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Aoirghe first appears in chapter five when she is part of a
double date with Chuckie, Jake |spot | and Max. Jake's first impression of
Aoirghe is that her face is something like a "smile-free-zone".
The only thing Aoirghe talks about is politics and history. Jake and Aoirghe
quickly start to
argue about their relationship to Ireland. Different to Jake she is
very patriotic and is proud of being Catholic. Aoirghe even accepts
violence to achieve Northern Ireland's independence from GB. In
chapter nine she participates in a "Just Us" demonstration
which protests against the peace train. She says that she is not
willing to accept peace under the term of the 'peace lovers' |spot
on ceasefire|. She also uses violence for
private purposes. When Ronnie, Jake's workmate, offends her by
making sexistic remarks she consequently grabs his testicles for
several minutes | spot
on Ronnie |. She has a very strong personality and doesn't shy
away from arguing about political issues. She's an emancipated woman
and does not even try to accept opinions that diverge from her own. Despite
all his prejudices and apparent dislike towards her, Jake falls in
love with the woman at the end of the book.
"Jake's love hatred
relationship with Aoirghe, a girl who is as politically committed to
the cause of a united Ireland as Jake is dismissively cynical about
it. Chuckie Largan’s relationship with Max, and Chuckie’s
mother’s lovestory with her best girlfriend, all have very happy
and satisfactory endings"
Source: Laura Pelaschair -
"Urban Narratives" | more
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Kirsten & Ann-Kathrin
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