Celebrating Women across the island of Ireland: Saoirse-Monica Jackson By Jamie Glass Image from Getty. This year for International Women's Day, we are shining the spotlight on some notable Women from across the island of Ireland. When you think of recent great comedy shows that have graced the small screen in recent years, you'd be hard-pressed to ignore the highly successful and critically acclaimed Derry Girls that aired its first episode on 4 January 2018. The comedy show is a coming-of-age story that follows 16-year-old Erin, played by Saoirse-Monica Jackson and her family and friends, Michelle, Clare, cousin Orla and 'wee English fella' James as they grow up in 1990's Derry during the final years of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.