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Showing posts with label Marty Flynn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marty Flynn. Show all posts
Marty Flynn ✍ is full of praise for the staff and pupils of a Poleglass primary school.

There has been a lot of bad press regarding Poleglass over the years.

However, tonight I spent the most wonderful hour and half or so in St Kieran's Primary School watching their production of Oliver Twist.

I can only say that this production by everyone involved was as good as any professional stage show.

The kids were outstanding and their enthusiasm showed in their performance. The singing and acting was flawless and natural. The choir lighting and sound top class.

The background artistry was brilliant. To pick out any single performer would be remiss as it was definitely a team effort.

All credit to those over worked and the underpaid teachers who produced and organised this. To generate such a spirit in children takes dedication. 

And to the children who took part - large or small parts. They are a credit to the school and to Poleglass. 

A great show worth catching if you can. I am sure there will be calls for this to run and run.

Marty Flynn is a Poleglass resident 

A Great Twist

Marty Flynn answers 13 questions in a Booker's Dozen.


TPQ: What are you currently reading?

MF: About to start Knife by Jo Nesbo, another author recommended by Anthony. Forever grateful.

TPQ: Best and worst books you have ever read?

MF: Best book - unfair question. Far to many. Let's go for The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist, Robert Tressel. Worst book, Gerry Adams  - I think it was Before the Dawn. I have a few of his books here signed. Shite.

TPQ: Book most cherished as a child? 

MF: Mmm - probably Tales of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter.

TPQ: Favourite Childhood author?

MF: Rosemary Sutcliff, the first book taken out on loan at the newly opened Andersonstown library in 1958, l think.

TPQ: First book to really own you? 

MF: Not sure if it was Catcher in the Rye by J D Salinger or Catch 22 by Joseph Heller, coming of age books.

TPQ: Favourite male and female author? 

MF: At the mo - Jo Nesbo, Joseph Wambaugh, Stieg Larsson. Favourite woman author must be forever Rosemary Sutcliff. She introduced me to this wonderful world.

A Berlin Book Tower in memory of the Nazi book burning.

 TPQ: A preference for fact or fiction?

MF: These days I tend to go for fiction. Most of the factual stuff we have to endure is to fucking distressing, as I'm helpless to do anything about them so it's escapism for me.

TPQ: Biography, autobiography or memoir that most impressed you? 

MF: Has to be James Connolly. His writings shaped the direction my life took from around 16 years of age. He nailed it so correctly and even to this day 100 years later he is still so relevant.

TPQ: Any author or book you point blank refuse to read? 

MF: Easy - Bangers Morrison: a tout and a lying toe-rag. Heard enough of his crap over the years.

TPQ: A book to share with somebody so that they would more fully understand you? 

MF: Choirboys - Joseph Wambaugh. The disrespect for authority is me.

TPQ: Last book you gave as a present? 

MF:  Have yet to give it. It's Jo Nesbo's take on Shakespeare's Macbeth for Anthony,

TPQ: Book you would most like to see turned into a movie? 

MF: Many books have been written on the Spanish Armada but Captain Cuellar's Adventures in Connaught and Ulster, A.D. 1588 who after surviving another wrecking ended up on Streedagh beach Co Sligo. He ended up in Leitrim on Lough Melvin. His story is the stuff of legend an amazing story - with a happy ending.

TPQ: A "must read" you intend getting to before you die? 

MF: Gerry Adams obit! Or the sequel to Salman Rushdie's Satanic Verses ... Buddha Is A Wee Fat Bastard 


Marty Flynn is a Belfast republican who has actively campaigned for prisoners' rights.


Booker's Dozen @ Marty Flynn

Marty Flynn's latest thoughts on the RHI scandal.

Gangsters & Chicken Farmers


Marty Flynn with a review of a novel from the Scandicrime genre.

 

As a huge fan (Thanks to Anthony McIntyre) of Jo Nesbo and having read almost all the Harry Hole series and some stand alone books I was over the moon to get my hands on his latest, Macbeth. l did not realise at the time of buying that this was part of the publishers Hogart Shakespeare's project, where modern novelists are invited to revisit and put their own take on his most celebrated works.

As a twelve /thirteen year old I had to study Macbeth and Julius Caesar in St Marys CBS and it didn't take long to catch on that Nesbo was indeed putting his twist on this Scottish play, Duncan Duff, Malcom, witches etc. Now Caesar was understandable in terms of plot action historical context etc, but to me Macbeth was Shakespeare on drugs, and bad ones at that.

Maybe l'm a simple soul and other than lust and quest for power some of the decisions made by Macbeth who in this yarn is the much loved leader of a police SWAT team and thoroughly decent person (well apart from the old drug habit) so how he allows his "flame haired Lady to talk him into this journey of madness is l suppose the stuff that makes nightmares come true.

Nesbo takes us to a place - the area is Fife but the action takes place in the district described as a run down industrial town, a grim place where it always "rains, and soot and poison lie like a constant lid over the town."

The action begins almost from the start and its not long before we are brought to that deep dark place Shakespeare touched upon and where Nesbo with his now well established ability as a modern crime writer takes the reader. Murder mayhem drugs etc,#. if your a fan of Shakespeare l don't think this will disappoint you. 

Nesbo has produced a modern version of the "Scottish play" but it is every bit as dark and scary as the original...


Marty Flynn is a Belfast republican who has actively campaigned for prisoners' rights.



Macbeth

Marty Flynn feels totally vindicated by the IPSO inquiry into his claim that he had been smeared in a Belfast Telegraph article.

I Have Overcome!

Marty Flynn responds to a critique of him carried in the Belfast Telegraph on the 14th February.

In response to an interview with Helen Deery carried in the Belfast Telegraph 

Trolling ... The Facts

Marty Flynn thinks Mick Hall has been too generous in his appraisal of both Martin McGuinness & Gerry Adams.

It's Not That Deep ... Honest

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