Orla McCool

**Orla Josephine McCool** is a student at Our Lady Immaculate College and the cousin of Erin Quinn. She is one of the protagonists of Derry Girls.

## History

Orla lives in Derry, Northern Ireland, during the final years of the Troubles, with her mother Sarah. Orla and Sarah spend a majority of their time in the Quinn house. Erin and Orla are the same age and have grown up side-by-side. They are in the same class at Our Lady Immaculate College.

## Personality

Orla is a happy, curious, and carefree character. She takes many things literally, including sarcasm, and sometimes does not pick up social cues. She often remains quiet and absentminded within group situations. She occasionally breaks people's physical boundaries, holding onto people, and once stroking the head of a nun during detention. Orla can be unaware that what she is doing, strays from the norm and may be seen as mildly offensive. There are some hints that she is autistic.

Orla doesn't care about popularity or others' opinions of her. However, she does have strong affections for those she cares about. She has an eccentric fashion sense, a deep love of sweets and confectionery, and a former obsession with step aerobics. She also likes to melt stuff with a lighter.

## Relationships

### Romantic

Orla has also shown no interest in romantic or sexual relationships, unlike her cousin and friends. Orla may be aromantic/asexual.

### Family

Joe McCool - Orla has a strong bond with her grandfather, even taking him to the prom as her date, saying "he's the fella I like the most."

Sarah McCool - mother

Erin Quinn - cousin

Anna Quinn - cousin

Mary Quinn - aunt

Gerry Quinn - uncle

### Friendships

Clare Devlin - best friend

Michelle Mallon - best friend

James Maguire - Orla is particularly close to James, as they are both somewhat outsiders. He often helps Orla with social cues, and she defends him when he is made fun of. Orla often walks with her arms linked with James, who doesn’t seem to mind at all.

### Professional

Fionnula - the gang were tasked with cleaning Fionnula's kitchen, but failed miserably, setting fire to her curtain and trying to "clean" her windows with mayonnaise.

## Notes and Trivia

* There is a mural in Derry of the Derry Girls cast including Louisa as Orla.
* Louisa describes Orla as a very free individual.
* Louisa has given suggestions to creator Lisa about ideas for her character and the show; these include: Orla shaving her head, and Orla has actually been a ghost or a witch the whole time and that someone dies, which other members of the cast have described as depressing and scary.
* Orla, like all the other Derry Girls, has a Spotify playlist.

## Memorable Quotes

"She really suits being dead."

There’s just nothing that doesn’t suit me!

Shouldn't swear, Michelle. Our lady in heaven; she cries tears, then make rain. Isn’t that right, Sister Michael?

(Holding the dead nun’s head) Funny how she sleeps with her eyes wide open, isn't it?

Oh my god; it's the polar bear!

Protestants hate ABBA.

What's a pair of knickers between cousins?

I really like the fact that she glows in the dark.

We could sell our organs.

## Don't cry, Erin. He's in a better place now. Unless he's not, you know, because he's gone to hell
That's why they are so cracker.

It's worse than slave labor, we're not even getting paid.

—————-

(I’m more man than Orla is!) - James

“I do NOT accept that.”