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'We'd obviously like to see the piece remain': Artists petition to retain Smithfield's Horseboy mural

The popular Horseboy mural is located just north of the Liffey in Smithfield.

A PETITION CALLING for a mural in Dublin’s Smithfield area to remain in place has gained over 2,500 signatures in two days. 

The Horseboy mural is located just off Church Street in Dublin 7 and the case was referred to An Bord Pleanála this month, after Dublin City Council had ruled the mural needed planning permission or else it would be removed.

The tenant at the house, which has the mural on the side of it, made an application to the council in June that the painting should be considered “exempted development” and allowed to remain. 

A previous arrangement had granted leave for the mural to remain up until 1 April 2018, and the owner of the property told the council to remove the painting on a number of occasions. 

Dublin City Council, however, found that the mural does require planning permission, and therefore it cannot be considered exempt under existing laws. 

The case is due to be decided by 4 December. The mural is set to remain in place pending that decision. 

Following the article in TheJournal.ie earlier this week, artist collective Subset launched a petition aimed at saving the Horseboy mural.

Subset have had a number of artworks removed from Dublin city walls, notably the Stormzy mural in late 2017.

A spokesperson told TheJournal.ie: “We’d obviously like to see the piece remain. It has a sweet background story – the original photo of Horseboy was taken on Smithfield Square by Australian Photographer James Horan.

We came across it and reached out to him to see if he’d allow us use it as the basis for a piece. While we were painting Stormzy, the tenant asked us would we paint his wall. It turned out to be the perfect space for the concept.

Subset said that it respects the right for a property owner to remove artwork if that is their wish, but is unsure as to the status of the mural at present. 

The art collective added that it meets with officials from Dublin City Council periodically to discuss the development of artwork in the public realm.

At the time of writing, the petition has had 2,510 signatures.

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14 Comments
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    Mute Conor Murphy
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    Aug 17th 2019, 8:38 AM

    Given the part of Dublin, Quality of work, and context of the piece – it should be kept.

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    Mute Sean Ryan
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    Aug 17th 2019, 10:36 AM

    @Conor Murphy: I agree with all but your last point. If the owner wants it gone, then that’s what should happen. It’s only been there a wet day.

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    Mute Philip Duffy
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    Aug 17th 2019, 8:42 AM

    Was it put there without the owners permission?

    71
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    Mute ChuckE
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    Aug 17th 2019, 8:57 AM

    @Philip Duffy: yes and the owner is trying to sell the property.

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    Mute Greg Dunne
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    Aug 17th 2019, 9:09 AM

    @ChuckE: unique selling point

    57
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    Mute Pip
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    Aug 17th 2019, 10:35 AM

    Owner should just paint over it. His wall to do with as he pleases.

    47
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    Mute ConPhoto
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    Aug 17th 2019, 10:36 AM

    I like the piece, think it’s great. But it’s a temporary piece, that’s their beauty. Enjoy it while it’s there.
    It’s also someone else s property. People getting legal and righteous when it’s a simple matter is beyond boring

    41
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    Mute Sean Ryan
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    Aug 17th 2019, 10:35 AM

    I really can’t get my head around this. I think it’s a great mural, looks good and has context to the area but the owner
    doesn’t want it there. That should be the end of it. It not like it’s been there years and is an actual landmark or something. Thankfully online petitions are generally useless.

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    Mute Luke
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    Aug 17th 2019, 9:58 AM

    Crazy that it’s even up for debate. Should be gone, the state of it. Doesn’t really fit with the direction Ireland should be going.

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    Mute Bruce Van der Gutschmitzer
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    Aug 17th 2019, 10:14 AM

    @Luke: the government grant scheme for electric cars is staggering to a halt plus the climate armageddon will inevitably lead to the crumbling of society and we who remain will be on horseback. In my opinion.

    18
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    Mute ken gray
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    Aug 17th 2019, 11:00 AM

    Get rid of it !

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    Mute Edward Fitzgerald
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    Aug 17th 2019, 12:00 PM

    A good power washer will make short work of that eye sore

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    Mute steve white
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    Aug 17th 2019, 11:03 AM

    subset are a marketing agency not an artist collective, come on be honest

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    Mute ginger tomcat
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    Aug 17th 2019, 9:27 PM

    @ChuckE: read Again, tenant agreed and wants it to stay,owner has made several applications to have it removed.
    Personally love the mural, but if a house owner can not chose what is on wall of his own house

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