Finished up my almost 12-year stint with RTÉ News earlier this month.

To mark the occasion I managed to get exactly one (very cliché) photo where my eyes are slightly open.

Fanning flames: How a Donegal fire was used to stoke hate online How a false claim about a Donegal church fire went viral - and the network of anonymous accounts using outrage, disinformation, and profit-driven tactics to target Ireland online

How a false claim about a Donegal church fire went viral - and the network of anonymous accounts using outrage, disinformation, and profit-driven tactics to target Ireland online

Abuse survivor Michael O'Brien dies Michael O'Brien, the child sexual abuse survivor who spoke powerfully of his experiences on RTÉ's Questions and Answers, has died.

Michael O'Brien, the child sexual abuse survivor who spoke powerfully of his experiences on an episode of RTÉ’s Questions and Answers in 2009, has died

Society has definitely gotten worse since they stopped including a little chocolate-themed mug with the Easter eggs

Decades-long battle to clear rhododendron in Killarney New machinery is tipping the balance in the decades-long battle to clear rhododendron in Killarney National Park, according to the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

www.rte.ie/news/munster...

Famine-era Belfast burial ground to be officially marked The graves of thousands of people in a famine-era Belfast burial ground are finally set to be officially marked.

The graves of thousands of people in a famine-era Belfast burial ground are finally set to be officially marked

Missionary Micko spread magic far beyond the Kingdom Mick O'Dwyer gave a group of GAA fans who had been starved of success for most of the organisation's history the opportunity to experience actual glory, writes Peter Farrell.

Wrote this about Mick O'Dwyer, Laois and getting to witness just a little bit of the magic

After Meeting With Laura Loomer, Trump Fires National Security Council Officials (Gift Article) During the 30-minute meeting, the far-right activist excoriated National Security Council officials in front of the president and Michael Waltz, the national security adviser.

"Ms. Loomer, a Sept. 11 conspiracy theorist who is viewed as extreme even by some of Mr. Trump’s far-right allies, apparently wields more influence over the staff of the National Security Council than Mr. Waltz, who runs the agency."

Legendary Kerry manager Mick O'Dwyer dies aged 88 Mick O'Dwyer, the legendary Kerry Gaelic football manager and player, has died at the age of 88.

He'll be mainly remembered for his many other achievements, but those few years in the 00s when Micko was over Laois really were special.

Sunny days in Croker with the buzz of big crowds - buses up from all over the county - and the possibility of actually winning a trophy.

A great few years.

Dublin Half Marathon - worth the stupidly early start

Crime figures show drop in murder and drug offences The number of murders, manslaughters and unlawful killings dropped by 13% last year according to the latest crime figures released by the CSO.

The CSO figures show robbery and related offences were down 10% while drugs offences fell by 7%, largely because of the decrease in people caught in possession of small amounts of drugs for personal use or supply
www.rte.ie/news/crime/2...

Indigenous Canadian famine aid 'hidden in plain sight' Donations to Irish people from indigenous communities in Canada during the Great Famine - valued at around €12,000 today - have been "hidden in plain sight", a professor has said.

Donations to Irish people from indigenous communities in Canada during the Great Famine - valued at around €12,000 today - have been "hidden in plain sight".

Not sure it gets more Irish than a photoshoot in Antarctica in T-shirts, just surprised no one is wearing shorts

My most right wing opinion is that people who walk or run 3/4 abreast on narrow footpaths with no concept of their surroundings should be sent to jail

Hackman died of heart disease a week after his wife Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a week after his wife Betsy Arakawa died of a rare infectious disease at their home, a pathologist has said.

Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a week after his wife Betsy Arakawa died of a rare infectious disease at their home, a pathologist has said

Death, taxes and Manchester United continuing to lurch from catastrophe to catastrophe

UK govt to repeal law banning use of Irish in NI courts Irish language campaigners have welcomed the decision by the UK government to repeal an almost 300-year-old ban on the use of any language that is not English in the courts in Northern Ireland.

Irish language campaigners have welcomed the decision by the UK government to repeal an almost 300-year-old ban on the use of any language that is not English in the courts in Northern Ireland

I don’t care if the Sun’s in my eyes today. As long as it’s somewhere

Great yarn here from @harrymanningrte.bsky.social

Watching 1923 for my latest Yellowstone fix and honestly don't think I can put up with these 'Irish' accents any more

ESB crews share stories of 'very challenging' conditions North East Correspondent Marc O'Driscoll meets ESB technicians who have been working long days away from their families who themselves may be without power and water because of the storm.

North East Correspondent Marc O'Driscoll meets ESB technicians who have been working long days away from their families who themselves may be without power and water

To put some context on this, according to the 2022 Census there were 2.1m permanent dwellings in Ireland - even allowing for the fact some of the places affected are businesses, 560,000 is a massive proportion of the population

More than half a million homes and business are without power after 'unprecedented' damage to the energy network from Storm Éowyn, ESB Networks have said.

Power restoration expected to take 'a significant number of days'

New nominative determinism has (almost) just dropped

On that note, no sign of any snow in Kilmainham yet but plenty of very cold rain, making for a very unpleasant run in the park this morning

Glad to see the 'reporting the weather forecast is scaremongering' trend hasn't reached here (yet) #sneachta

Normally get a clatter of books for Christmas, but only got one so far this year so going to treat myself to a bit of a shopping spree - with that in mind, any good book recommendations?

Everyone laughed when I bought the youllneverguesswhosedead.ie domain name, but guess who's laughing now.

Why it's foolish to ignore property market warnings This week there was a sharp intake of breath across the nation when the news broke that the property market could be up overvalued by up to 10%.

The overvalued property market: the further it climbs the more risky it becomes for buyers. Analysis: www.rte.ie/news/busines...

Brian Óg is up to absolute 90 #LateLateToyShow