Friends of the Factories

23/10/2026

‘Repair In Progress’ 🖌️🖌️

Factory Girls mural - originally unveiled in August 2019…is having a little work done. ✨✨✨

Filled the gap in the meantime! Claire Allan 📚📚

Libraries NI

18/10/2026

“Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read”.
In Derry, Sally Rooney’s books have and will always be available from Little Acorns Bookstore (Derry), more now than ever, and yes, I will post out internationally 💚📚🕊
So, Beautiful World, Where Are You?
We’re right here. Checkmate.’ Jenni Doherty, Owner

Little Acorns Book Store
Little Acorns Bookstore (Derry)

Email:
[email protected]

Address:
18 Great James’ Street,
Derry,
BT48 7DA

Opening Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Sunday: Closed

15/10/2026

Thanks to Naomi Petropoulos for sharing a great piece from the North West Civil Rights archive. Showing a short extract from an interview about the factories with two of the City's iconic Factory Girls - Sarah Clare Moore and Isabel Doherty - available at:

https://youtu.be/mW2PqnSJZ0I

14/10/2026

👻👻👻👻👻👻👻
Libraries in Derry City and Strabane

Derry Central Library has a special Halloween Stories event taking place on Friday 30 October! 😃

Join us and special guest storyteller Mageline McCully for an evening of traditional Irish music and spooky stories - If you dare! 😱

Booking essential - ☎️ 028 7122 9990

12/10/2026

📚📚📚📚📚

So looking forward to reading this, with a cuppa & a Tunnock!!

Here’s to local legenderry author Claire Allan Author for letting the past inspire the future. 💖💖💖

Anyone else read it yet? No spoilers!

You have to love Little Acorns Bookstore (Derry) iconic window displays!!! 💖💖💖💖

09/10/2026

🧵🪡🧵🪡🧵🪡🧵🪡 The Fashion and Textile Design Centre - FTDC

👜 IN THE BAG 👜
We're buzzing this term, all the classes filled up, and filled up fast! There is so much demand for sewing classes that we decided to do a one-day basics workshop. So anyone who couldn't get signed up for a full term class, here's your opportunity to have all the basics squeezed into a one day workshop SATURDAY 17th OCTOBER, from 10am-4pm.
*** Get in touch to sign up ***

01/10/2026

⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️

If you are looking for more information about Eleanor Marx’s fascinating links to the Shirt Factories and Factory Girls -

Think Left Conference is delighted to host a presentation by Sylvia Kierkegaard on Eleanor Marx time in Derry.
Eleanor spoke to hundred of unionised women workers in St Columbs Hall and Think Left Conference is immensely proud to carry this legacy with our conference in the very same location.

"STIRRING UP DISCONTENT' ELEANOR MARX & DERRY SHIRT FACTORY WORKERS
SYLVIA KIRKEGAARD

10.30AM SAT OCT 3, ST COLUMB'S HALL

✨✨✨✨
Link in stories -
Register here https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/think-left-2026-tickets-1998161766633

01/10/2026

✨✨✨✨

‘Derry’s factory girls were the first female workers in Ireland to become unionised. Inspired by a walkout by London match girls in 1888, some of the Derry factory girls - with the support of Marx’s daughter, the activist Eleanor Marx Aveling - asked to join the Derry Trades Council. In 1891 they were admitted, as Derry’s fifth branch of the Gasworkers’ Union.’
Freya Mc Clements

The Matchgirls Memorial ✨

01/10/2026

🤔🤔🤔🤔

Plaque, supported by Derry Trades Union Council, unveiled during COVID, by Eamonn McCann in April 2021 commemorating Eleanor Marx.

Any guesses as to why????? ✨✨✨✨

All made possible by the foresight, support and community commitment by the inspired Anne-Marie Gray & the Derry Trades Union Council.

Pictured is Factory Girl Mary White handing over the plaque ready for installation.

29/09/2026

🎶🎶
Allegri are delighted to welcome singers back for a new term with our two community choirs.
Both offer a friendly place to sing, meet people and enjoy making music together.

* The Eglintones
9 Eglinton Community Hall
🎶Wednesdays, 12.30pm-1.30pm
Maurice Kelly Maurice Kelly

🎶The Factory Girl Singers
The Gasyard Centre Gasyard Centre
Thursdays, 12.30pm-2.00pm
Led by Margarette Mcintyre Margarette Mcintyre

Whether you’ve sung in a choir before or just enjoy a good sing-song, you’re welcome. There’s no audition and no need to read music - just come along and join in.

🎶🎶