Episode 115 - Blue Lights Flashing with Dearbhaile McKinney
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
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http://www.thebiglight.com/talkingderrygirls
Podcast https://pod.co/talking-derry-girls
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Episode 114 - How To Get To Derry From Limerick
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…?
Instagram - @talkingderrygirlspodcast
X - @TBLderrygirls
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/talkingderrygirls/about/
http://www.thebiglight.com/talkingderrygirls
Podcast https://pod.co/talking-derry-girls
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Episode 113 - Witness : Damian Gorman and Richard Moore
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/
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Episode 112 - Brian Kennedy
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/
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Episode 111 - Blue Lights Series 3. Declan Lawn. For the Tape.
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
Fancy a bit of craic?! Jeanie, Marie-Louise and Pauline love the Channel 4 sit-com, Derry Girls, based in their home city. We thought it would be fun to rewatch the series, and chat about each episode in detail. You don’t have to be from Derry, or even a girl.
Being a Derry Girl is a state of mind. Come on in!
Ireland