Talking Derry Girls

“A teenage dream’s so hard to beat" …”

Lyrics from “Teenage Kicks”, the punk anthem from Derry’s own The Undertones. 45 years after the release of the song, the band has been immortalised on a wall overlooking THE historic City walls. Who better to create the new artwork than the man behind the Derry Girls mural, Karl Porter from UV Arts?

The Talking Derry Girls caught up with Karl beside the new mural.

He explains how the artwork was created and tells the girls that they really need to talk to the solicitors who commissioned the tribute. Greg McCartney explains his thinking and how the mural has been dedicated to well known local punk Micky Griffiths.

45 years may be a long time to wait for the Derry Boys’ tribute but maybe the band’s sell out gigs in Derry, Belfast and Dublin this weekend could explain why they are worthy subjects.

What do bemused international tourists make of it all …?

Notes 

Series 3 - Derry Girls nominated for an International Emmy Award - 

https://northernirelandscreen.co.uk/news/lisa-mcgees-derry-girls-nominated-for-international-emmy-award/.  

(Spoiler They won! As you’ll hear in Ep92) 

Undertones - 

https://www.theundertones.com/

https://www.last.fm/music/The+Undertones/+wiki

John Peel - 

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/oct/26/artsnewstemporary.media

John Peel’s grave

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:John_Peel%27s_grave,_Great_Finborough,_Suffolk_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1162596.jpg

Larry Doherty Journal Derry -https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-31725059

Micky Griffiths - 

https://www.derryjournal.com/news/mickey-griffiths-a-life-less-ordinary-1326596

Karl Porter UV arts - 

https://www.facebook.com/uvartscic who created the Undertones Mural as well as the now world famous Derry Girls Mural. 

Derry based Photographer, James Whorriskey - 

https://www.facebook.com/JWPics/

Storyteller of the street - 

https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=storytellerofthestreet 

(and great friend of the TDGs podcast).

It is, unfortunately, not that often that the Talking Derry Girls find themselves on home soil together. Even then getting the three of them in the same place can prove to be an epic task.

This visit Pauline and Jeanie went rogue on the Streets searching out some “old friends" of the Podcast. Christopher Ferry was first in their sights this week, his Derry Girls competition runs until mid December and it’s a belter. We promise not to sulk if we don’t win.

On a more serious note Pauline caught up with Morgan Young from the Downpatrick and County Down Railway Museum. Their site and exhibits have been hit by catastrophic flooding and they are in desperate need of assistance both physical and financial. Any help at all could help get the Derry Girls train back on the tracks.

Extra Extra, Blue Lights Extras. No spoilers here but Jeanie and Pauline were ready for their close-ups and Declan Lawn kept his word and they received “THE” call. Nothing else can be revealed - there really was “no tape” and anyway they are having too much fun keeping Marie-Louise in the dark about their adventure. Cue the music and fade to black…

Notes: 

Ralph McTell -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_McTell

Blue Lights -https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14466018/

Ep 66 and 67 of TDGs 

Christopher Ferry -https://ferryclever.co.uk/

Derry Girls train (which we visited in Ep78 of TDGs) has been badly damaged by floods along with all the other stock at Downpatrick & County Down Railway

https://www.downrail.co.uk/flood/

https://www.downrail.co.uk/get-involved/become-a-member/

https://www.downrail.co.uk/donate/

Derry Born and based, the formidable documentary filmmaker tells the Talking Derry Girls about her latest film. Currently showing at selected cinemas across the UK and Ireland, "Stolen" captures the anguish, anger and the horrors surrounding Ireland’s Mother and Baby Institutions. 

A true Derry Girl Margo has a back catalogue of work which carries social injustice, particularly the rights of women, at its core. The scandal that surrounded these "homes'' which has only come to light in recent years has sent ripples and shockwaves around the world. Babies separated from their mothers and sent for adoption, trafficked and sold into servitude. The unimaginable cruelty has been the subject of a Government enquiry with much of the horror still left untold or recognised. 

In one mother's words "She took him off me, turned her back and walked away" is just one of the babies taken for adoption without his mother's consent. Just one of thousands of stories which may never be told. "Stolen" gives a voice to some of those lost children and their mothers.

Pregnancy in Catholic Ireland was the theme of Margo's 1990 film "Hush a Bye Baby". Set in 1980's Derry it showed the harsh realities of teenage pregnancy. How a baby conceived in the innocence of young love was feared more than a cancer diagnosis. The film itself has glimpses of what we all grew to know and love in "Derry Girls", though as she readily admits herself "not as many laughs". Margo's priest is very reminiscent of Father Peter…but then Father Peter is very like a lot of priests…

Margo has a tale or two to tell about how Sinead O'Connor came to appear in the film - "there wasn't a lot of call for bald headed schoolgirls in Derry at the time". There is also the secret to the perfect sausage roll and did they dare ask about clitoris allsorts…

Margo Harkin 

Besom Productions 

Aosdana

Hush a bye Baby (1990) 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102080/

Stolen (2023) review in Guardian 

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/nov/01/stolen-review-chilling-account-of-irelands-mother-and-baby-homes-horror

Derry Film and Video workshop

Field Day Theatre Company 

Brian Friel 

Fear of Gods - Derry band, Jim Curran who worked with Margo Harkin suggested a young up and coming singer/songwriter to do the music for Margo’s film Hush a bye Baby. (1989) https://fanningsessions.wordpress.com/2010/10/27/fear-of-gods/

Bronagh Gallagher - The Commitment from the Finale of Derry Girls.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronagh_Gallagher

We also had a chat about Bronagh who turned up at Marie-Louise’s Mother’s doorstep as a child wanting to learn how to be an actor! 

Ep 1 Talking Derry Girls 

Ann Lovett's death came just four months after the outcome of a divisive abortion referendum in which a two-thirds majority voted to enshrine the right to life of the unborn in the constitution, creating confusion over where that left the rights of the mother. Jan 31 1984 co Longford https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/ann-lovett-death-of-a-strong-kick-ass-girl-1.3429792

Abortion referendum in Ireland 1983 https://theconversation.com/abortion-the-story-of-suffering-and-death-behind-irelands-ban-and-subsequent-legalization-182812

The Mother and Baby Institution in Tuam 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/25/a-stain-on-irelands-conscience-tuam-home-for-unmarried-mothers-gives-up-grimmest-of-buried-secrets

The Letter Mural picture from Derry of the past photos - 

https://www.facebook.com/Derryofthepast/photos/a.1092753894109334/5386390808078933/?paipv=0&eav=Afbe0HaamyxHIv1xDEx5JNoU6dnOs8AsfsU8YN1DflmReU8wUC_EEqRsSMzlFXPMyus&_rdr

Poems referred to for both Stolen and Hush a Bye Baby

https://www.doirepress.com/writers/annemarie-ni-churreain

https://allpoetry.com/poem/11030643-Limbo-by-Seamus-Heaney

https://www.brinkerhoffpoetry.org/poems/cherishing-for-beginners

Award winning photographic artist Deirdre Brennan is on the look out for interesting Brigids. She tells the Talking Derry Girls how and why her latest project came about and how any would be subjects can get in touch. She is in Derry this week and has a spot or two still available.

The artist is no stranger to the City having created an audio visual exhibition in Derry which marked the 51st Anniversay of Bloody Sunday. Her portraits of the Bloody Sunday families were exhibited in Derry's Playhouse and were warmly received. An accompanying podcast - My Bloody Sunday was created Deirdre says ," almost by accident". It is a moving, personal, vibrant account of the day and its aftermath. It’s an important, historic piece. 

All Bridgets, Bridies, Brids, Biddys and all other variations thereof who are ready for their close ups Deirdre's details are in the notes below. Smiling not essential.

NOTES 

If your name is Brigid, Bridget, Brid, Bridey or any other spelling and you want to contact Deirdre about being photographed and you are in Derry email her at [email protected]

Our Guest - Deirdre Brennan - https://deirdrebrennan.com/

Looking for Bridget - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-67213788

Barry Connolly https://plexa.ie/ 

https://www.derryplayhouse.co.uk/

Is the name Brigid making a come back? 

https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2023/01/30/whats-in-a-name-why-are-girls-not-called-brigid-any-more/?fbclid=IwAR0INC7ATCdvr4lYYWe4h5YIvheNgMFSDY44f_YWoO7uf4xfVJUtxswMxls

Bad Bridget - book

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/446640/bad-bridget-by-mccormick-elaine-farrell-and-leanne/9781844885817

Bad Bridget exhibition at Ulster American Folk Park - https://www.ulsteramericanfolkpark.org/whats-on/bad-bridget

My Bloody Sunday Podcast https://audioboom.com/channels/5097606-my-bloody-sunday

Bloody Sunday Trust https://museumoffreederry.org/bloody-sunday-trust/

Archive information on Bloody Sunday 

https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/events/bsunday/sum.htm

Talking Derry Girls Episode 56 - Happy St Brigid’s Day 

(It was the first one ever in 2022) Next year marks the 1500th anniversary of her death. 

Dr Niamh Wycherley - https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/people/niamh-wycherley?page=4

Couple of articles by Niamh on St Brigid https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/research/spotlight-research/boss-brigit

https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2023/0123/1349669-st-brigid-kildare-ireland-evidence-identity/ 

Saint Brigid - https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/st-brigid-ireland

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 clock for her Seamus Heaney outside broadcast - and in true Heaney style "hope and history" did indeed "rhyme" in Derry last weekend as Fat Boy Slim made the Derry Girls' dreams come true by finally…and for real this time…playing to a sold out Derry crowd.

Lisa McGee's school chum, bestie and keeper of secrets - OK so the last bit may not be entirely true - Shauna Bray takes us from selfie etiquette Derry style all the way to a Vegas guest list via a blow up Aiden Turner …buckle up for the Derry Girl who makes her alter ego Michelle look very understated.

Notes: 

City of Derry International Choir Festival - The Big Sing at Guildhall Square -https://www.facebook.com/derrygirlsfan/videos/717955317047815

Seamus Heaney HomePlace https://seamusheaneyhome.com/

Culture Cafe with Marie-Louise on BBC Radio Ulster/Radio Foyle/BBC Sounds available for 30 days from 22nd October: live from Seamus Heaney HomePlace https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001rqjd

Fat Boy Slim in Derry https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-67191704

The Cranberries - Dreams lyrics https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=The+Cranberries+Dreams+Lyrics&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

BBC Antiques Roadshow in Derry -https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b006mj2y/antiques-roadshow 

It’s also available in USA on PBS but called Antiques Roadshow UK. Also available in other countries if you have a search. 

BBC Celebrity Antiques Roadtrip -https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001rklp/celebrity-antiques-road-trip-series-12-3-ian-mcelhinney-v-tara-lynne-oneill

Ways to find BBC programmes worldwide 

https://www.screenbinge.com/uk/channels/bbc-iplayer/watch-celebrity-antiques-road-trip-series12-outside-uk-on-bbc-iplayer/

Derry Journal article on President Clinton’s visit at the end of Derry Girls -https://www.derryjournal.com/news/will-never-be-ordinary-city-clinton-derry-1995-985673

President Bill Clinton’s speech at the Guildhall Square on his visit which brings us full circle back to Seamus Heaney who he quotes in the speech 30th November 1995 https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/events/peace/docs/pres2.htm

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 his 4 part Netflix documentary "Beckham" for the Spice Girls footage and Marie-Louise is prepping for a special broadcast from the Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy Co Derry to commemorate Book Week NI and the 10th anniversary of the Nobel Laureate’s death.

Anyone who has heard the Radio 4 broadcast of Loose Ends will know that "Blue Lights" writers and creators Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson were guests. Marie-Louise co hosted - Declan has said that the girls could be extras, wonder if he remembers?

NOTES 

Marie-Louise co-hosting Loose Ends on BBC Radio 4 - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001rgqz (available for 30 days) 

Clive Anderson  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clive_Anderson

Blue Lights  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14466018/

Belfast International Arts Festival -https://belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/2023-festival/

Take That podcast coming soon -https://www.globalplayer.com/podcasts/42Kvn2/

Beckham on Netflix  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Beckham

Soweto Gospel Choir -https://www.sowetogospelchoir.com/

Rogue Agent  https://www.rogueagentfilm.com/

James Norton -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Norton_(actor)

Robert Freegard -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Hendy-Freegard

Marie-Louise’s Culture Cafe on BBC Sounds  https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001rqjd

Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy, Co Derry

https://seamusheaneyhome.com/

https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/1995/heaney/facts/

Bellaghy  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellaghy

Glenn Patterson  https://www.glennpatterson.com/page4

The Letters of Seamus Heaney  https://www.faber.co.uk/product/9780571341085-the-letters-of-seamus-heaney/

Four Sides of Seamus Heaney BBC Radio Sounds - 4 part series   https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/m001pt1p (available for over a year)

Spice Girls  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spice_Girls

(As featured in Series 3 of Derry Girls Ep1 - The Affair)

City of Derry International Choir Festival (mass sing along to Dreams on 19th October) - https://derrychoirfest.com/

Vote for us (and get all your friends to vote for us as well) for listeners choice in the Irish Podcast Awards - you have to vote before Thursday 19th October (remember to do the email bit at the end to make it count) 

https://www.theirishpodcastawards.ie/#listenerschoice

Earlier TDGs episodes we refer to in Ep86 

Ep 9 - This ’n That 

Ep 13 - The first time we talked to Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee 

Ep 66 - Blue Lights 

Ep 67 - Take a Beat with Declan Lawn (co-writer of Blue Lights) 

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” and “The Town I loved So Well” were the songs of choice this year's song is the Derry Girls' theme, “Dreams” by the Cranberries. Marie-Louise will be there to introduce it. We challenge her not to sing…

Meanwhile Pauline reveals an interest in Northern Ireland public transport timetables - Uncle Colm would be impressed - though it's all thanks to new N I based film “Ballywalter”.

The girls wonder if Marie-Louise’s co hosting of BBC Radio 4's “Loose Ends” could help with their bid to be extras on “Blue Lights” - currently filming in Northern Ireland - writer Declan Lawn is a guest…watch this space.

Culture Cafe with Marie-Louise BBC Radio Ulster/Radio Foyle 

8th October 2023 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001r7kc

Liz Weir - Storyteller https://www.lizweir.org/

Fatboy Slim in Derry (it’s now sold out) https://www.derryjournal.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/jika-jika-announces-fatboy-slim-gig-4359994

DerryChoirFest and DerryGirls big sing https://derrychoirfest.com/

Ballywater (film) https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/ballywalter-review/5176257.article

Patrick Kielty https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Kielty

Seána Kerslake https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seána_Kerslake

Ulster American -https://riversidestudios.co.uk/see-and-do/ulster-american-announcement-89161/

Loose Ends - BBC Radio Four 14th October https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001rgqz

London Irish https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Irish_(TV_series)

Available on Channel 4 and Amazon Prime (both UK and USA)

The Lovers https://www.sky.com/watch/the-lovers

https://g.co/kgs/47MUju

David Ireland actor and playwright -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ireland_(playwright)

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0409854/

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23358175.david-ireland-shocking-new-play-cyprus-avenue-tron-theatre/

Roisin Gallagher https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3481069/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roisin_Gallagher

Johnny Flynn https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Flynn

Conleth Hill https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conleth_Hill

London Irish https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Irish_(TV_series)

Available on Channel 4 and Amazon Prime and on DVD (both UK and USA)

Feargal Sharkey and water pollution 

https://www.derryjournal.com/news/environment/feargal-sharkey-to-discuss-mobuoy-dump-lough-neagh-and-water-pollution-with-eamonn-mccann-at-think-left-4350577?fbclid=IwAR1YganzIj6IAs0Ab2_beBdxNKWUjAeb5b-UyXbaYx5RZrRf4DxD80vt53A

Feargal Sharkey on Leading podcast with Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart 

https://uk-podcasts.co.uk/podcast/leading/27-feargal-sharkey-teenage-kicks-bobby-sands-and-s

NI Designer who has dressed Siobhan McSweeney; Tara Lynne O’Neill and The Edge from U2 for their gig in Las Vegas!  

https://www.eadach.com/designer

https://uktheatre.org/uk-theatre-awards-2023/?fbclid=IwAR2Ma4leYeGIOVRVKhCfsNnsjbh6OvsrtB62kC6p_zVUwGXFFL8OikqqJ7M

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 binge watch, David Ireland's "The Lovers". Throw in a bit of "Riverdance", ask whether "Derry Girls" was really a Channel 4 pity project, pitch for "Derry Girls The Musical" and you may just need a little lie down after… or have a drink! 

London Irish - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Irish_(TV_series)

Available on Channel 4 and Amazon Prime (both UK and USA) 

Art (Peter) Campion aka Fr Peter talking about London Irish 

https://www.channel4.com/press/news/peter-campion-interview#:~:text=Packy%20is%20short%20for%20Patrick,it's%20a%20nickname%20for%20Patrick

Sinaed Keenan - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sin%C3%A9ad_Keenan

Aidan Turner https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aidan_Turner

What’s Funny about Derry Girls BBC Sounds (BBC Radio 4) 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001qtms?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

Louis Walsh https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Walsh

Angela Scanlon (BBC Strictly come dancing) https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/angela-scanlon-strictly-come-dancing-2023-contestant/

Les Dennis (BBC Strictly Come Dancing) https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-12589211/Strictlys-Les-Dennis-clashed-Nancy-Xu-scenes-pair-faled-gel-eliminated.html

David Ireland actor and playwright - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ireland_(playwright)

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0409854/

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23358175.david-ireland-shocking-new-play-cyprus-avenue-tron-theatre/

Roisin Gallagher https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3481069/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roisin_Gallagher

Johnny Flynn https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Flynn

Conleth Hill https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conleth_Hill

The Lovers - https://www.sky.com/watch/the-lovers

https://g.co/kgs/47MUju

Marie-Louise’s BBC Radio Ulster programme Culture Cafe - Riverdance https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001qt3v

(Watch out for chat with Roisin Gallagher on Culture Cafe on Sunday 8th October. 

Bill Whelan - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Whelan

https://www.lilliputpress.ie/product/the-road-to-riverdance-bill-whelan

https://seamusheaneyhome.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873637564 (Bill Whelan at the Seamus Heaney Homeplace, Bellaghy 14th October)

Paul Mallon - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2546951/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0016gpt (Paul Mallon is in this brilliant series and is recording second series now)

The first time Riverdance was ever performed on RTE in 1994. (Nearly 30 not 25 years ago!!) 

https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=River+dance&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:6366c0a5,vid:w0v_pu6miJ8,st:0

Terry Wogan talking about Riverdance https://riverdance.com/blog/2016/02/01/riverdance-on-terry-wogans-ireland/

Damian McGinty - singer and actor from Derry who was in Glee TDGs talked to him in Ep21 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damian_McGinty

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 alcohol on recording days.

NOTES: 

IRISH PODCAST AWARDS - DON’T FORGET TO VOTE FOR US IN THE LISTENERS AWARD 

https://www.theirishpodcastawards.ie/

Vote for us here in the Irish Podcast Awards 

https://www.theirishpodcastawards.ie/voting

10TH ANNIVERSARY OF DERRY-LONDONDERRY being the first UK City of Culture https://www.derryjournal.com/news/people/council-holding-conference-to-celebrate-10th-anniversary-of-derry-city-of-culture-4337269

Marie-Louise writing about UK City of Culture back in 2010! https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/artsextra/2010/01/i-was-up-in-my.shtml

Sir Phil Redmond https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Redmond

Stage Beyond - https://www.stagebeyond.com/

Playhouse Derry https://www.derryplayhouse.co.uk/

"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.