Women discuss the importance of female friends and good neighbours.
Things change between friends over time, especially when one gets married and the other does not. Maura found this to be a challenging time, and had to take up new interests which in the long run benefited her,
I think that it is very important to join something that is of interest to you.
Most of the group have experienced a time, when they returned to socialising with their girlfriends after a few years of marriage,
We'd arrange it and go out and have a terrific night.
Lapsed friendships which previously had been solid can be revived, even after long periods without communication,
You don’t have to be seeing people all the time and have cups of tea.
There is unanimous agreement that neighbours are as important as friends, especially when rearing a family. As women are usually the ones at home all day with the children, they develop strong relationships with neighbours. They know these neighbours can be called on for help when there is an emergency. As Patricia explains,
Without having to explain they’ll understand exactly how you think.
Eibhlín maintains that this is a continuation of the family dynamic, where mothers and aunts are the ones who deal with all issues that arise in daily life.
They tend to cope with the emotional problems and the physical problems.
This episode of 'Women Talking’ was broadcast on 19 September 1983. The presenter is Doireann Ní Bhriain.
Doireann Ní Bhriain had taken over the chair from Marian Finucane as presenter of the RTÉ Radio programme 'Women Today', which dealt with issues affecting women which broadcast on weekday afternoons from 1979 to 1985.
'Women Talking' was an extension of that programme where Doireann Ní Bhriain, producer Nuala O'Faolain and production assistant Patricia Swan travelled to different locations around Ireland to get,
"Ordinary women, both married and single to discuss the fundamental issues that dominate their lives."
(RTÉ Guide 16 July 1982, p. 6)
The series 'Women Talking' was produced by Nuala O'Faolain with programme assistant Patricia Swan for two series of six programmes in the Summer of 1982 and the Autumn of 1983. Women around the country talked with presenter Doireann Ní Bhriain about their experiences, their problems and their hopes.
The first episode of 'Women Talking' was recorded and broadcast on 13 May 1982 and continued over the summer of 1982. The episodes covered timeless themes such as work, marriage, education, mothering, money and growing old.
The second series was broadcast in the Autumn of 1983 and included a programme in Irish covering the lives of women in the Gaeltacht, an episode on nuns and their lifestyles, the problems of loss and grief, personal and social hopes and ideals, women's relationships and the structure of marriage.
