Derry kids' 'Teenage Kicks' a hit with former Undertones front man

A music video featuring 700 local school children performing The Undertones hit single 'Teenage Kicks' has got the backing of the former frontman of the Derry band.

The video, recorded at Ebrington Square, has been produced to promote an Easter Civic Festival.

Derry’s famous city walls are to be the dramatic backdrop for Walled City Passion - a unique livestreamed performance festival for the whole city to enjoy and participate in this Easter.

The first of its kind, the flagship event will be staged as part of a three-day civic festival on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 14 – 16. Performances, at 12.30pm and 4.30pm daily, will be broadcast on a ‘big screen’ in Guildhall Square and streamed on social media channels.

The 4.30pm performance on Good Friday will be streamed live on the RTÉ and BBC Players, and RTÉ One will televise a one-hour special of Walled City Passion at 10.30pm on Easter Sunday night.

To find out more and to book free tickets, visit http://www.walledcitypassion.com.

Tickets to join promenade performances around the walls or for the less demanding amphitheatre-style seating in Guildhall Square can also be booked directly at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/walled-city-passion-tickets-272664425637.

Alternatively, you can turn up without a ticket and watch the action on the ‘big screen.'

The Square will be buzzing during the three days of the festival, with locals and visitors alike enjoying live music, free family entertainment and LegenDerry Food Market stalls from 11.30am to 6.30pm.

Walled City Passion is written by renowned Derry playwright, Jonathan Burgess, who reimagines the story of the Passion for a contemporary, more secular audience. It will be live directed by double-IFTA award winner, Paul McKay, who said “this ground- breaking, multimedia, live performance show has to be seen to be believed.”

He said RTÉ and BBC coverage of Walled City Passion would an amazing opportunity to showcase and promote the city to a national and international audience. The ambitious project was conceived by Archdeacon Robert Miller who is celebrating the 25th anniversary of his ordination and wanted “to give something back” to his home city.

WATCH: Schoolchildren perform famous Derry rock anthem

The pupils packed Ebrington Square for the outdoor performance.

He said: “Easter is a time of hope and celebration.

“This cross-community festival will be a major economic driver for the city and region and is a way of supporting our local arts sector who’ve struggled through two years of the pandemic.”

Feargal Sharkey, left, enjoyed huge success with 'Teenage Kicks' as lead singer of The Undertones.

Meanwhile, Feargal Sharkey, former lead singer with the punk rock group, The Undertones, has given his approval to the children's rendition of 'Teenage Kicks.'

In a post on Twitter, he said: “Yep, Derry has clearly still got it, what a fantastic job and what an extraordinary thing to have done. Utterly brilliant. And yes those are young people in Derry speaking Irish. Obair mhaith agus go raibh maith agat.”