A visual portal connecting Dublin to New York City is already causing chaos in the city centre.
This week, an on-street art installation dubbed ‘The Portal’ was unveiled with a 24/7 livestream of both Dublin and New York in either city.
Dublin’s portal faces on to O’Connell Street, while the NYC portal is located on the Flatiron South Public Plaza at Broadway, Fifth Avenue, and 23rd Street,.
Hello New York! The @LordMayorDublin has officially launched ‘The Portal’ connecting the great cities of Dublin and New York! It’s a 24/7 visual live stream, come wave to your friends, family or even complete strangers in The Big Apple! @NYC_DOT @DublinTown @LovinDublin… pic.twitter.com/xsH0b5MyIw
— Dublin City Council (@DubCityCouncil) May 8, 2024
The groundbreaking project aims to virtually unite citizens on either side of the Atlantic Ocean.
So far the portal has attracted some wholesome moments, with members of the public sweetly greeting strangers from across the pond and challenging people to virtual dance offs.
However, its also captured some unsavoury moments…
While the portal is set to remain a fixture in Dublin and NYC until the autumn, social media users have predicted it will be shut down in a matter of weeks.
Who’s idea was it to have a portal from Dublin to New York I’m actually in bits pic.twitter.com/l91SlosDN3
— Mel (@melsanobrain) May 8, 2024
One social media user shared a video of a man on O’Connell Street flashing his rear end at the portal’s camera, and wrote: “They opened a portal between dublin and new york and I just know it will be shut down before its one month anniversary lol.”
Another shared the same video, and tweeted: “This Dublin / New York ‘portal’ is such a terrible idea and I’m so happy that it’s gone ahead anyway.”
Comedian Michael Fry also compared the portal to an episode of Futurama, and wrote: “The Dublin/New York portal is that bit in Futurama where they look out from the edge of the universe and just see themselves waving back in cowboy hats.”
Check out more reactions to the portal below:
they opened a portal between dublin and new york and I just know it will be shut down before its one month anniversary lol pic.twitter.com/4MsGV7mSr8
— em (@shinywiglett) May 9, 2024
This Dublin / New York ‘portal’ is such a terrible idea and I’m so happy that it’s gone ahead anyway pic.twitter.com/H56m3jZrXi
— It’s (still) John! (@odder_still) May 9, 2024
The Dublin/New York portal is that bit in Futurama where they look out from the edge of the universe and just see themselves waving back in cowboy hats. pic.twitter.com/LyeK9hFSPP
— Michael Fry (@BigDirtyFry) May 10, 2024
Went to Dublin to see the new video portal to New York and got quite the surprise… pic.twitter.com/NyWnXFEdWQ
— Not the RTÉ News (@notthertenews) May 8, 2024
Americans looking in the portal to Dublin City pic.twitter.com/sDh5dOYufF
— CM (@conormurrayTM) May 9, 2024
dublin’s latest tourist attraction, a “portal” to new york, allows you to choose violence and bully americans in real time pic.twitter.com/J0Xq9mlByv
— ellen (@ellenfkenny) May 7, 2024
