Tourists say new awning ‘splits’ mural in half

Tourists arriving in Londonderry say they have been left feeling disappointed that a new pub awning now partially blocks the city’s Derry Girls mural.

Since its unveiling in 2019, visitors to the city have flocked to Badgers Bar in Orchard Street to take a selfie with Erin, Michelle, Orla, Clare, and “the wee English fella” James from the hit Channel 4 comedy.

Planning permission for the awning was granted in 2022 and installed this week but the local council has said the permission did not extend to this particular section.

Badger’s Bar said they will not be making any public comment on the matter.

Some tourists in the city told BBC News NI it is a shame the mural can no longer be seen in full.

A spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council confirmed that the planning permission granted does not include the awning and structure on the elevation where the Derry Girls mural is located.

“The council is currently considering the matter,” they added.

Julie Sargisson is visiting Derry from New Zealand and said the hit Channel 4 series is “huge” back home.

“Everybody I know has watched it and loves the series.”

Ms Sargisson said she thinks the new structure does “cut the mural off a bit,” but said she still thinks it is a very impressive piece of artwork.

Wayne Corcoran, who is from Newfoundland in Canada, is visiting the island of Ireland with friends and is tracing his Irish family roots.

“We’ve only been in Derry for a few hours, but we had to see the mural because we are big fans of the series,” he said.

“I guess the awning does impact people’s photos, but I also can see it from the side of the bar; they want people outside spending money and enjoying their drinks—I mean, I know it rains a lot here—so I can see it from both sides.”

Isabelle Lang is from France and has spent the last 10 days travelling through Europe on her trusty motorcycle.

She says this visit marks her 21st time in the Emerald Isle.

She confesses to never seeing the show herself, but said she was told this was a “must-do” for any tourist visiting the city.

“Seeing the awning cover the lower half is a pity,” she said.

Pam Koekbakker and Tobi Witton are from Canada and are in Derry for just five nights.

Pam said she visited Derry last year and is disappointed to see the changes to the gable wall.

She said the show helped put Derry on the map and thinks the mural deserves to be fully visible for people to enjoy.

“I saw the mural before without the awning and I think it does split it in half,” Pam said.

“I don’t think you can see their school uniforms as much, so if you didn’t know the show, you wouldn’t know who they are.

“It was definitely better the last time I saw it.”

Niamh Dalton is from Ramelton, County Donegal, and her friends, Annie O’Connor and Rebecca Mueller, have travelled over to visit her.

Ms Dalton said she would be a regular visitor to Derry and wanted to show her friends the sights and sounds of the city.

“I have seen that mural a million times, but I actually only just noticed the awning there, and I think it is a bit of a shame. Why was that put in?”

Niamh’s friend Annie O’Connor is visiting from Boston in the United States.

“I think it does hinder the mural a little bit, it does look a bit odd,” Annie said.

“Imagine you spent all that time painting and then that [the awning] gets put in and it just cuts it right off in the middle.”