Tom Shiels
@itstomshiels.bsky.social
Writer, currently working as a comms manager in academic publishing. Interests include food, coffee, books and music. Irish living in Yorkshire.
itstomshiels.substack.com
itstomshiels.substack.com
Enjoyed this short documentary on @fotoole.bsky.social’s experience of growing up and working in Ireland. I particularly liked his optimism for the future of the island. Well worth checking out on the RTE player.
May 26, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Enjoyed this short documentary on @fotoole.bsky.social’s experience of growing up and working in Ireland. I particularly liked his optimism for the future of the island. Well worth checking out on the RTE player.
What are you reading this weekend?
I’m working my way through essays, diaries, and interviews with Brian Friel.
I’m working my way through essays, diaries, and interviews with Brian Friel.
April 19, 2025 at 2:49 PM
What are you reading this weekend?
I’m working my way through essays, diaries, and interviews with Brian Friel.
I’m working my way through essays, diaries, and interviews with Brian Friel.
Well, I suppose mistakes are the portals of discovery.
April 16, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Well, I suppose mistakes are the portals of discovery.
The second will be Aiste, essays on life. These will be similar to the usual ramblings I’d publish on Substack usually. These will be live every Wednesday.
Let’s see if all of this makes me work harder at putting something out consistently. Thank you for reading.
Let’s see if all of this makes me work harder at putting something out consistently. Thank you for reading.
March 8, 2025 at 10:55 PM
The second will be Aiste, essays on life. These will be similar to the usual ramblings I’d publish on Substack usually. These will be live every Wednesday.
Let’s see if all of this makes me work harder at putting something out consistently. Thank you for reading.
Let’s see if all of this makes me work harder at putting something out consistently. Thank you for reading.
Until the centre falls apart.
March 1, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Until the centre falls apart.
And now you’ve got it from the horse’s mouth…
November 28, 2024 at 3:35 PM
And now you’ve got it from the horse’s mouth…
Just FYI - this isn’t Douglas Stuart, but someone pretending to be him.
November 28, 2024 at 2:14 PM
Just FYI - this isn’t Douglas Stuart, but someone pretending to be him.
We’re running low, though, so someone is going to have to do a beer run! Slainte!
November 23, 2024 at 5:11 PM
We’re running low, though, so someone is going to have to do a beer run! Slainte!
Having flown through Mayflies, I’m making my way through this winding and twining state of the nation novel from Andrew O’Hagan. Thoroughly enjoying every second of it so far. What are you reading?
November 13, 2024 at 8:36 PM
Having flown through Mayflies, I’m making my way through this winding and twining state of the nation novel from Andrew O’Hagan. Thoroughly enjoying every second of it so far. What are you reading?
Headachy feeling from last week slowly starting to lift. A (sort of) tongue-in-cheek piece will be ready for Substack in a few days. Set some new and lofty targets.
Meanwhile, currently reading this gem.
Meanwhile, currently reading this gem.
September 16, 2024 at 7:05 PM
Headachy feeling from last week slowly starting to lift. A (sort of) tongue-in-cheek piece will be ready for Substack in a few days. Set some new and lofty targets.
Meanwhile, currently reading this gem.
Meanwhile, currently reading this gem.
I started a new job at Emerald Publishing this week and it’s been a brilliant week. This morning, I woke up to the news that we’ve been shortlisted for the Academic, Educational and Professional Publisher of the Year award at this year’s British Book Awards. Talk about ending the week on a high!
March 15, 2024 at 4:35 PM
I started a new job at Emerald Publishing this week and it’s been a brilliant week. This morning, I woke up to the news that we’ve been shortlisted for the Academic, Educational and Professional Publisher of the Year award at this year’s British Book Awards. Talk about ending the week on a high!
In a previous life, I played original music around the UK and Ireland. Here’s me in Tynemouth sometime in summer 2018 (I think).
What are your previous life stories?
What are your previous life stories?
February 15, 2024 at 3:30 PM
In a previous life, I played original music around the UK and Ireland. Here’s me in Tynemouth sometime in summer 2018 (I think).
What are your previous life stories?
What are your previous life stories?
Here we go again…
January 29, 2024 at 4:49 PM
Here we go again…
Despite feeling absolutely wrecked, I can’t sleep. So here I am, back at the door of Seamus.
January 28, 2024 at 1:22 AM
Despite feeling absolutely wrecked, I can’t sleep. So here I am, back at the door of Seamus.
Just about to turn 35 and it’s finally time to read this.
January 24, 2024 at 9:45 PM
Just about to turn 35 and it’s finally time to read this.
Sunday is quickly becoming film day in our house. Ventured out to the cinema last week to watch One Life. This week we’re staying in to watch Arracht pre dinner and Oppenheimer post dinner. And in case you were wondering, it’s sausages, mash, red onion gravy, Yorkshire puddings and veg for dinner.
January 21, 2024 at 2:15 PM
Sunday is quickly becoming film day in our house. Ventured out to the cinema last week to watch One Life. This week we’re staying in to watch Arracht pre dinner and Oppenheimer post dinner. And in case you were wondering, it’s sausages, mash, red onion gravy, Yorkshire puddings and veg for dinner.
21 January, the Christmas Baileys got opened again.
January 21, 2024 at 1:29 AM
21 January, the Christmas Baileys got opened again.
My Granda and my late Granny used to own a country pub called the Faughanvale Bar. Sadly, the building was demolished not long after they sold up around 20 years ago. I commissioned the wonderful Norwich based artist Amie Hope to recreate the building on paper. Couldn’t recommend Amie enough.
December 30, 2023 at 5:34 PM
My Granda and my late Granny used to own a country pub called the Faughanvale Bar. Sadly, the building was demolished not long after they sold up around 20 years ago. I commissioned the wonderful Norwich based artist Amie Hope to recreate the building on paper. Couldn’t recommend Amie enough.
McCartney by Paul McCartney.
December 23, 2023 at 1:23 AM
McCartney by Paul McCartney.
According to Damien Dempsey, Shane MacGowan didn’t approve of dark drinks like whiskey and brandy. Regardless of that, I’m raising this rather large glass of Jameson to Shane tonight. Slan abhaile, Shane.
December 9, 2023 at 1:14 AM
According to Damien Dempsey, Shane MacGowan didn’t approve of dark drinks like whiskey and brandy. Regardless of that, I’m raising this rather large glass of Jameson to Shane tonight. Slan abhaile, Shane.
Have any of my Bluesky friends read this? Regardless of what you think of him, this is a wonderfully written story and I’d highly recommend it. It’s a great winter read.
December 8, 2023 at 9:27 PM
Have any of my Bluesky friends read this? Regardless of what you think of him, this is a wonderfully written story and I’d highly recommend it. It’s a great winter read.
As part of that ‘name five famous people you’ve met with one of them being untrue’ game that was doing the rounds on here recently, I mentioned a random evening I had on the town with Pete Doherty.
Here’s the throwback to that evening back in 2011.
Here’s the throwback to that evening back in 2011.
December 6, 2023 at 1:12 PM
As part of that ‘name five famous people you’ve met with one of them being untrue’ game that was doing the rounds on here recently, I mentioned a random evening I had on the town with Pete Doherty.
Here’s the throwback to that evening back in 2011.
Here’s the throwback to that evening back in 2011.