The Spire

The Spire is a tapered styled monument that stands on O’Connell Street in Dublin. The Spire is 120 metres tall and stands in the position that was once home to Nelson’s Column. The Spire can be seen from all over Dublin at night as it rises from a base of 3m in diameter skywards.

The Spire was designed by Ian Ritchie Architects and is currently the world’s tallest sculpture. The sculpture was commissioned in 1999 as part of the regeneration of O’Connell Street. Unfortunately, due to planning regulations, the spire wasn’t complete and erected until 2003.

There has been much criticism of the design, but it is now generally accepted as being a positive addition to the streetscape in Dublin. The project cost euro4 million and at the time many people thought that the money would be better spent on healthcare.

Since its erection, the Spire has had numerous nicknames:

• The Spike
• The Spire in the Mire
• The Stiletto in the Ghetto
• The Nail in the Pale
• The Stiffy by the Liffey
• The Pin in the Bin
• The erection at the intersection

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