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The mural in 2019. Alamy

What would Sr Michael say? Derry Girls mural partly covered by pub (but the council's on the case)

The council says the new structure at Badgers Bar does not have permission.

IT’S A PLOT twist that Derry City Council doesn’t find very funny, and neither do some locals.

The main cast of the iconic sitcom Derry Girls were immortalised with their very own mural on a gable end on the city’s Orchard Street in 2019 – but now the pub on which the striking street art is painted has erected an awning that partly covers Erin, Michelle and the rest of the Derry Girls gang.

Badgers Bar has outdoor seating alongside the mural wall.

Derry City and Strabane District Council said today that planning permission granted to the pub in 2022 for new awnings on its external walls “does not include the awning and structure on the elevation where the Derry Girls mural is located”.

The council’s planning enforcement team “has initiated an investigation into the matter”, it added.

Planning files from the 2022 permission contain drawings showing new awnings on other walls of the pub, but not the gable end.

Badgers Bar said today that it is not commenting at the moment.

UV Arts, the street art social enterprise that made the mural, has been approached for comment.

The mural depicting James (Dylan Llewellyn), Michelle (Jamie-Lee O’Donnell), Erin (Saoirse-Monica Jackson), Orla (Louisa Harland) and Clare (Nicola Coughlan) from writer Lisa McGee’s hit Channel 4 sitcom Derry Girls – which reached a global audience on Netflix – is described as a “must-see” by the Visit Derry tourist board.

It’s also popular with locals who have taken to social media to express disappointment at the new structure blocking the view.

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    Mute Shaun Gallagher
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    Sep 13th 2024, 1:54 PM

    Some people really don’t know how to use common sense.

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    Mute Susan
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    Sep 13th 2024, 3:13 PM

    We travelled to Derry for the 1st time this year purely because our kids begged us to go see this. Glad we got to see it before this happened!

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    Mute Sam0605 Neary
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    Sep 13th 2024, 2:21 PM

    I can’t remember Niall Horan in it on the left..

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    Mute Patrick MC Dermott
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    Sep 13th 2024, 3:44 PM

    @Sam0605 Neary: He’s the wee Limey.

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    Mute denis silver
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    Sep 13th 2024, 5:55 PM

    Maybe a bicycle shelter would look better after all they dont actually cover anything and blend seamlessly in with their surroundings

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    Mute Ronan Mc
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    Sep 13th 2024, 3:25 PM

    Dose!

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    Mute Dave c
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    Sep 13th 2024, 4:53 PM

    Am I the only one who thought Derry Girls was rubbish?

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    Mute Steve O'Farrell
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    Sep 13th 2024, 5:20 PM

    @Dave c: I’d say you’re a fairly small minority, yeah ;)

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    Mute Oh Mammy
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    Sep 13th 2024, 5:48 PM

    Visitations are way down because of the airport caps not the smoking pen

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    Mute mike olin
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    Sep 13th 2024, 9:35 PM

    hi and thanks for the great article .. as usual Valerie puts it right up there and clearly with respect . great work .Valerie ..

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