"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 Factories  https://www.friendsofthefactories.com/  

Shirts, Singers and Sewing exhibition in now housed at the Fashion & Textile Design Centre in Shipquay Street in Derry City centre.  https://towermuseumcollections.com/shirtssingersandsewing/

BBC Radio Ulster - Stories in Sound, Factory Girls https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0008nmp

Shirt Factory Heritage Walking Tour https://www.derriedanders.co.uk/tour/shirt-factory-heritage-walking-tour

Friends of the Factories - plaques initiative https://www.friendsofthefactories.com/gallery-1

Local Women Magazine - https://localwomenmagazine.com/

Shirt Factory Heritage Walking Tour https://www.derriedanders.co.uk/tour/shirt-factory-heritage-walking-tour

Friends of the Factories - plaques initiative https://www.friendsofthefactories.com/gallery-1

The Friends of the Factory Workers scheme was the winner of the Women’s History Network Community History Prize in 2021.   https://womenshistorynetwork.org/womens-history-network-2021-community-history-prize-winners-friends-of-the-factories/

Derry’s factory girls: A window into the adult world  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-49740625.amp

Plaques at St Columb’s Hall to commemorate visits by Emmeline Pankhust, Eleanor Marx and Margaret Cousins - https://www.derrynow.com/news/news/630815/plaques-unveiled-at-st-columb-s-hall-in-derry-to-commemorate-historic-visits.html

Derry Girls and Rock and Roll  https://www.derryjournal.com/heritage-and-retro/heritage/13-photographs-of-factory-girls-and-rock-n-roll-at-the-millennium-forum-4030642

Willie Deery -   https://www.derrynow.com/news/arts---entertainment/1018082/a-derry-play-with-a-difference-factory-girls-and-rock-n-roll.html

Shirts, Singer and Sewing exhibition snippets of interviews with factory girls carried out by Naomi Petropoulos  originalderrygirls.com

Fashion and Textile Centre https://www.fashionanddesignhub.com/

Derry Eurovision song winner Dana - https://www.irishnews.com/arts/2023/04/27/news/dana_talks_eurovision_saint_patrick_and_politics-3235966/

Tinney’s Bar - The Shirt Factory cocktail bar - https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/new-shirt-factory-bar-derry-21405998. 

TDGs SHIRT TALES - PART 1 EP62

Pauline chats with Yvonne Norris and Naomi Petropoulos. Who are experts on the story of Derry’s shirt factories it’s a great introduction to a vital story in Derry’s history. Lots of info in the notes for this episode. 

TDGs SHIRT TALES - PART2 EP81 

Jeanie and Pauline talk to Mary White and Clare Moore who were factory girls in Derry. They have both been active in making sure the factory girls are never forgotten. 

TDGs EP20 - The Forces are with us - we find out about the overseas forces who were based in Derry during and after WW2.