Bernard O'Shea: My sisters used to dress me up as a human doll

That was our entertainment back in the day. Now it's oversubscribing to 20 different apps and platforms

Who needs entertainment when you've got a guitar and Marty for a pal?

Growing up, we weren't much of a subscribing house. By that, I mean we didn't regularly pay for amusement. In fact, being the youngest and probably the stupidest, I was the entertainment. When my three older sisters would get bored, they would dress me up as a human doll. The subscriptions we made were the same ones I'd imagine most houses in Ireland were familiar with. The TV licence, church offerings, GAA club membership, and for some reason, in our house, we paid a yearly subscription to a small red magazine called The Messenger.

For those who don't know, The Messenger was a religious magazine printed by the Jesuits. When my granny was finished reading it, she would let me complete the kid's corner. There were days when the only thing on the telly was The Sullivans, and it was bucketing outside. I was begrudgingly happy to fill out the crossword. I begged my parents for "the channels", but the reply was always the same;