Here's everything that happened in Derry Girls season 3
And everything you need to know about the final season
Derry Girls first burst onto our screens in 2018 with an utterly hilarious first script, that captured the hearts of us all. The show features the characters Erin Quinn (Saoirse-Monica Jackson), Orla McCool (Louisa Harland), Clare Devlin (Nicola Coughlan), Michelle Mallon (Jamie-Lee O'Donnell) and James Maguire (Dylan Llewellyn).
Series three aired on 12th April 2022, and was the final series of the much-loved show. To celebrate the amazing show, we've recapped what happened in the final season. Here's everything you need to know about Derry Girls series three...
What happened in Derry Girls season 3?
WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW
The group of friends are worrying about their GCSE results, whilst Joe's new cat Seamus is causing problems due to hunting other animals. When the pals bump into Sister Michael, she says that the school has already received the results, implying that they are poor.
Erin and the rest of the gang then decide to break into the school to try and find out their grades, but come across two men who say they are clearing out the old computer equipment, so help them. When the men then drive off with the computers, the friends are then interrogated at the police station, but released when they see the perpetrators on the CCTV. Everyone is delighted the next day when they find out they have passed their exams.
The school hosts a Children in Need event, with the students competing in a Stars in Their Eyes competition that will be shown on television. Meanwhile, Clare overhears Mary talking to the plumber Gabriel and comes to the conclusion that they are having an affair.
At the event, the friends perform 'Who Do You Think You Are' by the Spice Girls, but Erin runs off stage after seeing Mary with Gabriel in the audience. However, it turned out that Mary wanted to study English Literature at university, and Gabriel was encouraging her to go to a tutor.
The gang are getting the train to an amusement park in Portrush, when it stops in the middle of nowhere. Erin, Orla, Michelle and James find out that his bag has been accidentally swapped with another passenger's, whilst Mary and Sarah speak to a woman who says she knows them, but they don't remember. Meanwhile, Clare was accidentally left behind at the train station.
The pals are asked to clear the house of one of Sister Michael's distant relatives, as James gets accidentally knocked out by the school van. There's a storm, which the friends believe to be the previous residents of the house haunting them. James tells Erin that he has liked her for some time, with the pair then sharing a kiss.
Mary and Sarah go to their school reunion, where they meet their former friend Janette Joyce (Jenny's mum). The events of a dance back in 1977 are then retold during a series of flashbacks, leading them to go to a tree and try and dig up some photos they had buried - only to find that the ones they come across hadn't been taken by them.
With Fatboy Slim performing in Derry on Halloween, the gang source the last five tickets to the concert, but James rips them up in panic after a man offers to fight him for the tickets. However, Michelle gets free VIP tickets by falsely pretending that James lost his tickets in a mugging. Clare meets a girl named Laurie, and they share a kiss. Clare then sadly finds out that her father Sean has died after suffering an aneurysm.
Erin and Orla are excited for their joint 18th birthday party, but it clashes with Jenny Joyce's event. They later leave their party, which was poorly attended, to go to Jenny's. Clare arrives from Stabane, where she has been living with her mother after the death of her father. She causes a blackout at Jenny's house, so everyone then goes to Erin and Orla's party at the parish hall.
Later, the referendum on the Good Friday Agreement takes place, with the characters voting. The referendum is passed with a 71.12% majority.
When did Derry Girls finish filming?
The iconic cast shared emotional posts on social media after filming for the third season wrapped, saying goodbye to the characters that shot them to stardom.
Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan, aka Clare Devlin, posted a pic of a polaroid pic, featuring her BFF in the show Orla McCool, with the caption: 'Goodbye Derry Girls, it’s been quite a ride 🌈'.
Creator and writer of the show Lisa McGee shared a school selfie, with the message: 'Last day of school #DerryGirls.'
Was Derry Girls season 3 the last series?
The original Derry Girl Lisa McGee confirmed that series three was the last. In a statement she said: 'It was always the plan to say goodbye after three series. Derry Girls is a coming of age story; following five ridiculous teenagers as they slowly...very slowly...start to become adults, while around them the place they call home starts to change too and Northern Ireland enters a new more hopeful phase - which was a small, magical window of time.
'Derry Girls is a love letter to the place I come from and the people who shaped me. It has been an honour to write it and I will be forever proud of everything it's achieved.'
Watch the trailer for Derry Girls season three:
When did season 3 of Derry Girls air?
The cast attended the season three Derry Girls premiere in Derry on 7th April 2022, where the first two episodes of the new series were shown. The amazing first episode then aired on Channel 4 on Tuesday 12th April.
What will happen next for Derry Girls?
The show's creator Lisa McGee has spoken about the possibility of creating a spin-off show after Derry Girls ended. She revealed: "What I want to do is a spin-off with Ma Mary and Aunt Sarah solving crime and setting up a detective agency in Derry. Wouldn’t that be incredible?"
She also revealed that she had no plans to make a Derry Girls film, but hasn't ruled it out: "A movie isn’t on my radar at the moment, not right now. You never know, but I have other commitments."
What famous actors have been in Derry Girls?
We knew we'd be in for a treat with the final series of Derry Girls anyway, but the fact that we got to see some famous guest stars was an added bonus. Actress Louisa Harland, who plays the role of Orla McCool in the sitcom, previously said: "I think people are going to lose their minds when they see who."
None other than Liam Neeson appeared in the first episode of the third series!
How did the second series of Derry Girls finish?
Read up on everything you need to know about season two of Derry Girls right here!
Where is Derry Girls filmed?
In Derry, of course! Some scenes were filmed in Shipquay Street, and some of the scenes for series two were filmed at the Dockers Club in Belfast.
Look back at some of the cracker quotes from Derry Girls 👇
"Hi, I'm a lesbian!" Clare
"Congratulations." Laurie
"Thank you." Clare
"How many of you are there?" Laurie
"Just me, I'm just the one lesbian, the rest are all straight." Clare
"How many tickets do you need? Laurie
"Oh I see, five please." Clare
"We can turn our jeans into hot pants any night of the week, we're talking about a free house here Clare, a free house. We're going to be drinking, dancing and riding." Michelle
"Quick question on the awl riding front there, who exactly will be we doing that with?" Erin
"Young, hot farmers, Donegal is coming down with them. Big strapping lads, ripped to fk from all the turf collecting." Michelle
"Ok I'm not buzzing about the sexism, but the fact the wants to thump James is a wee bit exciting." Michelle
"Why have you got a surfboard Joe?" Da Jerry
"Jim across the road gave me the lend." Grandpa Joe
"I'll start again, what are you planning on doing with the surfboard Joe?" Da Jerry
"Surf! It's something I've always fancied doing, ever since I saw that film, the one where the lads try to catch thon big fish." Grandpa Joe
"What film is that?" Da Jerry
"You know, the big fish, the musical fish!" Grandpa Joe
"The musical fish?" Da Jerry
"He hums a tune before he attacks people, they try to catch him, but their boat's too wee." Grandpa Joe
"Are you talking about Jaws?" Da Jerry
"That's the one!" Grandpa Joe
"Jaws made you want to take up surfing?" Da Jerry
"Aye!" Grandpa Joe
"This one's for Erin" Da Jerry
"Oh, private and confidential?" Ma Mary
"Will I stick the kettle on and we'll steam it open Mary?" Aunt Sarah
"That's actually a criminal offence Sarah." Da Jerry
"Your face should be a criminal offence!" Grandpa Joe
"Oh good morning Joe." Da Jerry
"I'm not going to steam open my daughter's mail, come on now Sarah, as if I have time for that…just her national insurance card." Ma Mary
"Aye Halloween is class, there's just something about fancy dress that turns an ordinary night out into an absolute free for all – riding wise." Michelle
"12th November, why is that date familiar? I've booked to see Bjorn Again, I'll have to give this a miss." Aunt Sarah
"You're going to give your own engagement party a miss?" Ma Mary
"Well now to be fair, as ABBA tribute acts go they're the best in the country." Grandpa Joe
"They really are the genuine article." Aunt Sarah
"Except by definition they're not, they are a tribute act." Da Jerry
"And you're an aehole act!" Grandpa Joe**
"But things are just warming up, the real talent will be arriving soon. Trust me, any second now those doors are going to burst open and a load of rides are going to storm in here and snog the faces off us." Young Ma Mary
"That pony tail is going to bring my breakfast up!" Michelle
"Aye Halloween is class, there's just something about fancy dress that turns an ordinary night out into an absolute free for all – riding wise." Michelle
"Oh Jesus, just hand me a spade and let me bury myself." Aunt Sarah
"Where's my Tayto?" Aideen
"There's wiser eating grass!" Michelle
"Don't say knickers in front of your father, he can't cope!" Ma Mary
"If she's not into walls, she's not into walls, Erin love" Aunt Sarah
"We're basically celebrities now, we're like The Corrs" Michelle
"I will buck a French lad so help me god" Michelle
"Ye must think I came up the Foyle in a bubble" Ma Mary
"Slainte, motherfers!" Michelle*
"Macaulay Culkin isn't a Protestant, ma!" Erin
"You don't look like a lesbian" Mae
"What were you doin' heading up Pump Street with a cream horn, pa?" Ma Mary
"Shift your short holes, let's go" Michelle
"I like my kneecaps, Michelle. They suit my knees" Clare
"No funny business with these Protestant lads, is that clear? I don't want anybody landing back here pregnant." Ma Mary
"I spent the summer in Killybegs and, seriously? Not a fucking word" Michelle
"Look, I wanted to be an individual but my ma wouldn't let me" Erin
"I've warned you before, Gerry. You say another bad word about Coronation Street and you may leave this house and never return" Ma Mary
"He's been footering" Granda Joe
"Aye, dead on Gerry. I'm going to give them a whole fiver, that's definitely happenin" Aunt Sarah
"You can't marry an Orangeman Michelle!" Erin
"It's a pity, cos I think there's something really sexy about the fact that they hate us so much" Michelle
"Foreigners fing love the Giant's Causeway" Michelle*
"You can't ring Childline every time your mother threatens to kill you" Michelle
"Protestants hate ABBA!" Orla
"The slightly taller fella, he says to me, says he 'Do you know who we are? And I says to him, says I 'Well I can't be sure now, maybe if you took off the balaclavas" Uncle Colm
"Is it just me, or is that gypsy an absolute ride?" Michelle
"Michelle you can't say that, they're called travellers now, you can't say gypsy anymore, it's insulting" Erin
"This is just wrong" Clare
"So are those ski pants Clare, but it didn't stop you pulling them over your hole this morning" Michelle
"Half-load goes against everything I stand for, you know that da" Ma Mary
"I feel a bit bokey" Michelle
"Howling like a banshee, it was" Uncle Colm
"If I was having an illicit rendezvous with my mistress, I'm not sure that the supermarket where my Father-in-Law is doing the big shop in, would be the best place for it really" Gerry
"Will we need our passports, Gerry?" Orla
"For Belfast, no I don't think so love" Gerry
"I can't find my purse!" Ma Mary
"I can see your purse right there" Gerry
"No that's my sterling purse! I'm talking about my punt purse! I can't find my punt purse Gerry, we are puntless!" Ma Mary
"Relax love, we've a good two or three hours before the rioting starts" Granda Joe
"This doesn't do my baps any justice" Michelle
"Winking! At your age?! Christ, I feel sick" Aunt Sarah
Read more:
Everything you need to know about the wonderful Nicola Coughlan
Everything you need to know about actress Jamie-Lee O'Donnell
Derry Girls: Everything you need to know about the Northern Irish comedy