New public art installation entitled ‘Dublin Ships’ unveiled

Eamonn O’Reilly, chief executive of Dublin Port Company and artist Cliona Harmey

New public art installation entitled ‘Dublin Ships’ unveiled
Pictured: Eamonn O’Reilly, chief executive of Dublin Port Company and artist Cliona Harmey

The Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality and Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has officially opened a new public art installation entitled ‘Dublin Ships’.

Commissioned by Dublin City Council and supported by Dublin Port Company, the installation was unveiled at the Scherzer Bridges beside The Convention Centre Dublin on North Wall Quay, where the city of Dublin, the docklands and port meet.

Created by the artist Cliona Harmey, this new piece of public artwork brings to life the movements of ships entering and leaving Dublin Port daily, creating a digital log of the port’s activities in full view of the city. The artwork is generated from live electronic signals, which track the arrival and departure of each ship in Dublin Port.

The name of the ship is then transmitted in real-time to two large LED screens facing towards the city, and remains illuminated in black and white until the next ship either arrives in or leaves the port.

Dublin’s citizens, commuters and pedestrians can now see the newest addition to the city’s public art collection during the installation’s six-month tenure. The piece was commissioned by Dublin City Council as part of the Dublin City Public Art Programme under the theme of ‘Interaction and the City’ and received funding by Dublin Port Company.

“Dublin Port Company is delighted to support Dublin City Council and Cliona Harmey’s new public art project,” said Eamonn O’Reilly, chief executive, Dublin Port Company.

Cliona’s work creates a very strong visual and cultural link between Dublin Port and the city in an age when the day-to-day workings of the port are no longer in full view of the city. Cliona’s work tells the story of the port’s movements and activities in a way that is simple, elegant and visually captivating. I hope that Dubliners and visitors to the city will be intrigued and rediscover Dublin as a port city.”