Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪

@billylinehan

Adviser for Business & more! Irish Tech News | Celtar Advisers | StartUp Ballymun | Dublin, Ireland. Grower of ideas, businesses, communities & #historymatters

1.963 Folgt1.465 Follower3.509 Posts

Website Website Bluesky

Ist das dein Profil?Übernimm es — dann gehört dir billylinehan.dirty.social.Profil übernehmen

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jul 11

Lovely to visit the inside of the Magazine Fort in the Phoenix Park The 1735 bastion fort located in the south-east of the Park. Built to store gunpowder and arms, occupied by the British Armed Forces until it was handed over to the Irish Defence Forces in 1922. @opwireland.bsky.social

The Bastion and Lookout: In the background stands a whitewashed, fortified stone bunker structure featuring narrow vertical loopholes (slits) originally used for musketry defense and lookouts.
Stone Staircase: A narrow, open-air stone staircase with a green iron handrail leads up to the elevated rampart walk and defensive bastion platform. A modern rope barrier blocks the stairs for visitor safety.
Ground Surfaces: The courtyard floor is divided into distinct zones, transitioning from light-colored river pea gravel around the structures to dark asphalt or packed earth along the walking path. Large, flat granite paving blocks sit prominently in the foreground.
Defensive Walls: A high perimeter stone blast wall frames the right side of the area, typical of 18th-century artillery fortifications designed to absorb or contain potential explosions.

One of 4 magazines where gunpowder was stored. Note original oak floor with wooden dowels.
Structural Blast Vaulting: The thick brick-vaulted ceiling formed a blast protection layer. If an accidental ignition occurred inside one vault, the massive architecture was engineered to funnel the shock wave straight upward through a weak roof rather than blowing outward horizontally into adjacent powder rooms or garrison quarters.

The Gunpowder Kegs
The wooden casks shown in the image are tailored to safely hold volatile explosive material:
Materials: These casks were typically made of sturdy white oak staves. Unlike standard liquor barrels, the hoops binding them together were strictly made of copper, brass, or wooden hazel saplings. Utilizing iron hoops was banned because striking iron could generate a friction spark and cause a catastrophic detonation.
Sizes: In a typical British ordnance facility like the Magazine Fort, powder was packed into varying capacities:
Barrels: Held 100 lbs of powder.Half-Barrels: Held 50 lbs of powder (the size likely being carried by the soldiers in the foreground).Quarter-Barrels (Kegs): Held 25 lbs of powder.
Sealing: The barrels were tightly sealed and occasionally lined to prevent the highly hygroscopic black powder from absorbing ambient atmospheric moisture or dampness, which would render it useless.
Storage and Handling PracticesThe design of the storage chamber in the artwork demonstrates the advanced safety protocols of the era:The Stacking Configurations:
Horizontal "Ricking" (Left): Barrels are stacked on their sides in structured rows. This distributed the immense weight evenly across the floor and allowed inventory handlers to rotate or check individual barrels for dampness.
Vertical Stacks (Center): Barrels are stacked on end to maximize space while awaiting transport or immediate inspection.
Spark-Free Flooring: The floorboards were entirely constructed using wooden pegs (dowels) instead of iron nails, ensuring that shifting barrels or soldiers' footsteps would never strike metal-on-metal sparks.

Active Surveillance: The elevated wooden catwalk allowed an officer or ordnance supervisor to watch operations continuously from a safe vantage point, ensuring workers did not drop barrels or bring illicit metal tools into the room.

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jul 11

England expects? #NORVENG

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jul 9

Alors on danse #FRAVMAR

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jul 9

All the way to Tulsa, from Blanchardstown to Oklahoma, what a loss?

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jul 7

Savage score in 90th minute by Argentina, who lead 3-2 #EGYVARG

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jul 7

Well done, Belgium - by NURK

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jul 5

Comma butterfly in back garden today, Dublin 15. Rare enough for Ireland?

The comma, is a food generalist (polyphagous) butterfly species belonging to the family Nymphalidae. The angular notches on the edges of the forewings are characteristic of the genus Polygonia, which is why species in the genus are commonly referred to as anglewing butterflies. Comma butterflies can be identified by their prominent orange and dark brown/black dorsal wings.

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jul 5

Signpost near pollution site, and other pic of pollution sludge deposit on riverbed. Note there is also light reflection. If interested, contact me. Tolka river at Mill Road bridge, Blanchardstown village, Fingal

Signpost of the Scaldwood, Tolka valley walk near Blanchardstown village

Water pollution incident in Tolka river beside start of Scaldwood pathway, Tolka valley .. near Blanchardstown village

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jul 5

Toxic sludge is back in Tolka River at Mill Road bridge, Blanchardstown Reported many times to @fingal.ie Council Supposedly from premises in Coolmine Industrial Estate? Little river life for a km downstream @ellamcsweeney.bsky.social @bgormley.bsky.social #tolkariver #waterpollution #dublin

Culvert feeding into Tolks river, facing downstream from Mill Road bridge.
River is lifeless for a km downstream.
This is ongoing, seen first several years ago.
Local group used to stock trout here.

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jul 5

Encouraging to see Fingal Council tackling invasive cherry laurel in Scaldwood, Tolka valley, Blanchardstown village. Large areas have been treated that will help restore the native woodland over time. Follow-up will be important, excellent conservation work. Well done. @fingalcoco.ie

The start of a wider restoration project in Scaldwood, it will be interesting to see what regenerates naturally over the next few years. Once the laurel canopy is removed, native species such as holly, hazel, hawthorn, elder, bramble and woodland flowers will begin to recover

Cherry laurel readily heals wounds. This scrape-and-treat technique is specifically designed to introduce herbicide into the plant's vascular tissue. Cherry laurel often requires a follow-up inspection 12 to 24 months after treatment, with any surviving regrowth retreated - see new green regrowth.
Well done Fingal!

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jul 4

Cape Verde score again!! 2-2 #ARGVCPV

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jul 3

Cape Verde score! #ARGVCPV

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jul 2

⚽️ The "Habsburg Derby" is LIVE at the World Cup! Spain and Austria battle in the Round of 32 - winner advances, loser takes it on the chin. Literally. Final Habsburg rulers Spain: Charles II 1665-1700 Austria: Charles I 1916-1918

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jul 2

Toxic sludge is back in Tolka River at Mill Road bridge, Blanchardstown Reported many times to @fingal.ie Council Supposedly from Coolmine Industrial Estate @antaisce.bsky.social @foeireland.bsky.social @envpillar.bsky.social @deptcee.bsky.social #tolkariver #waterpollution #dublin #fingal

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jul 1

Finally Malta opens trial of the alleged mastermind behind murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia Wealthy Maltese businessman appeared in court, suspected of having ordered the murder 9 years ago. Case shook Malta, and sparked a wave of condemnation worldwide www.france24.com/fr/europe/20...

Daphne Anne Caruana Galizia (née Vella; 26 August 1964 – 16 October 2017) was a Maltese writer, journalist, blogger and anti-corruption activist who reported on political events in Malta. She was known internationally for her investigation of the Panama Papers and subsequent assassination by a car bomb. Wikipedia

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jul 1

So disappointing, toxic sludge is back in Tolka River at Mill Road bridge, Blanchardstown Reported many times to Fingal Council over the years @epaireland.bsky.social @swanireland.ie @elainemcgoff.bsky.social @tolkabranchbwi.bsky.social @connectingcabra.bsky.social @rodericogorman.bsky.social

A substantial area of opaque grey-white discolouration beside the outfall.
The material appears to spread from the outfall into the river.
The surrounding Tolka water is relatively clear by comparison, making the affected area distinct.
Sediment or sludge appears to have settled over rocks and the riverbed immediately downstream.
Photos are owned by Billy Linehan

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jun 25

Eoin Costello opens Dargan Forum in Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, harnessing technology for local communities, small businesses make towns. - announces this is his last Forum. #darganforum #dunlaoghaire #connectedhubs

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jun 22

Dargan Forum 2026: Turning Ireland’s Green and Digital Transition into Action Artificial intelligence, regional development, digital trust, tourism, offshore energy and public service innovation will feature at Dargan Forum 2026, in Dún Laoghaire on 24/25 June. www.darganinstitute.ie

From the use of AI to analyse public consultation submissions to discussions on Connected Hubs, digital communities, tourism innovation and offshore renewable energy, the emphasis is on sharing examples of what is already working and what lessons can be applied elsewhere.
https://www.darganinstitute.ie/#dargan-forum-main-event

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jun 22

Watching out. White heron, Royal Canal, near Granard Bridge Canal is a green lung through Dublin 15, lets keep it that way #royalcanal #blanchardstown #dublin15 #fingal

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jun 20

Another woman receives 74 lashes in Iran writes Masih Alinejad

She photographed a concert held in a historic caravanserai, no audience, just a female, singer, music, and freedom. Then they shared the video on YouTube.

Yes, this is the 21st century. In Iran, women can be punished simply for singing. And if you attend their performance, or even take a photo or video, you can be punished too.

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jun 19

Champions! Great performance from Leinster, imposed from the start #LEIvBUL

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jun 19

Lots of Irish tech news this week, Manna Air Delivery suspend drone operations nationwide (thousands of Dublin 15 customers will miss their efficient, fast, low carbon delivery service during the hiatus) Hey Manna, don't be away too long! @mannadronedelivery.bsky.social #drones #Blanchardstown

19 Jun 2026

Drone aerial delivery operator Manna has announced it is ceasing delivery operations in Ireland to concentrate its growth on the US, UK and other international markets.

In a statement released this afternoon, the company said:

> "The lack of a clear national framework has left the sector reliant on local planning processes and created uncertainty around the infrastructure required to support drone delivery at scale."

It said the US, UK, China and the UAE are:

> "demonstrating rapid regulatory progress and strong commercial momentum".

> "As a result, Manna has decided to concentrate its investment, talent and operational resources in markets where large-scale drone delivery is now a reality," said the statement.

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jun 17

Tomato growing time! Dublin 15 @gapireland.bsky.social

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jun 16

Sharp riposte from Bobby Healy to stupid @irishtimes headline article by @killianwoods.bsky.social @mannadronedelivery.bsky.social

Irish Times post on Twitter/X , with sharp reply by Bobby Healy

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jun 12

Wish my Mum did not throw out this Panini album! #worldcup #panini

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jun 8

Dreams to Startup Success: StartUp Ballymun Turns 10 Join Ireland's oldest (?) startup event in Ballymun, Whan? 10 June, from 4pm #startupballymun #ballymun share.google/O5ROVVVHrr8K...

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jun 5

50 Years of UCD Students Union celebration in @ucddublin.bsky.social this evening - some changes from my days in UCD SU #ucd #studentsunion

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· Jun 5

Data centre debate is based on assumptions that are already being challenged by new technology Latest generation of AI data centres are becoming more efficient digital factories, driven by innovations in cooling, power management and infrastructure design. irishtechnews.ie/ai-rethink-o...

Schneider Electric and Motivair showcase how AI is reshaping cooling and power systems inside modern data centres

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· May 29

Last evening attended TechFoundHer pre-reception in Dublin's lovely City Hall. R photo of Mairin Murray and Mairead McCarthy part of the organising team of heroes. Supported by Dublin City Council, @intertradeireland.bsky.social @entirl.bsky.social #femaleentrepreneurs #techfoundher

Annual gathering at Mansion House to draw global investors and put women founders at the forefront of Ireland’s tech ecosystem.
The TechFoundHer Summit has been selected as the flagship event of Dublin Tech Week 2026, marking a significant milestone for an organisation that has become a central player in supporting women to start, lead and scale technology businesses in Ireland.
www.thinkbusiness.ie

Billy Linehan 🇪🇺🇮🇪@billylinehan· May 28

Attending TechFoundHer pre-reception in Dublin City Hall Photo of organising team of heroes TechFoundHer Summit is tomorrow in Dublin's Mansion House Supported by Dublin City Council, @intertradeireland.bsky.social @entirl.bsky.social and more #femaleentrepreneurs #techfounder