Author | Lightnews

Mary McKenna

@mmarymckenna.bsky.social

290 followers 210 following 280 posts

Co-founder and Chair of @AwakenHub group, entrepreneur, pollinator, people collector, MC, connector, non exec, cheerleader, investor, mentor, Donegal border dweller

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Mary McKenna @mmarymckenna.bsky.social · 29d

Full circle moment - I was back at Magee campus at @ulsteruni.bsky.social on Friday as the @royalsociety.org EIR attached to the UU Business School - our event was a couple of buildings over from where Learning Pool started out almost 20 years ago

Reposted by Mary McKenna

UK Gov Camp @ukgovcamp.com · 13d

Registration for UKGovCamp 2026 is closing soon!

Public sector professionals and enthusiasts, join us on 17 January 2026 at Birmingham City Council for a free, community-led unconference.

Everyone is welcome. Register today: forms.gle/tL5q1ZBHYxAq...

UKGovCamp 2026 Registration

Our next annual in-person event is: free to attend, in Birmingham, on Saturday 17 January 2026. Please note: Registration does not guarantee a ticket because: the event is always oversubscribed, we…

forms.gle

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Mary McKenna @mmarymckenna.bsky.social · 28d

Listening to lawyers on Radio 4 Today trying to make a case for human lawyers in an AI world … #ticktock

Mary McKenna @mmarymckenna.bsky.social · 28d

If you need to spell your company name out loud for people, you probably need to change it …

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Mary McKenna @mmarymckenna.bsky.social · 29d

Mary McKenna @mmarymckenna.bsky.social · Oct 7

VW Corrado your only man …

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Reposted by Mary McKenna

Edinburgh Napier University @edinburghnapier.bsky.social · Sep 25

🪹 | Seabirds that survived recent bird flu outbreaks have continued to reproduce, although overall breeding performance remains notably low, according to a new study.

The study has looked at breeding success in Northern Gannets at two locations during 2023.

🔗 orlo.uk/44CaS

📸 Dave Pressland

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Reposted by Mary McKenna

John Kennedy @mrjohnfkennedy.bsky.social · Oct 7

A perfect SymPhysis: From Galway to global in cancer care revolution - #Podcast Ep 281: How two Galway University researchers are revolutionising end-of-life care for cancer patients
#medtech #HealthTech #funding #irish #business #innovation
www.thinkbusiness.ie/articles/sym...

A perfect SymPhysis: From Galway to global | ThinkBusiness

Galway’s SymPhysis Medical is transforming cancer care with Releaze, a device for malignant pleural effusion, backed by €5.6M and global expansion plans.

www.thinkbusiness.ie

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Mary McKenna @mmarymckenna.bsky.social · Oct 7

'Angel investing as a way to keep the ecosystem growing is far more interesting to me than just making money.' Entrepreneur, mentor and angel investor @MMaryMcKenna on why backing women founders is a winner, her best mistakes and having boundaries businesspost.ie/connected/mary…

https://businesspost.ie/connected/mary…

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Mary McKenna @mmarymckenna.bsky.social · Oct 7

Nice commute to work this morning #Vilnius

Reposted by Mary McKenna

RareBirdAlert @rarebirder.bsky.social · Oct 3

After decades of absence, the nocturnal calls of shearwaters once more echo from burrows on Northern Ireland's seabird island. www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/M...

Manx Shearwater Breeding Confirmed on Rathlin Island

After decades of absence, the nocturnal calls of shearwaters once more echo from burrows on Northern Ireland’s seabird island.

www.rarebirdalert.co.uk

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Mary McKenna @mmarymckenna.bsky.social · Oct 4

For an instrument of war, the 17thC cannons really are very pretty

Mary McKenna @mmarymckenna.bsky.social · Oct 1

Makes life worth living on a long bus journey 🙏

Mary McKenna @mmarymckenna.bsky.social · Sep 27

Great to catch up with Marty Neill yesterday at #BarCampBelfast as part of #BelfastTechWeek in Oh Yeah Music - love that casual talk format - stayed on to hear Tina Calder’s very interesting talk

Mary McKenna @mmarymckenna.bsky.social · Sep 22

Apples 🍎

Mary McKenna @mmarymckenna.bsky.social · Sep 20

Hate that we can no longer access @mickeyundertone.bsky.social’s wonderful Friday night radio show in Donegal - our Saturday mornings have been ruined … boo to BBC Radio Foyle

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Mary McKenna @mmarymckenna.bsky.social · Sep 20

Today … 9 hours spent answering emails :-(

Mary McKenna @mmarymckenna.bsky.social · Sep 14

14 Sept & that’s the first fire of the autumn lit … ah well … I guess we had 3 months or so off

Mary McKenna @mmarymckenna.bsky.social · Sep 14

This week Edinburgh, Belfast & Galway … in that order … looking forward to the craic (work has to be fun!)

Mary McKenna @mmarymckenna.bsky.social · Sep 13

Great to hear the good work of @policyinpractice.bsky.social being amplified this morning on BBC Radio 4

Mary McKenna @mmarymckenna.bsky.social · Sep 13

I love these wee cottage ornaments that appear in many forms in Irish gardens across this island

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Reposted by Mary McKenna

Jonathan Pomroy @jonathanpomroy.bsky.social · Sep 11

Sketching little stints and curlew sandpipers on Teeside, September 9th.

A blog at jonathanpomroy.wordpress.com

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Mary McKenna @mmarymckenna.bsky.social · Sep 7

This week Dublin & also Belfast … looking forward … nice to get out & about to see people in real life

Reposted by Mary McKenna

The Royal Society @royalsociety.org · Sep 1

The Royal Society's Lisa Jardine Grant Scheme is still open for applications. This scheme offers early-career scholars the opportunity to use history of science collections, including our own, as part of their research. Find out more:

#RSGrants

https://royalsociety.org/grants/lisa-jardine/

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Reposted by Mary McKenna

Andy Horton @fechtbuch.bsky.social · Aug 31

Need a book? Bookseller Crow excellent indie bookshop proprietor Jonathan is gravely ill and they need all the business they can get. booksellercrow.co.uk
They’re on bookshop.org too.

The Bookseller Crow

Come and see us in Crystal Palace for a well established independent bookshop with a great atmosphere and the widest range of titles south of the river. Popular book club and author events, with t-shi...

booksellercrow.co.uk

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Mary McKenna @mmarymckenna.bsky.social · Aug 31

Thank you Mark 🙏

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