Police officers stand in the street, as tractors block Dublin's O'Connell Street, as part of a protest over the high cost of fuel that clogged up busy thoroughfares and motorways across Ireland for a second successive day, in Dublin, Ireland April 8, 2026

The meta, Meta and meaning of the Irish fuel protests - a longish read about what more than 20 years of studying and covering the far right has taught me about these political moments.
#speirgorm
philipoconnor.com/the-meta-met...

New study looks at effects of 30 km/h speed limits The claim that 30 km/h speed limits lead to increased traffic congestion and higher congestion costs is a myth, unsupported by evidence, according to a new paper by George Yannis and Eva Michelaraki…

“The study reports that examination of traffic patterns in Switzerland revealed that 30 km/h limits allowed the road system to accommodate cars more efficiently, resulting in faster overall travel times.”

etsc.eu/new-study-lo...

How cars change us with Tara Goddard Why do people behave so badly behind the wheel of a car? Why do reporters and the police use passive language to describe automobile crashes and traffic violence? How do the words we use make a difference in street safety? Dr. Tara Goddard, one of the top scholars studying what it is that cars do to our brains and the way we treat each other in the world, has some thoughts — and she's done the research. Tara is an associate professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning at Texas A&M University. Her work focuses on creating a just transportation system through safe roadway design and inclusive transportation planning. We talked with her about "motonormativity," how race influences how drivers treat pedestrians, and why language matters if we want to change the conversation about whom streets are for.

This was a good listen on how being a driver influences’ people.

pedestrians,cyclists and other people on the street.

Speed limiters (at 25mph) for cars was a requirement in some U.S. cities before auto clubs influenced the police and professional classes that more widespread car usage would be useful for them.

The first drivers actually had a lot more liability than today. There needed to be a concerted effort from auto owners to take the roads and streets for cars. Traffic signs like junction stop signs were originally put up by automobile clubs and blame needed to shift from the car drivers to the

This would definitely help improve the spectacle of Gaelic football, keeping possession is a lot harder when you actually have to solo and bounce the ball as per the rulebook. Very rare to see it called in intercounty unless someone is bottled up in a tangle of bodies.

I’m driving less. I don’t want to see the world through a driver’s eyes any more Before I began driving less, I had long had a melancholic sense that the city lifestyle I lived was cut off from the seasons and nature

I’m driving less. I don’t want to see the world through a driver’s eyes any more

According to the Monash University study of car accidents by color, black cars are the most accident-prone due to their low visibility against dark roads. Other dangerous car colors are grey, silver, blue and red. Here’s how the other colors fared in terms of accident risk, compared with white cars: Black: 12% higher risk Gray: 11% higher risk Silver: 10% higher risk Blue: 7% higher risk Red: 7% higher risk

There’s a Monash university study on car colour influence on accidents - white has the lowest risk of accidents.

Black, grey, silver, blue and red all have higher risk

This confirmed by the Taoiseach in the Dáil just now – a significant backtrack by the Government in the midst of an acute housing shortage, now allowing more properties to stay in use for short-term lettings without needing to register/amend their property designation as 'commercial'

Car lined street

Car park converted into park

Wide roads and Car park

People lined street with parking replaced by cycle lane

Some before and afters of the street from Google maps

Plus a link to the location:
maps.app.goo.gl/bQJ5c1UMp33N...

Tallinn by Bike: Renovated Vana Kalamaja Street YouTube video by Cycling in Tallinn

This is a brilliant transformation of vana kalamaja street in Tallinn, Estonia.

Would love to see more streets like this in Irelands’ towns and cities.
youtu.be/wfCe-yyjS1U?...

Weather update: Mowldy.

As much as 100mm of rain forecast for the Wicklow Mountains - which is obviously a big concern for towns like Aughrim but also ones downstream.

An update ⤵️

On RTE 1 there, Today with David McCullagh, @mcculld.bsky.social asks: "what advice would you give to road users?"

RSA spokesperson: "Very dangerous conditions for drivers." Continues to talk about drivers. Drivers only.

DMC: "any advice for any other road users such as cyclists?"

RSA: "Eh...."

When repair or maintenance work is required in your area, we want to make sure homes and businesses are informed.

That’s why we have a new free text alert service, providing real-time updates for issues lasting more than 4 hours.

Sign up today at www.water.ie/water-service-updates.

Do you use an e-scooter to get around?

I’m working on a feature about the people behind the growing number of e-scooters on our streets - why people ride, how it’s changed daily life, and how riders are navigating new rules, safety risks etc
Replies, DMs, or email: geraldine.herbert@independent.ie

Coming up after midnight @nialljournal.bsky.social speaks to sources about the reality on the ground for operational gardaí dealing with illegal scramblers in communities across Ireland.

#speirgorm

Ireland among North Sea nations to sign wind power pledge to resist Russian energy 'blackmail' The EU’s Commissioner for Energy and Housing said the agreement was a ‘very clear signal to Russia’.

A great way to realise sovereign renewable energy infrastructure and alleviate dependence on despots, East or West, is to not invest billions in new #LNG infrastructure for fracked US fossil gas imports, Ireland.

www.thejournal.ie/ireland-nort...

If any policymakers or campaigners in Ireland want to discuss the evidence base for these policies I'm happy to talk

Hundreds of people gathered in Finglas this evening for a vigil for 16-year-old Grace Lynch.

 Her mother gave an emotional statement, pledging to fight to get scramblers off the streets after Grace was killed when struck by a scrambler near her home at the weekend.

#VMNews

Request to Relocate Real-Time Service Updates from X to Iarnród Éireann Website Request to Relocate Real-Time Service Updates from X to Iarnród Éireann Website We are writing as rail and commuter advocacy groups across Ireland, to request that Iarnród Éireann move its real-time s...

Ourselves, @dublincommuters.bsky.social, @galwaycommuters.bsky.social, & Cork Commuter Coalition wrote to Iarnród Éireann & the NTA today, asking them to cease posting real-time service updates exclusively on X. This vital info should be widely available. Read below:

docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Leap into action for foxes and help get fox hunting banned in Ireland:

🦊 Contact TDs and political party leaders: banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2025/12/11/u...

🦊 Sign the ‘Ban Fox Hunting’ petition: my.uplift.ie/petitions/pe...

#Ireland #BanFoxHunting 🦊🙏

I continue to be surprised at how under the radar this is going, considering that it’s more consequential than a lot of the things that #spéirghorm gets worked up about.

There’ll be major handwringing on here if we get a “majority of parents support Church patronage of primary schools” result.

‘Jury still out’ on Cork city’s €225m junction as congestion continues The head of the transport committee in Cork city says he is still not satisfied with a major junction that opened last year at a cost of over €200 million, and which still sees tailbacks on a regular ...

We were told the interchange would cost €100 million and solve the congestion and tailbacks.

It cost €225 million, and it didn't.

The people who were 100% wrong about this – and blew 9 figures of public money on it – have a new suggestion.

More lanes.

www.independent.ie/regionals/co...

If the landlord that lived in our garage and pretended he didn't and used to secretly sleep in one of the girls beds when she was away and used go through our bins and once fished out a pregnancy test amd brought it up ever runs for president I will be ready

Last chance to book your ticket and come get your signed copy of Dublin Pub a social and cultural history. Click the link. It’s free and gratis to attend and gonna be deadly. And it’s in @chaptersbookstore.bsky.social! Cmom
#Speirgorm

Sarah Clancy and Chris Andrews have both been kidnapped by the IDF.
Contact Dept of Foreign Affairs:
Address:
Iveagh House, 80 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, D02 VY53
Website:
www.ireland.ie/dfa
Telephone:
+353 1 408 2000 #globalsumudflotilla

And by the next presidential election, there’ll be even more unless we change the constitution

We’ve heard of a few reports of glitches in the zonal leap card system recently

If you’re using one, have you come across any incorrect charges tagging on and off when moving between zones?

#speirgorm #Ireland #saoirsedonphailistín