The Author, Séamas O'Reilly
@seamas.bsky.social
Author, very professional. Buy my extremely good book at www.mammybook.com
Pinned
Prestige Drama
Buy Prestige Drama by O'Reilly, Seamas from Amazon's Fiction Books Store. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction.
www.amazon.co.uk
Thrilled by the response to my first novel being announced. For those wondering, you can PRE-ORDER at the below links!
Amazon UK: www.amazon.co.uk/Dogs-Street-...
Amazon US: www.amazon.com/Prestige-Dra...
Bookshop: uk.bookshop.org/p/books/brig...
Waterstones: www.waterstones.com/book/prestig...
Amazon UK: www.amazon.co.uk/Dogs-Street-...
Amazon US: www.amazon.com/Prestige-Dra...
Bookshop: uk.bookshop.org/p/books/brig...
Waterstones: www.waterstones.com/book/prestig...
Reposted by The Author, Séamas O'Reilly
Just a reminder that at least 242 journalists were killed by Israel since October 7.
Palestine was the test to see what they could do. Not standing in solidarity with Palestinians was not only a major moral and ethical failing it was a strategic mistake that everyone will pay for.
January 30, 2026 at 2:45 PM
Just a reminder that at least 242 journalists were killed by Israel since October 7.
As part of National Grief Awareness Week, I'm re-sharing my favourite interview I ever did about grief. It was with Cariad Lloyd for her excellent - and much missed - Griefcast, a show that got closer to the horror, humour and healing of grief than any other.
shows.acast.com/griefcast/ep...
shows.acast.com/griefcast/ep...
Séamas O'Reilly | Griefcast
This week Cariad talks to writer + journalist Séamas O'Reilly (Have Ye Heard Mammy Died?) about his mum, who died from breast cancer when Séamas was just five years old.
shows.acast.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:31 AM
As part of National Grief Awareness Week, I'm re-sharing my favourite interview I ever did about grief. It was with Cariad Lloyd for her excellent - and much missed - Griefcast, a show that got closer to the horror, humour and healing of grief than any other.
shows.acast.com/griefcast/ep...
shows.acast.com/griefcast/ep...
Reposted by The Author, Séamas O'Reilly
54 years ago today ,the British Parachute regiment invaded Derry's Bogside and murdered 14 men and boys .The murderers are protected by their government and the PPS.
The murderers LIED to two inquires,still no justice.
The murderers LIED to two inquires,still no justice.
January 30, 2026 at 8:58 AM
54 years ago today ,the British Parachute regiment invaded Derry's Bogside and murdered 14 men and boys .The murderers are protected by their government and the PPS.
The murderers LIED to two inquires,still no justice.
The murderers LIED to two inquires,still no justice.
Now that the dust has settled a little from the Olivia Nuzzi/Ryan Lizza thing, I hope we can all agree that that was was probably just too many Z's for a single couple and they're better off apart.
January 29, 2026 at 7:29 PM
Now that the dust has settled a little from the Olivia Nuzzi/Ryan Lizza thing, I hope we can all agree that that was was probably just too many Z's for a single couple and they're better off apart.
Reposted by The Author, Séamas O'Reilly
I cannot tell you how much doubt was consistently directed at the Gaza Health Ministry’s casualty numbers and how much pressure was put on news organizations to couch those numbers as unreliable.
Biden himself said they were fabricated!
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
Biden himself said they were fabricated!
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
IDF accepts Gaza Health Ministry death toll of over 71,000 Palestinians killed in the war
Although Many International Experts Have Accepted the Health Ministry's Data as Reliable, and Even Conservative Relative to the True Death Toll, Israel Had Refused to Accept the Health Ministry's Coun...
www.haaretz.com
January 29, 2026 at 3:29 PM
I cannot tell you how much doubt was consistently directed at the Gaza Health Ministry’s casualty numbers and how much pressure was put on news organizations to couch those numbers as unreliable.
Biden himself said they were fabricated!
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
Biden himself said they were fabricated!
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
A depressing catalogue of failures in the extremely shit AI skills courses the government went on telly to promote yesterday. Useless UI, constant corporate branding, abysmal privacy protection, and at least one bit of weird anti-climate messaging(?!) all to service your ability to lie on a CV.
I think I might take one of these "under 20 minutes" AI skills courses the UK Govt. seems very keen on everyone doing and live-post it here... Maybe we can all learn something together! The press release sends me to aiskillshub.org.uk/aiskillsboost/ - let's go and see!
AI Skills Boost - AI Skills Hub
aiskillshub.org.uk
January 29, 2026 at 9:41 AM
A depressing catalogue of failures in the extremely shit AI skills courses the government went on telly to promote yesterday. Useless UI, constant corporate branding, abysmal privacy protection, and at least one bit of weird anti-climate messaging(?!) all to service your ability to lie on a CV.
Reposted by The Author, Séamas O'Reilly
Me: Yes, of course. That'd be O'Reilly
Website:
Me: To repeat, that's O'Reilly.
Website:
Me: O-Apostrophe-R-E-
Website: Come come, Mr O#Reilly, we tire of these childish games.
Website:
Me: To repeat, that's O'Reilly.
Website:
Me: O-Apostrophe-R-E-
Website: Come come, Mr O#Reilly, we tire of these childish games.
Website: and your postcode?
Me: my address is—
Website: no no I’m keen to guess! Postcode?
Me: *enters postcode*
Website: is it no. 132?
Me: no
Website: is it no. 134?
Me: it’s 1—
Website: SHUT UP is it no. 136?
Me: my address is—
Website: no no I’m keen to guess! Postcode?
Me: *enters postcode*
Website: is it no. 132?
Me: no
Website: is it no. 134?
Me: it’s 1—
Website: SHUT UP is it no. 136?
January 28, 2026 at 1:58 PM
Me: Yes, of course. That'd be O'Reilly
Website:
Me: To repeat, that's O'Reilly.
Website:
Me: O-Apostrophe-R-E-
Website: Come come, Mr O#Reilly, we tire of these childish games.
Website:
Me: To repeat, that's O'Reilly.
Website:
Me: O-Apostrophe-R-E-
Website: Come come, Mr O#Reilly, we tire of these childish games.
Reposted by The Author, Séamas O'Reilly
Website: and your postcode?
Me: my address is—
Website: no no I’m keen to guess! Postcode?
Me: *enters postcode*
Website: is it no. 132?
Me: no
Website: is it no. 134?
Me: it’s 1—
Website: SHUT UP is it no. 136?
Me: my address is—
Website: no no I’m keen to guess! Postcode?
Me: *enters postcode*
Website: is it no. 132?
Me: no
Website: is it no. 134?
Me: it’s 1—
Website: SHUT UP is it no. 136?
January 28, 2026 at 10:07 AM
Website: and your postcode?
Me: my address is—
Website: no no I’m keen to guess! Postcode?
Me: *enters postcode*
Website: is it no. 132?
Me: no
Website: is it no. 134?
Me: it’s 1—
Website: SHUT UP is it no. 136?
Me: my address is—
Website: no no I’m keen to guess! Postcode?
Me: *enters postcode*
Website: is it no. 132?
Me: no
Website: is it no. 134?
Me: it’s 1—
Website: SHUT UP is it no. 136?
Reposted by The Author, Séamas O'Reilly
Happy 3 year anniversary to this post
January 27, 2026 at 6:14 PM
Happy 3 year anniversary to this post
Reposted by The Author, Séamas O'Reilly
So nice of The Times to make sure we finally get the other side of the story.
![The parable of the Nazi Bar, a screenshot of a series of tweets by Michael Tager (in a screenshot from Google Images).
It's a long text and I'm not going to transcribe it here, but this Wiktionary explains it link and full Wiktionary definition below):
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Nazi_bar
Popularized by an anecdote shared by Michael B. Tager (@IamRageSparkle) on Twitter in July 2020. Tager recounted visiting a "shitty crustpunk bar" where he saw a patron abruptly expelled: the bartender explained that the man was wearing "iron crosses and stuff", and that he feared such patrons would become regulars and start bringing friends if not promptly kicked out, which would lead him to realize "oh shit, this is a Nazi bar now" only after the unwanted patrons became too "entrenched" to kick out without trouble.[1][2] (Instances of people noting that if a bar starts serving Nazis other customers stop going and it becomes a Nazi bar are older.)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xfrwohjwxmkytdzadc4lqqy6/bafkreiefmg6zucjna7se4szf7ykihyrej4gzgjujgeicnraj3h4duqpl7i@jpeg)
January 27, 2026 at 12:37 PM
So nice of The Times to make sure we finally get the other side of the story.
People saying this is made up don't know the man. I was in the Oval Office and I'll never forget Trump rising to break the silence with those same words of Kierkegaard's that he's repeated to me so many times. "Tears" he said, glassy-eyed but stoical, "are the silent language of grief".
January 27, 2026 at 3:43 PM
People saying this is made up don't know the man. I was in the Oval Office and I'll never forget Trump rising to break the silence with those same words of Kierkegaard's that he's repeated to me so many times. "Tears" he said, glassy-eyed but stoical, "are the silent language of grief".
Reposted by The Author, Séamas O'Reilly
Stunned and betrayed to discover that Professor Matt Goodwin was not the wholly neutral and unbiased expert on the far right which I believed him to be!?!?!?
January 27, 2026 at 2:21 PM
Stunned and betrayed to discover that Professor Matt Goodwin was not the wholly neutral and unbiased expert on the far right which I believed him to be!?!?!?
Reposted by The Author, Séamas O'Reilly
Sorry Sharron, you've forced our hand. They're 14 minute cities now. We will keep knocking a minute off until you comply
January 27, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Sorry Sharron, you've forced our hand. They're 14 minute cities now. We will keep knocking a minute off until you comply
Calling transphobia a 'gateway drug' to the far right undersells it. It's pure accelerant. Grimly fascinating to guess what crankery becomes any famous transphobe's secondary obsession, cos they all have one: 15 minute cities are fascism! Grok noncing is cool! ICE are good! We should kill all dogs!
January 27, 2026 at 1:59 PM
Calling transphobia a 'gateway drug' to the far right undersells it. It's pure accelerant. Grimly fascinating to guess what crankery becomes any famous transphobe's secondary obsession, cos they all have one: 15 minute cities are fascism! Grok noncing is cool! ICE are good! We should kill all dogs!
Reposted by The Author, Séamas O'Reilly
Nine years to the day since Graham Linehan foresaw his own fate.
January 26, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Nine years to the day since Graham Linehan foresaw his own fate.
Reposted by The Author, Séamas O'Reilly
incidentally think transphobes did something similar! spent so much time discussing the quasi-philosophical issue of What It Truly Means To Be A Woman, Deep Down when the issue should have mostly been "how are these very much already existing people meant to live in the world"
I think a lot about Parmy Olson's observation that AI companies actively push everyone to talk about existential risk, because it distracts from more prosaic current day concerns like copyright theft, conditions for data workers, energy & water use, and their financial situation
‘Humanity needs to wake up’ to dangers of AI, says Anthropic chief www.ft.com/content/c309...
January 27, 2026 at 1:19 PM
incidentally think transphobes did something similar! spent so much time discussing the quasi-philosophical issue of What It Truly Means To Be A Woman, Deep Down when the issue should have mostly been "how are these very much already existing people meant to live in the world"
Reposted by The Author, Séamas O'Reilly
JOB(S) ALERT
We're looking for TWO new members for the editorial team - send your application to editorial@the-fence.com.
We're looking for TWO new members for the editorial team - send your application to editorial@the-fence.com.
January 27, 2026 at 12:39 PM
JOB(S) ALERT
We're looking for TWO new members for the editorial team - send your application to editorial@the-fence.com.
We're looking for TWO new members for the editorial team - send your application to editorial@the-fence.com.
COME AND WORK WITH US.
JOB(S) ALERT
We're looking for TWO new members for the editorial team - send your application to editorial@the-fence.com.
We're looking for TWO new members for the editorial team - send your application to editorial@the-fence.com.
January 27, 2026 at 12:39 PM
COME AND WORK WITH US.
Reposted by The Author, Séamas O'Reilly
National Grief Awareness Week runs Jan 26 – Feb 1, and its message is that grief affects everyone, and no one should grieve alone. The Irish Hospice Foundation’s Bereavement Support Line is at 1800 80 70 77.
And, if you can, please donate to help them do what they do.
hospicefoundation.ie/donate
And, if you can, please donate to help them do what they do.
hospicefoundation.ie/donate
Donate to Irish Hospice Foundation
Donate to Irish Hospice Foundation to support people in Ireland facing end of life and bereavement.
hospicefoundation.ie
January 27, 2026 at 11:38 AM
National Grief Awareness Week runs Jan 26 – Feb 1, and its message is that grief affects everyone, and no one should grieve alone. The Irish Hospice Foundation’s Bereavement Support Line is at 1800 80 70 77.
And, if you can, please donate to help them do what they do.
hospicefoundation.ie/donate
And, if you can, please donate to help them do what they do.
hospicefoundation.ie/donate
As part of National Grief Awareness Week, I've partnered with the Irish Hospice Foundation to share some writings on the subject.
This piece was an attempt to trace the odd, circuitous routes that grief takes over decades.
#NGAW2026 #IrishHospiceFoundation
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
This piece was an attempt to trace the odd, circuitous routes that grief takes over decades.
#NGAW2026 #IrishHospiceFoundation
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
It’s the anniversary of my mum’s death – and I’m thinking about space rocks and shell suits
There’ll be more laughs than tears today… as long as you discount tantrums from the three-year-old
www.theguardian.com
January 27, 2026 at 11:37 AM
As part of National Grief Awareness Week, I've partnered with the Irish Hospice Foundation to share some writings on the subject.
This piece was an attempt to trace the odd, circuitous routes that grief takes over decades.
#NGAW2026 #IrishHospiceFoundation
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
This piece was an attempt to trace the odd, circuitous routes that grief takes over decades.
#NGAW2026 #IrishHospiceFoundation
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Reposted by The Author, Séamas O'Reilly
I've always found writing about grief difficult, but rewarding. Today I'm sharing this piece, adapted from my memoir's first chapter, which is a good intro to its themes (death is sad) and its tone (things are still funny). #NGAW2026 #IrishHospiceFoundation
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
‘Your mammy was a flower’: a young boy’s bereavement
One of 11 children, Séamas O’Reilly was just five years old when his mother died. In an extract from his touching new memoir, he recalls the day of her wake
www.theguardian.com
January 26, 2026 at 9:22 AM
I've always found writing about grief difficult, but rewarding. Today I'm sharing this piece, adapted from my memoir's first chapter, which is a good intro to its themes (death is sad) and its tone (things are still funny). #NGAW2026 #IrishHospiceFoundation
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Reposted by The Author, Séamas O'Reilly
Honoured to partner with @irishhospice.bsky.social for National Grief Awareness Week. They got in touch because my memoir, Did Ye Hear Mammy Died, clearly touches on those themes. They didn't know that my mum was a very active supporter of hospice care her entire life, so it's v close to my heart.
January 26, 2026 at 9:17 AM
Honoured to partner with @irishhospice.bsky.social for National Grief Awareness Week. They got in touch because my memoir, Did Ye Hear Mammy Died, clearly touches on those themes. They didn't know that my mum was a very active supporter of hospice care her entire life, so it's v close to my heart.
Reposted by The Author, Séamas O'Reilly
"Up to 380 people may have drowned attempting to cross the Mediterranean last week". The West's normalisation of the mass death of black Africans (because that is predominantly who these people are) will never be less than devastating.
January 27, 2026 at 11:19 AM
"Up to 380 people may have drowned attempting to cross the Mediterranean last week". The West's normalisation of the mass death of black Africans (because that is predominantly who these people are) will never be less than devastating.
Reminds me of a very similar bit of training female members of the British secret service were given during WW2: "Don't ask a man who works for their government what's happening. Confidently tell him something you know to be inaccurate, and he will be forced to correct you".
stop using AI to do your research. it hallucinates too often. if you want an answer to something, post something arrogant on the appropriate subreddit. something like: "this item performs 10% better than everything else. only idiots deny this." this will bait nerds into doing your research for you.
January 27, 2026 at 9:25 AM
Reminds me of a very similar bit of training female members of the British secret service were given during WW2: "Don't ask a man who works for their government what's happening. Confidently tell him something you know to be inaccurate, and he will be forced to correct you".