Drivers were beeping their horns at tomato-tourists who stopped to admire what had started as a few loose cherry tomatoes on Drumcondra Bridge.
The spot became internet-famous over the last week, after a TikTok user posted a photo of some cherry tomatoes that someone had littered onto the bridge wall. They had frozen in last week’s cold weather.
Within 24 hours, hundreds of people had visited the bridge to take videos and photos for their social media accounts, or to leave their own “ode to the tomato”.
Now the bridge has become somewhat of a tongue-in-cheek shrine to the fruit. There are sachets of ketchup, framed photos, tins of chopped tomatoes, tomato soup, candles and, of course, tomatoes in all shapes and sizes.
Someone wrote that it’s quite a magical place, others wrote it was quite ridiculous
Local woman Trish Close told the Irish Independent that “everyone’s talking and stopping [at the bridge], it’s magical, it’s community”.
“I found out about the tomatoes on a social media group called Drumcondra Social. Someone wrote that it’s quite a magical place, others wrote it was quite ridiculous,” she said.
“We’re out for a walk, so we’re passing by. Someone left tomatoes here in the bad weather last week, like rubbish and they froze. Since then, people have been adding to it.”
The tomatoes have also captured the imagination of tourists, with one man from Zimbabwe taking time to visit the bridge.
“I’m visiting from Zimbabwe. I saw the TikToks and I’m staying nearby so I came to see the cherry tomatoes,” the man, who shared his name as Matty, said.
“I went to the Phoenix Park, but surprisingly this is something new, so far my favourite thing is the Cherry Tomato Bridge. Everyone is talking about it, it’s trending.”
Mary Bolger came with her friends before their new year of university lectures began.
“We saw it on TikTok, so when we came back to college we had to come and see it,” she said.
Her friend Carly O’Connor added: “It’s like a school trip altogether, a little day out. It’s iconic, a historical landmark, so Dublin. I went past it on the bus today.”
Another passer-by said: “This is my walk to placement. A few days ago I was walking home and I saw the tomatoes on the bridge.
It’s daft but it’s endearing and fun
“I thought it was quite interesting. My friend texted me and said it’s a new tourist attraction and it was on Google Maps, so I had to take a look. It’s definitely expanded 10 times the size it was last week. It’s fun. The smiley faces [on the tomatoes] put a smile on your face.”
Sue Ellen Matthews moved to Dublin a few months ago and loves the community spirit in her new locality.
“I’m from Brazil, but I live around here, and I saw it. I didn’t know what it was, so I had to Google it. I didn’t get much information,” she said.
“This type of crazy is nice, it’s similar to London, you see this type of stuff.”
Gary O’Sullivan also commented on the shrine. “I heard about this during the week. I was getting physio done close by so. I decided to come and see it,” he said.
“I see it’s been added to since the photos were taken, it’s evolving, I guess people are contributing. I don’t think you’d see this in many other places, it’s daft but it’s endearing and fun.”
