A Shirt Factory with a difference has recently been launched in the Walled City. Located on Patrick Street, Derry, The Shirt Factory is a venue celebrating the city’s unique industrial heritage while specialising in premium cocktails in a vintage setting.
Patrick Durkan, owner of the Shirt Factory explained: “ The fact that Derry no longer has a shirt industry makes it all the more important for us to mark the role of the shirt factories and their workers in the city’s history. The cocktail lounge has particular resonance for me as it allows us showcase memorabilia from the factories, including artefacts from the Bayview Factory which was owned by my grandfather, Edward Tinney.
The Shirt Factory memorabilia includes a specially commissioned mural painted by local artists Jude McCandless and Liam Bradley, depicting the iconic image of factory girls in front of Tillie & Hendersons and a wall image of factory workers by Print Chameleon”.
Mr Durkan added: “Boasting vintage furniture in a parlour setting, The Shirt Factory brings something different to our hospitality sector. We offer seasonal cocktails, mocktails, a Prosecco menu, and an exciting range of gins and shorts”.
The manager of The Shirt Factory, Caolan McClafferty, is a London-trained mixologist with ten years experience in hospitality management, marketing and public relations. Caolan is very excited and honoured to bring such a vital piece of Derry’s history back in to the community.
Mary White, spokesperson on behalf of the local Factory Girls group said: “The Factory Girls are delighted with The Shirt Factory. Not only is it a beautiful place to enjoy good company, it’s somewhere we can bring our friends and family to reminisce over a wee drink. We really like the cabinet which celebrates the social and personal life of factory girls through the ages, it really does bring back some cherished memories”.
The Shirt Factory will open to the public on Thursday, August 26th at 5pm and will operate from Thursday to Sunday inclusive.
