COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM / TEMPLEOGUE / FIRHOUSE / BOHERNABREENA AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
MOTION NO. 10
MOTION: Councillor J. Sinnott
This Committee acknowledges the significant positive impact that the Dublin Canvass Project has had across the Rathfarnham Templeogue Firhouse and Bohernabreena areas with the support of South Dublin County Council. This Committee requests that South Dublin County Council further engage with the Dublin Canvass Project with a view to getting more utility boxes painted. In addition the Committee requests that the Council engage with the various utility companies to get their support for the initiative.
REPORT:
SDCC is committed to supporting the continuation of public art commissions, via the Dublin Canvas Project, to enhance and transform graffiti-impacted traffic light boxes into beautiful works of art as it provides a platform for artists and increases public engagement and visual enhancement of the streetscape. Each piece of artwork reflects the surrounding area, creating a meaningful connection to the local community and is transforming South Dublin County. In this regard SDCC has engaged the Dublin Canvas Project to manage the creation of artworks for installation on the surface of traffic light boxes within South Dublin County over the Summer 2026 period. The callout to artists for the summer 2026 project was issued on Monday 4th May 2026 by Dublin Canvas and SDCC subsequently posted the callout via social media and its website. The locations of the traffic light boxes identified for artwork installations and animation of the streetscape are available on the following map.
17 traffic light boxes will be completed as part of the Dublin Canvas summer 2026 project and 29% of the locations are within the Rathfarnham, Templeogue, Firhouse and Bohernabreena areas. As the completed artworks are temporary in nature, with a lifespan varying per location, the majority of the commissions will be a repaints from the 2019 summer Dublin Canvas project however on foot of a request from Rathfarnham Tidy Town group an additional traffic light box installation was added to the summer 2026 commission. SDCC is happy to facilitate requests for the consideration of particular locations and, once the installations are deemed viable for the creation of artworks, they will be added to the list for future Dublin Canvas Projects.
SDCC is engaging with other utility providers regarding their installations however we are cognisant of the recent ESB Networks Electrical Awareness Briefing Note warning that artwork, signage, banners or decorations should not be attached to or placed on ESB Networks meter boxes, cabinets or kiosks for health and safety reasons. Public Realm is working with the ESB to explore more efficient methods for the removal of graffiti from utility boxes.
In addition to the work commissioned through the Dublin Canvas Project, SDCC also provides an online graffiti removal reporting service to report graffiti and requesting the removal of graffiti from public property such as utility boxes. Once an image of the utility box with its identification number and the location of the graffiti is reported via the online form, SDCC liaise with the relevant stakeholder such as ESB Networks, contractor or council department.