Dublin Port & The City

Dublin Port shares a unique connection with the city of Dublin. It is a bond that is not just physical – it’s a shared history, culture and community between the port and our capital city.

To strengthen, continue and encourage this connection Dublin Port has commissioned a series of cultural and heritage initiatives, designed to present Dublin’s rich maritime heritage in new and thought-provoking ways. These recognise the importance of Dublin Port and its integration with the city, and celebrate this unique connection.

Some of these initiatives between Dublin Port and the city include:

Starboard Home

A musical journey commissioned by Dublin Port Company  – inspired by Dublin Port, Dublin City and the River Liffey. A collaboration which reflects on the relationships between the Port, the City and the Liffey through song, ranging from elegant electronic pop to sublime trad inspired moments and crafted songwriting. The album and musical performances at the National Concert Hall (NCH) were curated and produced by Bell X1’s Paul Noonan and the NCH’s Gary Sheehan. Featuring Paul Noonan (Bell X1), Paul Cleary (The Blades), Cathy Davey, James Vincent McMorrow, Duke Special, Gemma Hayes, Jape, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Lisa O’Neill, Declan O’Rourke, John Sheahan and Caitriona Lally, this was a unique partnership for a once of a kind project.

Port Perspectives

Following an open call to artists and arts projects to create site-specific works in Dublin Port, ‘Port Perspectives’ was commissioned by Dublin Port Company to create a series of original and innovative public artworks/installations. These commissions were realised throughout 2017 and respond specifically to the built environment/local areas/history and context of Dublin Port. The commissioned artworks were part of a year-long programme of activity in 2017, which included an exhibition of works by the Belgian artist Eugeen Van Mieghem at Dublin City Gallery the Hugh Lane and a range of related arts education and engagement activities.

The commissioned artworks responded specifically to the built environment and local areas in and around Dublin Port, enhancing the public realm to draw audiences and port visitors, while creating a living exhibition and cultural trail.

 

Aware’s Harbour2Harbour Walk

Dublin Port is proud to be a sponsor of Aware’s Harbour2Harbour Walk which take participants along some of Europe’s most scenic seafront routes in the three counties (Dublin, Cork and Galway). In Dublin over 2,000 people are expected to take part with a 26km route between Howth and Dun Laoghaire Harbours; in Cork the spectacular Carrigaline to Crosshaven route offers a 5k or 10k option, and in Galway the 8km route takes in Salthill Prom, South Park and Mutton Island. Dublin Port Company sponsored the Dublin event for the second year running and provided a fun-filled halfway point. 

Seafarers’ Centre at Dublin Port

Dublin Port Company has opened a new state-of-the-art Seafarers’ Centre at Dublin Port following a €500,000 investment in the facility. The Seafarers’ Centre breathes new life into the site of the old Odlums flour mill. Housed in the former Odlums workers’ canteen, which had been in use up to the mill’s closure in 2012, the Centre now provides a base for vital services to sailors docking in the port, an essential workforce of the city’s economy.  Features of the old canteen building such as decking, beams and the original exterior wall have been retained and preserved as part of the new design. As Dublin Port’s first custom-built Seafarers’ Centre, it will support over 7,500 visiting seafarers a year arriving from all over the world, typically from countries such as India, China, Ukraine, Russia and the Philippines.

The Diving Bell Project

Dublin Port Company transformed this important artefact and transformed the Diving Bell into a new interpretive exhibition that explains its origin and history.

The Diving Bell entered service in 1871 and was used in the building of the Port’s quay walls from the Victorian era right up until almost the 1960s.  It was considered a ground-breaking piece of engineering innovation in its day.The Diving bell project, which opened in mid-June 2015, elevated the 13m tall, 90 tonne Diving Bell onto a two metre steel structure, creating a ramped public access route underneath.  A water feature was installed  beneath the structure accompanied by a series of interpretive panels explaining the historical, social and engineering significance of the Diving Bell.  Dublin Port are proud to be a part of the revitalisation of such an essential part of Dublin Port’s history. Read more about the diving bell here