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Margaret Ward @marg50.bsky.social · 5d

So everything quiet in the other 6 counties of Ulster??

Carlow Weather @carlowweather.bsky.social · 5d

90,000 premises without power now at 4pm Friday. Given the scale of outages it is likely some will remain without power overnight tonight so please check in on elderly and vulnerable friends and family. Red warning is now active in Donegal.

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Margaret Ward @marg50.bsky.social · 5d

As a (struggling) student of the Irish language I totally endorse this - we can’t understand our present without a knowledge of our language. Even though I’ll never be fluent I’m so pleased to begin to grasp the origins of our landscape & hugely indebted to Manchan Magan.

Una Mullally @unamullally.bsky.social · 5d

With somewhat strange timing upon the passing of Manchán Magan, I wrote this piece about the joys of learning and speaking Irish for the Guardian today, which is as ever inspired by Manchán’s work.

The Irish language is a joy not a burden: in what other tongue is a penis a wild carrot? | Una Mullally

Record numbers of pupils are seeking opt-outs from compulsory learning. This is misguided – Irish is a portal to a world of imagination, says journalist Una Mullally

www.theguardian.com

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Margaret Ward @marg50.bsky.social · 5d

Last roses from the garden rescued before #stormamy hits.

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Margaret Ward @marg50.bsky.social · 5d

I loved his programmes. Had the pleasure of meeting his formidable and wonderful grandmother Sighle Humphries, former vice-president of Cumann na mBan. He will be much missed. RIP.

Jackie Lynam @jackielynam.bsky.social · 5d

Love this essay 'Samhradh' by Manchán Magan recorded last year for Culture Night in Áras an Uachtaráin by the wonderful
@sundaymiscellany.bsky.social team ✨️
www.rte.ie/culture/2024...

Sunday Miscellany: Samradh, by Manchán Magan

On Irish words for rain - and sunshine

www.rte.ie

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Reposted by Margaret Ward

Cécile Archives @cecilearchives.bsky.social · 6d

Glad to see this review by @drmarymcauliffe.bsky.social on @marg50.bsky.social 's Rebel Women

Women’s History Association of Ireland @whaireland.bsky.social · 6d

We are delighted to have another book review up online this evening. Thanks to @drmarymcauliffe.bsky.social for taking the time to review it for us.

womenshistoryassociation.com/book-reviews...

Margaret Ward Rebel Women. Cumann na mBan in Belfast and the Glens of Antrim, 1914-1924, Beyond the Pale Books, Belfast, 2024

Frances ‘Frank’ Brady is one of the few members of Cumann na mBan who went on hunger strike during the War of Independence, and more unusually, for whom a photograph exists of her in bed, in jail, …

womenshistoryassociation.com

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Margaret Ward @marg50.bsky.social · 6d

womenshistoryassociation.com/book-reviews...

Margaret Ward Rebel Women. Cumann na mBan in Belfast and the Glens of Antrim, 1914-1924, Beyond the Pale Books, Belfast, 2024

Frances ‘Frank’ Brady is one of the few members of Cumann na mBan who went on hunger strike during the War of Independence, and more unusually, for whom a photograph exists of her in bed, in jail, …

womenshistoryassociation.com

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Margaret Ward @marg50.bsky.social · 20d

Wow. Progress. At long last.

Duncan Morrow @duncanmorrow0.bsky.social · 20d

One small step for Hill Street: maybe a giant leap for Belfast? Good News at last.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Hill Street: Pedestrianisation to happen later this year

The infrastructure minister says an informal consultation with businesses

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Margaret Ward

The National @scotnational.bsky.social · 21d

Tomorrow's front page 📰

Is sharing this image a crime?

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Margaret Ward @marg50.bsky.social · 23d

Well done you! I’ll never progress beyond the Bunrang!

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!

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Reposted by Margaret Ward

Felicity Hayes-McCoy @fhayesmccoy.bsky.social · Sep 8

A fine piece by one of the best of us. As a fellow-novelist and fellow-Irishwoman, I'm proud of, and greatly admire, its humanity, humour, courage, grace and commonsense

#Spéirgorm #Ireland

The Guardian @theguardian.com · Sep 8

When I left India, Ireland welcomed me in. I won’t let bigotry destroy the country we love | Cauvery Madhavan

People from the Indian community, and others, are facing violence that was once unthinkable. We must not give in to the racists, says novelist Cauvery Madhavan

www.theguardian.com

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Margaret Ward @marg50.bsky.social · 29d

Lovely to be back in my study with the added bonus of the company of Daisy.

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Leo O’Shaughnessy @leoie.bsky.social · Sep 4

Hugh Bonneville is a legend.

Lilly ⭐️ @mothcub.bsky.social · Sep 4

Iconic moment at the Downton Abbey premiere

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Prof Catherine Harper PhD 🇮🇪🇵🇸 @profcathharper.bsky.social · Aug 30

My letter to Sir Keir Starmer and David Lammy as I get ready to fly back to Egypt. Please feel free to use it for your own letters. 🇵🇸

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Margaret Ward @marg50.bsky.social · Aug 20

A beautiful thread. Thank you. I love seeing Leech paintings when visiting National Gallery but many of these paintings are new to me.

Dr Robert Bohan @robertbohan.bsky.social · Aug 20

🧵 William Leech (1881-1968) was an Irish painter. He was a Post Impressionist who painted light & colour. Unknown outside of Ireland his pictures are a delight for the eye. Let’s take a look at an artist that pleases the eye! [1]

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Margaret Ward @marg50.bsky.social · Aug 19

Absolutely. It needs to be a key issue in tv debates. This is so important and yet again underlines frustration of us northerners denied a say in the election.

Borderireland @borderireland.bsky.social · Aug 19

Next Irish president is a likely to preside over preparations for Irish Unity.

As potentially the most important constitutional issue of their term, would like to hear candidates discuss Unity and media raise questions and issues during their campaign.

#Áras25
#Áras2025
#speirgorm

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Margaret Ward @marg50.bsky.social · Aug 17

At Murlough Bay yesterday to attend the 109th anniversary of the execution of Roger Casement, humanitarian and Irish patriot. His last wish was to be buried here and de Valera agreed, but his remains lie in Glasnevin cemetery. A campaign to re-bury Casement is active. I’m proud to give my support.

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Margaret Ward @marg50.bsky.social · Aug 12

If their past activities took place in County Antrim do let me know!

Alan @apertum.ie · Aug 12

Ordered Rebel Women by @marg50.bsky.social as some family connections appear to be mentioned. Turns out a granny and great aunt may have had a bit of a past. #speirgorm

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Margaret Ward @marg50.bsky.social · Aug 8

Grateful to the wonderful Feile an Phobail for the invitation to speak on Rebel Women of Belfast. A great audience, including relatives of some of the women. Past and present are very close & opportunities to talk about the difficulties of the past so important.

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Margaret Ward @marg50.bsky.social · Aug 5

Fintan Ward Hillyard. 5 August 1985 - 16 December 2014. It would have been your 40th birthday today, beautiful man. “Time does not bring relief…I miss him in the weeping of the rain; I want him in the shrinking of the tide.” (Edna St Vincent Millay)

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Laura McAtackney @lauramca.bsky.social · Jul 31

Yet more evidence of WM govt controlling the past in NI: closing formal routes to justice, preventing info on state collusion being shared with victims’ families, while spending extravagantly on discredited official history. Families, like Paul Thompson’s, deserve better. www.rte.ie/news/regiona...

Brother of murder victim dies week after PSNI apology

Eugene Thompson, the brother of Paul 'Topper' Thompson who was murdered by loyalist paramilitaries in 1994 with suspected state collusion has died, just days after receiving an apology from the PSNI.

www.rte.ie

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Reposted by Margaret Ward

Gaza Freedom Flotilla Coalition @freedomflotilla.bsky.social · Jul 27

‘Handala’ was illegally boarded by Israel military in international waters, around 40 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza.

Before interception the 21 crew made this statement: if attacked they will join the global hunger strike for Gaza.

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Reposted by Margaret Ward

Sally Hayden @sallyhayd.bsky.social · Jul 23

“All these traumas are the reason why the Irish took almost 150 years before they could memorialise what they experienced in the 1840s. Those who inflict starvation are aware of this, they know that what they’re doing is actually dismantling a society.” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...