Donncha O’Connell

Great turnout in @uniofgalwaylib.bsky.social
tonight for the launch of former Librarian John Cox’s book on the strategic positioning of academic libraries - lovely speeches, great chats and a positive celebration of the work of a wonderful @uniofgalway.bsky.social colleague.

Delighted to have Dr Stefano Angeleri of the School of Law, UL in Galway today to speak with my undergrad European Human Rights Law students about Social Rights and the Council of Europe - a brilliant, interactive and hugely stimulating lecture covering so much material.

Congratulations to Professor Christopher McCrudden, who was awarded the 2026 Royal Irish Academy Gold Medal in the Social Sciences.

👉 Read Professor McCrudden’s blog on the RIA website: www.ria.ie/blog/christo...

The Irish govt seeks to amend Art 3 and Art 8 of the ECHR as they apply to migration cases.

This insidious shift in policy is very concerning.

The ECHR protects everyone's fundamental human rights. It's also central to the Good Friday Agreement.

We can't allow human rights law to be watered down.

Delays in residence permit renewals put lives of non-EU immigrants on hold – again After a while, they can’t work and can’t travel abroad and return.

Delays in residence permit renewals put lives of non-EU immigrants on hold – again. After a while, they can’t work and can’t travel abroad and return. More here www.dublininquirer.com/delays-in-re...

Hannah Daly: Irish people are again paying a high price for our reliance on fossil fuels But renewable energy relies on resources that will never run out and cannot be cut off as act of aggression

Hannah Daly: Irish people are again paying a high price for our reliance on fossil fuels

Government accused of colluding with ‘narrow agenda’ of UK on human rights issues Groups say Council of Europe proposal would weaken protections of the European Convention on Human Rights

Irish Government accused of colluding with ‘narrow agenda’ of UK on human rights issues. Human rights groups say Council of Europe proposal would weaken protections of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)

www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

The ECHR’s Procrustean bed: A final call for perspective in the Chișinău process By Alice Donald and Andrew Forde In Greek mythology, Procrustes made visitors fit his bed by either stretching them or cutting off their leg...

Excellent blogpost by Alice Donald & Andrew Forde:

The ECHR’s Procrustean bed: A final call for perspective in the Chișinău process

www.echrblog.com/2026/03/the-...

The reference to ‘pious fraud’ in this piece is very rich…

From today, workshops supporting students with finding books/journals, #endnote support, Gen AI support and general #citing and #referencing :

Library Workshops: Supporting Your Assignments and Exams

Date: w/c 9th March

Suitability: Undergraduates

Sign up for sessions here: lnkd.in/dzFU86T7

Political failings leave women prisoners ‘warehoused’ in inhumane conditions Report from Dóchas Centre visiting committee submitted to Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan notes overcrowding ‘worst' to date

Political failings leave women prisoners ‘warehoused’ in inhumane conditions. Unpublished report from Dóchas Centre visiting committee notes overcrowding ‘worst’ to date.

www.irishtimes.com/ireland/soci...

Coiste Pleanála Straitéise Gaeilge á mholadh do gach comhairle contae a bhfuil ceantar Gaeltachta faoina cúram Deir Conradh na Gaeilge go bhfuil ‘an-dul chun cinn’ á dhéanamh ag comhairle cathrach na Gaillimhe is go bhfuil SPC Gaeilge ag an gcomhairle

Coiste Pleanála Straitéise Gaeilge á mholadh do gach comhairle contae a bhfuil ceantar Gaeltachta faoina cúram

Sinéad O'Sullivan: When will we declare Ireland’s road death toll the public health crisis it is? Last year, one person died every 35 hours in a crash across the island

Sinéad O’Sullivan: When will we declare Ireland’s road-death toll the public health crisis it is? Last year, one person died every 35 hours in a crash on the island…

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026...

Catherine Connolly criticises ‘violations of international law’ in Middle East President does not condemn US or Israel directly, but comments appear to be a implicit rebuke to Government’s response to campaign against Iran

President Catherine Connolly criticises ‘violations of international law’ in Middle East

www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

Climate change is speeding up — the pace nearly doubled in ten years Earth is now warming at a rate of around 0.35 ºC per decade, fresh analysis finds.

As global warming accelerates towards apocalyptic conditions, rather than working to save ourselves, the great powers are instead pouring oil and raining bombs onto the gathering inferno.

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

‘Violence was the way it came out’: Young carers highlight realities of their work President says family carers save State billions by contributing millions of hours of hours of unpaid work every week

‘Violence was the way it came out’: Young carers highlight realities of their work

Family carers 'insufficiently recognised' - President President Catherine Connolly has said that the contribution of family carers, including young carers "too often goes simply ignored or certainly is insufficiently recognised".

Contribution of family carers 'insufficiently recognised' - President Connolly

www.rte.ie/news/ireland...

Mary Robinson condemns US ‘attacks on truth’ during women’s day rally: ‘There is strength in our solidarity’ Former president of Ireland Mary Robinson has called for solidarity to guard against “attacks on truth”.

Mary Robinson condemns US ‘attacks on truth’ during women’s day rally: ‘There is strength in our solidarity’. Former president of Ireland said the current US administration is ‘flooding the atmosphere with lies to confuse’.

www.independent.ie/irish-news/m...

Important in-depth @secondcaptains.bsky.social episode addressing the online racism at Edwin Edogbo and the part played by US platforms and media.

Very insightful conversation between Dr Eileen Culloty @fujomedia.bsky.social and @younghorgan.bsky.social

‘Cé muidne inniu?’ – Notes on a Residency at Stiúideo Cuan What does it mean to have more than one artistic identity? In this essay, Toner Quinn, Editor of The Journal of Music in Ireland, writes about the relationship between writing and music, and a recent ...

Toner Quinn: ‘Cé muidne inniu?’ – Notes on a Residency at Stiúideo Cuan. What does it mean to have more than one artistic identity?

journalofmusic.com/opinion/ce-m...

New #ARINS Podcast!🎙️

Rory Montgomery speaks with Prof. Brendan O’Leary (UPenn) and Prof. John McGarry (QUB) about their newly published article, My Symbols or Our Symbols?, co-authored with Dr. James Pow.

Spotify: bit.ly/4rWj2rZ
SoundCloud: bit.ly/4lhz4u2
Article: muse.jhu.edu/article/9700...

All-island legal expertise supporting survivor-centred justice internationally Lawyers from across the island of Ireland are working with justice institutions in Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia to strengthen survivor-centred justice systems and expand access to justice for women and vulnerable groups.

Lawyers from across the island of Ireland are working with justice institutions in Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia to strengthen survivor-centred justice systems and expand access to justice for women and vulnerable groups.

Plans for electronic tagging of criminal offenders delayed after tender attracts no bids Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan previously called delays ‘embarrassing’ and said system would be rolled out by the end of last year ‘at the very latest’

Plans for electronic tagging of criminal offenders delayed after tender attracts no bids. Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan previously called delays ‘embarrassing’ and said system would be rolled out by the end of last year ‘at the very latest’

www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/20...

Age Action urges Covid panel to rethink approach to care-home testimonies Families say experiences during pandemic must be heard — and seen to be heard

Age Action urges Scott Covid Evaluation panel to rethink approach to care-home testimonies – The Irish Times

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/lett...

Is the UK's intervention in Iran war legal? Starmer said Britain would intercept Iranian missiles and allow US to use its bases in defensive action. Does that make the UK complicit in an illegal war?

Illegality at every turn - war in Iran explainer

www.middleeasteye.net/explainers/u...

Superb lecture delivered tonight by Judge Dire Tladi of the International Court of Justice at the Annual Distinguished Lecture hosted by @uniofgalwayichr.bsky.social - brilliant discussion of jus cogens and erga omnes followed by a really excellent Q&A session

Conservation measures see corncrake numbers up slightly in past five years The tide is slowly turning for the endangered corncrake, according to recent research by an ATU ecologist.

The tide is slowly turning for the endangered corncrake, according to recent research by an ATU ecologist www.advertiser.ie/galway/artic...

X refused stay in Coimisiún na Meán challenge Judge Cian Ferriter said that in his view, lawyers for X overstated the extent to which the platform would be prejudiced in the event that a stay was not granted

X refused stay in Coimisiún na Meán challenge by Irish High Court. Judge Cian Ferriter said that in his view, lawyers for X overstated the extent to which the platform would be prejudiced in the event that a stay was not granted.

www.irishtimes.com/business/202...

Paid internships in the Legal Division of the Department of Foreign affairs and Trade

Paid internships in the Legal Division, DFA - 2026

www.gov.ie/en/departmen...

Galway launch of A Hosting: Interviews with Irish Writers 1991-2025 with Sarah Kenny of @kennysbookshop.bsky.social @lilliputpress.bsky.social