About me
About the Author Author Author
Jim O’Brien was born in Dublin in 1943 and spent his early years in the city centre before moving to a new estate on the outskirts in 1950. Growing up with two sisters and a brother, Jim discovered his love of poetry as a teenager while attending school.
After leaving school, he worked as a delivery boy for a hardware store, meeting many of the people who would later inspire his poems. In 1962, his family moved to Manchester for his father’s work. Jim took on various jobs, including working in a hat factory, a transformer factory, and a blacksmith forge, where he formed lasting friendships.
Jim married in 1967, though the marriage lasted only three years. He remarried in 1974, and this second marriage spanned three decades. He wrote a poem for his wife every year on her birthday and their anniversary. In 1979, while working in a chemical factory, Jim became a union shop steward, deepening his knowledge of trade unions and advocating for his colleagues.
Music was another of Jim’s passions. He formed a musical duo with his best friend Ken, where Jim sang and Ken played guitar. Together, they wrote numerous songs, though they were never published.
In 1998, Jim returned to Dublin, sadly losing all his old poems in the move. Undeterred, he began writing again and has since been blessed with a growing family, including 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Encouraged by his children, Jim recently decided to share his poetry with the world. His poem Old Mates, inspired by reconnecting with a friend online, holds a special place in his heart. Publishing his poems has brought Jim immense joy, and he is excited to share his work with readers everywhere.
