Another photo from the official launch of the Liverpool Irish mural at The Picket music venue in Liverpool city centre. Taken on Friday 31st October showing Liverpool's Lord Mayor, Cllr Steve Rotheram with his wife Sandra and the artists.

The photo was taken by top Liverpool photographer Simon Rogers and shows three of the four Belfast artists involved, Danny Devenny, Marty Lyons and Mark Ervine along with Liverpool artist Freddy Rylands. The fourth Belfast artist Mickey Doherty who isn’t in the photo was apparently at the time being dragged round Liverpool’s new shopping centre by his missus.

The photo was taken ahead of a very successful launch which started with live Irish traditional music from Belfast’s Liam Smith. Picket boss Phil Hayes spoke of how proud he was to have such amazing artwork on the side of the building and spoke of the thousands of people who had been to view the mural since its completion in September. TLMP’s Peter Morrison gave a short talk on the idea behind the project and the contribution of all the people who helped to promote TLMP and in the design and funding of this latest mural. Peter paid special tribute to the many Liverpool volunteers who worked with the artists during the production of the mural.

There was also a great talk about the people in the painting from Michael Kelly author of ‘Liverpool’s Irish connection' and another excellent presentation on the history of Northern Ireland’s murals from Ulster University’s Professor Bill Rolston, who described the Picket painting as a mega-mural, and pointed out that it is bigger than any single mural in Northern Ireland. There was also a very enjoyable Q & A session with the artists, including Mickey and introduced by Liverpool University’s Professor Jonathan Harris, answering some great questions from the packed audience about their work back in Belfast and also about this historic cross community collaboration in the Capital of Culture.

As an OAP, Irish immigrant, I decided to help paint the Liverpool Irish Mural in early September 2008. It was not through boredom or want of something to do, I just thought it was a worthwhile venture for the Capital of Culture Year. Suitably scuffily dressed and armed with my trusty paintbrush, I arrived at the Picket Club to spend a week painting a blank wall. Well, besides the ‘craic’ and humorous daily banter, the company gradually blended together to make a great team. Ordinary looking Irishmen with extraordinary talent. Men who could copy coloured pictures at the speed of light. They explained, that their speed evolved as a necessity to complete their work before being discovered.

Regular transfusions of tea and copius amounts of sandwiches were the fuel of this motley crew. Together with the passing compliments of Scousers of all creeds and colours, some of whom stopped, just to add a dash of paint as a tangible symbol of support. As the days rolled on I began to realise that we were not just painting walls, but ‘building bridges’. No thought was given to the race, religion or political opinions of these gallant folk. I thoroughly enjoyed the week and made a few friends and contacts who have already been in touch, especially the Belfast artists who were the actual creators of this worthy mural. I hope it will survive for many years to come,
All the best Joe Kelsall.

Liverpool's Lord Mayor officially launches new mural

Hundreds of people joined Liverpool's Lord Mayor to celebrate the launch of the Liverpool Irish mural at The Picket, Jordan Street, on Friday 31st October.

Elvis Costello is honoured to be part of Picket mural

News of the Liverpool Irish mural at The New Picket Music venue in Liverpool and in particular the inclusion of Elvis Costello has reached the man himself. Mr Costello whose real name is Declan McManus sent a great message of support this week to The Liverpool Mural Project from Vancouver, Canada where he lives with his wife Diana Krall and their two children.

I received a photo from a good mate of mine in Liverpool and I heard all about the mural and the work of the Belfast and Liverpool artists, I think it looks amazing and I'm very honoured to find myself included in the painting. I'll be down The Picket to have a proper look next time I'm in the city. Well done to everyone involved. All the best, Declan.

The making of The John Lennon Mural on YouTube

Young filmmaker Tom Borso finally got round to editing his short film of the making of TLMP's John Lennon mural, and thanks to Tom you can watch a great speeded up version on YouTube. Simply click on the link below:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=D3kAXzBkSAo

Hello TLMP,
As a local mural artist I was delighted to join in on the Liverpool/Irish Picket mural. I had been introduced to the Irish artists through the culture company back in May but it was exciting to be starting work on a practical project that had taken a lot of hard work behind the scenes to come to fruition.
The lads were extremely helpful, unpretentious and approachable (not all artists are!) and it was great to see the way they worked together. My experience in the past has mostly been with indoor murals on a smaller scale so this was a great opportunity for me to work with a team of experts and learn from their skills and techniques.
The atmosphere over the week was really friendly, with lots of people coming and going and a great banter between everyone. Phil Hayes was a total star providing the venue, music and entertainment! Refreshments flowed as did the paint and the laughter. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and look forward to working with the Liverpool Mural Project again soon. Mel Sullivan x

TLMP Nominated for Art08 awards

The Liverpool Mural Project has been nominated for the Art08 awards run by the Arts Council North West. Art08 is an annual ceremony now in its fifth year that celebrates creativity and innovation in the arts across the North West. The event will take place at Liverpool’s Novas Centre on Thursday 13 November 2008, just a few minutes walk from The Picket.

There are five categories and TLMP’s ‘John lennon’ mural in Litherland and the ‘Liverpool Irish’ mural on The Picket have been nominated for Inside, Outside and Online - celebrating where great art has found its way into people’s lives in new and exciting ways.

The winner will be awarded The Arts Council Outstanding Achievement Award and receive a cheque for £10,000 which TLMP will use to create another amazing mural in Liverpool. The deadline for nominations is 5pm, November 3rd 2008. To vote for The Liverpool Mural project simply download the nomination form from the website at www.artscouncil.org.uk/art08 and return to the address provided.

If you would like more information or a paper copy of the nomination form, please call Claire Symonds on 0161 827 9268.

The Picket Mural - Artwork of the Week

Leading Liverpool blog for art and culture this week awarded TLMP's Liverpool Irish mural as artwork of the week. Editor Ian Jackson who is proprietor of artinliverpool.com and describes himself as a computer programmer, artist, photographer, urban warrior and keen supporter of The Liverpool Mural project visited the Picket on the last day of painting and was full of praise for the work.

"Its quite a skill, painting such large images on a brick wall, far different from oil on canvas and some of it was done by keen but not necessarily very skilled volunteers but its great that lots of local people were involved."

I once referred on this website to the mural that now proudly adorns the wall of the PICKET in Liverpool city centre as "the difficult second album". In many aspects, I now believe my initial brief description was right - and wrong.

I believe I was right in terms of the scale of the target wall, the logistic difficulties in co-ordinating such a huge work of art, battling with the unpredictable weather conditions, and of course the pressures of delivering a spectacular piece of art that would not only rival the previous Beatles mural, but exceed it in terms of complexity, diversity of themes and quality...

Well actually forget the last point, as the skills of the gifted artists have never been in doubt!! But to use a musical analogy (without at all detracting from the brilliance of the LMP's first work); if the first mural can be likened to a 3-minute rock and roll classic, the second would be more like a sweeping 2 hour opera epic...

Whereas the first mural was a mainly black and white cult classic, this second one was to be more of a techni-colour Panavision Hollywood blockbuster.. Where I can be proved "wrong" is simple: despite all the challenges faced in such a short timescale (1 week), there was from day 1 an admirable sense of unity and determination. This, coupled with an fantastic "can-do" attitude, made the production of the mural a truly memorable and pleasurable experience.

Massive credit must go to all involved - obviously starting with TLMP itself and the "Belfast Boys", who brought their unparallelled vision and craft on board with their customary flair and quiet brilliance which cannot be highlighted enough. All praise also to "Big Phil" and his staff at the PICKET, who were totally accommodating and great fun, and sought to get involved in all aspects of the project. Much laughter and positivity ran through the group, even during the two torrential downpours which at one point threatened to destroy all the hard work. I lost count of the amount of times "not a problem" crept into conversations during that hectic 7 days - 3 words that sweetly summed up for me the collective mood of everyone we had helping out, including vitally, local artists who gave their own time up to be a part of something special. At last count, I think I counted 18 separate elements that make up the final mural, each of which can be considered true works of art in their own right.

What an achievement - something everyone can be truly proud of. Personally, it was a thrill to have a hand in something that will be discussed, studied, photographed and cherished for many years to come, not only by the people of Liverpool but by people from around the world - How many times in your life can you lay claim to something of that scale?

Looking forward to the next one, All the best, Fred

Hello the organisers, Just a few lines to say what an inspiring time it has been as a volunteer painter on the Liverpool Irish mural at the Picket. It has been really impressive to watch the Belfast artists organise everyone and weave their individual skills into a team project and include volunteers with such an open welcome.

A truly awesome team of artists and a great painting we can wear with pride. The organisation of the whole project has been great from the constant cups of tea and coffee, the sandwiches, the assembling of the scaffolding, readiness of paints and brushes and the way the artists could accommodate all the volunteers with "wee jobs". A great creative, community event.

The Culture Company can again be proud to sponsor such a first class event. Thanks for letting me be involved.

Flora Small

The Picket mural featured on BBC Northwest News

BBC Northwest covered the amazing progress of the Picket mural today and ran the story on the lunchtime and evening news, as well as 2 different video versions including interviews on the BBC website. Simply click on the links below to watch.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7612819.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7613500.stm

Roger Phillips checks out the Picket mural progress

BBC Radio Merseyside's top presenter Roger Phillips who has been a long time supporter of TLMP visited the Picket on Wednesday to check out the progress of Liverpool's latest mural. Roger who presents the very popular lunchtime phone-in show turned up after his shift at the radio station and explained that he'd been chatting earlier with a very enthusiatic caller to his show who'd visited the previous day.

"I've been a supporter of the Liverpool Mural Project for a long time and I think the John Lennon mural in Litherland is marvellous, it's great to come down and meet the Belfast artists and all the people behind the project and it's great to see so many people helping out and getting involved. This is the most exciting project of Capital of Culture year and I hope it spreads as far and as wide as the Superlambananas did".

FSB help pay for the paint on The New Picket mural

TLMP is delighted to recieve financial support for our Liverpool/Irish mural from The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The donation will help towards the cost of the paint for this large project.
The FSB is the UK’s biggest business support organisation,
established in 1974 to promote and protect the interests of the self-employed. Non-party political and non-profit making, the FSB provides support and advice to over 215,000 members across the country who run their own businesses. The FSB is supporting the project as part of its “2008 Culture of Business” programme of sponsorship and activity in Culture year. Merseyside FSB National Councillor Alexis Lay who visited the wall on the side of The Picket today to see the start of the work said,

“The FSB is delighted to be able to support the Liverpool Mural Project. The mural will be a lasting reminder of Culture year and this is another great step forward in the ongoing regeneration of this important part of Liverpool’s business landscape. It is great that the project team have used small suppliers for their materials, helping small businesses to benefit from Culture year, and the location is excellent, as the Independent District is creating a positive and lasting legacy for 2008, demonstrating the vital role that the independent cultural sector is playing in the successful regeneration of the city centre”

To find out more about the FSB simply click on the link below

www.fsb.org.uk/mwcw

Work starts on the mural at The Picket, Jordan Street

Amidst a deluge of rain, the Liverpool Mural Project begins work on a major new mural at noted Liverpool music venue The Picket. Commissioned by the Liverpool Culture Company, and part of the city's official artistic programme as European Capital of Culture, the mural will celebrate the historic links between Liverpool and Ireland.

Design and painting is being completed by noted Belfast muralists Danny Devenny, Mark Ervine and Micky Doherty. Crossing the sectarian boundaries of their hometown, the artists have worked on a number of murals that speak of reconciliation and a new dawn for artists in Belfast. Working as part of the Liverpool Mural Project, the artists are now able to take their message of a hopeful and bright future to Liverpool and beyond.

The Picket music venue also has a tale to tell. Formed in 1983, and playing host to a new generation of local musicians, The Picket has been the engine room of Liverpudlian pop and rock for 25 years. Now located in the newly inaugurated 'independent quarter' of Liverpool, The Picket continues to host gigs by new Liverpool bands, as well as more established acts. Throughout its illustrious past, the venue has been managed by music fan Phil Hayes. Speaking to the Liverpool Mural Project, Phil stated,

"I'm so excited about this development, particularly as The Picket has often explored Liverpool's Irish heritage. For example, in 2003, we hosted the Liverpool Irish Festival, in 2007, Elvis Costello performed, and on 31 October 2008, we've got Damien Dempsey, probably the leading singer-songwriter in Ireland. The work of the Belfast muralists is certainly inspiring, and we'll be proud to have one of their murals on the main exterior wall of our venue".

Liverpool author and historian looks forward to mural

The author of the very popular book Liverpool's Irish Connection Michael Kelly sent a great message of support for the Liverpool Irish mural which is planned for next week.
Michael Kelly is a renowned local historian whose previous works include a major biography of Kitty Wilkinson, which is scheduled to reprint in the New Year. Michael Kelly has also written about other Liverpool Historical figures and events and gives talks on Liverpool History and contributes to many publications.

"It’s great that such a mural is being created in the city and your hard work is coming to fruition. I can't wait to see the work in progress. If your great project helps to build bridges in Ireland then its a great plus for Liverpool, All the people on the island of Ireland are wonderful people and they deserve their place in the sun."

"Michael Kelly's writing is driven by love of his native Liverpool, which reaches back to his ancestral Ireland. In this collection of short biographies, Michael becomes the friend of his subjects, rather than a mere researcher. He writes of them because he is one of them, an Irish Liverpudlian in the grand old tradition."
(David Charters, Liverpool Daily Post)

The Picket wall is ready for the Liverpool Irish mural

The wall on the side of The Picket, Jordan Street, Liverpool was painted this weekend in preparation for TLMP's second mural of 2008.
A team of volunteers worked on Saturday and Sunday managing to avoid the rain to give the 66ft x 13ft wall 2 coats of brilliant white paint and create a blank canvas ahead of the arrival of the cross community Belfast artists who will lead the project.

Local artist Freddy Rylands was on hand to make sure everything was done right and brought along his own tin of EFC royal blue paint to finish the job by adding our website name.

"I'm made up to be involved with another mural project and made up it's on The Picket which is easily the best music venue in the city. I had a great time working on the John Lennon mural with The Belfast artists in Litherland earlier this year and I'm really looking forward to this one. The Picket is a much bigger wall and the Liverpool and Ireland design is much more of a challenge than the first one, for me its a bit like when a band makes the difficult second album".

The real painting is due to start on Monday September 8th and TLMP is busy replying to all the people who answered the call to get involved.

TLMP's second mural planned for early September

England's most influential and popular radical figure Tony Benn meets TLMP's Belfast artists

Whilst painting their first Liverpool mural, Danny Devenny, Mark Ervine and Micky Doherty took time out to meet the elder statesman of radical politics, former Labour MP and Cabinet Minister Tony Benn. The idea for introducing Benn to the Belfast muralists came from Stuart Borthwick, trustee of Liverpool's 'Writing on the Wall' festival. Commenting on the meeting, Stuart said,

"Tony was working at our festival alongside folk musician Roy Bailey, performing a history of popular protest also entitled "Writing on the Wall". When I realised that Danny, Mark and Micky were working on the mural in North Liverpool at the same time, I couldn't resist the temptation to introduce the two parties. Tony was delighted to hear of the non-sectarian cross-community nature of the Liverpool Mural Project, and spoke of how murals also represented a history of dissent. Equally, the Belfast artists seemed very pleased that within 24 hours of arriving in Liverpool, they'd met England's most influential and popular radical figure!

As an organisation, Writing on the Wall have always supported the Liverpool Mural Project, and we hope that the two organisations can work together in the future."

TLMP's John Lennon/ Beatles Mural picked as Daily Posts Postcard

The Daily Post Has Pictured Our first Mural as one of its postcards of the city. The eye catching photo highlights the mural from a different angle to the others previously seen in many of the national and international papers. The Mural which is rapidly becoming a landmark in the city is further vindication of the excellent work that the artists from Belfast and Liverpool have produced.

TLMP's Croxteth Avenue mural on YouTube

Thanks to The Crosby Herald for uploading footage of our first mural on to YouTube, simply click on the link below to watch a short clip of Merseyside's latest tourist attraction.

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=a8ynFgo7YKQ

The Irish Post - Exclusive interview with TLMP artists

The Irish Post - 'The essential read for the Irish in Britain', published a great article on TLMP

this week. The Irish Post’s top Journalist Robert Mulhearn contacted the TLMP team during the week the first mural was being painted and interviewed the artists involved as they were busy working their magic on the wall in Litherland. To read Robert’s excellent article simply click on the link below.

http://www.irishpost.co.uk/news/story/?trs=qlojsnoj&cat=news

When contacted by The Irish Post on Friday singer/songwriter Damien Dempsey - a keen supporter of the Liverpool Mural Project - said he was absolutley chuffed that the first mural had been completed.

Front cover of The Times - The Bootle Times that is

While its great that coverage of TLMP’s first mural made it into ‘The Times’ national newspaper last week, its just as good to get a great feature in the ‘Bootle Times’. The local community newspaper which reports on news in the Bootle/Litherland area and who covered the story of ‘Merseyside’s coolest house’ on their front page.

Liverpool Mural Project - its the sign of The Times

The TLMP has once again been in the news this week with coverage

of last week’s first TLMP mural appearing in the Times Newspaper. It just goes to highlight that when a good story hits the media, they sit up and take notice. The excellent work of Mick Doherty, Danny Devenny and Mark Ervine along with Liverpool’s own Fred Rylands and many other helpers has been the talk and buzz of the city since the first mural was unveiled to the general public.

To read the article in full click on the link for the Times below:-

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/entertainment_news/article4023193.ece

Worldwide media coverage of TLMP's first mural

News of our first mural was widely reported in many newspapers over the weekend, local, national and international, and also on hundreds of websites worldwide, even The Liverpool Echo bothered to report on what one caller to BBC Radio Merseyside’s lunchtime phone in described as ‘the cultural highlight so far of 2008'

The Liverpool Daily Post’s Richard Down has written an excellent article on the TLMP’s first mural in the city for the 2008 culture year.

“ ... the vision of bringing the original artists from Belfast to transfer skills and expertise, whilst exploring how the original murals grew out of a particular social context, but evolved into demonstrating how art can play a powerful role in community identity and cohesion.”

Phil Redmond, Liverpool Culture Company.

To read the article in full click on the following link:-

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2008/05/24/former-enemies-unite-to-create-beatles-mural-64375-20968578/

TLMP's busy week draws to a fantastic close

After a long, very busy week The Liverpool Mural Project's first mural on Merseyside is complete and now sets the benchmark for future mural projects around the city. The amazing talents of the Belfast artists working with Liverpool artists has started to generate a buzz of excitement not only in the city but across the world. With hits to the website in nearly every state in America as well as Australia, New Zealand, Japan and most of Europe, word of the first TLMP John Lennon/Beatles mural is certainly getting around.

A busy stream of pedestrians have stopped to ask questions about the mural during the week long project, and to share thier memories with the artists of when The Beatles played at Litherland Town Hall and at The Lathom Club in Seaforth. The number of well wishers and comments of appreciation from the locals have been steady and constant throughout the week, and with lots of people promising to protect the wall, and lots of local kids got to add thier names at the bottom of the mural.

The mural which is situated on one of Merseyside's busiest roundabouts has also generated a vast amount of vehicles driving past and beeping their horns in appreciation of not only the standard of art, but also of the images recreated by the TLMP artists.

One passer by commented that people will no longer say, 'I live by the roundabout by Seaforth and Litherland train station', as they will now be able to say, 'I live by the John Lennon Mural' This is vindication of the effort the whole TLMP team has put into the project. This also exemplifies the world renowned talent that these Belfast artists have in abundance and can be seen in the amazing piece of public art now adorning a wall on Merseyside in it's cultural year.

The Belfast artists are now safely back home and the whole TLMP team is taking a well earned rest, until the next one. Thanks for all the messages of support during the week and thanks to everyone who encouraged us to carry on with the project over the last two years. It seems it was 'edgy enough' after all!

Listen to the 'Tony Snell Breakfast Show' on BBC Radio Merseyside between 7am-8am, Wednesday 28th May, for a special feature on 'the coolest house on Merseyside.'

If your outside the Liverpool area or if you miss the radio show you can 'listen again' on the BBC Radio Merseyside website. And if you want to read some of the press reports about the mural just type in 'Liverpool Mural Project' into google and its all there.

We'll get more photos from the whole week on the site very soon,

Lots of love, peace and paint, TLMP.

TLMP's first mural is well under way

In glorious sunshine The Liverpool Mural Project went to work this week on the first mural. Watched by thousands of passers by and motorists the Belfast and Liverpool artists started work on the gable wall at the end of Croxteth Avenue, Litherland, (close to Seaforth & Litherland train station, and one of the busiest roundabouts on Merseyside) and only stopping to give interviews to the various media organisations that have turned up to cover this historic project, and also to drink the many cups of tea and coffee supplied by the tenant of the property, who also treated the Belfast boys to a big pan of ‘scouse’

The work is on schedule to finish lunchtime, Friday 23rd May,

The reaction from everyone has been great, and you can see the smile on people’s faces when they first see it, and there's been lots of people stopping to watch and ask questions about the whole project and how the muralists go about such a big job, and when a bus goes past every head turns to look at the wall, You can also see the same cars going round the roundabout a couple of times just to have another look as they drive by, so its going down very well with everyone, nearly as well as the pan of ‘scouse’ went down with the Belfast artists.

So if your in Seaforth or Litherland, come along and watch the TLMP artists finish creating the 'coolest house on Merseyside', or if you just want to drive by and have a look, don't worry you will easily spot the house.

At last, details of TLMP's first mural finally announced

The Liverpool Mural Project can finally announce the date and location of the first mural at Croxteth Avenue, Litherland, very close to Seaforth and Litherland train station.

The mural is being supported by The Riverside Group
who have been working very closley with TLMP to get the best wall possible and plan this exciting and historic project.

The artists are set to start work on the mural on Monday 19 May, with completion scheduled for Friday 23rd

This is the first real collaboration between the leading mural artists from both communities of Belfast and Liverpool artists. Our plan was always to produce amazing and inspiring public art that can be enjoyed by everyone – not just in the city centre.

The mural will be lead by Belfast artists Danny Devenny and Mark Ervine working with Liverpool artists on the gable end of a Riverside property.

Hugh Owen, director of policy and communication at The Riverside Group is keen to mark its 80th birthday celebrations with a non-political iconic image for public display. Hugh said:

"The ethos behind the project is to encourage communities to work together – which is directly in line with The Riverside Group’s mission to regenerate our communities on Merseyside and beyond. We have consulted with our tenants and residents in the Litherland area – part of our Waterfront Division – and everyone is really excited about the project.”

Established in 1928 as Liverpool Improved Houses, Riverside started out with 15 houses with rents of just 15 shillings (30p) per week. The organisation expanded rapidly in the 1970s in the wake of 1974 Housing Act, and in 1996, following growth outside of the original Merseyside heartland, the association was renamed Riverside Housing Association. The Riverside Group was formed in 2001 and is recognised today as one of the largest and most dynamic housing and regeneration organisations in Britain, managing and owning more than 50,000 homes from Carlisle to Kent.

Give paint a chance - Exclusive trailer

Following the successful premiere screening at The Belfast Film Festival, we thought we'd let you see what all the fuss was about, so here’s your chance to watch a trailer of our short film – Give paint a chance

Hello LMP, my name is Cameron Taylor, I’m originally from Huyton, Liverpool and now living in Co Meath, Ireland. I recently visited Belfast for the film festival, on seeing the incredible work by the artists and meeting those involved with LMP, its quite clear that the energy that all involved bring to this idea would be best served if allowed to showcase in Liverpool. its a truly inspiring concept which unites and embraces, surely these are the attributes one looks for in "culture" I look forward to viewing the Liverpool murals this summer, good luck guys, Cameron.