Derry Girls Episode 5

In the very early days of the USSR, the Communists did indeed try to eradicate religion, but we understand that it doesn’t work that way—they simply repeated the fate of the Romans. Although they succeeded in greatly reducing religion’s influence on the population, religious leaders from that time until now in modern Russia have been members of the FSB and report directly to them. That’s why, in Russia’s recent history, you’ve seen priests blessing an intercontinental ballistic nuclear missile called “Satan” 🙌 Both the communists and modern Russia know that they cannot eradicate Christianity, but they can use it to their advantage.

I think Grandpa’s the funniest character in the series

Not Irish but Scottish; can confirm the depiction of the orange order and the volume is NOT an exaggeration; they’re limited on how often they can do the marches these days but the are the biggest pain ever, playing the same songs down all the main streets and shutting down roads 😭 we don’t quite flee the country but we do sometimes have to plan around them to avoid them!

Gerry is played by a famous comedian from the Republic of Ireland.

For some reason, Jerrys are always abused in sitcoms—this show, Parks and Rec, Rick and Morty…maybe it’s a cosmic rebalancing of the universe for Jerry Seinfeld’s existence?

Wain is a transcription of wee ‘un - small one.

A Provo refers to a member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army. So, in the context of the early 1990s, a terrorist.

The Orange Order refers to William of Orange (as in King William and Queen Mary) who is King of Great Britain after the Glorious Revolution. He conducted military operations in Ireland to bring it more thoroughly under British rule. This is why the hardcore unionists support him. It’s like the Free Masons but for Protestant domination of Ulster. They conducted marches through majority Catholic areas to celebrate various historic victories and antagonise people. At some point, Parliament passed legislation regulating parade season to stop them marching as often and through residential areas. But that was later on.

A punt was the currency of the Republic of Ireland before the Euro. Mary calls it the Free State because that was its name between independence and Republic status (which was I think in 1949). Sterling refers to British pounds which is the currency in Northern Ireland as it is part of the UK.