Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
@matthewpb.bsky.social
Publisher, Little Island Books @littleislandbooks.bsky.social. The best new Irish writing for young readers.
Pinned
OH MY GOD
February 5, 2026 at 12:51 PM
OH MY GOD
I went over to Manchester for a gig (John Grant). Before it started I went to the bar and, when the barman made eye contact with me, I gave him my order.
A woman who had apparently been there longer than I had turned to me and said “Well THAT wasn’t very gentlemanly!”
1/2
A woman who had apparently been there longer than I had turned to me and said “Well THAT wasn’t very gentlemanly!”
1/2
Queuing at the pub
February 5, 2026 at 12:50 PM
I went over to Manchester for a gig (John Grant). Before it started I went to the bar and, when the barman made eye contact with me, I gave him my order.
A woman who had apparently been there longer than I had turned to me and said “Well THAT wasn’t very gentlemanly!”
1/2
A woman who had apparently been there longer than I had turned to me and said “Well THAT wasn’t very gentlemanly!”
1/2
Trying to cram 3 celebrities into the same position while leaving the most talented player of his generation at home
What "core British values" has "the left" not defended? Can someone ask this sentient fucking saucepan what he means?
Keir Starmer attacks the racism of Reform and Matt Goodwin but then adds that "Britain has also been let down by a mindset on the left of politics that is too slow to defend core British values"
February 5, 2026 at 12:39 PM
Trying to cram 3 celebrities into the same position while leaving the most talented player of his generation at home
Strolling the qualifiers before coming unstuck as soon as they meet a midfielder who can turn around
What "core British values" has "the left" not defended? Can someone ask this sentient fucking saucepan what he means?
Keir Starmer attacks the racism of Reform and Matt Goodwin but then adds that "Britain has also been let down by a mindset on the left of politics that is too slow to defend core British values"
February 5, 2026 at 12:26 PM
Strolling the qualifiers before coming unstuck as soon as they meet a midfielder who can turn around
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
Enemy Making A Mistake? Don't! Interrupt.
February 5, 2026 at 11:54 AM
Enemy Making A Mistake? Don't! Interrupt.
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
this is 100% a bot. No one fucking thinks my first name is actually fascism
February 3, 2026 at 12:09 AM
this is 100% a bot. No one fucking thinks my first name is actually fascism
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
It’s that time of year when you go to turn on the heating to discover it’s been on all morning
February 5, 2026 at 11:44 AM
It’s that time of year when you go to turn on the heating to discover it’s been on all morning
Yesterday morning: SOLO on the KPMG–Children’s Books Ireland Award shortlist
Yesterday afternoon: 500 copies of SOLO returned* by a ✨certain✨ large bookshop chain
This morning: SOLO on the Waterstones Prize shortlist
🤷♂️
*actually destroyed, because they said it was ☹️too hard☹️ to return them
Yesterday afternoon: 500 copies of SOLO returned* by a ✨certain✨ large bookshop chain
This morning: SOLO on the Waterstones Prize shortlist
🤷♂️
*actually destroyed, because they said it was ☹️too hard☹️ to return them
We can finally announce some big news: SOLO by @grainneobrien.bsky.social is on the Waterstones Prize shortlist!!
This is a huge award, chosen by some of our very favourite people: booksellers!
Huge congratulations to Gráinne, whose book is also on the @childrensbooksireland.ie shortlist.
#WCBP26
This is a huge award, chosen by some of our very favourite people: booksellers!
Huge congratulations to Gráinne, whose book is also on the @childrensbooksireland.ie shortlist.
#WCBP26
February 5, 2026 at 10:27 AM
Yesterday morning: SOLO on the KPMG–Children’s Books Ireland Award shortlist
Yesterday afternoon: 500 copies of SOLO returned* by a ✨certain✨ large bookshop chain
This morning: SOLO on the Waterstones Prize shortlist
🤷♂️
*actually destroyed, because they said it was ☹️too hard☹️ to return them
Yesterday afternoon: 500 copies of SOLO returned* by a ✨certain✨ large bookshop chain
This morning: SOLO on the Waterstones Prize shortlist
🤷♂️
*actually destroyed, because they said it was ☹️too hard☹️ to return them
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
We can finally announce some big news: SOLO by @grainneobrien.bsky.social is on the Waterstones Prize shortlist!!
This is a huge award, chosen by some of our very favourite people: booksellers!
Huge congratulations to Gráinne, whose book is also on the @childrensbooksireland.ie shortlist.
#WCBP26
This is a huge award, chosen by some of our very favourite people: booksellers!
Huge congratulations to Gráinne, whose book is also on the @childrensbooksireland.ie shortlist.
#WCBP26
February 5, 2026 at 9:40 AM
We can finally announce some big news: SOLO by @grainneobrien.bsky.social is on the Waterstones Prize shortlist!!
This is a huge award, chosen by some of our very favourite people: booksellers!
Huge congratulations to Gráinne, whose book is also on the @childrensbooksireland.ie shortlist.
#WCBP26
This is a huge award, chosen by some of our very favourite people: booksellers!
Huge congratulations to Gráinne, whose book is also on the @childrensbooksireland.ie shortlist.
#WCBP26
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
We gotta come up with a better system than “everything rests on whether these twelve billionnaires are nice”
February 4, 2026 at 7:41 PM
We gotta come up with a better system than “everything rests on whether these twelve billionnaires are nice”
Genuinely our powers that be hate urban life AND rural life. The only thing you’re allowed to do unmolested is live in Portarlington
All bicycles included in draft plan for mandatory helmets and high-vis, Department confirms irishcycle.com/2026/02/04/a...
All bicycles included in draft plan for mandatory helmets and high-vis, Department confirms
— Plan was expected to be put to the Cabinet today before it was withdrawn from the meeting of Government Ministers. A reported plan by Ireland’s Government to make the wearing of helme…
irishcycle.com
February 5, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Genuinely our powers that be hate urban life AND rural life. The only thing you’re allowed to do unmolested is live in Portarlington
I propose a new rule where the notional value of stocks and shares isn’t counted.
You get to have a footnote saying “He is also believed to own several billion in illiquid assets”, but that’s it.
You get to have a footnote saying “He is also believed to own several billion in illiquid assets”, but that’s it.
If you gave someone $1 million every day since the birth of Jesus Christ, they'd have about $741 billion.
But that's still less than Elon Musk, who's currently worth $841 billion, according to Forbes.
But that's still less than Elon Musk, who's currently worth $841 billion, according to Forbes.
February 5, 2026 at 12:02 AM
I propose a new rule where the notional value of stocks and shares isn’t counted.
You get to have a footnote saying “He is also believed to own several billion in illiquid assets”, but that’s it.
You get to have a footnote saying “He is also believed to own several billion in illiquid assets”, but that’s it.
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
If you gave someone $1 million every day since the birth of Jesus Christ, they'd have about $741 billion.
But that's still less than Elon Musk, who's currently worth $841 billion, according to Forbes.
But that's still less than Elon Musk, who's currently worth $841 billion, according to Forbes.
February 4, 2026 at 11:57 PM
If you gave someone $1 million every day since the birth of Jesus Christ, they'd have about $741 billion.
But that's still less than Elon Musk, who's currently worth $841 billion, according to Forbes.
But that's still less than Elon Musk, who's currently worth $841 billion, according to Forbes.
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
I just feel like have they considered governing in such a way that the country gets better and people notice? For a treat?
The Labour Party has one mission: to stop the calamity of Reform UK, which in normal times would never get near power, entering govt. We've seen how that goes in the US, and the working class voters Labour seeks to represent would be hurt the most. If they can't even manage that they're a disgrace.
February 4, 2026 at 7:34 PM
I just feel like have they considered governing in such a way that the country gets better and people notice? For a treat?
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
We are DELIGHTED to share that SOLO by @grainneobrien.bsky.social is on the shortlist of the KPMG–CBI Awards 2026!
It’s already won an Irish Book Award – SOLO just keeps on going!🏅
Congratulations to all the shortlistees!
@childrensbooksireland.ie @bouncemarketing.bsky.social
It’s already won an Irish Book Award – SOLO just keeps on going!🏅
Congratulations to all the shortlistees!
@childrensbooksireland.ie @bouncemarketing.bsky.social
February 4, 2026 at 12:51 PM
We are DELIGHTED to share that SOLO by @grainneobrien.bsky.social is on the shortlist of the KPMG–CBI Awards 2026!
It’s already won an Irish Book Award – SOLO just keeps on going!🏅
Congratulations to all the shortlistees!
@childrensbooksireland.ie @bouncemarketing.bsky.social
It’s already won an Irish Book Award – SOLO just keeps on going!🏅
Congratulations to all the shortlistees!
@childrensbooksireland.ie @bouncemarketing.bsky.social
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
The loyalty of UK Labour to a Young Fine Gael activist from Macroom is astonishing.
The growing Mandelson scandal has resulted in renewed pressure on the position of Keir Starmer's chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, who was instrumental in the decision to bring him into government, reports PolHome's Tom Scotson
Starmer Faces Renewed Pressure To Remove Chief Of Staff Over Mandelson Affair
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under pressure from Labour MPs to sack his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, over his role in the appointment of Pet...
www.politicshome.com
February 4, 2026 at 12:24 PM
The loyalty of UK Labour to a Young Fine Gael activist from Macroom is astonishing.
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
Since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has been bleeding manpower—losing 900 to 1,000 soldiers killed or wounded every day. By historical standards, the scale is catastrophic. In past Soviet and Russian campaigns, even a few thousand casualties could shake the regime.
Russia Now Loses as Many Troops in One Month in Ukraine as the USSR Did in 10 Years in Afghanistan
Russia now loses as many, if not more, troops in a month in Ukraine than it did in 10 years in Afghanistan, with no protests at home.
united24media.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:19 AM
“Were Epstein and Bannon really building a crypto-funded far-right coalition of pro-Russian dictators across Europe? Or were they just LARPing …? And does the distinction even matter if other powerful figures seemed to believe in their project?”
www.garbageday.email/p/here-s-how...
www.garbageday.email/p/here-s-how...
Here's how Epstein broke the internet
His meeting with the founder of 4chan and his quest to profit off the end of democracy
www.garbageday.email
February 4, 2026 at 9:14 AM
“Were Epstein and Bannon really building a crypto-funded far-right coalition of pro-Russian dictators across Europe? Or were they just LARPing …? And does the distinction even matter if other powerful figures seemed to believe in their project?”
www.garbageday.email/p/here-s-how...
www.garbageday.email/p/here-s-how...
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
Tech giants Meta, Google and TikTok are before the Oireachtas Media Committee today... as was long flagged, X has refused to take part.
X even went so far as to reject a written request from the Taoiseach to appear before the Committee.
X even went so far as to reject a written request from the Taoiseach to appear before the Committee.
February 4, 2026 at 9:04 AM
Tech giants Meta, Google and TikTok are before the Oireachtas Media Committee today... as was long flagged, X has refused to take part.
X even went so far as to reject a written request from the Taoiseach to appear before the Committee.
X even went so far as to reject a written request from the Taoiseach to appear before the Committee.
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
European governments are moving away from U.S. tech giants, opting for domestic or open-source alternatives.
France dumps Zoom and Teams as Europe seeks digital autonomy from the US
European governments are moving away from U.S. tech giants, opting for domestic or open-source alternatives.
bit.ly
February 3, 2026 at 4:00 PM
European governments are moving away from U.S. tech giants, opting for domestic or open-source alternatives.
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
“I don’t need to tell you how serious the increasingly likely possibility that Russian intelligence services co-organised this operation is for the security of the Polish state.
“This can only mean that they also possess compromising materials against many leaders still active today" - Donald Tusk.
“This can only mean that they also possess compromising materials against many leaders still active today" - Donald Tusk.
Poland to examine ‘increasingly likely possibility that paedophilia scandal was co-organised by intelligence services’ in Moscow
www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...
www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...
February 4, 2026 at 7:29 AM
“I don’t need to tell you how serious the increasingly likely possibility that Russian intelligence services co-organised this operation is for the security of the Polish state.
“This can only mean that they also possess compromising materials against many leaders still active today" - Donald Tusk.
“This can only mean that they also possess compromising materials against many leaders still active today" - Donald Tusk.
I’m convinced part of What’s Gone Wrong With the Billionaires is the fact they conflate net worth with moral worth while so much their wealth is illiquid. Losing/making millions day to day as the market shifts would drive anyone mad, especially if they think their bank balance = their human value.
There's a point, well below a billion dollars, where the amount of money you have lets you rid yourself of anyone who can be a check on your worst impulses, and replace them with people who tell you those worst impulses are somehow valorous. Rare is the billionaire with someone to tell them "no."
You can look at the Epstein files and conclude that only bad people have billions of dollars, but I think it’s also possible that having billions of dollars cauterizes your humanity
February 3, 2026 at 9:42 PM
I’m convinced part of What’s Gone Wrong With the Billionaires is the fact they conflate net worth with moral worth while so much their wealth is illiquid. Losing/making millions day to day as the market shifts would drive anyone mad, especially if they think their bank balance = their human value.
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
A correction for the ages (from The Guardian's review of 'Melania'):
February 3, 2026 at 8:23 PM
A correction for the ages (from The Guardian's review of 'Melania'):