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Category Archives: Uncategorized
Go Ahead
It’s been a miserable week so far, what with the news about Jim’s dad needing chemo, and the heavy snow interrupting things. I really don’t understand how one night of snowfall can bring the whole city to a standstill like … Continue reading
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Tagged Agincourt Avenue, Belfast, Bodhrán, Botanic Gardens, Chemotherapy, Cormorant, Green Man, ice, Jason O'Rourke, Literature, lovers, Lower Ormeau Road, Maysfield, Ormeau Road, Peace, Rhododendron, River Lagan, Rutland Street, sculpture, Seamus Heaney, short story, slush, snow, snowball fight, snowman, Stranmillis Embankment, The Market, Tin Whistle, Witch Hazel, writing
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Jammy Dodger
I’d finished Dublin Road and was starting on Donegall Pass, opposite the Police Station. My day hadn’t got off to a great start: some gent had caught us parked on the double yellows outside our office earlier and had passed … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Belfast, Botanic Avenue, Donegall Pass, Dublin Road, hypocrisy, jam, Jason O'Rourke, kindness, Literature, parking, Parking Ticket, short story, traffic warden, writing
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Doleful
In the 90s they used to hide behind screens of bullet-proof glass at Shaftesbury Square dole office. They needed them. The barrier fostered abuse of power, rage, fear, oppression, and violence. It encouraged those civil servants who were disposed towards … Continue reading
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Tagged 1980s, 1990s, abuse of power, Belfast, bullet-proof glass, class war, Cold War, Conservatives, disaffection, Dole Office, Don King, Ghost Town, inequality, Jason O'Rourke, Literature, Margaret Thatcher, media maniplulation, One in Ten, Queen and David Bowie, racism, recession, security guards, Shaftesbury Square, short story, Specials, UB40, Under Pressure, Unemployment, writing
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Political Football
He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Simple as that. It could so easily have been me. I am still selfishly grateful that he was there in front of me, that his action saved me from the … Continue reading
Consuming Passions
It is August 2007, and the warm sunshine has brought crowds of Saturday shoppers into the city centre. Belfast’s new cathedral of consumerism, Victoria Square, is not yet open to worshippers. As the complex nears completion the excitement is palpable: … Continue reading
The Cat’s Whiskas
I’ve slept in. Nightmare. Red-eyed and hungover, I jump out of bed. My head is banging and my stomach is full of acid; I might boke yet. In a flash, I recall that there was whiskey last night. We’d been … Continue reading
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Tagged Ardoyne, Belfast, busking, Cat Food, hangover, Irish Music, Jamaica Inn, Jason O'Rourke, Literature, short story, sleeping rough, sliced pan loaf, Tesco, Whiskas, whiskey, writing
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Strangers on a Plane
She is dripping with gold, well-dressed, classy. The whole ensemble looks expensive: silk scarf, camel hair coat. She is attractive too; in her early forties I would guess. Her shoulder-length dark brown hair falls perfectly. The fingernails are such a … Continue reading
Vernacularisms 