William Sheehan
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willsheehan.bsky.social
William Sheehan
@willsheehan.bsky.social
1.6K followers 980 following 990 posts
Historian of Empire, War, and Crime. Passing interest in public policy and politics. A few books!
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Reposted by William Sheehan
davidfarrell-ucd.bsky.social
The Irish government needs to take this issue far, far more seriously than it has to-date. By all means hold on to the neutrality agenda if that is the view of government, but not spending adequately on defence is a serious abdication of responsibility.
alexdukalskis.bsky.social Alex Dukalskis @alexdukalskis.bsky.social · 2d
Ouch
ftedit.ft.com FT Edit @ftedit.ft.com · 2d
Despite these high stakes, Ireland has no dedicated intelligence agency, just four working navy vessels and the smallest defence budget in the EU. In fact, the only thing the Irish navy can do when it spots a suspicious ship lurking is say “hello”.
November 25, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Reposted by William Sheehan
ftedit.ft.com
Don’t miss today’s fascinating Big Read by @judewebber.bsky.social and @helenwarrell.bsky.social on #FTEdit 👉 on.ft.com/4ikI6EN
How Ireland became the weak spot in Europe’s defences
With few ships and limited intelligence-sharing, some say the country cannot hope to protect itself or its infrastructure
on.ft.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Reposted by William Sheehan
simonbriercliffe.bsky.social
I wonder if any Irish historians on here can help me identify any of the people in this picture? Early 1900s probably in Dublin, it's Tom Clarke in the middle and I think I know who it is on the left of the image. Any of the others though?
An old black and white photo showing five men in Edwardian clothes, all wearing hates, standing in front of woods.
November 25, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Reposted by William Sheehan
jimambuske.bsky.social
Great question! Does anybody know?
vsapiro.bsky.social Virginia Sapiro @vsapiro.bsky.social · 3d
Is there a memorial to the animals who served and were lost in war in America? I find the one in London very moving.
November 24, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Reposted by William Sheehan
urbanhistory.bsky.social
🏭 New Special Issue on Industrial Urbanisms and Entangled Modernities in Eurasia edited by Victoria Fomina

🔗 Introduction doi.org/10.1017/S096...

#UrbanHistory
Title and abstract for the linked article
November 24, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Reposted by William Sheehan
historyandpolicy.bsky.social
The organisers of a recent witness seminar @ihr.bsky.social on Conservatism and Unionism reflect in this new opinion article on the tensions that emerged in the final third of the twentieth century and their implications for the present. historyandpolicy.org/opinion-arti...
Conservatism and Unionism in the UK - History & Policy
The team of historians behind an AHRC-funded research project reflect on the fracturing of Conservatism and Unionism in the the UK in the final third of the twentieth century, and the insights into th...
historyandpolicy.org
November 24, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Reposted by William Sheehan
alanallport.bsky.social
This is tricky. The UCMJ says that an enlisted person not only can but should disobey an illegal order. The problem is that unless that order is clearly and manifestly illegal (killing unarmed civilians, say, in cold blood) the enlistee is at risk of a military court later deciding otherwise.
atrupar.com Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 3d
BLITZER: I want to be precise. Should members of the US military obey clearly illegal orders?

McCLAIN: You're asking an enlisted person for their opinion on what they think is legal. That's a pretty slippery slope. Follow your commander in chief. That's the oath that you took

(Not a no!)
November 24, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Reposted by William Sheehan
purseigle.bsky.social
🚨#History #envhist Job Alert: My Department is hiring an Assistant Professor in Environmental History.
🗃️

Come work with us at Warwick. You'll get both excellent colleagues and great students!

See details below... And do not hesitate to spread the word...
👇👇👇

www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPK289/a...
Assistant Professor in Environmental History (111009-1125) at University of Warwick
Explore an exciting academic career as a Assistant Professor in Environmental History (111009-1125). Don't miss out on other academic jobs. Click to apply and explore more opportunities.
www.jobs.ac.uk
November 12, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Reposted by William Sheehan
cambsforeurope.bsky.social
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.
November 23, 2025 at 6:58 PM
willsheehan.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
China has brought millions out of poverty. The US has not – by choice
Despite the US’s economic success, income inequality remains breathtaking. But this is no glitch – it’s the system
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 1:56 PM
willsheehan.bsky.social
Failure after failure, and down to lack of resourcing. And of course a lack of vision.

www.thejournal.ie/irish-air-co...
Air ambulance mission 'stood down' after Air Corps forced to ground its fleet of PC-12 aircraft
Sources said that this was because there were not enough technicians available to maintain the small planes.
www.thejournal.ie
November 23, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Reposted by William Sheehan
milwelfhist.bsky.social
2026 MWHN Conference - call for papers!

Join us in Romania next June to discuss all things military welfare and civil society. Deadline: 28 Feb 2026.

CfP attached and full details at militarywelfarehistory.com/2026-confere... #milwelfhist #civilsociety #charity #philanthropy @vahs.bsky.social
November 19, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Reposted by William Sheehan
mhairiforrest.bsky.social
Guess who else is in the files.
elizaorlins.bsky.social Eliza Orlins @elizaorlins.bsky.social · 5d
The Washington Post editorial board decided the Epstein files have “no public interest” before even seeing them. That’s a stunning position for any newsroom to take. Praising Clay Higgins as the lone ‘no’ vote, too? No wonder no one trusts legacy media. Absolutely disgusting.
@adamjohnsonCHI X.com Washington Post editorial board comes out against releasing the Epstein files, dismisses them as having no public interest (how they know this without seeing them first is a mystery) and praises the lone 'no' vote against their release from Clay Higgins
November 22, 2025 at 7:59 PM
willsheehan.bsky.social
It's takes a Sheehan!! #IREvSA
November 22, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Reposted by William Sheehan
edwardburke.bsky.social
Wow, this is revealing...
ruthdeyermond.bsky.social Ruth Deyermond @ruthdeyermond.bsky.social · 6d
The plan says that "A dialogue will be held between Russia and NATO, mediated by the United States." This implies that both Russia and the Trump administration don't see the US as part of NATO in any real sense. That should deeply alarm every other NATO state.
November 21, 2025 at 10:53 AM
willsheehan.bsky.social
And the government is doing absolutely nothing to address our defence crisis. Like all change here, it will no happen till the EU forces the government to act. Till then Irish defence policy and investment is frozen due to political stupidity.

www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41...
Defence gaps mean sabotage of gas energy supply could be 'crippling' for Ireland
'Ireland needs military assets — sensors, drones, naval patrol ships, and patrol aircraft — and clear and coordinated leadership'
www.irishexaminer.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Reposted by William Sheehan
earlymodjustice.bsky.social
To “my students and to anyone who might listen, I say: Don’t surrender to AI your ability to read, write and think when others once risked their lives and died for the freedom to do so.”

www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
I Set A Trap To Catch My Students Cheating With AI. The Results Were Shocking.
"Students are not just undermining their ability to learn, but to someday lead."
www.huffpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Reposted by William Sheehan
jobmaynooth.bsky.social
Trump’s plan for Ukraine
November 21, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Reposted by William Sheehan
tsasson.bsky.social
please share widely!
tsasson.bsky.social Tehila Sasson @tsasson.bsky.social · 7d
We are running a search for an Associate Professorship (or Professorship) in Modern Middle Eastern History 1830-1970, with expertise in across key regions, including Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Egypt, and the Maghreb.

www.trinity.ox.ac.uk/vacancies
November 20, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Reposted by William Sheehan
mrcwarwick.bsky.social
Call for papers #CFP

Blood is the Price of Coal: Coal Communities, Health and Welfare in Britain and Beyond from the 19th Century to the Present

18 June 2026: 1 day conference + NUM archive exhibition

Submit abstracts / express interest at warwick.ac.uk/services/lib...

Deadline: 25 Jan 2026
Blood is the Price of Coal: Coal Communities, Health and Welfare in Britain and Beyond from the 19th Century to the Present When and where: University of Warwick, Coventry, on Thursday 18 June 2026. Conference summary: This free one day conference aims to bring together researchers from higher education, community and campaign groups to explore the history of health and welfare in Britain’s coal mining industry. Held jointly by the University of Warwick's Centre for the History of Medicine, Science and Technology, and Modern Records Centre, the event will run alongside an exhibition which will explore some of the themes covered by the speakers through the National Union of Mineworkers' archives. We welcome contributions from new and established researchers, working inside and outside higher education. Confirmed participants include: - Jörg Arnold (University of Augsburg / Institute for Contemporary History Munich - Berlin), author of The British Miner in the Age of DeIndustrialization - Keith Gildart (University of Wolverhampton), Principal Investigator on research project On Behalf of the People: Work, Community and Class in the British Coal Industry 1947-1994 and former miner - Quentin Outram (University of Leeds), Secretary of the Society for the Study of Labour History and co-editor of Coal in Victorian Britain Conference themes: Subjects that could be addressed include but are not limited to: The human cost of coal, including: - Mining disasters, their contemporary impacts and later memorialisation. - Industrial accidents, industrial diseases and workers’ compensation. - Mine safety and the improvement of conditions. - Mining and mental health. Industrial health and welfare, including: - Pre-nationalisation provision in and beyond the colliery. - National Coal Board provision, including the NCB Medical Service, housing and the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation. - Trade union campaigns and benefit schemes. - Sport and social provision as mining welfare. Coal and community, including: - Environmental impact. - Mining families and the intergenerational effects of the mining industry. - Impacts of the industry with particular reference to gender, race and ethnicity. - Coalfield communities after coal: the effects of deindustrialisation. Submission guidelines We wish to make space for dialogue between academic and community-based researchers, and welcome involvement from mining heritage and local history groups / researchers from former coalfield communities. We welcome and encourage alternative presentational styles. Possible formats for contributions could include: - 15-20 minute papers. - 5 minute lightning papers (for example showcasing a particular object or archival source, or highlighting a particular place, event, individual or experience). - Round table discussions. - Posters or displays. Submission deadline: 25 January 2026. Limited funding for travel support will be available, with priority given to early career researchers or participants who cannot draw upon institutional funding. For additional enquiries, please contact the conference organisers at archives@warwick.ac.uk
November 20, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Reposted by William Sheehan
bentonra.bsky.social
💯
edwardburke.bsky.social Edward Burke @edwardburke.bsky.social · 7d
Cathal Berry, ex-Army Ranger Wing, ex-TD, name checked by Russian propaganda / Moscow’s MFA spokesperson. Condemned by the Putin regime - a great honour, to add to others received while serving his country 🇮🇪

Unsurprisingly, comes at a time when 🇷🇺 has been sending a spy ship into 🇮🇪 marine territory.
November 20, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Reposted by William Sheehan
royalhistsoc.org
Applications are now invited for the Society's 2026-27 Centenary PhD Fellowships for early career historians completing a doctorate bit.ly/48pWB72

Fellowships provide support of £8500 per award for 6 months and are held jointly with @ihr.bsky.social. Closing date: 31 January 2026 #Skystorians
Applications invited for the Society's Centenary PhD Fellowships, 2026-27 - RHS
Applications are now invited for the Royal Historical Society’s Centenary PhD Fellowships to support postgraduate historians to complete a doctorate. Two Fellowships, of six months each, are offered f...
bit.ly
November 20, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Reposted by William Sheehan
ankahajkova.bsky.social
Happy 5th birthday to my first monograph, The Last Ghetto! I am so grateful to all people who have read the book, cite it, assign to teach, but also those who read it because their relatives were imprisoned in Theresienstadt. I wrote it so that people like my brother or cousins could read it...
hard cover copy of The Last Ghetto
November 19, 2025 at 11:41 AM
willsheehan.bsky.social
Funny, Trump starts losing and now they're all trying to find reverse.
jasonscampbell.bsky.social Jason Campbell @jasonscampbell.bsky.social · 9d
Ben Shapiro: “When the president said deport all the illegal immigrants, I never thought that he meant that literally”
November 18, 2025 at 10:31 PM