Smudged Mascara

This is a light-hearted story about two young men and their girlfriends in the rowdy, lived-in Dublin of Brendan Behan, Patrick Kavanagh and Flann O'Brien. They pit their wits against all comers in a last fling before adulthood. Murf is a 'chronic student' who lives dangerously, savouring the roar of the crowd. He is fortunate to meet Gobnait, a kindred spirit, who could become a steadying influence. She sees through his posturing to the deeper reasons that make him a risk junkie. Rolo is a nervous, gentlemanly sort, often scared by Murf's escapades. Will he find his feet when he meets the stunning Maura?While the gals have steady jobs, the lads eke out a living by smuggling condoms from Northern Ireland into the South. This 'modest trade' lands them in serious trouble with their 'clients', the British Army, and eventually the IRA and the police. They lurch from one crisis to another and are repeatedly bailed out by Gobnait and Maura - and by a club of gentle transvestites. Will their splendid women help them grow up or will the lure of shenanigans prove too strong? "This is a wonderful immersion into the Dublin of the early seventies, a city making do on an island held together by string, bandages and impious prayer. The lead protagonists are immediately credible, their mental and emotional contortions on full display. The plot is like a colourful, writhing snake that may intend no harm."
- Peter FitzGerald