Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Una Mullally @unamullally.bsky.social · 1d

Reviewed Patti Smith’s opening night of her Horses 50th anniversary tour.

Her voice: a switchblade prising open a tin of molasses.

Patti Smith in Dublin: The singer’s voice is peerless in an energetic, gentle performance

Awesomeness of album Horses is beautifully exposed as songs are contextualised with stories of their origins and inspiration

www.irishtimes.com

4

Una Mullally @unamullally.bsky.social · 1d

I'm bringing Sliver Salon - an intimate literature event series with guest authors - to Haunted Dancehall at the National Concert Hall.

Sliver Salon 003: Berghain Nights with Liam Cagney, will explore his new book on techno and Berlin club culture.

Details and tickets: www.nch.ie/all-events-l...

1 3

Una Mullally @unamullally.bsky.social · 2d

🎯

Fintan O'Toole @fotoole.bsky.social · 2d

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...

Fintan O'Toole: What on earth was Micheál Martin thinking? Jim Gavin clearly wasn't ready

Getting your followers to agree to a proposition that makes no sense is the ultimate ego trip

www.irishtimes.com

1 7

Una Mullally @unamullally.bsky.social · 3d

Wrote about how Manchán Magan’s writing, knowledge and ideas lit up the synapses.

Una Mullally: In Manchán Magan, Ireland had a writer whose words could light up the synapses

Magan was a wholly authentic force, full of awe and devoid of cynicism

www.irishtimes.com

2 10 34

Una Mullally @unamullally.bsky.social · 5d

"There’s a photo of the two of us filming; my T-shirt reads 'Unrealistic Plans'. Manchán had a lot of unrealistic plans as well. But unlike most of us, he made many of them happen."

The Irish Times @irishtimes.com · 5d

Tributes to Manchán Magan: ‘He arrived in this life like a comet, ablaze with purpose’

Liam Ó Maonlaí, Kathy Scott, Seán Ronayne among the artists, musicians, writers and film-makers paying tribute to the late journalist, author and TV presenter

www.irishtimes.com

2 3 17

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

3 9 46

Una Mullally @unamullally.bsky.social · 5d

Ireland has lost a mountain of libraries with the passing of Manchán Magan. A brilliant, gentle, inspiring treasure of a spirit.

As a friend said last night, “He described the Irish language as potent and infinite, but that was him too.”

Seol go réidh, mo chara.

Manchán Magan: writer and documentary maker dies aged 55

Author spoke of terminal illness in recent radio interview, saying he did not feel despair

www.irishtimes.com

12 64

Reposted by Una Mullally

Lee Dillon @leeirenedillon.bsky.social · 6d

This is a great 10 part podcast by @unamullally.bsky.social looking at how to make Dublin, and other cities, better - each episode closes with five big ideas for the chosen topic.
@brenttoderian.bsky.social @dccbeta.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...

Saving the City, by Úna Mullally -
‘The Five Big Ideas’
Episode One: Ending The Doom Loop
1. 2. Make space for Jane Jacobs’ ‘sidewalk ballet’
Eyes on the street - more people make safer
places
3. Public provision of community space - don’t leave
it up to private developers
4. Density, proportionality & Diversity in building &
planning
5. Identify, value & support organically-occurring
community hubs or ‘hearths
Episode Two: Public Space
6. 7. Late night parks & public spaces
Plan public space for extreme users (toilets,
benches etc) & everyone benefits
8. Mass pedestrianisation for safer, more vibrant,
busier city space
9. More city centre public seating, toilets, trees, play
areas, and community gardens
10. Water fountains
Episode Three: A River Runs Through It
11. A Dublin lido
12. Clean the Liffey & make it swimmable
13. Floating leisure amenities - bars, parks, play
areas
14. Safe, supervised city centre diving spots e.g.
Grand Canal Dock
15. Renovate publicly owned baths along Dublin’s
coast
Episodes Four: Housing
16. Explore effective ‘resistance movement’ strategies
to bring about political change
17. Explore cooperative housing models
18. Consider joining the Community Action Tenants
Union (CATU)
19. Put pressure on politicians to tackle dereliction,
vacancy, short-term lets, excessive hotel & office
development, lack of social & affordable housing
20. If you’re a landlord, be a good one - don’t be part
of the problem
Episode Five: Gentrification
21. Public planning for character, community &
vibrancy - this cannot be left up to profit-driven
private developers
22. Support long-standing community businesses
23. Increase public ownership of commercial
properties
24. Housing over hotels - affordable homes for
citizens should be prioritized expensive tourist
accommodation
25. Volunteer in local communities to assist
integration between old timers & blow-ins
Episode Six: Enter The Night
26. Advocate with politicians for reform of late night
licensing laws
27. Es…

2 1 7

Una Mullally @unamullally.bsky.social · 6d

Thanks so much for listening and putting that list together!

1

Una Mullally @unamullally.bsky.social · 6d

Fair point! Will get on top of that. Thanks for the suggestion.

1

Reposted by Una Mullally

Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 7d

REVEALED: Donald Trump has picked Tony Blair for central role in Gaza ‘peace plan’…

…but in our inaugural investigation for @thenerve_news, we reveal extensive previously unreported links to Israeli defence, media & tech. 🧵
1/

www.thenerve.news/p/tony-blair...

'WHAT WILL JESUS SAY?' TONY BLAIR, BIG TECH AND THE ISRAEL CONNECTION

As Trump announces the former British PM as his choice to help govern Gaza, Carole Cadwalladr investigates the opaque workings of Blair's institute, its funding from friends of Israel – including bill...

www.thenerve.news

39 470 720

Una Mullally @unamullally.bsky.social · 7d

This Saturday in Dublin, 12.30pm.

2 3

Una Mullally @unamullally.bsky.social · 7d

100%. And students. Everyone who isn't rich, basically.

1

Una Mullally @unamullally.bsky.social · 7d

All rhetorical declaration and no effective action when it comes to the minister (so far).

1

Una Mullally @unamullally.bsky.social · 7d

The face-melting emoji doesn't seem to be available on Bluesky, but that's how I feel about that.

1 3

Una Mullally @unamullally.bsky.social · 7d

Yes, I agree. In general, I always feel weird about segmenting / categorising housing based on any kind of job. Affordable housing should be accessible to all. Let's see how it develops.

1 5

Una Mullally @unamullally.bsky.social · 7d

Lots of discussion to be had around ideas of "key workers", because everyone deserves an affordable home, and to live in and contribute to Dublin. But tackling dereliction at scale in the city centre is essential.

Well done to Cian Farrell (Soc Dem) for saying this: "dereliction is a social crime."

Gardaí and nurses among ‘key workers’ eligible to rent new low-cost Dublin city homes

Middle Abbey Street and North Frederick Street chosen for ‘bold urban-rejuvenation’ pilot scheme

www.irishtimes.com

3 8 20

Reposted by Una Mullally

Gillian Branstetter @gbbranstetter.bsky.social · 8d

Really the only question that matters

9 270 930

Una Mullally @unamullally.bsky.social · 8d

Big Tech told kids to code. The jobs didn't follow.

Among recent college grads in the US, computer science and computer engineering majors face some of the highest unemployment rates

Big Tech Told Kids to Code. The Jobs Didn’t Follow.

www.nytimes.com

2 6

Una Mullally @unamullally.bsky.social · 8d

Good piece of analysis on the first televised candidate debate of the Irish presidential election campaign. #Aras25

Gerard Howlin: In a low-energy presidential debate, only one candidate lit a spark

Jim Gavin sounded like he was reading from a PowerPoint, Heather Humphreys was lacklustre and Catherine Connolly had one big advantage

www.irishtimes.com

1 4

Reposted by Una Mullally

Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 14d

Our investigation — also in today’s New Statesman - is based on months on months of research, 29 interviews with current and former TBI staff, FOI disclosures and public documents. Do have a read

www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...

Inside the Tony Blair Institute

Who really benefits from the former PM’s tech evangelism?

www.newstatesman.com

4 22 45

Una Mullally @unamullally.bsky.social · 8d

43% of people support US military invading US cities.

47% support masked ICE goons kidnapping people off the streets.

That is not a popular rejection of authoritarianism.

In fact, it's actually a larger proportion of any population anywhere usually supportive of authoritarianism (around 30%).

Simon Rosenberg @simonwdc.bsky.social · 8d

NYT/Siena poll confirms what most other polls have shown of late - the country has rejected his "strongman" authoritarian tactics, and he is deeply unpopular.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/30/p...

7

Una Mullally @unamullally.bsky.social · 8d

Great! Thanks so much, Shane.

1 1

Una Mullally @unamullally.bsky.social · 8d

Thanks so much to everyone listening to Saving The City so far, and everyone getting in touch about it.

If you haven't got to it yet, it's a series about how to create thriving cities, using Dublin as a jumping off point. We cover housing, public space, nightlife, gentrification, and loads more.

Saving the City with Una Mullally

Society & Culture Podcast · Saving The City is a groundbreaking new 10-part limited-series podcast that sheds light on the multiple issues Dublin is facing, and works to solve these issues by bringing...

podcasts.apple.com

1 2 8

Una Mullally @unamullally.bsky.social · 9d

If Dublin City can generate a spectacle for an American football game for tourists, then why not for All-Ireland Final weekends?

I wrote about how Irish sport (and its fans) deserves the same celebratory treatment in and by the capital.

Una Mullally: If Dublin can pull out all the stops for the NFL, why not for the GAA?

Now that we’ve seen what can be done to welcome an American football event to town, let’s do it for homegrown sports

www.irishtimes.com

1 8 51