Philip O'Connor
@philipoconnor.bsky.social
"Love dares you to care for the people on the edge of the night."
Irish journalist based in Stockholm, covering the world.
Irish journalist based in Stockholm, covering the world.
@sallyhayd.bsky.social has been reporting on this for years.
‘Journey of hell’: Migrants in Libya endure torture, rape, forced labour https://aje.news/mclg0p
February 17, 2026 at 10:57 PM
@sallyhayd.bsky.social has been reporting on this for years.
Aside from the work I do on sport, I've been wandering around Europe for more than 20 years interviewing politicians, business people and academics, and the only time this ever comes up is when someone in an Irish think tank says it's a thing.
It's not.
It's not.
🗣️ “Are we seen as freeloaders across Europe in terms of how we are not minding our own backyard?” — guest presenter Shane Coleman
🗣️ “We represent the weakest link along the coast,” — Mick Clifford, special correspondent with the Irish Examiner
#TonightVMTV #Defence #Ireland
🗣️ “We represent the weakest link along the coast,” — Mick Clifford, special correspondent with the Irish Examiner
#TonightVMTV #Defence #Ireland
February 17, 2026 at 10:54 PM
Aside from the work I do on sport, I've been wandering around Europe for more than 20 years interviewing politicians, business people and academics, and the only time this ever comes up is when someone in an Irish think tank says it's a thing.
It's not.
It's not.
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
Boston Celtics Face Deadline To Fill Roster Spots. Here's Their Most Likely Approach
www.si.com/nba/celtics/...
www.si.com/nba/celtics/...
Boston Celtics Face Deadline To Fill Roster Spots. Here's Their Most Likely Approach
The Celtics have two days have to sign two players to fill open roster spots by Thursday, February 19. The open spots were the result of the trade deadline move
www.si.com
February 17, 2026 at 6:32 PM
Boston Celtics Face Deadline To Fill Roster Spots. Here's Their Most Likely Approach
www.si.com/nba/celtics/...
www.si.com/nba/celtics/...
This is the sports section of the @nytimes.com . 🤷
ANYONE ELSE CRYING???
ALYSA LIU. WOW. 🇺🇸
ALYSA LIU. WOW. 🇺🇸
February 17, 2026 at 9:35 PM
This is the sports section of the @nytimes.com . 🤷
Tips - sluta ge era röster till rasistiska (SD, KD, M, L, S) partier. 👍
76% (!) är emot tonårsutvisningarna. T o m bland SD-väljarna är fler emot (42%) än för (36%). Detta är en politisk jordbävning, som överrumplar Tidö+S
omni.se/a/2p8kRx
omni.se/a/2p8kRx
February 17, 2026 at 8:56 PM
Tips - sluta ge era röster till rasistiska (SD, KD, M, L, S) partier. 👍
Paul Brady must be one of Ireland's most underrated songwriters - not the easiest man to work with by all accounts, but a tremendously skilful musician and songsmith. This has been on repeat in my head for days.
open.spotify.com/track/2jAAjA...
open.spotify.com/track/2jAAjA...
Nothing but the Same Old Story
open.spotify.com
February 17, 2026 at 8:51 PM
Paul Brady must be one of Ireland's most underrated songwriters - not the easiest man to work with by all accounts, but a tremendously skilful musician and songsmith. This has been on repeat in my head for days.
open.spotify.com/track/2jAAjA...
open.spotify.com/track/2jAAjA...
A colleague from the Philippines still lives under similar laws to what Ireland had. None of us is free until all of us are free.
I think even a lot of Irish people don't really think about how insane it is that divorce was only legalised in Ireland in 1997, and homosexuality in 1993. An unrecognisable country (in almost all ways for the better) from the one I was born in.
Ireland went from the mid 1970s to the 2000s between 1997 and 2000.
February 17, 2026 at 1:14 PM
A colleague from the Philippines still lives under similar laws to what Ireland had. None of us is free until all of us are free.
But of course ...
And they have increased DIRT on savings, and reduced state savings rates to reduce competition for banks.
February 17, 2026 at 12:22 PM
But of course ...
How people save their money is a direct result of the boom-and-bust policies pursued by Simon and his pals for the last century, and as the politicians have never learned their repeated lesson, small savers will remain risk-averse. 👍
Simon Harris' new savings scheme: Ireland has billions sitting idle in low-interest accounts, so the Government’s new investment strategy must focus on building a culture of long-term investing, not just more saving, writes Nick Charalambous.
jrnl.ie/6959386
jrnl.ie/6959386
Simon Harris' saving scheme plan: 'It could make Irish savings work harder, if done properly'
With billions sitting idle in low-interest accounts, the Government’s new investment strategy must focus on building a culture of long-term investing, not just more saving, writes Nick Charalambous.
jrnl.ie
February 17, 2026 at 11:50 AM
How people save their money is a direct result of the boom-and-bust policies pursued by Simon and his pals for the last century, and as the politicians have never learned their repeated lesson, small savers will remain risk-averse. 👍
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
Om ett vämjeligt politiskt skådespel.
Vämjeligt politiskt skådespel efter utvisningen av bebisen
Ledande politiker tävlar just nu i upprördhet över beslutet att bebisen Emanuel ska utvisas. Sanningen är att de varnade för just riskerna för barn i sitt lag
www.aftonbladet.se
February 16, 2026 at 11:31 AM
Om ett vämjeligt politiskt skådespel.
If you want to know why AI based on LLMs get things wrong, here's a perfect example. This post from the @nytimes.com is factually incorrect, but it remains up. LLMs will scrape it and present it as correct information, and the wrong information will continue to propagate.
The German pair won of Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot with a score of 159.31 in 2018.
From @theathletic.com: Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan triumphed in the mixed pairs figure skating final, with a world-record free skate score of 158.13. nyti.ms/3Ochmf0
February 17, 2026 at 7:48 AM
If you want to know why AI based on LLMs get things wrong, here's a perfect example. This post from the @nytimes.com is factually incorrect, but it remains up. LLMs will scrape it and present it as correct information, and the wrong information will continue to propagate.
The German pair won of Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot with a score of 159.31 in 2018.
From @theathletic.com: Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan triumphed in the mixed pairs figure skating final, with a world-record free skate score of 158.13. nyti.ms/3Ochmf0
February 16, 2026 at 10:31 PM
The German pair won of Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot with a score of 159.31 in 2018.
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
"AI detectors" are themselves AI, and yet are endlessly trusted by people on here if they say that a newspaper article is AI.
AI detectors are snake oil. None of them reliably works. And UK broadsheet are not yet using AI to write articles. No, that link to the deal you found doesn't prove it.
AI detectors are snake oil. None of them reliably works. And UK broadsheet are not yet using AI to write articles. No, that link to the deal you found doesn't prove it.
Just because I keep seeing those "I checked this piece and it's written by AI" - this is an old article of mine, before AI was available. So could we not?
February 16, 2026 at 10:44 AM
"AI detectors" are themselves AI, and yet are endlessly trusted by people on here if they say that a newspaper article is AI.
AI detectors are snake oil. None of them reliably works. And UK broadsheet are not yet using AI to write articles. No, that link to the deal you found doesn't prove it.
AI detectors are snake oil. None of them reliably works. And UK broadsheet are not yet using AI to write articles. No, that link to the deal you found doesn't prove it.
Socialdemokrarerna är numera också ett rasistiskt parti.
På hemmaplan har S precis svängt i frågan om de så kallade tonårsutvisningarna. I EU röstar partiet nu igenom två kontroversiella migrationslagar – tillsammans med Europaparlamentets ytterhöger.
S röstar med ytterhögern – för kritiserade migrationslagar
Gör det lättare att utvisa till tredje land • MP: De avskaffar asylrätten.
www.etc.se
February 16, 2026 at 9:34 AM
Socialdemokrarerna är numera också ett rasistiskt parti.
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
I’m not normally that person but….
It’s really annoying that Democracy for Sale a has hardly been credited anywhere in last 24 hours for breaking story of Labour Together paying to spy on journalists *almost two weeks* ago
Hadn’t expected Tory press office to be the exception!
It’s really annoying that Democracy for Sale a has hardly been credited anywhere in last 24 hours for breaking story of Labour Together paying to spy on journalists *almost two weeks* ago
Hadn’t expected Tory press office to be the exception!
February 16, 2026 at 8:25 AM
I’m not normally that person but….
It’s really annoying that Democracy for Sale a has hardly been credited anywhere in last 24 hours for breaking story of Labour Together paying to spy on journalists *almost two weeks* ago
Hadn’t expected Tory press office to be the exception!
It’s really annoying that Democracy for Sale a has hardly been credited anywhere in last 24 hours for breaking story of Labour Together paying to spy on journalists *almost two weeks* ago
Hadn’t expected Tory press office to be the exception!
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
Det här.
Det är centrism vi kommer få. Varenda röst på S är bortkastad för de sossar som tror de ska få en vänsterpolitik. Det är ett hegemoniskifte vi genomgått.
Vi kommer få Tidö under Magdalena A:s ledning. Dags folk fattar det.
Dags inse varje person som kampanjar för S kampanjar för detta.
Det är centrism vi kommer få. Varenda röst på S är bortkastad för de sossar som tror de ska få en vänsterpolitik. Det är ett hegemoniskifte vi genomgått.
Vi kommer få Tidö under Magdalena A:s ledning. Dags folk fattar det.
Dags inse varje person som kampanjar för S kampanjar för detta.
February 16, 2026 at 5:50 AM
Det här.
Det är centrism vi kommer få. Varenda röst på S är bortkastad för de sossar som tror de ska få en vänsterpolitik. Det är ett hegemoniskifte vi genomgått.
Vi kommer få Tidö under Magdalena A:s ledning. Dags folk fattar det.
Dags inse varje person som kampanjar för S kampanjar för detta.
Det är centrism vi kommer få. Varenda röst på S är bortkastad för de sossar som tror de ska få en vänsterpolitik. Det är ett hegemoniskifte vi genomgått.
Vi kommer få Tidö under Magdalena A:s ledning. Dags folk fattar det.
Dags inse varje person som kampanjar för S kampanjar för detta.
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
This was one of the thickest acts in a veritable forest of them in the recent U.K. governance history.
BBC's Arabic radio service in Lebanon closed after 85 years as part of a £28.5m savings drive. 'Just months later, in October 2023, the Russian state-owned Sputnik news agency took over the frequency. Its news bulletin opened with “This is Moscow”, replacing the previous “This is London” intro.' 🙄
BBC warns Russia is taking over World Service radio frequencies
Russian propaganda is filling the void where the BBC has closed World Service radio services due to cuts
inews.co.uk
February 15, 2026 at 9:50 PM
This was one of the thickest acts in a veritable forest of them in the recent U.K. governance history.
This chap appears to be a bit of a wanker whonis just itching for a row, so I blocked him. You might want to do the same.
February 15, 2026 at 7:37 PM
This chap appears to be a bit of a wanker whonis just itching for a row, so I blocked him. You might want to do the same.
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
A vigil was held at the site of the former Stardust nightclub in Artane today, 45 years on from the devastating fire that claimed the lives of 48 young people jrnl.ie/6957348
Vigil held at the site of the former Stardust nightclub 45 years after tragedy
Today, the names of the 48 deceased were called out, followed by 48 seconds of silence.
jrnl.ie
February 14, 2026 at 4:37 PM
A vigil was held at the site of the former Stardust nightclub in Artane today, 45 years on from the devastating fire that claimed the lives of 48 young people jrnl.ie/6957348
Sossarna söker en propagandist - antagligen var Leni Riefenstahl upptagen.
February 14, 2026 at 9:57 AM
Sossarna söker en propagandist - antagligen var Leni Riefenstahl upptagen.
Isn't it interesting all the same how these people are never arrested and questioned, but a random brown person can be locked up indefinitely without trial or probably cause?
The sprawling agency saw its baseline funding expire after lawmakers left town for a week-long recess, but without a deal to rein in the conduct of federal immigration officers. n.pr/4cublUT
5 things to know about the shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security
The sprawling agency saw its baseline funding expire after lawmakers left town for a week-long recess, but without a deal to rein in the conduct of federal immigration officers.
n.pr
February 14, 2026 at 8:22 AM
Isn't it interesting all the same how these people are never arrested and questioned, but a random brown person can be locked up indefinitely without trial or probably cause?
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
En av de djupt obehagliga sakerna med Epstein-historien är det sätt som hela storyn styrs från att handla om de nätverk av pengar och makt som uppenbarligen finns i kärnan av den kapitalistiska världen, till att handla om enskilda pervon och pedofiler.
February 13, 2026 at 2:21 PM
En av de djupt obehagliga sakerna med Epstein-historien är det sätt som hela storyn styrs från att handla om de nätverk av pengar och makt som uppenbarligen finns i kärnan av den kapitalistiska världen, till att handla om enskilda pervon och pedofiler.
Reminder - the majority of tires sold in Ireland are not fit for freezing conditions as the rubber/plastic compound hardens when it gets cold, reducing grip.
If you don't have to, don't drive.
If you don't have to, don't drive.
A Status Yellow low temperature/ice warning is in effect nationwide as Met Éireann warns of hazardous travel conditions and travel disruption.
Status Yellow low temperature/ice warning in effect
A Status Yellow low temperature/ice warning is in effect nationwide as Met Éireann warns of hazardous travel conditions and travel disruption.
www.rte.ie
February 14, 2026 at 8:18 AM
Reminder - the majority of tires sold in Ireland are not fit for freezing conditions as the rubber/plastic compound hardens when it gets cold, reducing grip.
If you don't have to, don't drive.
If you don't have to, don't drive.
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
It belatedly occurs to me that Micheál Martin told the Dáil on Tuesday that Brad Pitt was visiting Timoleague… only after AI-generated images of “his presence” started showing up on Monday.
This goes all the way to the top
This goes all the way to the top
That’s not to mitigate Gannon for sharing such a serious claim without checking its bona fides first - rather just to illustrate the potency of baseless rubbish to bubble through the information ecosystem and make its way to a national legislator
February 14, 2026 at 8:05 AM
It belatedly occurs to me that Micheál Martin told the Dáil on Tuesday that Brad Pitt was visiting Timoleague… only after AI-generated images of “his presence” started showing up on Monday.
This goes all the way to the top
This goes all the way to the top
The Irish Republic - more than a century of misogyny, and no improvement in sight.
Women are contemplating paying cash for private treatment in the west and north-west of the country due to the long wait time they are experiencing between their breast cancer diagnosis and appointments for public service therapies, an Oireachtas committee was told this week jrnl.ie/6956697
jrnl.ie
February 14, 2026 at 7:11 AM
The Irish Republic - more than a century of misogyny, and no improvement in sight.