New Undertones mural set to be unveiled in Derry

An Undertones mural is to be completed in Derry this week, commissioned by two local men who say 'it's time something was done' to honour the iconic group in the city.

Greg McCartney and Kevin Casey, of McCartney and Casey Solicitors and Notary Public, commissioned the mural which is being painted on the side of their premises where Castle Street meets Magazine Street.

Greg said he's glad the Derry icons will finally be honoured in a public space in Derry.

“I think they have been sorely overlooked in terms of recognition and so I thought it was time something's done,” he said.

“We're both very big fans of the Undertones. I certainly would have been a regular at their gigs in the late 70s.”

Mr McCartney said the project has been years in the making with a few setbacks and scheduling issues pushing the project back.

“Well, when we originally started talking about this in 2018, it was going to be the 40th anniversary of the release of the Teenage Kicks album. So we just stuck with that for the 45th anniversary.

“I wouldn't say there were obstacles. It's just from coming up with a concept and deciding on what you were going to do and then by the time we got around to doing it.

“And Covid kind of intervened so everything was put on hold and then it was just a matter of trying to fit this mural in amongst [UV Arts'] many commitments to other projects.”

Greg said UV Arts was commissioned for the project due to his 'very strong reputation for delivering quality workmanship'.

UV Arts worked on the Derry Girls mural and many other murals in the city.

Greg believes many of the murals in the city help tourists get to know Derry.

“I think the right murals, which tell the story of Derry and its political history. They all come together, and help tourists and visitors to the city get a feel for the city's history on a number of different levels.

“The murals of Derry tell a story of an event or of a period in time and this is just to mark the fact that its 45 years since the release of the Teenage Kicks album which catapulted them into the limelight.”

At the minute the Derry Girls mural is arguably the city’s most popular with tourists stopping by to get a selfie with the world-famous work every day.

Greg hopes the Undertones mural can have a similar impact on visitors.

“I'll be very surprised if it doesn't become as big a draw – if the Derry boys didn't become as big a draw as the Derry Girls,” he laughs.