Dublin Airport has unveiled a vibrant new music wall in Terminal 1, celebrating some of Ireland’s most iconic performers and creating a memorable welcome for arriving passengers.
Located airside in the arrivals corridor of Pier 2, the installation showcases striking images of 11 legendary Irish acts, including U2, Thin Lizzy, The Cranberries, Christy Moore, and Sinéad O'Connor.
The wall was officially opened this week by The Coronas, who also feature in the display.
More than just a visual tribute, the installation immerses passengers in Ireland’s rich musical heritage. Newly installed speakers fill the corridor with songs from the featured artists, while LED lighting and spotlights enhance the atmosphere, transforming a previously blank space into a dynamic celebration of Irish creativity.
According to Dublin Airport Managing Director Gary McLean, the aim is to reflect Ireland’s global musical reputation from the moment visitors arrive. The response so far has been enthusiastic, with many passengers pausing for selfies beside their favourite performers. Sinéad O’Connor and U2 are proving especially popular, and the official unveiling by The Coronas generated a strong buzz in the terminal.
The airport plans to roll out additional “sense of place” installations across its terminals, highlighting other areas where Ireland excels, including sport and the arts.
This will act as a nice addition, to the beloved Dublin Airport Piano in Terminal 1.
It returned in 2025 with a makeover, by Dublin street artist Al Maser. The transformation took place off site, and the newly redesigned instrument was fully reinstalled, surrounded by a striking piece of artwork created by the Dublin native.
To celebrate the return of the piano, Niall Breslin, also known as Bressie, was joined by a three-piece string group to perform a series of songs from his new album, The Place That Has Never Been Wounded. Thousands of passengers made their way through the T1 arrivals doors to the sound of The Blizzards frontman’s songs.
Among those in Terminal 1 who enjoyed the performance was the family of Margaret Costello. Margaret had owned the piano before it was donated to the airport. It was donated in 2018 by family friend John Murphy of Murphy’s Piano Tuning and Repair. The piano had been the site of many spur-of-the-moment performances over the course of its seven years in the terminal. The trend of airports and train stations having pianos for public use was a modern phenomenon that promoted the creation of public art by anyone with experience playing the instrument.
