From Seamus Heaney to Fat Boy Slim, via the Cranberries, and Michelle Mallon inspiration, Shauna Bray. There was something in the Derry air last week and Talking Derry Girl’s Marie-Louise was in the thick of it. Discovering the truth about Derry Time, proving that Derry really is a City of singers and, yes, we really are all Derry Girls who know all the lyrics to “Dreams” by The Cranberries. Prepare to have your spine tingled. In true Ma Mary fashion M-L packs her mother, two daughters and a big...
Oct 25, 2023•51 min•Season 3Ep. 87
Marie-Louise finds her true self and Jeanie discovers that the only member of her family to embrace their family identity is Charlie the dog. Meanwhile Pauline confesses to telling people that Marie-Louise is a girl to marry. 3 years since their first chat with "Derry Girls" creator Lisa McGee the girls are nostalgic about that memorable encounter..wonder if Lisa still prefers a cream finger to a cream horn? Jeanie has reignited her David Beckham flame, Pauline claims only to have binge watched ...
Oct 18, 2023•56 min•Season 3Ep. 86
This week the Talking Derry Girls are discussing when life imitates art. Who knew when Lisa McGee dreamt of Fat Boy Slim coming to Derry for a gig that a mere 25 or so "timeline years" later the gig would not only happen - but sell out in seconds? No incidents of queue jumping or violence recorded. A “Derry Girls” theme also takes over the City of Derry International Choir Festival with a mass singalong taking place in the Guildhall square. Following on from previous years when “Teenage Kicks” a...
Oct 11, 2023•34 min•Season 3Ep. 85
Ten years after Lisa McGee's "London Irish" premiered on Channel 4 the Talking Derry Girls decided to take a closer look. Their binge watch raised some interesting questions - like when did you first video call and should Louis Walsh have been decommissioned as part of the Good Friday Agreement? We recommend watching the series yourself - mainly because it's class but also it might just help you understand some of the many trajectories this weeks episode goes off in. Not least, another recent bi...
Oct 04, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 84
Ever modest the Talking Derry Girls don't often talk about their Irish Podcast Award…pause for Sister Michael - "What you actually want me to read this" - Anyhoo, the girls won the inaugural award in 2022 claiming Gold for best Arts and Culture Podcast. This week they were in Derry attending a conference in the Guildhall marking 10 years since the "LegenDerry" City of Culture 2013. "Cracking the Cultural Code" raised some interesting questions - not least should the TDGs be allowed access to alc...
Sep 27, 2023•39 min•Season 3Ep. 83
"In the early morning the shirt factory horn Called the women from Creggan, The Moor and The Bog" It is not only in Phil Coulter songs that the women of Derry played such an important role. This week the TDGs hear more about life in and out of the factories. Lessons learnt, skills taught and confidences shared. Is there a difference between a rinser and a washer? Just how important was a headscarf or a handbag. Did/do the women always agree? Listen out for the horn. NOTES: Friends of the Factori...
Sep 13, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 82
The missing tales. 3 years in the making Pauline finally comes clean to Jeanie and Marie-Louise as to exactly why this episode has taken so long to finish. For the tape and yes there was a tape, Pauline and Jeanie met with Factory Girls Mary White and Clare Moore back in the Summer of 2020. Since then the TDGs have talked about Derry's shirtmaking history and the legacy it has left in the town. Episode 62 Shirt Tales Part 1 takes a deeper dive into the factual history of the shirt making industr...
Sep 06, 2023•59 min•Season 3Ep. 81
The news is out there. A brand new comedy thriller from Lisa McGee has been commissioned by Channel 4. Lisa is so relieved to finally be able to talk about her new project that she invited Pauline from the TDGs into her Edinburgh Hotel room. It's the day after the news was broken and Lisa is buzzing to tell us more. But just how much is she willing and able to share? For the tape you - you really don't want to miss this extra special bonus episode. NOTES: Lisa’s new TV comedy thriller announceme...
Aug 25, 2023•47 min•Season 3Ep. 80
The all new comedy thriller from Derry Girls creator and all round sound woman Lisa McGee. The TDGs discuss the breaking news of Channel 4's newly commissioned show and how all Derry people already know that the best way to reach Heaven from Belfast is to drive north over the Glenshane mountain pass. So many questions for this new mystery drama but mainly…when the hell can we see it? Whodunit? Wheredunit? And was it even "dun"? Lisa has answered some of the questions with "it's not so much a who...
Aug 23, 2023•37 min•Season 3Ep. 79
Jeanie and Pauline take a road trip to see the ‘actual’ Derry Girls Train - series3 Ep3 Stranger on a Train. Also covered in Ep38 of TDGs Podcast! It’s a long way from Derry to Downpatrick, Marie-Louise wasn’t there she would have talked on the drive! Morgan Young is one of 40 volunteers from all over Ireland, at the Downpatrick and County Down Railway where all sorts of trains live and get restored. It’s a charity and relies on visitors, events and donations to keep going. Morgan was in charge ...
Aug 02, 2023•54 min•Season 3Ep. 78
With too much excitement to cram into just one episode the TDGs become a BOGOF or is it a miniseries? Jeanie wonders if her QR code could lead to unfortunate misunderstandings and Pauline gets chatty with the press pack as they await Jamie Lee O’Donnell. Meanwhile Marie-Louise goes missing in action just when she is needed most. Maybe it has something to do with possible video evidence from her own schooldays. The girls catch up with one of Lisa McGee's old teachers, the man who captured Lisa an...
Jul 12, 2023•41 min•Season 3Ep. 77
Derry Girls Experience : Opening Night. The red carpet was out, the pre ordered sunshine was ready and our Golden Ticket winners were standing by. All we needed was the Derry Girl herself - Jamie Lee O'Donnell - poised to assist the Mayor in the cutting of the ribbon. The Derry Girls Experience is now open in the City's Tower Museum and the TDGs were there on launch night to capture all the magic and madness. 10p mixes were eaten, cream horns and Tayto crisps were in abundance and in true Derry ...
Jul 06, 2023•50 min•Season 3Ep. 76
The TDGs get a preview of the Derry Girls Experience - for THE TAPE. The countdown is now fully on for the official opening on 3rd July. And we’ll be there.. All 3 may be in town but still Jeanie, Pauline and Marie-Louise find it difficult to be in the right place at the same time. The Tower Museum sprites are in full on ‘prep’ mode making sure that everything is in place for Monday's official launch. Last seen in boxes in a huge warehouse storage facility it was tantalising to see which treasur...
Jun 29, 2023•42 min•Season 3Ep. 75
The TDGs are always happiest when examining their favourite show. This particular episode has been kept under wraps since November last year when the girls were given exclusive behind the scenes access to the forthcoming Derry Girls Experience. In a huge warehouse deep in the Northern Ireland countryside they found all of the sets and costumes for all 3 seasons of Derry Girls. Sister Michael's desk, Ma Mary's ironing board. The wee lesbian's rainbow badges. The very Tunnocks… Everything was stor...
Jun 22, 2023•55 min•Season 3Ep. 74
The award winning TDGs and the multi multi award winning Derry Girls want you to be winners too. The long awaited Derry Girls Experience opens its doors to the public on Tuesday 4th July in Derry. On Monday 3rd July a special launch event will be held in the Tower Museum giving a sneak preview of the joys that await. Entrance is by ticket and invitation only and we have 5 pairs of exclusive tickets to give away to true Derry Girls fans. You will need to be in Derry on July 3rd at 6pm. Tickets ar...
Jun 16, 2023•17 min•Season 3Ep. 73
It's 3 years since the TDG's first decided to share their combined musings with the world. Some of you have been with us from the beginning - Jeanie still reckons that this is due, in no small part, to her declaration that "mad bastards" are welcome. Which may or may not say more about the state of her own mind. Birthday or Anniversary? It's been 3 years and the girls are nostalgic, the lockdown delirium has thankfully passed and the chats, begun to save their sanity, have moved into new and oft...
Jun 14, 2023•34 min•Season 3Ep. 72
The sun is shining on the good people of Derry and the TDG's are remembering sunbed sessions and suntans past and present. Did nude sunbathing ever take off in Donegal and what exactly did Pauline witness on a Northern Irish beach this week? Marie Louise has been mixing with the glitteratti once again while winning yet another award at the Royal Television Society NI awards in Belfast. Derry Girls and Derry Girl, Jamie Lee O Donnell also brought home the top prizes. Meanwhile Jeanie has discover...
Jun 07, 2023•36 min•Season 3Ep. 71
Jeanie spent the past week experiencing work. In the company of two wee English fellas, she went back to basics and introduced her son and his pal to the intricacies of producing and presenting a podcast. Safe to say that they all ended the week having learned a lot. After watching all three seasons back to back and then being forced to listen to the Talking Derry Girls Episode 42 on the finale - Agreement episode - the boys have truly experienced Derry Girls. Their in depth indoctrination into ...
May 31, 2023•53 min•Season 3Ep. 70
It came to our attention recently that some of you are following in our footsteps… Pauline had a tip off that someone we know well may have more information. Any excuse to visit our favourite bookshop. Pauline caught up with Jenni from Little Acorns and got the gen on some recent customers. All the way from the U.S they were following our advice on getting the best from a trip to Derry. Photographic evidence of their trip flooded our social media so Marie Louise as our resident TD Girl decided i...
May 24, 2023•57 min•Season 3Ep. 69
Full disclosure needed. The TDGs weren't planning to be here this week. Work and family commitments had taken over. However we hadn't allowed for the enormity of this year's BAFTAS. From the moment Siobhan McSweeney swept onto the stage to collect her award for Female Performance in a Comedy Programme they knew discussions had to be had - and that was before the Internet exploded with news that her hilarious and on point acceptance speech had been "edited" (for timing reasons say the BBC… politi...
May 17, 2023•43 min•Season 3Ep. 68
CONTAINS A SPOILER! Just in case you haven’t watched Blue Lights yet! We have a wee challenge for you this week. Can you count how many times Blue Lights writer Declan Lawn makes us gasp during this chat? Currently writing series 2 we deployed the mantra of Blue Lights favourite Gerry and reminded Declan "If you catch a break - take it" Derry pedigree duly scrutinised Declan discusses the workings of the writer's room as a creative concept and how the acting and creative talent on tap in Norther...
May 10, 2023•44 min•Season 3Ep. 67
For the tape… and new listeners, Talking Derry Girls are Pauline Moore, Jeanie Messenger and Marie-Louise Muir. However whilst they are very much individuals and more often on their own, they are aware that it's not always obvious who is who! Maybe introductions are in order? Judge for yourself how well that idea goes!! In slightly saner times, the girls have been binge watching a new BBC drama “Blue Lights”, a police drama set in present day Belfast, a premise that deserves praise just for gett...
May 03, 2023•35 min•Season 3Ep. 66
Pauline and Jeanie are hobnobbing in London's West End while Marie-Louise is a plus 1 at a Presidential visit, as excuses go, it's not a bad one. But her knowledge of culture and the arts was keenly missed when her two cohorts tried schmoozing in theatre land. As best day top-trumps go it's a tough one to call and may go some way to explain why Jeanie is slightly more hyper than usual this week. Is she giddy with excitement or off her chops on cough meds? You decide. The “Dancing at Lughnasa” op...
Apr 26, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 3Ep. 65
The life and Mission of John and Pat Hume 25 years on from the signing of the Good Friday Agreement a new theatrical production has been created to mark the legacy of the late John and Pat Hume. It premiered in Derry's Guildhall on 31st March and will be streamed live to a global audience this week on Good Friday (Link in the notes) The TDG's were of course on hand to watch the story unfold and this week there is an insight into what Pauline and Marie-Louise get up to in their not spare time. BB...
Apr 07, 2023•42 min•Season 3Ep. 64
As promised and just in time for the St Patrick's Day Spring Carnival, the eagerly awaited Derry Girls taster exhibition opened this week in the City. Marie-Louise was there representing the TDG's and getting the bars on what is and what will be included in the future exhibition. She tells Pauline and Jeanie what to expect and the girls gain an insight into how she spends her days off. It all starts with an intro that is worthy of Uncle Colm and she chats to some new pals and catches up with an ...
Mar 22, 2023•53 min•Season 3Ep. 63
Abandoned (for one episode only) by Jeanie and Marie-Louise, Pauline is determined not to be an individual on her own! Meet fellow Derry girls, Yvonne Norris and Naomi Petropoulos. Both DGs have a strong interest in the rich history of the city’s shirt factories. For quite a few decades there were more than 40 factories employing thousands of women. In 1867, Karl Marx mentioned the new trend of home working - referencing one of the world’s first industrialised factories - Tillie and Henderson wh...
Mar 16, 2023•57 min•Season 3Ep. 62
The TDG's - Pauline, Marie-Louise and Jeanie - have always got each other's backs and this week they manage to help each other out without even realising. We all get times when we feel a bit flat but this week the girls were all in a bit of a slump. Strange things happen when friends get together and admit they aren't at their best. Hold tight to those friends. Derry has opened a new tribute to Mo Mowlam and the girls remember the force of nature who, as Northern Ireland Secretary, played no sma...
Mar 08, 2023•50 min•Season 3Ep. 61
The TDG's are in reflective mood or is it delirium? 60 epiodes in has got them thinking - is it maybe time to hang up their recording gear and go open that "flip flop shop in Hawaii"? Is there enough laundry in her world to keep Pauline busy and could Marie-Louise be happy embedded in her world of Culture and the Arts? At least Jeanie could make it to her Slimming World meetings every week. Prepare yourselves, this episode is the closest you will get to being a fly on the wall when these 3 get t...
Mar 01, 2023•55 min•Season 3Ep. 60
The TDG's have been on a road trip like no other. One where Marie-Louise was in charge - chairing a very special Derry Girls reunion. Staged at the Metropolitan Art Centre (Mac) in Belfast, Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee and several cast members came together for a special fundraising event in support of Friends of the Mac, the charitable organisation which raises money to fund the centre. The Mac has seen many of the cast tread their boards in the past and staged one of Lisa's early plays. Safe...
Feb 22, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 3Ep. 59
The TDG's are back together in the City and looking for adventure. Just getting there involved one tale of woe which Pauline would be much wiser to forget. Was there really lapdancing involved in her computer repair? Maybe they use a different system in Glasgow? Talking of exhibits we have news on the rumoured Derry Girls exhibition that you won't want to miss - Happy St Patrick's Day is all we can say or is it…? A campaign is launched to make Tom Hanks a Derry Girl. Promises are made to the fam...
Feb 15, 2023•45 min•Season 3Ep. 58
