Pantibar sign to stay because of its ‘cultural significance’

The popular Pantibar gay bar and club has announced that An Bord Pleanála has granted permission for the brightly lit sign to remain on Dublin's Capel Street.

Dublin City Council directed the sign's removal from the city centre street bar earlier this year on the basis that it was located in an "architectural conservation area" and because "its use of inappropriate materials and lighting would impact adversely on the character and integrity of the area".

Pantibar posted on Thursday morning that they were “delighted to say we won our appeal” and that An Bord Pleanála had granted permission for the Pantibar sign to stay.

An Bord Pleanála ruled that “exceptional circumstances” applied and that “the sign is integral to the social, historical and cultural significance of the current use of the premises”, according to a post on the Panti Bliss/Pantibar Facebook page.

The owner of Pantibar, Rory O’Neill, also known as Panti Bliss, had appealed the council’s decision earlier this year.

"The sign accidentally has become a sign with real significance since the marriage referendum," Mr O'Neill told The Irish Times. "It was a focal part of the celebrations of the referendum. Every day locals and tourists come there now to have their photo taken. It's not an ill-considered sign, it was designed very carefully and thoughtfully and adds to the the street,"

He said he was “totally gobsmacked” when Dublin City Council notified the bar that it had received complaints that the sign had “no artistic merit” and that it “detracts from the dignity of both the structure and the streetscape”.

“This city is littered with signs that are not considered,” said Mr O’Neill. “Our sign is designed by Niall Sweeney, a multi-award winning, internationally recognised artist. There’s nothing thoughtless about it.”

Mr O’Neill said nearly 20,000 people had signed a petition earlier this year calling for the sign to remain outside Pantibar. “The petition had no standing in law but it shows that this sign is significant to a lot of people.”

The bar decided to leave the sign up during the summer while it awaited the decision of An Bord Pleanála.

In a letter sent to Mr O’Neill on October 4th, An Bord Pleanála wrote that it was satisfied that the sign was “integral to the social, historical and cultural significance of the the current use of the premises” and that the use of an “illuminated sign” outside the building would be permitted due to “exceptional circumstances”.

The letter added that “no alterations to the sign, including any alterations to the design or method of illumination, shall take place without separate planning permission”.

Green Party councillor Ciaran Cuffe said the ruling “sends out a clear message of equality” and that the sign “represents a struggle for equality that has taken a generation.”

“Ireland is a different place and a better place because of that struggle,” Mr Cuffe told Newstalk radio.