He was just a regular Ballyfermot Jack Russell terrier until his spectacular debut at Croke Park last Sunday catapulted him onto the celebrity A list. How did it happen? Brock tells all
My name is Brock. I am a Jack Russell terrier, aged one-and-a-half. I live in a country called Ballyfermot, with a good family. Ballyfermot is a nice place, with many cats to chase. I was very happy there for a while. But then the war came.
I don't remember when it began. All I know is, one night, explosions started going off all over the neighbourhood. I hid under a blanket, but the bangs continued. It was the same every night. Mum laughed and said, "Poor Brock, he's scared of the fireworks!" But many humans were scared too.
I think now that the explosions made me a little crazy. I heard one of the older dogs say something called "Hallowe'en" was coming. I thought: if it's this bad before it comes, I'm not waiting for the invasion. I decided to leave Ballyfermot.
I knew some dogs in a country called Inchicore, so I thought I'd go and stay with them for a while. But the war was in Inchicore too, and my friends were in hiding. I had no choice but to keep travelling. Somewhere further on, I saw people running for a train and I ran after them.
The train was called Luas. It was fun. The passengers liked me. There was an invisible woman making announcements and when I barked at her, everyone laughed. I got off the Luas eventually. The passengers waved. The driver waved. Everybody seemed happy. Then a car crashed into the train.
My first night away, I met some rough-looking dogs. They smelled my bottom and, just to be polite, I smelled theirs. But when they asked me where I was from and I told them, they said I was a "culchie". The mood was very threatening. Luckily a cat appeared, and after we chased it down an alleyway together, they said I was "sound". I stayed with them for the night.
The next morning they were gone, and I had fleas. I wandered aimlessly. There were many strange sights. I saw arms dealers selling explosives on the streets! "Get the last of the bangers," they shouted. I barked at them angrily and ran. Some time later, I noticed crowds of people walking hurriedly, and I followed. They must be refugees from the war, I thought. But they led me into a giant stadium, where a group of children - very big children - were chasing a ball. There was also a man blowing a whistle. At first I thought I misheard, so I listened to the whistle carefully, and there was no mistake about it. It was inviting me to join in! I couldn't believe my luck.
Anytime I ran onto a pitch in my home country, I would get - as Ballyfermot people say - "a boot up the hole". But the humans in the big stadium were great. They let me play for ages. Finally somebody took me off. He said it was nothing personal, that I'd played well, but they just needed to "change things around tactically".
After that, I ended up in a place called Drumcondra. I met a gang of cross-breeds, who claimed to be the famous "dogs in the street". They were full of stories, mostly about a man called "Bertie". But none of it made much sense. So I started wandering again.
I walked down a big wide street, with a huge silver spike. I had no idea what this thing was, but I peed against it anyway, just to be on the safe side. I walked and walked. Night came, and the explosions started again, but I was too tired and hungry to care. I tried stealing sausages from a butcher's shop, half-hoping I'd get caught.
I had hit rock bottom. I sat down and howled. Luckily, some children took pity. They brought me home and fed me and said I was theirs now. I knew it was wrong, but I just let it happen. They bought me a collar, and gave me a nice bed to sleep in. The next day, my new dad brought home the newspaper and - guess what? I was on the front page! So was my real family. One thing led to another. And soon I was back in Ballyfermot.
Although I miss my new friends, I'm glad to be in my own house again. I'm famous now, but it hasn't changed me. My experience has made me appreciate how lucky I am. All I wish now is for peace in our country soon.