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Brendan Speedie Smith

@speediecelt.bsky.social

96 followers 52 following 45 posts

Educationalist, Environmentalist, Science Advocate, Technologist, SDGs Champion, Community Activist, Irish Rebel, Liberation Theology proponent, Travel addict, Lover of Nature & most things Irish. Views expressed are my own

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Brendan Speedie Smith @speediecelt.bsky.social · Jun 8

www.independent.ie/regionals/ga...

‘This is the Galway we want’ – President Higgins lights up grey Western skies at 25-year celebration of forest park

President Michael D. Higgins lit up grey Galway skies on Thursday evening as he joined the city in celebrating 25 years of Terryland Forest Park.

www.independent.ie

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Brendan Speedie Smith @speediecelt.bsky.social · 20d

My colleague Alex Acquier & myself at @insightcentre.bsky.social in @uniofgalway.bsky.social mentored senior class kids at Scoil Chroí Íosa #Galway in using #BBC micro:bit pocket-size computer to code its LED light display, sound features etc & to make an air quality sensor as part of #TAWS project!

Brendan Speedie Smith @speediecelt.bsky.social · Sep 2

A working #Minitel terminal is now on display in Computer & Communications Museum of Ireland at Data Science Institute, @uniofgalway.bsky.social. Minitel was world's first successful public online service.Launched in 1982, almost a decade before the arrival of the Web by French telephony company PTT

Brendan Speedie Smith @speediecelt.bsky.social · Aug 13

FIFA 2000 on original Playstation is always a big hit at our computer museum. We've had a busy summer with multiple tour groups booked in. Next public opening, organised with #Galway Civic Trust, will be at 2pm this Sat Aug 16 for #HeritageWeek. Register at www.heritageweek.ie/event-listin...

Brendan Speedie Smith @speediecelt.bsky.social · Aug 1

In spite of schools being on hols, visits to DSI continued with multiple summer & language schools booked in for Research Talks by #Insight researchers & guided museum tours. Thanks to Jefkine, Kashif & Nakul for their talks on Farming with Generative AI, Women Empowerment in ICT, & Neurosymbolic AI

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Brendan Speedie Smith @speediecelt.bsky.social · Jul 25

2 visitors to our museum play a game of chess against a computer.Fidelity Electonic's Chess Challenger 7(1980) offered 7 different levels of chess.Its founder Sidney Samole was inspired to make this early AI device after watching #StarTrek episode where Spock played chess against starship's computer

Brendan Speedie Smith @speediecelt.bsky.social · Jul 18

Before TerrylandForestPark opened in 2000,I visited 3 schools to ask kids to paint their vision of this new type of urban park.In May 2025, our park artist went to same 3 schools to ask kids to paint their vision of how it will be in 2050.These kids' paintings from 2000 & 2025 are on display in park

Brendan Speedie Smith @speediecelt.bsky.social · Jul 14

The Retro 3D Life-Like Action experience with a 1953 #Superman comic & an 1962 Photo View Master at the Computer & Communications Museum of Ireland @uniofgalway.bsky.social

Brendan Speedie Smith @speediecelt.bsky.social · Jul 11

We had great group of German students of Galway Business School visit DSI at @uniofgalway.bsky.social. They asked so many excellent questions after presentations from our Insight researchers-Umair (Decarbonization of Atlantic ports), Talha (Stress Monitoring Device) & Yifan (Peatlands Policy Portal)

Brendan Speedie Smith @speediecelt.bsky.social · Jul 7

I so enjoy exploiting the educational & digital makers value of the BBC micro:bit! In June, my colleague Alex Acquier & myself mentored the 3rd-6th classes Castlegar School in using this amazing pocket-size computer to code its LED light display, buttons & sound features @insightcentre.bsky.social

Brendan Speedie Smith @speediecelt.bsky.social · Jul 4

Providing Science projects to small rural schools is key priority of our Insight EPE program.With closure of village post offices, shops etc as well as economic difficulties of family farming, it is the local parish school that acts as heartbeat of rural Ireland & keeps it alive until the tide turns

Brendan Speedie Smith @speediecelt.bsky.social · Jul 2

We had full May/June schools EPE program at
@insightcentre.bsky.social @uniofgalway.bsky.social incl series of Research Talks & hosting workshops on coding, VR, & air sensors. But once again I also had to provide multiple #InternetSafety sessions incl at #BISH & Coláiste Cholmcille Inverin Gaillimh

Reposted by Brendan Speedie Smith

Jennifer Hetzel @hetzgonnabeme.bsky.social · Jun 5

Had a great time celebrating the 25th anniversary of Terryland Forest Park with President Michael D. Higgins! (Even though it started raining as soon as we got there and ended as soon as we left 😂) Great job @speediecelt.bsky.social and everyone who has helped grow the park over the years.

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Brendan Speedie Smith @speediecelt.bsky.social · Jun 8

Thank you Jennifer for being there and for your kind words. Appreciated! (p.s. Sorry about the rain! 😀)

Brendan Speedie Smith @speediecelt.bsky.social · Jun 8

www.independent.ie/regionals/ga...

‘This is the Galway we want’ – President Higgins lights up grey Western skies at 25-year celebration of forest park

President Michael D. Higgins lit up grey Galway skies on Thursday evening as he joined the city in celebrating 25 years of Terryland Forest Park.

www.independent.ie

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Brendan Speedie Smith @speediecelt.bsky.social · May 29

What looks like a piece of equipment from a 1930s-1940s science fiction film is now installed & operational in our #computermuseum. Designed & made by Pat Murphy in 1987 for his B.Tech in Education at Thomond College #Limerick #UL, its actually a computer desk for #Commodore64 computer & accessories

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Brendan Speedie Smith @speediecelt.bsky.social · May 29

Yet in spite of the weather we had lots of volunteers participating. That is dedication for you! 😀

Reposted by Brendan Speedie Smith

Cosáin Climate @cosaingalway.bsky.social · May 25

@speediecelt.bsky.social @irishrainforest.bsky.social @whittledaway.bsky.social @nools.bsky.social

Look at Mother Nature on the run
In the 21st Century

~Neil Young, After the Gold Rush (current live version).

#TerrylandForestPark

A fox attempting to cross four lanes of fast traffic near Quincentenary Bridge, Galway, part of the city's ring road. Sections of Terryland Forest Park are located on either side of the ring road.

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Brendan Speedie Smith @speediecelt.bsky.social · May 23

Giant #FairyRing appears in heart of #TerrylandForest Park. This circle of painted concrete toadstools in an Oak Grove will enhance park's #OutdoorClassroom. A circle of fungi is natural phenomena that forms part of #WoodWideWeb. In mythology they are where the fairies merrily dance under moonlight.

Brendan Speedie Smith @speediecelt.bsky.social · May 20

At 10am on Sat next(May 24), there will be training workshop provided by @galwaycitycouncil.bsky.social for volunteers in #TerrylandForestPark #Galway on identifying, controlling & hopefully eliminating non-native Invasive Alien plant species. Details/registration: www.eventbrite.com/e/invasive-s...

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Brendan Speedie Smith @speediecelt.bsky.social · May 15

Join us for our ‘7 Galway Castles Heritage Cycle’ on Sun May 18. It’s a leisurely cycle over hills, along country lanes, past farms, castles, bogs, lakes, dykes, woods & pasture in a rural landscape only a few km from the heart of #Galway city. Register at www.eventbrite.com/e/sli-na-gca...

Brendan Speedie Smith @speediecelt.bsky.social · May 8

Join us for our ‘7 Galway Castles Heritage Cycle’ on Sun May 18. It’s a leisurely cycle over hills, along country lanes, past farms, castles, bogs, lakes, dykes, woods & pasture in a beautiful rural landscape only a few km from the heart of Galway city. Register at www.eventbrite.ie/e/1353200923...

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Brendan Speedie Smith @speediecelt.bsky.social · Apr 25

The Computer & Communications Museum of Ireland will be open 2-4pm tomorrow(Sat) to the public. Eircode: H91 AEX4. Visitors can learn how to send a message using #MorseCode, the 19th cent communication system that began long distance electrical communications and gave birth to the Global Village

Brendan Speedie Smith @speediecelt.bsky.social · Apr 25

#ENLIGHT students of 10 European countries visited #DSI #Galway to learn about Insight's research incl with Fergus O'Donoghue on #MultiPeat project & enjoy a hands-on guided tours of Computer & Communications Museum with my colleague Duy & myself. @uniofgalway.bsky.social
@insightcentre.bsky.social

Brendan Speedie Smith @speediecelt.bsky.social · Apr 18

My colleague Prateek Paul gave a talk on his research entitled "Motivate Organizations for Data Sharing through Incentive Mechanisms" to German students from Bridge Mills Language School Galway.Insight is becoming a must-go destination for students from primary to tertiary @insightcentre.bsky.social

Brendan Speedie Smith @speediecelt.bsky.social · Apr 7

North & South #Ireland unite to Restore Native Ecosystems. With a Community #ClimateAction grant from @galwaycitycouncil.bsky.social, #TerrylandForest Park has partnered with a #Fermanagh NGO on an all-island #rewilding 'Nature without Borders' project. Photo shows our volunteers on Sat in Fermanagh