City centre rally to be held today in support of iconic Factory Girls sculpture

A rally will be held in Derry this afternoon in support of the erection of a sculpture celebrating the city’s long association with the shirt industry.

The erection of the long-awaited Factory Girls sculpture is step closer after the local council last week put the artwork forward for planning permission at its monthly meeting.

Artist Louise Walsh started work on the sculpture in 2006.

It had been originally planned the piece would be located at King Street in the Waterside.

However, due to planning problems, the location was then changed to Harbour Square next to the Guildhall on the cityside. Today’s rally will be staged at 2.00pm in Guildhall Square.

Campaigners said the iconic sculpture needed to be in place, “not lying ignored in an engineering yard.”

Leading campaigner, Maeve McLaughlin (pictured centre), said: “We are not letting this one be stalled again - 11 years is far too long to acknowledge the role played by generations of Derry women (and men).

“Please come along and show your support.”