Dublin: 8 °C

Sunday 2 February, 2025

Advertisement

This wonderful account is tweeting a teenage diary from 1981 Northern Ireland

A must-follow for anyone with a heart.

Apr 11th 2014, 12:01 PM 21,591 Views 11 Comments

IN 1981, A 13-year-old girl in Northern Ireland kept a diary of teenage angst, boys, hunger strikes and the pop charts.

Thirty-three years later, the diary’s owner is live-tweeting her diary entries day-by-day. The results are funny, touching, and utterly wonderful.

She talks about shopping, and annoying people:

We went to the sale at Dunnes Stores today. I got a lovely new pair of gutties for only £3.99. J is v annoying. We argued today a great deal
— NornIronGirl1981 (@NrnIrnGirl1981) January 23, 2014

Source: NornIronGirl1981/Twitter

Test results and bomb scares:

J got an A. We were all pleased for him. "Shaduppa Your Face" is no. 1. There was an incendiary device in Woolworths. I think it was defused
— NornIronGirl1981 (@NrnIrnGirl1981) February 19, 2014

Source: NornIronGirl1981/Twitter

Her cousin meeting Johnny Logan:

We went to Warrenpoint for the day and went to the amusements. Once you start there you can't stop. Our cousin was on TV meeting J Logan.
— NornIronGirl1981 (@NrnIrnGirl1981) March 14, 2014

Source: NornIronGirl1981/Twitter

Pranks:

Lots of fun ringing places all over the world. I hope it doesn't come up on the phone bill or we'll be in big trouble. Daddy's birthday.
— NornIronGirl1981 (@NrnIrnGirl1981) April 11, 2014

Source: NornIronGirl1981/Twitter

The charts:

Top 20, 6 April 1982 pic.twitter.com/enpSGARFgN
— NornIronGirl1981 (@NrnIrnGirl1981) April 6, 2014

Source: NornIronGirl1981/Twitter

Boys:

Gavin didn't turn up at Woolies. ES was disappointed. We went to the Irish plays tonight & I talked to Gavin a lot. I have to admit...
— NornIronGirl1981 (@NrnIrnGirl1981) March 28, 2014

Source: NornIronGirl1981/Twitter

...I really like him & I think he likes me. I really hope he does. He asked if I was coming to the plays tomorrow night. I hope I'm allowed!
— NornIronGirl1981 (@NrnIrnGirl1981) March 28, 2014

Source: NornIronGirl1981/Twitter

Bandwagoners:

J Lennon is No 1, 2 & 5. Makes me sad. He was a great genius and they're exploiting him. Girls in school say they're fans - they never were.
— NornIronGirl1981 (@NrnIrnGirl1981) January 8, 2014

Source: NornIronGirl1981/Twitter

And days like this:

Ordinary.
— NornIronGirl1981 (@NrnIrnGirl1981) November 17, 2013

Source: NornIronGirl1981/Twitter

Go and follow @NrnIrnGirl1981 immediately.

More: 33 ways Adrian Mole looked at life>

More: Sue Townsend, author of Adrian Mole books, has died>

About the author:

About the author

Michael Freeman

michael@thejournal.ie

See more articles by Michael Freeman

Contribute to this story:

Send a Correction

Read next:

COMMENTS (11)

∞

About Us

Follow Us

Corrections

Report Content

Policies

Content copyright © Journal Media Ltd. 2025 Registered in Dublin, registration number: 483623. Registered office: 3rd floor, Latin Hall, Golden Lane, Dublin 8.

TheJournal.ie supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, PH: (01) 6489130, Lo-Call 1890 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie

Please note that TheJournal.ie uses cookies to improve your experience and to provide services and advertising. For more information on cookies please refer to our cookies policy.

News images provided by Press Association and Photocall Ireland unless otherwise stated. Irish sport images provided by Inpho Photography unless otherwise stated. Wire service provided by Associated Press.

Journal Media does not control and is not responsible for user created content, posts, comments, submissions or preferences. Users are reminded that they are fully responsible for their own created content and their own posts, comments and submissions and fully and effectively warrant and indemnify Journal Media in relation to such content and their ability to make such content, posts, comments and submissions available. Journal Media does not control and is not responsible for the content of external websites.