Narratives about Northern Ireland, and especially the conflict euphemistically known as “ the Troubles”, focus overwhelmingly on men. The fears of the four girls – mouthy Michelle, stressed-out Erin, eccentric Orla and anxiety-ridden Clare – were played for humour, but the challenges facing them were real and serious. Lisa McGee’s riotous Derry Girls, back for its final season, distilled the power of this hilarious drama in just 10 seconds of dialogue. In between newsflashes and 90s dance hits, 16-year old Clare nervously explains just what is at stake and why these results are so vitally important: “We’re girls, we’re poor, we’re from Northern Ireland and we’re Catholic!”
It’s a summer evening in Derry in 1997, the night before four teenage girls and a wee English fella get their GCSE results.
