The Speakeasy Sessions

27/10/2024

If speed is responsible for 30% of road fatalities why does it get 99% of headlines.

Very slow driving is also dangerous but not a word. I'm sure infrastructure commands a higher percentage again, but not a word.

The government are eyeing revenue, and are cynically shooting fish in a barrel.

Watch the fatalities rise year on year, as the real cause of fatal accidents goes unchecked.

03/10/2024

So Jack Chambers finally admits, that the main cause of road deaths is infrastructure. Quoting unspecified international sources is nonsense. One wonders what third world country was consulted.

By reducing the speed limit on minor roads he is in fact admitting that after a 100years of FF-FG governments, our secondary road network is sub-standard and dangerous.

By leaving the motorway network as is, Chambers is admitting that infrastructure not speeding is the main issue.

All very commendable when one thinks of the idiots who brake when spotting an upcoming car.

You know them driving at 40kmph in an 80 zone.

They now will have government sanction to go 40kmph in a 60zone.

Problem here is that this slow driving is lethal with tailbacks going back for KMs, and competent drivers, boiling over with frustration.

Hate to predict that road fatalities will increase this year despite the new speed limits. It's a misnomer that speed alone causes accidents. Chambers should own up.

It's poor infrastructure and slow drivers that are the real culprits.

Easy to blame speed.

But these conservative parties just don't do infrastructure.

A 100 years of neglect is damning proof.

19/09/2024

But you look so well

There is a part of me that is so brittle, so self destructive. I wonder am I two people. Me, who copes with the daily world, once I am busy. And me who is morosely sad. Thinking darkly of lost family and friends. I am so brittle that the flavours in my thought procedures change. A cold rush, ices it's way a glistening sharpened blade. A rugged landscape where thoughts viscerally blow foul smoking rubber. When did this first start. How do I deal with it. Is there a cure. The clouds are with the bleak earth betrothed to cursing and shaking in a nagging furnace. Today, like every day, the great battle commences.

18/09/2024

5.0 out of 5 stars A true Literary Genius
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 November 2023
I bought the novel directly from the author (who I had never heard of) as he looked sadly lonely in a Skibbereen book signing. What a find! The work is not just a novel, but a clear and literary depiction of the whole Irish way of life, from the 1950's to the present day. I am stunned that this author's work, equal in stature and quality to Roddy Doyle, has not been snapped up by an I… See more

I haven't sold any copies of this book on Amazon in the last six months. I sold Eason's 40 copies in 2023. I know for a fact that 35-36 were sold out. I haven't received a penny from them. The life of an independent writer who is been suppressed by the main publishing cartel. If people dont know you they wont read your books.

15/03/2024

How refreshing to see the second mainstream Irish novelist, win a literary prize this week. It couldn't be fixed, could it?

02/02/2024

A Toxic Relationship

These curtains blue in soft light
tombs for naked flesh

redacted lust in encrypted tights
she on spiral stairs sucks cone

midst painful bark of lonely dog
surrounds us in a hiss of air

a blast of wind reflective stare
I stroke white hair on your chin

mix of lipstick on delicate eye
toxic of innocence n’ cunning

you stand by the window
buttock seek small dog

loneliness biting arouses call
she on spiral stairs licks cone

I am crucified palms nail to sheets
curtain rail conspires to spear me

18/01/2024

Available in Eason's Dun Laoghaire, and online, at Alan Hanna's. Bookshop.

18/01/2024

A new poem about the harsh realities of growing up in Sallynoggin.

Mood Music

In autumn sun the world faded to haze
winter snow stayed on the roof for days
summer shadows danced from porches
bridal arrangements out in the ring
yellow frocks worn by the gorgeous

I recorded the general mood was good

One night I caught hold of a distant star
with me and J D playing cars
his concrete mixer crushing my Batmobile
we were grown no fear of that just like
planting sods of horse manure on roses

In faint light I saw you silver frock mended
but I’m not the one you befriended
though you found me comatose upended
our fathers left us in this desert
death notices pinned to the hall door

I recorded the general mood was good

One night I caught hold of a distant star
with me and J D playing cars
his concrete mixer crushing my Batmobile
we were grown no fear of that just like
planting sods of horse manure on roses

I saw those shadows shrink to porches
some kind of thing called growing up
these frocks did scatter around the world
bringing deadly scented perfume to falter
if only we had known how it might be

When recording the general mood like me

16/01/2024

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-the-days-of-jael-paul-kestell/1142855169

A modern novella set in Ireland. A book about the realities of life. How women can become economic slaves, and how modern neoliberal economic ideology, has stripped human dignity to shreds.

16/01/2024

https://www.alanhannas.com/In-The-Days-Of-Jael_9798370052781

Buy In The Days Of Jael by Kestell, Paul from Alan Hannas Bookshop, Ireland. ISBN 9798370052781

16/01/2024

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliantly written.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 November 2023
Verified Purchase
Paul Kestell's novel 'In the Days of Jael' is a brilliantly written piece of work which kept me enthralled from the very first chapter. It is not a story for the faint hearted, more of a psychological thriller that is a disturbing in some parts to read as the author expertly describes the devastating sexual power men can hold over women and it's ramifications. Very clever plot with fantastic characterization and a climatic ending.




Discerning Reader

5.0 out of 5 stars A true Literary Genius
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 November 2023
I bought the novel directly from the author (who I had never heard of) as he looked sadly lonely in a Skibbereen book signing. What a find! The work is not just a novel, but a clear and literary depiction of the whole Irish way of life, from the 1950's to the present day. I am stunned that this author's work, equal in stature and quality to Roddy Doyle, has not been snapped up by an Irish literary publisher. The prose is sheer poetry, the characterization deep, the story immersive. This comment is from Daisy O'Shea, a Bookouture author, who recognizes a talent light years above her own.

The Irish publishing cartel, have stopped me, from creating a profile as a writer. They deny me access to the national press. They deny me access to 'Arena,' the radio arts show. I am not allowed enter the Irish Book Awards. I am denied invites to literary weekends, and writer retreats. I cant distribute my book nationwide through Argosy, or in retail through Eason's. The Irish literary cartel, hate independently published books. They are destroying independent writers, and publishers. I sold no books on Amazon this month so far. I have no profile, despite the reviews, you have just read.

You can buy copies in Eason's Dun Laoghaire. You can buy online from Alan Hanna's Bookshop.

31/08/2021

Posts from Skibbereen Speakeasy for 08/31/2021 -