Choose Life. Choose Buttercrane – 03/07/2026

Choose Newry. Choose Buttercrane

Choose life, choose Buttercrane, Choose the middle aisle in LIDL.

Choose going in for milk and leaving with a chainsaw, a wetsuit, a family-sized lasagne.

Choose saying you’re “just nipping in for one thing” and coming out three bags deep, financially ruined, emotionally confused, holding a coffee, a sausage roll, and something from Dunnes you didn’t need.

Choose feeling scundered when bump into your old school teacher outside Dunnes and you’re wearing tracksuit bottoms, a top with stains on it, no makeup, and carrying a multipack of crisps like its evidence.

Choose the wee basket in Primark that turns into a full trolley. Choose socks, pyjamas, pair of barrel jeans , a candle called ‘calm retreat’ when there’s not one calm thing about you.

Choose a shirt that’s not in your size so a wee lad whose Ma got him a Saturday job in Louis Boyds has to run back and forth over the Bridge, while Gary talks you into buying a three-piece suit and a pair of shoes.

Choose sitting down for five minutes that turns into forty. Choose a latte, a fry, a wee treat because you’ve been through a lot today - even though all you’ve done is park the car and dodge past three people didn’t want to speak to.

Choose the car park confidence of a Formula One driver and the patience of a saint.

Choose spotting someone you know every nine steps. Choose the awkward half-smile when you can’t quite place someone. Choose the “How are ye?” without stopping. Choose the panic of later remembering you kissed them one night in the Bank.

Choose sunshine, rain, wind, and existential dread all before lunchtime. Choose bringing a coat, not bringing a coat and regretting both.

Choose the big shop.

Choose the wee shop.

Choose the “I’m only in for a noisy” shop.

Choose meeting your ma, your aunt, the school bully, your neighbour and some fella who used to work with your da in 1998.

Choose local.

Choose handy.

Choose going upstairs in Sports Direct and getting lost trying to find your way out again. Walking around in circles, sweating like you’ve done the Mournes in Primark sliders.

Choose a place where you can get a three-piece suit, holiday money, leggings, lunch, your ears pierced, eyes checked a birthday present, and a mild identity crisis - all under one roof.

Choose Newry.

Choose Buttercrane.