It’s that time of the year again when our attention is drawn to university applications. In fact, I’ve even been in the newspaper talking about it all. This year is especially exciting since our own eldest child is in the process of applying. It’s interesting seeing it from the other side and realising that I’m …
Does everybody know my name here? No, demonstrably not. I mean, I’m having to wear a name badge. Are they glad I came? Questionable. I can be a bit annoying. But I am an invited panelist, so maybe. Those of a certain age (or who have Channel 4 on in the morning while getting ready …
Look. I grew up in the 80s. When you say AI to me, I automatically think of Skynet and humanity’s desperate fight for survival. Younger me certainly didn’t expect older me to be actively thinking about how to use AI for the public good. If anything, younger me would be bitterly disappointed that older me …
I’ve only used the photo of our library cat up there as clickbait… Can you believe that last week marked three months since I started at Maynooth. I certainly can’t. Weirdly, it seems like I’ve been here for a lot longer. Which is exactly what one of the team said to me: “God. Only three …
Oh god. I’m so boring. Here’s another footballing reference on this website. I’m really going to have to find another interest. But I’m in my late 40s so I’m too set in my ways. Anyway, this is a quote from the Denmark head coach Kasper Hjulmand when he moved into that role and was setting …
I’ve survived my first month! Well done me. And crucially I am still in my honeymoon period, having smashed the honeymoon period of my previous job by some margin. That one lasted a mere 13 days. Not my fault, I might add. It’s always a bit overwhelming when you start a new job in a …
Read more “I refuse to put some Irish-based cliche here so you’re stuck with this…”
I currently work in an empty void. Not the usual emotional one but rather an actual physical one. With my move to Ireland just next week, everything in my office has been packed up and sent across the waters. And so now my workspace is empty and echoey. It’s also very white. It’s like I’ve …
You may have seen that last week we announced our partnership work with Inter Miami CF. I’m really excited about it, and not just because I have now shaken a hand that has shaken the hand of Messi. And there’s a whole stack of research around secondary DNA transfer, so basically I’ve shaken the hand …
Oh boy. Look. I know I said before that I’d do better at blogging more often, but I’ve really not. Although to be fair, I do know for sure that some are viewing this as a blessing. But not everyone! One person has been hanging on with baited breath, awaiting the next update with nervous …
This post contains discussion of the challenges in midwifery and childbirth If you’ve been watching/reading/listening/imbibing the news over the past few years, you will have heard repeated claims of the crisis in midwifery. Not in terms of student recruitment (which remains strong), but in terms of clinical care. There have been a series of high-profile …
Read more “Call the Midwife! But, like, be really nice to them because it’s a really hard job…”