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

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http://www.thebiglight.com/talkingderrygirls

Podcast https://pod.co/talking-derry-girls

Christmas has arrived in Derry and the TDGs were on hand to capture the magic of the festive parade and official switching on of the gorgeous City lights.

At least two of them were there… the other stayed home feeding her inner Grinch because “I’m not doing Christmas before December”

Not even Derry’s new favourite girl, Big Brother finalist Jenni Baird could tempt Pauline onto the streets.

Jenni brought some serious glamour to her role as Mrs Claus as she led the parade through the town, upstaging Santa and delighting the crowds. “Oh yes she did!” cried the Pantomime Dame... and no-one disagreed.

Is that sleigh bells I can hear…?

Instagram: @talkingderrygirlspodcast

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On your favourite player: https://pod.link/1518036400

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/

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http://www.thebiglight.com/talkingderrygirls

Podcast https://pod.co/talking-derry-girls

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

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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