Talking Derry Girls

How much do you know about St Brigid? Ireland has named a new public holiday in her honour but the TDG's are embarrassed by their total ignorance of her story.  This week Marie Louise, Pauline and Jeanie welcome Dr Niamh Wycherley who is a medieval historian at Maynooth University. Who was Brigid? religious saint, kick ass pagan goddess or possibly a combination of the two? Dr Niamh help...

2023 is a New Year full of exciting Derry Girls news and upcoming events. The TDG's are primed for action and start this week with a few 'bars' and a timely reminder to check your smoke alarm!  Back in episode 52 we talked to the Mayor Sandra Duffy about the Derry Girls effect on the city and here we talk more about her role as Mayor and the privileges it brings.  It's certainly not all...

Will the real Sister Michael please stand forward? Christmas is a time of magical dreams, imaginings and inexplicable happenings. During a recent pre-festive visit to their hometown the TDG's found themselves thrown off course by a chance collision of events that truly was a gift.  They found themselves immersed in a story that started back in 1968 when a young nun requested a copy of th...

Back in their separate homesteads the TDG's are battling to unearth any Christmas spirit. Marie-Louise is still fighting her bug, Jeanie's wee English fella is also sick and her boiler has packed up, meanwhile Pauline's knickers are frozen. Mince pie anyone?  Luckily they have memories of a very busy week in Derry, with Christmas cheer, gifts and shopping trips aplenty.  Santa gets in on...

What a week it's been for the TDG's - Together in Derry for a pre festive catch up and a few recordings plans took a bit of an unexpected turn.  A date with the Mayor coincided with the announcement that Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee would receive her Freedom of the City the following week - in a very private and low key ceremony. Or was it?  Flights were changed and press invites wrang...

When Hollywood Royalty declared their feelings for "those nuns" the TDGs had a rethink about their role in the programme. Should Marie-Louise have embraced her nun in civvies look and could Pauline and Jeanie's dark theories about the funeral scene maybe have been a premonition of darker times ahead in a Scorcese directed Derry Girls movie?  Back in time to 2021 and the girls pick u...

Back in November 2021 the TDG's were given the honour of appearing as extras in an episode of the show.  It gave them exclusive behind the scenes insights into the making of the programme itself. The casting, the costumes, the make up and locations. All very exciting and all top secret. Now to celebrate their 50th episode the time has come to share that day and ponder just how right or wrong...

The TDG's are well and truly out of their comfort zone when discussion turns to football. Derry City Football Club have won the Football Association Ireland Cup in spectacular fashion and Derry is 'buzzin'.  Pauline meets 2 Derry Girls fans on pilgrimage from Indiana and discovers that she may just have a future as a tour guide… could be useful if Jeanie and Marie-Louise continue to be grumpy...

There's nothing " funny" about these award winning scones. A programme that was a year in the making, for reasons which may become apparent.  A straightforward meeting with Northern Ireland's number 1 scone maker Michelle Devine, turned into a Bake Off style stand off with the TDG's own Pauline all too ready with her own hints and tips. A case of big bowls at dawn or something a lot less comp...

It's very scary in Derry : This year saw the return of the carnival parade to the city streets and Jeanie, Pauline and Marie-Louise just couldn't resist being there in person. Maybe it was something to do with episode 6 of Season 3, when Derry Girls celebrated Hallowe'en with Fat Boy Slim and the TDG's became mourners at a funeral… Maybe it was reading the history of Halloween Town a new book by l...

We said nothing until we'd seen our solicitor… Tara Lynne O Neill, in true Derry Ma style, pulled out all the stops and made things better for everyone around her.. Aka us. Yes she agreed to give us a second chance, for the tape this time. The TDG's talk to Ma about life imitating art and how some days can truly resemble an episode of Derry Girls. There were so many questions some of which were as...

Sometimes, it is said, that the truth is told when no-one is listening. In this case lots of truths and a fair few lies were told when no-one was recording.  All set up to talk to Tara Lynn O'Neil, aka Ma Mary, about her penchant for hot plumbers and forbidden love (Season 3 episode 2 The Affair) the TDG's fell victim to witchcraft. They were the subject of a technical hex. (Season 2 episode...

Us the US and all points around the globe. At last, season 3 has landed worldwide and Pauline, Marie-Louise and Jeanie can be a little bit more vocal about what joys lie there-in. The world is watching and the Talking Derry Girls are curious about how the global audience is receiving the new joy. To drip feed or binge on the box set… is there a right way to get your fix? Subtitles on or off? How m...

The 2022 Irish Podcast Awards was a memorable evening. The Talking Derry Girls won the Gold, Arts and Culture award. For once lost for words Jeanie and Pauline took to the stage and the rest of the weekend was a bit of a blur. Luckily Pauline and her trusty recorder were on hand to capture the triumphant return of the award to Derry where we met up with Marie-Louise. With thanks to everyone who ha...

The late great Douglas Adams decreed the number 42 to be the answer to the ultimate question of life, the Universe and everything… we can't claim that TDG's episode 42 will give you the meaning of life but we will have a crack at answering a question or two - depending of course on who is holding the breadstick.  The Agreement - the finale to the final season, the end of the road… but was it...

Halloween in Derry - Now there's a subject the TDG's know a trick or treat about - (have a listen to eps 26 and 27 for the full on Derry at Halloween experience). After recording these episodes in Derry last November the TDG's stayed on in town by special invitation to fulfil their ultimate dream - being extras during the filming! What was their scene? Would they need extra hair, make up...

What's 20 years between friends? The TDG's are made painfully aware this week that they are indeed closer in age to the Derry Ma's than to their rebellious offspring. Back to the 70's, to times our girls remember well, all teen angst, teen discos and Teenage Kicks. John Hume is walking the walls, Da Gerry is climbing the walls with hunger and the IRA in their little face hats are stopping anyone f...

The TDG's are still coming to terms with all the shocks contained in this week's episode. The language takes an unexpected turn and memories of Donegal bedsharing are revisited.  Can the TDG's ever escape from their own reality, which in the words of Sister Michael is a "very serious condition… they're from Derry". Just how hot are the "ripped" "turf cutting" Donegal farmers and did Erin...

The gang from Derry Girls are off on a day trip and the TDG's are out of their comfort zone. What is it about the seaside destination of Portrush with to quote James, "it's Protestant, Unionist majority" that makes Marie-Louise and Jeanie feel so alienated? Memories of daytrips past and souvenirs never to be forgotten are swallowed up faster than a bag of Tayto Cheese and Onion… sorry Orla bu...

Girl Power: For the first time since starting this podcast the 3 Talking Derry Girls are together in the same room to watch the first screening of a Derry Girls episode.  The excitement is off the scale, Pauline, Jeanie and Marie-Louise have seen this episode at the cinema premiere, but this is different. This is TV - they're together - there's chips, a dog, Tayto Cheese 'n' Onion crisps and...

CONTAINS SPOILERS  It's been a long 4 days since the TDG's attended the Premiere of Season 3 of Derry Girls. That is a long time to keep a secret, especially in Derry. Just who was THE special guest. Through various chats with folk around the City Jeanie, Pauline and Marie-Louise were told to expect everyone from Beyonce to Princess Diana… Derry never let's the truth get in the way of a good...

The first episode of Derry Girls series 3 is revealed tonight on Channel 4. The excitement has been cranking up since Thursday’s Derry premiere. The TDGs - Jeanie, Marie-Louise and Pauline are in town to join the celebrations. This is your pre-Derry Girls episode 1 warm up. So crack open the bubbles, and join us for your very own backstage insight to a Derry Girls Red carpet event.&...

It’s the Big Day of the official launch of Series 3 of Derry Girls. The TDGs are all geared up… we’ve got special ‘red carpet’ T - Shirts. There’s more tales from back in November during the week of filming in Derry and build up to the TDGs being EXTRAs. Jeanie and Pauline do Uncle Colm proud in recounting to Marie-Louise the story of meeting Lisa (no spoilers) McGee in front of the Guildhall...

So, yesterday in Ep 32 we told you nathin! Today, Jeanie and Pauline give a running commentary on not seeing very much at the Guildhall. But it’s the 8th November 2021 and the first day of filming so the place was packed. High viz jackets mingled with uniformed real Derry school girls. Pauline fancies a whole new career in wildlife watching - basically standing around waiting for so...

It’s exactly a week until the first episode of Derry Girls - series 3 airs on Channel 4. The TDGs are getting ready for the pilgrimage home for the special occasion - and of course the launch, with a sneak preview on the big screen. In the run up to the 12th April, Jeanie, Pauline and Marie-Louise catch up after a bit of a break from your ears. They take you back to Nov ’21 just bef...