A podcast about Ireland's female emigrants in the US has inspired a Hollywood film, sparking hope that it will shed new light on a previously overlooked era in Irish history.
The 'Bad Bridgets' podcast, hosted by Elaine Farrell and Leanne McCormick, delves into the lives of impoverished Irish women who found themselves at the wrong end of the law in 19th century New York. These women, from poor backgrounds, were often relegated to the margins of society, forced into prostitution or turned to a life of crime due to desperation.
Farrell and McCormick's research uncovered stories of individual women, such as Ellen Price, who was known for singing 'Rocky Road to Dublin' in court after being led away drunk. Other tales included Margaret Brown, also known as Old Mother Hubbard, who attempted to escape from prison by tying bedsheets together but ended up injured.
The podcast has proven a hit with fans, many of whom appreciate learning about the often-overlooked Irish emigrant experience, which includes women who were not simply domestic servants or wives. Instead, they found themselves at the bottom of society, forced into survival by any means necessary.
Now, Margot Robbie's production company has announced plans to adapt their book and podcast into a feature film, directed by Rich Peppiatt, who also helmed 'Kneecap'. The screenplay will be penned by Peppiatt, in collaboration with Robbie's LuckyChap.
While historians Farrell and McCormick are thrilled at the prospect of their work being brought to life on screen, they remain committed to their academic pursuits. As one joked, "That's our main concern, you know – what we'll wear for the red carpet."
The film, which will follow sisters leaving Ireland in search of a better life, has been met with excitement from fans who are eager to see this untold side of Irish history take center stage.
The 'Bad Bridgets' podcast, hosted by Elaine Farrell and Leanne McCormick, delves into the lives of impoverished Irish women who found themselves at the wrong end of the law in 19th century New York. These women, from poor backgrounds, were often relegated to the margins of society, forced into prostitution or turned to a life of crime due to desperation.
Farrell and McCormick's research uncovered stories of individual women, such as Ellen Price, who was known for singing 'Rocky Road to Dublin' in court after being led away drunk. Other tales included Margaret Brown, also known as Old Mother Hubbard, who attempted to escape from prison by tying bedsheets together but ended up injured.
The podcast has proven a hit with fans, many of whom appreciate learning about the often-overlooked Irish emigrant experience, which includes women who were not simply domestic servants or wives. Instead, they found themselves at the bottom of society, forced into survival by any means necessary.
Now, Margot Robbie's production company has announced plans to adapt their book and podcast into a feature film, directed by Rich Peppiatt, who also helmed 'Kneecap'. The screenplay will be penned by Peppiatt, in collaboration with Robbie's LuckyChap.
While historians Farrell and McCormick are thrilled at the prospect of their work being brought to life on screen, they remain committed to their academic pursuits. As one joked, "That's our main concern, you know – what we'll wear for the red carpet."
The film, which will follow sisters leaving Ireland in search of a better life, has been met with excitement from fans who are eager to see this untold side of Irish history take center stage.
I mean, can you think of anything more fascinating than a bunch of poor Irish women getting into trouble in 19th century New York? Like, who doesn't love a good tale of desperation and crime? 
I'm not saying it's going to be some sappy, feel-good film or anything, but it's nice to see these stories getting some attention. And hey, if Margot Robbie is attached to it, I guess that means it'll at least be well-made... probably 
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. I'm also intrigued by the idea of exploring the often-overlooked Irish emigrant experience, which includes women who were not just domestic servants or wives, but people who were forced into survival due to circumstance.
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. Like, we're always hearing about these epic stories of Irish emigrants who came to America and found success or built new lives, but it's like the women were just kind of... erased 
. And then this podcast comes along and shares these incredible stories of women who were struggling to survive, forced into prostitution or crime due to desperation. It's wild that their research is now getting adapted into a Hollywood film 
they're talkin about how these female emigrants were treated like trash in 19th century america, forced into prostitution & crime because of poverty 
but on the flip side, it's also showin how strong & resilient they were, with stories like Ellen Price singin 'rocky road to dublin' in court while gettin drunk 
and Margaret Brown tryin to escape from prison by makin a homemade rope... talk about resourcefulness! 
. It's crazy how often women's experiences get overlooked, especially in historical narratives. The idea of bringing this to life on screen is really exciting, especially with Margot Robbie attached 
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." – Eleanor Roosevelt 
It's about time we start talking about the amazing stories of Irish women who made it in the US back in the day 
. They're not just stereotypes of Irish domestic servants or wives, they're real-life heroes fighting to survive on their own terms 
. I love that this podcast has brought attention to their struggles and triumphs, and now a Hollywood film is gonna help spread the word 
i mean i know it's gonna be super hard for the directors and producers to get all the stories right but like can u even imagine how emotional it's gonna be watching these women's lives on screen?! 
anywayz can't wait to see the movie, fingers crossed it does justice to these women's stories! 
Rich Peppiatt seems like an interesting director to work with, and I love that he's attached to both directing and writing the screenplay.
! it's about time we get to hear more about the often-overlooked stories of Irish women in the US... like, I mean, who hasn't heard of a female emigrant surviving on the streets? 
I'm so stoked to hear about the Hollywood adaptation of 'Bad Bridgets' podcast! 