Greg Daly
@gregdaly.bsky.social
Jack of all trades, master of some. Dublin-born and Drogheda-based author of Cannae: The Experience of Battle' and editor of ‘1916: The Church & the Rising', Nine-time CMA award winner. One-time future world leader. Mostly tired.
Well, the crib is up - though the manger shall remain suitably empty for another couple of weeks. Our flock might well be economically viable at this point. Another angel or two would do no harm, mind. And maybe a howdah for the elephant.
December 10, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Well, the crib is up - though the manger shall remain suitably empty for another couple of weeks. Our flock might well be economically viable at this point. Another angel or two would do no harm, mind. And maybe a howdah for the elephant.
So, having spent a few days in Strasbourg and witnessed what goes on at La Knackerie, I never want to hear anybody cast aspersions on coddle ever again.
December 7, 2025 at 2:48 PM
So, having spent a few days in Strasbourg and witnessed what goes on at La Knackerie, I never want to hear anybody cast aspersions on coddle ever again.
Call me old-fashioned, but I often think all our democracies would be improved by an occasional dose of ostracism.
November 30, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Call me old-fashioned, but I often think all our democracies would be improved by an occasional dose of ostracism.
Rereading a silly “just asking questions” article by Ireland’s chief celebrity economist, I noticed this nonsense ahead of the odd fair point and determined refusal to consider actual explanations. In the UK, Heathrow alone does more than five times as many US flights as Ireland. 1/2
November 29, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Rereading a silly “just asking questions” article by Ireland’s chief celebrity economist, I noticed this nonsense ahead of the odd fair point and determined refusal to consider actual explanations. In the UK, Heathrow alone does more than five times as many US flights as Ireland. 1/2
She’s getting closer on my ‘to read’ list. I’ve recently finished this brilliant book. One main takeaway: fascism doesn’t get past the starting blocks unless more respectable and established sorts say “well, they’re not perfect, but they’re doing some things we like, so we can work with them”.
November 27, 2025 at 10:44 AM
She’s getting closer on my ‘to read’ list. I’ve recently finished this brilliant book. One main takeaway: fascism doesn’t get past the starting blocks unless more respectable and established sorts say “well, they’re not perfect, but they’re doing some things we like, so we can work with them”.
The assumption is that this is a pagan tradition, but that’s effectively saying “this must be a legacy from a thousand years earlier, a time from when we have no records, and unattested in the meantime”. Impossible, no, but let’s admit this is *almost* pure speculation. /3
November 11, 2025 at 11:24 AM
The assumption is that this is a pagan tradition, but that’s effectively saying “this must be a legacy from a thousand years earlier, a time from when we have no records, and unattested in the meantime”. Impossible, no, but let’s admit this is *almost* pure speculation. /3
The earliest known reference to this is in a manuscript in the Bodleian known as Rawlinson B. 512, including a piece titled ‘Senchus muici fheile Martain indso siss’ and dating to around 1500, probably about nine hundred to a thousand years after Ireland had become Christian. /2
November 11, 2025 at 11:13 AM
The earliest known reference to this is in a manuscript in the Bodleian known as Rawlinson B. 512, including a piece titled ‘Senchus muici fheile Martain indso siss’ and dating to around 1500, probably about nine hundred to a thousand years after Ireland had become Christian. /2
Pumpkins, like the notion that winter won’t start for another month and a half or so, are for the weak.
October 31, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Pumpkins, like the notion that winter won’t start for another month and a half or so, are for the weak.
Today we visited the Sainte Chapelle, met the wonderful @theefantomas.bsky.social, and learned that sometimes you just have to crush a duck.
October 11, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Today we visited the Sainte Chapelle, met the wonderful @theefantomas.bsky.social, and learned that sometimes you just have to crush a duck.
That’s how I roll ;) You’ll see I sold out when i reworked it as a book to be published, though.
August 30, 2025 at 10:59 AM
That’s how I roll ;) You’ll see I sold out when i reworked it as a book to be published, though.
M. Incroyable’s civilian look is a pretty decent disguise.
August 30, 2025 at 10:00 AM
M. Incroyable’s civilian look is a pretty decent disguise.
A funny thing about “peace deals” made over the heads of countries being carved up - Czechoslovakia didn’t have to accept Munich. Feeling betrayed, it did so, and so bolstered German power, feeling it owed even less to its treacherous supporters than to its obvious enemy.
August 9, 2025 at 12:39 PM
A funny thing about “peace deals” made over the heads of countries being carved up - Czechoslovakia didn’t have to accept Munich. Feeling betrayed, it did so, and so bolstered German power, feeling it owed even less to its treacherous supporters than to its obvious enemy.
Very reasonable behaviour by The Lord in the first reading at Mass today, persuaded as he is by Abraham that just people shouldn’t be killed alongside sinners, and saying he won’t wipe out whole cities if there are even ten good people there. I feel there might be a lesson worth heeding in this.
July 27, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Very reasonable behaviour by The Lord in the first reading at Mass today, persuaded as he is by Abraham that just people shouldn’t be killed alongside sinners, and saying he won’t wipe out whole cities if there are even ten good people there. I feel there might be a lesson worth heeding in this.
Not a bad day. Superb, challenging homily at Mass. Glorious weather with boats on the Boyne. Cinematic temptations resisted and enjoyed. Gentle afternoon views over the river. And an absolutely stunning book - a heartbreaking, heartwarming, imprecatory psalm of a book - finished.
July 13, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Not a bad day. Superb, challenging homily at Mass. Glorious weather with boats on the Boyne. Cinematic temptations resisted and enjoyed. Gentle afternoon views over the river. And an absolutely stunning book - a heartbreaking, heartwarming, imprecatory psalm of a book - finished.
Today I learned that a dear friend and the best lecturer I’ve ever had has died: rip.ie/death-notice... Vic Connerty shaped me as he did countless others, and regular coffee and other meetings with him over the decades since his retirement was always a joy. The world is so much poorer now. RIP.
June 21, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Today I learned that a dear friend and the best lecturer I’ve ever had has died: rip.ie/death-notice... Vic Connerty shaped me as he did countless others, and regular coffee and other meetings with him over the decades since his retirement was always a joy. The world is so much poorer now. RIP.
Wise words here, well worth keeping in mind: “Today we are felled by destiny - tomorrow this could be your destiny.”
June 20, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Wise words here, well worth keeping in mind: “Today we are felled by destiny - tomorrow this could be your destiny.”
Settling in for an evening at the (amphi)theatre. Looking forward to the gladiators most of all.
June 20, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Settling in for an evening at the (amphi)theatre. Looking forward to the gladiators most of all.
I’ve enjoyed reading their texts of late - among others, and in a general immersion into Irish Catholic writing over the centuries. It’s amazing how much is out there, but bizarrely not in popular editions. And yes: it’s very much neither Pagan nor Protestant!
June 20, 2025 at 2:33 PM
I’ve enjoyed reading their texts of late - among others, and in a general immersion into Irish Catholic writing over the centuries. It’s amazing how much is out there, but bizarrely not in popular editions. And yes: it’s very much neither Pagan nor Protestant!
Right, so. Enough of this madness. Avanti!
June 17, 2025 at 5:44 AM
Right, so. Enough of this madness. Avanti!
My dad’s not much of a man for Father’s Day stuff - he deems it nonsense - but still, days like today are useful occasions to underline how lucky we are to have had him all these years.
June 15, 2025 at 11:20 AM
My dad’s not much of a man for Father’s Day stuff - he deems it nonsense - but still, days like today are useful occasions to underline how lucky we are to have had him all these years.
What’s wrong, hon? You’ve hardly touched your souvenir traditional Irish gummy eggs.
June 8, 2025 at 10:18 AM
What’s wrong, hon? You’ve hardly touched your souvenir traditional Irish gummy eggs.
Took a selfie on the way to work this morning. It felt appropriate.
May 29, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Took a selfie on the way to work this morning. It felt appropriate.
Enjoyed my pre-work stroll this morning. The birds seemed to be having a good time.
May 23, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Enjoyed my pre-work stroll this morning. The birds seemed to be having a good time.
I think that sort of thing is pointed to here.
May 18, 2025 at 9:14 AM
I think that sort of thing is pointed to here.
Well, Dublin. You were great. Good to be back on the Boyne now, though.
May 15, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Well, Dublin. You were great. Good to be back on the Boyne now, though.