Public technology Portal sculpture unites Dublin and New York

Dublin and New York City have simultaneously debuted two groundbreaking public technology sculptures – Dublin Portal and NYC Portal – collectively called “The Portal.”

The cities describe the Portal as forming “an unprecedented visual bridge” between these two cities.

Each sculpture features a 24/7 visual livestream from the Portal in the other city, allowing real-time interaction between Dubliners, New Yorkers, and visitors to these two global destinations.

European Capital of Smart Tourism

Dublin Portal faces the Irish capital’s main street, O’Connell Street, and captures the vista of both Dublin’s famous GPO building and the Spire together. Dublin City Council has delivered the sculpture as part of its designation as the European Capital of Smart Tourism 2024.

"One of my key aims as lord mayor is to make the City more inclusive,” said lord mayor of Dublin, Daithí de Róiste. “The Portals project embodies this, bringing together technology, engineering and art to bring communities from across the world closer together and to allow people to meet and connect outside of their social circles and cultures. We are delighted to connect Dublin with New York which we share a deep historical and cultural bond with.”

From July the Dublin Portal will also connect to other global city destinations in Poland, Brazil and Lithuania. “This project is an example of one of the many exciting things to expect in Dublin during 2024 as part of our EU Capital of Smart Tourism Designation,” added de Róiste.

“The Portals project embodies this, bringing together technology, engineering and art to bring communities from across the world closer together and to allow people to meet and connect outside of their social circles and cultures”

NYC Portal is located on the Flatiron South Public Plaza at Broadway, Fifth Avenue, and 23rd Street, next to the famed Flatiron Building, and is presented by the Flatiron NoMad Partnership in collaboration with the Simons Foundation and the New York City Department of Transportation Art programme (NYC DoT Art).

The Portal connection between Dublin and New York City will run through to autumn of 2024. Throughout that time, there will be scheduled programming, including cultural performances at each city’s Portal that will be enjoyed by people in the other city via the livestream. Programming will kick-off in mid-May with a visual programme to celebrate New York Design Week Festival.