Thomas Creamer

@thomascreamer.bsky.social

1508 Followers 1128 Following

Leitrim native with notions. Very much a personal account, looking for a lesser evil in terms of managing the social media addiction. @tmcreamer on the other site. #speirgorm (He/Him)

Bus advert for what seems like a live action remake of Disney's Moana film, for releasw in 10th July.
Flat Cap
Daniel Ennis of the Social Democrats looks likely to be the transfer magnet, and on count day, this will make all the difference if it’s tight at the top. The poll shows Green voters intend to transfer to him at a rate of 32 per cent, People Before Profit (PBP) at 54 per cent and Labour at 22 per cent. So, among the soft and hard left, Ennis has a significant advantage. And there’s a good bundle of votes there to be had between them; these three candidates have 17 per cent of first preference votes. Janice Boylan is eclipsed on the left with only 2 per cent of Labour voters swinging for her, and 12 per cent of Green voters. Among PBP voters, the number is stronger at 29 per cent, but still short of Ennis. Interestingly, there will be some votes for Ennis too if he stays in advance of the Government parties – some 14 per cent of Fine Gael voters say they will transfer to the Social Democrats, along with 13 per cent of Fianna Fáil voters (but this is likely to be a smaller number with its candidate failing to ignite).
There’s a scattering of support for Sinn Féin preferences from Independent voters, but it won’t add up to many votes, and it looks like to if it is to prevail, Sinn Féin are going to have to muster the mother and father of byelection first preference votes. And if it’s close between Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats, if Hutch goes out, could his transfers to Sinn Féin prove decisive? Hutch voters split for Ennis at only 8 per cent.
Implement in full the recommendations of the O’Shea Review into the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, including removing the three-day waiting period for access to abortion services, improving access to services in underserved regions, and improve the information available.
Irish Times - "Farming and haulage groups have been told this afternoon the Government does have a package of supports ready, but it will not be announced until the blockade is lifted. — Ellen Coyne, Political Correspondent"
Ad for the Irish times with a cartoon bomb, saying "EXPECT OPINIONS THAT MAY SET YOU OFF - The Irish Times - Students Get IT Free"
SF - 22%, up 2% from previous poll. FG - 17%, down 1% from previous poll. Social Democrats - 11%, up 1% from previous poll. FF - 18%, (no change) Aontú - 6% Independent Ireland - 5%, down 1%. Labour Party - 4%, no change. Solidarity-PBP - 3%, down 1%. Independents/Others - 11%, unchanged
Article from the Indo interviewing Fergus Finlay and Terry Prone - 'Do they have hopes for the younger generations coming up behind the “greatest” one? “They must be very daunted at what lies ahead of them,” Finlay begins. “So were we, and we were less educated, less skilled, less talented, less able. I’ve never met a generation that is as confident, as able, as bright, as talented as this crowd. Now some of them are also bumptious, arrogant, noisy and loud.”'
From the Journal.ie on 13th January 2026 - Asked this afternoon if the Government would consider banning X, Minister [Patrick] O’Donovan said that would be an issue that would need to be discussed at EU level. “I’ve already said that the second half of the year, during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council [of the EU], will be devoted to protection of the child online. “And it’s a bit strange that a lot of people that were criticising me last week with regard to some of my comments, albeit taken out of context, were the same people that were also criticising the fact that we were looking to bring in age verification.”
Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said "international law is universal and binding for all states. "The American intervention in Venezuela is not in accordance with international law."
Photo of "luckin coffee" outlet
"Apple vinegar beverage" in a green can.
Order screen for Popeyes at an airport with "popular products" - a "Maxi XL menu" meal costs €24.50, and a "Maxi Popchicken menu" meal costs €23.50.
"Once elected, who cares by how much?" Fergus Finlay argues that Catherine Connolly’s democratic mandate is somehow weakened because if “you divide her vote arithmetically by the size of the electorate, the answer is 25.29%”. It strikes me as a strange argument, since I recalled Michael D Higgins winning his re-election in 2018 on an even lower turnout than this year — with support from “only” 24.18% of the total electorate. Yet I do not recall Finlay being so concerned that Higgins had to feel obliged to “prove” he was an inclusive president. And if we want to continue this game further — 25.29% is also the proportion of the electorate Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael won in the general election last year, and it does not break past 27.5% even when you add in the nine pro-government Independents. No serious commentator would argue that a government should be concerned about being elected on such a share of the electorate, so I’m not sure why the presidency should be any different. Tomás Creamer, Ballinamore, Co Leitrim
Extract from Journal.ie article, with quotes from Simon Harris; “Migration is a legitimate public policy point of consideration in our country and across the European Union.” He said the fact that 80% of asylum applications are rejected in Ireland were what led him to believe migration numbers are too high, and said that fact “should raise a red flag for government”. He also said that general migration figures, separate from asylum applications, are also “too high”. “We can continue to go around and put fingers in ears and not listen to people if we want, but we can actually do what political leaders do – engage on topics.
wint @dril - turning a big dial taht says "Racism" on it and constantly looking back at the audience for approval like a contestant on the price is right 6:03 AM · Mar 15, 2017
I'm voting for Catherine Connolly
Tweet from Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly), quoting Jim O'Callaghan; "💬 Jim O’Callaghan: “I've noticed in recent years from all sides of the political spectrum, criticism being directed at lawyers because of the clients who they represent. I don't think it's correct or fair to criticise lawyers because of the actions you [took] in the past… “I think it's important that we all realise that for the administration and justice to operate effectively in Ireland, there has to be parties represented by lawyers, no matter how unpopular or how unvirtuous those clients may be.”"
Reacting to the news, Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne said the idea that a company that could provide hundreds of homes a year was set to close because of a “lack of orders” was shocking. He appealed to the Government to use the Land Development Agency and “step in and buy the factory” so that it could be kept open to deliver homes.
Title: "Ní Shionnáin served her sentence - surely she is allowed to rebuild her life?" I want to clarify something – is it the view of the Taoiseach, and of commentators, that former prisoners should be denied opportunities to rebuild their lives away from violence or criminality, even after they have served their sentence? Given her qualifications, Ursula Ní Shionnáin was perfectly suited for the role of administrative support for a TD working on the Oireachtas Committee for the Irish language, and Catherine Connolly was in the right to give her a chance. I think it is much more concerning if our Government thinks that prisoners such as Ní Shionnáin should not be given the opportunity to rehabilitate when they demonstrate a willingness to do so. As a former employee of the Irish Prison Service, that seems to go against everything that I was told during my training. Tomás M Creamer, Ballinamore, Co Leitrim Published 4th October, 2025, on the letter section of the Irish Indepedent.
Tweet from "Ireland Votes" - "BREAKING: Leitrim County Council votes not to nominate Maria Steen as a Presidential candidate 9-7 against the nomination. Yes: 5 FF & 2 IND No: 4 SF, 3 FG, 1 FF, 1 IND" Published at 2:38 PM · Sep 22, 2025
Tweet from Simon Harris, published at 6:39am on 11th September, 2025 - "The killing of Charlie Kirk in Utah is appalling and shocking. Young children have lost a father and a wife has lost her husband needlessly. Such despicable acts of violence are utterly abhorrent."
Micheál Martin, tweeting at 7:34am on September 11th 2025 - "My thoughts and prayers go to the family and loved ones of Charlie Kirk after his horrific murder in Utah. We think especially of his wife and young children today. There is no place for the gun in politics, no justification for violence in democratic debate."
Article written by Judy Maltz from Haaretz, published 11st August 2025: "For Israelis travelling abroad this summer, a big question: do we say where we are from?"
Irish Independent extract from article titled "Enoch Burke wins Court of Appeal challenge over make-up of dismissal appeals panel", published 25th July 2025: "The judge said her finding, which was concurred with by Mr Justice Donald Binchy and Ms Justice Nuala Butler, was made due to the nature of Mr Christie’s role in the ASTI. She said Mr Christie had an “institutional association” with remarks made by ASTI deputy general secretary Diarmuid De Paor in a newspaper interview that students should be generally referred to by their preferred pronoun. The judge also said the instruction given by the then principal at Wilson’s Hospital closely mirrored advice the ASTI gave to schools on the use of names and pronouns for transitioning students. “The position adopted by the ASTI executive runs counter to the appellant’s position. In that circumstance, an apprehension of objective bias arises if Mr Christie remains on the disciplinary appeals panel,” the judge said."
A weather forecast for Dublin for the next week, with daytime temperatures maxxing out at 20 or 21 degrees, with a couple of wet days and nights predicted for later next week.
Facebook post from The Telegraph newspaper - "Malak Hani graduated from school in Gaza with the second highest grade of any student in the Palestinian territories. The 19-year-old received a full scholarship to the University of Cambridge this year. But months later, she remains trapped in the rubble of Gaza and tangled inside a web of British bureaucracy. Read her story ⬇️ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/07/19/oxbridge-scholarship-students-trapped-in-gaza/"
At the weekend, I read an article in The New York Times about ‘the Gen Z stare’ with a sense of recognition. The Gen Z stare is when a Zoomer is asked a question in a public setting, and instead of answering verbally, they deliver a passive-aggressive stare.
More generally, I have discussed new workplace behaviours with various friends who are employers or senior managers in different walks of life, ranging from blue-chip corporate echelons to small businesses. The broad consensus is that there is a lack of understanding of how to behave in a professional context, and a marked interest in what works best for Gen Z employees. To take just one example, a refusal to take messages or calls outside of strictly defined working hours. So, if you forget to ask your junior employee a question before 6pm because your head is over a document, it will have to wait until the next day. Two minutes past six is too late, loser.
Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) - "Congratulations @ZohranKMamdani on your victory in yesterday’s primary election and a well-run campaign. I’m wishing you much success in November and beyond as you work to bring New Yorkers together to tackle the city’s challenges and shape a stronger, fairer future." 7:14 PM · Jun 25, 2025
Tweet by X: "Why are these the only choices in the Sunday Independent opinion poll to this question? Why is there no option for a new income tax band on top earners? Or a new specific wealth tax, not inheritance?" Polling question: If the Government is faced with makimg hard choices in the budget given financial concerns, which of the followimg wpuld you agree with? Select all that would apply: - Introducing Water Charges - Lifting the Rent Cap - Raising the USC - Raising Inheritance tax - None of the above
Tweet from Soc Dem Cllr Elisa O'Donovan - "I blocked Gript Media in 2021 following a series of “stories” about me that created relentless harassment and incitement of violence towards me. Full support and solidarity with @RuthCoppingerSP for standing firm against these extremist media outlets that cause serious harm to the people their followers stalk and harass 😢"
Alternative media While many of the arguments used in fringe communities are taken from overseas, the report also highlights the popularity of Irish alternative media in groups that spread them. The report found that the most shared media within the fringe groups studies, by far, was of Gript.ie, a conservative alternative media site. The report noted more than 78,000 shares of Gript articles – often on the topics of health, LGBTQ+ issues and immigration. “Since the beginning of the anti-immigration protests in November 2022, Gript has published an average of 48 posts per week across Facebook, Twitter (X), YouTube, Telegram and Instagram that reference this topic,” the report says. “Four of the ten most-shared URLs within the immigration topic linked to articles from Gript and five of the most-viewed YouTube videos within this topic were published by Gript”.
Ruth Coppinger Quote Tweets Conor Lally of the Irish Times - "‘Editorial line’ - wow. And the irony of ‘diverse’ when Gript post stories against diversity & that are endangering people of colour, LGBTQI. I’ve already had threats to me since y’day thanks to journalists backing up this totally normal media outlet." Conor Lally's original tweet - "Not every publication's editorial line will tally with our own personal views But the media should be diverse. Gript has a right to ask questions, including on immigration. Respectfully, thinking otherwise is a slippery slope."
Avenue Magazine Calgary - "Gerson has never harboured any hope to change the world and rejects the J-school aphorism that the purpose of journalism is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. “That is an activist model,” she said. “If you’ve accepted that, then you’ve accepted your role in journalism as an activist, and as a left-leaning activist whose job it is to shit on the rich.” Gerson said she worries that too many journalists consider challenging power to be a more important goal than simply telling truthful stories. “That being said, I’m perfectly happy to take out the powerful when I think they deserve it. I’m thrilled. I’ll take your head and I’ll put it on a wall if you deserve it,” then she added, “I’m really nice. I’m just very disagreeable.”"
Irish Independent headline (Sunday 20th April 2025) - "'It's like I've won the lottery, my house would be of no value' - resident's relief aa landmark Dublin 4 hotel won't house Asylum Seekers"
Snippet from Irish Independent from earlier today - "The Taoiseach has been told to “stop behaving like a child” by the Ceann Comhairle, following a series of interruptions in the Dáil."
Met Éireann - A gust of 183km/h has been recorded at Mace Head Co. Galway at 5am. This is ptovisionally the strongest gust speed ever recorded in Ireland.
80 km/h speed limit sign on a rural road with grass growing in the middle, and which is literally only wide enough for one car.
Witness requirement
Simpsons meme - in Barts classroom, the students and teachers crowd around Bart/Gogarthy, telling him to "say the line, Gogarthy!". Gogarty responds, responding reluctantly "Fuck you, Deputy Stagg!!", to cheers from the classroom.
Soc Dem Landslide
Headline; No single party can focus solely on one issue, society is far too complex for that. There is a problem with Colin Murphy’s suggestion that left-wing parties entering government negotiations should follow the Green Party’s “precision of focus” model (‘Can a Green, Labour and Soc Dem pact change Irish politics?’, Sunday Independent, November 24). For the Green Party, the policies to prioritise are obvious: public transport and the reduction of carbon emissions. Its policies such as housing, healthcare and education are just optional extras, which it is perfectly willing to concede on. For the Social Democrats, Sláintecare, a public childcare model, a senior minister for disabilities and the proper provision of 50,000 affordable homes are not optional extras we would sacrifice merely to oblige the Government to take the necessary climate actions to avoid billions of euro of fines from the EU. Every one of those policy areas are red-line areas for us. The problems we face as a ­society are multi-faceted, and it is not enough to just tinker around the edges in one specific area; we need a completely different approach to that taken by Fine Gael-led governments since 2011. To do anything less would be to betray all those for whom the current status quo is no longer tolerable. Thomas Creamer, Ballinamore, Co Leitrim
SF number 1's give 37% of their number 2 preferences to themselves, 15% to S-PBP, 10% to Soc Dems, 4% to Labour, and a negligable amount to Greens. PBP voters give 45% of their transfers to SF, and 23% to Soc Dems.
Independent article extract - "And if not Independents or Greens, then who? The thinking within Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael has turned to the Labour Party. There is an expectation it will gain seats as the public have “forgiven” the party for its mistakes during its last stint in government. Former leader Alan Kelly very clearly laid out in the Nenagh Guardian that he wanted to be around the cabinet table, and this pricked Fine Gael’s ears. The party is particularly keen on Labour as the two have similar values and would in turn have more sway over Fianna Fáil."
Mark Ward TD posts a tweet containing a photograph of his own poster on a lamp post above that of a FG poster that is upside down. The text says "Privatisation does not work! We are blessed in Dublin Mid West to have a great team of Sinn Féin activists to put up our posters Other parties use private companies. The results speak for themselves"
Local Newspaper ad for Gráinne Seoige (Fianna Fáil candidate in Galway West) which says at the bottom: " Did you know that treatment for cancer outcomes in Galway are the worst in the country? More Investment can change this. If elected, I will work to bring this investment to ensure all people get equal Treatment in Galway."
Tweet from a Fine Gael party member: "https://www.irishnews.com/news/republicofirelandnews/2023/09/22/news/sinn_fein_promises_irish_nhs_within_two_terms_of_government-3637665/?param=ds441rif44T "A lack of political will to fund the change has stalled plans to date." Ireland spent €30bn on healthcare in 2022, compared with €13.9bn in 2012. The issue is not money! It's poor management structures, affecting frontline staff & patients."