Shirt factory artist pays tribute to the sculpture's unsung heroes

This picture shows the sculpture created in honour of Derry’s shirt factory works where it has lain in storage for the past eleven years.

The four-tonne steel wheel, an oversized replica of a classic Singer sewing machine, is the centrepiece of the Dublin-based artist Louise Walsh’s monument to the women who worked in the city’s shirt industry.

The six-metre tall sculpture has lain in storage since 2006, the year Ms Walsh was awarded the £90,000 commission for the project by the then Department for Social Development (DSD).

The sculpture had been due to be located at the roundabout in King Street close to Ebrington Square, but was then switched to Harbour Square at the rear of the Guildhall due to planning problems.

Despite this, Ms Walsh was advised at the time to continue with the project, and had the wheel constructed at MIM Engineering in Maydown.

It has lain there ever since due to continuing setbacks and red tape, which in 2013 resulted in Ms Walsh walking away from the project due to her frustrations.

However, the project received a major step forward last week when councillors on Derry City and Strabane District Council rejected a recommendation from its own planning department to refuse planning permission for the project.

The application, which was lodged by the council, had sought planning approval not only to erect the sculpture, but also carry out public realm work at Harbour Square, Custom House Street, Guildhall Street and Whittaker Street.

In addition to the large wheel, the artwork would also include a decorative archway to resemble a needle panel, that will be five metres in height and just over metres wide.

The plans also included granite stonework being laid on the ground between the archway and the wheel, depicting the surface of a sewing machine, with new surface finishes and street furniture around the sculpture to provide seating for the public.

Planners had recommended that the proposal be refused on the grounds that the new artwork would have an adverse impact on a number of nearby listed buildings, including the Guildhall.

However, councillors unanimously agreed to reject the recommendation, with the sculpture now scheduled to come before next month’s meeting of the Planning Committee for approval.

The Derry News spoke to the Ms Walsh on Friday, who said she was ‘humbled’ by the support the project received at the meeting from councillors.

She also paid tribute to MIM Engineering, who she described as the ‘unsung heroes’ of the project.

“I was so delighted when I heard the news, and I found it very humbling that there was unanimous support for the plans across all parties, especially when you consider what’s happening at Stormont at the minute,” she said.

“I really want to say a big thank you to MIM Engineering, especially John Deery and John Boyd, who really are the unsung heroes of the whole thing.

“They fabricated the piece, and did an absolutely amazing job. They’ve also stored the wheel at their yard for 11 years, and not been paid a penny for doing that, and I’m so grateful to them for all their help.”

The Derry News understands that the storage costs to date stand at £6,000.

However, the department charged with funding the project, the Department for Communities (DfC) have said that no more money is available.

In a letter addressed to Ms Walsh, the department stated that: “In addition, the Department cannot provide funding for costs that have already been incurred, such as storage.”

The Derry News contacted the Department for Communities on Friday, and asked it to clarify whether it would pay the storage costs to date, and any further costs associated with storage.

A DfC spokesperson said: “To date, the Department has awarded £85,000 to the artist. This includes funding to cover storage costs.”

“The payment of any future storage costs will be subject to agreement between the Department and the artist and will need to be considered in the context of the Department’s wider budget position.”