Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE HA’PENNY BRIDGE is no stranger to relationship problems – Thin Lizzy’s Phil Lynott once staged a famous break-up scene on the Dublin city landmark as part of the video for his 1982 solo hit ‘Old Town’. In recent years though, the issue has been ‘love locks’ – those bulky chains of interlinking padlocks scrawled with couples’ initials and messages that appear on the bridge’s railings.
Anyone who lives in or visits the city regularly will notice how clumps of the locks – added by couples as a public display of their affection – seem to build-up gradually, before apparently disappearing overnight.
So who’s taking them down? Well, in some instances it’s Dublin City Council, who regard the practice as a nuisance which could damage the structure and paintwork. ‘Helping’ the council to tackle the problem are – believe it or not – a group of Dublin ‘hackers’ who like to pick padlocks as a hobby, and say it can be like a form of ‘meditation’ after a long day staring at a computer screen.
Sean Nicholls – a software programmer by trade like many of the group’s casual membership – says they first noticed the problem a few months ago. “We approached the council to see if they’d be open to some assistance” he told TheJournal.ie. When no response was forthcoming, they set about addressing the issue themselves, and have since collected ‘dozens’ of locks.
Some of the locks removed by Nicholls and the lockpickers group (Image: Sean Nicholls, via Flickr)
So far, this all may sound a little clandestine – but the lock-picking group makes no secret of how they go about their business. In fact, they say anyone who’s interested in finding out more about them and maybe getting involved is welcome to drop in to one of their fortnightly Tuesday night meet-ups at the TOG Hackerspace in Dublin 8. Nicholls says they often have up to twenty people coming along, and that the membership is mostly made up of software and IT professionals:
People who go to the lock-picking group are either software programmers or work in IT security. When you work with IT security issues it’s a natural progression to go from finding security faults in software to finding them in the real world. That’s how the idea came about originally.
The group began holding meetings around two years ago, with members bringing along their own tools and padlocks to demonstrate and hone their skills. More recently, those heading to the gatherings have been stopping by the Ha’penny Bridge – and occasionally other bridges in Dublin city centre – to stock up on locks for “practice material”.
“These things can cost twenty euro,” Nicholls says. “Couples are putting an investment in there – but the thing is they’re getting rusted, and they’re ruining the bridge. This way, at least someone’s getting some use from them”.
Nicholls says they have no desire “to step on the council’s toes” as they continue their official clean-up operation, but adds that the group has no qualms either about removing the love mementos, as it’s clear “they’ll be taken down eventually anyway”.
The scene at the Ha’penny Bridge this week – just a handful of ‘love locks’ (Image: Daragh Brophy/TheJournal.ie)
The Journal.ie made a quick trip down to the Ha’penny Bridge on Wednesday to assess the locksmiths’ (and the council’s) handywork, and found just a scattering of the padlocks adorning the railings. So, some progress, if not quite back to 1982 standards…
(Youtube: TallicLizzy)
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Why are the 3 of them going wouldn’t the president be enough
@John O brien: you know how it is. It’s about being seen. You would be more noticed by your absence.
@offside again: and a nice junket in the sun, why say no?
@John O brien: The president is an atheist. The government could at least send someone who the event has meaning.
@Mark R: He’s not only an atheist, he’s also a fully paid-up card carrying gob$hite!
@John O brien: the president represent Ireland.
the 2 others are unnecessary and should concentrate on their home work !!!
@John O brien: hopefully plane fall out the ski
@John O brien: hopefully the 3 of them will be ordained over there and STAY there for the
Hardly necessary to send the 3 of them over, one is enough. Free holiday for the boys
Parish Priest Lowry and Mother Superior Verona not going?
Yet they did not wish a Happy Easter to the country between them,avoided the term..hypocrites
@KO: That’s not true at all. Look up twitter. It’ll take you 2 minutes.
@honey badger: What, you mean it wasn’t done through the official government mouthpiece in rte
@honey badger: it is MM was badgered with requests to do so..forcing a response does not count
@KO: pathetic.
Of course Harris has to go with his I’m an important person facial expression
The 3 stogies are back together again. Ok, so the pope has passed on may he ready in peace. The question still remains, when are the religious orders going to acknowledge the hurt, suffering and pain they caused some citizens of our country and in other country. When are they going to pay their share for the damage inflected on our citizens and the country.
Why are 3 going?? Sure Micheal D is the man to go.
They might as well go sure the whole off Montrose is there already.
The irony of Mohammad Martin going to the Holy Father’s funeral.
If the Taoiseach, Tánaiste aka prime minister and deputy prime minister the holders of executive power and the President aka head of state, are all going to absent from Ireland, who holds the reins of power in the event of a national emergency, natural disaster, terrorist attack or the alleged imminent Russian invasion of Europe, which is prompting the EU to push to spend billions of Euros on defence over the next few years to do nothing but line the pockets of hedgefunds.
Don’t tell me it’s Paschal Donohoe…
@Dvsespaña: probably Lowry…
@Matt D: Lowry, sure he’ll take all them brown envelopes for himself.
@Dvsespaña: didn’t HealyRae look after us when the entire government took off on St Patrick’s weekend.
Martin and Harris have no business being there.
Seems a bit perverse that these three represent Ireland at such a gathering when their very vocal support for abortion, described by the late pontiff as the work of hitmen, should really rule them out.
@AnthonyK: Three hypocrites.
Very embarrassing thee of them going over
Larry, Moe and Curly.
It will present opportunities to share time with others who respect peace efforts Pope made and have important meetings on the sidelines and after and say a few prayers or sentiments.
@thomas molloy: what? You mean the pedo protector in chief?
Ah sure they are well entitled to a mid term break all the work they have made out to have done
Bill and Bob have to go together
Wonder how the three pro abortionists will be received?
@Billy Joe: Hopefully. they can enlighten the acolytes of that superstitous and backward cult.
The entire Cabinet should be present. It’s our beloved Pope who is being laid to rest. I’d go myself except I wasn’t invited.
@Paul Whitehead: at the taxpayers expense? Are you mad? For the head of a cult? And let’s be real that’s all it is.
@Paul Whitehead: he’s not my beloved pope . I’m a Protestant and my rights are guarenteed by our constitution .theres absolutely ref my no justification for the three of them going
Why not send Connor !. RIP to the Pope, sound like he didn’t want any of the fanfare.
@did you every wonder: because he’s a total gimp?
So just to be clear , the 3 great offices of the state ? And just who would be in charge if there was a national crisis of some sort . We live in a democracy not a theocracy . I’m respectful of those who have religious belief and I’ve also no problem with a representation at the funeral but many of us are of a different faith or none .
have your say