When things go wrong and will not come right,
Though you do the best you can,
When life looks black as the hour of night,
A PINT OF PLAIN IS YOUR ONLY MAN.”
✒️ Brian O'Nolan ( #FlannOBrien), Irish novelist (At Swim-Two-Birds), was #BOTD 5 October 1911. #Literature
Though you do the best you can,
When life looks black as the hour of night,
A PINT OF PLAIN IS YOUR ONLY MAN.”
✒️ Brian O'Nolan ( #FlannOBrien), Irish novelist (At Swim-Two-Birds), was #BOTD 5 October 1911. #Literature
October 5, 2025 at 2:36 AM
When things go wrong and will not come right,
Though you do the best you can,
When life looks black as the hour of night,
A PINT OF PLAIN IS YOUR ONLY MAN.”
✒️ Brian O'Nolan ( #FlannOBrien), Irish novelist (At Swim-Two-Birds), was #BOTD 5 October 1911. #Literature
Though you do the best you can,
When life looks black as the hour of night,
A PINT OF PLAIN IS YOUR ONLY MAN.”
✒️ Brian O'Nolan ( #FlannOBrien), Irish novelist (At Swim-Two-Birds), was #BOTD 5 October 1911. #Literature
And if you don’t have the time to engage with books like this @wendypratt.bsky.social you can always #FlannOBrien www.theguardian.com/books/2022/a...
Shelf-help for non-readers from Myles na gCopaleen | Letters
Letters: Karin Barry remembers Flann O’Brien’s idea for a book-handling service to make untouched volumes look well-thumbed, while Susanna Hoe offers some of her own books to those with threadbare col...
www.theguardian.com
October 2, 2025 at 8:28 AM
And if you don’t have the time to engage with books like this @wendypratt.bsky.social you can always #FlannOBrien www.theguardian.com/books/2022/a...
An alle #Leipziger - morgen Nacht. Die GANZE Nacht! #FlannOBrien. Mit vielen tollen, großartigen Leuten! Und mir. Aber irgendwas ist ja immer. Der bestmögliche Start in den #TagDerEinheit. Mit #FlannOBrien. Und Porter. In der #Schaubühne. Was braucht man mehr?
www.schaubuehne.com/spielplan/a-...
www.schaubuehne.com/spielplan/a-...
Flann O’Brien: „Auf Schwimmen-zwei-Vögel“
In der Nacht vom zweiten auf dritten Oktober wird im Ballsaal der Schaubühne Lindenfels der Roman „Auf Schwimmen-zwei-Vögel“ des irischen Schriftstellers Brian O’Nolan alias Flann O’Brien (1911-1966) ...
www.schaubuehne.com
October 1, 2025 at 4:57 PM
An alle #Leipziger - morgen Nacht. Die GANZE Nacht! #FlannOBrien. Mit vielen tollen, großartigen Leuten! Und mir. Aber irgendwas ist ja immer. Der bestmögliche Start in den #TagDerEinheit. Mit #FlannOBrien. Und Porter. In der #Schaubühne. Was braucht man mehr?
www.schaubuehne.com/spielplan/a-...
www.schaubuehne.com/spielplan/a-...
But still: always a good spot to visit. #FlannOBrien #MylesnagCopaleen
September 4, 2025 at 4:24 PM
But still: always a good spot to visit. #FlannOBrien #MylesnagCopaleen
I write about the intoxicating power of laughter, the genius of Michael McIntyre, and Flann O'Brien.
#writerslife #Laughter #Comedy #Comedian #Toastmasters #PublicSpeaking #MichaelMcIntyre #FlannOBrien #AtSwimTwoBirds #Seminary #Funny #Humour #Humor #MichaelMcIntyre
open.substack.com/pub/joearmst...
#writerslife #Laughter #Comedy #Comedian #Toastmasters #PublicSpeaking #MichaelMcIntyre #FlannOBrien #AtSwimTwoBirds #Seminary #Funny #Humour #Humor #MichaelMcIntyre
open.substack.com/pub/joearmst...
A Substack in Search of a Smile
Finding Laughter on the Page
open.substack.com
August 29, 2025 at 4:38 PM
I write about the intoxicating power of laughter, the genius of Michael McIntyre, and Flann O'Brien.
#writerslife #Laughter #Comedy #Comedian #Toastmasters #PublicSpeaking #MichaelMcIntyre #FlannOBrien #AtSwimTwoBirds #Seminary #Funny #Humour #Humor #MichaelMcIntyre
open.substack.com/pub/joearmst...
#writerslife #Laughter #Comedy #Comedian #Toastmasters #PublicSpeaking #MichaelMcIntyre #FlannOBrien #AtSwimTwoBirds #Seminary #Funny #Humour #Humor #MichaelMcIntyre
open.substack.com/pub/joearmst...
'Would it surprise you to be told the Atomic Theory is at work in this parish?...Michael Gilhaney is a man nearly banjaxed from the principle of the Atomic Theory. Would it astonish you to hear he is nearly half a bicycle?'
#FlannOBrien #MylesnagCopaleen
#FlannOBrien #MylesnagCopaleen
IN PICTURES: Major international conference celebrating Strabane literary genius Flann O’Brien
A major international conference dedicated to the Strabane genius Flann O’Brien is underway in the Co. Tyrone town.
www.derryjournal.com
June 26, 2025 at 3:01 PM
'Would it surprise you to be told the Atomic Theory is at work in this parish?...Michael Gilhaney is a man nearly banjaxed from the principle of the Atomic Theory. Would it astonish you to hear he is nearly half a bicycle?'
#FlannOBrien #MylesnagCopaleen
#FlannOBrien #MylesnagCopaleen
Thank-you to the @flannobriensoc.bsky.social for sharing this podcast - it's certainly unmissable if you want to learn new and surprising things about #flannobrien
📻 Wind up the phonograph, warm up the gramophone, tune in your radio, the next instalment of Radio Myles is here! 📻 Listen to Oisín Ó Nualláin share fascinating insights about his uncle, Flann O’Brien himself, as well as his father, Micheál Ó Nualláin. Hosted by @tobias-w-harris.bsky.social
9. Oisín Ó Nualláin: Eccentric state builders (6 May 2025) – Radio Myles
radiomyles.com
May 8, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Thank-you to the @flannobriensoc.bsky.social for sharing this podcast - it's certainly unmissable if you want to learn new and surprising things about #flannobrien
Finished #TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘You have no idea where you are going…’
‘No, none.’
‘Nor have I…Sometimes I think that perhaps I might become part of…the world…if you understand me?’
‘I know.’
‘I mean- the wind…Or perhaps something to do with the sea…Or the smell of a flower…’
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘You have no idea where you are going…’
‘No, none.’
‘Nor have I…Sometimes I think that perhaps I might become part of…the world…if you understand me?’
‘I know.’
‘I mean- the wind…Or perhaps something to do with the sea…Or the smell of a flower…’
April 13, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Finished #TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘You have no idea where you are going…’
‘No, none.’
‘Nor have I…Sometimes I think that perhaps I might become part of…the world…if you understand me?’
‘I know.’
‘I mean- the wind…Or perhaps something to do with the sea…Or the smell of a flower…’
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘You have no idea where you are going…’
‘No, none.’
‘Nor have I…Sometimes I think that perhaps I might become part of…the world…if you understand me?’
‘I know.’
‘I mean- the wind…Or perhaps something to do with the sea…Or the smell of a flower…’
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘I think,' he said, 'we will go out and have a look at it, it is a great thing to do what is necessary before it becomes essential and unavoidable.'
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘I think,' he said, 'we will go out and have a look at it, it is a great thing to do what is necessary before it becomes essential and unavoidable.'
April 12, 2025 at 8:28 PM
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘I think,' he said, 'we will go out and have a look at it, it is a great thing to do what is necessary before it becomes essential and unavoidable.'
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘I think,' he said, 'we will go out and have a look at it, it is a great thing to do what is necessary before it becomes essential and unavoidable.'
Thank you to my dear readers who took part and to those of you who enjoyed our tweets! #OBrien25 #TheThirdPoliceman #flannobrien #beedoubleokayess📚🐦
#ReadingAnActOfSharedSolitude #paperpills🇵🇸❤️ #ReemReel
www.instagram.com/reel/DIWMqJG...
#ReadingAnActOfSharedSolitude #paperpills🇵🇸❤️ #ReemReel
www.instagram.com/reel/DIWMqJG...
April 12, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Thank you to my dear readers who took part and to those of you who enjoyed our tweets! #OBrien25 #TheThirdPoliceman #flannobrien #beedoubleokayess📚🐦
#ReadingAnActOfSharedSolitude #paperpills🇵🇸❤️ #ReemReel
www.instagram.com/reel/DIWMqJG...
#ReadingAnActOfSharedSolitude #paperpills🇵🇸❤️ #ReemReel
www.instagram.com/reel/DIWMqJG...
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘To spend it and spin it out and not have all of it forever unused inside him.'
'All what?'
' His lifetime. He wants to get rid of as much as possible, undertime and overtime, as quickly as he can….’
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘To spend it and spin it out and not have all of it forever unused inside him.'
'All what?'
' His lifetime. He wants to get rid of as much as possible, undertime and overtime, as quickly as he can….’
April 12, 2025 at 10:49 AM
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘To spend it and spin it out and not have all of it forever unused inside him.'
'All what?'
' His lifetime. He wants to get rid of as much as possible, undertime and overtime, as quickly as he can….’
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘To spend it and spin it out and not have all of it forever unused inside him.'
'All what?'
' His lifetime. He wants to get rid of as much as possible, undertime and overtime, as quickly as he can….’
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
When I awoke again two thoughts came into my head so closely together that they seemed to be stuck to one another; I could not be sure which came first and it was hard to separate them and examine them singly.
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
When I awoke again two thoughts came into my head so closely together that they seemed to be stuck to one another; I could not be sure which came first and it was hard to separate them and examine them singly.
April 11, 2025 at 8:01 PM
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
When I awoke again two thoughts came into my head so closely together that they seemed to be stuck to one another; I could not be sure which came first and it was hard to separate them and examine them singly.
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
When I awoke again two thoughts came into my head so closely together that they seemed to be stuck to one another; I could not be sure which came first and it was hard to separate them and examine them singly.
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
I was awakened the following morning by sounds of loud hammering outside the window and found myself immediately recalling- the recollection was an absurd paradox- that I had been in the next world yesterday.
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
I was awakened the following morning by sounds of loud hammering outside the window and found myself immediately recalling- the recollection was an absurd paradox- that I had been in the next world yesterday.
April 11, 2025 at 9:39 AM
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
I was awakened the following morning by sounds of loud hammering outside the window and found myself immediately recalling- the recollection was an absurd paradox- that I had been in the next world yesterday.
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
I was awakened the following morning by sounds of loud hammering outside the window and found myself immediately recalling- the recollection was an absurd paradox- that I had been in the next world yesterday.
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
…I was handed a magnifying glass…I looked at my hand through it and saw nothing that was recognizable…MacCruiskeen took it back with a smile at my puzzled eye.
'It magnifies to invisibility,' he explained.
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
…I was handed a magnifying glass…I looked at my hand through it and saw nothing that was recognizable…MacCruiskeen took it back with a smile at my puzzled eye.
'It magnifies to invisibility,' he explained.
April 10, 2025 at 8:46 PM
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
…I was handed a magnifying glass…I looked at my hand through it and saw nothing that was recognizable…MacCruiskeen took it back with a smile at my puzzled eye.
'It magnifies to invisibility,' he explained.
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
…I was handed a magnifying glass…I looked at my hand through it and saw nothing that was recognizable…MacCruiskeen took it back with a smile at my puzzled eye.
'It magnifies to invisibility,' he explained.
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘It does a man no harm,' the Sergeant remarked pleasantly, 'to move around a bit and see things. It is a great thing for widening out the mind. A wide mind is a grand thing….’
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘It does a man no harm,' the Sergeant remarked pleasantly, 'to move around a bit and see things. It is a great thing for widening out the mind. A wide mind is a grand thing….’
April 10, 2025 at 9:42 AM
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘It does a man no harm,' the Sergeant remarked pleasantly, 'to move around a bit and see things. It is a great thing for widening out the mind. A wide mind is a grand thing….’
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘It does a man no harm,' the Sergeant remarked pleasantly, 'to move around a bit and see things. It is a great thing for widening out the mind. A wide mind is a grand thing….’
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
Certainly. I will be there to the end. In the meantime let us make up our minds that eternity is not up a lane that is found by looking at cracks in the ceiling of a country policeman's bedroom.
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
Certainly. I will be there to the end. In the meantime let us make up our minds that eternity is not up a lane that is found by looking at cracks in the ceiling of a country policeman's bedroom.
April 9, 2025 at 8:17 PM
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
Certainly. I will be there to the end. In the meantime let us make up our minds that eternity is not up a lane that is found by looking at cracks in the ceiling of a country policeman's bedroom.
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
Certainly. I will be there to the end. In the meantime let us make up our minds that eternity is not up a lane that is found by looking at cracks in the ceiling of a country policeman's bedroom.
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘But there is a road there,' the Sergeant said triumphantly, 'if you know how to look knowledgeably for it. And a very old road. Come with me till we see the size of it.'
‘Is this the road to eternity?'
‘It is indeed but there is no signpost.'
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘But there is a road there,' the Sergeant said triumphantly, 'if you know how to look knowledgeably for it. And a very old road. Come with me till we see the size of it.'
‘Is this the road to eternity?'
‘It is indeed but there is no signpost.'
April 9, 2025 at 9:29 AM
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘But there is a road there,' the Sergeant said triumphantly, 'if you know how to look knowledgeably for it. And a very old road. Come with me till we see the size of it.'
‘Is this the road to eternity?'
‘It is indeed but there is no signpost.'
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘But there is a road there,' the Sergeant said triumphantly, 'if you know how to look knowledgeably for it. And a very old road. Come with me till we see the size of it.'
‘Is this the road to eternity?'
‘It is indeed but there is no signpost.'
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
I felt sure I was not going against the road. It was, so to speak, accompanying me.
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
I felt sure I was not going against the road. It was, so to speak, accompanying me.
April 8, 2025 at 7:28 PM
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
I felt sure I was not going against the road. It was, so to speak, accompanying me.
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
I felt sure I was not going against the road. It was, so to speak, accompanying me.
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘The funny thing is…that MacCruiskeen lay for two years staring at that ceiling before he saw it was a map of superb ingenuity?'
'Now that was stupid,' I said thickly.
'And he lay…for five years more before he saw that it showed the way to eternity?’
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘The funny thing is…that MacCruiskeen lay for two years staring at that ceiling before he saw it was a map of superb ingenuity?'
'Now that was stupid,' I said thickly.
'And he lay…for five years more before he saw that it showed the way to eternity?’
April 8, 2025 at 9:53 AM
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘The funny thing is…that MacCruiskeen lay for two years staring at that ceiling before he saw it was a map of superb ingenuity?'
'Now that was stupid,' I said thickly.
'And he lay…for five years more before he saw that it showed the way to eternity?’
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘The funny thing is…that MacCruiskeen lay for two years staring at that ceiling before he saw it was a map of superb ingenuity?'
'Now that was stupid,' I said thickly.
'And he lay…for five years more before he saw that it showed the way to eternity?’
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
The box is full of noise. Myself and the Sergeant spend our spare time in the summer collecting noises so that we can have light and heat for our official life in the dark winter.
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
The box is full of noise. Myself and the Sergeant spend our spare time in the summer collecting noises so that we can have light and heat for our official life in the dark winter.
April 7, 2025 at 10:17 PM
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
The box is full of noise. Myself and the Sergeant spend our spare time in the summer collecting noises so that we can have light and heat for our official life in the dark winter.
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
The box is full of noise. Myself and the Sergeant spend our spare time in the summer collecting noises so that we can have light and heat for our official life in the dark winter.
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
He attributes the idea that the earth is spherical to the fact that human beings are continually moving in only one known direction (though convinced that they are free to move in any direction)….
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
He attributes the idea that the earth is spherical to the fact that human beings are continually moving in only one known direction (though convinced that they are free to move in any direction)….
April 7, 2025 at 9:40 AM
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
He attributes the idea that the earth is spherical to the fact that human beings are continually moving in only one known direction (though convinced that they are free to move in any direction)….
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
He attributes the idea that the earth is spherical to the fact that human beings are continually moving in only one known direction (though convinced that they are free to move in any direction)….
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘If you let it go too far it would be the end of everything. You would have bicycles wanting votes and they would get seats on the County Council and make the roads far worse…on the other hand, a good bicycle is a great companion…a great charm about it.'
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘If you let it go too far it would be the end of everything. You would have bicycles wanting votes and they would get seats on the County Council and make the roads far worse…on the other hand, a good bicycle is a great companion…a great charm about it.'
April 6, 2025 at 7:06 PM
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘If you let it go too far it would be the end of everything. You would have bicycles wanting votes and they would get seats on the County Council and make the roads far worse…on the other hand, a good bicycle is a great companion…a great charm about it.'
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘If you let it go too far it would be the end of everything. You would have bicycles wanting votes and they would get seats on the County Council and make the roads far worse…on the other hand, a good bicycle is a great companion…a great charm about it.'
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘Did you never study atomics when you were a lad?' asked the Sergeant…
‘No,' I answered.
'That is a very serious defalcation…but…I will tell you the size of it. Everything is composed of small particles of itself…flying around in concentric circles…
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘Did you never study atomics when you were a lad?' asked the Sergeant…
‘No,' I answered.
'That is a very serious defalcation…but…I will tell you the size of it. Everything is composed of small particles of itself…flying around in concentric circles…
April 6, 2025 at 10:00 AM
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘Did you never study atomics when you were a lad?' asked the Sergeant…
‘No,' I answered.
'That is a very serious defalcation…but…I will tell you the size of it. Everything is composed of small particles of itself…flying around in concentric circles…
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘Did you never study atomics when you were a lad?' asked the Sergeant…
‘No,' I answered.
'That is a very serious defalcation…but…I will tell you the size of it. Everything is composed of small particles of itself…flying around in concentric circles…
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘In the end I found…only one thing to do to put myself right with my…conscience.'
'It is a great thing that you found the right answer at all,' I countered.
‘I decided…the…correct thing to contain in the chest was another chest…littler in cubic dimension.’
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘In the end I found…only one thing to do to put myself right with my…conscience.'
'It is a great thing that you found the right answer at all,' I countered.
‘I decided…the…correct thing to contain in the chest was another chest…littler in cubic dimension.’
April 5, 2025 at 7:36 PM
#TheThirdPoliceman
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘In the end I found…only one thing to do to put myself right with my…conscience.'
'It is a great thing that you found the right answer at all,' I countered.
‘I decided…the…correct thing to contain in the chest was another chest…littler in cubic dimension.’
#FlannOBrien
#OBrien25
‘In the end I found…only one thing to do to put myself right with my…conscience.'
'It is a great thing that you found the right answer at all,' I countered.
‘I decided…the…correct thing to contain in the chest was another chest…littler in cubic dimension.’