It was a novelty tech device that was intended to unite two countries and bring some much-needed fun.
But the Star Trek-style portal linking Dublin and New York became an instant magnet for drunken, lewd and anti-social behaviour.
After footage showed drunks flocking to the portal to bare their backsides or snort drugs, a porn model baring her breasts, people displaying Swastikas and footage of the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers, organisers took the decision earlier this week to close the installation.
Despite this, MailOnline has found that hundreds of young people are still flocking to the Irish capital to see the portal and take a selfie even after the plug was pulled – and they are furious that they can’t try out its live stream 3000 across the Atlantic.
Many of the visitors who left disappointed condemned those whose behaviour had led to the Portal being shut down. Others also criticised the city council for placing it in O’Connell Street – an area known for its rowdy behaviour, drug taking and drunks.Â
‘It annoys me that some people can’t behave. It just gives the wrong impression of what people are like here in Dublin,’Â said airline worker Daniel Cavalier, 23.
‘I think the council should have thought a bit more about where the portal was placed. Here on O’Connell Street was a bad idea, and now they have found that out.’
Visitors are still taking pictures with the defunct portal since its closureÂ
Homeless charities distribute food and clothes near The Portal in North Earl Street
Locals have blamed authorities for setting up the portal in ‘the worst spot in Dublin’
One Irishman switched the view to a video of the World Trade Center towers burning and billowing with black smoke during the 9/11 attack
Across from the portal, homeless people queued up for an evening meal while on the other side of the street others scrambled to sort through second hand clothes that had been dumped in a pile.
A taxi driver, who dropped off two tourists near the site, said: ‘The whole of Dublin knows this was the worst possible place to put something that allows drunks and others to act up.
‘As soon as it went up, I knew there would be trouble. The council should have put in an area that was far nice and less likely to attract idiots.’
A worker at a fast-food restaurant added that he could not think of a less appropriate place for the art piece.
‘Has anyone from the council ever see the sort of people that hang around here, said the worker. ‘
The organisers ultimately decided to pull the plug on the circular sculpture after a New Yorker caused outrage by baring her breasts.
Only Fans model Ava Louise, 25, began the lewd behaviour when she flashed her breasts at Dubliners saying she wanted them to see her ‘home grown potatoes.’
She has since received thousands of death threats but has boasted about gaining thousands of more subscribers to her Only fans page.
Dubliners retaliated by ‘mooning’ at the screen while others held up Swastikas.
Many New Yorkers were offended when a photo of the Twin Towers on 9/11 was beamed through from Dublin.
Some others leaving the pubs in the area after closing time appeared on screen to be taking drugs.
Others held up swastikas and mobile phones with pornographic images and swear words.
A drunk woman was arrested on the first day the portal went live in Dublin by grinding against the screen.
Dublin City Council, co-sponsors of the project, decided to pull the plug after six days following the increase in obscene behaviour.
Jessica Levy, Lewis Damsae and Shauna O’Rourke pose during their visit from Ohio
Alliaa Aldaker with Hadia Muhbarak had hoped to be able to interact with some Americans
Jessica (left) had travelled in from Kildaire, about an hour away from the capital, with friends
A humorous tribute was left out near the portal – although a message displayed said it would return
A video showed a woman being dragged away from the portal by police after grinding against the screen
In a more wholesome moment, two friends – one in New York and one in Dublin – were seen meeting via the portal. The video was captioned: ‘meeting up with my Irish bestie through a portal’ – and showed the two women making heart symbols with their hands
Still, many are still flocking to Dublin from afar to see the now truly globally recognised installation.
Typical was Jessica Levy, an American tourist. She told us: ‘I am over visiting from Ohio and thought it would be great to see some fellow Americans through the portal.
‘It’s a real shame that it is not working and all because some people can’t control their behaviour. I think it’s a great idea and it would have been nice to see it up and running.’
The 20-year-old was at the Portal with friends Shauna O’Rourke, 22, and Luis Damsie who had travelled in from Kildaire, about an hour away from the capital.
Luis, 21, said: ‘We travelled over an hour to come here and did not realise it was not working.
‘It is such a shame because it is a great idea. It is like something out of a science fiction film where you can see someone in the moment in another country.’
Sean McGinty, 25, who was visiting with his friend Patrick Kearns, 19, said it was unfortunate that a small minority of people had spoiled it for so many.
He said: ‘There are always going to be those who push the boundaries, particularly when it comes to bad taste. It is a shame as it is a good idea and is a big tourist attraction.’
In an image shared by the company, a blue tarpaulin covered the portal on Tuesday afternoon after visitors used the futuristic sculpture for obesityÂ
Sean McGinty (left, with Patrick) said it was unfortunate a minority had ruined it for the many
OnlyFans model Ava Louise posted a video of herself lifting up her top and showing her breasts to the portal with her naked back facing the New York City crowd
Ava later revealed she had received death threats after flashing onlookers in Dublin
Karen Morales, who was visiting from Mexico, said: ‘It is a neat idea and I hope other cities do the same thing.
‘It really is good to see other people and to see how curious they are looking at you in another city.’
Her friend Alexandra Alvarez added: ‘We came to the city so we can see people in New York.Â
‘It’s really futuristic and we wanted to be part of it, but it is such a shame that it is not working. I hope it can be switched on real soon.’
Friends Hadia Mubarak and Aliaa Aldaker had hoped to interact with some Americans via the portal but had to be content with taking photos.
‘We had no idea it was not working, and just wanted to see what it would be like to look at people in New York,’ said Hadia.
‘I’m from North Carolina and my daughter had sent me a Tik Tok film about the portal so we made a special journey here to look at it. Such a shame is closed down.’
The Portal was designed by Lithuanian artist Benediktas Gylys with each structure weighing 3.5 tonnes.
He said the aim was for the futuristic sculpture to form a 24/7 bridge between two communities.
The New York based artist had set up a similar portal in Vilnius in Lithuania and Lublin in Poland.
Locals blamed the local authorities for setting up the installation in a deprived area
In the evening, the portal in Dublin still lit up and surrounded by floral tributes
The organisers said they are looking at how they could use AI to stop future misconduct
Unlike the NYC/Dublin installation there were no obscene incidents, and it remains open.
He said he was disappointed by the reaction of some people and welcomed barriers and security guards being put in place at the Portal in the Flatiron district of New York.
Dublin City Council had yet to take any measures with the portal untouched. A RIP sign stuck to the portal with a bunch of flowers was cleared away by council workers.
A spokesman for the council said they are considering what action to take.
The US-based company behind the project said they are looking at using AI technology to prevent the repeat of lewd behaviour and hoped to switch both portals back on next week.