Other News In Brief

Derry Girls Mural Gets Halloween Makeover

The much-loved Derry Girls mural in L'Derry has been transformed into the Scary Girls for the city's Halloween celebrations.

Street art organisation UV Arts, who created the tribute to the Channel 4 show on the wall of a local pub, teamed up with Edinburgh-based arts collective Projector Club to devise an exciting projection mapped installation where pieces of video and animated content are overlaid onto the wall for three nights during Derry Halloween.

The installation outside Badgers Bar on Orchard Street will be on display until Wednesday 30 October as part of Awakening the Walls, a spectacular free trail of illuminated animations, performances and more along the 400-year-old Derry Walls.

Further details are a closely guarded secret, but the tens of thousands of local and international revellers who descend on the city for the week-long Halloween festival can expect to see Erin, Michelle, Clare, Orla and 'the wee English fella' as never before.

Donal O'Doherty of UV Arts said: "We're taking the Derry Girls mural and dressing it up in true Halloween style. It will feature all things Halloween, and a few surprises, but we don't want to give too much away. It's mesmerising what can be done with video mapping."

ABC Council Throws Out Fossil Fuel Motion

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council has voted against a motion calling for the Local Government pension scheme to be divested from fossil fuel companies.

Both Newry, Mourne and Down and Fermanagh and Omagh Councils have called on the Northern Ireland Local Government Officers' Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC) to amend the scheme.

At the council meeting, the DUP argued there was no Climate Emergency, rejecting the motion. This was followed by UUP councillors also refusing to back the proposal.

Alliance representative in the ABC district, Cllr Eóin Tennyson put forward the scheme to Council and expressed disappointment at the response.

Speaking after the vote, Cllr Tennyson said: "The Climate Emergency is a real and ever-present danger which requires action at a national, regional and local level.

"Since 1998, just 100 fossil fuel companies have been the source of more than 70% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, and they continue to search for even more fossil fuel reserves. This is despite the fact that if we are to meet the terms of the Paris Climate Agreement and keep warming below 2°C, we must start radically reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.

"Divestment is an effective strategy in that it encourages companies to move their business models towards less harmful ventures. Moreover, it is a more sensible financial management strategy in the long-term given the inherent risks facing the fossil fuel industry."

Despite the response, Cllr Tennyson issued assurances that his party will continue to call for "meaningful action" to protect the environment.

L'Derry Route To Close For Improvements

A key road heading towards L'Derry city centre is set to close for resurfacing next month.

The Department for Infrastructure is carrying out £218,000 works on the Coshquin Road from Monday 04 November until Saturday 30 November.

This project will begin near the Aileagh Road junction and progress north westwards for a distance of 1.8 kilometres.

A full road closure will be in place from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday. A diversion shall be clearly signed via B507 Branch Road and A1002 Buncrana Road. Access for residents, landowners and for pupils and staff attending the local primary school will be accommodated.

The DfI has warned road users to expect some delays and advised them to allow additional time when travelling in the area.



(JG/CM)