A LARGE VOID WHERE THE ORMOND HOTEL ONCE WAS
THE CHANGING QUAYS FEATURING THE ORMOND VOID AND A MURAL ROW PLUS A GLIMPSE OF THE JULY HOTEL [PHOTOGRAPHED OCTOBER 2025]
When I took these photographs, I was trying to capture three stories:
The void site where the Ormond Hotel once was. I will monitor this going forward.
The NFL and the painted-over "Do Not Remove" mural at the Ormond Hotel site.
The hotel under construction on Little Strand Street, now visible from the quays via the gap created by the Ormond's absence.
The Ormond Void and the Mural Row
The first story is the void itself, the prominent site on Ormond Quay where the historic Ormond Hotel once stood. This site recently became the centre of a significant public controversy involving a street art installation on its hoardings. To make way for a temporary NFL-themed piece, one of Dublin's best-known street murals - a 2022 collaboration by artists Neto Vettorello and Asbestos titled 'Do Not Remove'— was painted over.
Commissioned to mark 200 years of Brazilian independence, the original mural depicted a figure with its head covered by bricks. It was widely seen as a powerful commentary on Dublin's severe housing and homelessness crisis. The decision to erase this potent social commentary for what critics called a "gaudy-looking" piece of commercial advertising was met with immediate backlash. As one commentator noted, it was deeply ironic that "one of the few murals that wasn't just an ad" was replaced by what was, in effect, a "handpainted ad for the NFL."
The temporary NFL artwork received a mixed reception from locals and was removed soon after the match. Artist Neto Vettorello stated he had not been contacted by Dublin City Council about the plans to black out his mural. “It’s quite ironic, since the title of the piece was actually ‘Do Not Remove’,” Vettorello said.
The View Through the Gap: 'The July' Hotel
The demolition of the Ormond Hotel has created a new, clear sightline from the quays north to Little Strand Street and Capel Street.
Visible through this gap is the third story: a significant new hotel development under construction. Its height, planned for up to nine storeys, makes it clearly visible from the River Liffey.
Key Project Details
Hotel Brand: The building will be an aparthotel branded as The July. It is the first Irish location for the Amsterdam-based operator, City ID, which runs the "The July" brand.
Developer & Contractor: The project is being brought forward by The July Dublin Capel Street Limited. The main contractor handling the construction is the Elliott Group. The initial planning permission for a hotel on this site was secured by Ringline Investments Limited.
The Building: The development involves demolishing the former Dublin Working Men's Club (at 33-36 Little Strand Street) and redeveloping the site, which also incorporates 162-164a Capel Street. The final plan is for a 105-suite aparthotel (modified from an earlier design) that will include a bar, restaurant, gym, and wellness/spa facilities.
When I took these photographs, I was trying to capture three stories:
The void site where the Ormond Hotel once was. I will monitor this going forward.
The NFL and the painted-over "Do Not Remove" mural at the Ormond Hotel site.
The hotel under construction on Little Strand Street, now visible from the quays via the gap created by the Ormond's absence.
The Ormond Void and the Mural Row
The first story is the void itself, the prominent site on Ormond Quay where the historic Ormond Hotel once stood. This site recently became the centre of a significant public controversy involving a street art installation on its hoardings. To make way for a temporary NFL-themed piece, one of Dublin's best-known street murals - a 2022 collaboration by artists Neto Vettorello and Asbestos titled 'Do Not Remove'— was painted over.
Commissioned to mark 200 years of Brazilian independence, the original mural depicted a figure with its head covered by bricks. It was widely seen as a powerful commentary on Dublin's severe housing and homelessness crisis. The decision to erase this potent social commentary for what critics called a "gaudy-looking" piece of commercial advertising was met with immediate backlash. As one commentator noted, it was deeply ironic that "one of the few murals that wasn't just an ad" was replaced by what was, in effect, a "handpainted ad for the NFL."
The temporary NFL artwork received a mixed reception from locals and was removed soon after the match. Artist Neto Vettorello stated he had not been contacted by Dublin City Council about the plans to black out his mural. “It’s quite ironic, since the title of the piece was actually ‘Do Not Remove’,” Vettorello said.
The View Through the Gap: 'The July' Hotel
The demolition of the Ormond Hotel has created a new, clear sightline from the quays north to Little Strand Street and Capel Street.
Visible through this gap is the third story: a significant new hotel development under construction. Its height, planned for up to nine storeys, makes it clearly visible from the River Liffey.
Key Project Details
Hotel Brand: The building will be an aparthotel branded as The July. It is the first Irish location for the Amsterdam-based operator, City ID, which runs the "The July" brand.
Developer & Contractor: The project is being brought forward by The July Dublin Capel Street Limited. The main contractor handling the construction is the Elliott Group. The initial planning permission for a hotel on this site was secured by Ringline Investments Limited.
The Building: The development involves demolishing the former Dublin Working Men's Club (at 33-36 Little Strand Street) and redeveloping the site, which also incorporates 162-164a Capel Street. The final plan is for a 105-suite aparthotel (modified from an earlier design) that will include a bar, restaurant, gym, and wellness/spa facilities.