Sidewalk video ‘Portal’ linking New York, Dublin by livestream temporarily paused after lewd antics

People view the livestream portal between Dublin and New York, in Dublin, Ireland, on May 13, 2024. — AP

NEW YORK: The video screen “Portal” that lets people in New York and Dublin peer into life on opposite sides of the Atlantic in real time has been a source of whimsical delight for sidewalk crowds in the two cities, but also a magnet for boorish behaviour that’s prompted officials to hit pause for now.

The livestreaming public art installation known as “The Portal” made its North American debut on May 8, with a circular screen set up below New York City’s iconic Flatiron Building and a companion screen on Dublin, Ireland’s main thoroughfare, O’Connell Street, with city landmarks including the Spire in the backdrop.