@Ireland Curator: Maoilíosa Kiely

So that's it from me. I had the most amazing time talking to you all, I wish you all the very best in everything you do...

@bazkelly79 *blushes*

. @wholesomeIE @maoiliosak and I hope to hear from you there :)

And Bray head in all it's beauty pic.twitter.com/9B8zFv10

Gorgeous evening in my hometown pic.twitter.com/ERjtqHau

99 two flakes pic.twitter.com/mlSHsPQJ

Myself and the teen are heading down for a stroll and 99 on the Bray seafront, will tweet the experience LOIVE

Ok people, tweeting for @ireland tomorrow, from Mayo in the wild west of Ireland is... @ferguskelly !

@mikecrotty59 both!

@fhayesmccoy you can even bring a guest!

@mickeyg406 we'll get along just fine :)

@mickeyg406 yes :(

. @Larsjam The account will live on, some amazing people have been tweeting and will be tweeting in the future!

And you are all invited to a party over at mine - @maoiliosak - just bring a bottle :)

I'm going to miss you lot of messers but shortly I will be introducing the next @ireland curator...

@CuratorsMexico @larsjam @sweden @peopleofleeds @tweetweekusa @weareaustralia @peopleofuk @newzealand @weareukraine @wearefrance yo!

Anyway, enough of that...DINNER TIME! pic.twitter.com/D3g4YyDJ

To all the people out there struggling and fighting to survive and thrive - I salute you!

Because even if they are happy endings at this stage, everyone of them have fought, worried, wailed and gnashed teeth to get to this point.

So thats it from me for the stories of change, adapting and transformation...I think they are inspiring and show such courageousness...

The book - the 80's Kid - was sold out over xmas but is back on the shelves now...if you want to indulge in some very funny nostalgia get it

And it is BRILLIANT! His website is here the80skid.com but he has an excellent fb page here - facebook.com/pages/The-80s-…

He had an idea for a book percolating for a while and so decided to write it...it is a book about growing up in Ireland in the 80's...

Andrew is a planner and...well you know the rest of the story...no more planning in Ireland as no more building..

Last story coming up...if you grew up in Ireland in the 70's and 80's this will appeal...if you didn't its a window into the Irish psyche

@stwidgie earlier - For those who don't know what a 99 is - a soft vanilla ice cream in a wafer cornet with a chocolate flake stuck in it.

@TweetweekUSA I know, he rocks. Literally.

. @smide8 How do you survive! (I'm being serious)

@ccferrie @maoiliosak Aw shucks

His work is fantastic, check it out here indexd.ie plus he is a photographer of live gigs - amazing pics

So Emmet has to reivent himself, retrains as a web designer and sets himself up as @indexd and has recently joined @fumballyexch

Emmet, architectural tech, worked for 20 years in the architectural biz. Construction bubble, burst, yada yada...you know the story...

While waiting for dinner and the teen to finish study, let me tell you the last couple of transformation stories...

@DarrenLeathley Ice cream maths is the best maths

@TweetweekUSA @peopleofleeds don't think you would like that mail :-/

. @conorleeson sounds illegal!

@TweetweekUSA @peopleofleeds I'll post one over to you ;)

@PeopleofLeeds Good woman! But I always ask for 2 flakes - 1 is not enough!

@mickeyg406 thanks a mill Bill, you are very kind :)

Though if you happen to be on Bray seafront later and recognise me please say hi (unless you are an axe murderer, then, um, don't)

@conorleeson the dodgems!

@m2thefizzle Oh no! Sunny here...

For those who don't know what a 99 is - a soft vanilla ice cream in a wafer cornet with a chocolate flake stuck in it.

Myself and the teen are heading down to Bray seafront for a 99 if you want to join us...virtually of course...

Dinner on, teen studying, amazing game of rugby... though this Leinster girl's heart is broken...

The classes great, projects great, essays great, research great. But exams? And studying for exams? Hell on earth.

I have great sympathy for all those who are studying at the moment. Finished my masters this time last year...

@ginger_nut89 congratulations! That is a brilliant achievement :)

@caitrionamcb Good afternoon!

@ginger_nut89 Not for secondary school students - the fun is just beginning!

Collecting him at 12 after which we have the joy of studying as his exams start tomorrow! The confluence of sun and study is uncanny...

The teen stayed over at his friend's last night, love it when he does that last minute so I don't get to take advantage of a night off...

Good morning all! Beautiful blue skies in Bray this morning, another gorgeous day to cheer us up!

Good night twitter, talk tomorrow...

No Eurovision evening would be complete without the best Eurovision song that never was youtube.com/watch?v=jzYzVM…

@JillKerby @ElroyK I'm on it!

@LeedsBookClub Thank you so much - its @maoiliosak - look forward to seeing you there :)

@suzephelan I'm usually on @maoiliosak but I'm much more fun here what with all the interaction and all :(

@Stello I like the way you think!!!

Coming the the end of my last late night on the @ireland account...going to miss you all...

Might be more useful to audit the Irish eurovision losers to work out what not to do but some other poor fecker can do that.

. @ElroyK You have excellent taste

You're welcome Irish Eurovision entry committee!

The winning Irish Eurovision themes are; 1.Red hair (Linda, Niamh + Riverdance girl), 2.Johnny, 3.Neo-celtic stuff (Riverdance, the voice)

So, after going through all those videos of our eurovision entries I have discerned some themes...

We had a break because the eurovision was bankrupting us. Then this lttle riverdancey ditty was our last winner youtube.com/watch?v=0nJ3yQ…

@GLarAuna :)

Hmmm, some very upset peopel from the UK in my stream...

But nobody remembers the last song because this took over the world youtube.com/watch?v=X5Mc03…

Well done Sweden!

Then we won again with Rock and Roll kids youtube.com/watch?v=9yfo0X… All this winning is getting boring now...

@Birdon No, I think its Dutch or German

Still waiting for a common theme to emerge from all these songs...apart from red haired loveliness...

The following year another flame-haired temptress won - Niamh Kavanagh youtube.com/watch?v=jHE8a-… The build-up video is hilariously twee

Back to happier times (sniff) - Linda Martin wins with this bleedin' powerballad youtube.com/watch?v=XMhGwo…

@blondiedublin Hmmm, never thought of that...

"IT WAS TRUELY AN ORIENTAL FAIRYTALE" - and said with such feeling!

@GLarAuna *looks at feet, shuffles nervously*

Was the Swedish song the ibizan club-anthem one? Once a POWERBALLAD doesn't win...

Wouldn'y it be mad if Greece won... I think Merkel's head might explode...

Thank god the voting has started, because this is not " its so bad its funny"

5 years after "Hold me now" came Ireland's greatest achievement ever - 3 straight wins, a little suss and another win. (I'm a tad bored)

@NonyFitz stylish pair :)

And here's Johnny! youtube.com/watch?v=M6Rjdi…

I remember I thought Linda Martin's hair was cool and, do you know what, it kinda was

@watermusician I had a bit of a crush on him, before I even knew what a crush was!

. @Stello Maybe the amazingness was just too much in one go and my brain blocked it out to preserve my sanity

The grannies still get my vote. Was the oven an added thing tonight? Or was I so stunned by them the first night that I missed it?

In 1984 Linda Martin came second and the song was written by Mr Logan. They are both eurovision royalty youtube.com/watch?v=MkDKRN…

the @ireland stream instantly fills up with tweets in many different languages about jedward, I recognise the word "telletubbies"

HERE WE GO!

Ireland went through a dark eurovision period - 10 years of not winning - untill Johnnie came along. youtube.com/watch?v=JQ3v4A…

. @suzephelan I should get some sort of presidential achievment award for finding this youtube.com/watch?v=JQ3v4A…

Oh, Coldplay entered the eurovision #sarcasticwagon

Power ballad number 1,235

@suzephelan Yeah, I had a quick trawl just now and nothing. But I did find a brass band that does metallica covers *faints*

Here is our first moment of Eurovision of glory - the original "lovely girl" youtube.com/watch?v=BYDBnP…

@ElroyK Thank you for voting Holland (the whiskey is in the post)

We may have to go down memeory lane to find out...

So Ireland are the best at Eurovision (or were anyway), I asked this earlier in the week but am asking again...why are we so good?

So does anybody know who the Dutch brass band are? What are they called??

@suzephelan All I know is that they are Dutch. And that they rocked. I will send out a callon the twitter machine...

Though we didn't dissect one essential part of Irishness - the MAMMY

. @LucerneBelle MORTO!

@fhayesmccoy Ah the mammy!

@LeedsBookClub Thats really lovely, have a fab time :)

But I have really enjoyed the Irish stuff, and though we are fond of these signs of Irishness we nevertheless don't take them too seriously

Oh god, another power ballad...I just don't believe you feel that level of emotion about whatever you are singing about...#bigmeanie

And the biggest symbol of Irishness - the pint of guiness...

When I started this curation lark I didn't expect to be so "Irish" - tea, eurovision, Ted, Irish footie, tayto and dairy milk...

Right all fed and watered. Eurovision, what joys await us? Anybody out there watching too?

Just home, eat my dinner and then Eurovision fun for all the family.

@metaos @curraghrace would you let me in with THAT hat ;)

You know those fab days when Ireland win, you have a pint with a good friend in the sunshine watching a Dutch brass band play metal covers?

@TweetWeekNYC @nelsonbonner excellent research and apols for not explaining...I have never heard that song and it is superb :)

Playing "walking on sunshine" :D pic.twitter.com/zwpqH06l

Best tshirt ever. pic.twitter.com/Udx4uRJd

Making friends :) pic.twitter.com/uBRiXfRh

Ireland wins and all's well with the world pic.twitter.com/syVmgkjK

Best brass band ever playing "whole lot of Rosie" outside pub pic.twitter.com/6NGw4Kmp

@LucerneBelle And an actual goal ;)

Shed-loads of kids at the match, which is nice :) pic.twitter.com/tjsMLaFw

That was good value for a win, 3 nearly goals in the second half and the Ireland off to the Euros on a high #COYBIG

@ConzieSays I've just been followed by the aviva stadium - the man is coming to get me!

Crowd standing and cheering for the Ireland, feeling the love #COYBIG

There ya go #COYBIG

Two nearly goals within a minute... #COYBIG

Superb tshirt, I'm told it's by @singstates Want. pic.twitter.com/Kh8iufum

A nearly goal #COYBIG

Where's the Garda Band? #COYBIG

The young ones playing footies at half time pic.twitter.com/gOOTzGK3

The sound is WAY too loud in Landsdowne - turn it down, I'm trying to chat to @aitplace !!!

A nil-all half time victory to the Ireland #COYBIG

Here I am #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/q6cuV3lp

Drumming up support (sorry) pic.twitter.com/Pcaq2D9s

@ConzieSays I'm sticking it to the man

Landsdown glinting in the sun pic.twitter.com/Hkzbrr1v

Dublin bay wild and windy - loads of sailboats, kite surfers, swimmers...Howth with a hat of fog...

@bazkelly79 so agree, I watch them through my fingers. Not a real fan though, don't travel to away games...

Excellent news! Found my hat #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/wPYEsDBp

So should I wear my old skool Ireland scarf or my glamorous "Ireland v Brazil 2008" scarf today?

Right, breakfast of champions coming up. Batch bread and two fried eggs.

Like this #COYBIG youtube.com/watch?v=qbl0OA…

First thing - you must sing "Come on you boys in green" to the tune of "those were the days, my friend". Start practicing now. #COYBIG

So world, you will experience the joys (I hope) of supporting the Irish football team on their home turf #COYBIG

@snoone_1 Yes! I was going to spell it that way but thought no one would get it :)

Just so you know I am a big football fan. Lifelong supporter of the arsenal (why?born close to Highbury) and of course IRELAND

Don't worry, I won't tweet every pass of the ball...I will try and convey a more experiential sense of the match. *rubs chin thoughtfully*

The lure of the football was too great, and I will live tweet! It will be coming to you LIVE!

Africa day in the Dublin Docklands came a very close second. Suggested by @rjjd but it's on tomorrow too so I may swing by :)

I'm going to the Ireland Bosnia match! Suggested by @ccferrie and facilitated by @aitplace

My day out today is....

So the grand day out...it was a close run thing...two front runners in the end...but there can be only one...

@BMacGo yes sir!

@bigrig480 howya!

It looks beautiful out there from my bed. Must get up.

Good morning all!

I'm off to my leaba but here is a little good night song to get us in the mood... youtube.com/watch?v=iaW9RC…

@ccferrie @aitplace Oooh, I forgot about the friendly, and Bosnia are a good team

@niamhos Ah now, sure why wouldn't they be?

@garethoconnor g'nite

@paulmwatson night night

I will report my decision on my grand day out tomorrow...you can still make suggestions... I will LIVE TWEET from wherever I go...

I may retire.

I'm tired twitter. And you are all very quiet.

@thatdirtybirdy @FumballyExch Tell me!

@FumballyExch If my boy was here right now I'ld be kissing the head off him

So @gaff0 took the plunge and became a full time funny man. Check out @thedietofworms online, they do loads of video stuff which will amuse

They went to the Edinburgh Fringe with their "comedy on (melted) ice" show (set in a swimming pool) and were a hit. They are very funny.

A youngfella called @gaff0 was working as an arcitectural tech but...at night he became part of a COMEDY TROOP called @thedietofworms

The next story is one of change chosen not forced...

. @fhayesmccoy @ailishdrake They are fab stories allright!

@mickeyg406 Thank you!

@aitplace Cant wait for my delivery DMD!

So @ailishdrake set up sowandgrow.ie and is now teaching gardening skills to loads of kids :)

She did a masters in Historical Garden Design and decided to set up a business teaching her passion to kids - gardening, planting, growing

Once agian an architect! @ailishdrake moved from Dublin back to County Limerick where she was from...in the COUNTRYSIDE!

Next story coming up....

So my grand day out suggestions so far are; beach in Greystones, Howth, boat to Dalkey Island, Curragh races, Africa Day in CHQ...any more?

@laura193laura Nothing like the end of the day to light a fire under you :)

Recessions are crap. Losing your job is crap. But your health? Your kids' health? Sine quo non - without which nothing...

@laura193laura And lo! It is good....

@laura193laura Thats sad...I'm sorry...

@Annb2 Brilliant, just read that post. Will read them all when off duty...love the thick mammy - Irish lioness!! Can I RT?

@rjjd Ok, I've been to SA and Botswana so I can't love all of Africa, but I loved those bits...

@Annb2 Was waiting with baited breath for your answer, so happy its a happy ending! Is your profile pic him? If so he looks like a scamp :)

@rjjd Ooooh, that sounds good! I love Africa...

@fhayesmccoy @ccferrie Beautiful

@betaburns Wise woman

@Annb2 Thats awful, how is he?

@conorleeson I know. I'm nuts.

Twitter, I can confirm, I am having a second bottle of beer.

So what are you lot doing in the lovely weather tomorrow? And what shall I do?

His spuds are amazing, floury, fluffy, yummy with crispy skins when baked - take a bow @aitplace :) pic.twitter.com/8Xh8TcFK

so he sets up on his own @aitpace and joins the @fumballyex community...he also starts growing the best veg in his garden...

But, and I realise this is getting repetitive, when the construction bubble burst his work-place was no more...

Daibhi is an amazingly talented landscape architect and urban designer. I was so lucky to work with him for about 5 years...

You were introduced to him last night. He has a liking for gold sequin jackets. And the next story is his.... @aitplace

@bintiness @RBeaudryLTA Beautiful Cape Town, even a bit of rain can't spoil it :)

So twitter, I am your puppet tomorrow. Suggest a grand day out and, if I like it, I will do it...

Thank you @conorleeson for telling us your story, I hope you are outrageously successful in all you do :)

@conorleeson :D

. @ZUFLAZ Pool, I'll pool you in a minute.

@Claredaisy That is charming...

. @conorleeson Could not have said it better myself...

. @conorleeson "over qualified". Is there anything more kick-you-in-the- teeth, than "over qualified" as an excuse not to hire a fab person

@Julian_Lee76 Haven't been to Howth in yonks, but promised to bring the teen after his exams...

I'm have a story of change and adaptation coming in! @conorleeson has had some ups and downs the past few years...

@mionloch Don't like the sound of Sunday...

Two rowing activities mentioned. Twitter, must try harder.

@BuachaillDana2 gorgeous lil lady

. @Claredaisy When I was a kid my dad rowed us out to Dalkey island, or tried to. Half way there we all set to wailing, had to turn back.

@BuachaillDana2 Princess!

@martinagarner I resent your suggestion that Bray seafront will be packed to bursting on the first sunny day of the summer...

@Julian_Lee76 YOU TELL ME!

. @daveleavy1 Beacuse 2 dogs are never enough ;)

I promise to do the best suggestion and LIVE TWEET IT! A media extravaganza!

@martinagarner Ah, but which beach?

@Garrai_Sile What a lovely sister you are!

@iandevlin Mmmmm, beer....

I live in Bray, have a car so can travel, don't want to drive too far, am also a bus and dart user. What shall I do tomorrow?

I'm picking the teen up tomorrow evening so what should I do during my free day? Oh great twitter hive mind - tell me what to do!

I believe I am going to my friends' house on Sunday to sit in her garden and drink pims...

But now the weekend is upon us, a weekend of mostly lovely weather for most of us, what are you all up to?

I love my job and I love thats its hard. But that was hard.

Beer on a sunny Friday evening after a week of hard work. It is a good feeling.

@AiglosMP Wecome Mexico! Not Mexican beer, Chinese. Though I do like a Mexican beer :)

Having a beer with my dinner. Oh the insanity! pic.twitter.com/Ci1KzQbH

Finished work! On my way home now, think I may have a bottle of beer. Crazy stuff.

See y'all later!

@globatris NEVER too much sun* *this statement is untrue

@zeldasteyner I'm here till Sunday evening so please call back :)

Someone who has dived into the digital design world...and of course YOUR stories of change - inspirational, depressing, small or massive...

Tune in later to hear more stories of change - someone who has made growing her business, someone who has made growing his hobby...

Its been brief but real, I have to get back to work or I will be in here late...

@zeldasteyner Oh no! I have to go back to work in a few minutes...ships in the night etc etc...

@karlodwyer They are absolutely right.

@Garrai_Sile Thank you so much. I am just loving it so far...don't want to stop!

Maybe I broke twitter....

OK you are all either 1.Back at work, 2.On the beach, 3.Sulking because I was late. My replies; 1.Sorry, 2.Not sorry, 3.Sorry

The Irish are proportionately big users of social media (68% of the population) - why do we love it so?

Tis far from live tweeting a wedding I was reared...

@ConzieSays @Mr_Dunboyne Congratulations and have a wonderful day Paddy!

Random lovely things - ballet shoes from the film "The Red Shoes" static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Gua…

Did you get to go out in the sun this lunchtime? Are you on the mitch this afternoon? Have you been sitting out in the garden/balcony/beach?

Apologies for being late for our lunch date...conference calls wait for no man, woman or tweeters...

This lunchtime I will be mostly eating chickpea and potato curry

In work and working, will you all join me for a spot of lunch later?

@wholesomeIE Hello back :)

One of the advantages of the teen staying over at his dad's is that I get an extra hour in bed. 7am instead of 6 :)

Good morrow to you all. It sunny again in Bray Co. Wickla, commiserations to those of you who are experiencing bad weather.

Thats it, good night Ted.

@monasterium shurrup will ya (classic Dublin embaressed phrase)

@TweetweekUSA aw shucks!

@caitrionamcb He thinks I sit in a darkened room and keen softly when he is over at his dad's...

@alliej05 So cute!

I'm actually really boring without him.

So no stories of me venturing into the pit to wake the sleeping beast...

For those who enjoy my "teen in the morning" tweets I have disappointing news - he is staying at his dad's the next couple of days...

I had a fantastic time, forgot I was nonsensically tired and my face hurts from the grinning. Thank you fab people.

@slidingndiving @Psycho_Sushi Must sleep....

@slidingndiving @Psycho_Sushi @mariadkennedy It was on a couple of nights ago, the cake/jumper is truely a work of genius.

I need a lie down after all that. Good thing its my bedtime.

. @DavidFFox Fr Hank Tree

@theleggalamb Love it!

. @Seaniemulvihill Fr Frosty Frost

@Immuno_geek I couldn't possibly RT that ;)

. @slidingndiving @Psycho_Sushi youtube.com/watch?v=ZhHXxJ…

@cagssoc Superb

People of Twitter, that was amazing. It really was a Ted-athon.

@Sean_UnPC @Immuno_geek youtube.com/watch?v=ZhHXxJ…

. @Psycho_Sushi @slidingndiving Fr Damo

. @slidingndiving @Psycho_Sushi Fr Jimmy Ranible

. @katefinucane @slidingndiving Fr Liam Deliverance

Goodnight Ted

@katefinucane @slidingndiving SNAP

. @Psycho_Sushi @slidingndiving Fr Todd Unctious

. @slidingndiving Fr Benny Cake

Ted is internationally funny. I love that.

Tommy Tiernan's face on the bus, he can retire because he has reached the comedic pinnacle

@ccferrie @mionoch Ah, de brudder!

@jon_mcgregor Just checking

So sorry tweeters not in Ireland now. Ted is on the telly here.

Fr Buzz Cagney.

Oh, I feel a bit sad now. This is the last Ted and the day after it was finished Dermot Morgan died

@mionloch The Tommy Tiernan one, when he is offered the job in LA

@bigrig480 No, sorry, the one with Tommy Tiernan

@bigrig480 No the sheep one!

Its been a long time since I believed in a divine creator, but the fact that Ted has just started on RTE 2 is, well, spooky

Right twitter, we all have to chip in and buy @monasterium a Ted boxset. He has never seen the Ted.

OH MY GODDESSS

@monasterium Have you never seen Ted?

@paulmwatson Well you Saffies are just nuts too ;)

Followers who aren't from Ireland or who didn't grow up in Ireland - do you find Ted funny?

. @mionloch You sir are a hero

Good times.

I was a backing singer - one of 4 "Lovely Girls". I made sashes for us all. Here I am beside my morto friend. pic.twitter.com/r2nhKut3

All round entertainer and professional nice guy @aitplace sang "My lovely horse". Here he is giving it welly. pic.twitter.com/hXiw50Vy

It was a big production in Chief O' Neills and was compared by @gaff0 and a lovely assistant. We had voting and video links and everything

One year in my old place of work we decided to have a Eurovision party. Some people volunteered to sing songs....

@alliej05 Thats not it but it is spectacular!

@mionloch That is a superb one

I was a "Lovely Girl" once. Its a longish story. Shall I tell it?

I can't find Grahem Norton singing the whole of the moon in the caravan. A shiney new penny to anyone who finds it.

I have just had an evil thought which I want you all to have too. Michael Flatley as Ted.

We would so win. Ted.

@caitrionamcb And that is a wonderful thing.

I'm serious about doing a big "My lovely Horse" - go all Riverdance and have some social media interaction screens and LOADS of horses

I have totally forgotten about the Eurovision now, it all seems so tawdry compared to "My Lovely Horse"

@blondiedublin Every home should have one.

Ted is the confluence of all things Irish, a distillation, if you will, of Ireland's very SOUL.

When my teen was about 8 he saw Ted for the first time. After he exclaims "Why did you keep this from me for so long?"

@blondiedublin Yes! My teen is a massive Ted fan and found it...wants ALL OF THEM

@CaitAine Glad to oblige :)

THIS youtube.com/watch?v=PI0MRy…

I do believe we are taking part in a Ted-athon

And in all its magnificence and glory youtube.com/watch?v=jzYzVM…

@Psycho_Sushi Oh yes!

Brendan Grace playing jungle youtube.com/watch?v=uJ6yXk…

If you want to know what Irish holidays were like in the oul days... youtube.com/watch?v=25N-4z…

I love that you see people with these signs at protests all over the world now youtube.com/watch?v=gT9xuX…

Oh god youtube.com/watch?v=MSHaCz…

I can't stop!!! Addicted to Ted!!!

This Radiohead song came up on my shuffle the other day and I was in fits of giggles remembering this youtube.com/watch?v=fnZDI1…

I am in bits laughing youtube.com/watch?v=-_AiM0…

Oh this is brilliant too youtube.com/watch?v=jCJK_y…

This is one of my favourites youtube.com/watch?v=5AB7ID…

And speed Ted youtube.com/watch?v=4uOX_h…

Ted xmas special seems to be a particular favourite youtube.com/watch?v=1hx6s_…

Bored of this power ballad. Instead, answer me this question - what is your favourite episode of Father Ted?

I'll never forget when I saw the Eurovision episode of Ted first, I was quite literally rolling on the floor laughing.

The world would finally make sense if "My lovely horse" was sung on a Eurovision stage.

If we can send Jedward twice why can't we send a big, multi-media extravaganza of a cover of "My Lovely Horse" to the Eurovision?

@fhayesmccoy yes...it very yum. Give it a go.

Flashmob. A VIRTUAL flashmob. Oh, thats just so last year.

@ZUFLAZ @IrishUSAMom @fhayesmccoy Yummy

Sorry for being a mean girl. Will stop and just be sarcastic now.

The world really needs another heartfelt diva song.

The _tayto_ and _dairymilk_ went down a treat here on twitter. Very Irish tastes, but you have to eat both at the same time.

@fhayesmccoy Oh my good intentions came to naught. And yer tea and scone look yum!

@Poormanatee Not wasted!

@monasterium Yes, in a few shops. I think it tastes like evil bubblegum though.

Home at last! Very relieved to finish that day and now watching some lovely young men singing they are heroes in Mad Max costumes

Here is something to get us all excited about the Eurovision - the best song never entered into the Eurovision ever. youtube.com/watch?v=jzYzVM…

Lovely people of twitter my working day from hell is at an end. I will make my way home and promise to be a devoted tweeter all evening.

Here is a little apology present for missing our lunch date today... youtube.com/watch?v=MuSPds…

Today I will be mostly eating... pic.twitter.com/MO32BBUp

Darling tweeters, my lunchtime has disappeared into a work emergency...how's about afternoon tea?

The world makes no sense, in a bizarre inversion the teen is cheerier than me this morning.

@andrewhennigan good morning to you sir

@Ordinary_Times sounds cool, can I rt tonight?

You know those mornings when bed has never felt more comfortable? When it is a struggle to your very soul to get up?

The teen may have to dance on my head at this rate, am not feeling very up-and-at-em.

Morning all...

Good night good people of twitterland...

Thats it - can tweet no more. Tune in tomorrow morning to learn if the teen will get up without me dancing on his head...

@ConzieSays @IrishinKorea I worked on a submission to masterplan a mega-city in Korea about 5-6 years ago. Twas nuts.

@ccferrie Yes! I also love corrugated iron, was told its a vernacular material no less!

@ConzieSays What are you doing over there? Its not exactly on the Irish emigration trail...

@ccferrie I love concrete (I'm being serious)

@ccferrie Heard about him on the radio, poor little baba

@ConzieSays Oh allright. But only because you live in Korea.

@mrweetabix2u I'm a strongbow gal

Ah here, the teen is now snoring beside me...my leaba beckons...

@brianmcd87 Sigh, so true

Why is everybody falling asleep on the couch tonight? I'm tweeting here, and its all GOLD!

@mixtwitch @1iocom Love it, they are lucky to have you!

@davemiller12 I'm tired and pretentious

@ODArchitects Thank you very much :)

. @_polinalerman Not sure I understand what you're trying to say...

Unless one of you enmesh me in a fascinating conversation that makes me stay up too late...

Its been a long day twitter people, I may have to retire fragrantly...

@mixtwitch What are you up to now? Whats this job that you can do remotely?

@alanmrice @NonyFitz The twitter always speaketh the truth

@m2thefizzle To be honest I'm flagging tonight...bed is beckoning...but I also have to do some work before I can retire :(

@mixtwitch Brilliant. Many hearty congratulations too :)

. @alanmrice @NonyFitz Yes dear.

Allright, you all get "get out of jail free" cards as the weather was so good...

@m2thefizzle We have no room for slackers here ;)

. @NonyFitz I may exaggerate a tad...but teens do need more sleep than grown-ups seemingly, their brain is changing etc

@daveleavy1 :)

@mixtwitch Woooohooooo!

@mixtwitch Are you moving for a job?

@mixtwitch Oh wow! How do you feel about the move? I lived in London for years, loved it but came home...

@mychefathome @tnteacherTim @Clareconway @tryAthy Yay!

. @NonyFitz Buffy on the DVD here, teen snoozing beside me on the couch, actually kinda blissful

@brianmcd87 Priorities people!

@iandevlin @necolas Yes, @ireland is also the mostest democratic twitter account in the world, my @maoiliosak turn this week...

@mtobinod leave work now and go out in the sun. I'll write you a note.

@fhayesmccoy Had weird fog in Bray yesterday morning, but it was picturesque fog not stop you from driving fog...

. @AnseoAMuinteoir Oh thank you. Was getting a little maudlin.

Are you all out in the pub/garden/park? Do none of you have a phone? Ignore your loved ones, tweet me!

@conorleeson Ooooh, thats not fair! tell me NOW!

@filip_vanas I'm only telling the truth :)

@trinaod You're very kind

Yis are all very quiet tonight, I may need to order up another Pan-European mega-event...

Except Saturday night. I think I can guess the theme of Saturday night.

I have even more stories to tell but will parse them out over the rest of the week...a smattering every evening...

Anybody out there got any tales of change big or small? Don't have to have happy endings, even if stuff doesn't work out the story is good

@FumballyExch Tis all true :)

I mentioned @ccferrie earlier - a brilliant tweeter as well as an amazing architect - I exhort you to follow him. And he plays the banjo.

When I say amazing jewelry I mean it, filipvanas.com , and he is part of a design collective too @Project51Dublin

Another great story is that of @filipvanas - Czech architect, got the boot from the practice, became an amazing jewellery designer

@TButterly Cheers!

@AutumnArtsCraft Brilliant, brilliant - hope he is successful whatever he does :D

. @TButterly ...and the lack of money was REALLY stressful. However, I was toying with doing an MBA, the bubble bursting was the final push

. @TButterly I had done a part-time postgrad a couple of years earlier so had a bit of study practice. But the volume of work was huge...

For example @Geomizosi and @ccferrie both have established themselves as independent architects, collaborated on a new GAA HQ in New York

the @FumballyExch is a thriving working community and what is also amazing is that they collaborate on each other's projects...

More people have joined @FumballyExch since then and they have won social entrepreneurship awards for what they have built

Negotiated a good deal for a floor of the building and set about, with a core few, setting up a shared working studio called @FumballyExch

When the practice finally went under, what we they all to do? One of them, the redoubtable @Geomizosi spoke to the building's landlord...

The first story I'm going to tell is about a group of my colleagues from the architecture firm I worked at...

So there you go, a bit of context...

Finished the MBA, job hunting, first time interviewing in over 10 years! Offered a management consultant job in @accenture_irl - hurray!

And prepared a life raft...got a scholarship to do an MBA in UCD. Brilliant, exhausting, tough, inspiring. Stressful time, little money.

We all know what happened, the construction bubble burst. I, and many of my colleagues, made redundant. I had seen it coming though...

Worked for big architecture firm, for 10 years. Promoted over the years to marketing manager. Loved my job, fab colleagues, brilliant work.

To kick off let me tell you about what happened to me. Told my story earlier this week but will give a short recap...

They may not have chosen the way life has gone but they are doing some pretty amazing stuff...

I promised to tweet about people I know who have experienced big changes in their life because of the recession...

@ccferrie The meat sweats Joe calls it!

@tankesaft @reneegoth Me too!

@EricBelistan Merci!

My teen is complaining that he is a twitter orphan...

@minus1cjb Aurora is coming on her chariot! (my son is a classics nerd, its all about the Greeks)

Ok, I'm being appallingly Dublin-centric. Sorry for your bad weather troubles.

Its not my imagination, everybody is cheerier on a lovely sunny day, aren't they?

@JohnMc707 Grand pair of arms

@m2thefizzle Oh noes!

Here is a little present for you all because you are brilliant youtube.com/watch?v=7kkDrm…

Really enjoyed the conversation about creativity earlier - yis are all brilliant!

@droghedafoodie I hear you! I remember the lack of sleep when the teen was a baby...felt like torture...which it is...

@tankesaft @reneegoth @OpenIDEO I'm a big fan of Ideo but thats the first time I've seen openideo.com Thanks for sharing!

How is everyone this balmy Irish evening?

Evening all...

Talk later people of twitter!

. @darran Thats me, bleedin' Dub

And I hope to hear some of your stories - of big or small change - as we all cope with the bad stuff...

Tune in later this evening when I will be sharing some inspiring stories of people adapting to new employment and economic realities...

Coming to the end of my lunch sojourn with you all...

@SimonPRepublic @conorjh @JellybobUK I am a regular user and they are jalopies - hence the no stealing...

@conorjh @SimonPRepublic @JellybobUK I think everybody was taken by surprise when the Dublin bikes weren't nicked en masse

@conorjh Hello Conor, by the way :)

@conorjh @SimonPRepublic @JellybobUK Sounds like a good theory...

@VelvetAvenger23 Want to share your new business here? Or is it too early...

@sharononeill @caitrionamcb @gazzachef Have to say, I love bacon and cabbage...

@monasterium That is incredible

. @FumballyExch @failte_ireland @Geomizosi I remember it well! Would have been a fab addition to the city!

. @conorjh thats interesting and a good point to make, I'm assuming that the success will autonmatically transplant with the system

. @anthonymcg I know but, why not back then when they were already tearing up the streets and we were awash in tax revenue

If I was Dictator of Ireland I would also say education could do with a good dose of creative thinking...especially secondary...

@VelvetAvenger23 I really like mind-maps, used them when studying and found them very effective. but only if I drew them myself...

Why do we not have Dublin bikes in all the cities and big towns in Ireland? Sponsored by local businesses if one big sponsor can't be found

Sorry in advance for being Dublin-centric, but not joining up the Luas lines???Wha??

. @tisJames Absolutely! Public transport in Ireland has stuttered in terms of creative thinking

What area of life in Ireland (or the world) would benefit the most from applying creative thinking? *ducks head, waits for barrage*

My typing and spelling is a bit sloppy twitter peeps, I'm sorry..just so eager to tweet and chat that my fingers don't go fast enough...

I think everybody can be taught to be creative - they can be taught a creative or design process that would help them in all they do

I was lucky to have creative training so am familiar with a design/creative process...it is invaluable to me everyday in my business career

Being creative isn't an excuse not to be rigorous about your ideas - you still have to analyse and unterrogate but at the right time

. @ODArchitects Don't get me wrong - I'm a big fan of the academic process and rigor - you are spot on about the balance

@mebaroo Ken Robinson rocks

Being given space to get things wrong and (my word of the week) adapt is sooo important when being creative in whatever you do

@mebaroo YES!!

@melhyria @Isejael Mood can mean you create "better" but I'm a firm believer in a creative process that you drive whatever your mood

I think secondary school is a big part of it, traditional exams especially. The focus on points and regurge - you get what you measure!

@PeopleofLeeds @TweetweekUSA @sweden @newzealand @peopleofhgt @tweetweeknyc Brilliant, sun shining in Dublin's fair city

@ReneeGoth @tankesaft I'm asking!

@psneeze *snaps a z*

And can anybody be creative? Or do you have to be a creative type?

@jabit Trying to challenge the idea that creativity is confined to the arts...most people would agree but think its good to articulate

When most people reference creativity they think of the arts - I think there is a need to widen the definition so it applies to more...

Here is a little present for you all - the reason for my "mostly eating" phrase youtube.com/watch?v=h-z5T8…

@EyeBlinks youtube.com/watch?v=h-z5T8… :D

@PurpleTravel tis yummy

@bigrig480 Nice one...

Is creativity confined to the arts? Can creativity and creative thinking help in business, society, government?

So thought for the day; we hear about how the Irish are creative people and we need to tap into this now - can creativity save Ireland?

@AilishDrake Yes, you can do that, though I may supplement in my own words :)

@TweetweekUSA @sweden @newzealand @PeopleofLeeds @PeopleofHGT @TweetWeekNYC Good afternoon from SUNNY Dublin

@travors BOTH!

@thatdirtybirdy Good idea for a topic, I will check out you doc later :)

Hello lunchtime twitter folk. Today I will be mostly eating a homemade burger and salad.

Ok, work time. Anybody up for sharing lunch over twitter later today?

@matt_rupert decided I loved the russian grannies, after a period of stunned silence as my brain tried to process them...

My 9am call has been delayed 30 mins which means I have some time to gather myself. Morning getting better.

@caitrionamcb ommmmm

@m2thefizzle aaaaaghhhhh!

Now the teen has lost his keys. Late. Fume.

@psneeze oh yes!

@mtobinod good night Meg, have a good sleep :)

Ended up having to roar at the teen to get him out of bed. Not the greatest start, lost my zen-like calm.

@grasscraig Max temps 18-20 degrees today! The Irish are going to go nuts!!

@garethoconnor Morning Gareth, hope all is well with you

Donning kevlar gear to venture in and wake the sleeping teen.

Good morning all. It's looking like a beautiful day out today in Wickla...

Ok, thats it from me tonight, my brain is sludge, too much sugary euro-pop. You are all wonderful and I will talk to you tomorrow...

Teen is safely tucked up in bed, nearly getting to that point myself...

Teen asleep on the couch. Told ya.

Oh, my cousin @ericlalor is on Craig Doyle tonight. Now HE is funny, I promise you that. And he loves everyone.

And I'm still looking for your stories of adaptation, or tea drinking, or European mega-events...

Its not a coincidence that they are all bleedin' architects, one of the worst hit professions of the recession...

Landscape architects and urban designers who grow amazing spuds...

Architects who have stayed being architects but are doing their own thing instead...

Architects who have become graphic/web/brand designers...

Architects who have become jewelry designers...

I'll be telling you about a group of people making their own working community...

So I think its too late to start tweeting about change and stuff...so I will set you all up with a taster for tomorrow night...

Mega-EVENTS. *Sigh* I have bad fingers.

Are there any other Pan-European mega-vents on tonight or will I just crack on?

@LucerneBelle Oh? I thought it looked well dodgy so am not surprised. My "lovely" quip was weak sarcasm :/

@InfoatHappy You are not alone ;)

Will I start tweeting about adaptation, change etc or are we all too giddy?

@FumballyExch Was that sarcasm? Am I going to have to come over to you?

So on the twin bombshells of the Grannies and Jedward we leave the Eurovision for the night...

Does the Azerbaijan logo have an oil well in it? Lovely.

High five!

GRANNIES!!!!!!

C'mon the Ireland!

@FumballyExch @gaff0 I am a leaf on the breeze...

@PinkThouse Right top 5 songs; Paranoid Android, Hyperballad, Heart of Gold, Sweet Thing

If we win the Eurovision we MUST get @Gaff0 to present it. Superb Eurovision credentials, but thats a story for another night...

@PinkThouse Hmmm, there are so many songs I love. Can I do a top 5?

And it wouldn't be a "West Side Story" type of fight. There would be wigs on the green.

If them lot in Azerbaijan and Riverdance were in a fight Riverdance would totally kick their arses.

@PinkThouse A Eurovision song? What could I have done to deserve that?

Ah, the cultural interlude in the Eurovision...

@soligblomma ESC :)

The teen is giving the Austrians his vote.

@m2thefizzle She must be wired on all that caffeine!

Right, who are you all voting for?

Here endeth the tea tweets.

He combined tea and hot chocolate. And called it "chea". Also the taste of evil.

Terrible tea story 2. My son surprises me with a cup of tea in bed one morning. I taste it. He tells me it is his new invention....

The taste of evil.

Years ago, was trekking in Nepal and I was offered some Tibetan tea. Tibetan tea has a lump of salty, fermented yak butter melting in it...

Ok, boring bit so I'll tell my really thrilling, horrible tea stories...

Aren't they great lads altogether!

@JackNalyad Better than the grannies? Noooooo!

tea stories later, Jedward on now

I forgot to tell you all about my two worst tea ever experiences as we were discussing tea earlier today...

I'm still reeling from the grannies...

Sounds like they are saying a bold word...

@FumballyExch @ccferrie SALLY

@IreHappyNews A SOFT LANDING!

For those with no access to telly coverage of the Eurovision, the Russian entry was about 6 grannies dancing and singing to techno...

Rationalisation - the Eurovision is important to Ireland and the Irish, therefore its ok that I tweet about it.

@unakavanagh It will be on youtube in about 20 seconds if there is any justice...

@jabit I'm still in shock

I have surrendered to the Eurovision, it was the techno-grannies. They were magnificent.

@ZUFLAZ You should see the Russian techno-grannies on now...

um

@jabit well, a night in...

@monasterium I would agree. I suppose when I say "New Ireland"I mean different very fast...

Successfully negotiated with the teen to put the Eurovision on, he can stay up till 11.30pm (he will fall asleep at 10.15 on the couch)

@monasterium There are moments when I am nostalgic the the cockiness of the Celtic Tiger...

The Social Network Song. Oh. My. Goddess.

@matt_rupert Israeli entry=knock off B52s

I'm going to tweet about how some of my friends and ex-colleagues have adapted to this new Ireland we are experiencing...later...

@matt_rupert I've just sent my teen to the shops so am going to see whats happening...I'll let you know if anything good happens...

@monasterium oh, yes...um...so was I....

@monasterium Showing my age it seems... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicole_(G…

@ccferrie BOOM!

@monasterium I remember the lovely German girl who sang on both German and English...like hands reaching out in friendship across a divide

@delphotonet Its banned by the teen here :( I dare not overrule or who knows what I might have to watch in the future...

@ccferrie butter on the spuds...

@kid_143 Depends on the industry...

They couldn't believe it...the ONLY Irish person who didn't know what Riverdance was...ah, the innocence...

...that he had broken his arm doing the Riverdance in the kitchen. They all laughed. I asked "what is Riverdance?"...

...and I was out with my friends. One of my friends was talking about a guy who had called up Gerry Ryan that morning to tell him...

the year of Riverdance I was living in London. Didn't watch it, didn't know we won or anything. Came home over the summer...

All the songs, except King Johnny's, were very different. And we kind of one twice one year with a song and some dancing...

@PANOABURRIRME You and me kid.

It is bizarre, if you REALLY think about it, that Ireland was so good at the Eurovision for so long.

@scarie There is an embargo in my house. The teen says no.

@alliej05 Oooh, may have to switch it on for the horror...but my teen is threatening death if I do...

How is everybody doing tonight? Are you all watching the Eurovision? *tumbleweed rolls by*

@m2thefizzle My teen saw your tweet and is not impressed!

I too am fed, and am ready to tweet.

Good evening people. Child fed and washed and all is well...

Ok, work beckons and I must be a-going. Tune in later tonight for more high jinks and some stories of adaptation...

@iandevlin @minus1cjb Its funny cos its true...

@melhyria Never been to Japan but its on my next big trip list, why an ordeal? Its very long and exact?

@melhyria Well maybe we can make a few exceptions...

@minus1cjb Go on, go on, go on

Before I go, can I say that a circle of hell is devoted to those who put their milk in with their teabags.

@indexD shudder

@NoelBallantyne I used to run myself till a year ago, hurt my shoulder and its very painful to run :( Nice getting a quick dash in at lunch

The most supportive moments I've had from friends and family over the last few years have followed the phrase "will you have a cuppa?"

@NonyFitz @beatingblog We should take away his Irish passport!

People can get indignant about being offered a cup of tea during bad times or upsets. But I appreciate it and take it as a token of caring.

@melhyria True, thinking of the Japanese tea ritual though thats all about perfection.

@cindyswriting @IrishFireside Thats brilliant, thank you for sharing :)

@conibonjovi Lets find out. FIG ROLLS

@daveleavy1 WOW!

@indexD Tea first! Always tea first!!!

@Claredaisy @TaySwillinWimen Cuppa tay?

@beatingblog Tea fascists!

I am of course tweeting about tea because I'm going to make a cuppa...

The cup of tea is very important as a cultural artifact in Ireland. Used for comfort, socialising and a stimulant! Why is it so important?

@darklightfest Don't have any :(

@steppingst0ne Can you tweet me? This is the medium I'm sharing on...

I tweeted earlier about having a _bourbon_cream_ at lunchtime, and was immediately rt-ed by a _bourbon_cream_ bot! I love you twitter

@CuratorsMexico @PeopleofLeeds @Sweden @WeAreAustralia @TweetWeekUSA @PeopleofUK @NewZealand Dia dhuit!

@darklightfest Do you know I remember when I was a teen sitting on a beach in docs and raincoat listening to Joy Division on my walkman!

@AnseoAMuinteoir Lets put out an appeal - Limerick needs fewer clothes :)

@darklightfest International Johnny Depp in Edward Scissorhands day. Promise.

@RedDiamondMedia I was caught out in March after that lovely spell - summer jacket, waiting for the dart in a snow shower!

@NonyFitz Brave! My legs are a pale blue/grey. Not pretty.

But what about you lot? Tune in this evening and start sharing your own stories, we heard from some amazing people yesterday...

This evening I am going to start to share some of the stories of my friends and ex-colleagues, as they adapt to new lives and careers

@Clonrf Comfort food, velvety warming porridge the best thing for a rainy day

@catatonichic @magnumlady Ben Bulbin glowering at us :)

We Irish are funny when the weather improves after a bad spell - start wearing smaller and fewer clothes immediately - poised for sun :)

@darklightfest It just cheers us up, the sunshine. Though the irony of "darklight" going out into the sun...

@brendamannion You suffer from the dreaded frizz too... I am so enjoying myself so far, couldn't get off last night!

@magnumlady Ben Bulbin glowering. I love Sligo - outside of my native Dublin and adopted Wicklow Sligo is my favourite place in Ireland...

@barbarascully ewww!

@SuBuckley Parent-by-phone! so true...

@brendamannion Started off sunny but a bit hazy and overcast now :( How's it going in Boston?

What are you all doing/eating/working this lunchtime? Are you outside enjoying the relatively good weather? Or are you deskbound like me?

@PeopleOfUK @WeAreFilipinos @weareFrance @sweden @newzealand @We_R_Russia @PeopleofLeeds @iam_pakistan @Bristol52 Happy lunchtime!

@steppingst0ne I'm tweeting this week on how people are transforming and adapting to this new Ireland we are experiencing - GB suggested you

Happy lunchtime everybody...today I will be mostly eating a chickpea and carmelised onion pasty!

I'm off for a bit now, but will be back around lunchtime if you would like to join me for a chat, a bourbon cream and a cup of tea...

@mebaroo Poor Cork...

@SuBuckley When my boy was younger I dreaded the summer hols- childcare! But now its so much easier, though I worry he may go feral...

In work, my day begins (!). But before I go, don't want to jinx it or nothing, but this morning smells like summer...doesn't it?

@delphotonet Smells like summer :)

@Chris_DuPuis Was on a call to Seattle yesterday, was teasing him about the sun here, he tells me he was skiing on Mnt Ranier at the w/end.

@Seaniemulvihill The shy one

@grasscraig I love our star

@bigrig480 Hitch it to Aurora's chariot and drive it down to the People's Republic :)

@psneeze Grand Moff Tarkin has his sights on the Earth...

What is this strange yellow orb in the sky? It seems to emit light and warmth...

@PeopleofLeeds @sweden @weareaustralia @tweetweekusa @curatorsmexico @peopleofuk @newzealand Good morning from sunny Wicklow :)

@m2thefizzle Me work, teen school. I get up before him, get all ready and then wake the monster :)

@bigrig480 I go in in full Kevlar gear...

@SuBuckley I know! But 2nd year exams to get through first :/

Suited and booted and ready to take on the world. Now the small matter of waking the teen...

Right, goodnight all. I'm up at 6am and I'm sure you will all be up then to join me. Because you are lovely people.

@TweetweekUSA Oh no problem, can't be following ALL the tweets!

@Poormanatee @maoiliosak I won't - I promise!

@ka1ssr I hope it goes well for you, keep joining the conversation - I think you'll like some of the stuff I'll be tweeting

@TweetweekUSA Its pronounced "Mwale-ee-osa"...Irish name, usually a boy's. Tweeted its 3 meanings this morn - go have a look :)

@ka1ssr So what did you end up studying?

@NonyFitz @Ziggystarduster Glass of prosecco makes everything ok :)

@CuratorsMexico @TweetweekUSA @maoiliosak Good fairy, bad fairy!

@Aflickion @maoiliosak Oh, you are good :)

@TweetweekUSA @maoiliosak You are a BAAAAD influence :)

@TweetweekUSA @maoiliosak Oh no, I'm not falling for that "all the cool kids do it" stuff ;)

@aiden_lacey Thank you, was worried I was jibbering a bit...

@Aflickion @maoiliosak Get lost you grape! You mango! Hmmm, not quite the same venom that you need...sigh...

@len_patrick @maoiliosak Thats the good f-word according to Mrs Doyle

One thing I miss from my @maoiliosak account is being able to introduce a swear word to improve the cadence of a sentence. Must. Not. Swear.

@garethoconnor Thank you too!

@vinniequinn Thats scarey, may be a tad...sounds pretty delusional though...

@Ziggystarduster @NonyFitz I need a lie down

@ConzieSays "The Year of Optimistic Realism", a story of one woman's journey from Milan to Minsk

@elliottucker *shakes fist at self*

Coming to the end of my first day on @ireland I'm a tired one now. But its been amazing, thank you all for chatting, hope I wasn't jibbering

@pauljcorcoran I like that, integrity is feeling scared and worried as much as feeling confident and strong. Its being honest.

@ka1ssr tell me more...

@Ziggystarduster hehehehhehe

A "daftie" is a silly person, the word has a scottish origin. Got burnt earlier with my use of the phrase "a few bob"

I am naturally optimistic, just don't want to give the impression that I am one of those "positive thinking" dafties

Just to be clear, I really hate the tyranny of positive thinking, the kind that blames YOU for "negativity" if bad things happen

@Ziggystarduster Go on girl!

@Ziggystarduster I know, I want to never forget that feeling so that I will always appreciate what I have...

@Ziggystarduster Thank you Anna, hope you join the conversation :)

Tomorrow I'm going to start sharing some stories of adaptation of my friends and ex-collegues. That @FumballyExch RT is just the beginning

@ZUFLAZ I really am, getting into the groove...

@magnumlady @delphotonet I am but I hate the tyranny of positivity- suggests if bad things happen to you its cos you weren't positive enough

@macfarbt Tell me more!

@FumballyExch Tell me your story @steppingst0ne !

@ZUFLAZ Yup, she rocks.

@eoinkernan No probs, good luck with whatever it is...

Meet my sis @delphotonet who has done some transforming over the last few years - emigration, new business, kids growing up - brave woman

@globatris @mkearley2008 It never occured to me that "a few bob" was a peculiarly Irish phrase :)

@eoinkernan Yup, its really tough. The hardest is not knowing if you will get there...or even knowing what "there" is! Whats your story?

@brendamannion Where did you move to in the US? When did you go?

@brendamannion I remember at one point in 2009 I changed my radio alarm from Morning Ireland to Lyric - just couldn't take it anymore...

@brendamannion Aha, you are probably right. I think a big Frontline is on about the Treaty too...

Change is easier when its only you on the line..when you are responsible for another person it can be too hard to choose, was forced on me

@brendamannion Thanks Brenda! Its all gotten a bit quiet though...

@cathalkeogh My car was stolen 8 months ago. It had died, I was getting scrappage. They drove it down to the end of my road and dumped it!

So having to change and adapt isn't always good. There were times when I was petrified...anybody out there have a similar experience?

@cathalkeogh Oh no! And just when you need it too!

@cathalkeogh It was busy but good. Could do with another 8 hours to get everything done...How was your day?

@miss_susanboyle Sounds very interesting - am reminded of "The Name of the Rose"...

@EithneHarley @accenture_irl *blushes*

@saltandsparkle "I'm hungry, where's the jam?"

@PenTroll @Glinner I know, I follow him on my usual account...are your ears burning Graham?

Zombie-grannies on the rampage. Oh Father Ted, how much do I love thee!

@miss_susanboyle Hmmm, to be honest never heard of him/her...but have rt-ed your tweet. Will you tell me when you find out?

@iam_pakistan To use a peculiarly Irish phrase - we are in bits laughing!

My son is happy, an unscheduled Father Ted is on the telly tonight. "Night of the nearly dead" - the Daniel O' Donnell one.

@elainelarkin Thanks Elaine...

@wholesomeIE If there is one thing I have learnt, you never know what you will be doing in a few years. You may put those suits to use yet!

Just had @wholesomeIE tell her story of adaptation to this new Ireland - going to rt

@wholesomeIE Small Ireland! Its a great story, thanks for sharing...I love hearing this stuff...

@wholesomeIE Amazing! Can I retweet?

@TeslaRuser Hehehe, I should just make up my own language :)

@wholesomeIE Thats really awful, how long ago?

@redheadgoesnuts Holidays are the best thing you can spend your money on, nobody can steal or break your good holiday memories...

@redheadgoesnuts He has yet to start but it has been a secret plan of his for a while seemingly!

@JohnGNolan Getting warmed up now!

Sorry twitter. I seem to have lost the ability to type. I have SPILLED my guts...

@mondo9b UCD Smurfit, it was amazing and gruelling and inspiring and I'm glad it is over!

So now, I've spilles my guts - what about you lot?

But I will never forget the experience of redundancy - no matter how you rationalise it you feel rejected and it impacts your confidence

Applied for a job @accenture_irl and after some gruelling interviews they offered me a job! Six months later and loving my job...

Finished and survived the MBA and went job hunting! Fancied the idea of being a management consultant, lots of change and interesting work..

I was luckier than most as I got a few bob and was able to survive while studying...but it was touch and go sometimes, stressful time

I won a scholarship but the day before I started the MBA I was made redundant...

Started to think about arming myself for what was to come. Decided on education and started applying for an MBA...

Well, I think you can guess what happened. the construction bubble burst and the practice was in trouble. I could see what was coming so...

I had a successful career in a big, well respected architecture firm. 10 years with there and I had been promoted to marketing manager...

I think its only fair I tell my story of the last couple of years...are you all sitting comfortably?

Right, earlier today I asked for people to tell me their stories of adaptation and transformation...

@redheadgoesnuts Wow - my friend just left his job to be a travel agent!!

Evening all. Child fed, homework done and now it's time for twitter.

@redheadgoesnuts Trying not to sound self-helpy - but it could still happen...never too late...ah, here, no use, dripping in cheese

@donal Three LAYERS of meaning. Tired.

@donal I did a whole series of tweets earlier today on the 3 lyres of meaning of my name...go have a look and tell me what you think

@redheadgoesnuts I used to be cool *sigh*...going to start singing a Pat Benetar song...

Picking up the boy from school, a trip to the supermarket then and home. Aren't you glad I'm curating this week with my glamorous life!

@Mike_Kiely Opened an account in a London bank years ago, had to make an appointment. The staff were waiting to see Kylie Minogue turn up!

@ireland @Poormanatee Sneaky tweet while working - my old card :) pic.twitter.com/w8W0Nish

Right, now I'm really going...tune in this evening when I will be sharing my own story of adaptation and some of yours :)

@alexisdaria Thanks, going to do a session this evening so tune in!

@Cherylkarma @therealshannonl Got to look after your Mammy and Ireland isn't going anywhere...

@EannaBrophy Cool! Did you write it recently? Is it a career change for you?

@jameshendicott On behalf of @ireland I apologise for the ranters and will smite those who do it again :)

@TButterly Nice one, is that a big change for you?

Please, keep sending me your stories of adaptation and change though - I may retweet a few so only share if you want to share...

Right, back to work with me. Have to say am loving talking to you all, I will be back sporadically but the evening will be my best time.

@simplexword I will ask again and say any replies may be retweeted. But if you go into my stream you can see all my @ replies now :)

@_spencington Brilliant, wish I had studied a science myself, love it from a lay-person's perspective. Hard going back as a grown-up though

@dermotcasey @topgold *Starts singing "Circle of Life"

@dermotcasey @topgold Loving it so far, and i think its a fantastic idea...

@jameshendicott Thats not acceptable..however I am guilty of a little "800 years" gentle ribbing of my English pals..*shamefaced*

@Cherylkarma @therealshannonl I lived in londo for a few years when a young one, loved it but the draw of home was too strong...

@TButterly What do you love doing?

@beatingblog Very true, though no money is soul destroying...a nice balance to be reached...

@jameshendicott What would they blame you for?

@dermotcasey Did you think the twitter newbie you created would end up doing something like this?

@garethoconnor @Storyful Brilliant, so did my lecturer in college @dermotcasey who, btw, got me hooked on twitter :)

Can I retweet your stories? Is that the done thing on @ireland or would you all prefer one to one...personally I would like to share

So tweet me your stories of how your lives, careers, values and dreams have changed over the last two years...

I will share my own story, some stories of friends and excollegues BUT, I really want to hear and share your stories...

I want to explore how we (Irish, not Irish, whatever) are adapting and transforming to the new Ireland which is evolving before our eyes...

I tweeted early this morn the overarching theme of my tweets this week but it was very early so let me set out my stall again...

@Poormanatee My freelance business card had a pronunciation guide on it - irish people sometimes have problems pronouncing it too!

@andrewhennigan I may do a quick youtube vid - when I get a minute!!

@caitrionamcb :D

@austinstacksabu here you go - email with a short bio and what you would tweet about, any themes etc [email protected]

@Poormanatee I know, I blame my parents...

@FizaIsa Oh yes, loads of them! Its not very common...

@caitrionamcb I hope I can do as good a job as the previous curators...I'm going to try!

@scr1bh A bit of sun just cheers us all up :)

@IrishQuake You are so right! I'm a bit of a bold girl :)

@Jonathanwpurvis He can sleep all day but nightime? Oh no!!

@austinstacksabu I emailed them a while ago and completely forgot about it till last week when they asked me could I do it!

@chrisjhorn @maoiliosak and chief bottle-washer!

@monasterium Did you like my explanation and pronunciation guide?

@andrewhennigan What do you think of my pronunciation and explanation? Make sense?

Layer 3 - This association with monks meant the meaning of maoil morphed into "servant of" so final meaning servant of Jesus...

layer 2 - Maoil, meaning bald, referred to a Monk's tonsure (shaved bit on top of his head)...

...but the idea of baby, pre-pubescent Jesus appealed to them as they thought babies could be one sex or another as they grew up...

Layer 1 - Maoil is bald and Íosa is Jesus in Irish. The theory is that the early irish christians didn't like a god who was just male...

Few of you asking how to pronounce my name - approximately "Mwale-ee-osa"...Irish name, usually a boy's, has about 3 layers of meaning...

Lunchtime after a busy morning! Having frittata and chips at my desk and checking up on how you all are...

I was a bit eager this morning and started tweeting too early so the avatar was not yet updated - sorry for the confusion. Here I am now!

@Jonathanwpurvis I hear you!

Right, in work now. Though feel like I've done a day's work already :/

Right, boy up and ready(ish) so we are heading to school and work. I will be fitting in tweets around my work schedule so be patient!

@cathalkeogh thank you, hope to hear from you this week

@WiseMona thanks Mona, got a high standard to live up to ;)

@FizaIsa sounds similar but is completely unrelated. As far as I know the meaning Melissa is related to honey bees!

@wholesomeIE brilliant - hope to hear from you over the week and if you want anything discussed let me know :)

Right, off to awaken the sleeping teen - if I'm not back in an hour, posse etc...

@FizaIsa roughly pronounced "male-eesa", very old Irish name that means servant of Jesus - originally a boys name too!

@SuBuckley but hello anyway! Hope you join in the conversation this week :)

@SuBuckley Hahaha! It is pretty weird, it was supposed to be changed but I know my own profile sometimes take time so may be that

The @ireland profile and pic hasn't changed yet so my tweets may seem a bit strange - this is me @maoiliosak

Get your 13 year old to SCHOOL! Damn you auto correct!

@psneeze damn you autocorrect! School!

@TG4TV go raibh maith agat!

@SuBuckley was hoping that was just my phone catching up! Looks a bit strange all right :/

@andrewhennigan summer is still missing but apart from that it's present and accounted for!

Like waking your 13 year old up at 6.30am to get to Schiller and work on time!

Apart from tweeting about living, working, parenting in modrin Ireland - you know all the banal stuff

I want to explore how we are adapting and transforming to the new Ireland which is evolving before our eyes

I'm a working single mom, living in Bray who has had experienced some interesting times the past couple of years...

Hello Ireland - my name is @maoiliosak and I will be your host this week!