Kieran Beville

  The Inconvenient Truth About Electric Cars The Green Lie Few Media Outlets Dare to Tell By Kieran Beville   Electric vehicles (EVs) have become the darlings of climate policy and corporate sustainability goals. Governments promote them with subsidies, car manufacturers tout them as the future, and the media rarely questions the seemingly noble narrative: that switching from petrol/diesel to electric cars will solve the climate crisis. But scratch beneath the surface of this “green revolution,” and a much more complicated picture emerges—one that many news outlets avoid, largely due to a financial ecosystem tied to EV advertising (newspapers/radio/TV), lobbying, and corporate sponsorships. At the heart of the issue lies an uncomfortable reality: the transition to electric vehicles relies on a global supply chain built on environmental destruction, exploitative labour, and geopolitical instability. The Mining Behind the Machines – A Dirty Secret...

  Limerick Writers – Shaping Our Identity By Kieran Beville When we consider the literary contributions of writers from Limerick, a city often overshadowed in the pantheon of Irish literary notables by Dublin, Cork and Belfast, we can be rightly proud. Limerick’s unique socio-cultural and historical landscape has influenced the voices that emerge from the region. Writers, including Frank McCourt, Kate O'Brien, and contemporary voices like Donal Ryan are bright stars in the literary firmament. If we focus the lens on themes such as memory, marginalisation, emigration, religion, and class, then Limerick literature offers a distinct narrative. Literary voices from Limerick provide invaluable insights into the unique socio-political, religious, and economic conditions of the city. We might well ask how the city of Limerick has shaped the literary voices of its native writers and how its writers have shaped the cultural identity of the city. In what ways do Limerick writers ...

  Poetry in the Present Tense The Many Voices of Contemporary Verse By Kieran Beville   I n today’s literary landscape, poetry is experiencing both a renaissance and a reckoning. Far from the ivory towers of tradition, it now thrives on social media feeds, open mic stages, and experimental corners of the internet. But with this expansion comes a question: what, exactly, is poetry in the 21st century? Contemporary poets are operating in a highly diverse field, shaped by competing styles, audiences, and philosophies. The resulting registers—postmodern, surreal, academic, performative, digital, experimental, and pop-cultural—offer a strikingly pluralistic view of what poetry can be. Each register reflects a different set of priorities, and each has both devoted followers and sharp critics. Ivory Towers and Masters in Creative Writing The academic register still holds considerable sway. Shaped by Master Degree programmes and literary journals, thi...

The Value of Poetry in Society By Kieran Beville “Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood.” (T. S. Eliot)   In an age where speed dominates and silence is rare, poetry offers a spiritual and intellectual refuge. It resists commodification, eschews convenience, and asks not just for attention but for participation. Though often marginalised in public discourse or dismissed as arcane, poetry is one of the most enduring and essential human art forms. Its value is not merely ornamental—it is foundational. Poetry sharpens language, nurtures empathy, preserves cultural memory, challenges systems of oppression, and gives voice to what is often silenced. In short, it reminds us what it means to be human. Poetry as the Language of Emotion and Truth Poetry is a distilled form of experience. Unlike prose, which often explains or narrates, poetry illuminates and enacts. It does not describe emotion—it embodies it. Robert Frost observed, “Poetry is when an emotion has...

  Our Story in Stone and Steel The Bridges of Limerick City By Kieran Beville Published in the Limerick Leader (21 June, 2025) Nestled along the broad and often tempestuous waters of the River Shannon, Limerick is a city shaped as much by its geography as by its history. Central to both has been its bridges—spanning centuries, civilisations, and struggles. These structures are far more than feats of engineering; they are living monuments to Limerick’s past, reflecting the social, political, and architectural evolution of one of Ireland’s oldest urban centres. Thomond Bridge – A Battleground of Nations Standing at the western edge of Limerick’s medieval core, Thomond Bridge has long held strategic importance. The first crossing at this site is believed to have been constructed by the native Irish, with a more permanent stone bridge built by the Anglo-Normans in the early 13th century following the arrival of King John of England , whose eponymous castle still looms nea...