Skip to content

  • Home

The Dublin Edit: Dublin Street Art

Posted on By

Irish playwright and wit Oscar Wilde once said “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” Fast- forward some 150 years to the streets of Dublin and his words still ring true. Times may be tough economically, but open your eyes and ears and you’ll feed your soul with art and music in the Irish capital…

On Dublin’s South William Street a lost angel sits waiting. She forms one half of a series created by the artist Eelus in 2008.

Over in London, her counterpart confidently watches over the crowds from a tunnel in Waterloo, but for the moment, this Dublin sister cowers in a doorway, lost and alone like an injured bird. As she works up the courage to take flight, the people of Dublin protect her until she is ready to rise again.

This mural and/or timely reminder can currently be seen next door to The Dublin Simon Community charity shop on Lower Camden Street. Given its location, the message seems all the more poignant.

Passers by would be forgiven for thinking that the derelict buildings next to the Bernard Shaw caved in from the exhaustion of trying to keep up with the fun and craic going on inside this Victorian era pub.

True, it may look like it’s on its last legs on the outside, but inside it is a cosy creative hub and one of Dublin’s best kept secrets.   The focus is always on live music and art exhibitions, but quirky features also include a fairy-lit double decker bus outside in the smoking area.

You’ll find the Bernard Shaw Pub at 11-12 Sth. Richmond Street, Portobello, Dublin.

The image of the clown-faced businessman by Canvaz can be seen at various locations throughout the city centre, sometimes appearing alone (as in this case) or as a pair, as seen on Dame Street.

Travel Edits | The Dublin Edit: Dublin Street Art
Wall and Keogh Tea Lounge

Pop art or no pop art, this sushi and tea lounge is a sight for sore eyes on South Richmond Street. Inside, the decor is cool and retro and a huge array of old-fashioned glass jars invite you to sample their special blend of teas. The friendly ambiance of Wall & Keogh doesn’t end there. An outside seating area at the rear of the building provides chilly guests with blankets and hot water bottles…and if you like the music inside, the proprietors even offer a DJ service.

Dublin’s street art is more than visual. No matter what street you find yourself on, you can be certain that music is never far away, be it street performers or indeed, music shops…

Waltons on Georges St. has been supplying Irish musicians with instruments since the 1920s. The shop’s most recent claim to fame is that it provided the back-drop for a scene in Oscar-winning Irish film Once.  During the Oscar ceremony, set designers used the theme of the hanging guitars from the shop in their stage set for the performance of the award-winning song.

Fade Street Girl by Prefab

This sleeping girl forms part of a series of papered over window frames on Fade Street by the artist Prefab. If you take a closer look you’ll see the image is a clever mish-mash of vintage newspaper cuttings:

Busking is legal in Ireland, so in theory, anyone can make Dublin their stage. However, there are space restrictions on Grafton Street where Gardai (Irish Police) patrol the area and may move musicians who attract large crowds. This is usually only the case though if they are blocking the entrances to shopfronts.

Buskers, Temple Bar

A quartet beats out the theme tune to ‘Inspector Gadget’ while crowds gather for the Saturday Market in Temple Bar’s Meeting House Square.

All images by Fiona Hilliard

The Dublin Edit busking in dublindublin grafittidublin music shopsdublin street artonce locations dublin

Post navigation

Previous post
Next post

Related Posts

The Dublin Edit

Five Great Whiskey Bars in Dublin

Posted on

As the nights draw in, there’s nothing like a good whiskey and an open fire to warm the heart. And if there’s one city that does whiskey well it’s Dublin. Not only is it home to the Old Jameson Distillery, but many of the city’s publicans take an admirable pride…

Read More
The Dublin Edit

Five Dublin Film Locations from Once Musical

Posted on

As the stage production of the Grammy/Tony/Sundance/Oscar award-winning musical Once makes its European debut in Dublin this week, it seems the perfect time to take a wander through some of the most memorable Dublin locations from the movie. 1. Walton’s World of Music Waltons music shop on South Great George’s…

Read More
The Dublin Edit

The Dublin Edit: San Lorenzos Restaurant Review

Posted on

Ever since it opened its doors in November of last year, San Lorenzo’s has been receiving rave reviews from critics and customers. The New York style Italian neighbours the funky 777 Mexican on South Great George’s Street and is the latest venture of Chef Patron Temple Garner, recipient of the…

Read More

Comments (4)

  1. Brendan van Son says:
    12th March 2012 at 9:12 am

    Nice work kiddo! I love the “U are alive, avail of this once in a lifetime opportunity” line. In true journalistic fashion, I’m going to steal it and use it as my own. haha

    Reply
  2. Fiona says:
    12th March 2012 at 7:49 pm

    Thanks Brendan, Glad I caught that one! Definitely one for Pinterest I think

    Reply
  3. Pingback: The Dublin Edit: 777 Restaurant Review | Travel Edits
  4. Pingback: The Dublin Edit: Literary Bookshops in Dublin | Travel Edits

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Contact: traveledits(at)gmail.com

©2025 | WordPress Theme by SuperbThemes