Want to experience joy? Read Did Ye Hear Mammy Died. Then watch Derry Girls.

#159

I recently took the family to Inside Out 2 (who didn’t? It’s making a killing) and the line that hit me hardest went something like this: “I guess as you get older, you experience less joy.” I refuse to accept that! Today we’re talking about a book and TV show that brought me a lot of joy and I know they’ll do the same for you.

What has brought you joy recently? I’d love to hear in the comments.

---

As a child, it was hard to avoid the implication that my parents were either out for an award from the pope or, at best, severely unimaginative when it came to other hobbies.

It was hard to imagine my parents sat there one night, looking at their eight children and thinking to themselves, ‘we really ought to have one more at least’.

Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? is a memoir by Derry (a small town in Northern Ireland) native Séamas O’Reilly. His mother passed when he was 5 years old, leaving him and his 10 siblings (yep, you did the math right: That’s 11 kids total) to be raised by his father.

I’ve read memoirs with negligence-bordering-on-abusive fathers (Educated) and alcoholic fathers (The Prizewinner of Defiance, Ohio) and I’ve heard about others (The Glass Castle), but this book is about a good, loving dad. Not a perfect one, but one that cares and tries.

Listening to Mr. O’Reilly read his memoir via audiobook is the best way to experience this book. His sarcastic and witty commentary about Irish life, Catholics and Protestants, large families, and the Troubles had me laughing out loud. It is heartwarming in the literal sense — my heart warmed toward my own hard-working father, my children, and everyone out there trying their best to raise kids in whatever difficult circumstances they find themselves in.

This is an easy recommend that I want more people to read.

---

When I first heard about this show, I thought it was Dairy Girls and would be about 4H girls who love cows. It is not about cows. Image Source

Derry Girls is a Netflix original series from creator Lisa McGee. It is set in the 1980s and follows five teenagers in Derry, a small town in Northern Ireland, as they navigate Catholic school, relationships, and the Troubles. The series is inspired by McGee’s own experiences.

The laughs-per-minute of this show are off the charts. I guffaw every episode. The writing is highly quotable, the scenes highly rewatchable. The five main characters are foul mouthed¹, quirky, flawed, and silly. They will annoy and frustrate you at times, but you will love them. The side characters are a hoot and add to the richness of the experience.

If you have Netflix and haven’t watched this yet, then your subscription has not fully served you — this is quality television. Watch it as soon as you can, especially if you’re looking for a half hour comedy that you can dip into for quick laughs. You will get caught up in all the antics and binge the three seasons in a few days. (Do yourself a favor and watch with subtitles so you don’t miss anything).

Thanks for reading,

Kyle

End note: Thank you New York Public Library for posting this article: What To Read If You're Missing 'Derry Girls' | The New York Public Library (nypl.org)

1. Lots of f-words, but they’re Irish so it’s funny.