On the spot with: short story writer Andrew Maguire

A talented short story writer, Andrew Maguire from Omagh has been heavily involved with the Omagh Literary Festival for a number of years. Last year, he was one of ten people shortlisted in the prestigious RTÉ ‘Short Story’ competition out of 4,000 entries, and he is a strong advocate of creative writing and expanding the mind, knowledge and imagination through reading.

If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do?
I’d like to hang around a professional football team, or on a film set, just to see how those things work up close. Failing that, I’d happily move things around on people and see how long it takes for them to go mad.

What is your least appealing habit?
I’ve a habit of leaving things to the last minute… which isn’t great!

What is your greatest trait?
I don’t know if it counts as a trait, but I have great friends. They’re probably the best thing about me.

If you could ask God one question, what would it be?
Do you know where I left my keys?

Did you have a role model as a youth?
I always admired my friend, Paul Gordon, for his positive outlook on life. I still do!

How would you describe Tyrone to someone who has never been here before?
The home of the All-Ireland Champions.

What are you watching on television?
‘Succession’.

Tell us a song that reminds you of your childhood.
‘Beautiful Day’ by U2. It was the theme tune for the football highlights on ITV, so a pretty vivid memory from my childhood.

Who is your favourite musician?
Keelan McKernan.

What is your favourite film?
‘The Departed’.

What is your favourite memory?
My family spent an afternoon in New York a few years ago where we met a lot of distant American relatives of ours. We’d only been expecting to meet a couple of people, but we ended up being part of a big family reunion. I’ll go with that because it was a unique, almost surreal day.

And your saddest?
I try to forget the sad ones.

What makes you angry?
Most of what makes me angry can be heard on the ‘The Nolan Show’ with Stephen Nolan.

Has there been a defining moment in yourlife that has got you to where you are today?
It’s a bit of a cliché, but my English teacher gave me a book when I was about 16, and it had a big influence on me. I wouldn’t call it defining, but it definitely led to me studying creative writing at Queen’s, which has led to a lot of other things since.

What is the most embarrassing thing you have done?
In February 2020, I confidently told a friend I didn’t think this Covid-19 thing would have that big an impact on our lives… He doesn’t let me forget it!

What is your most treasured possession?
I’m not big into possessions, but I love snooker and I’ve had the same cue for a long time. I would never swap or sell it, so I’ll go with that.

Do you have a catchphrase?
No.

What’s your tipple?
Guinness.

Who would play you in a film of your life?
I don’t know, but I hope it’s not too damaging to their career.

What has been your greatest achievement?
Hearing one of my short stories read on RTÉ radio is probably the thing I’m most proud of. It was broadcast on John Lennon’s birthday, so they were playing Beatles songs before and after my story which was pretty cool.

What is your life’s motto (or favourite quote)?
I definitely don’t have a motto, but there’s a Dawes Lyric I’ve always liked. It is ‘things happen, that’s all they ever do’.

What song would you like played at your funeral?
‘Let It Be’ by the Beatles.