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Factory girls feel 'airbrushed' out of artwork

Elaine McGee
BBC News NI
BBC Three large metal sculptures stand in a circular paved area in front of a sandstone building. The three sculpture are a bronze colour, one is a cylinder shape which tapers towards the top. The other two are more conical in shape. BBC
The artwork, which cost £187,000, is based on the shape of spools of thread that were used in the shirt factories

Some former shirt factory workers in Londonderry have said they feel "airbrushed" out of an artwork created in their honour as it does not depict actual women.

The £187,000 design is based on the shape of spools of thread as used in the shirt factories of Derry, which was a world leader in shirt production for much of the last century with the factory girls the driving force.

Derry City and Strabane District Council said it had fully engaged with the women who worked in the factories and described it is a "fitting tribute", but some of them disagree.

This is just the latest controversy over plans for a permanent tribute to the shirt factory girls, which have continued for 20 years.

Shows three women, all with fair hair, standing in front of a piece of public art consisting of large vertical
Former factory girls (L-R) Isobel Doherty, Clare Moore and Mary Doherty say the artwork behind them does not do them justice

The new artwork is part of a wider public realm scheme at Harbour Square, near the Guildhall, that was funded by the Department for the Communities (DfC).

'Lost Opportunity'

Clare is looking at the camera. The photo has been taken from the waist up. She has a printed t-shirt on that is mostly white with a yellow pattern, the word glamorous is at the top. She is wearing a red rain jacket and has short grey hair. She is also wearing black framed glasses.
Clare Moore worked in the factory

Clare Moore was 15-years-old when she started working in the City Factory.

She told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme she felt the artwork was not representative of the level of female involvement in the industry.

"The factory girls just didn't make quality shirts that went around the world, they kept Derry afloat for generations.

"This gesture fell way short of what we hoped for – we feel airbrushed out of it.

"There was no meaningful consultation."

Chris is looking at the camera. He id wearing a navy blue over shirt and a black t-shirt underneath. He has thin framed glasses and short grey hair.
Chris Wilson designed the sculpture in a two-year-long process

Factory girls 'integral' to the process

The artist Chris Wilson said he did "all he could" to ensure the factory girls' views were incorporated into his creative process, which took two years.

Mr Wilson said some of them told him they like the sculpture and were very "on board" with it.

"I think the artwork does acknowledge the skill of the factory workers," he said, adding that the sculpture was "gender neutral".

Female Visibility

Anya Pearson A head and shoulders shot of Anya. She is wearing a black and white striped jumper and has a Pride pin on her right lapel. She has shoulder length blonde straight hair and is wearing thick framed black glasses. Anya Pearson
Anya Pearson lobbies for more women to be represented in public art

Anya Pearson is the trustee and founder of Visible Women UK and co-ordinated the project which led to a statue of palaeontologist Mary Anning being unveiled in Lyme Regis in 2022.

"This was such a brilliant opportunity to give the women of Derry an actual statue that represented them," she told BBC News NI.

"Fifty percent of our population are women, but when you look at civic monuments, 95 per cent of them are to named men.

"It is a symbolic annihilation of women within our landscapes."

In a statement, a spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council said it had fully engaged throughout all stages of the process with local representatives from the factory girls.

A council spokesperson said a date for the formal launch had yet to be confirmed, but it was hoped it would be soon.

Why has it taken so long to erect the sculpture?

A different factory girls sculpture was shelved back in 2018 when councillors were told it would cost more than £330,000 to complete.

At that time Stormont's Department for Communities, which funded the project, said it no longer represented value for money.

Artist Louise Walsh had started work on the factory girls artwork in 2006.

The sculpture was beset by problems since being commissioned by the then Derry City Council.

It was to be located at King Street in the Waterside.

That was then changed to Harbour Square due to planning problems and the move required a redesign of the original piece that meant costs spiralled.

It cost £85,000 of public money before the unfinished work was shelved.

Plans for this new piece of public art were announced in 2020.