Episode 61 : Pick me Up - International Women's Day.

The TDG's - Pauline, Marie-Louise and Jeanie - have always got each other's backs and this week they manage to help each other out without even realising. 

We all get times when we feel a bit flat but this week the girls were all in a bit of a slump. Strange things happen when friends get together and admit they aren't at their best. Hold tight to those friends. 

Derry has opened a new tribute to Mo Mowlam and the girls remember the force of nature who, as Northern Ireland Secretary, played no small part in the Good Friday Agreement negotiations. No fusty old statue to remember Mo.! 

The girls remember being serenaded by Damian McGinty who is currently dancing up a storm in Ireland's Dancing with the Stars… memories, good pals and chat. 

Happy International Women's Day. 

NOTES :

You might want to revisit TDGs 36 and 37 covering the first two episodes in Series 3. 

NI secretary of state - Mo Mowlam:  www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/aug/19/obituaries.northernireland

Mo Mowlam talking about the NI peace process:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC77sMU0uMg

Mo Mowlam visiting the Maze prison:  www.theguardian.com/politics/1998/jan/10/devolution.uk

Issue of policing in Good Friday Agreement:  www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/11/policing-crisis-northern-ireland-good-friday-agreement-psni-brexit

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/jan/17/mowlam-tumour-blair-labour

Women’s Coalition (1996) - a minor but very important party forcing other parties to take women's issues seriously:  niassembly.gov.uk/visit-and-learning/women-in-parliament/northern-ireland-womens-coalition/

Monica McWilliams and an interview about her book Stand up, Speak out where she talks about Mo Mowlam.  https://www.independent.ie/life/monica-mcwilliams-on-women-being-airbrushed-from-the-norths-peace-process-history-41407501.html

Mo Mowlam studio opening  https://www.ulster.ac.uk/news/2023/march/ulster-university-launches-mo-mowlam-studio-on-its-derry~londonderry-campus

The campaign for a University in Derry  https://universitytimes.ie/2022/01/derrys-50-year-fight-for-university-places/

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

Damian McGinty - he was a guest on TDGs Ep21 - Derry Boy (40 episodes ago). He’s now in the semi finals of RTE’s Dancing with the Stars..  Go to Ep21 to hear about how he got into the TV hit Glee. And how Jeanie’s Dad give him a present one Christmas when he was a lad!! 

https://www.facebook.com/damianmcginty/?locale=en_GB

Eurovision Song Contest https://eurovision.tv/

New BBC podcast marking 25th anniversary of Good Friday Agreement  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-64858138

Link for GFA podcast from BBC   https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0f6zpv4

Marie-Louise and Pauline are Jeanie’s wee English fella’s Godmother Others as he’s always called us..