In what experts are calling a shocking departure from its usual greyish-beige palette, Rochdale may now be home to the best mural in the entire world, assuming the international judges can be swayed by Facebook likes, emojis, and someone’s nan commenting “Wow that’s brilliant! X”.
Local artist Hayley Garner, also known as AYLO, presumably after running out of patience with people mispronouncing ‘Hayley’, has been shortlisted by Street Art Cities for her mural Dreams Never End, painted during last month’s Common Walls International Mural Festival. The artwork, located at 21 Baillie Street, beat thousands of murals across the globe that weren’t created in driving rain next to a Greggs.
Inspired by the New Order track of the same name, a song written about Rochdale before it became ironic, the mural features a modern-day woman holding a ‘Votes for Women’ leaflet while being spiritually stalked by Anne Tweedale, a local women’s rights pioneer, and a giant Manchester bee that may or may not be unionised.
“This mural celebrates the enduring fight for women’s rights,” said Rochdale Council, presumably while standing in front of a building named after a man who once banned skirts above the ankle. “It honours the unseen women who shaped the future,” they added, having just cut funding to the library.
Garner was naturally thrilled. “I’m buzzing,” she said, in a quote that local papers are legally required to use whenever anyone from Greater Manchester is happy. “Thanks to everyone who voted.” She then disappeared into a puff of artistic humility and northern self-deprecation.
Social media response has been overwhelming, with locals flooding Facebook to express their appreciation in the traditional dialect of online town pride:
- “This one is my favourite 😍 though they are all brilliant,” typed Elanor Jane, whose punctuation implied deep emotional conflict.
- “Well done Hayley Garner 👏 well deserved,” declared Cllr Sue Smith, before presumably having a quiet cry about Rochdale’s bin situation.
- “!Well done, noted local connection good luck in final 👏👏” said Russ Walton, whose keyboard apparently revolted mid-sentence.
The final vote will take place in January, when Rochdale may officially become home to the best mural on Earth, assuming no one in Berlin paints a twelve-storey dragon between now and then. Until then, AYLO’s work will remain proudly on Baillie Street, where it will continue to confuse pigeons and inspire locals to say, “That’s proper nice, that.”
