@Ireland Curator: Tommy Collison

@alisonosullivan I’m @tommycollison normally.

Finally, a reminder that to get more info on (or to apply for!) @Ireland, check worldirish.com/atireland. Personally, I’m @tommycollison. Thx!

Almost finished my week as @Ireland. Had a blast. A reminder that Caitríona Redmond (@wholesomeIE) is up next. Stay tuned, everyone.

@njpatg yeah, know & love em

Irish summer, v2.0: pic.twitter.com/KfvBTftN

(You’re looking at the likes of She, Know Your Enemy, American Idiot, or She’s A Rebel for their absolute top songs, in my opinion.)

-@GreenDay’s new single “Oh Love”: not the sort of song that I fall in love with GD for, but makes me excited for their new stuff as a whole

Any rock fans in the audience?

Made the switch from glasses to contact lenses last week; would wholeheartedly recommend.

Great to read about Katie Taylor in the IT magazine: pic.twitter.com/m4p8M8bH

Morning all. Spending the weekend with family — you just can’t beat it.

About a mile of a gridlock on the M7 at Newlands Cross due to accident — anyone heading to the airport best go via the N4 to the M50.

(do you really love phone-boxes and hate smartphones?)

Seems odd that I’ll never drive without the likes of @aaroadwatch beside me. Is their #21stCenturyTech that you choose not to use?

Heavy delays on M7; following @aaroadwatch to see what the story is. #21stCenturyTech changing how we drive. pic.twitter.com/2pt1clbs

@brianocofaigh dubious :-)

@brianocofaigh folly of youth? :-) what was better?

@unakavanagh cheers!

The same-sex kiss we just saw is pretty significant, considering some countries in the Olympics summarily execute gays and lesbians.

@unakavanagh can you link me to their olympic song?

Man, "Uprising" by Muse is possibly the best song they've played so far. Such a tune.

I thought they were going to say that Trainspotting was a feel-good movie for a second there. Uhh, did I watch the same movie? #olympics

@niamhspectrum yep, having a blast! :-)

Oh, wait, there's Queen -- there's something we can all love.

I'm having a hard time following all the references (because I'm younger?), and so am worried as to whether internationals are understanding

Lovely to see Limerick sunny and busy! pic.twitter.com/ZwwRwLpy

Info on the Irish Olympic team: olympicsport.ie/news/5591-olym…

RT @blathnaidhealy: Stunning sunset this evening in Dublin. Photo taken at Sandycove: pic.twitter.com/5rxaodRi” #Ireland

Mum (@lilycollison) and I at the Killaloe Lookout. Spectacular weather. pic.twitter.com/wNELrLqA

@unakavanagh nope, reasonably small.

@unakavanagh nope, reasonably small one

@OLDEFARM yep, lots of sunshine

Today's @Ireland dispatches come from a wedding in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary. Wonder if I'll see Shane McGowan.

I'm going to a wedding. Well, I must be, since I'm wearing a shirt -- I never wear a shirt unless I'm going to a wedding.

@EyeBlinks well I mentioned that the two weren't the same earlier, but everybody focussed on natural beauty so I went with it .

The consensus seems to be that ALL of Ireland is picturesque. That works.

"British [scientists] declare that brain of Apple disciple not dissimilar to those who experience religious devotion": news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-2…

Actually, @jacqs70 saying Apple = new good may not be off the mark; research shows religious devotion & tech love are same areas of brain

I don't think Ireland has them, but it's a scary thought all the same RT @dulpit27: @ireland possibly a mountain lion loose in the hills?

"Mountain Lion", Mac's new operating system, is trending in Ireland. Island of saints, scholars, and Apple users?

Stunning RT @bigrig480 @ireland Anywhere in Ireland on the right day is gorgeous... This is a backroad by Ballyporeen pic.twitter.com/YrJwQsuH

@LeojjKelly sounds great; got a pic?

@clarevirtually I actually grew up in Dromineer on Lough Derg!

@davemolloy agreed, wonderful spot

Oh here's somewhere on the East coast …somewhat unusual choice, mind! :) RT @unakavanagh @ireland Coppers on a Saturday night ;)

(that image via @clarevirtually)

Nice spots mentioned: Donegal, Clare & Galway. No love for the East Coast? :) Lough Derg deserves special mention: pic.twitter.com/yFv9HScE

@SpunOut I'm afraid I can't do promotions, apologies!

(Then again, natural beauty isn't the only definition of nicest.)

What's the nicest part of Ireland, and why? I think Dingle trumps for sheer natural beauty: bit.ly/PHpuNY

Speaking of emigration and the Irish abroad, I spotted this in a small corner of San Francisco last month: bit.ly/Qh2oQI

@barbarascully cheers for the link; interesting article

(I know that, historically, we're friendly folks; I wonder if that's changed in recent years, though.)

Are we still friendly? RT @DublinAirport: Ireland makes Lonely Planet’s list of the world’s friendliest countries. ow.ly/csksb

@hitproducerfilm none at all

Pretty forceful language in the Guardian coverage of Sean Fitzpatrick's arrest: guardian.co.uk/business/2012/…

@KenbieMac my dad has a couple of funny stories about him, although I'm not too familiar.

@fitzpatkaren definitely will do - thanks!

@len_patrick @unakavanagh agreed

Hearing some great stories; what sums up your childhood? What item/TV show/phrase/food/etc. brings you straight back?

He was reading one night during the 60s, aged 10-ish, and his dad asked why he was wasting his time reading when there was "real work" to do

While wondering what Ireland was like before I was born, a friend of mine who grew up on a rural farm in Mayo in the 60s shared a story

Not looking particularly summery out there... pic.twitter.com/OdlEAXSd

@TomTDowling thanks!

Agreed on most of your points. IT, cooking, public speaking, money management, and general 'life independence' are the most popular answers.

@karendromroe thanks!

. @bjsebeck sorry for the confusion; secondary school = high school, for the most part.

@StanCarey elaborate?

Here's another education-based question for you: What isn't taught in secondary schools, but should be? Public speaking, in my opinion.

@MarketsAlive I think non-mixed schools are somewhat uncommon now, although I've no concrete evidence.

@MarketsAlive mixed schools aren't uncommon though, right? I'd have thought unmixed schools were in the minority, actually.

@dleacht what do you think should/can be done to curb bullying in schools?

In my experience, secondary school was only worth what you put into it - extra-curricular activities, making the effort to make friends, etc

@dublinbermia @Claredaisy could be a cache problem -- looks ok to me

@PeopleOfUK very good thanks! Hope all's well with you.

Okay, let's begin. I've got a year of secondary school left; Was your secondary school life happy? sad? enjoyable? boring? What stands out?

@TWkNYC hi there!

@wholesomeIE thanks!

@cathalkeogh morning!

@Claredaisy I don't think there's been a mistake?

@Grayzie @amhaincreations @psneeze thanks :-)

What I'd love to do this week is learn about the Ireland before I was born (I'm 18) and show you the Ireland that I know.

Good morning! I'm @tommycollison and I'm this week's @Ireland curator. Thanks again to Bridget for her hugely insightful tweets last week.