Mark Geary Recalls Dublin Desperation, Early 90s New York Move, and Irish Changes

Mark Geary, born in Holles Street, Dublin, and raised in Castlebyrne Park, struggled with ambition despite friendships with musicians like Glen Hansard. His first gig at Purty Kitchen in Dún Laoghaire was «horrific,» leaving him feeling «diabolical.»

Geary moved to New York in the early 90s, driven by desperation rather than career ambition, as Dublin felt «dead.» His brother Karl, who ran Sin é cafe, entered Geary's name in a Green Card lottery, which he won. Geary sold two guitars for a one-way ticket. His arrival in New York involved a harrowing drug drop experience with his brother's friend, One-Eye Johnny.

In New York, Geary began writing about home and understanding expat life, finding solace in The Pogues' music and experiencing newfound appreciation for his Irish identity. He now observes changes in Ireland, including «cruelty, a grift, and a money-at-all-costs cynicism.» Geary notes that Dublin, like New York, has become unaffordable for working-class individuals, criticizing government policies that he believes favor «hedge fund managers and vulture capitalists» over ordinary citizens. He feels society has failed its young and old.