A new mural of Liverpool UFC legends Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett and Molly ‘The Meatball’ McCann has been unveiled.
The artwork, commissioned by MurWalls, sits on Walton Lane, Walton and was officially revealed today. Artist Ryan spent three days creating the piece, which features a quote from Norris Green-born Molly McCann - Our people, our city, our heart.
Ryan said: “Paddy and Molly are local UFC legends and this is the biggest mural for me so it’s amazing. Paddy and Molly came through too and they had smiles on their faces so that’s the seal of approval we were all looking for.”
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Robin Baynes MBE, founder of the Liverpool Heartbeat charity which inspires young people in the Northwest and Merseyside to pursue healthy and fulfilled lifestyles, owns several properties in Anfield that feature murals of footballers. The 77-year-old was contacted by MurWalls about featuring the artwork on the side of a house in Walton Lane, and immediately agreed.
Robin said: “This mural jumps out at me and says community cohesion, it’s bringing people and the fans together and that’s what I’m all about, it’s fantastic. I’m retired but I want to give something back.
"This makes me happy, I don’t say getting up in the morning makes me happy because it doesn’t but I’ve got to get up for something.”
As visitors gathered to view the mural, Michael Wolf, an Artistic Director, originally from Bulgaria shared that he was surprised to learn Molly McCann, 32, was his next door neighbour.
Michael said: “We’ve seen each other across the corridors a few times, she’s a very kind person, very uplifting. And when I was speaking to Robin the other day, he told me about the mural and it struck me in the middle of conversation that she was my next door neighbour.”
“The mural provides a sense of pride to be a Liverpudlian, both of them have gained a following and being from that same city is uplifting and I’ve passed twice today over it and it’s very striking and it’s just marvellous.”
Michelle Karalius, from Tower Hill ABC boxing said: “It’s an inspiration for our young boxers and those who follow Paddy and Molly, it’s a great thing and it’s such a prominent thing to be featured on the main road.”
MurWalls is a street art company which has created several other tributes across the city including Jurgen Klopp, Jordan Henderson and Jamie Carragher.
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