Episode 1

Kate and Baba are friends who occupy the twin poles of romance and realism.

The duo blag their way into a wine-tasting and meet Eugene Gaillard.

Funny and subversive story of womanhood in Ireland in the 1950s.

Originally published in the 1960s, The Lonely Girl, and the two other novels in the trilogy (The Country Girls and Girls in their Married Bliss), were banned by the Irish Censorship Board, burnt publicly in O’Brien’s home town, and described by the Justice Minister (a young Charles Haughey) as filth.

Edna O’Brien's trilogy is now recognised as an iconic work of 20th century Irish fiction.

Omnibus of the first five of ten episodes dramatised by Katie Hims

Kate ..... Charlie Murphy
Baba ..... Aoibhinn McGinnity
Tod Mead ..... Shaun Mason
Eugene ..... Jonathan Forbes
The Body ..... Jonny Holden
Eamonn ..... Chris Pavlo
Joanna ..... Susan Jameson
Woman ..... Catherine Cusack

Directors: Sally Avens & Jessica Dromgoole

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2019.