being true, it’s time to resign.
1. Noam Chomsky's response to the first tranche of Epstein docs - arrogant, high-handed, obfuscatory and, we now know, dishonest - reminded me of something: his response to my questions about genocide denial, 15 years ago. 🧵
www.monbiot.com/2012/05/21/2...
www.monbiot.com/2012/05/21/2...
Correspondence with Noam Chomsky
This is supporting material for the article See No Evil.
www.monbiot.com
February 4, 2026 at 2:12 PM
There is no possible way to be an honest academician if you don’t start with the premise that absolutely all of your beliefs have some possibility of being wrong.
If you get so convinced by your own theory that you no longer assign any probability to the opposite being true, it’s time to resign.
If you get so convinced by your own theory that you no longer assign any probability to the opposite being true, it’s time to resign.
Reposted by dr emer mchugh
Thrilled for my colleague, Laurence Publicover, and his appearance on In Our Time today, joined by the brilliant @oldfortunatus.bsky.social and @lucycmunro.bsky.social - what a trio! Have worked on H4 quite a bit and still learned lots! www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
In Our Time - Henry IV Part 1 - BBC Sounds
Shakespeare's powerful exploration of power and succession with Hotspur, Hal and Falstaff.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 6, 2026 at 9:45 AM
Thrilled for my colleague, Laurence Publicover, and his appearance on In Our Time today, joined by the brilliant @oldfortunatus.bsky.social and @lucycmunro.bsky.social - what a trio! Have worked on H4 quite a bit and still learned lots! www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Reposted by dr emer mchugh
Shannon airport has long been put at the disposal of the US military by Irish authorities.
Now it is facilitating ICE deportations which may amount to human trafficking or even crimes against humanity.
For a country that speaks loudly in support of the rights of Palestinians, this is shameful.
Now it is facilitating ICE deportations which may amount to human trafficking or even crimes against humanity.
For a country that speaks loudly in support of the rights of Palestinians, this is shameful.
Eight Palestinian deported by ICE from the United States to the West Bank - via Ireland.
“They dropped us off like animals on the side of the road".
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
“They dropped us off like animals on the side of the road".
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Revealed: private jet owned by Trump friend used by ICE to deport Palestinians to West Bank
Exclusive: Luxury aircraft owned by property tycoon close to US president’s family has twice flown Palestinian men from Arizona to Tel Aviv
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 7:29 PM
Shannon airport has long been put at the disposal of the US military by Irish authorities.
Now it is facilitating ICE deportations which may amount to human trafficking or even crimes against humanity.
For a country that speaks loudly in support of the rights of Palestinians, this is shameful.
Now it is facilitating ICE deportations which may amount to human trafficking or even crimes against humanity.
For a country that speaks loudly in support of the rights of Palestinians, this is shameful.
Reposted by dr emer mchugh
i have been made aware that an Olympic figure skater for Kazakhstan does a Dune themed routine in a full stillsuit and he is now my personal hero
February 2, 2026 at 5:22 PM
i have been made aware that an Olympic figure skater for Kazakhstan does a Dune themed routine in a full stillsuit and he is now my personal hero
Reposted by dr emer mchugh
After a lengthy appeals process and productive discussion with the Blue Sky safety team I will no loinger be sending George Thorogood lyrics to beautiful women on here via DM. Thank you all
February 4, 2026 at 5:02 PM
After a lengthy appeals process and productive discussion with the Blue Sky safety team I will no loinger be sending George Thorogood lyrics to beautiful women on here via DM. Thank you all
Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight)
Deleted a post about “what’s your least favorite song” because the vibes are bad enough already.
Instead: what’s your favorite song that has a long title, say at least 6 words long?
Mine: “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town” (Pearl Jam)
Instead: what’s your favorite song that has a long title, say at least 6 words long?
Mine: “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town” (Pearl Jam)
February 4, 2026 at 9:24 AM
Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight)
Reposted by dr emer mchugh
Sick to death of generative AI being shoved down our throats every single time you open an app or tool now. I want to write my own sentences! Fuck off!
February 3, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Sick to death of generative AI being shoved down our throats every single time you open an app or tool now. I want to write my own sentences! Fuck off!
Reposted by dr emer mchugh
Even people employed as academics have to protect their intellectual lives from the ideal of the "marketplace of ideas." Getting and spending we lay waste our powers.
I guess it makes sense that as universities transformed into real estate & hedge fund profiles controlled by a growing class of asset managers w/ no meaningful academic expertise, the preferred outputs wd come to resemble airport leadership books & bullshit Ted talks— but man, what are we doing here
February 3, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Even people employed as academics have to protect their intellectual lives from the ideal of the "marketplace of ideas." Getting and spending we lay waste our powers.
i am teaching romeo & juliet today and it dawned on me last night that i am ‘old enough to remember when leo dicaprio was a heartthrob’ years old
February 3, 2026 at 2:29 PM
i am teaching romeo & juliet today and it dawned on me last night that i am ‘old enough to remember when leo dicaprio was a heartthrob’ years old
Reposted by dr emer mchugh
There's an astonishing cruelty in trying to make the world even more hostile for trans kids by suing schools that want to include them. But that's where 'gender critical' Britain is.
We're acting for a school that is being sued - and we could really use your help with funding.
We're acting for a school that is being sued - and we could really use your help with funding.
Defend trans kids in school | Good Law Project
goodlaw.social
February 2, 2026 at 4:58 PM
There's an astonishing cruelty in trying to make the world even more hostile for trans kids by suing schools that want to include them. But that's where 'gender critical' Britain is.
We're acting for a school that is being sued - and we could really use your help with funding.
We're acting for a school that is being sued - and we could really use your help with funding.
when will we get a frinkiac for Frasier screencaps
February 2, 2026 at 11:36 PM
when will we get a frinkiac for Frasier screencaps
Reposted by dr emer mchugh
Epstein’s economic power among academics was made possible by a capitalist system that makes higher education dependent on the charity economy rather than a public good supported by taxing the rich
February 1, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Epstein’s economic power among academics was made possible by a capitalist system that makes higher education dependent on the charity economy rather than a public good supported by taxing the rich
look i just think @whitelands.bsky.social are neat!
Sunlight Echoes by Whitelands on Apple Music
Album · 2026 · 10 Songs
music.apple.com
February 1, 2026 at 1:24 PM
look i just think @whitelands.bsky.social are neat!
Reposted by dr emer mchugh
Catherine O'Hara
Polaroid makeup test
After Hours (Martin Scorsese, 1985)
Polaroid makeup test
After Hours (Martin Scorsese, 1985)
January 30, 2026 at 8:58 PM
Catherine O'Hara
Polaroid makeup test
After Hours (Martin Scorsese, 1985)
Polaroid makeup test
After Hours (Martin Scorsese, 1985)
Reposted by dr emer mchugh
The only gif
a woman in a long black dress is walking down a foggy street .
Alt: The actor Catherine OHara in character as Moira Rose in the tv series Schitt's Crrek. In this gif, OHara is wearing long black dress. She is walking down a foggy street .- in slow motion - with pigeons flying up from the path in front of her
media.tenor.com
January 30, 2026 at 8:29 PM
The only gif
thinking about how lydia tár lying about being mentored by leonard bernstein was clearly inspired by how frasier lied about being pen-pals with him as a kid
January 29, 2026 at 8:46 PM
thinking about how lydia tár lying about being mentored by leonard bernstein was clearly inspired by how frasier lied about being pen-pals with him as a kid
Reposted by dr emer mchugh
Get off Twitter, it is the only way these oafs investigate anything. It is literally dangerous to your speech rights to be or appear on that website.
The FBI director, Kash Patel, said the inquiry followed a far-right influencer’s post about anti-ICE Signal chats
FBI to investigate Minneapolis activists after far-right claim about Signal chats
www.theguardian.com
January 27, 2026 at 6:28 PM
Get off Twitter, it is the only way these oafs investigate anything. It is literally dangerous to your speech rights to be or appear on that website.
Reposted by dr emer mchugh
Bernadette Devlin-McAliskey was present in the House of Commons when Reginald Maudling said this shit and responded by marching over and slapping him across his lying Tory face btw
January 25, 2026 at 7:41 PM
Bernadette Devlin-McAliskey was present in the House of Commons when Reginald Maudling said this shit and responded by marching over and slapping him across his lying Tory face btw
Reposted by dr emer mchugh
IT IS NOT AN "IMMIGRATION CRISIS"!!!!
Minneapolis shooting deepens US immigration crisis as federal accounts are challenged
Minneapolis shooting deepens US immigration crisis as federal accounts are challenged
Video evidence, political rhetoric and competing narratives collide after the death of Alex Pretti
www.irishtimes.com
January 25, 2026 at 10:16 AM
IT IS NOT AN "IMMIGRATION CRISIS"!!!!
Reposted by dr emer mchugh
Clarissa explains it all to the DHS Instagram account
January 24, 2026 at 10:32 PM
Clarissa explains it all to the DHS Instagram account
Reposted by dr emer mchugh
remain surprised. the killing of human beings and the devaluation of human life (in killer and killed human) should remain a shock
the "and you're surprised by this?" guys have never been less vital than they are right now
January 24, 2026 at 7:28 PM
remain surprised. the killing of human beings and the devaluation of human life (in killer and killed human) should remain a shock
Reposted by dr emer mchugh
If what happened today/recently in Minneapolis had happened in Moscow or Caracas, Irish and EU officials would rightfully be calling for sanctions. Instead our Taoiseach will go to Washington in 2 months and present the man responsible with shamrock and publicly fellate him in front of the world
January 24, 2026 at 5:22 PM
If what happened today/recently in Minneapolis had happened in Moscow or Caracas, Irish and EU officials would rightfully be calling for sanctions. Instead our Taoiseach will go to Washington in 2 months and present the man responsible with shamrock and publicly fellate him in front of the world