Hello, I'm Dorothy Clarke

In this episode, Dorothy shares an incredible story from her time living in sunny Spain.  What started as a spontaneous choice to book a budget £199 seven-day cruise on a whim in Gibraltar turned into the ultimate luxury vacation! Due to a lucky overbooking, Dorothy and her friend were bumped up to a massive luxury suite. But the adventure didn't stop there.  Tune in to hear Dorothy recount:...

In this episode, Dorothy reflects on a hidden chapter of family life in  1970's Ireland.  Following a quiet request from a compassionate Dublin priest, she and Noel opened their home and their hearts to several vulnerable young women from rural Ireland who had nowhere else to turn. It is a deeply personal reflection on family, empathy, the heartbreaking realities of the era, and the quiet lif...

Tangoes, Hollywood Stars, and Life’s Turns In this action-packed episode, Dorothy takes us back to memorable days in Celbridge and a major move back home to Dalkey. She shares stories from their time on the banks of the Liffey - including rubbing shoulders with film star Rod Taylor, a cheeky sing-along moment with author Frederick Forsyth, and a dramatic, late-night car crash on the Strawberry Bed...

In this bittersweet and nostalgic episode, Doroghy reflects on the early chapters of her life with her darling husband, Noel.  From their whirlwind romance after meeting at Sandycove Tennis Club in 1954 to a memorable "high Tea" introduction to Noels' family.  Doroghy shares the joy, funa nd personality that defined Noel.  She recounts her lavish 1960 wedding - complete with a magni...

Toffee, Truth and Great Silence. The Girl Who Spoke Back: From Convent Silence to National Radio. "Try and stop me!" At 89, Dorothy looks back at a world that tried to keep her quiet.  From the frozen washbasins of a 1940's convent to an interview on national radio, this is the story of a rebel in a blue uniform. How did a nine-year-old girl go from crying into a wet pillow to smugg...

Today’s podcast is a collection of short, real-life Irish anecdotes.  These stories blend everyday mishaps with moments of pure chaos and unexpected drama.  Through a cast of colourful characters, neighbours, clergy and quick responding doctors, they turn near disasters into funny memories.   It closes with a glimpse of life on stage again, where timing, mischief and real-life interruptions collid...

Growing up in Dublin in the late 1950's and 60s, life was never dull. After a brief and fun time at UCD and a complicated relationship with honours maths, the pull of the fashion world proved stronger than academia.   Modelling led to fashion shows and one evening in the Central Hotel produced an unexpected surprise.   A solo trip to London at barely 20, armed with five suitcases of First Com...