The Dublin Spire, O’Connell Street, Dublin

The Dublin Spire, O’Connell Street, Dublin



Now that the fuss has died down somewhat over the construction of the Spire, the world's largest sculpture, it might interest readers to know that the famous resident who previously lived on the same site. Admiral Nelson, is still here in Dublin.
Well, part of him is anyway. His head. That is, his stone head, the head that was attached to the rest of his 13 feet tall sculpted image perched atop the pillar.
Those interested can see what remains of the famous head - damaged in an IRA explosion - as part of an exhibition of pictures and text at the Dublin Civic Museum, 58 South William Street. It is a free exhibition and well worth a visit.
Nelson's Pillar was indeed a long-time fixture in Dublin, and if the Spire eventually commands such affection it will have been deemed a huge success.
Many capital dwellers in the over 50's bracket will still talk fondly of the pillar, which was 134 feet 3 inches tall, a structure that towered over the nearby General Post Office.

It was a structure accessible to the people, as unlike The Spire, people could go up a spiral staircase to a viewing balcony and look out over Dublin.
It was perhaps Dublins most famous landmark for 158 years, from the time the foundation stone was laid, on the 15th February 1808, up to the time it was blown in half by the IRA on 8th March,1966, at 1:27am.

During Nelson's time he gazed down on the city during Catholic Emancipation, the Famine, the Land War, the Gaelic Revival, the Easter Rising, the War of independence and the visit of President JFK. He is still missed by some.