Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 1d

Jaysus not Hans again

2

Reposted by Claire Mitchell

Will Mac Siúirtáin @wjorda87.bsky.social · 5d

Iontach brónach ar fad. Deirtear fá dhaoine go mion minic ach, ar gach bealach, ní bheidh a leithéid arís ann

Maitiú Ó Coimín @maitiuocoimin.bsky.social · 5d

Manchán Magan, an scríbhneoir agus déantóir clár faisnéise, ar shlí na fírinne

A chláir faisnéise taistil agus a shaothar faoin nGaeilge is mó a thuill cáil do Mhanchán Magan agus tugtar aitheantas dó as cabhrú le spéis daoine a mhúscailt sa Ghaeilge

tuairisc.ie

1 5

Reposted by Claire Mitchell

Saoirse McHugh @saoirsemc.bsky.social · 5d

A massive loss to us all. His care for and wonder at both nature and the Irish language was a great gift that he shared with us all

RTÉ News @news.rte.ie · 5d

The writer, broadcaster and documentary maker Manchán Magan has died at the age of 55, his family has confirmed

Broadcaster and scríbhneoir Manchán Magan dies aged 55

The writer, broadcaster and documentary maker Manchán Magan has died at the age of 55, his family has confirmed.

www.rte.ie

3 39 160

Reposted by Claire Mitchell

Tuatha @tuatha.ie · 13d

Nendrum • County Down

Situated on the western shores of Strangford Lough, Nendrum is one of the most complete examples of an early Irish monastery, with enclosures, a church, sundial & more!

It's a lovely place to explore and to imagine the lives of those who once lived, prayed, and worked here.

A woman walks along a Causeway into the enclosures of Nendrum

The entrance into the ruin of the early stone church at Nendrum

The stump of a round tower next to a tall tree at Nendrum

Reconstructed fragments of an early medieval sundial at Nendrum

1 11 57

Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 16d

@stephenbaker.bsky.social and I are doing a Zoom tonight with English based Anti-Capitalist Resistance. A bit about the book, the Irish unity debate, and the wider struggle for democratisation across these islands.

Tickets here -

A*CR @anticapitalistresistance.org · 26d

Online meeting: A new Irish Republic?
22 September 7pm

A new Irish republic is possible. Introduced by @clairemitchell.bsky.social, author of the Ghost Limb (2022) and Stephen Baker a socialist and trade unionist from County Down.

Get tickets here anticapitalistresistance.org/events/a-new...

anticapitalistresistance.org

1 3

Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 20d

Ah no, I'm really sad and sorry to hear this.

1

Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 22d

Bonkers. Very useful for decoding what the hell is going on.

1

Reposted by Claire Mitchell

Sally Hayden @sallyhayd.bsky.social · 22d

A UN commission of inquiry has found that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza & says "the duty to prevent genocide obligates States to take all necessary steps to try to avoid or stop the commission of genocide".
Its full report: www.ohchr.org/sites/defaul...

www.ohchr.org

1 13 15

Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 22d

Ah go raibh míle a Linda! 😅

1

Reposted by Claire Mitchell

Saul Staniforth @saulstaniforth.bsky.social · 22d

"I would expect the [secretary general] start using the word genocide based on our report"

A report by the United Nations has concluded Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Chris Sidoti is one of the authors of the report

2 56 87

Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 22d

In my attempt to live more offline and local, I’d missed a lot of this. Worth taking the time, although it’ll put years on you.

Melissa Nadia Viviana @resistrebelrevolt.net · 22d

Due to Bluesky video limits, a lot of people haven't been able to share some of the fabulous Groyper explainer videos being passed around the internet.

So I'm splitting them up & posting the best ones here:

Please save the thread & share with others!

GROYPER EXPLAINER THREAD: 🧵👇🏼

What is a Groyper? A deep dive into the meme movement influencing online politics.

1 3 9

Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 23d

Also attending the Dara Rang, a four month old baby called Darragh 💚

2

Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 23d

GRMA! It remains to be seen whether I can hack it lol.

1

Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 23d

I first stepped through the door of an Irish class in 2019. Started the first class of a new term today and, miracle of miracles, it's not the Bunrang! Is girseach mór Dara Rang mé anois!

3 1 24

Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 23d

Hopefully the new one, and hopefully it’s somewhat united too. I’m a militant optimist.

1 2

Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 23d

bsky.app/profile/ness...

Nessan Vaughan @nessanvaughan.bsky.social · 23d

A very interesting interview with David Adams.

4 5

Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 23d

Great interview with Davy Adams in the Irish Times.

www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...

‘We should all be ashamed’: Ex-loyalist paramilitary sees North’s future in a ‘New Ireland’

Former UDA member David Adams says loyalist ‘lurch to the right’ plus rise in racism and sectarianism in Northern Ireland compel him to speak out

www.irishtimes.com

2 3 9

Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 26d

@stephenbaker.bsky.social

1

Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 26d

Looking forward to this. An important time to talk about Ireland with the left across these islands. And to explore our common struggle for democratic, social, economic and ecological renewal.

A*CR @anticapitalistresistance.org · 26d

Online meeting: A new Irish Republic?
22 September 7pm

A new Irish republic is possible. Introduced by @clairemitchell.bsky.social, author of the Ghost Limb (2022) and Stephen Baker a socialist and trade unionist from County Down.

Get tickets here anticapitalistresistance.org/events/a-new...

anticapitalistresistance.org

4

Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · 28d

Absolutely cannot wait for this series podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/i...

1798: The Year Ireland Changed Forever

Podcast Episode · Irish History Podcast · 10/09/2025 · 6m

podcasts.apple.com

1 1 7

Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · Sep 8

This discussion was nearly 2 years ago. The panel from 27 mins is brilliant.

Lesley Riddoch, Caroline Lucas, Clive Lewis and Leanne Wood talking about democratic renewal, telling better stories about Englishness, how to imagine a nation. More needed now than ever.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9Ir...

The Break Up of Britain?

YouTube video by IndependenceLive

www.youtube.com

4

Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · Sep 6

Great interview with @thinkorswim.bsky.social about climate adaption and food sovereignty in Ireland.

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f...

Four Green Fields: The Climate Crisis, Culture Wars and Myths

Podcast Episode · Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning · 06/09/2025 · 56m

podcasts.apple.com

1 6

Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · Sep 5

Yup. Thankfully there’s hope to be found outside of elected politics, is the best I can do rn

Claire Mitchell @clairemitchell.bsky.social · Sep 5

Border poll now. For all regions and also for England.

Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · Sep 5

*sound on* This is Andrea Jenkyns's ACTUAL singing entrance to the Reform UK conference.

Utter crackpots. And anyone who thinks this kind of idiotic look-at-me amateurs are how this country will "rediscover its pride" needs to have a lie-down.

2 1 5

Reposted by Claire Mitchell

Stephen Baker @stephenbaker.bsky.social · Sep 2

I feel this is worth revisiting in light of the British media and politics fixation on 'small boats'.

The UN's Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Philip Alston, undertook a mission to the UK in 2018. This is the summary at the top of his report.

Although the United Kingdom is the world’s fifth largest economy, one fifth of its population (14 million people) live in poverty, and 1.5 million of them experienced destitution in 2017. Policies of austerity introduced in 2010 continue largely unabated, despite the tragic social consequences. Close to 40 per cent of children are predicted to be living in poverty by 2021. Food banks have proliferated; homelessness and rough sleeping have increased greatly; tens of thousands of poor families must live in accommodation far from their schools, jobs and community networks; life expectancy is falling for certain groups; and the legal aid system has been decimated.

The social safety net has been badly damaged by drastic cuts to local authorities’ budgets, which have eliminated many social services, reduced policing services, closed libraries in record numbers, shrunk community and youth centres and sold off public spaces and buildings. The bottom line is that much of the glue that has held British society together since the Second World War has been deliberately removed and replaced with a harsh and uncaring ethos. A booming economy, high employment and a budget surplus have not reversed austerity, a policy pursued more as an ideological than an economic agenda.

2 8 6