Northern Ireland

Feargal Sharkey reacts to new mural of The Undertones in Derry

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A new mural has been unveiled of The Undertones overlooking the historic Derry Walls.

Garrett Hargan

A new Undertones mural which has been completed beside Derry’s walls on Magazine Street. Picture Martin McKeown

A new mural has been unveiled of The Undertones overlooking the historic Derry Walls.

Former lead singer of the band, Feargal Sharkey, who is now known as much for his environmental campaigning described it as an “absolute honour”.

The artwork, created by Karl Porter of UV Arts, involved weeks of work but had been mooted as an idea for a number of years.

It is timely with this year marking the 45th anniversary of they band’s legendary single, Teenage Kicks.

Karl and other artists have been responsible for transforming Derry’s streetscape over recent years.

Alongside old Troubles-related murals, images celebrating the city’s heritage and cultural icons now take pride of place.

Like the band, this particular piece is punk in style — a departure from UV Arts’ other work with three layers of colour and Karl drawing inspiration from world-renowned political street artist, Banksy.

Commenting online, former frontman Mr Sharkey said: “WOW! How fantastic is that, what an absolute honour.

“My applause and appreciation to everyone involved, never thought for one second I would ever see myself staring down from Derry walls. Totally brilliant bit of work.”

The image itself is one that graces the cover of The Undertones’ self-titled debut album.

It shows the young men atop a wall in Bull Park which is close to the areas where they all grew up.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph for a recent interview, guitarist Mickey Bradley shared a story about one homecoming gig at the park.

Having just appeared on Top of the Pops, they returned to perform a gig in the back of a lorry at Bull Park where young boys “pelted us with eggs” and the show had to be abandoned.

McCartney and Casey solicitors provided the gable wall canvas and supported Karl for The Undertones piece, along with other local businesses.

Source: Feargal Sharkey reacts to new mural of The Undertones in Derry

Derry Girls is comedy gold, but its last episode was no grand finale

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Derry Girls final episode

Derry Girls finale review: Alas, the last episode overdoes it with a one hour special

By Ed Power

Derry Girls is such a beloved series Channel 4 has given it not one finale but two. Technically, Lisa McGee’s Northern Ireland comedy took its bows on Tuesday night – and on a bleak note with the sudden death of the father of Nicola Coughlan’s Clare.

But scarcely have audiences had a chance to dab away tears than it’s back for an even grander grand farewell in the form of a one-off, feature-length special (Channel 4, 9pm).

The idea is to apply a big shiny, full stop to a show that has become an unlikely juggernaut – who’d have imagined international viewers would go gaga for an ensemble chortlefest set in the final years of the Troubles?

But while Derry Girls makes an appropriate fuss of its leave-taking this is accompanied by bucketfuls of saccharine – plus a truly bizarre cameo (see below). And so, when people fondly reminisce about Derry Girls years from now, it is probable they won’t be thinking back to tonight’s sappy sign-off.

It’s 1998 and Ireland is about to vote on the Good Friday Agreement (yes, the one Brexit is doing its best to unravel). Yet for Erin (Saoirse-Monica Jackson) and friends the big occasion on the horizon is an upcoming birthday party.

Two parties in fact: to save money, Erin and cousin Orla (Louisa Harland) are throwing a joint 18th-birthday shindig. Sadly, they have clashing ideas as to what makes a killer bash. Erin wants to celebrate great female authors. Orla is keen on a monkey-themed soiree.

Uncertainty likewise stretches ahead of Sister Michael (Siobhán McSweeney), who is informed she is to be moved on from Our Lady Immaculate College. Her work is done, new challenges await, she is told.

Closer to home, chaos engulfs Erin’s parents (Tara Lynne-O’Neill and Tommy Tiernan) with the return of Cousin Eamon (Ardal O’Hanlon), a Father Dougal type whose speciality is spreading good-natured havoc.

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Families call for candle-lit tribute to Bloody Sunday dead

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Derry’s Bloody Sunday families have called for candles to be lit to mark next Saturday’s 49th anniversary of the 1972 killings.

A series of online events have been organised to mark the anniversary, including a virtual commemorative march which will take place Sunday, January 31.

Thirteen anti-internment protesters were shot dead by British paratroopers in Derry’s Bogside on January 30 1972, with a fourteenth victim, John Johnston dying from his wounds later.

An inquiry headed by Lord Mark Saville exonerated all those killed and wounded and condemned the actions of the British soldiers.

One former paratrooper – known as Soldier F – is expected to be charged with the Bloody Sunday murders of victims, Jim Wray and William McKinney. He is also expected to be charged with the attempted murder of wounding victims, Patrick O’Donnell (deceased), Joe Mahon, Joseph Friel and Michael Quinn.

The families of the dead and wounded have called on people to place a lit candle in their windows at 4.10pm next Saturday, the anniversary of the moment the Parachute Regiment entered the Bogside and started shooting.

Two separate commemorative programmes have been organised, one by the majority of families who opted not to continue the annual Bloody Sunday march and one by smaller group which has continued the march since 2011.

The Bloody Sunday Trust programme, which is supported by the majority of families, starts on Monday and culminates with the annual Bloody Sunday Mass (St Mary’s church, Creggan 7.30pm) and a minute’s silence at 4.10pm on Saturday.

The parallel programme will also feature a series of online discussions throughout the week, culminating in an online march on Sunday, January 31.

Source: Families call for candle-lit tribute to Bloody Sunday dead

Brilliant podcast sees real Derry Girls reviewing show while reflecting on own memories

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Talking Derry Girls, a popular podcast in which three women review episodes of the hit show while reflecting on their own memories growing up in Derry in the same era, quickly garnered an army of fans– and now it’s back for season 2.

Jeanie, Marie-Louise and Pauline reviewed every episode of the first season of Channel 4’s hit sitcom, and now the trio are back with their review of the first episode of season 2– aka the fan-favourite ‘Blackboard scene’ episode.

Season 3 of Derry Girls is still a long way off, with production plans ruined thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, but with an official Derry Girls book coming out, and creator Lisa McGee dropping hints about a film, there’s plenty to keep fans of the show going.

In the meantime, you can check out the Talking Derry Girls podcast on Spotify, Apple and Acast.

Source: Brilliant podcast sees real Derry Girls reviewing show while reflecting on own memories | The Irish Post