THE ASBESTOS MURAL PHOTOGRAPHED IN 2022
A REVIEW OF THE DO NOT REMOVE MURAL ON ORMOND QUAY [OVERPAINTED IN OCTOBER 2025]
This series of photographs, taken in November 2022, document a significant but transient piece of public art on Dublin's Ormond Quay: the "Do Not Remove" mural. The work was a prominent feature on the hoardings of the dormant Ormond Hotel site.
The mural's striking style, featuring layered, tag-like figures, is characteristic of the Dublin-based artist Asbestos. This same signature style was used in his renowned "What Is Home?" mural on South Main Street in Cork, creating a thematic link between the two works.
The Artwork and the Artists
The "Do Not Remove" project, which launched in September 2021, was a creative collaboration between two artists:
Asbestos: A well-known Dublin street artist whose work often explores themes of identity, mental health, and belonging.
Neto Vettorello: A prominent Brazilian artist.
The project was a joint initiative supported by the Association of Brazilian Families in Ireland (AMBI), the Brazilian Embassy, Dublin City Council, and the site's owners, Monteco Holdings Ltd.
The artwork's title, "Do Not Remove," was a powerful social commentary. It directly referenced the precariousness of housing and the feeling of impermanence often experienced by immigrant communities. The phrase evokes the labels placed on belongings during a house move or eviction, symbolising the struggle to establish a permanent, secure home.
The Location: The Ormond Hotel
The mural's location is as storied as the artwork itself. It was displayed on the temporary worksite of the Ormond Hotel, a landmark immortalised in James Joyce's Ulysses as the setting for the "Sirens" episode.
The historic hotel had been derelict for many years before being purchased by Monteco Holdings. A €25 million redevelopment was planned, but the project faced significant delays. At the time the photograph was taken in late 2022, the site — which spans 7-13 Ormond Quay Upper —r emained dormant.
The site is historically sensitive; it includes a protected structure at Number 12 and adjoins Number 6, a national monument dating to the 17th century.
A Poignant Epilogue
In a twist of irony, given the mural's title, the "Do Not Remove" artwork was itself removed. In October 2025, the hoardings were painted over with a new, commercial mural promoting an NFL event in Ireland.
This photograph, therefore, serves as an important record of this collaborative piece and the poignant social message it represented.
This series of photographs, taken in November 2022, document a significant but transient piece of public art on Dublin's Ormond Quay: the "Do Not Remove" mural. The work was a prominent feature on the hoardings of the dormant Ormond Hotel site.
The mural's striking style, featuring layered, tag-like figures, is characteristic of the Dublin-based artist Asbestos. This same signature style was used in his renowned "What Is Home?" mural on South Main Street in Cork, creating a thematic link between the two works.
The Artwork and the Artists
The "Do Not Remove" project, which launched in September 2021, was a creative collaboration between two artists:
Asbestos: A well-known Dublin street artist whose work often explores themes of identity, mental health, and belonging.
Neto Vettorello: A prominent Brazilian artist.
The project was a joint initiative supported by the Association of Brazilian Families in Ireland (AMBI), the Brazilian Embassy, Dublin City Council, and the site's owners, Monteco Holdings Ltd.
The artwork's title, "Do Not Remove," was a powerful social commentary. It directly referenced the precariousness of housing and the feeling of impermanence often experienced by immigrant communities. The phrase evokes the labels placed on belongings during a house move or eviction, symbolising the struggle to establish a permanent, secure home.
The Location: The Ormond Hotel
The mural's location is as storied as the artwork itself. It was displayed on the temporary worksite of the Ormond Hotel, a landmark immortalised in James Joyce's Ulysses as the setting for the "Sirens" episode.
The historic hotel had been derelict for many years before being purchased by Monteco Holdings. A €25 million redevelopment was planned, but the project faced significant delays. At the time the photograph was taken in late 2022, the site — which spans 7-13 Ormond Quay Upper —r emained dormant.
The site is historically sensitive; it includes a protected structure at Number 12 and adjoins Number 6, a national monument dating to the 17th century.
A Poignant Epilogue
In a twist of irony, given the mural's title, the "Do Not Remove" artwork was itself removed. In October 2025, the hoardings were painted over with a new, commercial mural promoting an NFL event in Ireland.
This photograph, therefore, serves as an important record of this collaborative piece and the poignant social message it represented.