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robosullivan.bsky.social
Rob
@robosullivan.bsky.social
3.1K followers 1.4K following 5.1K posts
Science Communicator. Lefty. Irish.

Hobbies: Wild food, gardening, playing music. Star Trek nerd.

I won't follow back if you're not using alt text on images.

I can't share every fundraiser I'm tagged in but I'll do my best to share what I can
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robosullivan.bsky.social
No joy with the naked eye tonight but it's definitely there #spéirgorm
A silhouette of a tree against the night sky. The sky has a gradient from green to red and then black
January 20, 2026 at 10:38 PM
robosullivan.bsky.social
Might be of interest to Galway folks on here. Even if you're not in Galway here's a good excuse to travel to Ireland's (second) coolest city.
#spéirgorm
A poster advertising an event. It features a photo of TD Rory Hearne. Text reads: Social Democrats SOLVING GALWAY'S HOUSING EMERGENCY PUBLIC MEETING Harbour Hotel, Galway, H91E9PR 7pm, Thursday January 22nd FEATURING Featuring Cllr Alan Curran and speakers from local communities Hosted by: Rory Hearne TD The SocialDemocrats, 28FrederickStreetSouth, Dublin2, DO2 YW57
January 20, 2026 at 3:58 PM
robosullivan.bsky.social
Just look at this letter from one such landlord in the Examiner's Opinion Page and tell me that private landlords aren't dictating terms to the government #spéirgorm www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/your...
A snippet from an Irish Examiner letter: Here are some facts: There is not a single shred of evidence that the Short-Term Letting Bill will force self-catering operators like myself into the long-term rental market. Conversely, in a poll of members, the Irish Self Catering Federation, who represent more than 6,700 self-catering properties, found over 90% would not move their properties into the long-term rental market.
January 11, 2026 at 5:06 PM
robosullivan.bsky.social
"The anonymous abuse I received for defending the CSAM platform shows exactly why my plan for digital IDs is necessary"
A photo of a monkey wearing a yellow shirt. The style of photo is similar to that used in Newspapers opinion pieces.
January 9, 2026 at 11:45 AM
robosullivan.bsky.social
Wait. You're telling me the leader of this party isn't rushing to address the abuse of women and children? I'm shocked. Shocked I tell you. #spéirgorm
A photo of Fianna Fáil TDs holding placards encouraging a No vote on the Repeal the 8th Referendum. There are 5 women in the photo and 4-5 times as many men.
January 8, 2026 at 10:26 AM
robosullivan.bsky.social
The housing crisis is killing the tourism industry. If people can't afford to live where they work they certainly can't afford to take on seasonal part-time work.
I only moved to Kilrush a few years ago and already several of the tourist attractions/services have closed down. Just one example in pic
Screenshot from the IWDG website. Shannon Dolphin Centre - Temporary Closure The Shannon Dolphin Centre is currently closed. This is due to ongoing challenges related to the housing crisis and economic conditions. Each summer, we relv on interns who train and work with us to keep the Centre open and free to the public However, in recent years it has become increasingly difficult to secure affordable accommodation for them, with last year proving particularly difficult due tc extraordinarily high rental costs. Until we can secure a long-term solution and funding to support these students, we are unfortunately unable to reopen the Centre.
January 2, 2026 at 2:23 PM
robosullivan.bsky.social
Was curious about Ground News. I am no longer curious about Ground News... #Spéirgorm
A screengrab from Ground News that describes the Irish Times as leaning left.
January 2, 2026 at 11:03 AM
robosullivan.bsky.social
My Letter in this week's Clare Champion highlighting how Cathal Crowe (FF) and Joe Cooney (FG) are failing Clare women.
#spéirgorm
If you have any relatives in the Banner county I'd appreciate you encouraging them to grab a copy and hearing me out.
GRMA
Dear Sir, I was deeply distressed to learn that Clare TDs Cathal Crowe and Joe Cooney voted to reject the restoration of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) (Amendment) Bill. I can appreciate that access to abortion is a charged issue for some, however I’m sure we can all agree that where we are providing it, we should ensure that we are providing the best care we possibly can. The Independent Review of the Operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 identified areas where the legislation is falling short. The Health Bill addressed just some of those issues. The bill sought to abolish the 3-day wait period. The Independent Review recommended that it be replaced with “...a mandatory obligation on medical practitioners to advise the pregnant woman that she has a statutory right to a reflection period, which she may exercise, at her own discretion.” There is no medical justification for the enforcement of a mandatory 3-day waiting period. The Irish Family Planning Association released a report in 2023 demonstrating that this mandatory waiting period is “unjustifiable and patronising”, with 97.5% of patients continuing to access abortion care after the mandatory wait. The measure serves only to make life more difficult for patients while running the risk of making them “time out” of the permitted window to access services. The bill also sought to allow for abortion on request prior to fetal viability. That would mean an increase from 12 weeks, as allowed currently, to 22 weeks. While I appreciate that this might sound like a significant change to someone unfamiliar with the legislation, 98% of terminations in Ireland occur within the 12 week window. Unfortunately that window means some women must still travel and according to the report “Most of those who are travelling to the UK are in the later stages of gestation and the abortions are being provided under Ground C (where the pregnancy has not exceeded its 24th week & the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated, of injury to the physical and mental health of pregnant person) and Ground E (where there is substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped). These figures indicate that not all needs are being met.” These individuals and families represent our most vulnerable cases. These were the cases that helped change minds during the Repeal campaign. We should be utterly ashamed that we continue to fail them. There’s a perverse irony in the fact that Deputy Crowe is the chair of the Shannon Airport Oireachtas group, as it will continue to be the only route to compassionate care for Clare women denied support by their elected representatives. The restoration of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill lost by just two votes. What was remarkable was the gender distribution of those votes. The majority of women in the Dáil supported it while less than half of the men did. The women of Dáil Éireann understood how this legislation would impact other women and voted accordingly. Unfortunately the gender distribution in the Dáil does not reflect that of the population at large. Only 1/4 of TDs are women, and the same is true of elected representatives in Clare. If the voting ratio held true in a Dáil with reflective gender representation, this bill would have passed. This is why diversity matters. Clare women deserve better than to be represented by men with neither the capacity nor the inclination to serve their needs. They need representatives whose lived experience resonates with their own. We all benefit when our democracy better reflects the population it serves. Clare is full of incredible women leaders. We just need to elect them. It’s time for more mná. Regards, Rob O’ Sullivan
December 31, 2025 at 10:08 AM
robosullivan.bsky.social
The FBI Agents are just operating on muscle memory now
A photo of Trump tower but the word trump has been "redacted" in black
December 23, 2025 at 4:56 PM
robosullivan.bsky.social
Jake Paul's face. In a brace. His face looks swollen and distorted. Eccentric Homo - A painting restoration gone wrong. It is a mix of brownish tones and is overly spherical - As if the painting had been smeared by someone using an oily cloth to buff it . The detail in the facial features is poorly proportioned.
December 23, 2025 at 9:25 AM
robosullivan.bsky.social
Only 5 Fianna Fáil TDs voted to restore the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy)(Amendment) Bill. 35 voted against.
They're the only major party where none of the female TDs supported the bill. We have antichoice extremists at the helm. The work of Repeal is not done #spéirgorm
A photo of Fianna Fáil TDs holding up antichoice banners.
December 22, 2025 at 7:28 PM
robosullivan.bsky.social
It seems to have been overlooked in the fox hunting debate but we had a Minister of State advocating for us to actively drive 2 native species to extinction. #Spéirgorm
Eradication isn't management. It isn't pest control. It isn't even the killing for sport of these species. It's extinction.
Deputy Michael Healy-Rae ◦ We have to eradicate badgers. Deputy Paul Murphy. The Minister of State is qoing to sell them out on Mercosur. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae We have to eradicate our deer. We have to manage rural Ireland.
December 18, 2025 at 1:11 PM
robosullivan.bsky.social
I wonder if there's any commonalities between these accounts sincerely responding to a joke about Ireland's leadership?
Screenshot of an exchange between two people commenting on a joke about Ireland rotating their leader during a political term. First post: Chat, we do not pick who yhe Taoiseach is. Reply: Clearly have no real idea how Irish government works. A redacted screenshot of the reply guy's bio. It reads " Financial economist. Interested in digital finance, portfolio ideas, and behavioural finance. Credit Union chair. Redacted bio of the joke corrector: Studied economics so will have an opinion on everything.
December 18, 2025 at 12:59 PM
robosullivan.bsky.social
My Christmas wrapping took a dark turn when I switched to red lighting.
A sheet of decorative crepe paper that includes Xmas imagery and several phrases. In this context, the important phrases are "No peeking" and "Joy" The same paper viewed under red light has washed out the word "peeking" so it now appears to read "No joy".
December 13, 2025 at 12:34 AM
robosullivan.bsky.social
Both Tipp and Kerry gave him their backing. Strange as neither county has a strong record of getting behind disingenuous grifters...🤔 #spéirgorm
A photo of Kerry TDs Danny Healy Rae and Michael Healy Rae in front of some microphones. A photo of Tipperary TD Michael Lowry holding two fingers up to the photographer
December 10, 2025 at 12:03 PM
robosullivan.bsky.social
December 5, 2025 at 11:57 PM
robosullivan.bsky.social
Taking more steps to learn Irish. Joined an Irish Langusge singing circle. I struggled to sing in the keys preferred by the women running the group but I was delighted by my comprehension of most of the general chat, if not the songs themselves.
Tomorrow I'm off to a Ciorcal Cómhrá #spéirgorm
A poster for an Irish language singing circle. It features a group of people sitting in a semi circle with mugs or sheet music in their hands. The poster reads "Abair Amhrán" Irish Language Singing Circle. 23pm 1st December. Moon and Sage, Kilrush Co. Clare
December 1, 2025 at 4:38 PM
robosullivan.bsky.social
The prologue to this book is more substantive and solution-oriented than the combined output of the last 3 housing ministers combined.
For fuck sake can we just get our shit together long enough to elect a government that makes Rory Hearne the Minister for Housing? #spéirgorm
A photo of a book cover: NEW UPDATED EDITION RORY HEARNE GAFFS Why no one can get a house. and what we can do about it 'Clear, cogent and persuasive' Fintan O'Toole, Irish Times 'Gives me a sense of hope' Blindboy Boatclub anpost IRISH BOOK AWARDS
November 30, 2025 at 10:44 PM
robosullivan.bsky.social
I hate to say I told you so #spéirgorm www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
A screengrab from an Irish Examiner piece. It reads: As a long-term renter, you might expect that I would welcome the Government's proposals regarding rent pressure zones but, honestly, the announcement filled me with dread.
November 29, 2025 at 11:13 AM
robosullivan.bsky.social
Sometimes I worry my dog isn't as clever as I initially thought
November 28, 2025 at 11:39 PM
robosullivan.bsky.social
The sunken cost fallacy but make it the whole US economy
Screenshot of a Tweet. David Sacks @DavidSacks According to today's WSJ, Al-related investment accounts for half of GDP growth. A reversal would risk recession. We can't afford to qo backwards. 9:34 AM. Nov 24, 2025 632.6K Views
November 25, 2025 at 9:35 AM
robosullivan.bsky.social
If there is a Heaven, I can tell you one thing for sure... #Spéirgorm
Notorious bigot Enoch Burke standing outside the pearly gates of Heaven. The gates are closed and he's not allowed in.
November 20, 2025 at 12:05 PM
robosullivan.bsky.social
#spéirgorm
Shifting The Focus Research Irish Penal Reform Trust We are researching the overlap between poverty, community deprivation, and interaction with the criminal justice system Have you experienced arrest, charge, imprisonment, parole, probation or a community sanction? Would you like to participate in a one to one interview as part of our research? Interviews can be in person or online To find out more, contact clareoc85@gmail.com All contributions are anonymous
November 20, 2025 at 11:19 AM
robosullivan.bsky.social
John Carpenter's "The Thing" is a Christmas movie.
An AI image that is completely nonsensical. A central man appears to have a human face growing out of his shoulder and both are merged with furry masses that look like pieces of dogs blending into each other.
November 19, 2025 at 9:52 AM
robosullivan.bsky.social
Michael Scott from the Office holding up a mug that reads "World's best boss". He bought it for himself.
November 18, 2025 at 9:16 PM