Ciarán

Ciarán

@hellociaran.bsky.social

Art guy (he/sé). Occasional Production design/Art direction in CSaloon. Foghlaimeoir Gaeilge (labhair í liom ldt) Woodwork @anceardlann.bsky.social Dundalk/Kilkenny Has a 🇮🇪 in his profile but not in a problematic way.

747 followers127 following973 posts

Ciarán reposted

BladeoftheSun
@bladeofthes.bsky.social

3 hours ago the Brazilian Supreme Court rejected any challenge to the election results. Just now Flavio Bolsonaro has dropped his objections. Lula is President it cannot be stopped, and Flavio Bolsonaro will be going on trial for corruption. And then to jail.

Ciarán reposted

Euan
@euan.bsky.social

presented without comment

Leicester Gazette@leicestergazette.leicester.news

Two University of Leicester students speak out over ‘absurd’ and ‘Orwellian’ decision by the BBC and ITV Studios to edit out pride pins worn on University Challenge

leicester.newsBBC edits out pride pins on University Challenge in ‘Orwellian’ move* * * This story was published by **The Leicester Gazette** : a local, independent newspaper about Leicestershire. 1,000 people have already joined our community. Just use those buttons below to download our app and **sign up for free**. * * * Astrophysics student Samuel Carlier and History student Emmeline Hague-Wright were shocked to find that their LGBTQ+ pride pins had been edited out of their University Challenge appearance earlier this year. The episode, initially scheduled for BBC Two on 24 August, was delayed twice before airing on 7 September 2026. The pins showed the progressive LGBTQ+ pride flag, the bisexual pride flag and a rainbow feather. Speaking to the Leicester Gazette, Sam said: “Living in a liberal democracy and having the state broadcaster tell you ‘we’re editing how you look’, seems very Orwellian.” Sam described the choice to remove the pins before broadcast as “weird” and “absurd”. He said: “[Censoring] that seemed weird. If I had worn a rainbow shirt, would they have censored that? If the idea is to keep things impartial, where is that line in the sand?” A side by-side image of Sam wearing the pin and with it having been digitally removed. Photograph: supplied Sam contacted the BBC to try to understand why his pins had been edited out. He told the Gazette: “The BBC people said they’d ring me, and I chased them, they just said go to the complaints website and file a complaint there, that’s what I did.” Since then, Sam hasn’t had a response from the BBC as to why his pins were removed. After the episode had aired, Sam noted that his shirt ‘melted’ into itself occasionally, as a result of the editing. Photograph: supplied ## Students believe the decision was made following online transphobia Emmeline was also shocked when she found out that the feather pin she wore was due to be removed from the episode she was in. It was understood by Emmeline that there was online transphobia in response to previous episode of University Challenge, and she had been contacted by the BBC, anticipating support from the broadcaster. When the BBC contacted her, instead of an offer of support, she was told her pin was going to be removed. “At first it was mostly confusion,” she said. “I heard that they had received a lot of nastiness online from people and I thought they were going to call me to say ‘we have support services if needed,’ and that wasn't what I got at all.” Instead, Emmeline was notified that the episodes were going to be delayed. “It was out of left field, I was confused for a while,” she said. “This entire delay has been because of a feather and two badges on a teammate that were basically impossible [for viewers] to see.” Emmeline had expressed her frustrations with the repeated delays from the BBC, spanning from mid-July to early-September. She said: “We were announced on the website and then delayed again, and then announced on the website a second time, and delayed even further. Speaking about the removal, she said: “It takes a lot of time” she said. “Making it [the edit] look good would be even more expensive and time-consuming. It seems like drastically a lot of effort.” ## Join the conversation Our app is more than just a way to keep up – it's a gateway to award-winning journalism and the local community. __Want to support our work?__ Click here for membership__.__ ## Wider criticism on LGBTQ+ support The pins Sam wore during the episode. Photograph: supplied According to leading LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall UK, two in five LGBTQ+ students will hide their identities at university for fear of discrimination. Stonewall has reported that more than 36 per cent of trans students have received hostile conduct from university staff due to their gender identity. Reflecting on the digital removal of the pins, Sam spoke about how disheartening the choice was. He said: “There was maybe like a span of eight years where someone could be uncontroversially out in the open queer – now that’s gone again.” he said. The BBC has also been widely criticised for ‘an attack on the LGBTQ+ community’ by pulling its involvement with the popular show, RuPaul's Drag Race. The broadcaster pulled its involvement in September following “significant financial pressures” as the reason for axing their involvement. The criticism follows another recent controversial edit by the BBC. On its hit show, Strictly Come Dancing, a decision was made to edit out ‘Protect the Dolls’ from contestant Bethany Antonia’s T-shirt. It’s a slogan which has become widely used to support the rights of trans women. The BBC defended their decision, saying the changes were made to meet editorial guidelines. It comes as the LGBTQ+ community has faced challenges amid an increasingly less tolerant political climate. ## What the BBC had to say When we asked them about editing out the pins worn by Leicester’s University Challenge team, a BBC spokesperson said: “In line with our editorial guidelines, we advise that no badges, flags, and emblems or symbols are worn or visible during filming, along with clothing with obvious branding or slogans. If such items are not removed for any reason then a decision is made between the programme makers and the BBC regarding any edits to the programme.” The BBC said the delays to the episode were unrelated to the decision to edit out the pins. A spokesperson for ITV Studios said: “University Challenge is an entertainment quiz show and is made in accordance with the BBC Editorial Guidelines requirements for impartiality.” The University of Leicester refused to comment on the matter. * * * **Before you go…** We’ve recently surpassed 1,000 subscribers, which is amazing considering we’re a small team on a shoestring budget. Now, we’re ready for the next stage of the Leicester Gazette. **Download our new app and get all of our journalism anytime, anywhere.** The app connects with **Bluesky** , **Mastodon** and **Threads** , giving you access to a network of around 60 million people. It’s a safer, more meaningful alternative to mainstream social media – owned by the community. * * *
Ciarán
@hellociaran.bsky.social

My folks live in Dundalk. I live in Kilkenny. And my mam *can*not* accept that she lives in the bigger, busier town with more stuff, shops, etc. She strongly identifies as the country bumpkin visiting her highfalutin son in the big smoke - "oh gawd, I don't think we'd be able to get -that- here.."

Ciarán
@hellociaran.bsky.social

Dundalk is twice the size of Kilkenny. When I'm visiting, I get things here that I can't get in Kk and it's shocking and upsetting to her every time. Like the natural order of the universe has been upended.

Ciarán reposted

Saoirse McHugh
@saoirsemc.bsky.social

No TDs should be allowed on the Internet until they can pass basic social media stress tests. I'm being 100% serious. We can't afford ministers making decisions after getting piled on on social media cause theyve rotted their brains and connection with real people by spending too much time on twittr

Ciarán
@hellociaran.bsky.social

A contraption! I need a drum sander for my wood shenanigans, but can't afford one, so I made one using only scrap wood and stuff I had already (inc. old bandsaw motor). In the end, I had to buy the two belt pulleys, belt and two guide bearings in the second pic.

Ciarán
@hellociaran.bsky.social

Whenever I go to the doctor to renew my SSRIs, I mention that work stresses me and they ask what I do, and then I crack up laughing cause I have to say that I work part-time in animation. They're always very nice and supportive about it, though. Different people, different stressors etc..

Ciarán reposted

Myles na gCup O'Lean.
@executivesteve.bsky.social

We once convinced an American friend to go into Paddy Power to pay the electricity bill in cash.

Darach Ó Séaghdha@darach.bsky.social

Lookit. Deep down every Irish person wants to spin some yank a yarn that gets cited as fact in some factual text. We told an Irish American girl that when the Muppets was released in Ireland, Kermit the Frog was called Dermot the Frog because Cromwell’s son was a Kermit.

Ciarán reposted

Philip O'Connor
@philipoconnor.bsky.social

One Irish person was refused citizenship recently over the language test after a six-year process despite doing the whole thing in Swedish. The same person teaches at university level in Swedish, and has published academic texts in the language.

This post is unavailable.
Ciarán
@hellociaran.bsky.social

I'm dead. I'm standing on the banks of the Styx and I see the only way across is on Charons boat, taking one soul at a time, charging one obol per round trip. With some startup capital I buy a three-seater boat and charge half an obol. It's a loss leader but after 18 months, we're looking at a marke

Ciarán
@hellociaran.bsky.social

I bought something from Finland a couple of weeks ago. I got one email confirming the order. Then nothing. No updates, no tracking numbers. Then it just showed up at my door today. Finns are my kinda people 🇫🇮

Ciarán@hellociaran.bsky.social

Email: Order confirmed! New email: Our team will soon be getting your order ready for shipping. New email: Alan is currently gathering your items New email: Alan has just stopped to tie his shoelace. Apologies for the delay. New email: Al's just back from holidays, actually. Prague, I think.

Ciarán
@hellociaran.bsky.social

Residents of the Garvaghy and the Orange Order reading "we do appeal for calm on all sides" and thinking "you know what, he's right. Let's calm down." Nice one, Andy 👍

This post is unavailable.

Ciarán reposted

Stephen O'Neill
@oneillsb.bsky.social

Replying to @oneillsb.bsky.social

it is striking, once again, that a united Ireland is contingent on the 'good' behaviour of nationalists in the face of sectarian triumphalism - in this specific case a community that has been terrorised by the Orange Order and its defenders

Ciarán
@hellociaran.bsky.social

Scab.

Gavan Reilly@gavreilly.com

🚨 The squad registered by Ireland for today’s game includes QPR defender Jimmy Dunne registered as a goalkeeper, so as to fulfil the ‘three GKs’ rule

Ciarán reposted

Paul Murphy TD
@paulmurphy.pbp.ie

Latest news at Garvaghy Road is very hopeful. It appears the PSNI have told the Orange Order they won't be able to march because of the size of the protest. It's not clear if there will be an attempt later or not. Residents are continuing to protest. People power in action.

Ciarán reposted

Ciarán Mc Mahon
@cjamcmahon.bsky.social

UEFA now has the chance to do the funniest thing - disqualify Ireland from the tournament #stopthegame

John Finn@seanfionn.bsky.social

Gavin Bazunu statement on withdrawing from Ireland squad Ireland only has 2 goal keepers in squad EUFA regulations require 3

Ciarán reposted

Gary Gannon TD
@garygannontd.bsky.social

The FAI repeatedly told us players would be protected. Yet when a 24 year old acted on his conscience, they left him to stand alone & used a vote among his teammates to validate their own cowardice. This isn’t protecting a young player, it’s protecting themselves at his expense. #StopTheGame

Gavan Reilly@gavreilly.com

What has emerged at a later part of the FAI press conference: Knowing the circumstances of the upcoming games, the FAI did a trawl of prospective callups and checked with abut 30 of the most likely players to ensure they were comfortable fulfilling those fixtures. Goalkeepers were not among them.

Ciarán reposted

Gavin Elliott
@sgelliott.net

The brave and lonely stance taken by Gavin Bazunu makes the moral cowardice displayed by the administrators of Irish football even more stark.

Ciarán
@hellociaran.bsky.social

I will never be able to reconcile the ceaseless anecdotes about how hard it is to get on SNL and how brutal the auditions are, with just how crushingly unfunny the sketches are.

Ciarán
@hellociaran.bsky.social

Email: Order confirmed! New email: Our team will soon be getting your order ready for shipping. New email: Alan is currently gathering your items New email: Alan has just stopped to tie his shoelace. Apologies for the delay. New email: Al's just back from holidays, actually. Prague, I think.

Ciarán
@hellociaran.bsky.social

I seriously cannot afford to take up any more interests. I don't have the money and I really, really don't have any time...BUT...I would love to do some mosaic stuff. And hand-painted signage. This is absolutely gorgeous.

Little Deer Comics@littledeercomics.bsky.social

This has been coming for months, so excited it’s finally here! Entryway mosaic to New Little Deer by Signs of Power! (Greannáin is the Irish word for “comics,” pronounced: grann-awn)