A NEW mural of the Dalai Lama and Children in Crossfire founder Richard Moore is to feature in an ITV programme fronted by Joanna Lumley.
Painted by the UV Arts group, the mural is the latest in a series which includes the popular Channel 4 comedy, Derry Girls and Sister Clare Crockett, a Derry nun killed in an earthquake in Ecuador in April 2016.
Mr Moore, who was blinded by a rubber bullet in 1972 at the age of ten, has gone on to forgive the soldier who fired the shot.
He also founded the Children in Crossfire charity which helps people living in war and famine zones throughout the world.
As part of his work with the charity, he forged a friendship with Buddhist leader, who has described him as his “hero”.
On a gable wall on Great James Street in the city centre, the mural depicts a touching moment when Mr Moore and the Dalai Lama greeted each other using a Buddhist blessing by touching heads.
Ms Lumley, who starred in many TV shows and films, first met Mr Moore when she took part in a 2017 conference in Derry marking Children in Crossfire’s 20th anniversary.
And when she started work on the new “Home Sweet Home” television programme, she insisted that Derry be included.
“In Derry, we wanted to film the historic murals, The Derry Girls and my friend, Richard Moore, the ‘Derry Lama’ as the Dalai Lama calls him.
“It suddenly seemed that we could link these three stories together by art; the ravishing mural Saoirse-Monica (Derry Girls star) showed me of the Derry Girls led us easily to Karl’s (Porter, UV Arts) watchful eye. Part of me will always remain in Derry, a city I love with all my heart,” Ms Lumley said.
Mr Moore paid tribute to Ms Lumley, who he described as a good friend and supporter of Children in Crossfire.
“She has also built a great rapport with Derry and many of its people,” he said.
“Home Sweet Home” will be broadcast on ITV next Tuesday, February 9 (8pm).
