Aoife Bhreatnach
@aoifeb.bsky.social
Swears, writes, Gaeilge is fáilte. She/í
Makes Censored, a podcast about dirty books and films https://shows.acast.com/censored
Research interests: sex and death
Makes Censored, a podcast about dirty books and films https://shows.acast.com/censored
Research interests: sex and death
And of course, Jilly Cooper's bonkbusters, from Riders onwards. I borrowed my mother's copies as a young teenager. Cooper's novels were so much fun that I cannot imagine anyone being disturbed by reading them. #BannedBooksWeek
October 8, 2025 at 10:02 AM
And of course, Jilly Cooper's bonkbusters, from Riders onwards. I borrowed my mother's copies as a young teenager. Cooper's novels were so much fun that I cannot imagine anyone being disturbed by reading them. #BannedBooksWeek
I adored the cover of Porterhouse Blue with its inflated condoms sailing through the air. Read all of Tom Sharpe's scurrilous output in my early teens, when buying condoms was extremely difficult. It seemed very risque to me then. #BannedBooksWeek
October 8, 2025 at 9:57 AM
I adored the cover of Porterhouse Blue with its inflated condoms sailing through the air. Read all of Tom Sharpe's scurrilous output in my early teens, when buying condoms was extremely difficult. It seemed very risque to me then. #BannedBooksWeek
Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M Auel disturbed me more than any book I've ever encountered. At 12, I was scarred by its lengthy, graphic and repeated descriptions of rape. Was it good or bad for me to read at this age? Can't really say. #BannedBooksWeek
October 8, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M Auel disturbed me more than any book I've ever encountered. At 12, I was scarred by its lengthy, graphic and repeated descriptions of rape. Was it good or bad for me to read at this age? Can't really say. #BannedBooksWeek
Did I notice that dragon riders shagged with each other as their dragons mated? I did not. Probably because I was 10. #BannedBooksWeek
October 8, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Did I notice that dragon riders shagged with each other as their dragons mated? I did not. Probably because I was 10. #BannedBooksWeek
Sláine read to me like a Cú Chulainn story with all the gore drawn in. So much naked flesh, so much blood. Read this alongside Dredd and also Asterix, and Tintin. #BannedBooksWeek
October 8, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Sláine read to me like a Cú Chulainn story with all the gore drawn in. So much naked flesh, so much blood. Read this alongside Dredd and also Asterix, and Tintin. #BannedBooksWeek
Was fascinated by the technicolour violence and extravagant cruelty of Judge Dredd from age 10. I remember beautiful artwork of exploding bodies and barely contained tits. It probably warped my mind. Catalogued in Irish libraries as adult fiction #BannedBooksWeek
October 8, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Was fascinated by the technicolour violence and extravagant cruelty of Judge Dredd from age 10. I remember beautiful artwork of exploding bodies and barely contained tits. It probably warped my mind. Catalogued in Irish libraries as adult fiction #BannedBooksWeek
Read Sallinger's 'Catcher' when I was 9. Did not feel sympathetic towards its tortured teenage antagonist but it would be difficult for a girl being harassed on the street by teenage boys to feel sorry for any of them. #BannedBooksWeek
October 8, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Read Sallinger's 'Catcher' when I was 9. Did not feel sympathetic towards its tortured teenage antagonist but it would be difficult for a girl being harassed on the street by teenage boys to feel sorry for any of them. #BannedBooksWeek
May 12, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Nobody puts Boland in the basement
#spéirghorm
#spéirghorm
April 29, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Nobody puts Boland in the basement
#spéirghorm
#spéirghorm
In 1942, the American President opposed censorship because books were weapons in the fight against tyranny.
March 10, 2025 at 10:42 AM
In 1942, the American President opposed censorship because books were weapons in the fight against tyranny.
End-of-writing filing system, floor edition. (no photos of desk or the hinterland of the bin will be posted, don't even ask)
March 6, 2025 at 11:46 AM
End-of-writing filing system, floor edition. (no photos of desk or the hinterland of the bin will be posted, don't even ask)
Have a heart, pierced and bleeding. #HappyValentinesDay
(From a Butler tomb in St Canice's Cathedral Kilkenny.)
(From a Butler tomb in St Canice's Cathedral Kilkenny.)
February 14, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Have a heart, pierced and bleeding. #HappyValentinesDay
(From a Butler tomb in St Canice's Cathedral Kilkenny.)
(From a Butler tomb in St Canice's Cathedral Kilkenny.)
I know what to expect from John Broderick – rain, queer-coded love triangles – but the necrophilia took me by surprise. Would recommend. #SpéirGhorm
January 27, 2025 at 9:58 AM
I know what to expect from John Broderick – rain, queer-coded love triangles – but the necrophilia took me by surprise. Would recommend. #SpéirGhorm
Not my favourite ridiculous banned-book title but in the top ten. It's entry 12395 in the Irish censors' blacklist.
January 14, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Not my favourite ridiculous banned-book title but in the top ten. It's entry 12395 in the Irish censors' blacklist.
Has anyone read DESTINY by Sally Beauman? From 1987, when we were reading Barbara Taylor Bradford, Maeve Binchy and Jilly Cooper. Is there much bonking in it? i.e. is it Binchyesque or Cooperesque?
January 6, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Has anyone read DESTINY by Sally Beauman? From 1987, when we were reading Barbara Taylor Bradford, Maeve Binchy and Jilly Cooper. Is there much bonking in it? i.e. is it Binchyesque or Cooperesque?
But this 'strike' does not appear in his bio or memoir. School strikes, when parents protest by withdrawing their children, were common in Ireland. A strike in Drimoleague ended in the High Court. Here is Daideo outisde Killoughteen NS in a classic pose: keeping vigil outside an empty building. 2/
![Picture shows Mr Nicholas Walsh NT [National Teacher], principal, and Mrs M Woulfe NT [National Teacher], assistant, standing outside the empty school. The one-storey building looks like a reasonably comfortable cottage. The headline reads 'Second Week of "Stay at Home" School Strike'](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:27jd6epq7of5kodforfyhh45/bafkreid4onkg76t2dbmxpbl6xj4vjxmfzpzibsmnnxan4hnrhtzbt54o3y@jpeg)
January 2, 2025 at 12:38 PM
But this 'strike' does not appear in his bio or memoir. School strikes, when parents protest by withdrawing their children, were common in Ireland. A strike in Drimoleague ended in the High Court. Here is Daideo outisde Killoughteen NS in a classic pose: keeping vigil outside an empty building. 2/
Míle buíochas do Ghráinne agus @ansiopaleabhar.bsky.social don t-eagrán ciorraithe agus na caipéisí breise a bhaineann leis. Tá feabhas mór tagtha ar mo chaibidil faoi cinsireacht na Gaeilge #SpéirGhorm
December 17, 2024 at 3:33 PM
Míle buíochas do Ghráinne agus @ansiopaleabhar.bsky.social don t-eagrán ciorraithe agus na caipéisí breise a bhaineann leis. Tá feabhas mór tagtha ar mo chaibidil faoi cinsireacht na Gaeilge #SpéirGhorm
Anyone in #SpeirGorm need a side hustle? I'm guessing this seller is from Kerry.
December 5, 2024 at 1:15 PM
Anyone in #SpeirGorm need a side hustle? I'm guessing this seller is from Kerry.
The art of Jim Fitzpatrick. How could you not want to know about the past if it looked like that?
November 27, 2024 at 4:40 PM
The art of Jim Fitzpatrick. How could you not want to know about the past if it looked like that?
Even better was the Kinsale cloak - floor-length, with a hood. Perfect for rainy days
November 14, 2024 at 11:19 AM
Even better was the Kinsale cloak - floor-length, with a hood. Perfect for rainy days
Wondering why a book on church art was banned until I saw this notice restricting it to 'scholars, collectors and librarians'. 🚨🚨🚨 Too hot for the uneducated 🚨🚨
November 7, 2024 at 10:58 AM
Wondering why a book on church art was banned until I saw this notice restricting it to 'scholars, collectors and librarians'. 🚨🚨🚨 Too hot for the uneducated 🚨🚨
If we don't end up talking about US censorship in the Q&A, I'll eat my hat. John Broderick, whose work sparked this festival, wrote gender-bending stories that could still be banned.
November 6, 2024 at 11:17 AM
If we don't end up talking about US censorship in the Q&A, I'll eat my hat. John Broderick, whose work sparked this festival, wrote gender-bending stories that could still be banned.
Special branch - Ireland's counter terrorism police – formally interviewed me.
October 9, 2024 at 2:18 PM
Special branch - Ireland's counter terrorism police – formally interviewed me.
Still not over this film and I've watched it two nights in a row. Everyone acting out of their skins, having the time of their lives. And Cary Grant wearing that suit 🔥
January 18, 2024 at 10:44 AM
Still not over this film and I've watched it two nights in a row. Everyone acting out of their skins, having the time of their lives. And Cary Grant wearing that suit 🔥
Flann O'Brien notes that the word 'gnéas' [sex/sexual intercourse] is missing from dictionaries as Gaeilge - 'Can it be that the idea is .... neamh-Ghaedhealach, un-Irish?' @theirishfor.bsky.social @flannobriensoc.bsky.social
November 7, 2023 at 11:22 AM
Flann O'Brien notes that the word 'gnéas' [sex/sexual intercourse] is missing from dictionaries as Gaeilge - 'Can it be that the idea is .... neamh-Ghaedhealach, un-Irish?' @theirishfor.bsky.social @flannobriensoc.bsky.social