A bid to spread the word of an oft-vandalised Ceredigion landmark has gone international, with visitors to an American pub now met with their very own ‘Cofiwch Dryweryn’ mural.

The replica of the roadside memorial to a lost village – which was flooded more than 50 years ago to make way for a reservoir – was painted by former Aberystwyth man Dave Parry at the Pleasant House pub in Chicago, Illinois.

Similar murals have increasingly popped up all over Wales after the original mural, on a wall on the outskirts of Llanrhystud, was vandalised last month – for the third time in as many months.

Now, the patrons of the Chicago pub will be able to learn about the history of the mural after Pleasant House owner Art Jackson gave permission for Mr Parry to put up his replica.

Mr Parry, who started the ‘Chicago Tafia’ in 1999, lived in Aberystwyth from 1984 to 1997, and still visits at least once a year.

“My son Dylan, 15, and I always stop at the Cofiwch Dryweryn sign to take photos, it’s become kind of a tradition,” he told the Cambrian News.

“Many in our Welsh group were annoyed by all the recent vandalism so thought how could we show support. Luckily our friend Art Jackson at Pleasant House Pub offered space in his pub to do a mural.

“The pub is in an area of Chicago called Pilsen, which is famous for murals from many cultures.

“The reaction from Chicagoans at the bar yesterday was curiosity, and our group did a great job of explaining the significance and history of the sign.

“The locals we spoke with all thought it was great that we had brought this piece of Welsh culture to Chicago.”

See this week’s south papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition tomorrow