The portal connecting Dublin and New York City has reawakened with time restrictions and the option to blur out images. 

The two-way livestream was turned on at 2pm Irish time – 9am in New York – this afternoon after a temporary pause this week. 

The art installation was shut down this week due to inappropriate behaviour such as flashing New Yorkers and showing them photos of the World Trade Centre on 9/11. 

Dublin City Council (DCC) announced the portal will only be turned on from 11am to 9pm Irish time – 6am to 4pm in New York City. 

It noted these operating hours are “for the coming weeks” rather than a permanent fixture. 

DCC also warned the portal is not meant to be “touched or stepped upon”.

A sign saying RIP the Portal with flowers beside it. Image: Leah Farrell / © RollingNews.ie

To prevent any interference, Portals.org has introduced a “proximity-based solution” where any obstruction of the camera will trigger a blurring of the livestream in both Dublin and New York. 

The team will continue making updates “as needed”, according to DCC. 

“The overwhelming majority of people who have visited the Portal sculptures have experienced the sense of joy and connectedness that these works of public art invite people to have,” it said in a statement. 

The New York site will continue to have on-site security during all hours of operation while fencing has been installed to “assist with crowd management”. 

In Dublin, “physical design features” are being installed. 

“We are excited to welcome people in New York and Dublin back to experience this captivating visual bridge that connects these two iconic cities,” the statement read. 

“In less than a week of operation, the Portal has attracted tens of thousands of visitors and garnered nearly two billion online impressions.” 

'Care' about the portal

Portals.org artist and founder Benediktas Gylys also added that humans “create the portals experience together”. 

“I invite local communities not only to enjoy but to care about their Portals and how other community members are approaching the sculptures,” he said. 

Some people have suggested the portal would not have been closed if it was not based off Talbot Street in the north inner city. 

“The top of Talbot Street, really? You’re asking for trouble,” one man said. 

“If you think about the southside of the city centre, it’s where the Government buildings are, there’s an increased Garda presence. 

“Or if you put it closer to the GPO, where there is usually a Garda presence.” 

A portal was also built to connect Vilinius in Lithuania and Lublin in Poland.