The Talking Derry Girls go on a Road Trip. With a special guest appearance by the Sat Nav Lady.

WARNING: - contains random road directions, toilet stops and poetic licence. Listeners who are easily confused or bewildered may want to step away now.

Are we there yet…?

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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/

The TDGs went on a road trip to the Seamus Heaney Homeplace as a belated big Birthday treat for Jeanie. The plan was an evening of song and chat with their long time favourite, Brian Kennedy. He of the lovely hair and lovelier voice (check out Ep 9 This and That!)

The journey redefined Carpool Karaoke. (Sorry Brian) Pauline demands that the other two allow her to inform Brian of her role in his career trajectory and Marie-Louise reminisces about taking him hostage en route to the Lake Isle of Inisfree.

Brian's life has taken many roads since then, a cancer survivor, he is an advocate for the importance of sharing health issues and speaks openly about how his “twin” urostomy and colostomy pouches saved his life just in time for covid and a quadruple bypass to ravage his body again. To namedrop an early album, he is now “A Better Man”. Full of fun, joy and boldness. First dates, tattoos and bus passes are all on the menu as the girls interrupt dinner and make him late for his soundcheck…

Brian Kennedy - https://www.briankennedy.co.uk/

Ep 9 - https://pod.co/talking-derry-girls/episode-9-this-n-that

Seamus Heaney Homeplace - https://seamusheaneyhome.com/

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

The Talking Derry Girls are settling into their new normal. If you can call an early morning interview with Derry's local radio station normal.

A trip to Radio Foyle brings back memories and has the girls revisiting past chats.

Jeanie wonders if she really did talk herself into returning to Derry and Marie Louise has some romantic plans involving an axe.

Maybe Pauline can bring some out of town sanity to the conversation. Who are we kidding, the girls are talking… buckle up!

NOTES:

BBC Radio Foyle interview with Elaine McGee - North West Today (around 39.40 mins into programme). - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002k3cn

Episodes referred to:

Ep 99 - Ninety Nine Red Balloons from U.S. to Us (Motherchuckers) - https://pod.co/talking-derry-girls/episode-99-ninety-nine-lead-balloons-from-u-s-to-us

Ep 87 - And hope and history rhyme. (The Big Sing) - https://pod.co/talking-derry-girls/episode-87-and-hope-and-history-rhyme

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’.