PHOTOGRAPHED BY WILLIAM MURPHY
The appearance of graffiti reading “Duncan Age 51 3/4” in Dublin City has sparked considerable curiosity, emerging as a recurring inscription that deviates significantly from typical street art. Unlike the stylized tags and pseudonyms often found in urban landscapes, this particular graffiti stands out due to its specificity, including a full name and a precise age.
The seemingly unsophisticated style of the inscription further distinguishes it, suggesting a motivation that extends beyond the conventional artistic or territorial aims of graffiti culture. This report aims to broaden the initial observations made in Dublin by investigating the potential presence of similar graffiti in England and the wider UK, as well as exploring any variations in the age format that may exist.
By analyzing the available information, this study seeks to understand the geographical scope of this phenomenon and to offer insights into the possible motivations and cultural significance behind these intriguing urban markings.
The Dublin Anomaly: Deconstructing “Duncan Age 51 3/4”
The graffiti “Duncan Age 51 3/4” has been noted for its consistent reappearance across various locations within Dublin. Observers have described the style as seemingly childlike or of “poor quality,” which suggests that the individual responsible may not be deeply embedded in the established graffiti scene where technical skill is often highly valued. This characteristic implies that the primary focus of the graffiti lies in its message rather than its artistic execution. The message itself is striking in its specificity, providing not just a name but also a precise age, including a fraction of a year. This level of detail is highly unusual in graffiti, where anonymity is often preferred. The regularity with which this inscription has been sighted throughout Dublin indicates a deliberate and sustained effort to disseminate this particular piece of information across the urban environment.
Several interpretations can be proposed to understand the motivation behind the “Duncan Age 51 3/4” graffiti in Dublin. One prominent theory is that it represents a form of personal expression, possibly serving as a unique way for an individual named Duncan to mark the passage of time and their presence within the city. The inclusion of “3/4” could signify the progression through the year following Duncan’s 51st birthday, acting as a public, albeit unconventional, diary entry documenting a specific phase of life. Another possibility is that the graffiti is part of a subtle social experiment or a piece of performance art, introducing an unexpected and thought-provoking element into the everyday lives of Dublin’s inhabitants. The unusual nature of the message might be intended to provoke curiosity, spark conversations, or simply inject a touch of the unexpected into the urban fabric. In a large city where individuals can often feel anonymous, the act of repeatedly writing one’s name and age, even in a rudimentary style, could also be interpreted as a desire to be seen and acknowledged. The simplicity of the message, combined with the precise age, might aim to create a sense of connection or shared experience, however fleeting, with those who encounter it. It is also important to consider that the motivation could be entirely personal, perhaps a fleeting impulse, a form of private humour, or an inside joke with a very limited audience. Not all urban markings are intended for widespread public interpretation, and the true meaning behind the “Duncan” graffiti might be known only to its creator.
Across the Irish Sea: “Duncan” Sightings in the UK
Expanding the scope of inquiry beyond Dublin reveals that graffiti featuring the name “Duncan” and an age has also been observed in England. A discussion on a Reddit thread titled “Who is Duncan, Age 51?” includes reports from users who have seen similar graffiti in London, specifically near Lewisham shopping centre and the Seven Sisters tube station. Furthermore, another user in the same thread mentioned seeing the graffiti in Hamstreet, Kent, noting the presence of more instances around Romney Marsh. These accounts confirm that the “Duncan” graffiti phenomenon is not exclusive to Dublin and has manifested in various locations across England.
A notable difference emerges when comparing the UK sightings to those in Dublin: the age format in the UK appears as “Age 51,” lacking the “3/4” fraction observed in Dublin. This variation in how the age is expressed could hold significant clues about the creator’s motivations and whether the graffiti in both locations is the work of the same individual or multiple people.
The Significance of the Age Format: A Comparative Analysis
The inclusion of “3/4” in the Dublin graffiti strongly suggests a connection to a specific point in time following Duncan’s 51st birthday. This level of precision indicates a potential ongoing documentation of age, perhaps tied to a personal milestone or a significant period in Duncan’s life that commenced around that time. The fraction implies a temporal element, suggesting the graffiti might have been initiated or is updated to reflect the progression through that particular year.
In contrast, the absence of the “3/4” in the UK sightings could point to several possibilities. It might indicate that the UK graffiti is the work of a different individual named Duncan who is simply stating their age at the time of the inscription. While the similarity in name and general age is intriguing, it could be coincidental. Alternatively, if the same person is responsible for both sets of graffiti, the “Age 51” format in the UK might represent a snapshot of Duncan’s age at a particular moment, without the intention of continuously updating it with fractions of a year. This would suggest a less temporally focused motivation in the UK context compared to the Dublin instances. It is also conceivable that if the same individual is behind both, they might choose to express their age slightly differently depending on the location or the specific circumstances under which the graffiti is created. This could reflect subtle variations in personal expression or how the message is intended to be perceived in different urban environments.
It is important to consider the temporal context of the reported sightings. The Reddit thread mentioning the UK graffiti indicates that these observations were made approximately a year ago. This timeframe suggests that the “Duncan Age 51” graffiti was present in the UK around that period. Whether it is still ongoing or if the stated age has since progressed remains unknown based on the available information. Conversely, the Dublin observations are more recent, dating around March and April 2025. This temporal difference could be relevant when considering whether the Dublin and UK graffiti are linked to the same person. If the UK graffiti predates the Dublin instances, it might suggest a timeline of activity that could help connect the two phenomena.
Thematic Resonance: Exploring Potential Overarching Motivations
Despite the geographical separation and the slight variation in the age format, both the Dublin and UK instances of “Duncan” graffiti share a fundamental element: the public display of a personal name and age. This suggests an underlying theme of asserting personal identity within the public sphere. Regardless of the precise format or location, the act of writing “Duncan” followed by an age can be interpreted as a way for an individual to declare their presence and perhaps seek a form of recognition, however unconventional.
The “Duncan” graffiti also represents an unconventional form of communication, bypassing traditional channels and engaging directly with the urban environment. The unusual nature of the message, particularly the specificity of the age, makes it stand out and prompts curiosity, as evidenced by the online discussions it has generated. By being different and unexpected, the graffiti achieves a level of engagement that more conventional forms of urban messaging might not.
Furthermore, there is an interesting tension between the apparent lack of emphasis on artistic skill in the creation of the graffiti and the explicit personal information provided. The focus seems to be on the message itself โ the name and age โ rather than on the creator’s artistic prowess or their persona within the graffiti subculture. This reinforces the idea that the primary motivation is likely personal expression or a unique form of public interaction, rather than a desire for fame or status within the traditional graffiti world.
Conclusion: Towards a Broader Understanding of the “Duncan” Phenomenon
The analysis of the available information indicates that the “Duncan” graffiti phenomenon extends beyond Dublin and has been observed in various locations in England. In Dublin, the age format is consistently “Age 51 3/4” , while in the UK, it appears as “Age 51” . The style in Dublin is described as “seemingly childlike” or “poor quality” , with a similar style implied in the UK sightings. The graffiti has been noted with “great frequency” in Dublin , and multiple sightings have been reported in London (Lewisham, Seven Sisters) and Kent (Hamstreet, Romney Marsh) . The Dublin sightings are recent (March/April 2025) , whereas the UK sightings were reported approximately one year ago . The motivations behind these inscriptions are likely rooted in personal expression, possibly serving as a unique way to mark time, assert identity, or engage with the urban environment in an unconventional manner. The lack of artistic sophistication suggests that the message itself is the primary focus, rather than adherence to the norms of traditional graffiti subculture.
Further research could explore several avenues to gain a more comprehensive understanding of this phenomenon. Investigating whether there have been other sightings of “Duncan” graffiti in different locations, both within the UK and internationally, could help delineate the geographical scope of this activity. Monitoring the Dublin and UK locations to see if the age progresses over time could provide insights into the longevity and intent behind the graffiti. Exploring potential connections between the Dublin and UK instances, perhaps through online communities or local news sources, might reveal whether a single individual or multiple people are involved. Additionally, examining social media platforms and local community forums could potentially yield further information or insights from individuals who have encountered the “Duncan” graffiti.