The Sage of Shanleys by Stephen Brady

J. J. Shanleys' Bar sat on a lonely road facing out on the grey Atlantic. To the south lay the bare tundra of the Burren. And all around the hills, a funeral country on the ragged edge of the old Continent.  J.J. was leaning on the bar, studying the funerals in the paper – "Who's …

There Are Profounder Things by Stephen Brady

For Davey It was Sheeran's pub on the road to Lochbawn in the County of Clare. And the year was nineteen hundred and fifty three.The ceilidh was in full swing, and all the young men and lassies of the parish were up, feet pounding on the boards. The vibrations shook the old timber-framed house. The …

Making a Difference by Stephen Brady

The statue was beautiful, smooth and immaculate white marble. A nude goddess, bending slightly forward, with hand outstretched to dispense some form of unknowable divine largesse. The figure (it might have been Venus, or Aphrodite, or Diana) was the centrepiece of the museum: hordes streamed past it all day, snapped it with their phones, posed …

Treason and Plot by Stephen Brady

Beyond the fastness of the Tower walls the day was waning. And from the cells below the old foundation the screaming had at last subsided into silence.  Blevin, Captain of the Guard, mounted the winding stair, head bowed in a species of exhaustion. In his hand he clutched a sheaf of yellowed paper. At the …

Bring Forth Your King by Stephen Brady

Bring forth your King From off his lofty throne And let him mingle with the                                                 groundlings Bring forth your King Without his crown and sceptre Let him stand there                                                 unencumbered Bring forth your King Bereft of chains and baubles Shorn of all that scintillating                                                 shine Bring forth your King Silent of …

What I Done On My Summer Holidays by Stephen Brady

Dublin, 1981 His voice had never sounded so cold."What in GOD'S NAME do you call this?"The whole class was stunned into silence.All eyes were on Benji. And his eyes were fixed on Brother Martin."Brother, I-""SILENCE!"Benji Quinn stood before Brother Martin's desk, like a sacrificial lamb in glasses. The whole of Class 3A was watching in …

Greene’s Terminal by Stephen Brady

The stone steps curled up and up, around the bore of the ancient chimney. Morris had to rest several times on the climb. It was a fine day, and the brickwork was hot to the touch. He felt acutely the weight of the satchel, and the Nikon around his neck. By the time he was …

Last Call by Stephen Brady

Everything has a life of its own.Ronan's feet had carried him to that street, that day. He had left home for the last time and wandered into town. He felt directed, as though forces he could not see were pushing him through then hall of mirrors his life had become. He was a piece on …

Do Not Go Gentle by Stephen Brady

East Kansas 1984 He'd had a bad day and just needed something to make him feel better. In Driscoll's line of work the bad days had become more and more frequent, and the good days few and far between. He was a sales rep for a firm that wholesaled industrial cleaning products. And right now, …

Take Physik by Stephen Brady

Susannah was weeping in the downstairs bedroom. The noises from upstairs had mercifully ceased. John stood at the window in the parlour, his instruments arrayed before him, and looked out on the trim and verdant garden. He loved the new house. He loved the shade of Chapel Lane, so different from the bustle by the …