Clare O'Brien
@clareobrien.bsky.social
Writer. Music fan. Poet in Residence, Inverewe Garden, Scottish Highlands. Will block A.I. slop & associated evangelists.
Poetry chapbooks 'Breathing Out Becomes White And Snowfall' & 'Who Am I Supposed To Be Driving?' out now.
Web: clarevobrien.weebly.com
Poetry chapbooks 'Breathing Out Becomes White And Snowfall' & 'Who Am I Supposed To Be Driving?' out now.
Web: clarevobrien.weebly.com
Pinned
Clare O'Brien
@clareobrien.bsky.social
· Oct 23
Interview with our poet-in-residence at Inverewe
Clare O’Brien talks about her role as poet-in-residence at Inverewe Garden.
www.nts.org.uk
My year as poet-in-residence at Inverewe Garden & Estate is drawing to a close, but here's my recent interview with arts curator Ginevra House, now free to read on The National Trust For Scotland's website.
@n-t-s.bsky.social
#poetry #poetrycommunity #ScottishHighlands
@n-t-s.bsky.social
#poetry #poetrycommunity #ScottishHighlands
Delighted to share my latest published #poem 'Me Two' which went live at @librelit.bsky.social today! #femalerage #mentalhealth
Me Two
Clare O’Brien [ Click to expand ] Clare O’Brien grew up in London but moved 25 years ago to a house by a sea-loch in Scotland, which suits her much better. She is Poet In Residence at the Nat…
librelit.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Delighted to share my latest published #poem 'Me Two' which went live at @librelit.bsky.social today! #femalerage #mentalhealth
“I asked it about the history of the Palestinian people, and it wouldn’t give me an answer no matter how I rephrased the question...when I asked it about the history of Israel, it had no problems giving me a very extensive rundown. We reported it, but nobody seemed to care at Google.”
Meet the AI workers who tell their friends and family to stay away from AI
When the people making AI seem trustworthy are the ones who trust it the least, it shows that incentives for speed are overtaking safety, experts say
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:25 PM
“I asked it about the history of the Palestinian people, and it wouldn’t give me an answer no matter how I rephrased the question...when I asked it about the history of Israel, it had no problems giving me a very extensive rundown. We reported it, but nobody seemed to care at Google.”
I've never flown Ryanair, and after reading this horror story, I never will. Was the doctor supposed to ignore their Hippocratic oath?
Ryanair expects me to take the financial hit for helping others
As a doctor I stepped in to tend to an elderly passenger … but it won’t waive £100 transfer fee to rebook
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:45 PM
I've never flown Ryanair, and after reading this horror story, I never will. Was the doctor supposed to ignore their Hippocratic oath?
Go for it Zack!!
Zack Polanski tells the BBC it would be "very tempting" for him to stand in Keir Starmer's seat at the next general election
November 24, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Go for it Zack!!
Autumn is the best time for interesting skies here in the #ScottishHighlands.
November 21, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Autumn is the best time for interesting skies here in the #ScottishHighlands.
Just back from a work trip to London where I met some lovely Americans who despised Trump as much as do. Then followed a horrible Yank off the plane at Inverness while he swore & created about British Airways as if it was the airline's fault the flight had been delayed, rather than the snow's.[Cont]
November 21, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Just back from a work trip to London where I met some lovely Americans who despised Trump as much as do. Then followed a horrible Yank off the plane at Inverness while he swore & created about British Airways as if it was the airline's fault the flight had been delayed, rather than the snow's.[Cont]
Reposted by Clare O'Brien
I don't know if this is any more monstrous than the rest of the asylum changes but it *feels* cartoonishly evil, like fleecing a Holocaust victim.
The Sun has been told Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will on Monday propose confiscating jewellery, watches, necklaces from asylum seekers to meet asylum costs
This reflects the most controversial aspect of the Danish scheme - the Jewellery Law. The toughest Labour MPs thought this was OTT
This reflects the most controversial aspect of the Danish scheme - the Jewellery Law. The toughest Labour MPs thought this was OTT
November 17, 2025 at 8:38 AM
I don't know if this is any more monstrous than the rest of the asylum changes but it *feels* cartoonishly evil, like fleecing a Holocaust victim.
THIS.
As for the current world, everything I love is under siege, and poetry is one way I feel alive under those conditions. It’s not about transcendence as much as presence.
— Sal Randolph, in our POTW interview 💙
— Sal Randolph, in our POTW interview 💙
November 16, 2025 at 6:38 PM
THIS.
Ten things I love:
Books. Owls. Roses. Mountains. Dogs. Cats. Strawberries. Oceans. Liquorice. Whisky.
Ten things I hate: E-books. Banks. Anchovies. Shiraz. Fascists. Marmite. A.I. Telephone calls. Prawns. Spreadsheets.
Books. Owls. Roses. Mountains. Dogs. Cats. Strawberries. Oceans. Liquorice. Whisky.
Ten things I hate: E-books. Banks. Anchovies. Shiraz. Fascists. Marmite. A.I. Telephone calls. Prawns. Spreadsheets.
November 16, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Ten things I love:
Books. Owls. Roses. Mountains. Dogs. Cats. Strawberries. Oceans. Liquorice. Whisky.
Ten things I hate: E-books. Banks. Anchovies. Shiraz. Fascists. Marmite. A.I. Telephone calls. Prawns. Spreadsheets.
Books. Owls. Roses. Mountains. Dogs. Cats. Strawberries. Oceans. Liquorice. Whisky.
Ten things I hate: E-books. Banks. Anchovies. Shiraz. Fascists. Marmite. A.I. Telephone calls. Prawns. Spreadsheets.
So Trump has called the BBC "worse than fake news". He claims it's corrupt and is trying to destroy it. Not so much the pot calling the kettle black, as a living mass of festering ooze trying to deflect attention from the emerging proof of his foul paedophilia.
Trump says he will sue BBC for at least $1bn over Panorama edit
The US president confirmed he intends to sue the broadcaster for at least $1bn over the Panorama edit of a 2021 speech.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 3:32 PM
So Trump has called the BBC "worse than fake news". He claims it's corrupt and is trying to destroy it. Not so much the pot calling the kettle black, as a living mass of festering ooze trying to deflect attention from the emerging proof of his foul paedophilia.
Reposted by Clare O'Brien
A brilliant starter pack of Poets from @poetry-with-hart.bsky.social Please follow and repost if you can #poetrycommunity #poetsonbluesky
November 15, 2025 at 8:35 AM
A brilliant starter pack of Poets from @poetry-with-hart.bsky.social Please follow and repost if you can #poetrycommunity #poetsonbluesky
"Society cannot function without a broadly accepted body of facts. The US no longer has that: there are red-state facts and blue-state facts; Fox News facts and MSNBC facts. Watergate...would barely make a dent in today’s US: the right would simply deny the evidence, cheered on by its media allies."
Trump can get away with saying what he likes about the BBC. But Epstein? That’s his one vulnerability | Jonathan Freedland
In attacking a vital broadcaster, the US president is once again holding others to standards he flouts. But the Maga faithful might not let his links to the disgraced financier go, says Guardian colum...
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 6:37 AM
"Society cannot function without a broadly accepted body of facts. The US no longer has that: there are red-state facts and blue-state facts; Fox News facts and MSNBC facts. Watergate...would barely make a dent in today’s US: the right would simply deny the evidence, cheered on by its media allies."
Reposted by Clare O'Brien
Video game giant Rockstar has sacked more than 30 workers across the UK, including my constituents working at their Edinburgh office. I urged Ministers to support workers who have lost their jobs, and stop this from happening again.
November 13, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Video game giant Rockstar has sacked more than 30 workers across the UK, including my constituents working at their Edinburgh office. I urged Ministers to support workers who have lost their jobs, and stop this from happening again.
Great. Now suspend ALL intelligence sharing with the USA. Treat them like the terrorist state they have chosen to be.
UK pauses intelligence-sharing with US on suspected drug vessels in Caribbean
Rare rupture between military allies comes as concerns grow over Trump administration’s lethal sinking of boats
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Great. Now suspend ALL intelligence sharing with the USA. Treat them like the terrorist state they have chosen to be.
Reposted by Clare O'Brien
Boris Johnson says the idea that criticism of the BBC is being organised by the right is ‘complete and utter bollocks’, which makes me think there might be something in it.
November 11, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Boris Johnson says the idea that criticism of the BBC is being organised by the right is ‘complete and utter bollocks’, which makes me think there might be something in it.
Reposted by Clare O'Brien
See what’s happening. A Trumpist US media company has taken over Channel 5. Another US company is gunning for ITV. Our social media is saturated by Musk’s calls for civil war in the UK. The BBC is the last thing standing, and Trump/Johnson are trying to bring it down
November 9, 2025 at 11:59 PM
See what’s happening. A Trumpist US media company has taken over Channel 5. Another US company is gunning for ITV. Our social media is saturated by Musk’s calls for civil war in the UK. The BBC is the last thing standing, and Trump/Johnson are trying to bring it down
Reposted by Clare O'Brien
We are so far through the looking glass that the man who tried to overthrow an election becomes president, the people who attacked the Capitol are turned into martyrs, & it's the BBC that gets punished - cheered on by the worst news outlets in the UK & the two most dishonest politicians of our age.
It’s not at all clear to me how the BBC can do any kind of serious journalism if its top two bosses can be forced to quit over such an obviously confected scandal. There is no substantive error here. How can the BBC report on Trump, or Farage, or anyone else, in these circumstances?
November 9, 2025 at 9:08 PM
We are so far through the looking glass that the man who tried to overthrow an election becomes president, the people who attacked the Capitol are turned into martyrs, & it's the BBC that gets punished - cheered on by the worst news outlets in the UK & the two most dishonest politicians of our age.
My husband just remarked that as there appears to be little difference in unattractiveness between them, the Conservative Party and Reform might merge and become Conform.
November 9, 2025 at 4:34 PM
My husband just remarked that as there appears to be little difference in unattractiveness between them, the Conservative Party and Reform might merge and become Conform.
Reposted by Clare O'Brien
If there was a prize for post of the week @clareobrien.bsky.social deserves to win it for saying that trying to get away from the AI shite being pushed on us is "like escaping the advances of a drunken harasser in a bar."
I'm sick of A.I. being pushed on me like drugs at the school gate. Wanted to check my Microsoft 365 subscription today, and only got to see my payment history after I'd had to punch Copilot in the face about three times. Felt like escaping the advances of a drunken harasser in a bar.
November 8, 2025 at 3:30 AM
If there was a prize for post of the week @clareobrien.bsky.social deserves to win it for saying that trying to get away from the AI shite being pushed on us is "like escaping the advances of a drunken harasser in a bar."
Can thoroughly recommend this great anthology of short fiction!! My story 'Body Positive' is in some great company - well worth the £9 outlay which goes to benefit UK charity The Wildlife Trusts.
#writingcommunity #writesky #authorsandwriting #booksky 📚💙
#writingcommunity #writesky #authorsandwriting #booksky 📚💙
Today's teases from our gorgeous charity print anthology are from stories exploring family loss and uncovered family secrets.
Stunning work from @joycebingham.bsky.social @mikepiero.org @clareobrien.bsky.social
Get a copy and enjoy all 27 short fictions:
mybook.to/WhatComesToL... 🦝
Stunning work from @joycebingham.bsky.social @mikepiero.org @clareobrien.bsky.social
Get a copy and enjoy all 27 short fictions:
mybook.to/WhatComesToL... 🦝
November 8, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Can thoroughly recommend this great anthology of short fiction!! My story 'Body Positive' is in some great company - well worth the £9 outlay which goes to benefit UK charity The Wildlife Trusts.
#writingcommunity #writesky #authorsandwriting #booksky 📚💙
#writingcommunity #writesky #authorsandwriting #booksky 📚💙
Reposted by Clare O'Brien
Born a rich kid, this parasite doesn’t make anything himself. He’s a lucky, greedy, self-obsessed player in capitalism’s casino. A care nurse does more for humanity in an hour than he’s achieved in a lifetime. And he uses his wealth for racist, classist, anti-trans causes.
Capitalism’s values stink
Capitalism’s values stink
Tesla shareholders approve $1tn pay package for Elon Musk
Chants of ‘Elon’ erupt after compensation plan approved despite opposition from several high-profile investors
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Born a rich kid, this parasite doesn’t make anything himself. He’s a lucky, greedy, self-obsessed player in capitalism’s casino. A care nurse does more for humanity in an hour than he’s achieved in a lifetime. And he uses his wealth for racist, classist, anti-trans causes.
Capitalism’s values stink
Capitalism’s values stink
Here's my #poem for the #poemsabout #lockeddoors prompt.
It's an #ekphrastic poem this time - at least, I'm not sure it works without my photo? I came across these stone dogs by chance & instantly wanted to write about them.
@thebrokenspine.co.uk @alanparrywriter.co.uk
#poetry #poetsofbluesky
It's an #ekphrastic poem this time - at least, I'm not sure it works without my photo? I came across these stone dogs by chance & instantly wanted to write about them.
@thebrokenspine.co.uk @alanparrywriter.co.uk
#poetry #poetsofbluesky
November 7, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Here's my #poem for the #poemsabout #lockeddoors prompt.
It's an #ekphrastic poem this time - at least, I'm not sure it works without my photo? I came across these stone dogs by chance & instantly wanted to write about them.
@thebrokenspine.co.uk @alanparrywriter.co.uk
#poetry #poetsofbluesky
It's an #ekphrastic poem this time - at least, I'm not sure it works without my photo? I came across these stone dogs by chance & instantly wanted to write about them.
@thebrokenspine.co.uk @alanparrywriter.co.uk
#poetry #poetsofbluesky
After several days of unrelenting rain I finally made it over to Inverewe Garden to see my Autumn #poem in situ in the Wet Garden! Check the alt text if you can't read it easily. Needless to say - the poem was written on a sunnier afternoon. 🌞
#poetrycommunity #writingcommunity #poetinresidence
#poetrycommunity #writingcommunity #poetinresidence
November 6, 2025 at 4:57 PM
After several days of unrelenting rain I finally made it over to Inverewe Garden to see my Autumn #poem in situ in the Wet Garden! Check the alt text if you can't read it easily. Needless to say - the poem was written on a sunnier afternoon. 🌞
#poetrycommunity #writingcommunity #poetinresidence
#poetrycommunity #writingcommunity #poetinresidence
Indeed. In fact, although I've been an SNP voter for ages, and have never once ventured onto TikTok, I'm considering voting for, or even joining, the Greens. My only concern is that the Scottish Greens seem less impressive than the English party, which is a bit of a first for me.
I’ve seen on the media how pundits amusingly refer to Zack Polanski as if entirely propped up by social media & youngsters’ ‘vibes’ but to this middle aged women (who has no TikTok account) he seems the most serious political leader in sight talking about real issues with conviction and directness 🤷🏻♀️
November 3, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Indeed. In fact, although I've been an SNP voter for ages, and have never once ventured onto TikTok, I'm considering voting for, or even joining, the Greens. My only concern is that the Scottish Greens seem less impressive than the English party, which is a bit of a first for me.
Yes - because they don't want you to do anything for pleasure that they can't monetise. I'm so sick of America, its godforsaken 996 culture & its shitty politics, both of which it tries to export to us. Some of the art is still worthwhile although even that's under threat from this barbaric regime.
America… where they will force you to give birth and then blame you if you struggle financially.
Where they will ban abortions but also cut funding for infant formula and SNAP funds that feed kids.
Where they will ban abortions but also cut funding for infant formula and SNAP funds that feed kids.
November 2, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Yes - because they don't want you to do anything for pleasure that they can't monetise. I'm so sick of America, its godforsaken 996 culture & its shitty politics, both of which it tries to export to us. Some of the art is still worthwhile although even that's under threat from this barbaric regime.