Living my best life and not stopping anytime soon. At 89 years young, I'm digging into my diary full of stories, tall tales and anecdotes of a life lived to the fullest. My name is Dorothy Clarke, welcome to my world.
Hello, I'm Dorothy Clarke - Episode 20 - The Dublin we lost.
Dorothy takes us back to Dublin's golden age, when on a ticket at the Theatre Royal, you got dancers, a star, a sing-along and a movie for about one and sixpence. Judy Garland and Danny Kaye both played there. She takes us on a nostalgic stroll through the places that shaped her life: the Royal and the Capital, summer evenings at the Phoenix Park Racecourse, Woolworths and Findlater's and the ice cream parlours of O'Connell Street. Along the way there's a star who refused to leave...
6 Sept 2026
Hello, I'm Dorothy Clarke - Episode 19 - Aer Lingus and Me
Hello again, it's Dorothy! This week's story starts with a lovely surprise in the newspaper - an ad for Aer Lingus's 90th birthday - and the realisation that she and the airline arrived in the world the very same year: they in business, she in living. That sets off a string of memories: her first-ever flight to London in her early twenties, and the day Aer Lingus carried her and her new husband off to Paris on their wedding day, trailing confetti down the aisle the whole way. Just...
9 Aug 2026
Hello, I'm Dorothy Clarke - Episode 18
Dorothy is back after a bit of a summer break, with a story about Thomas Street in Dublin's Liberties - a street with deep family ties, where both her mother and her aunt May once ran shops. Now the amazing Betty Bojangles. She remembers the tenement families who were rehoused out to Ballyfermot, Ballymun and beyond, and what was lost when they left. Then she takes us inside number 77, her Aunty May's old shop, now brought back to life by its new owners for a night full of stories, laug...
7 Jun 2026
Hello, I'm Dorothy Clarke - Episode 16 - How my £199 cruise turned into a 2-week Luxury Adventure!
In this episode, Dorothy shares an incredible story from her time living in sunny Spain. What started as a spontaneous choice to book a budget £199 seven-day cruise on a whim in Gibraltar turned into the ultimate luxury vacation! Due to a lucky overbooking, Dorothy and her friend were bumped up to a massive luxury suite. But the adventure didn't stop there. Tune in to hear Dorothy recount: Popping duty-free champagne with new friends in Marseilles. Getting invited to the Captain's...
3 Jun 2026
Hello, I'm Dorothy Clarke - Episode 15
In this episode, Dorothy reflects on a hidden chapter of family life in 1970's Ireland. Following a quiet request from a compassionate Dublin priest, she and Noel opened their home and their hearts to several vulnerable young women from rural Ireland who had nowhere else to turn. It is a deeply personal reflection on family, empathy, the heartbreaking realities of the era, and the quiet lifelines thrown to those in need.
25 May 2026
Hello, I'm Dorothy Clarke - Episode 14
Tangoes, Hollywood Stars, and Life’s Turns In this action-packed episode, Dorothy takes us back to memorable days in Celbridge and a major move back home to Dalkey. She shares stories from their time on the banks of the Liffey - including rubbing shoulders with film star Rod Taylor, a cheeky sing-along moment with author Frederick Forsyth, and a dramatic, late-night car crash on the Strawberry Beds where an unexpected "good Samaritan" came to her rescue. Dorothy also reflects on the me...
24 May 2026
Hello, I'm Dorothy Clarke - Episode 13
In this bittersweet and nostalgic episode, Doroghy reflects on the early chapters of her life with her darling husband, Noel. From their whirlwind romance after meeting at Sandycove Tennis Club in 1954 to a memorable "high Tea" introduction to Noels' family. Doroghy shares the joy, funa nd personality that defined Noel. She recounts her lavish 1960 wedding - complete with a magnificent Calais lace gown, humorous family dynamics, and the sweet send-off to their Paris honeymoo...
7 May 2026
Hello, I'm Dorothy Clarke - Episode 12
Toffee, Truth and Great Silence. The Girl Who Spoke Back: From Convent Silence to National Radio. "Try and stop me!" At 89, Dorothy looks back at a world that tried to keep her quiet. From the frozen washbasins of a 1940's convent to an interview on national radio, this is the story of a rebel in a blue uniform. How did a nine-year-old girl go from crying into a wet pillow to smuggling contraband toffee and outsmarting a "Trial by prayer" Dorothy shares the "not so good" and the "hilari...
17 Apr 2026
Hello, I'm Dorothy Clarke - Episode 11
Today’s podcast is a collection of short, real-life Irish anecdotes. These stories blend everyday mishaps with moments of pure chaos and unexpected drama. Through a cast of colourful characters, neighbours, clergy and quick responding doctors, they turn near disasters into funny memories. It closes with a glimpse of life on stage again, where timing, mischief and real-life interruptions collide in the most unexpected ways. Enjoy.
13 Apr 2026
Hello, I'm Dorothy Clarke - Episode 10
Growing up in Dublin in the late 1950's and 60s, life was never dull. After a brief and fun time at UCD and a complicated relationship with honours maths, the pull of the fashion world proved stronger than academia. Modelling led to fashion shows and one evening in the Central Hotel produced an unexpected surprise. A solo trip to London at barely 20, armed with five suitcases of First Communion dresses and sheer determination, turned into an early taste of business. Travelling t...
2 Apr 2026
Hello, I'm Dorothy Clarke - Episode 9
In the early 1970s, Dorothy’s rise through Ireland’s theatre scene takes a dramatic turn, from winning the Best Actress award while secretly pregnant, to stepping into the professional stage. But what follows is far from ordinary. Cast in The Shadow of a Gunman by Sean O’Casey, she finds herself performing in Dún Laoghaire during one of the most tense moments in Irish history- the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. After a bombing devastates the city, the production is shaken again by chilling ...
31 Mar 2026
Hello, I'm Dorothy Clarke - Episode 8
This episode offers a vivid, personal glimpse into old Dublin life, especially around the Liberties and Thomas Street, seen through the eyes of a shopkeeper’s daughter. It introduces a cast of memorable Dublin characters, from resilient street traders and quick-witted locals to colourful figures like a charming con man and a bus-stop entertainer, while quietly revealing the harsh realities of tenement living.
30 Mar 2026
Hello, I'm Dorothy Clarke - Episode 7
A chance move to Spain in the 1990's turns into an unexpected adventure, embracing expat life, discovering a vibrant local theatre scene and building a creative second chapter filled with performances, friendships and memorable moments. From amateur dramatics to a surprising step into film, the journey blends humour, heart and behind-the-scenes glimpses of life on and off the stage, ultimately reflecting on purpose, connection and the joy of saying yes to new experiences.
21 Mar 2026
Hello, I'm Dorothy Clarke - Episode 6
A vivid and charming recollection of a childhood adventure 80 years ago, this episode follows a young girl’s first journey from Ireland to France just after the war. From the excitement of boarding a grand ocean liner to discovering new foods, cultures, and unexpected moments along the way, it’s a heartfelt glimpse into travel, family, and innocence in a very different time. Warm, nostalgic, and full of personality, this story captures the magic of seeing the world through young eyes.
12 Mar 2026
Hello, I'm Dorothy Clarke - Episode 5
A last-minute miracle: securing tickets to the Ireland v Italy Six Nations clash at the Aviva on February 14th, 2026. In this episode, I relive the excitement, the atmosphere, and the unforgettable moments from a thrilling day of rugby in Dublin. Not a bad way to spend Valentine’s Day.
6 Mar 2026
Hello, I'm Dorothy Clarke - Episode 4
In this episode, I talk about my spontaneous trip to South Africa to watch my grandson Eoghan Clarke play rugby for Munster. From unexpected travel disruptions to meeting Munster supporters and well-known rugby figures, the journey was full of memorable moments.
4 Mar 2026
Hello, I'm Dorothy Clarke....Episode 3
This podcast talks about some of my acting experiences, from my earliest memories to working with the legendary Director Leo Hart and fundraising for Children's Hospitals with Cathal Ryan's Theatre Group, Stackumnley (AKA Stack of Money!) Players :)
28 Feb 2026
Hello, I'm Dorothy Clarke - Episode 2
This week I talk a bit more about the WW2 bombing in Dublin, my early school days and first real romantic encounter at a 'hop' (dance) at Sandycove Tennis Club.
22 Feb 2026
Hello, I'm Dorothy Clarke - Episode 1
My Irish Life: 89 Years (& counting) Wonderful stories of a life well lived in Ireland.
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