The true-life story of Jenny James and the Atlantis commune in Burtonport, County Donegal, has it all: primal scream therapy, free love, Garda raids, political controversy and a tragic death in Colombia. 

On today’s podcast, Ciara Doherty speaks to bestselling Irish author Carmel Harrington about her 14th novel, The Nowhere Girls. The story follows Vega, an investigative journalist determined to uncover the truth about her own past after discovering she was one of two children abandoned on a Dublin train platform in 1995. Her journey stretches from 1990s Dublin to the countercultural communes of Vermont in the 1960s, and on to an Irish commune in the wilds of Connemara. 

While researching the book, Carmel came across the story of the Screamers. Drawing on archive documentaries and first-hand accounts, she reflects on the blurred line between communal living and coercive control — and why children born into such environments often carry the deepest consequences. 

The Nowhere Girls is published by Headline. 

Step inside Carmel Harrington’s world — explore her novels, latest releases and the story behind the stories on her official website: 

👉 Visit Carmel Harrington’s website: http://carmelharrington.com/ 

There, you’ll find everything from book details to news and events, straight from the source.