Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Patrick Brannigan

@patrickjmb.bsky.social

Hannah Sanders and Ben Savage perform songs from their latest album, The Strangers' Share, on The Folk Show with Mark Radcliffe.

Some of their own new songs.
Hannah a superb singer.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

January 15, 2026 at 2:48 PM

Patrick Brannigan

@patrickjmb.bsky.social

Towards Slieve Patrick

#Lecale #LeathCathail
#CountyDown
#SpéirGhorm

January 15, 2026 at 9:50 AM

Patrick Brannigan

@patrickjmb.bsky.social

Gosh, that link generates a page with "You are in queue for Seamus Heaney Homeplace. When it is your turn, you will have 10 minutes to enter the website".
At seamusheaneyhome.com I found

Flexible dates
Nicholas Allen In Conversation with Neil Hegarty with music by Iarla Ó Lionáird

Join us for an evening of conversation and music with Neil Hegarty and Iarla Ó Lionáird.

Buy now

January 15, 2026 at 8:44 AM

Patrick Brannigan

@patrickjmb.bsky.social

There do be a headless monster from the deep: St John's Point

#Lecale #LeathCathail
#CountyDown
#SpéirGhorm

January 13, 2026 at 5:32 PM

Patrick Brannigan

@patrickjmb.bsky.social

St John's Point - the Lighthouse and the views there.

#Lecale #LeathCathail
#CountyDown
#SpéirGhorm

January 13, 2026 at 5:29 PM

Patrick Brannigan

@patrickjmb.bsky.social

#Rossglass beach including picture from there across Minerstown beach to the Dromara Hills...

#Lecale #LeathCathail
#CountyDown
#SpéirGhorm

January 13, 2026 at 5:27 PM

Patrick Brannigan

@patrickjmb.bsky.social

Search for "Northern Ireland" yields these accounts

January 13, 2026 at 4:38 PM

Patrick Brannigan

@patrickjmb.bsky.social

Harbourside Art - the #Titanic passing Ardgjass Old Harbour and Lighthouse, April 1912.

#Lecale #LeathCathail
#CountyDown
#SpéirGhorm

January 13, 2026 at 4:04 PM

Patrick Brannigan

@patrickjmb.bsky.social

Ardglass views, most of the trawlers are out. Tough gig for the mariners.

#Lecale #LeathCathail
#CountyDown
#SpéirGhorm

January 13, 2026 at 1:50 PM

Patrick Brannigan

@patrickjmb.bsky.social

Sun crowned by trees.

The atmospheric light at Audleys Castle, NT Castleward.

#Lecale #LeathCathail
#CountyDown
#SpéirGhorm

January 10, 2026 at 9:05 PM

Patrick Brannigan

@patrickjmb.bsky.social

The atmospheric light at Audleys Castle, NT Castleward.

With the views from the elevation.

The castle probably dates from around the 15th century, the Audleys, an Anglo-Norman family held land in the area in the 13th century.

#Lecale #LeathCathail
#CountyDown
#SpéirGhorm

The castle probably dates from around the 15th century, but the early history is unknown. It's named after its late 16th-century owners, the Audleys, an Anglo-Norman family who held land in the area in the 13th century (although it is not known if they built the castle). It was sold, with the surrounding estate, to the Ward family in 1646. By 1738 it became an eye-catching focus of the long vista along Castle Ward's artificial lake, Temple Water.
Src: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/northern-ireland/castle-ward/castle-trail-at-castle-ward

January 10, 2026 at 5:18 PM

Patrick Brannigan

@patrickjmb.bsky.social

Towards Slieve Patrick and the rising sun over frost-covered drumlins.

#Lecale #LeathCathail
#CountyDown
#SpéirGhorm

January 10, 2026 at 9:43 AM

Patrick Brannigan

@patrickjmb.bsky.social

This is the setting for the #Woodpecker, Strangford Woods.

#Lecale #LeathCathail
#CountyDown
#SpéirGhorm

The Woodland Trust are doing a consultation about the development of these woods, contact them at www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/about-us/whe... to get involved.

January 9, 2026 at 7:48 PM

Patrick Brannigan

@patrickjmb.bsky.social

A very choppy, pardon the pun,clip of a #Woodpecker at work high up on a tree. Strangford Woods.

#Lecale #LeathCathail
#CountyDown
#SpéirGhorm

January 9, 2026 at 7:43 PM

Patrick Brannigan

@patrickjmb.bsky.social

Strangford - both ferries in view.

#Lecale #LeathCathail
#CountyDown
#SpéirGhorm

January 9, 2026 at 6:27 PM

Patrick Brannigan

@patrickjmb.bsky.social

Late afternoon light, looking over Strangford Lough to Portaferry. The ferry has just docked.

#Lecale #LeathCathail
#CountyDown
#SpéirGhorm

January 9, 2026 at 6:24 PM

Patrick Brannigan

@patrickjmb.bsky.social

Afternoon skies

#Lecale #LeathCathail
#CountyDown
#SpéirGhorm

January 9, 2026 at 6:22 PM

Patrick Brannigan

@patrickjmb.bsky.social

Slightly used TV, street-wise

#Holyland
#Belfast
#SpéirGhorm

January 8, 2026 at 4:29 PM

Patrick Brannigan

@patrickjmb.bsky.social

With ALT text

While the NI govt is not an issuer of its own currency the way UK state finances work is NOT like how a household's finances work in needing to earn or borrow money before spending it. As the Bank of England itself has publicly stated, the uk govt creates money by spending it into existence. Commentators such as the one you have just had on who claims that the UK needs to tax or borrow before spending is wrong. The only issue that should be of concern to the UK government and Northern Ireland as part of the UK is whether we have the actual real resources such as land, energy, labour etc. sadly this misrepresentation of government spending is a justification for austerity which is an ideological choice not a financial necessity. There is no shortage of money, the UK government cannot run out of that which it has control in issuing. John Barry, Queen's University Belfast.

January 8, 2026 at 9:05 AM

Patrick Brannigan

@patrickjmb.bsky.social

Extracts from Harry Clarke's stained glass "The Eve of St Agnes" - commissioned in 1923 by Harold Jacob for his father’s house in Ailesbury Road, Dublin. Clarke took his inspiration from John Keats’s poem of the same name.
Hugh Lane Gallery
Harry Clarke 17 March 1889 – 6 January 1931)
#SpéirGhorm