Visitors to Londonderry have expressed their disappointment after a pub awning was erected, partially blocking the city’s Derry Girls mural. Since its creation in 2019, tourists have flocked to Badgers Bar in Orchard Street to take photos with the mural of Erin, Michelle, Orla, Clare, and James from the hit Channel 4 comedy. However, planning permission for the awning was granted in 2022 and installed this week, despite not extending to the mural’s location. A spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council has confirmed they are “considering the matter.”
While some tourists in the city said it is unfortunate the mural can no longer be seen in full, others have taken a different stance. Wayne Corcoran from Newfoundland, Canada, who is visiting the island of Ireland with friends, 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,” acknowledging both perspectives in the debate.
However, Julie Sargisson from New Zealand, who travelled to see the mural as she is a big fan of the TV show, said the new structure does “cut the mural off a bit.” Isabelle Lang, who is from France and has visited Ireland 21 times, confessed to never seeing the show but was told it was a “must-do” for any tourist visiting Derry. She said, “Seeing the awning cover the lower half is a pity.”
Pam Koekbakker and Tobi Witton from Canada, visiting Derry for the second time, said they were disappointed to see the mural’s changes, which Pam believes split it in half. Koekbakker 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.” Despite thoughts on the awning, the mural remains a popular tourist attraction in the city. Derry Girls was first broadcast in 2018 and ran for three seasons before finishing in 2022, winning an International Emmy award for comedy
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