Bye Big Apple - Dublin portal says farewell to New York as installation changes to Philadelphia

Dublin's live video link with New York is set to end, and will be replaced with US city Philadelphia.

The Dublin Portal will also continue to jump between Vilnius, Lithuania, and Lublin, Poland.

The portal, a large circular screen providing a real-time, unfiltered internet live-stream between destinations, was installed on North Earl Street, opposite the Spire on O’Connell Street on May 8th.

While it proved a popular tourist attraction on both sides of the Atlantic, it also drew an unsavoury element, with some people on the Dublin side using their phones to transmit pornographic images and video footage of the Twin Towers on fire during 9/11.

The portal was due to operate until the end of October, but that has now been extended until the end of January. It broadcasts from 8am until 8pm daily.

Organisers say the portal has attracted 435,000 visitors to date, adding that the vast majority of interactions have been positive.

“The Portal’s arrival in the heart of Philadelphia is an exciting moment for our city that offers a new way to engage with the world, particularly ahead of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026. This project is a celebration of our city’s spirit of innovation and unity,” said Michael Newmuis, 2026 director, city of Philadelphia.

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