Mel Farrell
@melfarrell.bsky.social
Historian, mostly of Ireland,1912-37. New book, 'Vying for Victory', on the 1923 election, co-edited with Elaine Callinan & Thomas Tormey https://tinyurl.com/4jtm4ndb . Also a big Villa fan & music lover. Any views, are my own.
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Mel Farrell
@melfarrell.bsky.social
· Feb 27
Timothy Ellis-Dale reviews Vying for Victory: The 1923 General Election in the Irish Free State, ed. Elaine Callinan, Mel Farrell @melfarrell.bsky.social and Thomas Tormey
academic.oup.com/ehr/advance-...
@ucdpress.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/ehr/advance-...
@ucdpress.bsky.social
Vying for Victory: The 1923 General Election in the Irish Free State, ed. Elaine Callinan, Mel Farrell and Thomas Tormey
Four years ago, Micheál Martin, the leader of Fianna Fáil, described his appointment as Taoiseach, in coalition with Fine Gael, as ‘the end of Civil War po
academic.oup.com
My thanks to Timothy Ellis-Dale for this fair review of our edited collection on the 1923 General Election in the Irish Free State. Check it out in @enghistrev.bsky.social
Reposted by Mel Farrell
Why did Steve Witkoff kowtow to Putin so completely on Ukraine? You maybe didn't know he has received millions in investment from a former advisor to Vladimir Putin's sovereign wealth fund. Yes, I know. You can't make it up.
🔴Trump Envoy Has Financial Ties With Former Adviser to Putin’s ‘Money Man’ Now Leading Kremlin Peace Talks
Steve Witkoff’s real-estate empire is bankrolled by a former adviser to Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and a key architect of Moscow’s Ukraine negotiations
Steve Witkoff’s real-estate empire is bankrolled by a former adviser to Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and a key architect of Moscow’s Ukraine negotiations
Trump Envoy Has Financial Ties With Former Adviser to Putin’s ‘Money Man’ Now Leading Kremlin Peace Talks
Steve Witkoff’s real-estate empire is bankrolled by a former adviser to Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and a key architect of Moscow’s Ukraine negotiations
bylinetimes.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Why did Steve Witkoff kowtow to Putin so completely on Ukraine? You maybe didn't know he has received millions in investment from a former advisor to Vladimir Putin's sovereign wealth fund. Yes, I know. You can't make it up.
Reposted by Mel Farrell
The E3 (UK, France, Germany) counter-proposal for a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine is vastly superior to the US sell-out.
It has a strong focus on Ukraine’s sovereignty, EU membership, security guarantees & reparations, and no surrender of free Ukrainian territory to Russian occupation.
It has a strong focus on Ukraine’s sovereignty, EU membership, security guarantees & reparations, and no surrender of free Ukrainian territory to Russian occupation.
November 23, 2025 at 6:58 PM
The E3 (UK, France, Germany) counter-proposal for a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine is vastly superior to the US sell-out.
It has a strong focus on Ukraine’s sovereignty, EU membership, security guarantees & reparations, and no surrender of free Ukrainian territory to Russian occupation.
It has a strong focus on Ukraine’s sovereignty, EU membership, security guarantees & reparations, and no surrender of free Ukrainian territory to Russian occupation.
Reposted by Mel Farrell
So, to recap, Ukraine and Europe understand that America has effectively endorsed a 28-point plan to force Kyiv to capitulate, set a Thursday deadline to accept it, and threatened to cut off all aid.
Now Marco Rubio says it's all wrong, that's not the plan, there's no deadline and no threat.
Now Marco Rubio says it's all wrong, that's not the plan, there's no deadline and no threat.
November 22, 2025 at 11:04 PM
So, to recap, Ukraine and Europe understand that America has effectively endorsed a 28-point plan to force Kyiv to capitulate, set a Thursday deadline to accept it, and threatened to cut off all aid.
Now Marco Rubio says it's all wrong, that's not the plan, there's no deadline and no threat.
Now Marco Rubio says it's all wrong, that's not the plan, there's no deadline and no threat.
Reposted by Mel Farrell
European leaders have rejected the 28 points presented to Ukraine by the US.
Talks in Geneva Sunday with US, Ukraine (Yermak), E3: Germany, France, UK, and Italy on top adviser level.
Talks in Geneva Sunday with US, Ukraine (Yermak), E3: Germany, France, UK, and Italy on top adviser level.
November 22, 2025 at 11:08 PM
European leaders have rejected the 28 points presented to Ukraine by the US.
Talks in Geneva Sunday with US, Ukraine (Yermak), E3: Germany, France, UK, and Italy on top adviser level.
Talks in Geneva Sunday with US, Ukraine (Yermak), E3: Germany, France, UK, and Italy on top adviser level.
Reposted by Mel Farrell
Trump’s so-called "peace plan" is a blueprint for Russian victory. Forcing Ukraine to surrender any territory under threat is not diplomacy—it’s appeasement that guarantees future conflict. We must not reward Putin’s aggression with Ukrainian land.
November 22, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Trump’s so-called "peace plan" is a blueprint for Russian victory. Forcing Ukraine to surrender any territory under threat is not diplomacy—it’s appeasement that guarantees future conflict. We must not reward Putin’s aggression with Ukrainian land.
Reposted by Mel Farrell
Am reviewing Palestine 36 for History Ireland. You should see it if you can- a powerful depiction of the brutality of colonialism. But I also thought of this article afterwards.
www.972mag.com/partition-pa...
www.972mag.com/partition-pa...
The racial logic behind Palestine's partition
Partition was rarely endorsed as a solution to settler colonialism. But Europe's racialization of Jews made Zionism different from other enterprises.
www.972mag.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Am reviewing Palestine 36 for History Ireland. You should see it if you can- a powerful depiction of the brutality of colonialism. But I also thought of this article afterwards.
www.972mag.com/partition-pa...
www.972mag.com/partition-pa...
Reposted by Mel Farrell
Today, Ukrainians honor the memory of those who perished during the Holodomor — the genocide orchestrated by the USSR in 1932–1933 to crush resistance to the communist regime and to erase Ukrainians as an independent nation.
1/9
1/9
November 22, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Today, Ukrainians honor the memory of those who perished during the Holodomor — the genocide orchestrated by the USSR in 1932–1933 to crush resistance to the communist regime and to erase Ukrainians as an independent nation.
1/9
1/9
Reposted by Mel Farrell
Farage can now be easily boxed in to a corner where his only ‘defence’ becomes: “Yes I spouted Kremlin propaganda & Putin worship but, unlike Nathan Gill, I didn’t need bribes to do it.”
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
November 22, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Farage can now be easily boxed in to a corner where his only ‘defence’ becomes: “Yes I spouted Kremlin propaganda & Putin worship but, unlike Nathan Gill, I didn’t need bribes to do it.”
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
Reposted by Mel Farrell
Irish left-wingers cheering on Trump's ultimatum to Ukraine: don't ever complain about December 1921 and 'immediate and terrible war' again. This how empires behave folks. There are no good ones.
November 22, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Irish left-wingers cheering on Trump's ultimatum to Ukraine: don't ever complain about December 1921 and 'immediate and terrible war' again. This how empires behave folks. There are no good ones.
Reposted by Mel Farrell
Russian signal involved in incident of blocking communications in Irish-controlled airspace
Russian signal involved in incident of blocking communications in Irish-controlled airspace
Russia has been engaged in the jamming of civilian aircraft communications and GPS signals since the start of its invasion of Ukraine
www.irishtimes.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Russian signal involved in incident of blocking communications in Irish-controlled airspace
Reposted by Mel Farrell
X has changed their policy and now you can see where the accounts are based.
Here’s an “influencer from Texas”
Here’s an “influencer from Texas”
November 21, 2025 at 6:36 PM
X has changed their policy and now you can see where the accounts are based.
Here’s an “influencer from Texas”
Here’s an “influencer from Texas”
Good God
NEW: It’s takes a moment for this to really sink in.
Guardian reporting that key parts of Trump’s peace plan was drafted IN RUSSIAN first.
Guardian reporting that key parts of Trump’s peace plan was drafted IN RUSSIAN first.
November 21, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Good God
Reposted by Mel Farrell
How can American voters and allies of the US trust Trump on foreign policy when we now have proof that Russia has been blackmailing him?
Not that he was ever really trusted before, but this is huge!
Not that he was ever really trusted before, but this is huge!
November 13, 2025 at 10:25 AM
How can American voters and allies of the US trust Trump on foreign policy when we now have proof that Russia has been blackmailing him?
Not that he was ever really trusted before, but this is huge!
Not that he was ever really trusted before, but this is huge!
Reposted by Mel Farrell
The emails, some of which were shared directly with PBS News, are among 23,000 documents Jeffrey Epstein’s estate released to the House Oversight Committee, ranking member Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., said. https://to.pbs.org/4qPy6ax
Read Jeffrey Epstein’s newly released emails about Trump
Late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein specifically referenced his relationship with President Donald Trump in writing before Trump was elected to office and in the runup to the 2020 election, ac...
to.pbs.org
November 12, 2025 at 4:29 PM
The emails, some of which were shared directly with PBS News, are among 23,000 documents Jeffrey Epstein’s estate released to the House Oversight Committee, ranking member Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., said. https://to.pbs.org/4qPy6ax
Reposted by Mel Farrell
Reassess the sequencing. Overseas far right groups aren’t being ‘drawn’ to these events at CityWest… they are drawing them up, designing these events.
The hours-long standoff at Citywest on Tuesday night featured heavily across international media including on far-right platforms, where some of those taking part were described as "patriots" and the "fighting Irish" who were standing up against the "mass immigration cult".
jrnl.ie/6851258
jrnl.ie/6851258
How Citywest scenes are drawing the attention of far-right media and influencers
The hours-long standoff featured heavily in certain right-wing media from the UK and Canada.
jrnl.ie
October 23, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Reassess the sequencing. Overseas far right groups aren’t being ‘drawn’ to these events at CityWest… they are drawing them up, designing these events.
Reposted by Mel Farrell
Air alert in Kyiv, warning of threat of ballistic missiles, reports of launches and fast incoming targets, then the sound of explosions in the Ukrainian capital - all in the space of six minutes. Explosions also reported in Zaporizhzhya and Dnipro.
No, Putin doesn’t want peace.
No, Putin doesn’t want peace.
October 21, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Air alert in Kyiv, warning of threat of ballistic missiles, reports of launches and fast incoming targets, then the sound of explosions in the Ukrainian capital - all in the space of six minutes. Explosions also reported in Zaporizhzhya and Dnipro.
No, Putin doesn’t want peace.
No, Putin doesn’t want peace.
Reposted by Mel Farrell
Dutch intelligence suspends sharing arrangements with the US after concluding that high level intel was routinely being shared by the White House with their friends in the Kremlin. www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/n...
Nederlandse diensten delen minder informatie met de VS: ‘Soms vertellen we dingen niet meer’
Het aantal dreigingen dat op Nederland afkomt is groot, zien de hoofden van de AIVD en de MIVD elke dag: niet alleen Russische agressie, maar ook de opmars van China als digitale macht en binnenlands ...
www.volkskrant.nl
October 19, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Dutch intelligence suspends sharing arrangements with the US after concluding that high level intel was routinely being shared by the White House with their friends in the Kremlin. www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/n...
Reposted by Mel Farrell
Sky News is platforming a guy who says he's from a Jewish Aston Villa supporters group, but it turns out that the guy a) isn't Jewish, b) the group doesn't exist, and c) he works for the right wing Henry Jackson Society, whose website says he 'specialises in disinformation'. Well, quite.
October 18, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Sky News is platforming a guy who says he's from a Jewish Aston Villa supporters group, but it turns out that the guy a) isn't Jewish, b) the group doesn't exist, and c) he works for the right wing Henry Jackson Society, whose website says he 'specialises in disinformation'. Well, quite.
Reposted by Mel Farrell
The orange is not popular - and that's all around the world
South Korea: #NoKings! Thousands of people came to show support to the US democracy!
October 18, 2025 at 11:35 AM
The orange is not popular - and that's all around the world
Reposted by Mel Farrell
This is THE Kremlin talking point, the one that all tankies and bots use.
They never respond when asked why countries neighbouring Russia WANT and ASK to join NATO.
They never respond when asked why countries neighbouring Russia WANT and ASK to join NATO.
Farage again blames “the endless eastward expansion of NATO” for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Even when he’s playacting at being tough on Putin, he can’t resist repeating Kremlin talking points.
Even when he’s playacting at being tough on Putin, he can’t resist repeating Kremlin talking points.
October 17, 2025 at 7:48 AM
This is THE Kremlin talking point, the one that all tankies and bots use.
They never respond when asked why countries neighbouring Russia WANT and ASK to join NATO.
They never respond when asked why countries neighbouring Russia WANT and ASK to join NATO.
Reposted by Mel Farrell
This is where American political historians and political science scholars need to take a closer look at how Miller has used what was once the institutional backwater of the Homeland Security Council now staffed with MAGA loyalists to increasingly marginalise the established NSC
Story from January. It aligns with similar stories published recently showing how Miller is the most powerful person in the entire White House, and even has a larger role in some US military operations than the Secretary of Defense. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/16/u...
Stephen Miller, Channeling Trump, Has Built More Power Than Ever
www.nytimes.com
October 15, 2025 at 9:30 PM
This is where American political historians and political science scholars need to take a closer look at how Miller has used what was once the institutional backwater of the Homeland Security Council now staffed with MAGA loyalists to increasingly marginalise the established NSC
Reposted by Mel Farrell
Hours after Russia launched one of its most destructive terrorist attacks on Ukraine, Donald Trump publicly thanks Putin.
October 10, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Hours after Russia launched one of its most destructive terrorist attacks on Ukraine, Donald Trump publicly thanks Putin.