Talking Derry Girls

NEW SEASON: HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN FROM BELFAST with the TALKING DERRY GIRLS Jeanie Messenger, Pauline Moore and Marie-Louise Kerr will be guiding you through Lisa McGee’s new Netflix series which is now live - globally! If you like what you hear, please help spread the word. And leave a review. Please do NOT listen to this unless you have watched it! There are spoilers.

NEW SEASON: HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN FROM BELFAST with the TALKING DERRY GIRLS EPISODE 1 - THE WAKE. Please do NOT listen to this unless you have watched it! There are spoilers. Jeanie Messenger, Pauline Moore and Marie-Louise Kerr will be guiding you through Lisa McGee’s new Netflix series which is now live - globally! If you like what you hear please help spread the word. And leave a review.

They say no good deed goes unnoticed and when Micky Doherty decided to raise money for a Derry charity, that was certainly the case. Based in Derry, the Northlands Addiction Treatment Centre has been helping the people of the City and across Northern Ireland for the past 50 years and is a much needed, and appreciated, local resource. They specialise in the treatment and support of families and individuals affected by addiction related issues. Micky joins the TDG’s to discuss the part they have played in his own recovery and just how important raising funds for their cause is to him. Local Derry people may think they know Micky well …the man himself has a very different and personal story to tell. In true Micky style it is a hoot, leaves Marie-Louise dreaming of reviving her Panto career and offers a punch to the guts to anyone who has ever judged a book by its cover. The Micky Doherty calendar for 2026 is a collaboration with Ferry Clever and local photographer Stephen Latimer and the first print run sold out in 2 day. It has now been restocked and is flying off the shelves. So just why did Micky strip down to his undies and flash his pecs around Derry’s landmark? MERRY CHRISTMAS x NORTHLANDS CENTRE https://northlands.org.uk/ MICKY DOHERTY https://www.facebook.com/micky.doherty.716/ https://www.instagram.com/micky_dee_derry_/?hl=en STEPHEN LATIMER PHOTOGRAPHY https://www.stephenlatimer.com/ FERRY CLEVER https://ferryclever.co.uk/product-tag/micky-doherty/ https://ferryclever.co.uk/ THE SANDWICH CO - DIAMOND https://thesandwich.co/bishop-street/ TALKING DERRY GIRLS Instagram - @talkingderrygirlspodcast X - @TBLderrygirls Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/talkingderrygirls/about/ http://www.thebiglight.com/talkingderrygirls Podcast https://pod.co/talking-derry-girls

This week the Talking Derry Girls are joined by fellow Derry Girl Dearbhaile McKinney a.k.a. rookie cop Aisling Byrne from Blue Lights. Before joining the “Blue Lights” cast Dearbhaile was known to the TDGs as the young aunt Sarah from The Reunion episode of Derry Girls, but which part did she originally audition for? Are things still “mad” in Derry? Was it her, or her cousin, who features in the “Kneecap” film? Did she know how her character would develop through the 3 series of “Blue Lights” and most important of all just how big a fan of boy band Westlife is she? Did she see them switch on Derry’s Christmas lights in the late 90’s or was that a WestSide Story?Just how keen is she to accept Nicky Byrne’s invitation for the “Blue Lights" team to come say “hi” when the Westlife Reunion tour hits Belfast?? No interrogation techniques necessary Dearbhaile has the answers, and Declan Lawn, Nicky Byrne is waiting to be called up for Series 4…altogether now…”We got a little world of our own”. Wee Angels. Dearbháile McKinney: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9130037/ Blue Lights: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/oct/14/blue-lights-series-three-bbc-one-iplayer-best-cop-show#:~:text=The third time's a,best drama on the BBC”. Blue Lights is now on Brit Box Westlife https://www.westlife.com/ Kneecap https://www.kneecap.ie/ Where we recorded this episode: https://www.theverbal.co/ Instagram - @talkingderrygirlspodcast X - @TBLderrygirls Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/talkingderrygirls/about/ http://www.thebiglight.com/talkingderrygirls Podcast https://pod.co/talking-derry-girls

Anyone not aware of Richard Moore's story may like to go back and listen to the TDG'S chaotic encounter with him in episode 16. Founder and CEO of the charity Children in Crossfire, the most disadvantaged young children in Tanzania and Ethiopia, as well as children in Ireland, are supported in education and healthcare. Meeting again, nearly 100 episodes later, his story has evolved and is being reimagined by writer, poet and playwright Damian Gorman. The resulting piece, “Witness”, will have its official debut at the Seamus Heaney Homeplace but not before Richard makes an emotional visit back to the Primary School where his traumatic story of blindness began. As a 10 year old he was hit by a ‘rubber’ bullet fired by a soldier. Well known for his self-deprecating humour and sharp wit, Richard has always refused to allow the darkness to prevail and can turn a conversation from tears of laughter to tears of raw emotion in a heartbeat. Hankies at the ready, embark on the rollercoaster that pays “Witness” to his story. Richard Moore https://www.richardmoore.ie/ https://www.childrenincrossfire.org/ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-53985472 Ep 16 - https://pod.co/talking-derry-girls/episode-16-richard-moore What about you podcast with Richard Moore https://whataboutyou.buzzsprout.com/1288562/contributors/60495# Damian Gorman https://irishplayography.com/person/damian-gorman https://seamusheaneyhome.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873657583 https://www.facebook.com/damian.gorman.14/

There is a saying in Derry…”Say Nah hin”. The Girls very nearly had nothing to say this week, at least nothing that could be used in evidence. Maybe it was the ghost of Ballymena boy Liam Neeson - “There is no tape” Thankfully their guest Declan Lawn was happy to go on the record when Pauline and Jeanie caught up with him in his teenage stomping ground of Ballymena. Series 3 of “Blue Lights” is midway through its UK run with the box set available to binge for those of us with zero self control. Don't worry, there are no spoilers here. Jeanie, Pauline and Marie-Louise discuss just how menacing a Northern Irish accent can be and Pauline calls for ‘backup’. While the burning question is…can you really win a Bafta in a raffle? NOTES: The Divine Comedy - https://thedivinecomedy.com/ Brian Bilston - https://brianbilston.com/ Blue Lights - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0f2cxpr Louise Gallagher - Ep105 https://pod.co/talking-derry-girls/ep-105-original-derry-girl-louise-gallagher-on-creating-blue-lights Declan Lawn on series 2 Ep103 https://pod.co/talking-derry-girls/episode-103-the-blue-lights-are-flashing

The Talking Derry Girls love a celebration and when that celebration involves a strong, vibrant, courageous woman they're totally on board. Back in episode 30 the Girls talked about legendary pilot Amelia Earhart and her connections to Derry, listen back - you'll thank us. Recently Pauline, Jeanie and Marie-Louise caught up with the Amelia Earhart Legacy Association as they played host to some visiting dignitaries from Atchison, Kansas, birthplace of the record breaking pilot. Plans are afoot for the 95th anniversary of Amelia's historic flight across the Atlantic to have a Derry connection theme, building up to the centenary in 2032. The Kansas contingent are keen to build the Derry connection into their festivities and the Talking Derry Girls needed to know more. Kansas, isn't that the place you can get to by clicking your heels together? The girls are searching out Ruby slippers as we speak …As Jeanie has always said -There's no place like home. Amelia Earhart and Derry https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-57198081 Ep30 - https://pod.co/talking-derry-girls/episode-30-amelia-earhart-in-derry Amelia Earhart The Derry Legacy - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064785603960 Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum FB page - https://www.facebook.com/AEHangarMuseum/ Little Acorns Bookstore - https://www.facebook.com/LittleAcornsBookstore/?locale=en_GB

Where are the Talking Derry Girls when you need them? Welcome back! The girls, Jeanie Messenger, Pauline Moore and Marie-Louise Kerr, have missed you. But where have they been in the past year or so? Lisa McGee could have some answers. If only she could engage the services of three aging super-sleuths to search out the truth. Lisa, the TDGs are ready when you need them! The girls caught up with Lisa at the Belfast Comedy Festival way back in May and got the lowdown on where she's at with her new eagerly anticipated Netflix comedy Drama “How to Get to Heaven From Belfast”. The mystery of the missing Talking Derry Girls is discussed. No sleuthing needed, Pauline likes work too much to retire, Jeanie likes Derry too much to live anywhere else and Marie-Louise has found her Granda Joe. If the guitarist is back… we'll cue the music… NOTES: How to get to Heaven from Belfast (what did Lisa McGee did next) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31709373/ https://about.netflix.com/en/news/lead-cast-announced-for-lisa-mcgee-how-to-get-to-heaven-from-belfast The Traitors - Ireland hosted by Siobhan McSweeney (only available to watch on RTE at the moment) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34060796/ The Traitors UK - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23743442/ Hope Street with Tara Lynne O’Neill (Ma Mary) - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0011yc0 - britbox.com Ep 80 - Talking Derry Girls where Lisa McGee first talked to us about ‘How to get to Heaven from Belfast’.